Provided photo – The Vintage Apple Garden on Route 98 in Carlton is participating in the Albion Shopping Tour today. Vintage Apple has a pink theme today with proceeds going to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Oct. 26 at Watt Farms.
ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association is hosting its Third Annual Shopping Tour today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year’s tour has nearly doubled in size, up from 14 participating merchants to 26.
The Merchants Association puts on the event to promote local shops and encourage outsiders to come explore Albion area businesses.
Shopping participants are encouraged to visit as many of the shops as possible to earn a raffle entry for each place they stop. One winner will receive a gift certificate shopping spree worth over $500.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Team members from the Albion Free Methodist Church were out selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts today, raising money for the church to send 13 people on a mission trip to Peru in February.
In the top photo, Mike Neidert is pictured with his son Elliott. They will be part of the trip, along with Neidert’s daughter Olivia.
The Rev. Randy LeBaron, pastor of the church, is pictured with his daughter Ashlyn. They will also be going on the trip to Peru.
The Neiderts and LeBarons are pictured outside Walmart. Team members also sold Krispy Kreme at the Ace Hardware stores in Albion and Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Members of the First United Methodist Church held their annual Country Fair today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering baked goods, produce, crafts, children’s games and other activities.
In the top photo, Virginia Cole, center, and Kay Ecker pack up chicken biscuit meals. Virginia’s mother, Laurie Cole, is in the back.
Al Capurso provides musical entertainment during the annual church bazaar.
The church is staying in its historic building for “the forseeable future” but it is looking for an alternative site due to the $1 million-plus costs of fixing the roof and addressing structural concerns with the building.
Kim Pritt sells cookies and other baked goods.
Rachel Morasco, right, is selling produce at the Country Fair.
Leslee Lockwood and her daughter Melanie Norton tend to a table full of chocolate, fudge and other goodies.
ALBION – An Albion teen has been jailed on $20,000 bail after allegedly breaking into an Albion home on Thursday and stealing two guns with ammunition.
Allan D. Walls, 16, 428 East State St. was charged in connection to the burglary of the firearms, which were recovered, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni said.
Walls has been charged with burglary in the second degree, criminal mischief in the third degree ad grand larceny in the fourth degree.
Walls allegedly broke into a home on East State Street, gaining entry through a rear window. He allegedly threw a rock to break out the glass.
Police say he stole two rifles – an AK-47 and a Ruger 10-22 – with ammunition.
Walls was arraigned in the Town of Albion Court and committed to the Orleans County Jail. He is to return to court at 9 a.m. on Oct. 21.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A new memorial quietly was added to Main Street in Albion about a week ago. Bigger fanfare for the memorial could come on Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
Mary Anne Braunbach pushed for the Blue Star Memorial through the National Garden Clubs. The memorial is just south of the Main Street canal bridge on the west side of the road in front of PathStone. Braunbach owns the building at 140 North Main St., where PathStone is a tenant.
She has noticed traffic will often stop before the bridge when the lift bridge goes up or if vehicles are waiting for farm equipment to pass through.
“This is a perfect place to honor veterans,” Braunbach said. “When the bridge is up, people will stop and see it.”
She hopes the memorial will also encourage pedestrians to get out and explore the downtown.
A state grant paid for the marker, and Braunbach paid for the stone. Brigden Memorial in Albion attached the plaque on the stone. The village Department of Public Works set the concrete pad for the stone.
The Soil, Toil and Thyme Garden Club sponsored the memorial. Braunbach was part of that group for about 20 years. The garden club recently disbanded but laid the groundwork for getting the Blue Star Memorial.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A house that has long been vacant and a target of vandals was demolished this morning.
The house at 139 East Bank St. was built in 1851, but nobody lived there in many years. Craig Ernewein of Albion acquired it in June 2013 at the county property tax auction. After having the site evaluated, he determined it was best to knock down the building, Village Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti said.
The site is at the corner of East Bank and Ingersoll streets and backs up to the Erie Canal.
Photo by Tom Rivers – An 8-foot-high Peace Pole will be erected by the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.
ALBION – An 8-foot-high Peace Pole will soon be erected by the First Presbyterian Church of Albion. The pole will display the phrase, “May Peace Prevail On Earth,” in eight languages with one in English.
The church is welcoming the community to submit ideas for other languages to share that message on the pole.
People are welcome to drop off short forms with their pick for a language and why it should be included. The church wants to include languages that have historical connections to the community, perhaps the native tongues of different immigrant groups.
A committee that includes a historian will review the submitted recommendations and make the final selections.
The Peace Pole will be erected in the grassy area north of the Presbyterian Church’s sanctuary. The four-sided pole is made of wood and is 8 feet tall and 3 ½ feet per side. The pole will be surrounded by a small garden.
The Peace Pole is a project of the TGIF Tween-Teen Community Outreach Program of the church, CCIA, and the Life Program at Albion Middle and High Schools. The pole is being paid for with a grant from the Genesee Valley Presbytery.
Forms to nominate a language can be obtained and dropped off at the Hoag Library, Bindings Bookstore, Uptown Browsery and Downtown Browsery, or a form can be mailed to TGIF, First Presbyterian Church, 29 E. State Street, Albion, NY 14411.
Contributed Story Posted 7 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Provided photos
ALBION – Albion capped off Homecoming Week by crowning royalty on Friday during a pep rally. The following were picked as the most spirited members of their class, from left: Garrett Derisley, lord; Natalie DiCureia, lady (freshmen); Kirsten Wroblewski, duchess; Sam Slick, duke (sophomores); Caitlin Malonowski, princess; Nate Trembley, prince (juniors); and Justice Nauden, queen; and Drake Arnold, King (seniors).
The senior class decorated this car and captured the title as most spirited class. About 60 seniors painted the car Thursday night at the home of Aaron Burnside, the class president. The car is a Ford Taurus donated by Frank Strasburger, owner of Frank’s Auto in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Nick Reed kicks the ball during today’s Albion varsity boys soccer game.
The team wore pink socks in a show of support for two Albion teachers – third-grade teacher Dawn Arnold and middle school family and consumer science teacher Kim Toombs. Both were recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
Arnold’s son Drake plays for the varsity boys team. He is pictured during warm-ups.
The team takes the field with their pink socks. Dawn Arnold said the gesture was “very sweet” by her son and his teammates. “It takes a bunch of men to wear pink,” said Arnold, who was diagnosed on Sept. 11.
Morgan Seielstad is decked out in pink as goalie for the Albion team for tonight’s homecoming game.
A fence by the soccer field included this poster for the two teachers, and many other signs for players on the boys and girls varsity and JV teams.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Crowd delights in community, big win for team
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – A big crowd turned out for tonight’s Homecoming game in Albion. The Purple Eagles soundly defeated Lew-Port, 40-8. Albion was up 40-0 before Lew-Port finally scored. In the top picture, the team enters Spierdowis Field.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Cheerleaders Madison Flor, left, and Destiny Wolfe are pictured with the Eagle (Andre Biemans).
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The rain stopped and the sun tried to come through the clouds before the start of the game
Photo by Tom Rivers – Albion cheerleaders go through an energetic routine at halftime.
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Albion Alumni Foundation had a photo booth for graduates to show their support for the Class of 2015. In this picture, Arianna Smith, left, and Kelsey Schmitt, both graduates of the Class of 2014, join the fun.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The pep band plays as the cheerleaders cheer with the music in front of the home fans.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Darien Payne, a sophomore, tries out a horn he bought to make noise at the football game. Will Hiabuch, Class of 2007, works in the Alumni Foundation booth, selling Purple Eagle merchandise.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Albion alumni were busy selling popcorn at the game, including Jean Shervin, Class of 1952, and the Heuer brothers, Kyle (left) from the Class of 2002, and Tyler, Class of 2008.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Main Street Store is selling most of its items at 30 to 90 percent off before it opens in about two weeks in the American Legion at 131 South Main St.
ALBION – When it started eight years ago, the Main Street Store was intended as a place to teach job readiness skills for unemployed residents and also provide quality “nearly new” merchandise at low prices.
The store has been a big success, expanding to a neighboring storefront about two years after it first opened. The store outgrew those two storefronts in the downtown, said Angel Slick, the retail operations manager.
“We’ve just grown and grown through the programs that we do,” Slick said at the store today at 49 North Main St.
Community Action of Orleans & Genesee operates the store and was looking for a bigger site. About a year ago it identified the American Legion as an ideal location for the store. The agency recently closed on the American Legion and has been busy painting the inside, working on the floor and making other improvements.
Elizabeth Daniels checks the inventory at the Main Street Store, which is in its final days in downtown Albion before moving to a bigger site on South Main Street.
The Main Street Store expects to open in the Legion site in about two weeks with a grand opening planned from Oct. 22-25.
The agency works with about 100 people a year in the job readiness program. Slick said about 65 usually find jobs with 45 keeping those jobs for at least 90 days. Those job connections are the program’s greatest success, Slick said.
The store offers assistance with resumes, letters and job searches, while providing skills that would be valuable to employers.
While the site serves as a job-training ground, Slick noticed that the community has responded to the merchandize, from clothes, to furniture and other household items. The Main Street Store won’t sell items that aren’t “like new.”
The store has a laundry machine and dryer, and every clothing item is washed before being displayed.
“We launder all of the clothes,” Slick said. “We avoid that thrift store smell.”
Daisy Stroud, left, is the donor program specialist for the Main Street Store, helping to attract merchandise, volunteers and financial donations. She is pictured with Melissa Thompson, who is in the business and office administration program.
The Legion will boost the available retail space by 1 ½ times. There will be more parking and much more accessibility for customers, said Daisy Stroud, donation program specialist for the store. She tries to attract merchandise, volunteers and financial donations.
Community Action staff and volunteers have been busy getting the Legion ready for the store, while also boxing up some of the merchandise from the two downtown storefronts.
“The new location will be so much easier for the customers to meander through the racks,” Stroud said. “We’re striving for an upscale boutique where we can cater to all.”
The Legion is getting a makeover. The main room will have the store merchandise. The dining room will be used as a classroom. The Legion has access to the back bar for 18 months. When that time is up, Community Action could transform that space into the classroom, and use the other classroom space as a more upscale chic section, Slick said. She is grateful for the possibilities.
The new location will be open later on Tuesdays through Fridays until 7 p.m., and until 5 p.m. on Saturday and Monday. Currently, the store closes at 5 p.m.
“We’re trying to be there for the community,” Slick said.
Contributed Story Posted 29 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Provided photos
ALBION – Albion FFA students and about 150 fourth-graders ventured out to the Land Lab on district property today to harvest squash. Last spring, FFA members and all of the then third-graders planted a squash seed in the Land Lab with the goal to harvest the squash the following school year when they were in fourth grade.
Anni Skowneski, case manager for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, talks with students about how some of the produce will go to a food pantry for needy families in the community. Some of the students will go to the food pantry to help distribute the produce.
“This gives the kids a chance to give back to the community and show them that even though we only planted a seed and harvested the crop that it can make all the difference in someone’s life who doesn’t have much,” said Sara Millspaugh, FFA president. “This was a great experience for the students to take part in. This is something that they will always remember.”
Adam Krenning, FFA advisor and agricultural teacher, talks with students about growing food.
Staff Reports Posted 29 September 2014 at 12:00 am
“Friends Don’t Let Friends Date Friends” aims for November release
File photo by Sue Cook – “Friends Don’t Let Friends Date Friends” main characters Della (Amelia Favata) and Kyle (Adam Dixson) look at the art during a scene shot in June at Marti’s on Main in Albion. The scene is meant to be reminiscent of ’80s teen movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
ALBION – The trailer is out for an independent film produced by an Albion woman. The trailer for “Friends Don’t Let Friends Date Friends” debuted on Saturday at the Aurora Theater in East Aurora, showing before the film “Mostly Dead.”
Rhonda Parker has been working on “Friends Don’t Let Friends Date Friends.” She is targeting a November release for the film. Click here to see the trailer.
The film is her honors project at Genesee Community College. Parker has produced and directed the romantic comedy that includes a cast of about 35 people, not counting extras.
“Friends Don’t Let Friends Date Friends” is the story of Della Regal, an emotionally unavailable young woman full of sarcastic humor. She watches her friends fall in and out of love around her. As the film progresses, she finds herself conflicted over feelings for two different male friends. She is both happy for them and the girls they are with, but also feels irritated and annoyed about the situation.
Parker is earning degrees at GCC for paralegal and Communication Media Arts. The movie has been shot entirely in Orleans County. Parker and her husband Mark, the cameraman for the film, live in the village of Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Zach Shaffer portrays Noah Davis, who grew up poor but was later an esteemed judge. He was elected to Congress in 1869 and appointed US District Attorney by President Grant. David was elected a State Supreme Court justice and presided over the trial of William “Boss” Tweed.
Davis was one of 13 prominent Albion residents highlighted on the sixth annual Ghost Walk on Saturday at Mount Albion Cemetery. There were 66 students involved, serving as “ghosts,” tour guides, singers and on the tech crew.
Shannon Broda portrays Laura Ward, who was married to Judge Alexis Ward, who was instrumental in the development of the Rochester-Lockport-Niagara Falls Railroad. He was elected to the State Assembly in 1854, but died before taking office.
Kyle Thaine portrays Rufus Bullock, who grew up in Albion, was a railroad official in George and was elected that state’s governor in 1868. He was instrumental in the reconstruction of Georgia after the Civil War.
The steps leading up to the Civil War memorial at the cemetery were aglow for the Ghost Walk, which was attended by about 500 people.
William Pecorella portrays Starr Chester, a shoemaker from Gaines. He operated his shoe shop on Ridge Road. That shop was later moved to the Cobblestone Museum, where the building was restored as the John G. Peters Harness Shop.
Evan Steier portrays Judge Arad Thomas who served as county judge from 1860 to 1864. He wrote a book about pioneers in Orleans County. That book published in 1871 – “Pioneer History of Orleans County” – has been a valuable resource for the Ghost Walk.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A section of East State Street is closed off today for a classic car show. Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home is hosting the event for the second year. About 50 cars were registered by noon for a car show that runs from 1 to 5 p.m. The top photo shows a 1929 Ford Speedster owned by Randy and Mary Cooper.
Lewis Van Allen of Perry shines his 1983 Chevy Pickup. He goes to about a dozen car shows a year. He has owned the truck for 21 years. It used to be owned by his wife’s uncle. Van Allen had the truck repainted two years ago.
Frank Strasburger gets a 1971 Chevelle Supersport 402 Convertible ready for the car show. Strasburger restored the vehicle five years ago. He also has a 1971 Chevelle SS 454 in today’s car show. He restored that vehicle in 1989.
Becky Karls, director for Merrill-Grinnell, organized today’s car show. The event is a benefit for Hospice of Orleans. The Masons are selling hot dogs and hamburgers with half the proceeds going to Hospice. There is also a DJ playing music.
Glen Busch, a member of the Masonic Lodge, cooks hot dogs and hamburgers at today’s car show.
