Photos courtesy of Gloria Lear: The family of the late Steve Coville joined Sandstone Park coaches today for a dedication of the field in honor of Coville.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2019 at 5:59 pm
ALBION – Sandstone Park named its field in honor of the late Steve Coville Sr., who volunteered for 40 years, with 22 years as a coach and then as groundskeeper for the park as well as running the concession stand.
A sign with Coville’s smiling face is now on the backstop at Sandstone Park. Coville spent many hours each season the past 40 years at Sandstone.
Coville passed away at age 76 on Jan. 17. He loved helping the Little League team on East State Street.
The team has only had four head coaches since 1956, when the Albion Midget League formed. Sandstone was one of the original six teams. Sandstone was first coached by Guido Mannella. He did it from 1956 to 1966. He was followed by Leonard Sidari, who led the team from 1967 to 1978. Then Coville took the reins from 1979 to 2001. (He also helped coach in 1978.) Dan Bartlett has been the head coach since 2002.
Leonard Sidari’s sons, David and Peter, attended today’s field dedication and praised Coville for his devotion to the team for four decades.
Bartlett, the current coach, said it has taken many volunteers to try to fill the void from Coville’s passing.
“He gave his heart,” Bartlett said. “He worked up here at Sandstone Park for half of his life.”
Coville would mow the expansive lawn and work on the field at Sandstone. He ran the concessions to raise money for the team to buy baseballs and other equipment.
Coville’s wife Annette attended the dedication today, and was joined by the couple’s four children – Steve, Marcus, Gloria Lear and Tina Bauder. Many of Coville’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren also joined in the dedication.
“For my dad it was about the youth,” Gloria Lear said. “He had a bag full of gloves, sneakers and hats. He worked with the parents and would pick kids up if they needed a ride. It definitely a priority in his life.”
When he stepped back from coaching, Coville still felt pride in the team and wanted a nice place for them to play.
“He enjoyed it and wanted the kids to do well,” Lear said.
The family appreciates the recognition at the park.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2019 at 10:56 pm
Community prays for healing for Sean Weis, who was seriously injured in the accident
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – About 500 people gathered at Bullard Park this evening for a candlelight vigil in memory of Brennan Moody, an Albion High School senior who was killed in a car accident just after midnight on Tuesday.
Brennan, 17, had many friends at school. He was very active in the music program with the band, chorus and musicals.
During the vigil at Bullard, a recording was played of Brennan singing with his father Erin Moody during last month’s high school talent show. The father and son performed, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me.”
Brennan was also a kind and friendly person who reached out to everyone, especially shy students, many people said.
His parents, Erin and Rhiannon, attended the vigil.
“The whole town has been amazing,” Mr. Moody said. “We appreciate all the support.”
The Moodys want to help Brennan’s classmates during their loss, especially the three seniors who were in the car with Brennan during the accident. Two of them were treated and released at a hospital, while Sean Weis was in the backseat of the car with Brennan and has serious injuries. He is recovering at Erie County Medical Center.
Mr. Moody said his son Brennan was “amazing” and loved to perform and be with his friends. He was at a bonfire on Monday night with several friends.
The funeral for Brennan will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.
Kiara Smith speaks at the vigil, reflecting on Brennan Moody and asking people to keep Sean Weis in their prayers.
Brennan worked part-time at McDonald’s in Albion. One of his co-workers, Kiara Smith, put on Facebook there would be a vigil this evening at 8 p.m. That message spread.
Kiara said she felt like the community needed to come together to share their grief. She didn’t know what to expect when she arrived at Bullard. There was a big group of people.
“We want to show the families that we have their back,” Kiara said.
Brennan was a hard worker and worked well with the public in his job at McDonald’s.
“He worked up front with the customers,” Kiara said. “He was a really happy kid.”
Albion students write messages for Brennan Moody and Sean Weis during the vigil.
Several lanterns were released during the vigil at the park.
Sean Weis also is in the thoughts and prayers of many in Albion. His family said he had a surgery today that went well. He is recovering from a fractured skull, a broken neck, fractured scapula, bleeding on the brain and other injuries.
People also wrote messages in chalk for Brennan and Sean.
The community gathered to light candles in memory of Brennan Moody and to lift up Sean Weis, an Albion senior with serious injuries.
Several of the lanterns were released by people in mourning.
Many people stayed past 9:30 p.m. at the vigil, where some of the candles were arranged to resemble musical notes to show Brennan’s love for music.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Brennan Moody played the role of John the Baptist in Albion’s production of Godspell in March 2018. That musical started with Brennan singing, “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2019 at 4:34 pm
ALBION – Brennan Moody’s friends sought comfort in the chorus and band rooms today. Brennan, 17, was killed in a car accident just after midnight last night.
Many of his friends woke up to the sad news today.
Brennan Moody plays the trumpet with the Albion marching band during the Memorial Day parade on May 27.
Brennan was to graduate next Friday. Three of his classmates were also injured in the accident, including one with very serious injuries.
Brennan attended the high school band awards program on Monday evening. Last Friday he won the “Golden Performance Award” at Class Night for a senior heavily involved in the music program.
Brennan has been one of the biggest stars on the stage in the school musicals the past two years.
It wasn’t long ago when he was reluctant to sing solos or draw any attention to himself.
“He didn’t realize what a good musician he was until he got brave and put himself out there,” said Mike Thaine, the high school band director.
Brennan developed confidence and made many friends through the music program.
“He found his niche in music and really blossomed,” Thaine said.
Today was the first day of Regents in the high school. There was no band or chorus, but Thaine welcomed about 80 students in the band room to share their grief.
Gary Simboli, the chorus director, encouraged Brennan’s friends to sign Brennan’s chorus robe and write a message to Brennan.
The loss has been devastating, Thaine said.
Brennan played the trumpet in the marching band, and was section leader in the brass ensemble. He played in the jazz band, and sang in the chorus, including in the men’s select and mixed choirs.
He sang solos at the Senior Tea, at Baccalaureate and in talent shows. Last month he sang with his father, Erin Moody, in the talent show, performing, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me.”
Many of Brennan’s classmates have opened their homes this afternoon so the Class of 2019 and Brennan’s other friends can be together during this difficult time.
“He was very laid back with a gentle personality,” Thaine said. “He had a lot of friends. He was one of those kids who fit into every social group.”
Brennan just earned a spot in this summer’s production of Oklahoma by the Lake Plains Players. Lance Anderson is the Players president. He also teaches voice lessons to Brennan.
“I am devastated by the death of one of my voice students, Brennan Moody,” Anderson said on Facebook today. “I watched him grow as a singer and as a person over the last two years. An amazing talent and a genuinely great guy who really loved theater and singing. I will miss our weekly lessons and talks of his future and dreams. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2019 at 9:40 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Brennan Moody performs as Cinderella’s Prince in March during Albion’s production of Into the Woods.
ALBION – The Albion High School senior killed in a car accident last night has been a prominent performer in school musicals and other concerts.
Brennan Moody was killed in a one-car rollover accident at about 12:15 a.m. on Eagle Harbor Road. There were three other students in the vehicle and one sustained serious injuries. All are at hospitals, according to a message to parents from the school district.
Counselors, staff and clergy are at the school today for classmates and parents to drop in.
Moody, 17, of Kent was a passenger in the vehicle. A 2008 Chevrolet Impala had four males in the vehicle. The Impala left the east shoulder going into the ditch and becoming airborne, striking a utility pole with the roof, State Police said.
The 18-year-old operator and front passenger were treated for injuries at Strong Memorial Hospital. Mercy Flight took the other 17-year-old rear passenger to Erie County Medical Center for serious injuries. Excessive speed is believed to be a factor in this collision, State Police said.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation, NYSP Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office assisted in this investigation, which is ongoing.
Provided photo: An Albion High School senior was killed and three of his classmates injured during a rollover accident last night on Eagle Harbor Road, between the railroad tracks and Erie Canal.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Jessica Schleede, 18, races her Honda Prelude in the adult Mini Stock Division at the Genesee Speedway in Batavia. She has been competing there since she was 13.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 June 2019 at 9:21 am
Jessica Schleede, 18, has been racing since she was 13
Jessica Schleede has her helmet on and is ready to race at the Batavia track.
BATAVIA – The mud is flying at the noisy track. When cars hit the turns, an avalanche of dirt is sent into the corner.
Jessica Schleede keeps her cool. She doesn’t panic at Genesee Speedway, racing adults in the Mini Stock Division.
Jessica, 18, has been racing at the dirt track in Batavia since she was 13. She raced in the youth division for three years before moving up to the adult Mini Stock division last year.
In 2018, she finished 10th in points among 40 other drivers.
She spends two to three nights a week working on her car, a Honda Prelude, with her father, Scott Schleede. He raced motorcycles for 35 years.
“This isn’t about NASCAR,” Scott said. “This is about making memories. This is a fun thing for us to do together.”
He said his daughter has taken to the sport and has the right temperament to excel on the track.
She first raced a Nissan Sentra, competing in the youth division. After the engine blew up in the Sentra, Jessica switched to a Honda Civic and raced that car for three years. This year is her first with a Honda Prelude. That car has a wider wheel base and stronger suspension.
Jessica is the class salutatorian at Albion for the Class of 2019. She is headed to St. Bonaventure in the fall with a dual major of elementary and special education. She plans to keep racing in the future.
Jessica Schleede is pictured with her parents, Scott and Tina, before the races at Genesee Speedway in Batavia on June 1. Jessica has been racing there since she was 13. Her father raced motorcycles for more than 35 years.
Before she races, Jessica checks to makes sure the lug nuts are on tight. She also checks the air pressure in all the tires. They should be 15 to 20 pounds. The tires should be softer so they have better traction. If there is too much pressure, the car has a better chance of sliding off the track on the tight turns. In Jessica’s first week of racing this week, she slid off the track.
“You want to run as soft as you can without them coming off the rim,” Jessica said. “If too much air, the tires don’t stick on the track as well.”
The Schleedes bring an air compressor with them, and a big box of tools. However, they can’t make any major repairs if there is a problem at the track. On June 1, they changed a tire in between the qualifier and the final because the car wasn’t handling well.
Scott Schleede checks to make sure the lug nuts are on tight. His daughter already went through with a wrench.
“I did it once already,” Jessica said. “He is double-checking. He gets a little nervous.”
Schleede said the pre-race and race can be tough on his nerves, but he is confident in Jessica.
“She has a level head,” he said. “She respects the equipment.”
Jessica is strapped in tight with a 6-point harness seat belt, which has head and neck restraints.
She also has a radio taped to her ear. That way she can hear the race director in the top booth who lets the drivers know if there is a yellow flag and drivers should slow down. During the race, the drivers are focused on what’s in front of them and might not realize if there has been an accident.
Jessica learned to drive a four-speed stick shift when she was 13 and started racing at Genesee Speedway.
Jessica stands for the national anthem with her boyfriend, Zach Petry of Medina. Zach, 20, works for Lyons Collision, doing body work and paint. He helps Jessica and Scott keep the car in racing condition.
Jessica Schleede, left, gets in position for the 8-lap qualifier. Zach Petry offers some last-second encouragement.
After the 8-lap qualifier, the top 25 cars advance to final race with 20 laps. The qualifier also determines the position of the cars for the bigger “feature” race.
Jessica Schleede races her Honda Prelude with other cars in the Mini Stock Division. Her car says, “Lil Bit,” which is her nickname from her grandfather. The track is 1/3-mile. Jessica competes in the Mini Stock Division with 20-25 cars on most Saturdays. Last year she came in 10th overall among 40 racers in the division.
Jessica didn’t like how the car was handling in the qualifier, so she is changing one of the tires.
Eric Weis helps change the tire. Jessica said she likes the camaraderie at the track and the friendly competition among the racers.
Jessica measures to see if the tires are perfectly upright. She also measured the back of the tires. She decided to change the tire after the qualifier.
Jessica became interested in cars when she helped her father restore a 1972 Ford pickup. She and her father spend 2-3 nights a week working on the race car, making frame repairs, checking the engine and other tasks.
She has had blown engines in races, and times when the wheels were hanging off. Scott doesn’t want to see the car towed off the track. He says with pride that Jessica has never been towed in a race. She always can get the car off the track and to the trailer.
“She is determined to do her best,” he said. “We fix the car and go back.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 June 2019 at 12:04 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jessy Cruz hugs Barbara Parker, the mother of the late Brandon Parker, who was 9 when he passed away on Feb. 23, 2011.
Jessy was awarded the Brandon Parker Memorial Scholarship during Class Night on Friday, when about $100,000 were presented to the Class of 2019.
Brandon was a member of the class. He also was a big wrestling fan. His family created the scholarship for a senior involved in the wrestling program.
Avalina Hand, the valedictorian of the Class of 2019, accepts the Jake Patterson Memorial Award, which goes to the top-ranked student in the class. Assistant High School Principal Katharine Waite presents the scholarship to Avalina.
Jay and Kelly Kovaleski, both teachers at Albion, presented two scholarships in memory of their son, Nicholas, who passed away in 2011 from leukemia. The Nicholas Kovaleski Memorial Scholarship goes to two seniors who demonstrate excellent character and citizenship. Tess Pettit accepts the award from Kelly Kovaleski and Bryce Pritchard accepts his from Jay Kovaleski.
This year’s class night included five new scholarships. The Albion Alumni Foundation manages $88,000 of the awards.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2019 at 3:51 pm
ALBION – The kickoff concert for Albion’s “Concerts on the Canal” series this evening has been cancelled due to rain in the forecast.
Sweet Tumbleweed will make up the concert on Aug. 22. The band plays soft rock, Americana, blues and country.
The concert series is every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gazebo behind the Albion fire hall.
The concert lineup for 2019 includes: June 20, Crandall, Wood and Main; June 27, The Trellis Cooper Band; July 11, Eagle Creek; July 18, Creek Band; Aug. 1, The Dave Viterna Group; Aug. 8, Jonesie & the Cruisers; Aug. 15, Who Dats; and Aug. 22, Sweet Tumbleweed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2019 at 3:31 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club awarded $3,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors today. Pictured, from left, include Harrison Brown, Mckenna Boyer and Jacob Ettinger. They are pictured by the Rotary sign outside Tillman’s Village Inn.
Harrison Brown won the $1,250 Edward Archbald Memorial Scholarship, given to a senior who shares Archbald’s love of sports, recreational activities, community service and work experience. Harrison is an Eagle Scout who has been active in the FFA. He also was a captain for the varsity soccer team, which enjoyed a winning season this fall, and was a leader on the swim team which won a Sectional title. He will be in the Army ROTC as a student at Cornell University. He would like to be the eighth generation of his family to work with the Brown fruit farm, which started 214 years ago.
Mckenna Boyer won the Dick Eddy “Service Above Self” Scholarship, a $1,250 award that is given to a student committed to community service and leadership, and who displays high potential for future accomplishment. McKenna has been her class president, and has been active in the school’s music program, as well as the Rotary Interact Club. She has volunteered at Rotary events, including the golf tournament, St. Patrick’s ham dinner and the hot dog stand at the Strawberry Festival. She will be majoring in business at Genesee Community College.
Jacob Ettinger was awarded the $500 Rotary Career Advancement Prize for a senior committed to community service, school activities and work experience. Jacob has been active in the school’s music program and also performs in the quartet known as The Billies. He also is on the masterminds and chess teams. He wants to be a civil engineer and will begin his studies this fall at GCC majoring in engineering science.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2019 at 7:11 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The summer park supervisors in Albion include, front row, from left: Mckenna Boyer, Preston Flugel and Gerardo Solis. Back row: Kiara Smith, Caitlynn Snook, Kaitlyn Van Skiver, Laureen Freeman and Sarah Graham.
ALBION – The Village of Albion will continue its summer parks program, but this summer the program will be at Veteran’s Park at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Road.
There will be park supervisors on duty from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Monday through Friday. They will lead supervised recreational games and activities. The program starts on Wednesday, June 26, and continues until Friday, July 26.
There will arts and crafts, water games, obstacle courses, bowling trips at Oak Orchard Lanes and many other activities. A senior citizen picnic is planned for July 23. A GaGa Ball Pit also has been added at Veteran’s Park for this summer, said John Grillo, the recreation director for Albion.
The program is free to children in the Albion school district. Parents and guardians are urged to attend registration the first week of the parks program to meet the supervisors and fill out important paperwork.
The summer parks program is usually based at Bullard Park, but that site on Route 31 is under construction with a new splash pad, amphitheater, bathrooms and other improvements.
Veteran’s Park is smaller than Bullard and that will make it challenging for some of the games, especially for the older kids. The popular children’s carnival won’t happen this year because there isn’t enough space at Veteran’s Park for the event.
The parks program holds several weekly camps. Those camps will continue this summer, except for baseball. That camp has been at Bullard, but there isn’t enough room for it at Veteran’s Park.
The parks program will also offer the following camps: wrestling for grades 6-12 at the Albion High School gym, July 1-5, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; volleyball for grades 6-12 at Albion HS gym, July 1-5, from 10 a.m. to noon; tennis for grades 5-12 at Albion HS tennis courts, July 8-12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; and tennis for grades 5-12 at Albion HS tennis courts, July 15-19, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 June 2019 at 2:03 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Tim Tierney fills a bird feeder at The Village of Orleans, a nursing home in Albion. Tierney stops by weekly to fill two bird feeders at the nursing home. He is shown today at the birdfeeder in front of the nursing home near Route 31. There is another birdfeeder in the garden of the nursing home.
The Orleans County Bluebird Society and the Albion Betterment Committee have been working to add birdhouses and birdfeeders. The Bluebird Society is April added 16 bird houses to the Orchard Manor nursing home in Medina.
“Perhaps it is because they are often colorful and can fly that songbirds are able to lift our spirits,” said Gary Kent, a leader with the Betterment Committee and Blue Bird Society. “Or it may be that their songs can be delightful. The ability to brighten days becomes especially important for those who sometimes feel virtually trapped in nursing homes.”
Clarence Winkelmann built the two bird feeders at The Villages about three years ago. He recently made 16 bird houses for the Orchard Manor nursing home in Medina. Those bird houses were put at Orchard Manor about two months ago. Winkelmann said he would soon put a new roof on the bird feeder he is pictured with.
Winkelmann and Tierney agreed that the bird feeders and bird houses have been an easy way to boost the quality of life for nursing home residents.
Tom Fuller of Medina installed 16 bluebird boxes at Orchard Manor in April. Kent thanked Barry Neal of Country Contracting for donating the ¾ inch exterior plywood used to build the bird houses.
