Provided photo – The Genesee Chorale, led by Ric Jones, rehearses on Monday for their concert this Sunday in Albion at the First Presbyterian Church.

Press Release
Eastman at Albion

ALBION – The darkest day of the year approaches, and also the brightest one: Winter solstice is Dec. 21, with Christmas following four short days later.

Observing this juxtaposition, the Eastman at Albion Courthouse Square Series will host its annual holiday concert, “Light of Christmas,” at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church, 29 E. State St.

This year’s event features the Batavia-based Genesee Chorale, conducted by Medina musician Ric Jones. Select vocal and instrumental ensembles from Albion High School, led by Mike Thaine and Gary Simboli, also will perform.

Concert organizer and Genesee Chorale member Maarit Vaga explains: “The pieces on the program explore differing aspects of light: ‘Light in Darkness,’ ‘Light of Hope,’ ‘Light of Heaven,’ ‘Light of Christmas,’ and ‘Light of God.'”

Among the selections are “Let There Be Light,” by Craig Courtney, “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre, “True Light” by Keith Hampton, and “Sure on this Shining Night” by Morten Lauridsen. Traditional songs and carols will round out the afternoon, which has become a popular tradition in the Albion community.

Vaga noted that some songs will encourage audience members to reflect, others to rejoice, and some to sing along. One number will be offered in remembrance of loved ones no longer with us for the holidays.

Several hundred people attend each year, and the planning committee keeps the admission price family-friendly in the spirit of the season. The event is sponsored by Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes. Proceeds benefit scholarships through the Albion High School Alumni Foundation.

Photos by Peggy Barringer

ALBION – Santa Claus gets a hug from Chloe Mosele of Albion during a visit on Monday evening to Hoag Library.

Chloe also shared her Christmas list with Santa, who said the Frozen castle play set on her list is a very popular request.

Santa greets the children, who couldn’t contain their excitement.

Santa reads “Snow Happy to be Here” to the children.

Kiri Keller was selected be Santa’s helper on Jingle Bells.

Katrina Drake

ALBION – A Lockport woman has been arrested and jailed following a two-month investigation into the sale and distribution of prescription narcotics in the Village of Albion, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task reported.

Katrina L. Drake, 24, of 80 Genesee St., Apt. 3, was arrested on Monday in the parking lot at 301 West Ave. The Task Force and the Albion Police Department seized a quantity of prescription Oxycodone pills, cash and a small quantity of marijuana.

Drake was charged with two counts each of criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana.

She was arraigned by Albion Town Justice Kevin Howard and remanded to the Orleans County Jail on $20,000 bail. She is due to appear in court on Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Justin Swanger, who was well liked for sense of humor, died unexpectedly on Friday

Photo by Tom Rivers – A photo of Justin Swanger is displayed during a chicken barbecue and fund-raiser at Kirby’s Cider Mill in Albion today. Justine Daniels (right), one of Justin’s friends, is among the group that put on the fund-raiser to help pay for Justin’s funeral expenses.

ALBION – Justin Swanger was a freshman when he moved to Albion from Ohio. He soon won over friends with his sense of humor and contagious laugh.

He also earned a spot on the basketball team with a scrappy playing style and a knack for hitting long 3-pointers.

Swanger, 22, died in his sleep unexpectedly on Friday. His father, the late Jamie Swanger, also died as a young man.

Many of Justin’s friends gathered today to raise money for their friend’s funeral expenses. They served about 250 chicken barbecue dinners from Kirby’s Cider Mill on Brown Road. Justin worked there at times and also joined the farm at the Rochester Public Market, where the Kirby farm has been a vendor for many decades.

Justin was a dependable employee, showing up at 4 a.m. to get ready for the market in Rochester.

“A lot of times he was the one waking me up,” Mitchell Kirby said about those early mornings.

Justin enjoyed the fast pace at the market and interacting with the many customers. He also worked at Lowe’s.

During the chicken barbecue, a slide show included many photos of him with friends. Kirby played some of Justin’s favorite music.

“He’d want us to get together as friends and laugh,” Kirby said.

Justine Daniels graduated in the Class of 2010 with Justin. He made lots of friends because he was always so positive, she said.

“He was a great guy,” Justine said. “He was a people-person. He touched everyone with his smile. It didn’t matter what happened to him, he was always smiling.”

Justin liked to help friends with projects, whether landscaping or other work.

“He was a helping hand for anyone who needed it,” Justine said.

Justin is survived by his mother, Paula Canne, and his sister, Alyssa Swanger. For information about calling hours and his funeral, click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Black Friday isn’t just about buying Christmas presents. Many local residents find the day after Thanksgiving to be an ideal time to buy a Christmas tree.

In the top photo, Emily Bannister, left, and Kristin Pahl pull a Douglas fir tree through a baler at County House Christmas Trees in Albion. The site is located at Panek Farms, 13420 West County House Rd.

For many years Hugh and Eleni Dudley operated a Christmas tree farm on County House Road before their granddaughter Katie Klotzbach moved the operation down the road to her parents’ farm last year.

Bannister and Pahl both work at the site during the holiday season.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Most of the close parking spaces at the Albion Walmart were occupied, but there will some to be had at the far end of the parking lot at about 6:30 p.m. today.

The store was open for Thanksgiving and offered its doorbuster deals between 6 and 7 p.m., bargains that included 50-inch flatscreen TVs for $218.

Major retailers used to be closed on Thanksgiving but that has changed with many of the stores open today.

There were threats of boycotts from shoppers, but by the looks of the Albion Walmart several hundred people took the opportunity to jumpstart their shopping.

Peebles in Albion also is open today. The store advertised its holiday hours with this sign by Route 31 in Albion.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A fire damaged a home at 216 Caroline St. in Albion today. The house is owned by Ashley and Ernie Woodrich.

The fire call went out at 11:42 a.m. Firefighters climbed onto the roof, and used chain saws and axes to vent the smoke from the upstairs. (Carlton firefighter Matt Olles is pictured in the top photo.)

No one was injured in the fire, which was largely under control by noon. Firefighters responded from Albion, Barre, Carlton and Medina fire departments.

Gary and Denise Withey have owned business in downtown Albion for 20 years

Photo by Tom Rivers – Gary Withey is pictured at Fischer’s Newsstand, which has been a fixture in downtown Albion for more than a century.

ALBION – A fixture on Albion’s Main Street for more than a century, Fischer’s Newsstand, is on the market.

Gary and Denise Withey became owners of the business in January 1995. The couple had a goal of owning the business for 20 years. They are now ready to sell.

“This place needs somebody younger with fresher ideas,” Mr. Withey said at the store this morning. “It’s been a good business and it’s been here forever. Albion needs a business like this in the downtown.”

Withey said sales have declined with magazines and newspapers from two decades ago, but he still has many customers who buy printed periodicals, including about 40 who reserve a daily newspaper.

The Lottery remains popular, and many customers come in for candy and coffee.

The store hasn’t changed much in decades, and Withey believes that is part of the Fischer’s appeal.

“It is still great to watch people who moved away come back and step inside here,” he said. “They have a smile on their face. As much as Albion has changed over the years, the one constant has been Fischer’s News.”

Withey and his wife have operated the store seven days a week for nearly 20 years. “You have to put your heart and soul into it,” he said.

The family is ready to step back from the store. Mrs. Withey in early October suffered catastrophic kidney failure and now is on dialysis. She is hoping to receive at-home dialysis and return to work at The Arc of Orleans County while awaiting a kidney transplant.

Her husband, who will turn 54 next week, wants a less demanding work schedule so he can be more available for his wife.

They remain thankful for the 20 years with the store. They were able to put their two daughters through college and pay off their house, while making tons of friends.

Withey first started going to Fischer’s when he was a kid, looking to buy hockey cards at the store. He was a customer as a teen-ager and as an adult before acquiring the store.

“It’s been great and we’re going to miss it,” he said. “It’s been a part of my life since I was a kid.”

For more information about the business, contact Withey at (585) 589-7283.

Provided photo – Rick Wartinger, manager of the Tops in Albion, agreed to have the store donate a fully prepared Thanksgiving dinner to residents at the Hospice of Orleans Martin-Linsen Residence.

Press Release, Hospice of Orleans

ALBION – Tops ran out of their 49-cents-a-pound sale turkeys this past week due to the storm closing the NYS Thruway, but that didn’t stop Rick Wartinger, manager of the Albion store, from committing a Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner to terminally ill patients at the Hospice of Orleans Martin-Linsen Residence.

For the second year in a row, Tops will donate a complete Thanksgiving Dinner so that residents at the Martin-Linsen Residence can celebrate Thanksgiving dinner in their “home away from home.”

Last year’s Thanksgiving dinner at the Residence was such a success that Hospice decided to once again ask Tops to contribute a heat-and-eat Thanksgiving Dinner. While patients enjoy nutritious meals prepared daily at the nearby Villages of Orleans Health & Rehabilitation Center, the meals are not cooked on site but warmed before serving.

Last year residents reported that the smell of freshly cooked turkey made it seem like a real traditional Thanksgiving even though they weren’t at home. When approached with the idea of providing that same Thanksgiving Day experience to current residents, Wartinger was enthusiastic in his support.

The fresh turkey dinner features a fully cooked Butterball bird, herb stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, turkey gravy, sweet potato casserole, cranberry orange relish and, of course, a pumpkin pie.

Hospice personnel will pick up the complimentary meal, valued at $74.99, around 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, warm it up for the recommended two hours, and serve the grateful residents. The smell of roasted turkey warming in the oven is sure to bring back happy memories and brighten the day of the residents and staff alike.

Thank you to Tops for making Thanksgiving possible for patients at the Martin-Linsen Residence so that they and their families can “live” Thanksgiving and not just “cook” it.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Charlie Nesbitt, a member of the church and event chairman, welcomes a big crowd to the event featuring Mike Randall.

ALBION – About 300 people attended a solo performance starring Mike Randall, the Buffalo weatherman, tonight at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.

Randall portrayed Charles Dickens in telling his classic story, “A Christmas Carol.” Randall was impressive in the performance, mixing many different voices to tell the story.

Randall has performed the Dickens’ show about 100 times since 2007. He also portrays Mark Twain and has done that show about 2,000 times. Before he started a career in television, Randall worked as an actor.

He became intrigued about Dickens, who was a Twain contemporary, in his research about Twain. Randall read about Dickens and his American Reading Tour from 1867-1868, which included a stop in Buffalo. Dickens drew big crowds to his events.

Dickens didn’t merely read the stories. He acted out the parts, Randall said.

“Charles Dickens was like a rock star,” Randall said after the performance in Albion tonight.

The performance served as a fund-raiser for the church, benefitting its youth programs and other outreach efforts.

ALBION – The Albion Middle School performed its fall show tonight. “A Seussified Christmas Carol” will return to the stage at noon and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

In the top photo, Connor McQuillan is Thing 1 from “The Cat In The Hat” and Kate Krieger is Thing 2. Those characters served as narraters for the musical.

Abbyneezer Scrooge (Molly Wadhams) confronts her clerk Bob Cratchitt (Evan Allen), who takes a brief break from work to warm his hands.

The show highlights the story by Charles Dickens with a Dr. Seuss flavor. That results in a lot of rhyming. The Albion production is directed by Carrie Kozody.

A caroler (Hannah VanEpps) is rebuffed by Scrooge when the caroler stops by the shop to spread some Christmas cheer.

Sophia Zambito plays the Ghost of Christmas Past and leads Scrooge to see scenes from when she was a girl and a young woman.

April Henchen is the Ghost of Christmas Present. She shows Scrooge how her lack of generosity and fairness creates a hardship for many people in her life.

The pirates include, from left: Arella Ives, Kate Krieger and Sophia Zambito.

Eusebio

ALBION – An Albion man faces numerous drug charges after being arrested on Wednesday following an investigation into cocaine trafficking in the village, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported.

Martin Eusebio, 20, of 201 Washington St., Apt. 1, was charged with four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (a Class B felony); four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (a Class B felony); four counts of criminal nuisance in the first degree; and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, the Task Force reported.

Eusebio was arraigned by Albion Town Justice Kevin Howard and jailed on $50,000 bail. Eusebio also is being held on an immigration detainer filed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Eusebio is to return to Town Court at 9 a.m. on Nov. 25.

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – Barre firefighter Cordell Woodward uses a crowbar to try to get out the battery in a vehicle damaged in a collision at the Route 31A and Mix Road intersection at about 3:15 p.m.

There were no apparent injuries in the accident. Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies were on scene with the Barre Fire Company. No additional information is available.

Photos by Tom Rivers – A snowmobile owned by the Albion Fire Department could be used to check on residents stranded in a storm in the Buffalo area.

Dusty DeCarlo moves a four-wheeler out of a trailer at the Albion Firehall. DeCarlo would check the vehicle for use in a major snowstorm in the Buffalo area.

Albion Fire Chief Rocky Sidari, left, Harry Papponetti and Greg Marston check a rescue trailer for possible deployment later tonight and tomorrow. Firefighters also readied the trailer with gas cans, generators and other equipment.

ALBION – The Albion Fire Department is preparing to be deployed to Buffalo, to assist crews in checking on residents and motorists who are stranded in a colossal snow storm. Firefighters could deliver food and medication. The exact assignment isn’t yet known.

Fire Chief Rocky Sidari expects official confirmation soon that a local team will be sent to the Buffalo area, where about 5 feet of snow has been dumped. The Albion Fire Department has an off-road four-wheeler with a track system. That vehicle can maneuver in the huge snowfall. The Fire Department also plans to take a snowmobile and a rescue trailer.

Sidari was sending text messages to firefighters, trying to round up a crew. Sidari received six confirmations by 5 p.m. The group is expected to leave at 8 p.m. If they are deployed as expected Sidari said firefighters would be committing to a 24-hour shift.

Past Fire Chief Harry Papponetti has seen it before in the Blizzard of ’77. He told firefighters at the fire hall they need to careful and never be alone in these harsh elements.

“It’s blizzard-like conditions,” he told them. “It’s not going to be an enjoyable thing.”

Papponetti’s son Steven is a student at Hilbert College in Hamburg. He told his father the storm was unbelievable with the rapid pace of accumulations.

“He can’t even find his vehicle,” Papponetti said. “It’s buried.”

Ron Armstrong, another past fire chief in Albion, talked with his granddaughter in Lancaster, where Armstrorng said 5 feet of snow has fallen.

“There is so much snow they can’t even get their doors open,” he said.