ALBION – The Main Street lift bridge in Albion will close to traffic on Feb. 13 for an inspection. The bridge is expected to be off limits to vehicles for two to four hours, starting at about 9:30 a.m.

State Department of Transportation officials notified the Albion Village Board of the upcoming inspection. The bridge will reopen soon after the inspection.

The bridge reopened on Dec. 27 after being shut down for more than two years for a major rehab of the structure that was built in 1914.

Provided photos

ALBION – These students in the Akron Interact Club filled backpacks with school supplies that will be delivered by Albion teacher Tim Archer to a school in a remote part of Honduras.

Archer is also the Albion Interact Club advisor. The two Interact clubs teamed to fill about 400 backpacks with notebooks, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, rulers, bookmarks, stickers, wristbands, folders, maps, T-shirts and other supplies.

The Albion Rotary Club also id donating most of the proceeds from its March 13 St. Patrick’s ham dinner towards assisting the school. Archer has a connection to the school from when he was a missionary in this jungle area of Honduras.

Archer leaves on Sunday and will be gone for three weeks.

Some kids from the Honduras La Mosquitia region are shown at left. Archer will be visiting several small villages along the 200-mile Patuca River. Archer will be traveling by canoe with pastors in that region.

Photo by Tom Rivers

The two Interact Clubs also met today in Albion for a leadership conference. The people seated at the table were the featured speakers.

From left include retired State Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt, a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War; Craig Lane, Orleans County DPW commissioner, Holley Rotary Club president and a 20-year Air Force veteran; Albion Village Trustee Joyce Riley, a retired nursing supervisor; Steve Giroux, owner of seven pharmacies, including Rosenkrans in Medina and a Rotarian for 41 years; Pastor Jovannie Canales of Harvest Christian Fellowship; and Tim Archer, Albion Rotary Interact Club advisor.

Press Release, Hoag Library

ALBION – Hoag Library is pleased to announce its collaboration with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s Taxpayer Assistance Program (TAP) to offer free tax preparation services to eligible community members.

Program Details:

• Eligibility: Individuals with a 2024 federal adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less and investment income of $11,600 or less qualify for this service.
• Session Dates and Times: TAP sessions at Hoag Library are scheduled for the following dates: Feb. 10, 24; March 10, 24; and April 7, 14.

Each date offers four time slots:

• 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• 12:30 to 2 p.m.
• 2 to 3:30 p.m.
• 3:30 to 5 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, please contact Hoag Library at 585-589-4246.

Don’t miss this opportunity to file your taxes accurately and for free with professional guidance at Hoag Library.

ALBION – An Albion police officer used a fire extinguisher from a patrol car to put out a fire in a television at 116 East Bank St.

Officer Jacob Cotriss was quick to respond to the scene after a call to 911 at about 8:30 p.m. The call to first responders said children were stuck upstairs at the residence.

Cotriss put the fire out, and Albion firefighters then aired out the upstairs. The family is able to stay in the residence.

Firefighters also were dispatched to a fire in Clarendon this afternoon at 16395 Fourth Section Rd., between Powers Drive and Church Street. The fire was contained to the attic, said Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Buffalo Bills fans gathered to show their support and excitement for the team at 5 p.m. today outside the First Presbyterian Church of Albion where the church sign carried this message: “GOD IS IMPARTIAL BUT THE SIGN GUY AIN’T – GO BILLS”

Orly the Orleans County mascot joined the gathering and held the “Billieve” banner with Dakota Marasco. She posted a message on Facebook this afternoon, urging people to stop by the church sign at 5 p.m.

Marasco said the region is rallying around the team for today’s AFC Championship game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. in Kansas City. If the Bills win, the go to the Super Bowl for the first time in 31 years.

“The Bills are our team and they love us as much as we love them,” Marasco said.

Lori Laine holds her Dachshund named Mattie while they are next to Orly the Ox. Laine has three Dachshunds and they all have Buffalo Bills outfits.

Laine is holding a sign from 1994 when the Bills were last in the Super Bowl.

Press Release

ALBION – For the second year Albion is hosting a Classical Music Series in 2025.  The performing groups will be the Wind Chamber Group of the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble, The Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble, The E-Yah-Pah-Hah Wind Quintet, and the Argos String Trio.

Starting us off on Feb. 8 will be the Wind Chamber Group of the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble performing a 4 p.m. recital at the Albion First Baptist Church, 30 West Park St.

The Wind Chamber Group is made up of small ensembles: a flute trio, a clarinet quintet, a bassoon duet, a saxophone quartet and a mixed woodwind ensemble with director Philip Briatico. All members are experienced musicians who play in numerous organizations throughout Monroe, Genesee and Orleans counties. Many are current or retired music teachers.

The program promises to be interesting and diverse, from classical works to popular pieces including long time favorites. The concert is free and open to the public.

The following concerts in the classical music series will be the full Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble, directed by Philip Briatico on May 3 in the Albion Middle School Auditorium at 4 p.m.

The E-Yah-Pah-Hah Wind Quintet will join the Cobblestone Society’s Summer Soirée on July 17, playing at 5 p.m. The soirée will be held at the gardens at Riley Place in Albion. The event is a summer favorite of the museum membership and community, enjoying a beautiful garden setting, music and fellowship.

The fourth concert of the series is the Argos Trio featuring Liana Kirvan, violin; Lars Kirvan, cello; and Ciao Wen Chen, piano. All are also members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert will be held at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, 10 East Park St. in Albion.  A fall date will be scheduled.

All concerts are free and open to the public. This series is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO Art!

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orly the Bicentennial Ox was on the move this morning, going from the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds to Hoag Library in Albion.

Keith Ward, left, and Vincent Zona, motor equipment operators for the Orleans County DPW, move the painted fiberglass statue from a trailer into the library. The ox isn’t too heavy, approximately 60 pounds.

Orly was painted during last July’s fair by Albion native Stacey Kirby Steward. One side has an agricultural theme honoring the pioneer settlers and the other side has a 4-H and County Fair theme.

The ox was moved the library today so people could get a close look at him.

There will be an informational meeting at noon on Saturday at Hoag for artists, organizations, businesses and other sponsors to hear how they could be part of having more oxen painted around the county.

The ox was featured during the Medina Parade of Lights on Nov. 30 and then Albion Christmas parade on Dec. 14.

Library director Betty Sue Miller sizes up Orly with the DPW workers, who also include Wayne Krull, the deputy commissioner for the DPW.

Miller noted the library has several other paintings and a large mural done by Stacey Kirby Steward.

Orly will greet library patrons for maybe the next three months or so. He might be on the move again on April 15, which is the county’s official 200^th birthday. April 15, 1825 was the day the State Legislature first recognized Orleans County. Before that Orleans was part of Genesee County.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These three friends from Lyndonville head down the sledding hill at Bullard Park today around 2 p.m. Carson Woodworth, 7, is in center next to Emma Lear, 9, with Richard Burch, 5, at the far right.

The trio zooms down the hill with Emma having a wipeout not too far into the descent.

They came from Lyndonville with their families for their favorite sledding hill. There was no school today due to the frigid cold. Even though the temperature was 12 degrees, it didn’t seem too bad because there was barely a breeze.

These three are on top of the hill and headed down together. From left to right include Nick Luft, 15; Walker Davey, 16; and Logan Kast, 16.

The trio has fun near the bottom of the hill with their sleds cutting through the cold snow. Front to back include Walker Davey, Logan Kast and Nick Luft.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – David Sidari has been appointed as an interim member of the Albion Board of Education.

On Monday, the BOE officially appointed Sidari, former Albion BOE member for 25 years, to fill the vacancy left by Ocie Bennett Jr., who stepped down in December 2024 to take a position at Albion High School.

“I look forward to filling the vacant board seat for the rest of the school year,” Sidari said. “Having retired from the board at the end of last year, I am familiar with the other members and look forward to working with them again. A lot of great things are taking place including school culture improvement and, most importantly, student achievement.”

Sidari was on the board until his fifth term expired on June 30, 2024.

Mickey Edwards, Superintendent of ACS, said he is looking forward to working with Sidari for the remainder of the academic year.

“It was an honor to have worked closely with Dave on the board and we are grateful to him for stepping up as we navigate this transition,” Edwards said.

The superintendent of schools also said he is excited that Bennett is returning to work as a teaching assistant in Albion High School.

“It’s like he never left,” Edwards joked. “We are pleased to extend a warm ACS welcome to Ocie as he returns to work at the high school.”

Previously, Bennett worked in Albion district for 20 years before resigning for another opportunity in 2021. He was elected to the Albion BOE in 2022.

“We are all excited for Ocie’s return to Albion CSD and for his continued impact upon our district as he supports our students, staff, families and community,” said Jennifer Ashbery, principal at Albion High School.

There will be three seats open in the BOE election this spring: two 5-year terms and one 2-year term.

Once the results are in, the two candidates with the most votes will be appointed to the board for full five-year terms. Whoever comes in third will take over for Sidari this July and be up for re-election in 2027.

Provided photos

ALBION – There were 78 teams competing in three brackets on Saturday during the second annual cornhole tournament for the Medina Rotary Club at Dubby’s Tailgate in Albion. There were $6,000 in prizes, up by $1,000 from last year’s tournament.

From left include the top team in the A bracket and winner of $1,750: Brady Foster and Ken McConnell; B bracket winners ($1,000 prize) – Tyler McClary and Mike Beach; C bracket winners ($500 prize) – father-daughter team of Kristen and Wayne Wright.

Photo by Tom Rivers

Some of the cornhole take warmup tosses before a game on Saturday.

The event raised $3,000 to $4,000 for the Medina Rotary to give to community causes.

The Medina Rotary $6,000 Throwdown drew teams mostly from the Buffalo and Rochester area with some from Pennsylvania and Oswego.

The payouts included: A bracket (top players) – $1,750 for first, $1,000 for second, and $500 for third.

B bracket – $1,000 for first, $500 for second, and $250 for third.

C bracket – $500 for first, $300 for second, and $200 for third.

Medina Rotary President Peter Bartula talks with some of the players at the tournament. Bartula has been a regular in the Wednesday evening cornhole league at Dubby’s. The $6,000 payout in the tournament is one of the biggest for a cornhole tournament in Upstate New York, Bartula said.

Mike Beach, who helped coordinate the tournament, shares the winning 50-50 numbers and also Airmail ticket winners. Next to him from Medina Rotary are Jennifer Hill-Young, left, and Stephanie Mason.

Beach said cornhole has become very popular, especially as an indoor winter activity.

“It’s just a fun game,” Beach said. “You can hang out with your friends and make new friends. It’s like playing horseshoes with less wear and tear on your arms.”

There were about 200 people at Dubby’s Tailgate for the tournament. The two-person teams paid $80 for a chance to win the prize money. Each team played four rounds before going into a double-elimination playoff.

Brian Alexander, owner of Dubby’s, said cornhole is a big part of Dubby’s business. He said Dubby’s has hosted more than 9,000 matches since opening in late 2021. Dubby’s has room for 14 boards to be played at once.

Some of the players donated food that will be distributed from the food pantry at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Medina.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Exempts presented a certificate of commendation to John Grillo, the Albion recreation director, on Thursday evening.

Exempts member Dan Conrad, left, and President Stritzinger, right, presented the certificate to Grillo. He also received a complimentary membership to the exempts, which serves food to the public at its headquarters on South Clinton Street. Membership in the Exempts is open to the community at $20.

The club also presented Grillo with $75 which he said he will direct to a fireworks fund at the Village of Albion. Grillo is trying to raise money for fireworks at Bullard Park on July 3. He said many donations have come in for fireworks.

“We are very close to our goal,” he said.

Grillo has led the Albion recreation program for about 50 years. The program has partnered with Foodlink and community organizations to provide many meals for children at the park during the summer rec program.

Grillo also has taken the lead in planning the summer concert series at the park.

“He’s out there doing a lot of extra stuff,” Stritzinger said.

Grillo said he has been able to do more for the recreation program since he retired as a teacher and coach at Holley.

“I’ve been able to pick up more,” Grillo said. “I do it because I love Albion.”

Provided photo: The Exempts last month also presented a certificate of commendation to Al Wilson, pastor of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries.

Wilson was praised for leading an effort to serve 2,000 free chicken dinners the second Saturday in December, and organizing an Easter egg hunt with 12,000 plastic eggs with treats as well as other prizes, and even free haircuts.

The church has other ministries in Albion, filling backpacks with school supplies, offering a breakfast with Santa, running Bingo for adults and giving to the summer recreation program.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Frank Babcock, 89, presented more canes to Assemblyman Steve Hawley today to be given to veterans.

Pictured from left include Babcock’s sons Steve and Jim Babcock, Frank Babcock, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Legion commander Brad Rouse, and Nick Mroz, the Veterans Service Agency director in Orleans County.

Babcock last month gave Hawley about a dozen canes that Hawley said he would give to veterans, perhaps at the NYS Veterans Home in Batavia, the National Cemetery in Pembroke or through the Patriot Trip that Hawley leads each September to monuments in the Washington, D.C. area.

Babcock made about a dozen more than he presented to Hawley today at the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency. Those canes will be given to veterans through the Veterans Service Agency offices in Orleans, Genesee and Monroe counties.

Babcock was in the Albion Walmart about three months when he saw a man walking with a cane. Babcock complimented the man, a fellow veteran, on the quality of the cane.

The man said the cane made a big difference for him, and he received it for free from Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Babcock got to thinking that he could make canes to be given to local veterans. Babcock served in the Army from 1955-’56 and was based at Fort Hancock, N.J. Many know him locally for his long career with NAPA Auto Parts in Albion and Medina.

Babcock made the canes from small trees in the woods. The raw materials were cut off from part of the roots with a slight angle. The handles of the canes are the roots from the trees.

Babcock sands down the small trees and puts shellack on them, as well as stickers of American flags.

Frank Babcock shares another group of canes he made in the past month to be given out to veterans for free from the Veterans Service Agency offices in Orleans, Genesee and Monroe counties.