ALBION – Albion Central School is open today, the district told students and parents in message this morning. The district was listed as closed by The Daily News in Batavia. The Daily News said it is working to correct that error on its Website.
Genesee County was hit hard by snow overnight and eight school districts plus Notre Dame in Batavia are closed in Genesee County.
The big storm, which barely touched Orleans County, also prompted the state to close the following roads:
NYS Thruway (I-90) from Exit 46 in Rochester to Exit 59 in Dunkirk;
I-290 from Exit 6 (Sheridan Drive) to the Thruway (I-90);
I-190 Niagara Thruway from exit 1 (South Ogden Street, near Thruway mainline exit 53) to exit 16 (I-290, neat South Grand Island Bridge);
Route 5 (the Skyway) between I-190 Niagara Thruway and Tifft Street in the city of Buffalo;
Route 219 between the Thruway and Route 39 in the town of Concord;
Route 400 between the Thruway in West Seneca and Route 16 in the town of Aurora.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Jeff Colonna, left, and his father Rich gave 25 turkeys to Community Action to share at Thanksgiving with local families. Anni Skowneski, case manager for Community Action, is pictured with the father and son.
ALBION – Community Action is trying to put together Thanksgiving dinners for 160 local families. The agency usually doesn’t have turkeys to give away, but one local business has given Community Action a good start on providing turkeys.
Rich Colonna and his son Jeff have donated 25 turkeys to Community Action. The agency typically has Thanksgiving meals without any meat.
“We give away food baskets based on the food donations,” said Anni Skowneski, case manager for Community Action. “We usually don’t get turkeys.”
With the Colonna gift and other turkey donations, Skowneski said the agency has enough turkeys for 40 families on Thanksgiving. She welcomed more donations from the community for Thanksgiving. She can be reached at 585-589-5605.
Rich Colonna said he has long been connected to Community Action through his electric and plumbing business. The agency also is a liaison for some of his tenants in an apartment rental business.
“If a client gets behind on their water and rent, we can negotiate to keep the tenants in their apartment,” Colonna said. “Community Action has been good to us. They help a lot of needy families.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 November 2014 at 1:11 pm
Frahkan Cooper
An Albion native was co-pilot of a small airplane that crashed in a storm on Nov. 9 in the Bahamas, killing all nine people aboard.
Frahkan Cooper is the son of Flossey Cooper, the daughter of Betty and the Rev. Wilfred Moss in Albion. Frahkan spent part of his childhood in Albion. His grandfather will be attending Frahkan’s funeral in the Bahamas later this week.
Frakhan and another pilot were flying prominent evangelist Myles Munroe, his wife Ruth and other leaders of the Bahamas Faith Ministries. They were on their way to a ministry forum when the Lear 36 Executive Jet struck a shipping container crane in Freeport as it tried to land.
Cooper worked as a corporate pilot for Diplomat Aviation Bahamas Ltd. since September 2005, according to his Linked In page. He also worked as an Anaesthesia Assistant for the Public Hospital Authority.
Cooper was married with two children.
“He was purpose-driven and he shared his knowledge with others,” his sister Jem Cooper told The Nassau Guardian.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Club is second oldest in region behind only Rochester
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Bill Robinson, president of the Albion Lions Club, and Dan Parker, the vice president emeritus, greet people at the club’s 90th anniversary celebration on Saturday at the Hickory Ridge Country Club.
Robinson joined the Lions two years ago at age 69.
“I wish I had joined 30 years ago,” he said. “You can’t measure the amount of pleasure and camaraderie I’ve had since I joined.”
The Albion High School Jazz Ensemble, including drummer Cody Osborne, perform for about 50 people during the anniversary party. Mike Thaine is the group’s conductor and director.
The Lions have 20 members. Robinson said the group funds $3,500 in scholarships each year. The Lions also give to community projects. They is pushing for upgrades at Bullard Park.
It also sponsors a youth baseball team and works on other community projects, raising money with a sausage booth at the Strawberry Festival, and by selling roses on Mother’s Day and geraniums during Memorial Day.
A board with a list of past presidents includes the name of John Keding. He joined the club in 1968 and was president in 1976. Keding remains an active member of the club.
Robinson said the group is stepping up efforts to grow its membership and offering personal invitations. It also will unveil a Website in January.
“There’s so many things going on today that it’s hard for people to commit,” Robinson said. “We’re best kept secret as an organization in Albion. You see the sign but you don’t always hear about it or know who to contact.”
Robinson said prospective members are welcome to call him at 585-589-4355. The club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge on Platt Street.
The Rev. Wilfred Moss, a past president of the Lions Club and a member since 1997, leads the group prayer on Saturday.
Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin was the featured speaker during the 90th anniversary celebration. He spoke about the Lions founder, Melvin Jones, who was in insurance business in Chicago and pushed to start a humanitarian organization in 1917. Jones had a motto: “You can’t get very far until you start doing something for somebody else.”
“He had initiative and imagination,” Lattin said. “He was a self-starter and that’s how you get places in the world.”
Several of the Albion club members have won the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, the highest honor given by Lions. John Keding, Daniel Parker, Dr. Satya Sahukar and Lloyd Wright have all won the award.
The Albion club was the first in the region between Niagara Falls and Rochester. It was chartered on Aug. 25, 1924. The orginal charter and the signatures of the initial 22 members was on display on Saturday during the anniversary celebration.
Charles Howard, who would later start a world famous Santa Claus School in Albion, was a founding member of the Albion Lions Club. His signature is at the bottom right of the club’s charter.
Lattin spoke about some of those club founders, a dentist, grocer, high school gym teacher, farmer, doctor, cold storage operator, druggist, funeral director and other merchants.
“These are all people who were self starters,” Lattin said. “They had imagination and initiative.”
Lattin said the club has moved to about a dozen different locations during its history, but has kept community service at the forefront of its mission.
“Over these nine decades you certainly have some great accomplishments you can be proud of,” he said.
HARTLAND – The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office received numerous 911 calls reporting an accident at 9209 Ridge Rd., where a vehicle hit a house and the gas line was ruptured at approximately 10:39 p.m.
Upon arrival, deputies were advised that the driver had fled the scene on foot. After requesting Hartland Fire Company and NYSEG to respond for the natural gas leak, houses in close proximity were evacuated as a precaution.
Deputies then began searching the immediate area for the driver. Joseph M. Childs, 49, of Albion was located a short distance from the accident scene. Childs was then transported to Eastern Niagara Hospital-Lockport for treatment of minor injuries.
He was charged at the hospital with Driving While Intoxicated, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, Driving on the Shoulder, Speeding, and several other traffic infractions.
He is due in Town of Hartland Court on Nov. 18.
Investigation by deputies revealed that Childs was westbound on Ridge Road, struck a parked vehicle on the north shoulder, which then caused the parked vehicle to strike the residence at 9209, rupturing the natural gas line. No other injuries were reported and the investigation is continuing by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 November 2014 at 6:24 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion police officer Jeff Gifaldi, left, checks on a tractor trailer that caused a power outage on Orchard Street near the Lake Country Pennysaver and Yellow Goose on North Main Street.
A driver for Beckmann Distribution Service Inc. in Carlyle, Ill., hit a wire at about 5:30 p.m. The driver was attempting to turn around on Orchard Street.
The driver noticed the 22-ton weight limit for the Main Street canal bridge. He was attempting to turn around and find another way across the canal, Albion police said.
National Grid was called to the scene and was expected soon to restore power for the section of the village.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – CRFS, which a year ago moved into the former Chase site, was approved for a $250,000 loan today for working capital for the company’s expansion.
ALBION – Albion’s largest private employer was approved for a $250,000 low-interest loan today by the Orleans Economic Development Agency.
Claims Recovery Financial Services will use the funds for working capital, said Jim Whipple, EDA executive director. CRFS about a year ago consolidated its operations at the former Chase site in Albion.
The company shifted its employees from sites in Medina and a next-door location in Albion to the former Chase building. The company employs about 600 people at the site.
CRFS has five years to pay back the money at a rate that is 75 percent of prime. The money comes out of the EDA’s revolving loan fund for businesses. As the loan is paid back, the funds will be available for other businesses to borrow.
“We’re pleased with the positive direction CRFS is headed,” said Ken DeRoller, a county legislator and EDA board member.
The company has grown from about 10 employees a decade ago to its current size. CRFS is led by Orleans County native Jodi Gaines. The company serves clients in all 50 states, working with banks and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to recover past-due interest, unpaid principal, unpaid taxes and unpaid insurance on houses.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
BARRE – Firefighters put out a chimney fire in Barre this morning at the home of John and Val Hucknall, 13601 West Lee Rd.
The call went out to firefighters at 9:30 a.m. In the top photo, Medina firefighters Fernando Papila, top, and Matt Herriven work on the fire. They put dry chemical powder down the chimney and then ran a chain through the chimney, clearing it out.
The Hucknall’s son, Jeremy, was outside and noticed the smoke coming from the chimney this morning. Firefighters from Barre, Medina and Albion responded to the call.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Albion resident Ken Braunbach says Hoag Library has lost five valuable employees recently. He asked if a new director or the Board of Trustees was pushing the recent changes in personnel. He asked Board President Kevin Doherty to resign from his position.
ALBION – It started with the termination of Susan Rudnicky as library director in March. Her long-time assistant then resigned. Since a new director started in August, three more long-time employees have left. One was fired, another resigned with the other retiring.
About 60 people attended the Board of Trustees meeting tonight for the library. Several speakers said they were upset by the loss of five employees who collectively worked at the library for 130 years, according to former trustee Mary Anne Braunbach.
She has asked board members about the changes, wanting to know the board was pushing for the personnel changes or new director Jeff Davignon.
“The board says they can’t talk about it,” Braunbach said at tonight’s meeting. “That’s why people go into public office: to talk about it.”
Mary Anne Braunbach
Board President Kevin Doherty said he shouldn’t discuss personnel issues publicly. He said he would be open to a meeting with the public with more back and forth comments but he first wanted to check with an attorney and other board members to “establish ground rules.”
“I don’t want a situation where I create a liability for the organization,” he told the group.
Pat Cammarata, a former library trustee, urged Doherty and the board to provide some insight to the public about the personnel changes.
“It might help to resolve some of the tension,” she said.
Resident Gary Derwick expressed his disappointment with the loss of several long-term staff members.
“Let’s celebrate these people rather than an act of dishonor or disgrace in how these people were let go,” Derwick said.
Kevin Doherty, president of the board, said he needed to check with an attorney before commenting on personnel at the library. He said he could publicly discuss personnel policies but not specific employees.
After several speakers at the meeting tonight, Doherty tried to go on to other board business. That angered some of the residents who wanted Doherty to address the staffing issues.
He told the group they didn’t speak for the entire library service area, about 16,000 people in the towns of Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton.
Doherty noted the circulation numbers haven’t dropped and people are honoring their pledges to a capital campaign for the new library.
“The 60 people here are not respective of the entire district,” Doherty said.
Several residents then walked out in a show of disgust.
Former library employee and trustee Terry-Lynn Corrigan said she would withhold her pledge because of the changes at the library.
“It’s not because I don’t think the building is worth it,” she said. “It’s because I don’t like what is going on. I’m not giving my pledge until this place is cleaned up.”
Cammarata urged Corrigan and other community members to honor their commitments to the capital campaign.
“Reneging now represents a broken promise,” she said. “If the pledges aren’t there it means a cut in services. If there is a shortfall, who will suffer? It won’t be the board because they aren’t getting paid. It will be community and the staff.”
Joe Gehl asked if changes in staffing had hurt circulation numbers and donations to the library. He was told both numbers haven’t been hurt.
Brian Kent is the son of Grace Kent, who was terminated last month. He said donors to the campaign gave to more than a building, but also for the character of the library. He said recent decisions are not in sync with the library’s proud tradition.
While several speakers spoke against the recent changes, saying they’ve hurt staff morale and created an unwelcome environment for library users, one employee said she supports the changes.
Charity Garrow works in tech services for the Hoag. She refuted the claims that all staff oppose the new programs and direction at the library.
“The people who are commenting that everyone is unhappy with everything, that’s not the case,” Garrow said. “There is good going on here and it’s being buried by some of the negative comments.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 November 2014 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – For 112 years, this building at the corner of Main and State streets was home to Swan Library. It was vacated in June 2012 when the library moved to the new Hoag Library. It could be sold by the end of the year.
ALBION – A local businessman has submitted an offer to buy the former Swan Library on Main Street. The building has been vacant since June 2012, when Albion’s public library moved to the new Hoag Library.
The Swan Library Association owns the building and has been looking for a new owner. The library has been spending $25,000 to $28,000 annually for maintenance, insurance and other costs for the former library, which was originally a mansion constructed in 1851.
It was donated by the Swan family as a public library, which opened in 1900. The site became too cramped for a modern library and patrons complained there were only a few parking spaces. It is air-conditioned and has an elevator.
Library President Kevin Doherty didn’t disclose who made the offer and what the intended use is for the building. He said the library will be working with Holley attorney Doug Heath on the real estate transaction. Doherty said a local businessman made a cash offer.
“Folks we’re not going to get $500,000 for the building over there,” Doherty said at tonight’s library trustee meeting.
The deal was facilitated by Grace Kent and Linda Smith, Doherty said.
The library will reach out to County Historian Bill Lattin for advice about preserving artifacts inside the building, which is included on the National Register of Historic Places.
The former library was eyed as a local history museum, but that project didn’t come to fruition.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jim Traufler of Albion received medals today for his service six decades ago when he was in the Marine Corps in the Korean War.
In the photo, Traufler, 82, received six medals as well as an embrace from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
Traufler was recognized during a Veterans Day ceremony in front of the Veterans Service Agency office on Route 31 in Albion.
“It’s something you don’t think about,” Traufler said about the medals. “I’ll put them away and give them to my kids and grandkids.”
Traufler served in the Marines from 1951 to 1954. Today he received National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Combat Action Medal, Republic of Korea War Service Medal, and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
Traufler visited with Veterans Service Agency office on another matter when Paul Fulcomer, director of the Veterans Service Agency, noticed that Traufler was eligible to receive several medals. Traufler didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but his wife Virginia pushed for him to accept the medals in public.
“I thought it was a fantastic honor,” she said.
After his service in the Korean War, Traufler worked as a truck driver, taking three trips a week from Buffalo to Boston. After he retired as truck driver, he started another career as a rides mechanic at Darien Lake. He did that for 14 years before retiring two years ago at age 80.
Veterans are welcome to call the Veterans Service Agency to inquire if they are due any medals for their military service. For more information, call 589-7000 ext. 3218.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Emma Wadhams portrays the zombie version of Princess Leia in Star Wars. She is trying to reach across a closed door to get at the humans.
Emily Shabazz, right, plays a zombie that looks like Whitney Houston. In this scene Riley Seielstad (left) is a Michael Jackson zombie, leading the group in a dance.
ALBION – Gary Simboli is willing to try shows that are a little edgier in what he said is the twilight of his career as director of Albion High School musicals.
Simboli still has five years before he retires. But he wants to try some shows that are a little different. He found one with “Night of the Living Dead! The Musical.”
Students have makeup with lots of bruises and blood. The zombies resemble celebrities, including Michael Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Lady Gaga, Tina Turner and many others.
Three zombies were captured by humans. The zombies include from left: Riley Seielstad as Michael Jackson, Madeline Fournier as Liza Minnelli and Hailey Bader as Tina Turner.
“This is definitely different,” said sophomore Shannon Broda who played a zombie that looked like Gilligan from Gilligan’s Island. “Normally I play a really innocent character but this one is evil.”
She played a good witch in last spring’s production of “The Wiz.”
Albion High School’s drama program performed the show on Friday and will have two more shows today at noon and 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door.
Elijah VanEpps plays a human, Tom, and sings “No Wussies Allowed.” He tries to summon courage in the humans to go fight the zombies outside their house.
Simboli promises the show “will be a bloody good time.” The musical is relatively new. It came out in 2012 and features dead celebrities, rising from the grave with a hunger for human flesh. The human characters find ways to ward off the zombies.
David Stilwell, a senior, plays an executive named Harry. Stilwell appears as a balding character with a belly. He fights off zombies with a cane.
“The more edge the better,” he said before the show on Friday. “It’s nice to bring something new to Albion. This is the most unique show we’ve done.”
Cheyanna Rain Eagle plays Judy and David Stilwell is her husband Harry. They sing “Libertarians in Love” while zombies Shannon Broda (Gilligan) and Charlyne Olick (Mozart) try to get inside the house.
The drama program brought in two makeup specialists from New York City, including Albion native Kailey Winans. She and Erica Wiederlight worked with the cast and crew on their makeup. Even Simboli appears bloodied as a zombie.
When the characters lined up in makeup and costumes for a sound check on Friday, Simboli was pleased with his choice for the musical. He doesn’t think the zombies look too scary.
“I think they look fantastic,” he said. “When they were all up there on stage, I couldn’t stop smiling.”
The cast gathered on stage for a photo by Bruce Landis before Friday’s show.
The show has some adult humor involving entertainment law and other high-browed themes. Mix that in with zombies of Michael Jackson in his Thriller outfit, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and a member of the Rat Pack.
“We hope that people are ready to be delightfully scared,” Simboli said.
Tickets are available at the door for the performances at the Middle School Auditorium, 254 East Ave.
Riley Seielstad as Michael Jackson is on the move as a zombie. The show utilizes strobe lights and fog machines.
ALBION – The Marti’s on Main Art Gallery in Albion is hosting an exhibit from a Lockport watercolor painter this month.
Jeff Watkins of Lockport paints primarily local landscapes. He is pictured at the gallery during an opening reception on Friday evening.
Watkins uses a “plein air” style for his paintings, which are done on site and quickly to capture the light and atmosphere. The exhibit at 229 North Main St. is his first show in Orleans County.
Watkins painted “Apple Tree in Winter.” He painted it as a tribute to American artist Andrew Wyeth on the day of his death (Jan. 16, 2009).
For more information on Watkins, visit his website at www.jeffreyjwatkins.com.
Marti’s is also featuring work by Carolyn Dilcher-Stutz, a Rochester area artist specializing in animal-themed pottery, sculpture and tile. Dilcher-Stutz was unable to attend Friday’s opening reception. Gallery owner Kim Muscarella said artwork in this photo is her favorite in the exhibit.
Dilcher-Stutz created these Wish Pots, which are a Chinese tradition. It was believed if you wrote a wish on a piece of paper, rolled it up and placed it into the vessel, it would come true.
A life-size sea otter sculpture is also on display. Dilcher-Stutz is self taught in sculpture. She has been working full-time as an artist since 2006. For more information about her, visit www.etsy.com/shop/carolynsjing.
Dilcher-Stutz also created these rabbit sculptures.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
ALBION – Dallas, a Shiba Inu, has been missing since Sunday afternoon. Kathy McElwain has posted pictures of the dog around town and tried to spread the word about the missing pet.
Dallas was last seen near Allen Road and Hamilton Street. She is wearing an Invisible Fence collar.
McElwain said Dallas tends to be shy and usually doesn’t come towards people.
“I’ve been everywhere and I’ve called all the dog shelters,” she said.
Anyone with information about the dog is urged to called McElwain at 585-281-8600.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Jeff Colonna and his father Rich are pictured outside Squigee’s Car Wash in Albion. Colonna opened the car wash in 1996. An upgraded site opened last week at 130 West Ave.
ALBION – The out-of-town chain stores seem to be proliferating along Route 31 and on South Main Street in Albion.
But not all of the investment in Albion is coming from the chains. Rich Colonna last week opened a revamped Squigee’s Car Wash at 130 West Ave. Colonna first opened the car wash in 1996.
“It was time to do a major renovation,” Colonna said. “Investments in these are huge.”
The upgraded site includes new waterlines, pump motors, pumps and a computerized system for measuring the chemicals. The system also sends Colonna and his son Jeff updates through their phones if there is low soap temperature, a printer jam for receipts or other issues that may need trouble-shooting.
The upgraded site also takes credit and debit cards. It utilizes laser sensors to size vehicles to use the right amount of chemicals for a car wash.
“This will save in electric, water and chemicals,” Colonna said Thursday at Squigee’s.
He operates the car wash behind Colonna’s Electric and Plumbing. He opened that business 25 years ago. His son runs J-Co Driveway Sealing from the 130 West Ave. location. Jeff Colonna, 31, opened that business eight years ago.
Jeff is working with his father on the car wash. All five bays were upgraded. In the spring, Squigee’s will debut a new doggy wash. That spot will be enclosed and heated. Customers can walk their dog up a ramp and pick shampoos, tick and flea removers and a de-skunker.
A customer uses one of the car wash bays on Thursday.
Right now the focus is on the revamped car wash. The Colonnas have noticed people are keeping vehicles longer, driving them well beyond 100,000 miles. The car wash can keep a shine on a vehicle and also knock off some of the road salt that can eat away at a car.
The new setup includes striped paint design on the car wash and a perimeter fence.
“The colors, you can’t miss them,” Jeff Colonna said.
Rich Colonna also has three Washboard Willy’s Laundromats, with one each in Albion, Brockport and Medina. In about two weeks, a second Washboard Willy’s will open in Medina on Maple Ridge Road by McDonalds.
Colonna also owns commercial buildings and apartments. His building at 130 West Ave. is base for all of the operations. Even with the new computer technology, Colonna said he wouldn’t be able to juggle the different enterprises without Lisa Lonnen, his secretary the past 20 years.
