By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 October 2018 at 10:22 pm
ALBION – There are about 40 scarecrows on Main Street this month, including this one of Pennywise, a character in the horror movie It. Pennywise has been moving to different spots on Main Street.
Energize Albion organized the scarecrow event, with many constructed on Oct. 6 during a fall festival in downtown Albion.
There are prizes for scariest, funniest and most original scarecrows. Ballots to vote are available at Krantz Furniture and the Uptown and Downtown Browsery. Winners will be announced during Beggars’ Night on Friday, Oct. 26
Photo by Tom Rivers: The runners in the 10-mile Metro 10 race gather at the starting line on Main Street on Aug. 18. The start and finish of the race shifted from Bullard Park to downtown Albion this year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2018 at 2:23 pm
Last-second change proved to be better for start and post-race party
ALBION – The Metro 10, a race that pits runners from Rochester and Buffalo, has had three different courses in its first four years.
This past race on Aug. 18 was stressful for organizers because the course had to be changed on short notice. The state Department of Transportation wouldn’t approve a permit to use Route 31 because that road was getting milled.
Route 31 covered the first 2 miles of the race and the last half-mile from Butts Road to Bullard Park. Not having access to 31 also meant Bullard Park couldn’t be used for the start and finish, with a post-race party to follow.
Rather than cancel the event, organizers shifted to the downtown for the start and finale of the race. A survey of runners showed they overwhelmingly preferred the downtown site over Bullard, said Thom Jennings, the race organizer.
“I thought it looked beautiful having everybody lined up on Main Street,” he told the Village Board on Wednesday.
He met with the board and asked for a three-year commitment to have the race on the third Saturday of August, and have the start and finish in the downtown businesses district.
The race just finished its fourth year and has now had three different 10-mile courses. Jennings is looking to have continuity in the course.
He also thinks having the race in the downtown gives the merchants and community a better chance to piggyback on the presence of about 400 runners. (The runners also have the option of doing a 5-mile course. A 10-mike bike event was added this year.)
Board members voted to support having the race in the downtown the next three years. Four of the five board members also participated in the bike race on Aug. 18.
Jennings said the race was able to raise about $3,000 for the Warrior House, which offers a hunting retreat in Shelby for wounded veterans.
“We’re just hoping to grow the event and do something good for the community,” Jennings said.
Photos by Tom Rivers: R. Monroe, an inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility, works with Serena, a pit bull that has been at the prison the past 13 weeks. Monroe has been a handler for the dog, teaching Serena obedience and socialization. The dog is now available to be adopted.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 October 2018 at 10:28 pm
T. Jones and Richie formed a tight bond through the canine training program.
ALBION – Officials at the Orleans Correctional Facility celebrated the first class of a canine training program where inmates served as handlers for rescue dogs.
The debut class lasted 13 weeks. The three dogs that were taught obedience and socialization are now available to be adopted to a “forever family.”
One of the dogs, Richie, already has been adopted by a family. Richie will join them on Thursday.
T. Jones, Richie’s handler, said he lost 10 pounds through the program, by walking the dog and leading it through the obedience training. Jones said his blood pressure also went down.
More importantly, he said, he welcomed the chance to be responsible and care for an animal.
“I’ve learned to be patient and caring,” Jones told a crowd during today’s graduation ceremony. “I hope all of the dogs find their forever home.”
He thanked the prison administration for adding the program.
“The program means a lot to me,” Jones said. “I hope Richie got as much out of it as I did.”
Karen Crowley, the OCF superintendent, pushed to have the program in the local men’s prison. She visited other prisons with similar programs and found the dogs improved the culture in a prison, with better-behaved inmates. The inmates also proved to be attentive and dedicated to helping train the dogs.
“It changes the inmate,” she said. “It teaches them responsibility and compassion, and we save the dogs.”
Inmates painted murals in a classroom that is used for training the dogs. This mural has a large paw print and says, “Saving Lives, One Dog at a Time.”
Crowley visited prisons in Georgia, North Dakota and South Dakota to see the programs. The program is uncommon in New York State. Crowley said Groveland Correctional Facility also has one, and the Albion Correctional Facility expects to have its program going by the end of the year.
The three dogs at the OCF come from either a shelter in Tennessee or the Genesee County Animal Shelter in Batavia. The Albion Correctional Facility expects to have a partnership with the Orleans County Animal Shelter in Albion, said Susan Squires, the prison superintendent.
Squires and leaders from other prisons and the state Department of Corrections attended the graduation today and toured the training area.
Tom Ryan, a dog trainer from Batavia, stopped by the Orleans prison once or twice a week to teach obedience classes. He praised the three main handlers and eight secondary handlers for their commitment to the animals. Two other inmates also helped walk the dogs.
The three dogs wait for direction from their handlers. Tom Ryan, second from right, led the obedience classes.
Ryan said the dogs in the program are often “problem dogs with big issues.” The dogs need a lot of attention. He worked with the inmates to teach the dogs impulse control. They wanted the dogs to stay on their mats, even when their handlers walked away.
“It has been a real pleasure to work with these guys and these dogs,” Ryan said during the graduation ceremony. “These dogs are well on their way to being dogs you can totally trust in a home.”
Karen Crowley, superintendent of the Orleans Correctional Facility, said the canine training program is good for inmates and the dogs. An inmate created the chalk art of the dogs that are displayed behind Crowley.
The three animals stayed in one of the dorms that has about 50 inmates. The first weekend at the prison, the dogs barked a lot. But then they calmed down. The dogs slept on a mat and stayed overnight with their handlers.
Krista Vasile, deputy superintendent of programs, said the dogs had a noticeable impact on the dorm and the prison as a whole.
“It changed the atmosphere of E-1 (the dorm),” she said. “It will be bittersweet to say goodbye to the dogs because we’ve fallen in love with them.”
Crowley said six more dogs will be in the next canine training class, which starts in about two weeks.
The program will also be expanded to include more inmates, who are all interviewed by a committee and must have exemplary discipline records and be committed to educational programs.
She is hoping the program has a long future at the facility.
Inmates in the Painting & Decorating class painted a dog theme inside one of the buildings which is serving as an indoor dog park. The large painted mural transformed what was an ordinary-looking classroom into a relaxed environment for the handlers and the dogs, said Crowley, the prison superintendent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2018 at 12:33 pm
ALBION – School employees repaired a problem on a water supply line in the Middle School today, which caused the school district to cancel classes.
“The leak was in Middle School crawl space and shut down supply to almost all of the Middle School only,” said Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent. “It appears that a cap installed at the end of a water supply line long ago failed at some point Sunday night or Monday.”
School employees went deep into the crawl space for the repair.
“We are thankful for the support of the fire department who assisted with water removal,” Bonnewell said.
School will be back in session on Wednesday and today’s varsity and JV games will go on. The home Cross Country meet will be held at 4:45 p.m. Boys JV and varsity soccer will travel to Wilson. Modified soccer games are postponed.
High school juniors also have the PSAT test on Wednesday morning. Those taking the test are to report to the L.G.I. at 8 a.m., and bring number 2 non-mechanical pencils and a calculator.
ALBION – Albion teachers Melissa Prince, left, and Megan Zambito lead a story time and activity on Saturday during the Albion Merchants Association’s second annual Fall Festival.
“What started out as a downpour of rain turned into a sun-filled, fun day,” said Lisa Stratton, president of the Merchants Association.
Lori Laine hosted Minnie, Moose and Max’s 2nd annual Pet Costume Parade. Megan Zambito and her family won first place with their dog, Rosey.
Remi Ebbs won second with Thea.
Luciana and Noelle Borello with Sasha won third place.
New this year the AMA Barnyard had many activities including Lasso Daisy the Cow. There also were Tractor Selfee, Barn Toss and more.
Brenda Jo Nanni did face painting with many local children.
Energize Albion hosted a Scarecrow Contest. Village Trustee and Energize Albion member Stan Farone helped with the effort. There were more than 40 scarecrows made.
ALBION – Albion Central School is closed today due to a water supply break. The district sent a message to parents and the community last night about 10:30, informing them of the issue.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Laura Shortridge of Albion hold a copy of her book, Unipreneuer, which has advice for pursuing dreams while shaking off negative influences from skeptics.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 October 2018 at 12:11 pm
Book is a finalist for 2018 Author Academy Award
ALBION – Laura Shortridge said people too often let skeptics, the fear of failure and a lack of confidence derail dreams.
Shortridge, an Albion resident, has written a nearly 200-page book – Unipreneur: How to Live Your Passion in a House Full of Dream-killers – that has steps for pursuing dreams. The book is about self-empowerment often in the face of naysayers, who may be the people closest to you.
Courtesy of Laura Shortridge: Barnes and Noble last month hosted 16 authors, including Shortridge, at the Mall at Greece Ridge.
Family and friends often are the ones who urge people not to risks, whether it be in a career, business venture or personal fulfillment, she said.
“I want people to realize if they give their gifts to the world, the world will be a better place,” she said. “If people do something positive, the whole country will turn around. Put your energy into positive things and instead of fighting negativity.”
Shortridge, in her book, identifies the “dream-killers.” Sometimes, those people can turn around and become staunch advocates. The dream-killers might not even realize they are having a stifling influence on their friends and family, Shortridge said.
The Texas native has lived in Western New York for nearly 30 years, including the past 24 in Albion. Her husband of 40 years, Randall, is a college professor at the University of Buffalo. The couple has six grown children. They moved to Albion because they got a good deal on a house with seven bedrooms.
Shortridge has always enjoyed writing, especially fiction. She thought she would take that route for her first book. But she felt compelled to write Unipreneuer.
“That was on my heart and it had to come first,” she said about the book.
The past 10 years she has been pursuing some of her own dreams and passions, through business ventures and her writing.
She also has become a public speaker, leading groups through the principles she identifies in Unipreneur.
Her book recently was chosen as a top ten finalist for a 2018 Author Academy Award, an honor bestowed for literary merit and publishing excellence in the writing and publishing industry.
Her book is up for an award in the Business & Investing category. Shortridge said the book shows how to build business and personal success while nurturing relationships with in-house naysayers that just don’t share the same vision.
Shortridge plans to attend the Author Academy Awards Red Carpet Session on Oct. 26 in Columbus, Ohio. Winners will be announced later that evening at the Author Academy Awards Ceremony where they will be invited to give an acceptance speech.
She was surprised to see the book be recognized in the Business & Investing category.
“It’s not really about building a business,” she said. “It’s about building yourself.”
Unipreneur is available at Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport, Barnes & Noble locations in Rochester and on Amazon (click here).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 October 2018 at 8:53 am
Liz Murray brings her story to Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Liz Murray speaks during a presentation – “Homeless to Harvard” – at the Albion Middle School Auditorium on Thursday evening. She shared about being homeless in high school and growing up with drug-addicted parents. Her mother died of AIDS when Murray was 16. Her father was living in a homeless shelter.
Murray slept on the couch at many of her friends’ homes, and also slept in the subway and at Central Park in New York City. She was failing school.
A teacher at a humanities school pushed her to strive for high grades and commit herself to her studies.
“Are you willing to work for what you want?” he asked her.
Murray took a double course load and earned A’s her final two years of high school and then earned a degree at Harvard.
The teacher who served as a mentor didn’t realize the full circumstances of her background until her story was published in The New York Times, when she was one of six students picked for a scholarship.
Murray said students in challenging situations need mentors and people to challenge them to high expectations. “Don’t just throw help at them,” she said.
When the community at her school realized her circumstances, people pitched in to pay for rent for Murray and her sister and two other homeless students. One woman committed to doing their laundry.
Liz Murray chats with Albion student Brook Drake after Murray’s presentation.
She wrote about her life in the book, Breaking Night: A Memoir, which became the television movie, “Homeless to Harvard.”
Murray said she doesn’t hold ill will toward her parents.
“My parents loved me and I loved them,” she said. “I believe addiction is a disease.”
She also spoke to middle and high school students during assemblies on Thursday. Today she will meet with teachers as part of a professional development day for staff.
Tom Carr, author of Got Grit? also will be meeting with teachers today.
The district welcomed the two authors with messages on the growth mindset and the powers of grit and tenacity.
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Photo by Tom Rivers: Some onlookers stopped by Waterman Park on June 28 to see a new Santa mural painted by Stacey Kirby Steward. The mural has some community members pushing to add more Santa items at the park.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2018 at 3:56 pm
ALBION – The new 24-foot-long Santa mural that was installed in downtown Albion in late June has created momentum to add more Santa-themed items at Waterman Park.
The Albion Betterment Committee already has been fund-raising for a bronze statue in honor of Charles W. Howard, an Albion man who ran the first Santa Claus School. He operated it from 1937 to 1966. He is revered among people who portray Santa Claus. Twice they have held Santa conferences in Albion, in 2010 and 2015. The Betterment Committee has raised about $35,000 for the memorial statue.
The late Charles Howard is pictured with a Santa-in-training at the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Albion.
The Albion Merchants Association is taking the lead for a new 16-by-16-foot Santa House that would be in the back corner of the park, near Briggs Alley, according to a layout of park improvements presented last week by the Albion Rotary Club.
The Santa house would be visible from Main Street and the canal. The site could be used during the holiday season and also throughout the year for other events.
The Albion Rotary Club presented the concept for the park to the Village Board last week. Karen Sawicz, president of the club, and Rotary member Charlie Nesbitt asked for permission to work on the project, with the Village Board and Department of Public Works to be kept in the loop of progress.
The Rotary Club would like to see the site renamed to perhaps Santa Claus Lane at Waterman Park.
The Rotary Club wants to add landscaping under the mural, and some small street lights within the park to improve safety and illuminate the mural and future improvements. There could also be Christmas-themed benches.
An existing mural in honor of the quarrymen would also be removed and replaced with another Christmas-themed mural as part of the effort. The quarrymen painting would be relocated at a different site to be determined, according to the Rotary proposal.
The club will work with Betterment Committee and Merchants Association on fund-raising. Sawicz said the groups will likely pursue grants and seek community donations. She is hopeful the projects can be completed over three years.
The Village Board thanked the Rotary Club for spearheading the work, while working with the Betterment Committee and Merchants Association.
Mayor Eileen Banker said the village will need to see more concrete plans for improvements before there is a final OK.
“The promise is we’ll work with you all along the way,” Nesbitt said.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Laurie Kemler, owner of Laura Loxley in Albion, is pictured with some of the vintage coiled-rope baskets she makes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 October 2018 at 1:32 pm
ALBION – Laura Kemler was teaching an art class over the summer at Forrestel Farm in Medina, when she started dabbling with tie-dye and fabric manipulation. Kemler wanted to do more than the typical tie-dyed T-shirts for the students.
She started experimenting with different fabrics. She found she enjoyed tie-dying cotton ropes, and turning them into colorful baskets.
The baskets are popular to store envelopes and stationary. Kemler makes them in a variety of colors and themes.
“It’s bringing back those iconic items that your grandma had that you love,” Kemler said.
The baskets have been so popular that Kemler turned it into a business about three years ago. This month her baskets are featured in a national magazine, the 45th anniversary issue of Old House Journal. Her baskets get praise on page 11 of the October issue. The magazine did a spread on “clever” American-made items used for storage.
Kemler said the unexpected attention has given the business a boost. She had been looking to expand anyway. She is currently in the Microenterprise Assistance Program through the Orleans Economic Development Agency, researching how to best expand her business. She is looking to buy more supplies in bulk and automate some of the work.
She hopes to move the operation out of her home to a commercial site. She would love to hire single mothers to help make the baskets, and perhaps other products. She would cater to the schedule of a single mom.
Kemler named her business, Laura Loxley, because she likes the English-sounding name of Loxley. She sells most of her baskets for $10 to $100 through Etsy.
