Board backs James Bell of Brockport, a ’70 Albion grad

ALBION – The Town Board finally resolved an impasse over hiring a municipal attorney. James Bell of Brockport, a 1970 Albion graduate, was hired at a $25,000 base pay.

Bell will also bill the town $175 an hour for work involving litigation. He works as the Sweden town attorney and also for Orleans County for some legal matters.

The decision at Monday’s board meeting followed three meetings in January when the board couldn’t reach a majority decision for an attorney. The board couldn’t muster three votes to bring back Robert Roberson of Lockport, who served in the roles in 2012 and 2013 at a $36,000 annual pay. The board also considered John Gavenda of Albion and Andrew Meier of Medina.

Board members Dan Poprawski, Richard Remley, Todd Sargent and Town Supervisor Matt Passarell all voted for Bell on Monday. Town Councilman Jake Olles abstained.

The Town Board also recognized members of the Downtown Albion Neighborhood Advisory Committee which volunteered for two years helping with a downtown grant that provided more than $300,000 in matching funds for building projects and nearly $50,000 streetscape improvements that should debut in the spring.

The DANAC members include Clifford Thom Sr., Brad Shelp, Gary Katsanis, Gerald Baehr, Ron Ebbs and Neil Johnson, as well as alternates Kim Remley, Dean Theodorakos and Sue Starkweather Miller.

Passarell thanked the committee for helping to see the grant funds approved for several projects in the downtown.

Kevin Lake, president of the Albion Main Street Alliance, thanked past Town Boards for pursuing the grant and working to approve the projects. Lake said AMSA would like to work on additional community projects for the community with the current Town Board.

“This summer I saw a downtown I’d never seen before with so many lifts,” Lake told the Town Board. “People were busy working on their buildings. That was pretty cool.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – About 200 people attended the annual Father/Daughter Valentine Dance on Friday night at the Albion Elementary School.

The event is organized by Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion. In the top photo, Jody Neal gets a snuggle from his daughter Kasey, 4, while holding his younger daughter, Adelyn, 2.

The event included several slow dances and some faster paced numbers.

Mark Gregoire of Murray dances to “The Twist” with his daughter Sadie, 6. He was at the dance with three of his daughters.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Albion residents Clarence Winkelmann, left, and Gary Kent volunteer to pump gas for senior citizens every Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Crosby’s gas station and food mart. Gary Westlund is another dedicated volunteer.

ALBION – Almost every Wednesday morning Donna Loughborough of Albion pulls into the Crosby’s gas station. Loughborough knows she will see a friendly face and she won’t have to leave her vehicle to get gas.

Every week, for 520 weeks and counting, a group of volunteers has been there to pump gas for senior citizens. The volunteers will also check car fluids, and walk the money inside the store.

“They’re a good bunch of guys,” Loughborough said about the volunteers. “They’re really dedicated.”

Before heading to a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday with her husband Allan, Loughborough stopped for gas. Clarence Winkelmann took care of it for her. He is part of a volunteer corps that typically includes Gary Kent and Gary Westlund.

“The people they really appreciate it,” said Winkelmann, a Marine and retired corrections officer. “It’s like giving a little bit back to the community.”

Winkelmann has been volunteering with the effort for more than nine years. He was bundled up for the cold on Wednesday.

“You can see it in the people’s faces,” he said. “They really love it, especially on a day like today.”

Kent, a retired Kendall social studies teacher, has been volunteering since the first Wednesday in February 2004. He wants to make the area more senior-friendly. He would like to recruit more volunteers to help seniors with small tasks around their homes, which could include changing light bulbs, installing railings, and changing smoke alarm batteries.

“We’re trying to develop a senior support system,” he said.

Kent praised Winkelmann and Westlund for their commitment to pumping gas. In good weather, about 40 seniors stop by on a Wednesday morning. On cold or rainy days, maybe 12 or 15 will pull up at the pumps.

Westlund drives to Albion from Spencerport to volunteer pumping gas. He is also a Marine. He is a retired materials manager at Delphi in Rochester. Westlund often helps the seniors figure out new electronic controls in their vehicles, technology that can be daunting for them.

“These two are freaking awesome,” Kent said about the Marines. “They are so dedicated and they take it so serious.”

Josie Waverly

Press release, Cabaret at Studio B

ALBION – The Cabaret at Studio B in Albion has been chosen by popular country entertainer Josie Waverly to introduce her new touring show, “The Queens of Pure Country,” on March 8-9.

The show features songs of country icons Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Reba McEntire, Patsy Cline and other entertainers. Based on the original script “Ladies of Country Music at The Legend Inn,” the show presents Josie’s live performances of legendary songs through the reminiscing of the lead character Missy (played by Davida Bloom) as she fondly remembers growing up at a honky tonk called The Legend Inn.

Waverly and her band of musicians will return to The Cabaret at Studio B after performing her “My Gal Patsy” show there Oct. 26. In this new show, Waverly, who has been dubbed “New York State’s Queen of Country Music,” will sing “Stand By Your Man,” “Walkin After Midnight,” “Here Comes My Baby Back Again,” and many others.

Shows are 7 p.m. on March 8 and 3 p.m. on March 9 at 3 p.m. For information about tickets, call the Cabaret at 585-354-2320. The Cabaret at Studio B is located inside Gotta Dance Studio at 28b West Bank St., Albion. For more information, check the Cabaret web site by clicking here.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – It’s a day away from the Super Bowl and one of the biggest stars of the game is hanging around Albion.

Peyton Manning, the Denver Broncos quarterback, is in Albion, greeting passersby. Lynn Bensley, owner of Xpress Fitness, is rooting for Manning and Broncos. She set up a display of Manning in the front window of her business at 116 North Main St.

Susan Fancher

ALBION The Eastman at Albion Concert Series announces two spring performances, and one will include Albion native Susan Fancher, who has her doctorate in musical arts and has performed internationally with her saxophone.

Fancher will fill the First Presbyterian Church (29 East State St.) with “Sax Appeal” at 3 p.m. on April 6. Joining Fancher for the concert will be fellow saxophonist Chien-Kwan Lin and his wife, Pi-Lin Ni, playing piano.

Fancher earned her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics degrees, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Northwestern University.

A much sought after performer of new music, she has inspired and premiered dozens of new works for saxophone. She has performed in hundreds of international concerts as a solist and as a member of chamber music ensembles.

Mitzie Collins

The spring Eastman series will kick off with a 3 p.m. concert on March 9 by Mitzie Collins. A “Return to Ireland” will be an Irish/Celtic themed concert at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 106 South Main St.

Collins, a perennial favorite for the Albion audience, will be accompanied by the Harmonious Harps Ensemble, as well as “Irish tenor” Casey Costello.

The series is presented by the Albion Community in partnership with Eastman Community School of Music, all concert proceeds benefit Albion High School Alumni Foundation Scholarships.

For more information about tickets, click here.

Democrats back 3 candidates for village trustees

Dean London

ALBION – Albion Democrats have endorsed three candidates to run against Republicans for trustees on the Village Board. The Democrats, however, will not run a candidate against Dean London, the retired police chief who has the GOP-backing for mayor.

London will have both the Republican and Democratic Party lines for the March 18 election. He will be unopposed unless a candidate mounts an independent party campaign.

“It’s unexpected, but I’m very grateful,” London said after accepting the Democratic nomination on Thursday.

The party held its caucus at the Orleans Vets Club. Eight Democrats turned out, including Pete Sidari, a current village trustee. He nominated London for mayor. Sidari was cross-endorsed by the Republicans two years ago.

He said London has a long history of community involvement, has managed a budget and employees, and would be committed to the mayor’s position. London currently works at Baxter Healthcare in Medina.

“We don’t have anybody,” Sidari said at the Democratic caucus. “If you have to pull someone kicking and screaming, what kind of job are you going to get out of him?”

Democrats backed the following for trustee: Terry Wilbert, Patricia Cammarata and Sandra Walter. Wilbert and Walter attended the caucus and accepted the nominations. Cammarata wasn’t there and Walter, the Albion Democratic Party chairwoman, will confirm with Cammarata today if she will run for the position.

Cammarata, a resident of West State Street, served on the Swan Library board of trustees when the library worked to build the new Hoag Library. She worked as a social worker in Rochester. Wilbert nominated her at the party caucus for one of two four-year terms as trustee.

Wilbert

Wilbert, 63, is retired after a career as a school guidance counselor. He also worked for the Rochester Urban League and as an administrator for the Ulster County BOCES.

He has served on the Albion Board of Education, the Swan Library Board of Trustees, the Town of Albion Planning Board and helped start the youth soccer program in Albion about three decades ago. He is currently chairman of the administrative council for the First United Methodist Church in Albion.

“I’m real concerned about the whole area,” Wilbert said about the county. “The tax rate is the real problem.”

He noted the county has one of the highest cumulative tax rates in the country as a percentage of home value. The situation is even worse in the villages, where the tax rate is far higher.

“It impacts our ability to attract residents and businesses,” he said. “We need to find how we can cooperate and do things better.”

Wilbert, a resident of South Main Street, said the local officials at all levels need to better capitalize on the local assets, including the fishing industry, the canal and historic sites.

Wilbert in his job with Ulster County saw other communities around the state, small counties that seemed to be prospering. In Orleans County, he said officials often cite state-mandated expenses as the culprit for the high taxes. Wilbert said those mandated costs are in other communities that are growing.

“The mandates are the same all over New York State,” he said. “That doesn’t explain why others are doing better. We’re at a cusp for our village, town and county. Do we want to stay in poverty?”

Wilbert and Cammarata were backed for four-year terms against Republican-endorsed candidates Eileen Banker and Stan Farone.

Walter

Democrats backed Sandra Walter to run against Gary Katsanis for a two-year term. Walter is the Albion Democratic Party chairwoman. She is also the treasurer for the Orleans County Democratic Committee.

The West Bank Street resident works as a quality control analyst for Claims Recovery Financial Services in Albion.

“People need choices and I think I would be a good choice,” she said. “It’s time for a change.”

She said the Village Board tends to let projects linger, whether it’s the replacement of the Clarendon Street bridge, sidewalk upgrades or sewer repairs.

“Things have been going on too long,” she said. “It’s time to bring some projects to fruition. It seems like we’re forever working on the sewer.”

The Village Board is a rare board in Orleans County that consistently has at least one elected Democrat. The Democrats have regularly offered up a slate of candidates.

Wilbert said at the local level, party labels don’t seem to matter as much to voters.

“It’s great the people of Albion look at diversity on the board,” Walter said.

File photo by Tom Rivers – The Downtown Browsery includes 15 vendors on East Bank Street, including, from left: Linda Hollenbeck, antiques and collectibles; Susie Gaylard, hand-crafted purses; and Maureen Bennett, antiques and collectibles. The Browsery is added more vendors with its move to a second location.

ALBION – The Downtown Browsery is expanding after eight years, adding a second location in the Albion historic downtown business district.

On Feb. 15, the Uptown Browsery will open at 118 North Main St., a site last used by the Golden Gourd.

The Downtown Browsery currently has 15 vendors. Some of them will go to the Uptown site, which will also include several new vendors.

“We were turning people down,” said Browsery President Maureen Bennett. “Now we have more room for new people.”

The Browsery includes a variety of items, with the vendors also specializing in their own niches, Bennett said. She sells vintage collectibles.

Bennett believes the two Browsery sites can be part of a resurgence in the downtown business district. In September she pushed for several businesses to stay open to 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

The Uptown Browsery has room for more vendors. It will have a soft opening on Feb. 15 and a grand opening on March 1.

“We’re trying to get downtown moving,” Bennett said.

ALBION – The five-person Town Board still hasn’t reached a majority decision on what is typically a routine annual appointment: hiring an attorney for the town.

Robert Roberson of Lockport did the job in 2012 and 2013 at a $36,000 annual contract. Town Councilmen Jake Olles and Todd Sargent favored bringing Roberson back for 2014.

But new Town Supervisor Matt Passarell and new Town Councilman Richard Remley favored either John Gavenda of Albion or Andrew Meier of Medina. Both offered to work for a base contract of $25,000, with litigation and some other non-routine work at an additional cost.

Councilman Dan Paprowski looks to be the swing vote. During a Jan. 13 meeting, he held off on voting for anyone, wanting to review the contract proposals. During a meeting on Monday, he said he wanted to look into additional attorneys, including the Hodgson Russ firm in Buffalo, which represented the town in the fight to halt a new landfill from Waste Management as well as other litigation.

The unresolved matter of hiring an attorney will be brought up again Feb. 10.

Passarell wants an attorney at the board meetings to provide advice. Most of the local Town Boards have an attorney present at their meetings. Passarell also said the town needs an attorney on board so Albion can implement a comprehensive plan that includes some zoning changes to encourage businesses and also preserve farmland.

“There’s work that needs to be done,” he said. “I’m concerned because right now that work isn’t being done.”

Albion will have Regents exams today with the morning tests at 10 a.m. The p.m. tests will be at noon. The morning bus will be two hours later than the normal schedule. The afternoon bus will be at the usual time.

School is cancelled for grades K through 8.

If the weather improves by 7, district may have Regents

Albion Central School is closed today due to the cold weather and wind gusts. If the weather improves by 7 a.m., Albion will have the Regents exams and will run busses two hours late. That announcement, on whether or not there will be Regents today, will be made at 7 a.m.

Photo by Sue Cook – Holding his newest book, Chuck D’Imperio, left, poses with Bindings Bookstore owner Carolyn Ricker. D’Imperio signed copies of the book and a gave a book talk Saturday evening at The Village Inn.

By Sue Cook, Staff reporter

CHILDS – Chuck D’Imperio is a man full of stories. Having been a radio broadcaster for over 25 years, as well as an author of upstate New York history, he has plenty to share.

D’Imperio was in Orleans County on Saturday to speak about his latest book-writing adventure, “Unknown Museums of Upstate New York: A Guide to 50 Treasures.”

D’Imperio takes many trips, often joined by his wife Trish, to write about local history in towns all across the upstate area. He initially discovered Albion when he wrote “Upstate New York in 100 Words or Less.” He chose 100 random towns and traveled to them just to find out what they had to offer.

Upon coming to Albion he was very impressed with the Courthouse Square with the beautiful courthouse building surrounded by magnificent churches. He commented that he had never seen anything like it before. “You have a lovely town and one of the loveliest communities,” he said during a book talk and dinner at Tillman’s Village Inn.

When he returned to the area to write the book about museums, he made several local stops. Just outside the county he visited the Holland Land Office Museum in Batavia and the Jell-O Factory in Le Roy. Inside Orleans County he visited the Cobblestone Museum in Childs and the Medina Railroad Museum in Medina. He stated the Cobblestone Museum is “charming, unique, and unusual.”

‘When they’re gone, they’re gone. I want people to know about the fragility of these museums. History lives. We all need to support it.’ – Author Chuck D’Imperio

D’Imperio’s publisher urged him to write the book and first submit 75 to 80 museums and then to cut it down to 50 for publishing. The Orleans County museums made it in with full write-ups, while others such as East Aurora had to be cut down to honorable mentions.

Bindings Bookstore hosted the event at The Village Inn, which is next to the Cobblestone Museum near the routes 104 and 98 intersection. Bookstore owner Carolyn Ricker organized the event for D’Imperio to speak within a stone’s throw of the museum. Ricker noted the Cobblestone Museum is one of the sites featured on the cover of the book.

D’Imperio used most of his talk to tell anecdotes about several of the museums he has visited.  He talked about the Walter Elwood Museum of the Mohawk Valley. He had went there and within three weeks after his visit the museum and five others were destroyed by Hurricane Irene. The Mohawk Valley Museum was torn in half by the nearby river and the artifacts swept away.

D’Imperio asked his publishers to hold off printing the book for one year to allow the museums time to get back on their feet. After one year, all but the Mohawk Valley Museum had been brought back.

Just before the book was published, he received a call that the museum had been revived through the help of a network of museums across upstate New York. The museums offered artifacts they had to the newly built building on higher ground. D’Imperio included the story at the end of his book to make a powerful point.

“When they’re gone, they’re gone. I want people to know about the fragility of these museums,” he said. “History lives. We all need to support it.”

His book includes a general summary of the museums, a takeaway wrap-up, what he calls “a wow factor,” information about hours and address, and suggestions of other nearby attractions and locations to visit.

When people visit a museum they should ask questions – about anything and everything, he said. The staff and volunteers are happy to share their knowledge and educate anyone willing to listen.

For more information about Chuck D’Imperio and his books, visit http://upstatenewyorkbooks.vpweb.com/. ‘Unknown Museums’ is for sale at Bindings Bookstore in Albion, 28 West Bank St.