Albion

Albion varsity star also is committed youth football coach

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Tyler Rotoli has a passion for football, mentoring young players

Photos by Tom Rivers – Tyler Rotoli greets members of the Albion JV youth football team when they are introduced before a Sept. 19 game versus Medina.

ALBION – Last Friday, Tyler Rotoli ran for 142 yards in leading the Albion varsity football team to a 27-14 win over rival Medina.

Early the next morning, Rotoli was at his job at Burger King at 5:30, getting the Main Street location ready for the day. He worked till lunch and then hustled to Oakfield to join a team of 10- and 11-year-olds from Albion. That team had a big playoff game against Medina.

Rotoli is one of the coaches of the youth team, the offensive coordinator for a group that likes to throw the football and break off long runs. Rotoli has taught the team more than 70 plays, many of the formations and techniques from the varsity team.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Tyler Rotoli fights for yardage in a 14-12 loss on Sept. 25 to East Aurora/Holland.

This year was the first time the JV youth squad made the playoffs in years.

Rotoli has juggled his varsity schedule, his work at Burger King, and his homework with a devotion to practices and games with the youth team.

“He’s a natural born leader,” said head coach Geno Allport, who coached Rotoli when he played on the youth teams. “He has the passion and he has the heart.”

Allport said it’s unusual to see a high school player anywhere in the region be so committed to working with a youth program. Besides Rotoli, Jared Hollinger also has been working with the Albion youth program. Hollinger is a junior lineman for the varsity team.

Rotoli is running back, quarterback, linebacker, whatever position the teams needs him. He preaches unselfishness and a “Team First” attitude for the youth players. He fires them up before the game, and shouts encouragement and instruction throughout the contests.

After a tough loss to Medina on Sept. 19, Rotoli gathered the group on the sideline, reminding them to keep working hard in practices. The team would close out the regular season with several victories.

After a tough loss to Medina on Sept. 19, Tyler Rotoli gathered the youth JV team, offering encouragement and motivation to keep working hard in practice and the rest of the season.

“I just want to give back to the next generation and be a positive role model,” Rotoli said. “You don’t really remember the wins and losses. You remember the coaches.”

Rotoli, 17, said Allport has been a steady and positive influence in his life for many years.

“He’s been there through the ups and downs,” Rotoli said.

He knows some of the players need male role models. That is part of his drive to be at the practices and games, even when he is fighting exhaustion.

“All I want to do is touch another life,” Rotoli said. “I want to be that big brother to somebody else and motivate them.”

Rotoli aged out of youth football after seventh grade. In eighth grade, he offered to help with some of the youth teams. His younger brother Junior plays on this year’s JV team. Two of Rotoli’s cousins, Amari and Javon Jones, also are on the team.

Rotoli found as an eighth-grader that the kids responded to his instruction. The following year he took an on-line program and became a certified coach. That program makes sure coaches know proper techniques for tackling. (Click here for more information.)

Rotoli impressed Allport and the other coaches with his grasp for the game, his analysis of the players’ strengths and how to devise plays to best use those talents.

Allport said Rotoli typically calls the plays on offense, and the team usually finds the end zone several times a game.

“I gave him freedom to run the offense because he knows what he’s doing,” Allport said.

Most of the JV youth players would watch Rotoli during Friday home games at the varsity field. The next day, Rotoli would join them for their game. Allport said Rotoli inspires the kids “to see where they can go” as a varsity player.

Rotoli is considering majoring in criminal justice in college so he can work as a police officer. Allport is hopeful Rotoli will stay in the area after college, and continue to coach and work with the youth football players.

Allport also said Hollinger has been a big help with the youth football program. He and Rotoli help set up the field and with clean up after the games.

“You’re not going to find kids that busted their butts more than those two,” Allport said.

Tyler Rotoli and Geno Allport, head coach of the Albion JV youth team, talk strategy before Saturday’s playoff game versus Medina.

Rotoli said he would like to be a coach in the future. He enjoys the life lessons with the game, and often gives fiery speeches to the players.

“If you work hard, you get good outcomes,” he tells the players when they’re doing push-ups or finishing sprints.

“You got to be disciplined,” he bellows.

Rotoli said spewing those words has been good for him. It reminds him he needs to keep working hard, too, including the early morning shifts at Burger King following an away game on Friday.

“I’m preaching you need discipline and perseverance,” he said. “It motivates me, too.”

Arc opens snack shop at Arnold Gregory site in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Arc of Orleans County celebrated the opening of the “Snack Shack” today with a ribbon-cutting at the Arnold Gregory Memorial Complex at 243 South Main St.

The Snack Shack had a quiet opening last month, with people served by The Arc selling snacks, baked goods, soda, coffee, ice cream, fruit and candy. The site has added breakfast and lunch sandwiches.

Robert Gallagher mans the cashier and accepts money from Darlene Golson after she bought a beverage and a snack.

Karen Appleman, an Arc employee, is pictured in back left. Arc staff provide some oversight and assistance for the Snack Shack, but the goal is to have the site be run by people served by The Arc, giving them work experience and job training so they could transition to other employment in the community, said Melissa Cotter, employment services coordinator for The Arc.

She estmated 5 to 10 people served by the Arc would work regularly at the site, which is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. this month and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning in November.

Robert Greer makes his coffee at the Snack Shack. He is president of the Self-Advocacy All-Stars at The Arc.

Ben DeGeorge and his father Joe purchased the Arnold Gregory site in December from Ray Lissow. Ben DeGeorge asked The Arc to consider running a snack shop in the spot near the front entrance of the facility.

DeGeorge added furniture for people to hang out and relax. He said about 250 people are in the building each day.

The site is used by The Arc for Rainbow Preschool, and offices for the agency’s family services and community living staff. Other doctors and professional staff also use space at Arnold Gregory, a former hospital.

800 were without power in Albion last night

Staff Reports Posted 20 October 2015 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Power was out in the northwest side of the village last night with about 800 National Grid customers without electricity.

The power was restored overnight. At 6:42 a.m., National Grid reported all of its Orleans County customers had service.

There was no official cause of the outage reported. An Orleans County dispatcher said weather likely was a factor.

FFA brings fall fun to elementary students

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Rae Kwon Riley, an Albion third-grader, paints a pumpkin today in the high school ag shop.

He is one of about 700 elementary students who are enjoying a fall festival through the FFA this week.

FFA students spent a few hours on Saturday picking about 800 pumpkins from Panek’s for the festival.

Jayden Lewis gives his pumpkin a personal touch. Jayden and Rae Kwon are both in Kelly Robbins’ class.

Here are some of the painted pumpkins by elementary kids. The Fall Festival will continue on Wednesday, with more students painting pumpkins and trying other stations.

FFA member Ellen Narburgh slices apples, and Dylan Sherman, center, and Nick Calkins provide some muscle with an old-fashioned cider press.

The Albion FFA is one of the oldest chapters in the state, dating back to 1927.

Scouts serve up spaghetti in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Boy Scouts in Troop 164 in Albion served about 100 meals of spaghetti on Saturday night at the St. Mary’s Athletic Club on Moore Street.

Sawyer Braley puts salad in a to-go container. Other Scouts pictured include Cole Spierdowis, back right, and Noah Wadhams. Doyle Wadhams, a Scout volunteer and Noah’s father, helped organize the dinner.

The Scouts may try to have quarterly community dinners to help raise money for the Troop.

Mike Grabowski, a Scout volunteer, drains the hot water out of a pan of spaghetti. Freeman Lattin, a Scout in Troop 164, helps in the kitchen on Saturday night.

Doc’s Rock goes to Albion after 27-14 win over Medina

Staff Reports Posted 16 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman

ALBION – Albion captains Kyle Smith left, and Nate Trembley hold Doc’s Rock, named in honor of former coach Larry Decker. Doc’s Rock goes to the winner of the annual Albion-Medina football game, and Albion won 27-14 at home tonight. The Albion players are pictured with Decker’s son Brett and wife Judy.

Decker is a late long-time Medina coach and teacher. He also taught and coached for a time at Albion.

Albion and Medina played for the 118th time tonight in one of New York State’s oldest high school football rivalries.

The victory gives the Purple Eagles a 65-48-5 lead in the series which dates back to 1898. Coming into the game, the Mustangs had won the last three and five of the last seven.

For more on the game, check Local Sports.

Albion students harvest squash for food pantries

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Fourth-graders harvested squash this morning, filling two big bins at the Albion FFA Land Lab along Clarendon Road.

FFA students planted the squash last June and today it was picked from the field. It will be give to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, which will use some for its food pantry and also for holiday baskets. Some squash will also be shared with other food pantries in the community, said Andy Ebbs, the facilities manager for Community Action.

Jack Kinter holds a squash he picked from a field. Students didn’t mind a little mud.

Albion FFA students planted the squash last June and helped direct the students during today’s harvest. This trio of FFA students includes, from left: Rylie Lear, FFA President Vivian Rivers, and Alexis Bentley.

Brian Postle, right, joins his fourth grade classmates in today’s squash harvest.

Another student is happy to help with the harvest.

The FFA also grew gourds that will be shared with teachers for a fall festival celebration. Students also grew pumpkins that will be sold at Panek’s Pumpkin Patch with proceeds donated for breast cancer awareness and research.

Storm lights up the sky

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The First Presbyterian Church of Albion is lit up during lightning at about 7:30 p.m. today when thunderstorms with gusty winds and small hail hit the area.

The church, with its steeple reaching 175 feet high, is the tallest building in Orleans County. Swan Library is pictured at bottom during some of the lightning.

The courthouse has a pink tint in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This photo also shows the Orleans County Jail and the Presbyterian Church.

The National Weather Service says the temperature will take a big drop this weekend with a chance of snow.

Friday will have a high 54 and a low of 36. On Saturday, the temperature will only reach 43 with a low of 32, the Weather Service is forecasting. Sunday the high will be 41 with a low of 31 and chance for snow.

New granite benches added outside Albion library

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Three new granite benches were added outside Hoag Library on Tuesday. The benches are the work of Brigden Memorials in Albion and were paid for with donations.

Connie Archbald paid for this bench in memory of her parents, Ed and Jean Archbald of Carlton.

This bench lists the members of the library board of trustees in 2013, including President Kevin Doherty, and members Jan Albanese, Linda Smith, Colleen McKenna, Mary Anne Braunbach, Dele Theodorakos, Terry Wilbert and Patricia West. Susan Rudnicky, the former library director, also is listed on the bench.

The classmates of Duann J. Zicari paid for this bench. (It was raining earlier today so some of the letters have water on them, making them look less crisp.)

Friends of paralyzed Albion teen trying to raise funds for van

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Ashley Wiegele is pictured in her senior photo.

ALBION – Ashley Wiegele was only a few days away from her high school graduation when she was in a boating accident on Lake Ontario on June 20, 2014.

Ashley, then 17, wasn’t able to participate in commencement. She was paralyzed from the chest down.

She is home in an apartment with her mother, and receives physical and occupational therapy. Ashley is hopeful she will one day walk again.

For right now, she is mostly limited to her apartment, which isn’t handicapped accessible.

Her friends and the staff at Albion Central School want to give her more freedom to be out in the community. They have organized a benefit on Oct. 24, with a goal to raise at least $10,000 to buy a van with a wheelchair for Ashley.

“Rock ‘n Roll for Ashley” will feature live music from several local musical acts from 3 to 10 p.m. at the Albion Elk’s Lodge, 428 West State St. in Albion. The event also includes a giant basket raffle, pumpkin decorating for kids and adults, and side raffles.

“Albion and Orleans County are great. When somebody is in need they’re there to help,” said Scott Green, a guidance counselor at the high school and also the event chairman.

Ashley’s injuries have required her mom to become her full-time caregiver, resulting in a loss of income for the family.

Ashley has been mostly confined to a bed at her apartment. She only leaves the house for doctor’s appointments, which requires calling for a special van to transport her, Green said.

“This is about her mobility, to allow her to get up and go,” Green said. “Having a van will give Ashley some independence, allowing her to do things that other people take for granted, like grocery shop with her mom, or visit the library, or catch a movie with friends.”

Solo performers at the Oct. 24 “Rock ‘n Roll for Ashley” include Gregg Albertson and Shannon Vanderlaan, who will open the event. They will be followed by several local bands including Delano Steele and Atomic Swamis.

Food will be available for purchase at the event. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door or by calling (585) 944-0678.

There is also an on-line fund-raising page for Ashley at CrowdRise. Click here for more information.

International students speak of long commutes, difficult entrance exams back home

Staff Reports Posted 13 October 2015 at 12:00 am

GCC hosts panel of international exchange students

Provided photo – Students at the Oct. 6 panel discussion at GCC in Albion include, front row, from left: Kichan Ahn(South Korea), Gyuho Jung (South Korea), Labonte Valiendia (Haiti), Baohua Wang (China, Lee Jong Hyeon, (South Korea), Ma Xin (China), Bruce Thomas (Jamaica) Yazhou Zhang (China), and director Linda Redfield Shakoor of the World Life Institute. Orleans-Niagara BOCES Adult ESL teachers from World Life Institute Education Center, in back, are Monica Beck and Harris Lieberman.

Jim Simon, dean of the Albion campus center, presents gifts to the students.

ALBION – Genesee Community College’s Albion Campus Center on Oct. 6 hosted a panel discussion of international exchange students led by Linda Redfield Shakoor, director of the World Life Institute.

The event is part of GCC’s Global Education Committee efforts to increase college students and the community on the rich diversity of education across the globe. The eight participating students were from China, South Korea, Haiti and Mexico. Linda led the panel with questions, and then GCC students and faculty were also able to ask questions.

These students are graduate-level students from their respective countries working in the United States and striving to increase their English language skills. Their academic and work-related efforts are focused on agriculture. Each of them is working at Intergrow in Albion and attending night classes administered at the World Life Institute Education Center in Waterport, and taught English by Orleans-Niagara BOCES teachers such as Monica Beck and Harris Lieberman.

The panel topics discussed ranged from the 12-hour school days the students from China and South Korea experienced preparing for their college entrance exams (the rough equivalent of the SAT). In the case of the Chinese students, they shared the striking fact that approximately 9 million Chinese students take the exam and only half of them score high enough to go to college.

The students also shared how difficult it can be to obtain higher education – either because of devastating earthquakes like what occurred in Haiti a few years ago, or because of the significant distances (sometimes up to 2-hours one way) students in Mexico have to travel to go to school.

The panel discussion was taped and will be part of the featured Global Education Day events scheduled for GCC in Batavia on Thursday, Oct, 22, 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the college forum.

7th-graders busy with Civil War project at Mount Albion and beyond

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – This gravesite marker for a Civil War veteran at Mount Albion recently had the rust scraped off and was given a fresh protective coat of black paint as part of a service-learning project by Albion seventh-graders.

Here is how the same marker looked late last month, before the restoration efforts. Students are also cataloging locations for the markers from the Grand Army of the Republic.

Students have other Civil War initiatives planned for the school year. They are going to research the names of every Orleans County resident who died in the Civil War and compare that with the 463 names carved in marble slabs inside the tower at Mount Albion Cemetery.

Provided photos
Albion Middle School seventh-grade service learning student Bailey Blanchard points to another “Blanchard” inside the tower at Mt. Albion Cemetery. The students are cataloging the names of soldiers who died during the war. To date there is no master list.

The tower includes marble slabs with the names of 463 residents who were killed during the Civil War. However, the memorial may not have included every local resident who perished in the war, said Tim Archer, teacher of the service learning class.

Bryne Dysard, an Albion seventh-grader, kneels next to the Herbert Charles Taylor grave at Hillside Cemetery in Clarendon. Taylor is the only known Orleans County soldier to fight and die at the battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. Dysard and her service learning classmates have been studying Orleans County Civil War soldiers and are trying to secure a historical marker for him.

SUNY Brockport archivist Charles Cowling spent a morning at Drake Library at the college teaching Albion Middle School service-learning students about the importance of primary source documentation.

The students are in the middle of a large project researching Orleans County Civil War veterans. Their research has already uncovered many interesting facts about our local heroes and includes work at several area cemeteries. The documentation is important as the students write applications for a historical marker grant and a headstone for an unmarked grave from the Veterans Administration.

Hoag gets $250K worth of solar power

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The south-side roof on the Hoag Library is now covered in solar panels. The library is working with Arista Power on the renewable project. The worker pictured is running conduit through the roof today.

The state is paying half of the $256,000 costs, providing a $54,000 library construction grant and other rebates through the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority.

The library is financing $128,000, its share of the project. The anticipated electricity savings should pay off the library’s share of the project within 18 years, perhaps sooner, said Kevin Doherty, president of the library’s board.

The library was approved for state funds for the project when the new building was constructed in 2011-12, but Doherty said the board held off on the project until the cost of solar came down and the efficiency went up.

Albion 8th-graders make pillows, ponchos for breast cancer patients

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Amber Lowery, an Albion 8th-grader, holds a pillow she made for recovering breast cancer patients.

Amber and other students in Mrs. Kim Toombs’ Family and Consumer Sciences class have been making pillows and ponchos for breast cancer patients.

Toombs was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2014. After surgery, she completed chemotherapy and radiation in January 2015.

Kim Toombs gets the thread lined up so student Julie Porter can sew a poncho for a breast cancer patient.

The class will deliver the ponchos and pillows later this month when they take a field trip to the Pluta Cancer Center through Strong Memorial Hospital, the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, and Highland Hospital.

Toombs said she received help through all three organizations.

“I didn’t know there was a need until I went through it myself,” Toombs said about the pillows and ponchos.

Ella Knaak shows one of the ponchos she made in class. The students are making 70 ponchos, 50 medium-size pillows and 50 small pillows to be given to breast cancer patients.

Angel Rushing, front, Deyonci Farley and other eighth-graders work on the ponchos during class today.

Toombs wears a sticker noting she is a breast cancer survivor.

She thanked her students for working so hard on the project in class.

“They are doing a great with them,” she said.

Albion elementary students learn fire prevention tips

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Joey Schoeberlein, an Albion third-grader, aims the hose at targets with some help from Albion firefighter Beau Piskorowski during a program today outside the elementary school as part of Fire Prevention Week.

Piskorowski and a third-grade student spray water at targets. The house with the fake flames was built by Andrew Cheverie for his Eagle Scout project last year. This was the first time it was used for Fire Prevention Week at the school.

Andrew Cheverie, right, also built this stop that allows students to practice “Stay Low and Go” in case of a fire. Students first checked to see if the door was hot. When it wasn’t hot, they opened it and crawled under the pretend flames.

Levi Coughlin, a kindergartner, stays low under the flames.

Albion firefighters James Fisher, left, and Rob Conner gave students tours of the fire trucks.

Ryan Woolston, a Carlton firefighter, showed students the rescue boat used by the Carlton Fire Department.