Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – For decades now, Burger King has been an oasis of flowers, grass and small trees on a section of Main Street dominated by asphalt.

The Albion Betterment Committee on Saturday morning presented the store’s owner, Mark Cammilleri, with a “Landscape Award” for his years of upkeep and commitment of a colorful lawn with lots of flowers. Cammilleri is pictured with Linda Davis, who has been planting and maintaining the flowers for many years.

“We want to recognize their longevity of commitment,” said Gary Kent, a director with the Albion Betterment Committee. “It’s clean and there are tons of flowers blooming.”

Cammilleri’s father James bought the Burger King store in Albion in 1989. He wanted perennials and green space.

“Curb appeal is very important,” Cammilleri said. “This isn’t your normal, bland landscape.”

Cammilleri credited Davis for planting the flowers, and developing a plan so different ones are blooming from spring to late summer.

The Betterment Committee recognized Albion Agencies with a Landscape Award last week. That business has been locally run since 1844. Kent and the Betterment Committee also wanted to honor a franchise owner for years of effort with flowers and lawn beautification efforts.

Linda Davis and Mark Cammilleri are pictured with Albion Betterment Commitee directors, from left: Gary Kent, Gary Derwick (second from right) and Joe Gehl.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Matthew Mooney gave the premier performance of a musical review, “Buffalo to Broadway,” featuring popular songs from many of the musicals he has performed in over the past two decades.

Mooney, a member of Albion’s Class of 1993, debuted his new show on Saturday at The Cabaret at Studio B in Albion.
Mooney, a tenor, sang show-stopping numbers from Les Miserables, My Fair Lady, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Carousel, Little Shop of Horrors, Godspell, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Into the Woods, Pippin, Wicked, Spring Awakening, The Sound of Music and other shows.

After graduating from Albion, Mooney earned a degree in theater and liberal arts from Nazareth College in Rochester. Then he followed his dream to New York City and worked in theater for four years in The Big Apple.

He has been a star in the Buffalo theater scene for several years has helped start a new theater company, Buffalo Chrysalis Theater Company, a year ago.

Mooney said he was fortunate to grow up in Albion, which has a strong theater program in the school district.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – It may have been a grueling event, running 10 miles on a hot summer day, but participants and the crowd along the course for the inaugural Metro 10 in Albion had a great time on Saturday, showing smiles and not grimaces.

The top photo shows runners after they completed their part of a relay. They are at the 5-mile mark.

Cheyanna Eagle, left, and Angela Tarricone sing the National Anthem. The two are members of the select chorus at Albion High School. Another student, Zach Shaffer, also sang the anthem. They were directed by Gary Simboli.

Orville Preston, a veteran from Albion, holds the flag while race directors Brian Krieger, center, and Thom Jennings observe a respectful silence. The two race directors then welcomed the runners to Albion and Orleans County.

The Albion Running Club put on the event, which pitted runners from Rochester vs. Buffalo for the Metro 10 Cup and bragging rights over which area is the better running community. Rochester took the title this year.

Jason McElwain, better known as “J-Mac,” is at the starting line with other runners on Route 31 near the front of the CRFS parking lot. J-Mac of Rochester was fifth overall with a time of 1:02. He first earned fame about a decade ago when he scored 20 points in the closing minutes for Greece Athena in a high school baskeball game. He is a highly functioning autistic amateur athlete who has run the Boston Marathon in under 3 hours.

Debbie Restivo of Albion is out on Main Street with a cow bell, cheering on the runners.

Jacki Mowers-Sciarabba, a client advocate and Just Friends coordinator for the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, has water ready for runners at the Mile 2 mark. The Ministry of Concern had many volunteers handing out water.

Girl Scouts have water and wet towels for runners at the Mile 6 mark. The Girl Scouts won $300 for the best water stop.

Members of the Albion Cross Country team were enthusiastic at Mile 9, trying to give the runners a boost with a mile to go.

Jose Quiros of Medina snaps a photo of a friend finishing the race at Bullard Park.

Pam Allen of Albion is dressed as a clown near the finish line. She was helping to promote a Vacation Bible School this week at the Albion Free Methodist Church.

Evan Steier and his father John of Albion were a team in the relay, which Evan running the first 5 miles and John completing the second leg of the course. (Evan actually kept running and finished the entire course.) They both ran for Buffalo. They are pictured in Bullard Park for the post-race party.

Up2Somethin’ , a popular party band from Rochester, entertains at Bullard. The seven-piece band includes Rickey Ellis on bass and vocals at right, and lead singer Evyn Grassl.

Schwenk’s Wine Cellars in Kent was one of four Orleans County wineries offering wine-tastings at the post-race celebration. Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina, 810 Meadworks in Medina, and Salamaca Estate Winery in Murray also were at the event.

Runners were given a commemorative wine glass with the Metro 10 logo.

Jim Salmon of Barre, a radio host for WHAM 1180 in Rochester, gets ready to announce the winning running community: Rochester.

Some Rochester runners hold the Metro 10 Cup after Rochester was announced as the winning team for 2015. Matt Kistner of Albion, second from right, created the cup. He is a metal artist and welder. Thom Jennings, right, served as honorary captain for Rochester as well as co-race director.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Runners take off at the start of today’s Metro 10 race in Albion. This spot is on Route 31 near the CRFS parking lot. There were about 400 runners in Albion today.

Runners liked the course that went through historic downtown Albion, north to Watt Farms, through an apple orchard, and then a series of country roads, passing corn fields, tractors and more apple trees.

The 10-mile course turned to the canal towpath off Densmore Road, and included a final stretch on pavement at Butts Road and Route 31 before the finish at Bullard Park.

Runners pass by the First Presbyterian Church, part of the historic Courthouse Square.

Omar Boulama, 21, of Rochester was the first overall finisher with a time of 52:20. Boulama said he enjoyed the course with the change in terrain and the varied scenery.

“It wasn’t boring,” he said.

These runners cross over the Main Street lift bridge. The Metro 10 is the first-of-its-kind race where runners ran for either Rochester or Buffalo. When the points were tallied, Rochester claimed the first Metro 10 cup.

“I loved the race,” said Albion native Heather Snyder, who now lives in Columbia, Maryland. “It was great to see the two cities come together for the love of running.”

A pack of runners heads up a hill on Route 98, nearing Bacon Road.

“There was a lot of nice scenery, said 26-year-old Jason McElwain of Rochester. He was fifth overall with a time of 1:02. “J-Mac” first earned fame about a decade ago when he scored 20 points in the closing minutes for Greece Athena. He is a highly functioning autistic amateur athlete who has run the Boston Marathon in under 3 hours.

Watt Farms parked its orchard train by the course.

Runners commented they enjoyed the run through the orchard at Watt Farms, which took them by a pond with lots of waterfowl.

Mike Neidert of Albion runs through a sprinkler set up by the Boy Scouts on Densmore Street.

Margy Brown of Waterport enjoys being sprayed with water at the 6-mile mark, a water stop run by the Girl Scouts. The Girl Scouts also had wet towels and earned a $300 award for the best water stop.

Runners pass by corn fields on Zig-Zag Road.

“I love the small towns and going by the farms,” said Hannah Davidson of Saratoga, the top overall female finisher with a time of 59:38. “For a first time event, this was very well put on.”

A member of the Orleans County Clay Crushers has water ready for runners at the 8-mile mark on the canal towpath.

Kirsten Struble, a member of the Albion Cross Country team, and her teammates were enthusiastic boosters at Mile 9 in today’s Metro 10 race in Albion, a 10-mile trek on foot where runners squared off from Rochester versus Buffalo.

The cross country team also manned a water stop at the ninth mile on Butts Road.

The finish line is set up in Bullard Park.

Each finisher received one of these medals.

Rochester claimed the Metro 10 Cup and many of the runners posed for photos with the trophy afterwards, including this group, from left: Jared Ziegler, Ron Ziegler and Ed Martin.

Fleet Feet employees, Jim Marchetti (left) and Kraig Connor, carry the trophy to the Fleet Feet van. The trophy will spend much of the next year in Fleet Feet’s Rochester stores.

“This was a very good first-time event,” Marchetti said. “They have a great base to build on.”

Photos by Cheryl and Mike Wertman

ALBION – Runners from Rochester claimed the first Metro 10 Cup today in a first-of-its kind race in Albion, which pitted runners from the two metro areas.

There were close to 400 runners in the 10-mile race. The top photo shows a pack of runners on Main Street passing by Burger King. The course took runners through historic downtown Albion, a fruit orchard at Watt Farms, country roads, the canal towpath, and ended with stretch on Route 31 before the finish at Bullard Park.

Omar Boulama was the first man to finish in a time of 52:20, a 5:14-mile pace. He ran for the Rochester team, and his first place finish earned Rochester an extra 100 points.

Runners head north on Route 98 in Albion today just after 10 a.m. in the inaugural Metro 10 race.

Albion native Trisha Byler was the second woman to finish overall with a time of 1:03:54, a per mile pace of 6:23. She ran for the Rochester team.

Omar Boulama is out in front as he heads north on Main Street.

Chad Byler, Trisha’s husband, was the second man to finish with a time of 57:37. He ran for Rochester.

Runners make their way through historic downtown Albion.

Hannah Davidson was the first woman to finish with a time of 59:38, which was the third fastest time on the day of all runners, male or female. She ran for the Rochester team.

The runners head north across the Main Street lift bridge.

Dan Courtney, a principal at Holley Jr.-Sr. High School, was the third man to finish with a time of 59:52. He ran for the Rochester team.

A group goes along the canal with the Densmore Road bridge in the background. The runners are at the 8-mile mark, which includes a water stop.

Orleans Hub will have more on the Metro 10 and the post-race party at Bullard Park.

Photo by Tom Rivers  – Albion firefighters and COVA personnel are on scene of a serious car accident this afternoon at the intersection of Gaines Basin Road and Albion-Eagle Harbor Road.

Press Release
Sheriff Scott Hess

ALBION – Four people including a toddler are hospitalized following a 2-car crash this afternoon on the Albion-Gaines town line.

The incident occurred at about 3:40 p.m., at the intersection of Gaines Basin Road and Albion-Eagle Harbor Road.

A 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt was travelling north on Gaines Basin Road and failed to stop for the stop sign at Albion-Eagle Harbor Rd. The Cobalt entered the intersection and collided with a westbound 2008 Honda Civic.

The driver of the Cobalt is identified as Shanque K. Collins, 23, of Rochester. She was flown by Mercy Flight helicopter to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

A front seat passenger in her car is identified as Tiajah Shari Lewis, 22, of Rochester. She had to be extricated from the car by Albion firefighters.

Collins’ 3-year-old son was a back-seat passenger in the vehicle. Both the boy and Lewis were transported to Strong by Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance. At the time of the collision, the toddler was riding in a car seat. However neither he nor the seat were properly secured.

The driver (sole occupant) of the Civic is identified as Trudy M. Arnett, 40, of Newfane in Niagara County. She was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital by Medina Fire Department Ambulance.

The incident was investigated by Deputy D.J. Pahuta, with assistance from Deputies K.J. Colonna, B.M. Larkin and T.N. Tooley. Trooper K.L. Bentley of the Albion barracks also assisted. Charge(s) against Collins, including Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 2nd Degree, are pending her recovery.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Four people have been taken to the hospital following a two-car accident at one of Albion’s most dangerous intersections.

The accident happened about 3:40 p.m. at the Gaines Basin Road and Albion-Eagle Harbor Road intersection, the scene of fatal collisions in the past.

The passenger in one of the vehicles was trapped, and Albion firefighters needed to remove the windshield and top of the car to free the person, who was then taken by Mercy Flight helicopter.

Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance transported two people and Medina Fire Department ambulance took another. No other information is available.

After this accident, first responders were also dispatched to a two-car accident on Route 31A in Albion between Lewis and Culver roads, and an accident on Ridge Road in the Town of Murray near Ridge Mobile Estates.

Photos by Tom Rivers  – The east side of Bullard Park has tents, picnic tables and the home stretch ready for Saturday’s Metro 10 race that starts at 10 a.m. A party with bands, food and wine-tastings will follow at Bullard Park.

ALBION – The inaugural Metro 10 race to determine whether Rochester or Buffalo has the best running community includes a formula with four categories to determine the winner.

Race directors Brian Krieger and Thom Jennings brainstormed the 10-mile race, pitting runners in the two metro areas. The winning city will get a trophy cup and bragging rights for a year.

The race directors have a formula so every finisher scores points for their team – either Rochester or Buffalo. That way it’s not just the elite runners that count for points.

This sign will post updates on the average finishing time for each city until the race concludes at 1 p.m.

The formula includes the average overall team time for each city. Slower runners needn’t worry that they will hurt their team by running. Because participation points count more than average time. The team with the most runners scores the most participation points in the second category.

There are 10,000 total points up for grabs, and the fastest man and fastest woman will score 100 points for their city.

There will also be age group points for 19 and under, and then age groups in five-year increments up to age 80. The top 20 finishers in each age group will score points for their city with the age group category.

The data will all be tabulated to determine the winning city, and keeper of the Metro 10 Cup until next year’s race.

To see more on the scoring system, click here.

Photos courtesy of Hoag Library

ALBION – Hoag Library hosted a program on Wednesday with the Buffalo Zoomobile. This year the Buffalo Zoo sent Outreach Program Specialist Robin Sanecki and volunteer docent Betsy Walls.

In the top photo, Walls explains to the children how some birds can’t fly because of their feathers. The Zoomobile showed several feathers, animal skeletons, an anaconda skin, an alligator skull and pelts.

These Brazilian cockroaches were kept in their container while Sanecki explained that they help keep places clean by eating rotten food and other waste materials, which would otherwise risk building up and polluting an environment.

Sanecki brought five animals with her to represent a broad spectrum of the animal kingdom, including mammals, birds, arthropods, and more. A rabbit, a tortoise, cockroaches, a toad and a parrot were all presented to the audience. At the end of the program, everyone was given the opportunity to touch the rabbit and the tortoise.

A young boy at the program gets up close with a rabbit.

The program drew a crowd of over 100 people during the three sessions. The morning sessions were open to very young kids and their parents to hear an animal story, then get a close look at the animals.

The afternoon session was open to anyone in the public and featured more animal education, such as species classification and how animals survive in their habitats.

Sanecki holds Abraham the toad. The children laughed when he came out and performed his two defense mechanisms: urinating and puffing up. Sanecki explains that is how frogs and toads try to get you to leave them where they live.

Brian Kent begins gasoline-free trip on Monday

Provided photo – Brian Kent is pictured with his 2013 Nissan LEAF. He is planning a 100-day cross-country trip in the vehicle, planting a tree in 48 states along the way.

ALBION – Brian Kent will embark on a cross-country trip on Monday, the beginning of a 26,000-mile trip over 100 days. He plans to plant a tree in 48 states as part of a negative carbon road trip.

Kent, 44, wants to shatter myths about electric cars, that they are unreliable for a long journey. He will charge up along the way, using those stops to talk with people and share his mission for more earth-friendly transportation.

Kent lives in Batavia. He grew up in Albion and will start his trip from the home of his parents, Gary and Grace Kent, on Allens Bridge Road.

Kent bought his 2013 Nissan LEAF in December 2013. He has logged about 28,000 miles on it. The vehicle has a range of 84 miles before it needs a charge.

“People have such misconceptions about these cars,” Kent said today. “The vast majority of households could use them. You could be driving a very economical, efficient and reliable vehicle.”

He has sponsors for the trip, including Kampgrounds of America. He will plant a tree at a KOA site in 46 states. With no KOA in Rhode Island or Delaware, Kent is working with local governments in those two states to plant a tree.

The freelance writer believes his trip will more than double the world record for the longest trip in an electric car without solar power.

“These vehicles can accomplish long road trips,” he said.

A photo from the dashboard of Kent’s car.

Kent wants to educate and show the public what is possible with an electric vehicle, including the accessibility of plug-in vehicle charging. He plans to charge his Nissan LEAF in city centers and campgrounds.

He will blog along the way, highlighting successes and some inevitable challenges. (Click here to see his blog.)

Kent said his tree-planting will remove 10 times as much carbon dioxide as he put into the atmosphere as part of the 26,000-mile trip. He said one tree sequesters about one ton of CO2 in its first 40 years. Planting 48 trees will remove about 48 tons of C02 over 40 years.

The electricity needed to drive a Nissan LEAF 26,000 miles would account for about 4.8 tons of C02 emitted.

Besides Kampgrounds of America, Kent is partnering with Michelin, Plug in America, National Drive Electric Week, EV Charge Hub, Clean Technica, Inside EVs, and The Green Optimistic for the educational trip.

Kent is planning to touch all capital cities in the lower 48 states. He will average 262 miles each day until the trip concludes on Dec. 2.

“I believe it’s incumbent upon those of us familiar with plug-in vehicles to spread the word as best we can,” he said. “Not everyone can or needs to drive across the country, but most Americans drive less than 40 miles per day, and an electric vehicle costs the equivalent of less than a dollar-per-gallon of gasoline to drive, so these cars are ideal for most Americans and we need them for our environment and our children’s future.”

Kent set a $2,500 fund-raising goal for the trip, and already has exceeded that. Click here for more information.

Provided photos by Marilyn Neilans

The Class of 1965 celebrated its 50th reunion on Saturday with a party at Hickory Ridge Country Club in Holley.

The top photo shows John Dale, left, and Bob Gurzynski, right, presenting Class President Bob Rice with a plaque designating him “President For Life” of the class of 1965. His classmates say that he can never stop being in charge of the class reunions.

Classmates sort through stacks of pictures of previous reunions. The group includes, from left: Donna Bentley Brenner, Ann Moore Brown, Lenore Vick Heard, Frank Ciszek and Charlie Nesbitt.

Marcia Bannister Skinner entertains the group with her beautiful voice.

Some of the classmates gather for a photo. The group includes, front row, from left: Doreen Ritterbandt Goffe, Ann Burgoon Wood, Donna Bentley Brenner, Carol Andrews Lally, Kathy Watson Sherman, Linda Phillips Dale and Marcia Bannister Skinner.

Back row: Ken Snyder, Bob Gurzynski, John Dale, Kathy Piazza Ludwick, Roger Gibson, Bob Rice and Phillip McKenna.

Business has been downtown mainstay for century

Photos by Tom Rivers – Gary Withey, owner of Fischer’s Newsstand in Albion since 1995, takes care of customer Amanda Harmer today. She bought a bag full of candy that is on sale.

ALBION – A store that has been a part of downtown Albion, and an endearing part of many childhoods, will close on Aug. 30 after more than a century of business.

Gary and Denise Withey became owners of the business in January 1995. They are out-of-towners. They live in Medina. Gary grew up in Kendall.

They weren’t sure the community would accept them. But Mr. Withey said the community has been welcoming since Day 1. He and his wife felt loved by their many customers through the years.

Lottery is a big draw for the business, which continues to have a variety of magazines and newspapers.

Sylvia Harmer said walking into the store is like stepping into the bar on Cheers, “Where everybody knows your name.” Mr. Withey gave her a big greeting today when she stopped in to check her lottery tickets.

Harmer said the Witheys have always been very personable with the public. She likes to see other customers at the store. Fischer’s has been a place to swap stories and catch up on the news. She started coming to Fischer’s to pass time while her kids had dance classes.

“I just like to come down and hang out,” Harmer said. “I’ve met a lot of people here.”

Many of the customers are older, and many have passed away without new faces coming in. Withey said business has slowed with a shrinking customer base. He also felt it with a decline in newspaper, magazine and sports cards sales.

Fischer’s Newsstand is open until Aug. 30 at 105 North Main St.

Karen Walls stops by Fischer’s with her son Aaron Walls and nephew Joseph Argo.

The portrait of Medina native Carl Fischer hangs on the wall at Fischer’s. He pitched for the Detroit Tigers and later lived in Albion and ran the newsstand.

The Witheys persevered and kept the business going in recent years, as other news stands shut down in Batavia, Medina, Rochester, Dunkirk and other Western New York communities.

The business pressures don’t compare to the crisis for the Withey family last October when Denise suffered catastrophic kidney failure. She was on dialysis until her death at age 51 on Feb. 27.

Mr. Withey said he is thankful for the community support since then. But he no longer wants to keep up with the demands of the business. His wife worked part-time at the store while working a full-time job with The Arc of Orleans County.

“We were in business for 20 years and that was our goal when we opened,” Withey said today. “I’m going to miss it terribly.”

He will start a new job in September as a medical courier for ACM Medical Laboratory in Buffalo. Withey won’t have to work holidays and weekends in the new job. He hasn’t had those perks at Fischer’s.

Withey said the store has never struggled to sell candy. Many children come in for candy bars and sweets.

Karen Spierdowis remembers coming to the store when she was about 7. It was her first trip from home without a grownup. She and some friends went to the store for candy. She spent part of her allowance on penny candy.

“It was a rite of passage for kids in Albion,” she said.

Spierdowis has stayed a steady customer. Now she brings in her son for candy or for sports cards. Sometimes she picks up a newspaper or magazine.

“It’s the last of an era with the newspaper store,” she said.

Withey, 54, wanted to thank his many loyal customers over the years, as well as long-time employees Marilyn Kilbourn and Diane Edwards, his wife’s best friend since kindergarten.

“We’ve had people come in here from ages 6 to 90,” Withey said. “The town has treated us very well. They took care of us for 20 years.”

ALBION – The Rev. Richard Csizmar, pastor of Holy Family Parish, tosses a ring towards wine bottles. Csizmar won at least six of the bottles due to his accurate tosses. He gave them to family members.

Tony Navarra, left, and Kevin Sheehan work the game.

There was a crowd of at least 300 people at the Elk Club grounds on Sunday for the annual Lawn Fete for the church, where the community enjoyed food, games, raffles and music.

‘It’s a small-town thing,” Csizmar said about the Lawn Fete. “It gets people together. That’s the main thing.”

Sausage and peppers are grilled and ready to eat.

The line of cooks for the sauage, hot dogs and cheeseburgers includes, from left: Greg Metz, his son Corey Metz, Tim Adduci and Mike Grabowski.

Jean Shervin, left, and Michele Grabowski cook up some fried dough. Uncle Sal’s in Albion donated 50 pounds of dough for the popular treat at the Lawn Fete.

Mary Ann Tillman wears an apron about her “Famous Polish Bread.” The Lawn Fete started at noon and the bread was quickly gone. Mary Ann’s daughter gave her the apron, using a photo of Mary Ann from the Lawn Fete two years ago when she was pictured on the Orleans Hub.

There were 52 raffle baskets at the Lawn Fete. The event usually raises about $18,000 for the parish.