By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Nine bands performed in the second annual “Rock the Park” fund-raiser for Bullard Park on Saturday, including the band driVen. Mike “Thunder” Warren, right, and Dylan DeSmit are pictured performing with that band under the main pavilion at Bullard.
DeSmit and Zach Burgess helped line up the bands for Saturday. The event also included 53 vendors and a festival-like atmosphere.
Tyler Dixon, 5, of Barre Center has fun with a bubble gun.
Two bounce houses and a big slide were popular with kids.
Jonathan Judd, 11, gets ready to hit the target at the dunk tank. His mother, Tracy Judd-LaGalbo, was among the many volunteers who took a turn in the tank with all proceeds going to the park.
Kara Pitcher of Middleport was one of 53 vendors at the park on Saturday. She owns Legendary Dog Treats. Besides selling dog treats, she also sold dog feeders designed by her father, Danny Pitcher.
Annette Tamul of Albion organized the vendors. She has many contacts among vendors because she sells wickless waxes and warmers.
Tamul was living in South Carolina and moved back to Albion about three years ago. She noticed how much of the old playground equipment had been removed due to safety issues, without new equipment being added.
“We have all of this space to utilize,” Tamul said about the park.
The village has twice tried for state grants and been denied. It is trying again this year for park upgrades, including a new splash pad. In the meantime, Tamul said the community needs to try to raise funds to improve the popular spot on Route 31.
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 first “Rock the Park” was at the Elks Club last year. Organizers wanted to move the event to Bullard this time and add more activities.
Zero performs under the main pavilion.
Dylan DeSmit played with three bands at Rock the Park on Saturday: Delano Steele, driVen, and Zero.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2015 at 12:00 am
50 vendors are also selling food, crafts and merchandise
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Gregg Albertson kicks off the “Rock the Park” music festival at Bullard Park today. Albertson, a solo musician, sings “Billie Jean.”
Albertson performed under the main pavilion at the park on Route 31 from 11 to 11:50 a.m.
Albertson and the other musicians are all performing for free today, hoping to draw a crowd and donations to upgrade Bullard with new playground equipment. The village is also seeking a grant for a spray park and other amenities for Bullard.
The lineup of musicians today includes:
Delano Steele, noon to 12:50 p.m.
Fuze, 1:05 to 1:55 p.m.
DriVen, 2:10 to 3 p.m.
Break with beer tent setup from 3 to 4 p.m.
Whiskey Rebellion, 4 to 5 p.m.
Bobby Skrzypek and the Pedestrians, 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Flipside, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Justin Crossett Band, 7:45 to 9:15 p.m.
Zero, 9:30 to 11 p.m.
There are about vendors at the park selling merchandise, food and produce. There are also two bounce houses.
Ron Albertson wears a Rock the Park 2 shirt for today’s event. Albertson helped organize the event, along with other members of the Albion Lions Club and Bullard Park supporters.
Sarah Brigham, left, has plenty of baked goods and sweets available. She is the owner of S-n-L Sweet Escapes in Albion. Lisa Stratton (right), owner of the Hazy Jade Gift Shop, also has merchandise for sale at Bullard Park today.
Danielle Schmidt, left, is pictured with a llama and Alexis Bentley holds an alpacca. WARM-B Acres in Albion also brought along a miniature donkey and goats for kids to see.
John Keding works the grill for the Albion Lions Club.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – This house was built in 1893 at the corner of East State and Platt streets as the manse for the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.
ALBION – I have admired Phil and Harriette Greaser’s house in Albion for many years. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s part of the Courthouse Square District, which includes 34 sites on the National Register, including seven churches.
The Greasers were often out on the front porch together. I would wave, and compliment them on their house. They told me I could get a tour sometime.
I didn’t pursue a tour until Thursday. I wish I had tried harder sooner. Mr. Greaser passed away at age 88 on June 30.
The house has several oval-shaped windows that face the Courthouse and other historic sites in Albion. Mrs. Greaser says this is the half-moon window.
The Greasers bought the house from the Presbyterian Church in 1987. It had been the church manse, the home for the pastor, since the house was built in 1893.
The Greasers were downsizing after restoring a 22-room house in Eagle Harbor that they called “The Four Chimneys.”
The house in Albion was designed by acclaimed Rochester architect Andrew Jackson Warner. It was constructed in the Queen Anne style.
“To have this architecture – an Andrew Jackson Warner house in Albion – was a great privilege to take on,” Mrs. Greaser said.
Harriette Greaser is pictured with the staircase made of golden oak.
The Greasers would transform the house, scraping away paint and bringing back woodwork. They planted trees, hedges and a big garden of flowers and vegetables.
The Landmark Society of Western New York took notice and gave the couple a Historic Home award in 2002. In 2007, their house was featured in a Rochester magazine.
The reception room in the Greaser home puts the woodwork on display. The house includes red birch, golden oak and cucumber wood.
Mr. Greaser grew up in Pennsylvania, the son of a Baptist minister. He moved to Holley when he was 20 after serving in the Navy. His father was leading the Baptist church there at the time.
Phil Greaser would work 37 years for Kodak. He and his wife were married for 51 years and they raised four children.
He loved architecture, music and literature. One of the rooms in the house includes his library. He liked to read by a window while birds fluttered nearby outside.
The library at the Greaser home lets in lots of natural light from the windows.
Phil Greaser enjoyed the many birds that were in the backyard at the Greaser property in Albion. His children gave him the stained-glass artwork for his 80th birthday.
The house in the village, across from the Courthouse and next to the Presbyterian Church, proved convenient. Mrs. Greaser is the organist at the Holy Family Catholic Parish. Her husband was the organist for more than 50 years at the First Baptist Church.
They each have a piano in the house. Mr. Greaser played a Steinway and his wife a Knabe. She continues to teach piano lessons from her home.
After years in the country, the couple enjoyed the easy access to the library, Post Office, grocery store and other amenities in the village.
But the Greasers weren’t used to such a public location, especially when they were out weeding and doing other yard work.
Harriette Greaser is pictured in the backyard of the property at 31 East State St., where she and her husband created a garden with numerous types of flowers, as well as a sandstone walkway. The yard used to be all grass.
Many pedestrians pass by each day on Platt and East State streets. Mrs. Greaser is aware of the location’s prominent spot in a historic district and busy part of the community.
“This is a very public place and the grounds need to showcase the house,” Mrs. Greaser said. “It’s wrong to have a house like this and not invest it.”
She and her husband preferred to spend money on bushes, flowers and the landscape, rather than go out for dinner.
Mr. Greaser loved Daylilies, his wife said. They have Daylilies in several different colors.
About 20 years ago a man stopped by the Greasers and offered them this sandstone bench, thinking it would go nicely with their backyard. The couple gratefully accepted.
Mr. Greaser took on many of the building projects at the house himself. He and his wife did lots of scraping, and Mr. Greaser liked to pick reproduction wallpaper to give the interior a feel from a century ago.
His wife said the community is fortunate to have contractors who can skillfully work on historic houses. They hired Panek Coatings to paint the house on three different occasions. Steve Ernst has helped them with some of the bigger projects, especially with the chimneys.
The front room has windows with refracted glass that send bursts of light in different directions throughout the day.
“The light comes in and just sparkles,” Mrs. Greaser said.
Mrs. Greaser said she and her husband enjoyed the house, tending to details inside and outside.
They enjoyed sitting in the patio, chatting with their friends and family.
She was asked why she and her husband tried so hard to decorate the house and keep it up.
“It’s your home,” she replied. “It’s want you want to live in and be surrounded by.”
The Greasers preserved many of the historical features of the house, including this communication system within the home. People could talk to each other from the top to bottom floors with these phones mounted on the walls.
Builders of the house didn’t cut corners with the woodwood. The Greasers also kept many plants inside the house, including one that hangs from the top staircase.
This plaque notes the house is on the National Register of Historic Places.
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is announcing the arrest of Michael W. Conlon, 36, of Holley in connection with the theft of several All-Terrain Vehicles and motorized dirt bikes.
Conlon’s arrest comes as a result of a lengthy investigation that dates back to April of this year. These thefts were the proceeds of burglaries committed at different locations in the towns of Albion, Barre and Gaines.
The approximate total value of these machines easily exceeds $10,000. In all but one instance, the vehicles were taken out of the county and sold for cash.
Conlon is facing three counts of Burglary 3rd Degree, two counts of Grand Larceny 3rd Degree, and one count of Grand Larceny 4th Degree. He is currently being held in the Orleans County Jail, in lieu of bail.
A second arrest was made in connection with one of these incidents. Brittnie Engle, 28, of Albion is facing one count of Burglary 3rd Degree and one count of Grand Larceny 3rd Degree. She is also being held at the county jail in lieu of bail.
This investigation is on-going and additional charge(s) may be forthcoming. The investigation is being conducted by Investigators S.E. Brett & K.M. Strickland Jr.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The “For Sale” signs are out in front of the First United Methodist Church and its parsonage on East State Street.
The church is seeking $125,000 for the historic church and the building next door, currently used by Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
The United Methodist congregation left the church in late March and started having services on Easter, April 5, at Christ Church, which is owned by an Episcopal parish on Main Street.
The United Methodist building is listed by Margaret Tuerk, a licensed associate real estate broker with Hunt. She works out of the Akron office. (The sign listing her phone number is incorrect. Her number is 716-901-5985.)
The church was built in 1860 with additions to follow. The building is about 14,000 square feet. Tuerk said it has lots of potential as a “great repurpose project.”
The former parsonage next to the church is used by Community Action.
The church is included on the National Register of Historic Places. That makes it eligible for tax credits for a project. Tuerk said it’s also possible the local economic development agency could assist in securing tax breaks for a project at the church.
“It’s an incredible building,” she said today. “But it is also a challenge.”
The main building needs a new roof, including a new support system. The church has used wooden beams to help support the roof in recent years.
The church ultimately decided it didn’t have the money to fix the roof. The congregation tried to secure grants and other assistance for the project, but was unsuccessful.
The church has the two buildings listed at a low price with the hope of finding a buyer for the properties. The former parsonage next door is about 1,700 square feet.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Randy Hanks and his son Robbie are pictured inside Oak Orchard Bowl, which has 18 lanes on Route 98 in Albion. The bowling alley is one of about 1,100 offering free bowling for children this summer.
ALBION – The Oak Orchard Bowl is offering free bowling games this summer to children 18 and under, an effort to introduce more young people to sport of bowling and also give them a chance for family-friendly activities without busting the pocketbook.
Oak Orchard Bowl is offering the free bowling for children on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m., and Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m. Kids and their parents need to sign up to be part of the program. Click here to be directed to Kids Bowl Free.
There are about 1,100 bowling centers in the program nationally. The Albion bowling alley is the only only between Rochester and Lockport in the program.
“This is to get the kids interested in bowling and family time,” said Randy Hanks, co-owner of Oak Orchard Bowl with his wife, Renee. “It’s good exercise and it gets the kids out of the house and away from the video games.”
There is a $2 charge for bowling shoes, but the $3 per game fee is waived for children on the three afternoons. There is a maximum of 2 games per child on each free bowling day.
Hanks said about 250 kids are signed up. He welcomes more to join the program, which runs until Aug. 28.
Randy Hanks and his family have steadily upgraded the bowling alley in Albion. He is pictured with some new shoes that arrived today.
Hanks and his wife 10 years ago purchased the bowling center at 3291 Oak Orchard Rd. They have steadily made improvements in the building, putting on a new roof for $60,000, adding auto-scoring, resurfacing lanes, and upgrading pin setters and masking units.
They also have been buying about 20 new pairs of bowling shoes a year and swapping out older pairs. The newest pairs have Velcro, which are easier to put on and have adjustable widths for the shoes.
Oak Orchard has grown its league bowlers from about 150 a decade ago to 400 now. There are about 40 children in the junior leagues, and Hanks would like to include more children in that program.
That is partly why he embraced the Kids Bowl Free program, hoping to draw more children to the lanes, which could lead to their families picking the spot for birthday parties and open bowling.
The Kids Bowl Free program also has an option for a family bowling pass for the summer at $26.95. That pass includes bowling for adults.
For more information on Oak Orchard Bowl, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club held its annual Curtis Lyman Memorial Golf Tournament last Thursday, and the club raised about $5,000 that will go towards a van to transport veterans to medical appointments.
The top photo shows one of the vans for veterans in the Lyndonville Fourth of July Parade. David Barhite is pictured in the passenger’s seat.
The Rotary Club last year also used the golf tournament proceeds to give $5,000 for a low-mileage van for Orleans County Joint Veterans Council.
The Veterans Council has five vans that it uses to take veterans to medical appointments. The Council is trying to replace high-mileage vans with low-mileage ones.
“They really have a big need to continually replace those vans,” said Cindy Perry, the golf tournament chairwoman. “It’s a revolving need.”
The Veterans Council acquires and owns the vans, and the VA pays for the gas and maintenance. The service is free to veterans. About 30 residents are faithful volunteer drivers, taking veterans back and forth to medical appointments.
There were about 70 golfers in the tournament at Hickory Ridge Country Club.
The winning men’s team shot a 57 in a scramble. Pictured from left includes: Jeremy Nardone, Erik Lunger, Ray Wager and Brian Klos.
The winning women’s team shot a 70. The team includes, from left: Kelly Froman, Mary Guzik, Barb Budde and Mari Ehrenreich.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Drew Goodwin, an employee with Premier Sign Systems in Rochester, runs pennants from the new Dollar Tree store to a light post in the parking this morning.
The store opened at 9 a.m. It’s in the Route 31 plaza that includes Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot, Save On Beverage Center and Peebles.
Contractors worked in recent months to ready 9,000 square feet of space for Dollar Tree. This is the store where the items are $1.
Employees said they weren’t able to speak with media or allow photos inside. Questions were referred to the company’s corporate offices in Chesapeake, Va.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Zack Burgess, left, and Dylan DeSmit, are both members of the band Zero. They are also helping to coordinate to the second annual Rock the Park music festival to benefit Bullard Park.
ALBION – It will be an all-day music festival showcasing some of the top local bands. And next Saturday’s second annual “Rock the Park” will generate needed funds to upgrade Bullard Park, the most used and visible park in Albion.
Last year’s debut “Rock the Park” was at the Elk’s Club on East State Street. About 300 people attended the event, which raised $2,000 for Bullard.
This year Bullard will host the bands from under the main pavilion. Organizers think 1,000 people, maybe more, will turn out.
Nine bands will perform and all are donating their services. There will be craft and art vendors, and family activities. A beer tent will be available beginning at 4 p.m.
“This is an opportunity to improve the quality of life in our community,” said Zack Burgess, who will play guitar and sing with the band Zero to close out the event from 9:30 to 11 p.m.
Photo by Megan O’Hearn – The band Zero will perform during the Rock the Park event on July 25 at Bullard. The band includes, from left: Dylan DeSmit on lead guitar and vocals, Zack Burgess on vocals and rhythm guitar, Dan Ryan on drums, and Brad Maxon on bass.
Burgess, 26, is coordinating the concerts with help from his bandmate Dylan DeSmit. All of the bands were eager to play for the benefit for Bullard Park, they said.
Burgess said much of the playground equipment at Bullard predates his childhood. He has watched many of the pieces – merry-go-round, teeter-totters, swings and other apparatus – be removed because they were no longer considered safe.
A Rebuild Bullard committee has identified many upgrades for the park. The Village of Albion is seeking state funding to help with new playground equipment and also to add a splash park. Burgess said park users would like to see more for skateboarders, as well as a walking trail, upgraded ball fields, and other improvements.
Burgess said the music festival will help with what can feel like a daunting task of coming up with money for all of the work.
But he looks at how Albion rallied to build a new public library. The community gave about $1.3 million in donations for that project, topping the capital campaign goal of about $1 million.
“Look at the library how everyone pushed for it and we got it,” Burgess said. “If we can do that, why can’t we do this?”
Burgess made those comments at Bullard Park this afternoon after he finished his day of work at CRFS. He said many of his co-workers have young children, and he knows how important up-to-date and safe playground equipment and park amenities are for young families.
He sees a revamped park as critical to the local quality of life, for drawing young families to Albion and keeping them in the community.
The Rock the Park will utilize the talents of many of the musicians in the community. Burgess said he is pleased to see many people in the community pushing to update the park, including the Lions Club, the Rebuild Bullard Committee, village officials and many others.
Rock the Park starts at 9 a.m. on July 25 with vendors selling arts and crafts. The bands will play from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. There is no charge to attend the concerts, but donations will be accepted. There will be a $5 fee for access to the beer tent.
The lineup of bands includes:
Gregg Albertson, 11 a.m. to 11:50:
Delano Steele, noon to 12:50 p.m.
Fuze, 1:05 to 1:55 p.m.
DriVen, 2:10 to 3 p.m.
Break with beer tent setup from 3 to 4 p.m.
Whiskey Rebellion, 4 to 5 p.m.
Bobby Skrzypek and the Pedestrians, 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Flipside, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Justin Crossett Band, 7:45 to 9:15 p.m.
Zero, 9:30 to 11 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
A warehouse on McKinstry Street in Albion, which has sat mostly vacant for more than a decade, has been repainted with extensive renovations as the site is upgraded for electronics recycling.
This photo shows the warehouse in April 2013.
ALBION – For about a decade, a warehouse on McKinstry Street sat vacant as local economic development officials tried to find a user for the site.
A Canadian company bought the property about two years ago and BOMET Recycling, Inc. has given the building a major transformation, with more work to come, including a new roof.
“It’s like a renaissance,” said Jim Whipple, chief executive officer for the Orleans Economic Development Agency. “They’ve really put a lot of effort into it.”
BOMET Recycling bought and upgraded the warehouse with plans to turn it into a base for recycling electronics. The company painted it to blend with the site next door used by CRFS.
Whipple shared photos of the offices and interior of the building with the EDA board of directors last week. He praised BOMET for all of the work at the 52,000-square-foot building.
BOMET has three people working from the site now, Whipple said. When the company bought the site in Albion, it said it planned to have 30 employees at the site when it was fully up in running.
The EDA purchased the warehouse and adjoining parking lot for $527,000 in February 2002. At that time Washington Mutual was in expansion mode in Albion. The company needed lots of parking, and some local officials hoped WaMu would quickly run out of space at the former Dime Bank complex on East Avenue.
But that never happened. WaMu was acquired by JP Morgan Chase, which left Albion in 2013.
The EDA sold the property for $176,000 to BOMET, which is based in Cambridge, Ontario. The sale returned the property to the tax rolls in the Village of Albion.
The EDA is hopeful that Zhan “Bo” Zhang, leader of BOMET, will provide testimonials about the work of the EDA with the company, which the EDA could use to help recruit other Canadian companies to Orleans County.
ALBION – The Albion Running Club organized the 25th anniversary run of the Strawberry Festival 5k/8k on June 13. There was a record-high turnout of 310 participants.
The Running Club shared $2,500 in proceeds with four local organizations. The club presented checks to those recipients recently.
Members of the race committee allowed non-for-profit organizations in Orleans County to apply for funds from the race proceeds. Seven organizations applied and four were selected by the race committee.
The top photo shows the Holley Youth Center, which received $500 for youth activities and trips. Pictured include, from left, Tina Meade of the Holley Youth Center, Brian Krieger from the Running Club, Cheryl Shaw from the Youth Center, John Steier of the race committee, and Deborah Rothmund from the Youth Center.
Care Net Pregnancy & Family Center received $750 towards marketing and promotion, a laptop, projector and screen. Care Net staff members Jocelyn Wilson and Sharon Sugar are pictured with Brian Krieger, member of the race committee and executive director of the Running Club.
Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern received $800 for items to support the Children/Youth E3 Team events. John Steier, a member of the race committee, is pictured with GOMOC staff members Jacki Mowers-Sciarabba and Jeff Post.
Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension received $450 for signage for an onsite walking and fitness trail. Pictured include Mark Moore from the race committee, Jennifer Wagester from the Cooperative Extension, and race committee members John Steier and Brian Krieger.
The race committee included Karen Krieger, Brian Krieger, Mark Moore, John Steier and Thom Jennings.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 July 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The towns of Albion and Gaines have struck a deal to share the same code enforcement officer. Dan Strong, the current Albion codes officer, will remain a full-time Albion employee, working 30 hours a week for Albion.
In addition to that, he will work 10 hours for Gaines, with Gaines contributing to his pay in Albion. Both Town Boards have approved the arrangement in a six-month pilot, effective July 1. The Albion Town Board gave the final OK on Monday.
Gaines will contribute $9,400 to Strong’s salary and benefits for last six months of 2015.
Carol Culhane, the Gaines town supervisor, said the arrangement works well for both towns. Gaines has been looking to fill the position since last year. Strong has been working for Gaines on a temporary basis while the town sought a longer-term solution.
“The code enforcement officer takes a great deal of training,” Culhane said. “We had trouble finding someone who was qualified that you don’t have to put mega dollars into training.”
Strong is already trained and knows the community well.
Albion benefits with some added revenue to help pay for the code enforcement officer’s salary and benefits.
Matt Passarell, the Albion town supervisor, said he is looking to cooperate with local governments to maintain services and reduce costs for taxpayers.
“The old ways of doing things you don’t just keeping doing,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Emily, age 4, heads down a slide from a bounce house at Bullard Park today.
Community Action of Orleans & Genesee organized the carnival with help from other local agencies and the park supervisors in the village park program.
There were many stations with games, activities, food and prizes. The carnival started at 10 a.m. and ended at 2 p.m.
“Mr. Scribbles” – Michael Sparling of Perry – was a popular spot, letting kids scribble on a paper and then he added cartoons of animals with a friendly message.
Mr. Scribbles made this artwork for Brianne.
Nicholas Martino plays the washerboard toss game. His friend Cole London waits for his turn.
Andrea Severson, a volunteer for the carnival, makes some cotton candy for the children at the park.
Jean Shervin, right, is a volunteer with Community Action and she is serving hot dogs at the carnival. Dave Andrews, left, is a member of the Masonic Lodge in Albion. He is manning the grill.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 July 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The Albion Fire Department will have a new fire truck in its fleet next year.
The Village Board on Wednesday approved a $668,796 bid from Churchville Fire Equipment, a Pierce Manufacturing dealer, to build the new triple combination pumping engine.
The new truck will replace two vehicles for the Albion Fire Department: a pumper from 1974 and a smaller truck used to respond to motor vehicle accidents. That truck from 2004 has extrication equipment.
The fire department pushed for a new fire truck that is a pumper and also has extrication equipment. That will save the department in maintenance costs and also reduce some manpower needs, Fire Department leaders told the board.
Albion received two other bids for the new truck, but those bidders didn’t meet all the specifications for the new truck, Village Clerk Linda Babcock said today.
The Village Board is expected to soon approve a bond to pay for the truck. The Fire Department paid off the debt on one truck in 2014-15, freeing up money for the new one.
The department has an aging fleet with a pumper from 1992 and a ladder truck from 1995. Fire Chief Harry Papponetti said he expects to get another decade out of those trucks. At a recent Village Board meeting, he praised village mechanics, Dusty DeCarlo and Ray Smith, for giving the fire trucks such an extended life.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Some kids watch the fireworks on Sunday from the top of the skateboarding ramp at Bullard Park in Albion.
ALBION – The Village of Albion is trying a new tactic for bolstering a grant application for improvements at Bullard Park.
The village has twice been turned down for state funds for the Bullard improvements. Besides a different scope of work at Bullard in the latest application – new playground equipment and a splash pad – the village and its grantwriter has created an on-line petition to show the state the community support for the project.
Since that petition went live on July 6, 231 people submitted their names in support of the Bullard upgrades with 56 writing comments as of about 7:45 this morning. Click here to see the petition.
The application is due in late July to New York State Office Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for a grant under the Environmental Protection Fund.
A Rebuild Bullard Committee has met in recent years to develop long-term plans for the park and try to raise funds for the improvements. Phase 1 includes the splash pad and playground equipment, as well as a changing area/bathroom and concession stand near the spray park.
The village in the future would also like to establish a recreational trail around the park, regrade and build up its ball fields and add other park amenities.
Some improvements are under way, including a regrading of the big sledding hill. Keeler Construction, the contractor for the Clarendon Street bridge removal, has moved soil from the bridge embankments to the sledding hill.
The Lions Club has been helping raise money for Bullard. The Lions Club last year had a music festival that raised $2,000 for the park with those funds helping to pay the grantwriter.
Another “Rock the Park” is planned for July 25 with bands performing from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
