ALBION – Downtown Albion now feels a bit like an art gallery and also a showcase of community pride.

Artists have been painting new street benches, and the first seven were put out today just in time for the Strawberry Festival on Friday and Saturday.

The village is getting 12 new benches as part of a Main Street grant that will help with other street-scape improvements in the downtown. The grant also paid seven artists for their work in creating the murals on the benches.

One of the new benches in downtown Albion is painted as a tribute to Charles Howard, founder of a Santa Claus School in Albion. Peter Loran is the artist.

Retired Albion art teacher Suzanne Wells created this scene of the Erie Canal.

Chris VerSteeg of Kendall created this painting of a tugboat at sunrise.

Arthur Barnes of Medina painted this bench with a cobblestone theme.

Three other benches are in the works and will be painted in themes featuring a piano, apples, and Grace Bedell and Abraham Lincoln. (Bedell is the Albion girl who wrote to Lincoln, urging him to grow a beard.)

I have been chairman of this art project. I’d like to see more of the benches in Albion. It a great way to promote our history and local attractions, while making downtown and Main Street a bigger attraction.

The artists did a wonderful job. These weren’t easy to paint. If anyone is interested in donating to help get more of these done, send me a message at tom@orleanshub.com.

Peter Loran of Kent painted three benches with fishing-related themes. The area is world renown for its salmon and trout fishery.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Susan Rudnicky (in black), former director of the Hoag Library in Albion, is toasted by Mary Anne Braunbach, right, and about 80 other people during a reception Sunday at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church. The event was a celebration of Rudnicky and her longtime assistant Susie Gaylard, left, who is holding her grandson Caleb Fisher.

ALBION – Two long-time library employees were showered in praise and appreciation during a reception on Sunday.

The event came three months after Susan Rudnicky, the former director at the Hoag Library in Albion, was dismissed. She worked 16 years as library director. After Rudnicky was let go by the library board of trustees, Susie Gaylard quit. She worked 28 years as administrative assistant. She helped plan programs, and also handled bookkeeping and payroll.

The Friends of Hoag Library organized the reception in honor of the two library workers on Sunday.

“They deserved it,” Mary Anne Braunbach, president of the Friends, said about the party for Rudnicky and Gaylard. “They deserved it for their long and faithful service.”

Together the two gave 44 years to the library. Rudnicky was praised for seeing through the transition from moving the library from a converted house on a Main Street to a new site in 2012 with about 2 ½ times the space.

The Friends of Hoag Library put on the appreciation event for Susan Rudnicky and Susie Gaylard. Those pictured include, from left: Friends President Mary Anne Braunbach, Rudnicky, Gaylard and Friends members Judy Manley, Cathy Moore, Grace Kent and Donna Wolcott.

Before the move to the new building, Rudnicky led the former Swan Library’s efforts to modernize, going from a card catalog to electronic organization system for tracking books. She expanded computer use for patrons and pushed for e-books at the library, said Tom Bindeman, director of the NIOGA library system.

“She was an ambassador not only for the library but for the community,” Bindeman said. “She’s a classy lady.”

NIOGA offers many support services and staff development training for libraries in Orleans, Niagara and Genesee counties. Rudnicky insisted that her staff in Albion attend many of the NIOGA programs. She wanted them to be better able to serve the public, Bindeman said.

The community gave $1.3 million in donations towards the new library. Rudnicky also wrote applications that netted about $800,000 in grants for the project.

“The community wouldn’t have supported the library without excellent library service,” Bindeman said.

Rudnicky was praised for the library’s many partnerships in the community with historical groups, literacy programs, and the community reading called A Tale for Three Counties.

Sarah Karas, a co-director at Cobblestone Society Museum, thanked Rudnicky for continuing as president of the museum board and serving as a mentor to the staff.

Rudnicky has been staying busy, preparing for a September art show in Batavia. GO ART! will feature a collection of her acrylic paintings. She said she is also job hunting.

Several speakers also praised Gaylard for her commitment to library programs, especially events for children. Gaylard’s sister Terri Miller said the two would go Black Friday shopping early the day after Thanksgiving. While most people were hunting for bargains for friends and family, Gaylard was out looking for children’s prizes for library programs throughout the year.

Gaylard is growing fruit at her home in Barre and spending more time with her business making purses, Pursenality by Susie.

Gaylard and Rudnicky both thanked the Friends and local residents for the reception on Sunday.

“It was a wonderful show of community support,” Gaylard said.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Jim Salmon, right, has been host of the Home Repair Clinic on WHAM since Dec. 15, 1988.

ROCHESTER – Jim Salmon will take your questions about any kind of malady afflicting your home – from moldy carpets, disintegrating roof shingles, soggy basements, you name it.

For 25 years he had led the Home Repair Clinic on WHAM 1180 with John Carr. Salmon lives in Barre and runs a home inspection business.

He invited me on the air for his show today to talk about the Orleans Hub and on-line news sites.

Salmon is on the radio every Saturday on WHAM from 6 to 10 a.m. and Sundays from 9 to 11 a.m. Doug Bower, a plumber in Albion, is on the second Sunday each month to talk plumbing issues with callers and also to provide some witty banter with Salmon.

Doug Bower, left, is a frequent guest on the radio show with Jim Salmon.

The two make a good team. They met at the Barre Deli and Bower has been a frequent guest on the show for about 15 years.

“Doug is really good at it,” Salmon said about Bower’s radio presence. “He’s in the trades.”

Salmon has many guests on the show who talk about home repair issues. One guest today, Tony Hettinger, discussed a LawnBott, a robot that mows a lawn.

“It’s always fun,” Salmon said about the show. “We make it entertaining first with home repair second.”

Photos by Sue Cook – Joe Angerosa shakes his hips for the crowd while belting out an Elvis tune.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

ALBION – Back by popular demand, an Elvis impersonator performed at the Albion Middle School on Friday.

Joe Angerosa has been performing his Elvis tribute concerts for the past 25 years at places like Atlantic City and Vegas. The sixth-grade teacher performed as a fund-raiser for the Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

Angerosa entertained the crowd in the Albion Middle School auditorium with songs such as “Hound Dog,” “My Way” and “Don’t be Cruel.”

Deputy Sheriff’s President Erin Fuller estimates that when the money from the fundraiser comes in next month they will have raised between $5,000 and $6,000, which is the organization’s yearly average. Approximately 300 tickets were sold for the event.

“We’re a non-profit organization and we use the money for all of our charitable donations,” Deputy Sheriff’s Vice President Jim Halstead said. “Joe’s very good and I think this is his fourth or fifth time in Albion. The Fire Department has used him for a fundraiser, too.”

The money will be used for scholarships and charities in Orleans County, including the David Whittier Scholarship, the Merle D. Fredericks Scholarship and the Children and Family Services summer program.

Angerosa is a 6th-grade teacher in Oneida County when he isn’t performing on stage. His students are aware of what he does, and find it humorous.

“We get a turn out every year and a good community response,” said Deputy Meridith Papponetti. “I think it shows that we’re out here trying to do some good, fun stuff that’s very positive for everyone.”

Albion students get taste of the workplace

Photo by Tom Rivers – Janie Schutz, second from left, shows a display she made about her internship with Shari Berg, a middle school special education teacher at Albion. About 50 students participated in internships in the community. They all celebrated the program on Thursday at the high school cafeteria.

ALBION – Nearly 50 Albion High School students got a taste of the workplace this school year through internships with 30 businesses and organizations in the community, including some multi-million dollar companies.

The internship program is growing and school officials believe it gives students an advantage as they plan and pursue a career.

“The students have worked hard in a variety of locations this year,” said Sue Starkweather Miller, the district’s internship coordinator. “I think they will have a step above the other students because of it.”

The district celebrated the interns and their host partners on Thursday in the high school cafeteria. Students created display boards about their internships. They spent about 90 minutes four days each week over 20 weeks with the internships.

Josh Girvin interned at Allied Builders in Brockport, working closely with Jeff Baron of Albion, the estimator for the company. He prepares bid for major construction projects, including school additions.

Josh Girvin did an internship with Allied Builders in Brockport, working closely with Jeff Baron, the estimator for the company.

Girvin wants to be a civil engineer. He said the experience with Allied Builders has him more excited about that career. He will attend Widener University near Philadelphia to major in civil engineering and compete in track.

At Allied, he read blueprints, learned about construction materials, saw how the company works with subcontractors and has so much research as it goes through the bidding process.

“It was a lot of fun,” Girvin said. “I saw how much goes into a project.”

Alise Pangrazio split her internship between United Way of Orleans County based in Medina and GCASA, which is across the street from the school in Albion.

Pangrazio is interested in working in human services. She said the internships were eye-opening. She helped track donations at United Way and was impressed by the giving spirit of the community.

The organization is working to raise $325,000 for 22 member agencies. Pangrazio was able to learn about all of those agencies. She also saw how many businesses are in the community. She created a 60-plus page list of the businesses by combining records from the eastern and western Orleans United Way organizations. They recently merged into a single county United Way.

“I didn’t think there was so much here,” Pangrazio said about all of the companies and also the agencies in the community. “It’s great to see we have so many businesses.”

Alise Pangrazio split an internship with Lisa Ireland, left, from the United Way of Orleans County and Patricia Crowley of the GCASA.

Lisa Ireland, the executive director of the United Way, said Pangrazio’s work was helpful to the United Way, which only has two employees.

“She is absolutely a part of our team,” Ireland said.

Pangrazio also spent two days a week with the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, working with prevention educator Patricia Crowley. They planned a town-wide meeting on underage drinking in Medina, teamed with the High School Honor Society for a food giveaway at GCASA, and placed stickers warning about underage tobacco use at retailers in Albion and Holley.

“We try to make it hands-on,” Crowley said about the internship program. “It’s all about getting them out into the community.”

Pangrazio will major in general studies at Genesee Community College. At first she was considering a major in psychology, but wants to work in human services.

“I just like to help people, anything I can do to make their life a little better,” she said.

Albion senior Ben Kirby interned with the school’s tech support department. He was tasked with developing a computer program that would scan student ID cards.

Kirby said the experience was confirmation he wants to pursue computer programming in college and as a career. He will attend Monroe Community College and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Renee Ebbs interned with the Olde Dogge Inn. She answered phones, fed animals and worked with customers. She wants to be a vet tech.

Students with internships include Connor Barleben, Vjosa Bela, Jarod Biemans, Kayla Breeze, Dylan Burkhardt, Brooke Chandler, Rachel Corke, Julissa Curcie, Mitchell DeSmit, Bradlee Driesel, Renee Ebbs, Lydia Erakare, Sabrina Finzer, Kyle Frasier, Mark Gibson, Joshua Girvin, Yasmin Gutierrez Apaez, Justyn Haines, Tierra Hastings, Emily Joslyn, Benjamin Kirby, Johnathan Krieger, Ashley Leis, Taylor Mager, Johaneliz Martinez Tinoco, Michelle Maxwell, Summer Moore, Sierra Morgan, Zachary Neilans, Alise Pangrazio, Kendall Piccirilli, Rebekkah Piedmont, Joshua Raymond, Jenna Reigle, Janie Schutz, Jasmine Scurry, Becca Sills, Arrianna Smith, Jasmyn Smith, Martha Smith, Steven Stauss, Nathanael Sugar, Christopher Taber, Garrett Van Lieshout, Johnathan Warne, Ashley Weigele and Shannan Wells.

The following businesses and organizations hosted interns:

Agape Physical Therapy in Brockport, Advanced Imaging in Batavia, Albion Central School staff, Albion Police Department, Allied Builders in Brockport, Avanti Pizza, Bentley Brothers, CRFS (IT Department), Country Lane Veterinary Services, D & K Auto Body Repair, GCASA, Dr. Karl Heuer DDS, Hoag Library, Keeler Construction Company, LaBella Associates, Little Leapers, Mark’s Pizzeria, Medina Fire Department, Medina Memorial Hospital (Imaging Department), Monroe Tractor in Batavia, Olde Dogge Inn, Orleans Community Health (Physical Therapy Department), Orleans County DSS (Welfare Fraud Department), Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, Relco Systems in Lockport, Sodexho, Saint-Gobain Adfors, Villages of Orleans (social work, dietary and laundry departments), United Way of Orleans County and YMCA Eagle’s Pride Daycare.

Replica of Lincoln’s coffin will be on display in Albion

Photos by Sue Cook – Funeral Director Rebekah Karls stands outside the Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home, formerly the residence of Sanford Church, the New York State Lieutenant Governor in 1842.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

ALBION – This year the Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home celebrates its 100th year in the funeral business with special events planned for the Strawberry Festival on June 13-14.

In 1914, J.B. Merrill established his funeral business and later merged and formed J.B. Merrill & Son with Leon Grinnell’s business.

Rebekah Karls has served as Merrill-Grinnell’s manager and a funeral director since 2002. She times the funeral home’s 100^th anniversary with the Albion Strawberry Festival next weekend. She welcomes the community to learn, explore and get a taste of history.

“Sometimes after a funeral, when everything’s done and everyone’s leaving, the most frequent thing I hear is ‘I hope we don’t meet like this again’ or ‘I hope we meet somewhere else,’” Karls said. “So this is kind of a nice occasion for people to come where they don’t have the lingering grief following them.”

Before its current location, located at the corner of East State and Ingersoll in Albion, the funeral home used to be in the building across State Street. It was purchased by Merrill-Grinnell during the 1930s. Merrill’s original location was in Kendall.

This ad states the date for grand opening in the current location on Sept. 17-18, 1955.

The funeral home will be open to the public during the festival. Exhibits will be set up with death and funeral related items, old advertisements, antique equipment, funeral furniture, a glass trike hearse, the rosewood ice chest coffin from the Cobblestone museum and more. Tours will also be available.

“It’s basically a community event,” Karls explained. “Come on down and meet me. I want to meet you. I want to talk to you. I want you to see what we’re about. I don’t want anybody to feel pressured about anything.”

Karls expects the big draw for the weekend to be Abraham Lincoln’s coffin provided by Batesville Casket Company.

It is authentic to Lincoln’s original custom-built coffin (except for an internal lead lining and silver plate).

The original coffin spent three weeks in 1865 making several stops on its way from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Ill. Lincoln had the largest funeral ever until the death of President Kennedy.

A replica of Abraham Lincoln’s coffin will be on display during the Strawberry Festival.

The Batesville Company’s four replica coffins have been to over 100 cities and are on a waiting list into 2016.

On June 14, the funeral home will also host several vendors who are available to answer questions. Karls wants the vendors there to make people more comfortable without feeling overwhelmed.

“I don’t want people to be afraid of this place,” she said. “Everybody’s got questions, but they don’t want to ask. I figure if I have different people there to answer the questions, they’ll feel more at ease to ask and learn.”

“A lot of the older generation is going to have a traditional service, but a lot of people are going modern now and personalizing a lot more,” Karls said. “It’s all about what that person would have wanted. When I get to know the person that’s passed through their family, through stories, then I can say ‘let’s do this to memorialize dad or mom.’”

Karls stands among the casket and vault options that the funeral home offers. She welcomes curious visitors to ask questions in a comfortable atmosphere.

“It takes a little bit of edge off the family,” she said. “It’s not such a sad, solemn thing. It’s going to be a celebration of their life and that’s what we like to do.”

She hopes the weekend of the Strawberry Festival will open people’s minds about funeral services, but also as an opportunity to meet her under enjoyable circumstances.

“I felt this was a good weekend. People were already going to be out here, so come on a couple steps farther and visit us,” said Karls.

The funeral home will be open Friday June 13 from noon until 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The vendors will be there mostly during the afternoon.

ALBION – Two people have been jailed after being arrested for selling drugs in Albion and Lockport, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force is reporting today.

The arrests came on Wednesday after an investigation into the possession, sale and distribution of crack cocaine, prescription narcotics and marijuana from the city of Lockport to the village of Albion.

The Major Felony Crime Task Force, along the Albion Police Department, arrested a Buffalo man and Lockport woman in the parking lot of the Family Dollar in Albion at 162 South Main St.

A search warrant was executed on a vehicle at the Family Dollar and two people were arrested for sale and possession. Police seized crack cocaine, marijuana and prescription narcotics from the vehicle search.

With assistance from the Lockport Police Department, a secondary search was conducted in Lockport at 165 Erie St. The Task Force said nearly an ounce of crack cocaine, a quantity of marijuana and numerous prescription pills were seized.

The following were arrested:

Cobb

Brosius

Timothy J. Cobb, 30, of 1015 Lafayette Ave., Buffalo. He was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (a class B felony), three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (a class B felony), two counts of CPCS in the fifth degree, one count of CSCS in the fifth degree, one count of criminal sale of marijuana in the fourth degree and one count of unlawful possession of marihuana.

Cobb was arraigned in the Town of Barre Justice Court by Judge Richard A. DeCarlo Jr. and committed to the Orleans County Jail without bail due to his previous criminal history, the Task Force reported.

Amanda K. Brosius, 33, of 165 Erie St., Lockport. She was charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, five counts of CPCS in the fifth degree, four counts of CSCS in the fifth degree, two counts of criminal diversion of a prescription in the fourth degree, one count of criminal sale of marijuana in the fourth degree, and one count of unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree.

Brosius was arraigned in the Town of Albion Justice Court by Judge Kevin J. Howard and was committed to the county jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.

Both are to appear at Albion Town Court on June 10 at 9 a.m.

File photo by Tom Rivers – In this photo from the Memorial Day parade in Albion, drum majors Brooke Chandler, left, and Char Olick lead the band down Main Street.

Press release
Albion Marching Band

The Albion Purple Eagles Marching Band earned another first place award Saturday with a championship showing at the parade competition in Nunda.

The Purple Eagles’ performance scored 97.8, which garnered first place in Open Class, the overall high parade score (among all classes), and the high color guard award.  Addison was the second place band with an 85.5, and Canaseraga came in third with a score of 85.4.

The Albion band’s show, entitled “Heartbeats”, features love-themed music including songs by Queen, Bon Jovi, Phil Collins, and Elvis Presley. Effects include a 10-foot high valentine heart prop and a mass release of red, eco-friendly balloons.

The Purple Eagles have two more performances this season: Saturday in the Holley June Fest parade, and at Albion’s Strawberry Festival parade on June 14.

Referendum to borrow $1.4M goes down, 249-114

Photo by Tom Rivers – Barre firefighters wait after 9 tonight at the Barre fire hall for the results of today’s referendum, seeking permission to borrow up to $1.4 million for a new fire hall.

BARRE – Town residents overwhelming voted down a proposition today that would have authorized the Barre Fire District to borrow up to $1.4 million towards a new fire hall.

The proposal was soundly rejected, 249 to 114.

“That number scared people,” Barry Flansburg, the Fire District treasurer, said about the $1.4 million.

Barre firefighters took the vote in stride.

“I was expecting it to be a lot closer, but we’re still going to be here,” said Nic Elliott, 21. “We’ll still get on the trucks and we’ll have guys who will risk their lives for the town.”

The Fire District wants to leave the existing hall, which was built as an addition in 1961 to a schoolhouse. The building’s truck bays and space are small, forcing some fire trucks to be specially built at a higher cost, fire officials said.

Elliott, a firefighter the past three years, said firefighters don’t have adequate space to train. One of the fire vehicles, a pickup brush truck, is parked out back in an unheated pole barn.

Flansburg said firefighters need to work harder at educating the public about the shortcomings of the existing building, and the financial implications of staying in the current site that needs a new roof and other repairs.

“This vote was to build a new building or fix an old dilapidated one,” Elliott said. “It wasn’t about building a Taj Mahal. It was about making something functional for the firefighters.”

The building is owned by the Barre Fire Company. President Karl Driesel said the board will soon meet to discuss the existing building and what needs to be done in the short-term.

The fire commissioners for the Fire District will meet Tuesday to discuss their next steps.

The Fire District already budgeted a $50,000 increase for 2014. Flansburg said misinformation may have swayed the vote about borrowing the money for a new fire hall. He heard from people who thought there was another tax increase, when that money was already set aside for 2014 and wouldn’t go up again as part of a 30-year loan.

“I think it’s great that we had this many people turn out,” Flansburg said. “We can do it again, but maybe next time we need to do a better job of letting people know the facts.”

Editorial

Photo by Tom Rivers – The current fire hall for the Barre Volunteer Fire Company was built as an addition to a schoolhouse in 1961. Firefighters say the site is cramped and many modern fire trucks are too long or tall to fit inside and have to be retrofitted to squeeze into the Barre hall.

BARRE – Look around Orleans County in the past decade and consider how some towns have worked to put new assets in play for the betterment of town residents.

I think the Town of Barre has done a lot. The new town park is the envy of the county. The town hall has been renovated and expanded. New waterlines have gone in.

Barre is Orleans County’s least populous town with 2,025 residents, but it is doing big things, and it wants to do more.

Today town residents will vote on whether the Barre Fire District has permission to borrow up to $1.4 million for a new fire hall on Route 98, north of the existing site by the Barre water tower.

Firefighters tell me the vote is controversial. Many residents want them to “make do.” The firefighters say it’s about 50-50 whether it will pass. Residents should support the project, should support their volunteer firefighters and should vote yes to make their community stronger – and safer.

Barre fire officials say the new 7,300-square-foot building will require about $50,000 more in taxes each year. That amount was already added to the taxes for 2014. With that increase Barre residents this year are paying a fire protection tax rate of $1.45 per $1,000 of assessed property.

That seems about the going rate in Orleans County for volunteer fire companies. In Kendall, property owners pay a $1.38 rate for the Kendall Fire Department and $1.55 for the Morton Fire Department. In Murray, the rate is $1.61 for the Holley Fire District and $1.59 for Fancher-Hulberton-Murray.

Other rates includes $1.44 for Shelby, $1.26 for Ridgeway, $1.00 for Clarendon and 65 cents for Carlton.

A proposed new Barre fire hall would be 7,300 square feet with five bays and rooms for meeting and training.

Barre, with the new firehall, would be cheaper than several fire districts. The $1.4 million represents a worst-case scenario. The Barre Fire District expects it will be able to secure some grants for the project, especially for the energy efficiency features.

Doing nothing and staying in the existing building may prove more costly in the long run. The fire trucks are squeezed tight in the building. The building is too small for many modern fire trucks.

The new building could accommodate five fire vehicles, a meeting/training room and radio room. There would be three front bays and two drive-through bays out the back entrance doors.

The existing firehall was built in 1961 as an expansion to an old schoolhouse. The Barre Fire Company has made the building work for 53 years.

But firefighters say the new building would be much more user-friendly, and would meet their needs for at least the next half century.

It would also be another sign of a community moving forward. It would be an asset to the Route 98 corridor.

Today’s vote is from 3 to 9 p.m. at the fire hall.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Claims Recovery Financial Services put up this new monument sign today by Route 31. CRFS moved into the former JP Morgan Chase site in January and has more than 600 employees working out of the site.

The Uptown Browsery opened in downtown Albion on Feb. 15. The business includes many vendors selling collectibles, vintage gifts, antiques and other items.

Last month the storefront got this new sign at 118 North Main St.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The sandstone steps in front of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church were pulled out last week and base for the steps is being re-established and cleaned by Morris Masonry in Buffalo.

Keith Trimmer of Morris Masonry puts mortar on the steps earlier today. The steps shifted over the years and were deteriorating. They are being reset. Trimmer said it looked like they were last reset about 40 years ago. One sandstone step is being replaced with another long block of sandstone.

Morris Masonry specializes on historical projects. St. Joe’s Church was built in 1896 and is included on the National Register of Historic Places.

The project with the steps should be complete next week, Trimmer said.