Photos courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – Last week 23 new members were inducted into the National Honor Society at Albion High School. These members met the criteria set forth by NHS of scholarship, service, leadership and character.

The new members include, sitting (l-r): Damian Wilson, Casey Starkweather, Avalina Hand, Angelica Genno, Angel Rosario Soto, Sierra Newton, Alexis Creasey, Ella Knaak and Lacey Standish. Standing: Bryce Pritchard, Daniel Grabowski, Thomas Furmanski, Chase Froman, Susan He, Ashlyn LeBaron, Laiken Ricker, Brooklynn Reed, Mariah Plain, Molly Wadhams, Abigail Tucker, Loren Beam, Katelyn Spierdowis and Jocelyn Bedard.

NHS member Trinity Allen is pictured with English teacher Kristin Roche.

NHS member Trinity Allen introduced English teacher Kristin Roche as the 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award winner. Mrs. Roche shared with the audience that she is a “story seeker” and believes there is power is sharing our stories. She sees student writing filled with triumph, perseverance and strength.

She acknowledged that students are not often given a platform to have their voices heard but she believes their voices are shaping the future. She encouraged NHS students to “step outside of your comfort zone and embrace your own journey, whatever and wherever it may lead,” and to share stories of hardship and triumph because it “just might be exactly what some other sweet soul needs to hear.”

Teaching award recipients (l-r): Elisha Hill, Roxanne Bieler, Tim Archer and Lee Sheehan.

The NHS members also took time to recognize staff members who exemplified the organization’s ideals of Scholarship, Service, Leadership and Character.

• Sixth grade English teacher Lee Sheehan received the Character Award from NHS member Kirsten Struble. Kirsten said, “Students gravitate towards Mrs. Sheehan because she is a very understanding and easy person to talk to. Mrs. Sheehan wants her students to be successful and life-long learners. Her favorite part of teaching is when she will see a student have that light bulb moment where maybe they had been struggling with reading and then suddenly start using strategies without being prompted.”

• High School English teacher Mrs. Roxanne Bieler received the Scholarship Award from NHS member Harrison Brown. Harrison said, “Mrs. Bieler has impacted the lives of many with her outstanding ability to teach. She goes above and beyond in making sure that her students know their material and truly understand the connections that they need to make. She is willing to go the extra mile to help any student that may be struggling.”

• Guidance office secretary Elisha Hill received the Leadership Award from NHS member Mathew Kovaleski. Matthew said, “As seniors we find ourselves visiting the guidance office quite often.  We stop in to get assistance as we apply to our colleges, seek out scholarship opportunities and make sure we are on track with everything we need for graduation. Every time we open that door to the guidance office, Mrs. Hill is there greeting us with a smile and offering a helping hand with what we need as we prepare for this next journey of our lives. It is evident that Mrs. Hill takes pride in helping students progress and grow. ”

• Mr. Tim Archer received the Service Award from NHS member Tess Pettit.  Mr. Archer leads sixth grade citizenship and seventh grade service-learning classes. He is also the high school Rotary Interact Advisor. Tess said, “Mr. Archer helps students seek out service opportunities and to value their role as citizens. He decided to become a teacher because he saw teaching as a great opportunity to influence our community for the better for the generations to come.”

Current NHS members include, sitting (l-r): Emma Mathes, Madison Narburgh, Tess Pettit, Trinity Allen, Kirsten Struble, Chantel VanDeGenachte, Brylie Hapeman, Natalie Lathrop and McKenna Boyer. Standing: Alexa Adams, Marie Reynolds, Hannah VanEpps, Malory Adams, Kaylyn Holman, Kirk Ellison, Evan Allen, Harrison Brown, Enoch Martin, Matthew Kovaleski, Jessy Cruz, Devin Olles, Jace Conn and Jacob Ettinger. Absent from photo: Jessica Schleede.

Newly inducted NHS member Loren Beam signs the registration book.

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Provided photo

BARRE – The newly formed Albion High School Clay Target Club is set to compete in the 2019 New York State Clay Target League. The spring league will officially start April 14 and continue for five weeks. All of the Albion team members participate at the Barre Sportsmen’s Club.

Pictured from left include: Gina Fox, Chris Rice (coach), Cole London, Ryan Uderitz (coach), Zac Albright, Drew Caldwell, Mike Donahue (coach), Austin Aman, Shane Hastings, Jordan Boccacci-Phillips, Ryan Krenning (kneeling), Sawyer Brailey, Ben Hickman, Austin Furness, Patrick Brien, Alex Rustay, Jacob Fuller, Nick Sacco, Jeff Atwell (coach) Tim Brien (coach). Missing from photo: Jessica Fox, James Hapeman, Max Hapeman and Will Trembley.

The Albion team will compete against other schools that do their trap shooting on their home trap fields. They compare their scores online. Shooters try to hit 50 targets, which are sent out of a machine at 43 miles per hour.

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Press Release, NYS Department of Transportation

File photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from March 2015 shows the Densmore Road canal bridge in a photo taken from the Keitel Road bridge.

ALBION – The New York State Department of Transportation today announced that the bridge carrying Densmore Road over the Erie Canal in the town of Albion, Orleans County, is scheduled to close on Monday, April 15, for repairs that are expected to last up to six months.

There will be no detour posted during the closure, though motorists can access nearby canal bridges to the east and west.

This work was previously announced last fall, as part of an $11 million project to rehabilitate seven canal bridges across Orleans County. Densmore Road over the canal is the second in a series of seven bridges that will be repaired as part of this project. The bridge carrying Bennetts Corners Road over the Canal in Murray is currently closed and expected to re-open this summer.

Editor’s Note: The DOT said the work on the seven bridges will include installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace steel floor systems, low chords, gusset plates, and truss elements. Bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches also will be improved and each bridge will be repainted. The alignments and profiles of the bridges will not change.

The  seven single-lane truss bridges were constructed between 1909 and 1914.

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Photos courtesy of Adam Johnson

ALBION – Ashley Casanova and her family celebrated the opening of Casanova’s FasTan and FiTness with a ribbon-cutting on Saturday afternoon at 114 North Main St.

Ashley Casanova opened the business in Albion on March 1. Casanova’s FasTan and FiTness includes tanning and exercise equipment for a women-only gym.

Casanova, a Lyndonville resident, also owns the FasTan in Medina at 627 West Ave.

Albion Mayor Eileen Banker and Trustee Stan Farone attended the event and shared their congratulations on behalf of the village. Banker, chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley, also shared appreciation from Hawley for the new investment in downtown Albion.

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Provided photo

ALBION – Dirk Climenhaga, left, and Michael Magnuson, both staff members at Hoag Library in Albion, have added some pizzazz to the library on Saturdays when the two work together. The two “library men” have been coordinating some interesting fashion selections.

On Saturday they both wore leisure suits. That followed a recent vintage bow tie effort.

Next up, the two will be wearing kilts.

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Photo courtesy of Tim Archer, Albion Interact advisor

ROCHESTER – Members of the Albion High School Interact Club recently visited East High School in Rochester as part of a “cultural exchange.” Albion students spent the day shadowing East students, learning about their school, life in an urban area, and ways that they can “learn from each other as we push past stereotypes.”

Next fall East High students will visit Albion and experience life in a rural area. The AHS Interact Club initiated the program seven years ago.

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State grant covering the costs for Community Action

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Elmer W. Davis Inc. Roofing in Rochester works on putting a new roof on the Main Street Thrift Store in Albion this afternoon. The company started work on the project on Monday and is expected to be on site until mid-May.

The building for the Main Street Store is owned by Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. The agency purchased the building from the American Legion and moved the thrift store to the site in 2014 after 25 years in the downtown.

A state grant for $358,124 is covering 100 percent of the costs for a new roof, new HVAC units, front doors, upgraded plumbing and some interior renovations.

Testa Construction of Rochester is the general contractor for the project.

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ALBION — Three trustee positions will be up for election on May 6 at Hoag Library. Voting is from noon to 7 p.m. with the library’s annual meeting to follow at 7 p.m.

There are two trustee positions with terms for four years, and one trustee with a three-year term.

Candidates for the trustee positions can pick up petitions at the library. Those petitions need to be signed by at least 25 people, ages 18 and older, in the library’s service area, which is the towns of Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton in the Albion school district.

Candidates need to turn in their petitions to run for the board by 5 p.m. on Monday. Those petitions are to be turned in at the library, 134 South Main St.

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Photos courtesy of Sue Starkweather Miller: Olivia Peterson talks about her special qualities with her invited guest, Mrs. Klips.

Courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – The after school “Girls Group” participated in a tea party celebration last Thursday to learn social etiquette and build strong connections.

One of the goals of the group was to help the girls feel like they have a strong connection to someone in the school. To help form this connection, a tea party was organized. Each girl could invite a staff member who they admired. Each girl instantly knew who they wanted to invite. They made a special invitation and hand delivered it to their special person.

Carlyanne Dix and Mr. Plewinski share a cup of tea.

Another goal of the group was to learn social etiquette. During the tea each girl greeted the invited teacher, pulled the chair out for the teacher, and held a conversation with him and/or her.  Prior to the tea, group leaders talked about appropriate responses. An example would be to not say the word “YEP!” and to answer in complete sentences. The group practiced making appropriate eye contact and how to initiate and keep a conversation going.

The girls made paper clouds with rainbows that served as placemats. The girl’s name was written on the cloud and each color of the rainbow was something she liked about herself. This proved to be a great conversation starter.

Madison Velky pours punch for her invited guest, Mrs. Reith.

The girls also made a favor for each teacher. It was a teapot with a teabag attached that said, “Thanks for making time for tea and me!”

Tea, iced tea, lemonade, water, and pink and white cupcakes were served at the party.

The tea party was a great success! The girls were excited and their faces lit up when they saw their teachers. The teachers were just as excited and honored to be invited by the students.

The Girls Group afterschool club is sponsored by the Title I Program. Advisors are Mrs. Keller and Mrs. Lang.

Each student gave their special guest a teabag favor.

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