Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Dan Parker and other members of the Albion Lions Club are selling geraniums on Route 31 in front of Mark’s Pizzeria by Clinton Street. The flower sale is a fund-raiser for the club and the money will be used for scholarships and community projects. Parker said the flowers are for sale “until they are all gone.”

Village officials say bridge demo, blocked-off street likely outcome for Clarendon Street

Photo by Tom Rivers – Rich Perrin (right), executive director of the Genesee Transportation Council, meets with Albion and state Department of Transportation officials this afternoon at Village Hall to discuss the Clarendon Street bridge. Perrin confirmed there wouldn’t be additional state or federal dollars to help with escalating costs of the project.

ALBION – The village of Albion won’t be getting an increase in state or federal dollars to help with the escalating costs of the Clarendon Street bridge replacement, village officials were told this afternoon by Rich Perrin, executive director of the Genesee Transportation Council.

The dollars simply aren’t there, and if there was more money it would go to projects in the region with higher traffic volumes than the Clarendon bridge, which sees 1,600 vehicles a day, Perrin said.

The village was told last week that costs were up nearly $600,000 from what was budgeted for the project, and that increase would have to be paid for with local dollars. The $2 million project was supposed to be an 80 percent share federally, 15 percent share by the state and 5 percent by the village.

But now the village cost could be as high as $775,000 rather than $200,000 in what the village saw as a worst-case scenario.

The local burden has prompted Mayor Dean London and the majority of the board to look at canceling the bridge replacement and demolishing the bridge. The section of the street by the railroad tracks would be blocked off in that scenario.

That would be far cheaper than building a new bridge. State and federal dollars would more than cover those reduced costs, Perrin and DOT officials said this afternoon.

One village trustee, Stan Farone, doesn’t want to see a torn down bridge and closed off street.

“We’re trying to build up our village,” he said at an afternoon meeting today with Perrin and DOT officials. “We’re trying to make our village look presentable.”

Farone said Clarendon Street is an important artery in the village, especially for morning and afternoon school traffic. The street also runs along Bullard Park, which the village wants to see upgraded with new playground equipment. He worries about a blocked off street that would be turn unsightly at the endpoints by the railroad tracks.

“We want to bring people to the village not make it a dump,” Farone said.

The village is working with Bergmann Associates to have a rendering of how the blocked off section could look. The village would like to have that ready by a 7 p.m. meeting June 11 at Village Hall.

The community, including the school district, should weigh in on the impacts of blocking off the street. Perrin said it will create a 2/3 mile detour to McKinistry Street. With 1,600 vehicles each day that is about 1,000 extra miles daily for Albion drivers due to the detour, he said.

The village has been working on the Clarendon Street bridge replacement since 1999. That’s when the project was first on the GTC radar. Money was appropriated for the project but it didn’t get done within the 10-year window established for the projects.

The village reapplied and was awarded the funding again in 2010. But construction, which was set for this fall, now is in limbo. Village officials either need to forge ahead with construction or a demolition, said Rick Papaj, local projects unit supervisor for the DOT.

There can’t be more delays or else Albion could lose the $1.3 million set aside in state and federal money for the project, he said. The DOT and GTC want the village to pick a plan by August.

Perrin said he sympathizes with the village. Sometimes the budgeted amount is approved and then the costs jump for projects that are years in the making. The state and federal government haven’t allocated additional funding to help with those increases, he said.

He expects to see more closed off or demolished bridges due to dwindling funds.

“We’re dealing with a managed decline,” he said about the region’s infrastructure. “Bridges are being posted or closed on a regular basis. Eventually you can’t Band Aid major wounds.”

The DOT faulted the village for a series of delays with the project. The village in 1999 said it intended to have a new bridge built, but then looked at taking the bridge out and establishing an at-grade crossing at the railroad tracks.

The village abandoned that when it was told it would have to remove two other at-grade crossings in the village. It also previously looked at removing the bridge and blocking off the street.

Papaj, however, said the village was in an unusual spot. Most bridges the size of Clarendon Street are owned by counties, which are accustomed to the process of working with the DOT and GTC to move the projects along. Counties also have more cash flow to handle the financial demands of the projects.

Bigger municipalities also have a full-time manager or engineer that can keep the projects moving forward, Papaj said.

Village trustees Eileen Banker and Gary Katsanis said the village needs to move on the demolition, or risk losing the federal and state dollars. They both said the local share – at nearly $1 million – is too much for the village.

“It’s do or die,” Banker said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The new Dunkin’ Donuts building is taking shape on Main Street by the railroad tracks in Albion.

The new building will be 2,000 square feet with a 230-square-foot freezer next to the building.

Dunkin’ had a warehouse taken down to make room for the new building. There will also be 46 parking spaces and driveways on Main and Platt streets.

Historic churches showcase architecture today and Sunday

File photos by Tom Rivers – The First Presbyterian Church of Albion, with its 175-foot-high spire, is the tallest structure in Orleans County.

The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church includes this stained-glass window, an early work by the famed Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company of “Christ the Consoler.” 2 Albion churches featured as Sacred Sites

ALBION – Historic churches around the state this weekend are opening their doors to showcase the architectural wonders inside the buildings.

Two Albion churches, First Presbyterian and Pullman Memorial Universalist, are participating in the fourth annual “Sacred Sites” tour in New York, an event aimed to raise public appreciation for the churches as community treasures with stained-glass windows, pipe organs, ornately carved pews, decorative paintings and murals.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy is spearheading the Sacred Sites tour. The organization provides grants to churches in New York. The two Albion churches are among the recipients of Sacred Sites awards.

Sacred Sites offers New Yorkers the chance to experience the beautiful religious art and architecture throughout the area. The event is also intended to assist religious institutions in promoting their history, cultural programming and social services.

The theme of this year’s Open House is “Sacred Sites and the Community: How Immigration and Migration Shape New York,” which will focus on the rich histories and extraordinary contributions of New York’s diverse immigrant communities.

The Conservancy’s Sacred Sites program is the only statewide program in the country providing financial and technical assistance for the restoration of culturally significant religious properties. Since 1986, the program has disbursed grants of more than $8 million to more than 700 congregations regardless of denominations.

The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church was built with Medina sandstone and includes 41 Tiffany stained-glass windows.

The First Presbyterian Church in Albion completed a $300,000 renovation and restoration of its interior about six years ago, including work on the rose window.

The churches will be open for tours from noon to 3 p.m. both today and on Sunday.

The Pullman church is located at 10 East Park St. The church was built in 1894 with money from railroad manufacturer George Pullman, who grew up in Albion. The building is an excellent example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style, the NY Landmarks Conservancy stated. The church has 41 Tiffany stained-glass windows including one of “Christ the Consoler” that was featured in Tiffany brochures in 1898.

The Presbyterian Church at 29 East State St. was built in 1874 and includes a 175-foot-high spire, the tallest structure in the county. About six years ago, the congregation completed a $300,000 restoration and renovation of its interior.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Don Gaines races through the aisle at Pawlak’s Save-A lot this morning, an 85-second race to fill the shopping cart.

ALBION – After he filled a shopping cart with more than $800 of food – mostly with ham and other meat – Don Gaines announced most of the bounty would be given to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Gaines and his wife Barbara won an 85-second shopping trip at Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot this morning. The event was organized by the Lord’s House, a church in Waterport. The Lord’s House sold tickets for $5 each to give people a chance for the shopping sprint and two other gift baskets.

Don and Barbara bought one ticket and hit the grand prize.

“We’re going to donate a majority to Community Action,” Mr. Gaines said. “They helped us out when we had nothing.”

Gaines remembers one time when they went to the agency and the food giveaway included steaks. A previous Community Action food recipient donated the steaks as a payback for when he needed help.

Mr. and Mrs. Gaines remember their surprise of eating a steak dinner that day when they were expecting hot dogs.

Today, Gaines first went for canned goods with salmon. He also grabbed trays of canned corn beef. Then he hit the meat freezer.

“I want to put food in peoples’ stomachs, something besides hot dogs,” he said.

Eddie and Rose English, left, are pictured with Barbara and Don Gaines, and Jerome Pawlak, right, after today’s shopping spree.

The final bill at the checkout today was $803. Gaines was given a hearty congratulations from Eddie English, the church pastor, and his wife, Rose.

Mrs. English used to work in the Rochester City School District, and organized shopping sprees for the district.

The Lord’s House meets at the former United Methodist Church in Waterport. The shopping spree was a fund-raiser for the church as it works to make masonry repairs and paint the exterior of the building.

The Lord’s House will be back at the June 13-14 Strawberry Festival selling “Soul Burgers.” The church also is planning an event – “Women Wear Many Hats” – on June 22. Each woman wearing her favorite hat at the 3:30 p.m. event will receive a gift.

“We’re trying to think outside the box,” Mrs. English said about some of the church’s outreach efforts.

ALBION – Facing the prospect of $775,000 or more in costs to village taxpayers, the Village Board may decide not to replace the Clarendon Street bridge.

The bridge could instead be removed and the street blocked off by the railroad tracks. The Village Board will have a 2 p.m. meeting Tuesday at Village Hall to discuss the issue with the state Department of Transportation and Bergmann Associates, the village’s consultant on the project.

The board on Monday was told the costs for the replacing the bridge had jumped by about $575,000 and those increases would be fully on village taxpayers, rather than the 80 percent by the federal government, 15 percent by the state and 5 percent by the village for most of the project.

Albion had been expecting to spend no more than $200,000 on the project. The extra $575,000 is too much for village taxpayers, Mayor Dean London said tonight at the Village Board meeting. The village would have to borrow money for that $575,000, which will further increase the costs, perhaps to $1 million total for village taxpayers.

If the bridge is torn down and the street blocked off, village officials expect the decision will upset many people. Clarendon Street is especially busy in the mornings for school buses and other school traffic.

“We’re going to catch heat but we’ll catch more heat if it’s 1 million dollars,” said Trustee Peter Sidari.

The village had been told before that it couldn’t back out of the project without paying the full costs for the engineering, design and other expenses for the project, which have topped $200,000. The village also was told Albion would have to pay the full costs of the demolition, which has been estimated at about $200,000.

But DOT officials told the village that is no longer the case. It wouldn’t have to reimburse the pre-construction costs, and the village would only have to pay the 5 percent share for demolition with the federal and state governments paying the other 95 percent.

Sidari said the village will have a public hearing to get residents’ input. If Clarendon Street is blocked off, more traffic would be pushed to Butts Road and other village crossings, such as McKinistry, Platt and Main streets.

Genesee Valley Transportation, owner of the railroad, has opposed adding another grade crossing in Albion. If Clarendon Street became a grade crossing, GVT has insisted that two other village crossings be blocked off.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – About 100 people have already committed to giving blood today at the American Red Cross blood drive. That is the typical big turn out for the blood drives in Albion.

In the photo above, Albion Town Justice Gary Moore gives a “Double Red” donation at the Elks Club. Red Cross officials were a little worried that shifting the blood drive location from the American Legion on Main Street to the Elks Club on West State Street would result in fewer donations.

But that doesn’t appear to be the case today. Donors said they like the new location with its air-conditioning and cleaner feel.

Red Cross volunteers Jean Smith, left, and Anita McCarthy welcome donors and sign them in. The blood drive continues until 7 p.m. today. Walk-ins are welcome.

The American Red Cross moved the collection site to the Elks Club because the Legion is being purchased by Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, which will turn the site into the Main Street Store, a thrift shop currently in the downtown.

Moore has been giving blood regularly for about four to five years because he said the blood “helps people.”

In this photo, Penny Brown of Albion gives blood. She is assisted by donor specialist Laura Domrzalski.

Red Cross officials said the Albion community has many long-time dedicated donors such as Brown.

Beth Schmidt has been giving about every two months for the past decade.

“I don’t have a lot money so I give blood,” said Schmidt, a former Red Cross board member.

Sue West of Waterport has been giving regularly for 40 years, starting when she worked at Kodak.

“It’s an easy thing to do and it makes you feel good,” she said.

Photos by Tom Rivers
Miguel Jimenez and his family spent Mother’s Day in Albion painting 33 North Main St. Jimenez is working to turn the site into “ El Gallo” – Spanish for “The Rooster.”

He hopes to open the Mexican restaurant soon. He also will have a food truck to take to events and other nearby locations.

The building has been mostly vacant for about two decades and has needed extensive renovations. Besides new paint, the building will also have an awning.

Provided photo

ALBION – The Albion Marching Band made its season debut on Saturday at the Lilac Festival in Rochester. The band is wearing decals in memory of Wayne Burlison, the assistant marching band director who died from colon cancer at age 36 on March 26.

Burlison taught elementary music at Albion for 12 years and also was involved with the marching band, jazz ensemble and pit orchestra.

This year the band’s show is “Love.” Burlison arrnaged the first number in the band’s routine set to “Somebody to Love” by Queen.

Saturday’s parade wasn’t a competition. It was a 3-mile parade that is a good experience to start the season, said Mike Thaine, the band director.

“It’s a huge crowd for the whole length of the parade,” he said.

The band has about 80 students. Thaine said they performed with heavy hearts on Saturday for Burlison, but also with excitement in wanting to honor him.

File photo by Tom Rivers – Construction was supposed to start this fall for the Clarendon Street bridge in the village of Albion but escalating costs make that time frame uncertain.

ALBION – A project that has been a decade in the making seemed to be in the home stretch, but now the fate of Clarendon Street bridge in Albion faces uncertainty.

The costs for the project are up by about $500,000 more than what was expected. The federal and state governments were slated to pay 95 percent of the costs with the village picking up the remaining 5 percent.

However, the Genesee Transportation Council last week declined to make more state and federal money available for the project. The village would have to bear the full costs for expenses over the budget.

Mayor Dean London said he will appeal to the GTC and state officials, to increase the money for the project.

“We’ll be making some phone calls,”  London said tonight after a meeting at the Village Hall with state Department of Transportation officials and Bergmann Associates, the design firm hired for the project.

Construction estimates are up by $323,000, while design and right-of-way costs are up $147,000 from the budget. Construction inspection costs are also $80,000 over the budget because two inspectors are now required rather than one.

Clarendon Street can be heavily trafficked, especially during in the morning when school starts and in the afternoon when it lets out.

The project for a new bridge is in its final design phase. That part should be complete this summer. Construction was planned to start for this fall. Steve Beauvais, the local project liaison for the DOT, said the federal government hasn’t increased infrastructure money in the past two years. The Feds pay 80 percent of the project with the state paying 15 percent.

Albion was expecting $200,000 to be its share in a worst-case scenario. But now it could be $775,000. London said the village could borrow $570,000 of the increase and pay it back over 20 years. That would add another $60,000 to $70,000 on village taxpayers annually, he said.

The new bridge will replace one that is about 40 years old. It goes over the railroad tracks. The project was pegged at about $2 million.

The current bridge has “heavily deteriorated” beams, spalling concrete and other problems, Kevin Miller, an engineer with Bergmann, said at a meeting last year.

The DOT wants to replace the bridge with a smaller precast concrete structure that will improve sight lines and offer wider travel lanes, shoulders and sidewalks. The new bridge will have longer approaches.

The bridge is unusual for being in a village inventory, Beauvais said. Typically a longer bridge like that would be owned by a county, he said. Village officials have reached out to the county for help with the project, but so far have been turned down.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Scouts from Albion and West Barre put hundreds of flags on veterans graves this morning at Mount Albion Cemetery and also at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, both on Route 31. The Scouts and their leaders are pictured at the Ingersoll Fountain at Mount Albion before they put flags on the graves.

Brett Schreiner, 7, (left) and Isaac Hickman, 7, are both wolves in West Barre Pack 175. They were at Mount Albion this morning with Albion Scouts in Pack and Troop 164 and 60.

Seth Krenning, left, is a Tiger Cub in Pack 164.  He and about 30 other Scouts placed flags on veterans’ graves this morning.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Emily Shabazz calls off the numbers during a game of Bingo in the cafeteria.

ALBION – It’s an annual tradition at Albion High School: Senior Citizens are welcomed to the gym and cafeteria for food and games for “Senior Citizen Day.”

The High School Student Council today hosted about 125 senior citizens. It’s an annual tradition that goes back to the 1970s. The Student Council picks a theme for the event and decorates the gym for the occasion. Today’s theme was “Welcome to the Jungle.”

About 40 students helped put on the program, which included music, art work and many games.

“The kids love this,” said Emily Wemmer, Student Council advisor. “It’s one of their favorite events of the year.”

Dawn Parker, right, works on a craft project with students.

Albion senior Brett Zicari makes a move during a game of chess.

Students play Wii bowling with a local senior citizen.