ALBION – Dollar Tree will open a store in Albion at the former Ames Plaza, with a likely opening on June 1, Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti said.

Dollar Tree used to have a store in Medina. There is one in Brockport. The company will use about 9,000 square feet in the plaza, which is home to Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot, Save On Beverage Center and Peebles.

Dollar Tree will go before the Village of Albion Zoning Boards of Appeals to seek a variance for its signage. Otherwise, the property is zoned commercial and the store fits the zoned use, Vendetti said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – This stained-glass window in the young adult room at Hoag Library has been installed in honor of former library director Susan Rudnicky and also the late Ralph Brown, a long-time local fruit grower. His sons, Bob and Eric, followed him in running Orchard Dale Fruit Company in Carlton.

Their mother, Claire, is helping to fund the window along with Bill Lattin. Mrs. Brown was a key contributor to the new library and the young adult room is named in her honor.

Lattin also paid for a stained glass window with an image of a swan. That window was part of the new library when it opened in July 2012.

Lattin wanted to recognize Rudnicky, who worked 16 years as director of Swan Library and then the new Hoag Library. Rudnicky was let go by the library board of trustees in March 2014.

She pushed for the new library, and secured grants and worked with many other donors on the new building. She also led the Swan site through many technological improvements and expanded programming.

A reception will be held in the future and a plaque unveiled in honor of Rudnicky and Mr. Brown.

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Main Street lift bridge is closing at about 9 a.m. today so crews can make steel repairs to the bridge that was built in 1911.

The work should be done in two to three weeks, in time for the start of the canal season that begins in early May.

The State Department of Transportation has posted detours. Truck traffic will be detoured using Route 387 (Fancher Road) via Routes 31 and 104.

Regular automobile traffic can cross the Erie Canal at Ingersoll Street. Bicyclists and pedestrians can cross the Main Street bridge at the discretion of construction workers.

Construction workers close off the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge at about 8:30 this morning.

The stairs lead to top of the lift bridge when it is in its raised position. Orleans County has seven of the 16 lift bridges on the canal, the most of any county.

The canal ambiance in Albion includes this shopping cart in the shallow water.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Lions Club welcomed two new members – Aaron Robinson and Tim McMurray – to the service organization that is now in its 91st year in Albion.

Club President Bill Robinson, left, sponsored his son Aaron. McMurray, third from left, was sponsored by his uncle, Ron Albertson, far right.

Aaron Robinson, 35, works at CRFS and also plays drums for two local bands, The Who Dats and the Rusty Fisher Band.

He said he is happy to join the Lions, which meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge on Platt Street.

“It’s local and they do a lot of charity work,” Aaron said. “It’s a good supportive group that is positive.”

McMurray, 31, is a local youth football coach and a student at Erie Community College, majoring in civil engineering.

“They have a broad reach in the community,” McMurray said about the Lions. “It’s another way to give back to the community.”

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Will Ouweleen of Eagle Crest Vineyards in Conesus pours a glass of wine during the second annual Pullman Pours wine-tasting at Pullman Memorial Universalist Church.

About 150 people attended the event, which serves as a fund-raiser for the church that is working to replace its roof.

Ouweleen has been outspoken against fracking in the Finger Lakes. His winery sells a bottle of wine, “No Fracking Red.”

The stained-glass windows behind Ouweleen were designed by famed stained-glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. He was a friend of George Pullman, who had the church built as a tribute to his parents in Albion. The church has about 40 Tiffany stained-glass windows.

Chris Tee, a wine server from Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina, pours a sample of wine for Kim Lawrence and Bruce Phillips. Other featured local wineries included Becker Farm’s Vizcarra Vineyards, Lake Ontario Winery & Vineyards, Schwenk Wine Cellars, and Seneca Lake’s Eagle Crest Vineyards.

Al Capurso and his son Dan provide bluegrass music during the event. Their band is called “Of The Bear.” Three different groups performed during the two-hour party that included five wineries and food tastings by The Pillars Estate, Della’s Chocolates, Kirby’s Farm Market, SNL Sweet Escapes, Shirt Factory Cafe and Watt Farms Country Market.

Jim Knight, a member of the Pullman church, is dressed as “Bacchus,” the Roman god of wine. Knight is pictured with his brother John Knight, Jim’s wife Betty, and John’s wife Melanie.

Jim and Betty Knight are key organizers of the Pullman wine-tasting event.

Ed Koban and the Ed Koban Group perform in front of a Tiffany-decorated Johnson pipe organ.

The Pullman church was built in 1894. It was included in the inaugural class last year in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Albion seventh-graders Alissa Brown, left, and Leeyah Rechtsiegel promote the Empty Bowls fund-raiser on March 21 at Albion Middle School.

ALBION – The colorful bowls were all made by Albion seventh-graders, and the dishes were more than pleasing to the eye.

Each student wrote a message about local hunger, and those words were placed in the bowls. They each sold for $5 on March 21 as part of a fund-raiser for the food pantry at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

“I made this bowl to help the needy,” one student wrote in a message as part of Empty Bowls event, which included a bowl of soup at the middle school cafeteria.

Albion seventh-graders made 170 decorative bowls in art class. They were sold for $5 each with proceeds going to the food pantry at Community Action.

Albion seventh-graders have been partnering with Community Action the past four years for the project. Students made 170 bowls in art class, learning pottery from teacher Kamie Feder.

The event raises nearly $1,000 for Community Action. Seventh-graders spend the school year learning about food and hunger. They visit Food Link in Rochester, help package 200 holiday food baskets at Community Action, and spend class time researching the issue.

“It brings an awareness to the community that people are hungry,” said Annette Finch, director of community services for Community Action. “The number of people who are asking for help has gone up substantially.”

Community Action runs a kitchen in Holley, where demand has been increasing to 700 to 750 meals a month. Residents are using the food pantry in Albion more on a year-round basis.

Each student wrote a note about hunger that was placed in a bowl.

Sue Starkweather Miller, Albion’s grants manager, said the project shows students that hunger is an issue locally, not just in a distant country.

“This has been a perfect curriculum-community need connection,” she said. “There is meaning behind what the kids are learning.”

Ricky Daniels created a turtle-themed bowl for the event. He added a head and legs to the bowl. He said the entire class has been working hard on the project.

“The whole seventh grade has really gotten into it,” he said. “It’s cool that the profits go to charity.”

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion seventh-graders had their sixth annual Empty Bowls event on Thursday, an event that raises awareness about hunger and generates money for the food pantry at Community Action.

About 150 students made bowls in art class, learning pottery from teacher Kamie Feder. The bowls were for sale on Thursday for $5 each. Some were also for sale during Friday’s high school musical, “Honk!”

Each student wrote a note about hunger that was placed on each bowl.

Students in the service learning class taught by Tim Archer have learned about hunger locally, in the region, nationally and in the world. They visited Foodlink in Rochester and have helped Community Action with food baskets.

They learned that one out of four people have an insecure food supply locally.

Provided photos – The group of winners in today’s Pinewood Derby include, kneeling, from left: Jason Conn, second place; Anthony LoGalbo, Best In Den Tiger Cubs; Donovon Braley, first place. Standing, from left: Xavier Penafiel, third place; Dylan Narburgh, Best in Den Bears; Austin Narburgh, Best in Den Webelos; Ethan Merrill, Most Original; Oliver Beach, Best in Den Wolves and Best in Show.

Jackson Ward won the Judges’ Choice Award for the car that best represented the Cub Scout way and motto of “Do Your Best.”

By Thom Jennings
ALBION – Cub Scout Pack 164 in Albion held its annual Pinewood Derby this afternoon at St. Joe’s Catholic School Lyceum. The pack is chartered by St. Joe’s Holy Family Parish and the Knights of Columbus.

The first Pinewood Derby in the nation dates back to 1953, and has become a rite of passage for many parents. The kids get the kit to build their car one month ahead of time, and are allowed to build the car with the assistance of a parent or other relative.
The rules are simple; the car must be made from an official Pinewood Derby kit and cannot weigh more than five ounces after it has been modified.

In addition to the racing component, there are prizes for the best design, thus racers must decide whether they will forego the laws of aerodynamics and opt to win the best design, or strike a balance between the two.

(Thom Jennings took these photos of some of the cars.)

Police Car by Oliver Beach

Angry Birds by Nick Baxter

Snake by Brayden Ryder

Minecraft by Zack Baron

Ninja Turtle by Teigen Bieber

A group of Scouts, including Sawyer Braley at right and Scoutmaster Mike Beach, stand around the microphone and sing the National Anthem.

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The dip back below freezing has icicles hanging off the railroad bridge on Butts Road in Albion.

This bridge only has a clearance of 7 feet, 2 inches.

This is the other bridge built because of the railroad in Albion. The bigger bridge on Clarendon Street, built over the railroad, will begin to be demolished today.

‘Honk!’ tells the story of the Ugly Duckling

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Nathaniel Trembley plays Ugly, a misfit rejected by his siblings for his unusual appearance. He is comforted by his mother, Ida (Cheyanna Eagle).

The musical will be performed in the Middle School Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday, and noon and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

There are 72 students in the cast, stage crew and pit orchestra. The musical has a message of tolerance and highlights the harm of bullying, said director Gary Simboli.

Kyle Thaine plays the villain, a cat that wants to eat Ugly.

Some of the ducks include, from left: Matilda Erakare, Shannon Broda and Riley Seielstad.

Ugly’s siblings – ducks played by Victor Benjovsky, Matilda Erakare, Riley Seielstad and Shannon Broda – are unmerciful in ridiculing Ugly (Nathaniel Trembley).

Monica Benjovsky plays one of the crows.

Bethany Bowman plays a chicken named Henrietta, who enjoys gossip.

This photo from back stage shows the geese, who befriend Ugly.

Ida (Cheyanna Eagle) and Ugly (Nathaniel Trembley) sing a duet, “Hold Your Head Up High,” to close out Act 1.

File photo by Tom Rivers – The tower of the Main Street lift bridge is pictured in this photo from March 2014.

ALBION – The state Department of Transportation has scheduled next week as the start of repairs for the Main Street lift bridge in Albion.

The bridge will be closed to traffic for about two to three weeks for the repair work, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley announced today. The work should start on Wednesday.

“I am pleased to see that these repairs remain on schedule and motorists will only be inconvenienced for three weeks at the most,” Hawley said. “This bridge is frequently used by families and businesses who deserve to feel safe as they travel. Much of New York’s infrastructure is in desperate need of repair, and I plan to advocate for increased funding during this year’s budget negotiations.”

Due to the construction, truck traffic will be detoured using Route 387 (Fancher Road) via Routes 31 and 104. Regular automobile traffic can cross the Erie Canal at Ingersoll Street. Bicyclists and pedestrians can cross the Main Street bridge at the discretion of construction workers.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Today may be the last chance to drive over the Clarendon Street bridge in Albion. Detour signs have been posted this week, and signs just south and north of the bridge announce that removal of the bridge will start on Friday.

This photo was taken on Wednesday, south of the bridge over the railroad tracks.

Keeler Construction of Barre will tear out the bridge, which is about 50 years old. The highway embankments will be lowered and the street will be blocked off at a 90-degree angle at Crimson Drive. On the north side, it will also be blocked off with a turnaround spot near Childs Street.

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association kicked off an art show and fundraiser on Friday, a display that will continue at Hoag Library until a closing reception on June 13 from 5 to 7 p.m.

There were 83 entrants of art on 5-by-7-inch canvasses. Submissions included paintings, drawings and photography. More people are welcome to enter. All artwork will be sold for $10, with proceeds going to downtown flowers in Albion.

Kim Pritt holds the painting she made for the “Art in Bloom” project. She created a fashion girl with Kilroy, a character that was popular in American culture during World War II. Pritt said she enjoyed drawing fashion girls in high school. She was asked to participate in the art project by Lisa Stratton, owner of the Hazy Jade Gift Shop. Hazy Jade and Bindings Bookstore have the canvasses for interested artists.

There are about 60 to 65 different participants who submitted art for the project, including high school art students in Kim Nesbitt’s class.

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Casey Costello, a tenor and recent graduate of Nazareth College in Rochester, sings “Danny Boy” during a Celtic celebration of music and dance today at First Baptist Church in Albion, part of the Eastman at Albion concert series.

Costello was given a standing ovation from the crowd after the song.

About 200 people attended today’s concert featuring the Striking Strings Hammered Dulcimer Ensemble, led by Mitzie Collins, and the Harmonious Harp Ensemble, directed by Roxanne Ziegler.

Three members from the Drumcliffe School of Irish Dance – Michael Dunning, Katie Jameson and Casey Stevens – perform during today’s concert.

The dancers have fast feet.

Casey Costello was the featured soloist for several of the traditional Irish melodies.

The Eastman at Albion series is now in its sixth year with the musicians performing in historic Albion churches. The Baptist Church hosted a concert for the second time since the series started.

Two members of the Harmonious Harps, Trevor Gauronski (left) and George Rogalskyj, are members of the group.

Members of the Striking Strings Hammered Dulcimer Ensemble of the Eastman Community Music School play next to the pipe organ at the Baptist Church.

Lara Haase plays the harp during today’s concert.

Albion resident served in WWII, also long-time Scoutmaster

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Members of the Patriot Guard present a plaque to Frank Sidari, a World War II veteran, during a party for his 90th birthday today at St. Mary’s Athletic Club.

The Patriot Guard wrote on the plaque that Sidari is “a True American Hero.” He was an infantryman and rifleman, part of the last mounted calvary in World War II. He served from 1943 to 1946 in the 124th Calvary in the China-Burma-India Theater.

He was awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, American Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.

About 30 members of the Patriot Guard stood outside at attention and welcomed Sidari out of the car when he entered the St. Mary’s Club.

Sidari said it was an “overwhelming” feeling to see the Patriot Guard out with the American flags.

His wife Jane couldn’t believe the impact of the Patriot Guard, a group of motorcyclists. She praised them for standing out in the cold before moving inside to give her husband the plaque.

“It’s wonderful,” she said at the party for her husband of 67 years. “I get tears in my eyes. I can’t believe it.”

St. Mary’s was packed for the party in honor of Frank Sidari.

Sidari worked as a union carpenter after his service in the war. He also was an Albion code enforcement officer.

He was a Boy Scout as a kid and was an active Scoutmaster for more than 30 years. Members of Troop 164 also attended Sidari’s birthday party and thanked him for his service.

“He has truly lived the Scout Oath his entire life,” said Tom Madejski, the current Scoutmaster. “He has always been a friend to everyone. That is why so many people are here.”

Frank Sidari has his photo taken with Boy Scouts in Troop 164. He has been a long-time volunteer with the troop.

About 200 people attended the party for Sidari. His son, Mike, had hoped maybe 100 to 125 people would show up to see his father.

The Patriot Guard was a big surprise. Steve Coville, a member of the local VFW, invited the Patriot Guard to Albion for Sidari’s party.

The motorcyclists sang “Happy Birthday” to Sidari when he arrived at St. Mary’s.

Mike Sidari said his father is humble and doesn’t like to talk about his war experiences. He has joked about the mounted calvalry having to ride mules instead of horses.

“We just wanted to celebrate his life and all of his accomplishments in life,” Mike said.

Frank Sidari is pictured with his three sons. In back, from left: Bruce, Mike and Frank.

Sidari has been active with the VFW for many years, attending regular monthly meetings. He often advocated for vetetrans and local Boy SCouts. Sidari liked to tell the Post what Eagle Scout projects were in the works.

The local Strickland Post in Albion thanked Sidari for his many years of service to the country and community. “Your continuous cooperation and participation has always been a source of pride and inspiration to all of us,” according to a plaque from the VFW.

Matt Passarell, a past VFW commander in Albion, was among the many well-wishers who visited Sidari at his party this afternoon.

“I’m glad we could be here because he’s been a part of the community for a long time,” Passarell said. “It’s the least we could do.”

Sidari has also been an active member of the Holy Family Catholic Parish. He and his wife has three sons, eight grandchildren and nine great-chandchildren.

Frank Sidari blows out a candle on his 90th birthday cake.