Photo by Tom Rivers: The White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps from Dansville performs last June 9 in the Albion Strawberry Festival.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2019 at 8:36 am
ALBION – The Albion Town Board agreed to increase the town’s contribution for the annual Strawberry Festival.
The town has given $4,000 each of the past two years, with those funds dedicated to paying some of the costs for marching bands. The town will pay $4,450 towards the cost of the parade on June 8.
Some of the bands are increasing their fee to be in a parade, the Town Board was told on Monday by Strawberry Festival officials. The budget for the upcoming June 8 is $6,250.
“Having a parade is costly,” said Karen Sawicz is president of the Albion Rotary Club, which sponsors the festival and helps organize the two-day community celebration, now in its 33rd year. “That’s where we would be using your dollars.”
Some of the bands give the festival a break on their appearance fee, she said. But others have raised their rates. Several of the bands travel an hour or more to be in the parade.
The parade is typically about 90 minutes long and includes about 75 units.
“The parade is a signature parade but it’s only part of the festival,” said Michael Bonafede, who helps organize the festival.
This year’s festival has a theme of celebrating the lift bridges, which are about a century old. The June 7-8 event will bring back the trout pond, which will be moved to the family fun center next to the Presbyterian Church on Main Street.
There will be five entertainment venues, a 5K-8K race, poster and essay contest for Albion students, a classic car show, chalk art, and food and craft vendors.
“We try to deliver a wholesome family-centered, community celebration,” Bonafede said.
Many volunteers work on planning the event. He also praised fraternal organizations, churches and the village for all helping to make the festival a success.
For more information on the festival, including how to volunteer, click here.
The Albion Town Board for the first time in 2015 started setting aside town funds to support the Strawberry Festival, initially with a $3,000 contribution. That was boosted to $4,000 in 2017.
ALBION – There won’t be school at Albion Central School on Tuesday. The Albion Police Department will be holding an active shooter/emergency response drill at the school campus.
The drill will involve multiple local law enforcement, EMS and fire service agencies, as well as participation and assistance from state and federal agencies.
The drill will begin around 9 a.m. and is scheduled to last until approximately 2 p.m. During the drill, Route 31 will be closed from Route 98 to Clarendon Street. Residents who live in the area will be allowed to access residences on Route 31 during the drill if necessary.
About 200 school district staff members will be participating in the drill, simulating various roles within the school to allow for a realistic emergency response environment.
This drill will be one of the largest drills ever conducted in Orleans County and will allow the Albion Police Department and participating agencies to test and evaluate response times, organization and overall readiness for an emergency situation.
The Albion Police Department requests that the area of the Albion school district campuses be avoided during the drill so that it can be conducted as safely and effectively as possible.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Downtown Browsery celebrated a grand opening on Saturday of its expanded space at 116 North Main St. This spot was used by Xpress Fitness. The Browsery also uses the next two storefronts to the north. Pictured from left include Jonathan Doherty, Albion Mayor Eileen Banker, Browsery President Liz Groat, Donna John, Dakota Morasco, Julie Sanford, Village Trustee Stan Farone, Sharon Sinkora, Kim Remley and Erik Sinkora.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2019 at 2:02 pm
ALBION – The Downtown Browsery started 15 years ago with a few vendors at 14 East Bank St. Now the Browsery has 40 vendors and has expanded to three storefronts on North Main Street.
The Browsery celebrated a grand opening of the third Main Street storefront on Saturday. It moved into one of the storefronts used by Xpress Fitness.
With the move to that location, the Browsery moved out of the East Bank site to the bigger room where Xpress was located. This consolidates the Browsery in one location, making it easier to staff and also be more convenient for customers.
Kim Remley is one of the original vendors in the Browsery. Initially, the group was trying to fill a storefront in the downtown. That mission has been accomplishments, and then some, she said on Saturday during the grand opening of the expanded storefront.
“We started to try to get things going in downtown Albion,” she said. “We feel like we reached our goal. Now we want to exceed it.”
Liz Groat, president of the Browsery’s board of directors, is pictured with board members, Erik Sinkora and Dakota Morasco. They are pictured by comic books and tin signs that are sold by one of the vendors, Adam Mattle. He was able to expand his space with the move to a bigger storefront on Main Street.
Remley sells jewelry and vintage items at the Browsery. Linda Hollenbeck also is an original vendor, and Paula Brooks has been with the Browsery since soon after it opened.
Many new vendors have also joined the Browsery. Dakota Morasco of Albion has been a vendor for about two years, selling home décor items, especially with a nautical theme.
“We have so many styles within the shop,” she said about the 40 vendors. “It’s a one-stop shop. I tell people there is something for everyone.”
Michael Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler, left, are owners of the building that rents to the Browsery. They are chatting with Albion Town Supervisor Dick Remley, left, and Julie Sanford, one of the vendors.
Michael Bonafede, owner of the Pratt and Day buildings where the Browsery is located, praised the Browsery for being a positive addition to the downtown business district.
“They have such a variety of items, and they set a standard,” he said. “It’s not like a flea market. They have so many merchants that you could spend a day browsing around.”
Photos by Tom Rivers: Ashley Casanova is pictured with a tanning bed at Casanova's FasTan and FiTness, which opened on March 1 on Main Street in Albion. She acquired the tanning bed and also gym equipment from Xpress Fitness.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2019 at 8:16 am
ALBION – A women-only gym and tanning bed opened on Main Street in Albion on March 1.
Xpress Fitness closed in December after about a decade of business. Lynn Bensley ran a popular site at 116 North Main St. with exercise equipment, a sauna and tanning bed. She wanted to step back from the demands of that business.
Ashley Casanova in August purchased Bensley’s tanning and exercise equipment and opened Casanova’s FasTan and FiTness. She is using one of the two storefronts from Xpress Fitness. The Downtown Browsery expanded into the other space.
Casanova, a Lyndonville resident, is thankful for the opportunity to open a FasTan in Albion and offer the gym as well. In August, she acquired the FasTan in Medina from Kim Lockwood at 627 West Ave.
“In Medina we have many clients from Albion for tanning,” Casanova said on Saturday. “The gym part wasn’t part of the plan, but we moved ahead after a lot of praying.”
Ashley Casanova said the women-only gym offers a comfortable place for ladies to exercise.
Casanova last fall graduated from the Microenterprise Assistance Program through the Orleans Economic Development Agency. She also completed an associate’s degree last year from Bryant and Stratton College.
She sees the gym as a big positive for women in the community, who don’t want to be in a co-ed facility while exercising.
“This is more private and women want to feel comfortable,” she said. “It makes a lot of women feel good and they can be comfortable.”
Casanova praised her husband Jose for his support with the two locations. She also has started a new college degree program, working towards an online ministry degree through Ohio Christian University.
Casanova on Wednesdays will offer three workout sessions in Albion with Christian music and prayer.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 March 2019 at 9:47 pm
Provided photo
ALBION – Orleans County DAR Regent Penny Nice joins Albion Middle School Service Learning and Citizenship teacher Tim Archer following a presentation he gave to the group on the former Orleans County Alms House on West Countyhouse Road in Albion.
The classes are researching the 250 names recorded as being buried on the grounds, most with no marker at all, or a simple stone with a number.
County Historian Matt Ballard has been helping the classes locate and study newly found primary source documents. The students hope to have an interpretive panel erected on the site this spring listing the long forgotten names. The DAR generously donated $750 toward the project.
Archer’s class in 2011 rededicated the cemetery for residents of the Alms House. They reset stones, cleared brush, researched the names of residents and erected a memorial in their honor.
Photo by Lisa Mannella – Students are pictured in June 2011 with the rededicated cemetery for residents of the Alms House on Countyhouse Road. Albion seventh-graders want to add an interpretive panel explaining the history of the site.
The main building at the Alms House consisted of an administration building, a men’s ward, and a women’s ward, which were all constructed in 1878. A hospital wing was added in 1904.
The buildings remained in operation until 1960 when the new county nursing home was constructed on Route 31. The Alms House buildings were razed in 1962.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 March 2019 at 1:30 pm
Provided photo: Erica and Thom Jennings are pictured with their daughter, Elle, who recently turned 1.
ALBION – The Western New York community has responded in a big way after news that an Albion native was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer just before Christmas.
Erica Jennings is a Spanish and English teacher at City Honors in Buffalo. She and her high school sweetheart, Thom, have a daughter, Elle, who just turned 1. The couple started dating 13 years ago. They walked across the stage together when they graduated from Brockport State College. They are both 30.
Erica, the daughter of Tom and Angie Graham of Albion, experienced throbbing migraines just before Christmas. Her husband took her to the emergency room and she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma on Dec. 21. She has since undergone two extensive brain surgeries and is currently undergoing chemo and radiation treatment at Roswell Park in Buffalo.
More than 700 people have given nearly $40,000 through a GoFundMe to help the Jennings family.
The GoFundMe includes numerous testimonials about Erica from students, families, colleagues and other community members.
“I loved being in your class. Sending you love and prayers Mrs. Jennings,” one student writes.
“We donated because Ms Jennings is an amazing person and an outstanding teacher!!” writes another person.
The couple’s story has been featured in the Buffalo media, including as a Valentine’s love feature in The Buffalo News.
Now the local community has a chance to assist the family with a benefit on April 27 at the Sacred Heart Club, 189 North Gravel Rd., Medina. Friends and family are organizing the event.
The benefit will be from noon to 8 p.m. and features a big basket raffle and silent auction. Some of the items donated include signed Buffalo Bills and Sabres memorabilia, signed music items from national artists such as Foreigner, Black Sabbath (with Ozzy Osbourne), Toto, Mountain, Todd Rundgren, The Black Keys and others. Thom’s father, Thom Jennings, is a music writer and musician and has lots of connections. A bicycle and other larger items will be raffled throughout the day as well.
A chicken barbeque will be available is being handled by Thom’s uncle, Mike Zeliff. Tickets are available online at Jenningsbenefit.org or email bbqtix@jenningsbenefit.org. There also will be other food items for sale on the day of the event.
The music program features an impressive selection of local and national artists. Bruce Wojick and Jamie Holka are both Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame inductees. In addition to performing with his own band, Wojick is a member of national recording artists Klear, and performs with Strictly Hip, a Tragically Hip tribute band. Holka is a member of Captain Beyond, a popular national act.
The bill also includes one half of the popular Dady Brothers, who will be performing along with his daughter Mara Dady, and Josh Cogovan, a talented singer-songwriter who is popular in Orleans County, and is a former founding member of Experimental Sandwich. Other artists will be announced soon.
Photos courtesy of Susan Cook, Girl Scouts of WNY – Pictured from left at the main meeting room on Thursday at the Albion Village Hall, in back: Village Trustee Stanley Farone, Kaitlynn Basinait, Samantha Basinait, Mayor Eileen Banker, Troop Co-Leader Dawn Basinait, and Girl Scouts staff member Lena Budd. Front: Abriella Rice and Isabella Basinait.
Posted 9 March 2019 at 7:44 am
Press Release, Girl Scouts of Western New York
ALBION – Girl Scouts of Western New York Troop 82259 visited Albion Mayor Eileen Banker on Thursday to kick off the start of their cookie booth season. The Girl Scouts met the mayor, along with village trustees Stanley Farone and Gary Katsanis, to talk about community service work, Girl Scout badges and the troop’s cookie goals.
The mayor answered the girls’ questions about being a female leader and role model, how the local government works, and how she makes decisions.
“Being mayor, this is the first time I’ve ever had the opportunity to have the Girl Scouts visit,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful that they would want to come in and learn about the village government and what the mayor does. I appreciate the fact that they’re interested in community service and what we do when it comes to a village board. I hope they’ve learned something and look to hold positions that have leadership in them.”
Trustee Katsanis explained to the girls how a large part of the job that the mayor and trustees handle is related to fiduciary responsibility and budgeting. The Girl Scouts were able to make a connection because the cookie program allows girls to engage in age-appropriate activities such as money management and financial literacy.
Mayor Eileen Banker explains to the girls how a typical village board meeting is run.
Everyone in attendance also took part in a cookie sampling. Mayor Banker commented she has always loved the classic Shortbreads and Peanut Butter Sandwiches, but was appreciative that the troop had a gluten-free option available for those who required it.
After the meeting, the troop went around the corner to the village police station. The officers purchased cookies, took the girls on a tour of the station and then showed them the inside of one of the police vehicles including all the gear they carry with them.
The topic of how to be a good citizen and the importance of assisting people was discussed. The Girl Scouts explained how they perform community service and try to help people in need. The officers said that their goal was very similar because they always want to make the community better, even if they serve a different role.
“Sometimes someone is having the worst day of their life and that brings me into their life that day,” said Officer Sean Mcelhinny. “To be able to help them out, even if they don’t realize at the time that they need help, is so gratifying. I’ve had people come here or see me on the streets after the fact who say thank you.”
Albion police officers Brandon Annable and Sean Mcelhinny show the girls the police vehicle and lights.
Officer Brandon Annable added, “That call might be the only time a person has police contact with you so you should always treat them as best you can. They might be having a bad day or something going on in their life you don’t know about. You always want to make an effort as an officer to respect everyone even if you end up having to arrest someone. It can help them in the long run to get them what they need and possibly save their life.”
Samantha Basinait, a seventh-grade Cadette Girl Scout, expressed interest in potentially becoming a policewoman one day and was encouraged by the officers to pursue her goal. Officer Annable commented how it would be beneficial to have female officers provide their talents to protecting and serving the community. He said that they haven’t had female applicants for open positions at the station in several years, but are always hoping to see more women join law enforcement.
At the end of the event, Girl Scout Troop Co-Leader Dawn Basinait commented, “It was wonderful that the mayor was able to talk to us. Some people get really busy and they don’t have time, but she’s a wonderful person. It was a lot of fun and I’m also glad the police were able to give us a tour.”
Girl Scout cookie season ends March 31. For more about Girl Scouts and cookie booths, visit gswny.org.
Photos by Tom Rivers: This flag for an African-American unit that fought in the Civil War has 35 stars. That’s how many stars were on the flag for two years from 1863 to 1865.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2019 at 8:47 pm
Unknown how flag for regiment of ‘Colored Troops’ came into library’s possession
(Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include the possible connection with the regiment’s officer from Barre.)
ALBION – For many decades a flag from the Civil War was up in the attic of the Swan Library in Albion, unbeknownst to the community and library staff.
That flag was used by an African-American regiment from New York – the 26th Regiment United States Colored Troops.
Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library, holds the American flag for the 26th Regiment United States Colored Troops. She believes the flag was put in the frame to help preserve it in the 1950s. The flag was discovered in the attic of the former Swan Library.
“It spent many years in the attic of the Swan Library,” Betty Sue Miller, library director, said about the flag. “There were things there that hadn’t been looked at for years.”
The Hoag Library opened in July 2012. The old library also was mostly cleared out around that time. That building was the library’s home since 1900. When library staff were going through the items in the attic they found the old flag, which was in a frame.
The flag was moved to Hoag and put in a room with other community relics, mostly old books of local interest and history. There is a photograph by Matthew Brady, the famed Civil War photographer, and some other interesting local items, including signs from the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Some library users knew about the flag and suggested that it be displayed or sold to someone who would appreciate it, perhaps a museum about African-American history.
The library reached out to Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas. The company estimated the flag is worth $20,000. Heritage wants to handle a sale for the flag and would promote it as a signature piece for an upcoming auction about Americana, Miller said. Heritage agreed to sell the flag for a 5 percent commission, well below its normal rate.
The library’s board of trustees are expected to vote on the issue at its 7 p.m. meeting on March 13. Miller said the board is inclined to sell the flag because there isn’t a positive connection to the county. Hoag Library also isn’t a museum and preserving and displaying the flag isn’t part of the library mission, Miller said.
The impeachment parchment, given as a gift by a former governor
Photo by Bruce Landis (Photos by Bruce) – As governor of Georgia, Albion native Rufus Bullock was presented this list, showing the original signatures of members of Congress who voted to impeach Andrew Johnson on Feb. 24, 1968. Bullock donated the 17-inch-by-23-inch notice, written on parchment, to Swan Library in 1903, four years before he died.
The library has wrestled with a similar issue before. It was a decade ago when the former Swan Library considered selling a document from the impeachment proceedings against President Andrew Johnson.
Rufus Bullock, a former Albion resident, was governor of Georgia when Johnson was impeached. Johnson as governor was given an impeachment notice signed by the 126 members of House of Representatives who voted Feb. 24, 1868, to impeach Johnson for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Forty-seven House members opposed the ousting.
Bullock moved back to Albion in his later years and gave the impeachment notice to Swan Library in 1903. The library had only been open for three years at that point. Bullock died at age 73 on April 27, 1907, and is buried near the tower at Mount Albion Cemetery.
For a century that document sat in the attic at Swan Library. Librarians were aware of that piece of history and kept it safe.
But when the community was looking to build a library, Swan leaders thought the impeachment notice might fetch a big dollar and could help get the new building built. Some speculated the document might be worth a million dollars or more.
Library leaders at the time sent a photo of the impeachment parchment and a description to Sotheby’s, the famous international auction house. Its assessment of the document: about $15,000 to $25,000 – a nice sum but library leaders decided it wasn’t a difference maker for the library.
Miller, speaking today, also said that document had a known community connection, given by a native son who loved the new library, the first in the Albion community. That’s why the library decided to keep it.
The Bullock gift occasionally comes out of storage for a display or as part of a historical discussion.
No certain provenance for flag
With antiques, the story behind the items – their provenance – is very important. There is a lot of missing information with the Civil War flag, including critical facts such as who gave it to the library and why.
Miller supports selling the flag and using the proceeds to benefit local history efforts at the Hoag. She would like to see old newspapers from the community be scanned and entered into an on-line database, for one project.
Some facts are known about the United States Colored Troops. There were three regiments of black troops from New York – 4,125 soldiers altogether – that served in the Civil War.
The Union had 178,895 soldiers in the Colored Troops from about 175 regiments during the last two years of the war. Their service bolstered the Union war effort at a critical time.
Miller believes the flag should be treasured and she wants to see it go to a place where it would be prominently displayed, diligently preserved and deeply appreciated.
Historian: Barre man led the regiment and likely brought flag back to the Albion community
The county historian believes the flag likely was in possession of a Barre man, who was a commissioned officer with the 26th USCT.
Charles H. Mattison of Barre was a 1st Lt. and adjutant for the regiment. He enlisted with the 151st NY Infantry to start, but turned down a commission with the 151st and then took a commission in 1864 with the 26th USCT, said Matt Ballard, the county historian.
Those regiments were led by officers who were white.
“It would make sense that a commissioned officer and adjutant would have a regimental flag,” Ballard said.
Mattison is buried at Mt. Albion and his wife died in 1910. Ballard thinks Mattison likely had the flag and his wife left it to the library, which was becoming “a defacto repository for local historical artifacts.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2019 at 9:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association put on its sixth annual Sip and Stroll, a wine-tasting in downtown Albion. There were 350 people on Saturday sampling wine, the biggest turnout for the event so far.
The top photos shows Bill Koller from the Victorianbourg Wine Estate in Wilson. He is pouring wine for people at the Town and Country Quilter on East Bank Street. The quilt shop was one of a dozen stops on the wine-tasting tour.
There were also 164 people who bought VIP tickets that included food served by Roadies at the Five Star Bank. That was double the VIP tickets from last year.
These three ladies are pictured on Main Street near the end of the wine-tasting. Maureen Bennett, left, and Lori Laine, right, are joined by their friend, Courtney DePaula.
Lori Laine made the signs with balloons that looked like grapes for each of the stops.
Circle B Winery in Elba serves samples of wine at Laura Loxley Vintage Inspired Goods, which celebrated its grand opening on Saturday. Elyssa Curry, right, assists winery co-owner Ingrid Bowen in serving wine. Ingrid and Bob Bowen opened the winery a year ago.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Smith: Merchants like the tour because it brings people into their storefronts. This photo shows a crowd inside Krantz Furniture, which hosted two of the wineries.
Photo by Sue Starkweather Miller: Melissa Barnosky is pictured on Saturday in Albany with Anthony Paternostro, chairman of the American Legion’s oratorical contest. Barnosky won the competition for the second straight year.
ALBANY – Melissa Barnosky is the state champion for the American Legion’s oratorical contest for the second straight year. Barnsoky won the Legion’s 82nd annual oratorical contest in Albany on Saturday.
This was her third appearance in the finals. She competed against students from zones 1 -4. She represented zone 5 and delivered her 8-10 minute oration entitled “Civic knowledge, the key to our vigilance.”
The 3-5 minute assigned topic was drawn after students finished their initial oration. The chosen topic was on the Fourth Amendment – “The right of the people to secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Barnosky will now move on to the national contest in Indianapolis, IN. It will take place April 5-7.
As the NYS oratorical winner, she will also give her oration at the 101st American Legion department convention to be held in July 18-20 in Buffalo.
“Melissa did an outstanding job and we are so proud of her,” said Sue Starkweather Miller, public information officer for Albion Central School. “She has a solid understanding of our Constitution and has a strong stage presence. She will do a fine job of representing New York State at the national convention.”
Barnosky advanced to the state competition after winning at the school, county, district and zone levels.
