Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Al Capurso portrays a pioneer on this float by the Orleans County Historical Association on Saturday during the Strawberry Festival Parade. Capurso and the Historical Society won a special recognition award for community service by judges of the parade.

Capurso is president of the Orleans County Historical Association. He dressed as a pioneer resident with a log cabin shed to honor the pioneer residents of Orleans County. Barre and Shelby this year are observing their bicentennials, and other towns have recently marked their 200^th anniversaries. The Erie Canal is marking a bicentennial observance from 2017-2025. Orleans County also will be 200 in 2025.

The Albion Strawberry Festival Parade, now in its 32nd year, was another energetic processional that lasted nearly 1 hour and 30 minutes on Saturday, starting at Albion Central School and concluding at the Main Street lift bridge.

The parade and festival featured a theme of “Celebrate Cobblestone Country.”

Parade judges have announced the winners of several categories:

• Best use of theme (“Celebrate Cobblestone Country”) – Panek’s Pickin’ Patch had a float celebrating cobblestones and the county’s early years when many of the cobblestone buildings were erected.

• Most original – Barre Bicentennial Committee for its float promoting the town’s 200th anniversary celebration from June 29 to July 1.

Town Historian Adrienne Daniels, left, and Town Clerk Maureen Beach dressed as pioneers to promote the town’s 200th anniversary bash.

The Barre Town Park on Route 98 will host a Bicentennial Festival on June 29-30. Friday hours will be from 2 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. There will be a parade on Saturday, June 30, starting at 10 a.m. The parade route will be from East Barre Road north to the Town Park. There will be games, dances, music and food both days. There will be fireworks on Saturday, June 30.

Best band – The Albion High School Marching Band impressed with its show featuring music from the rock group, Queen. Mykailah Roberts, left, is captain of the Color Guard.

Andrew Moore, a senior with the band, plays the trumpet with gusto in his final performance with the band.

Arella Ives, a drum major, is one of the leaders of the band.

• Best cheer/dance – The Batavia Silver Stars, a square dancing group from Genesee County, made its debut in the parade and many people found the group delightful.

• Best public safety agency (fire department, police, ambulance) – The Albion Fire Department had strong representation from its members marching in the parade (including Allyson Irwin, left, and Heather Johnston in front carrying the banner). The Fire Department had a lineup of very clean fire trucks.

• Best classic car – A 1947 Cadillac owned by Brad Shelp. He rode in the car with his wife, Pat. The car has a message in the back window: “And they lived happily ever after.”

• Best use of humor – Hoag Library, where staff had a dance routine with library carts to promote the upcoming summer reading challenge. Staff member Dirk Climenhaga is at right. The summer reading challenge is called “Libraries Rock!” The library will have numerous events during the six-week program with the kickoff at 11 a.m. on June 16. The challenge continues until Aug. 4 with a 3 p.m. ice cream social at the library.

Teresa Gaylord is the children’s librarian at the Hoag.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Robin Wehling, right, and her friend Jan Toale are close to the finish in the 5-kilometer race Saturday morning in Albion during the Starwberry Festival.

Wehling, 62, of Medina wanted to complete the 3.1-mile course as a celebration of surviving a massive heart attack last Aug. 30 and completing six months of cardiac rehab at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

“This was to celebrate everything is good” Wehling said after completing the course, her first time ever attempting a 5K. “God is good.”

She was joined by nine friends from the Medina United Methodist Church.

“I couldn’t have done it without them,” she said.

While she was recovering from the heart attack, her friends brought her and her husband home-cooked meals and were a strong emotional support.

Wehling completes the course before a cheering crowd on Saturday by the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.

There were 219 people who finished the 5K or 8K courses on Saturday.

Dana Goetze, 26, of Lyndonville won the women’s 5K in a time of 22:40. Alden Cayea, 17, of Medina was the first male to finish the 5K with a time of 17:46.

The 8K winners were Christopher Smykal, 38, of Orchard Park with a time of 31:33 and Krista Healy-London, 38, of with a time of 37:55.

To see all the results from the race, click here.

Calvin Smith, 26, of Belfast pushes his son Silas in a stroller. Smith is an Albion native and ran the race with several other family members.

Albion sixth-graders Meganne Moore, left, and Gina Sidari, both 11, sprint to the finish. Meganne nipped Gina by a second.

Jill Pegelow and Jarred Saj complete the last stretch of the 5K course. Saj also was the top salesman for turtle race tickets, selling 100 for the fundraiser that supports the Strawberry Festival.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A girl plugs her ears while fire trucks head down Main Street, with their sirens going, during the Strawberry Festival Parade this morning.

The parade included many marching bands, drum corps, community floats, classic cars and other entertainers.

Annalise Steier, the festival queen, waves to the crowd. Brody Hefner is prince and Keira Zambito, the princess.

Annette Finch of Albion gives State Assemblyman Steve Hawley a big hug during the parade.

Erin Smith of Albion dressed as “The Strawberry” during the 5K/8K in the morning. Runners who beat her won an ice cream sundae from Lugia’s Ice Cream on Wheels. Those who finished behind The Strawberry still won an ice cream cone for finishing.

Phil Warne and other members of the Honor Guard march down Main Street. Warne is a member of the American Legion. Members of the Rochester Scottish Pipes and Drums are behind the Honor Guard.

The Albion Marching Band concluded its season with a performance in its hometown today. The band’s show is based on music of the rock group Queen.

The White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps from Dansville brought out the brass.

Gotta Dance by Miss Amy had some enthusiastic dancers.

The Geneses Community College Cougar appeared in the parade in honor of GCC’s 50th anniversary.

The Albion FFA also showed up with a big float.

Brendan Nashburn, left, and his dad Dave Nashburn, coach of the Vets, pass out candy on the parade. The Vets were one of six teams in the Albion Midget League in the parade.

Dance Reflections by Miss Heather had a strawberry theme for the parade.

A girl on the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company rescue boat waves to the crowd on Main Street.

The Batavia Marching Band performs at the festival.

The Mighty St. Joe’s Drum and Bugle Corps has been popular in the parade for many years.

Barre brought a fire truck and a float celebrating the town’s bicentennial.

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus wave to the crowd on Main Street. The Albion Betterment Committee brought Santa and Mrs. Claus to the parade to highlight the local effort to have a memorial in downtown Albion in honor of Charles Howard, who ran a Santa Claus School from 1937 to 1966 in Albion.

Arnold’s Auto Parts organized a car show in the parking lot for Five Star Bank. There were about 60 cars in the show, including this 2016 Chevy Corvette owned by Steve and Dixie Gern.

People check out a 1929 Ford Model A owned by Brian Connor.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: This new bench, painted by Carol Culhane of Gaines, was unveiled today in memory of Kathy Ludwick, the late Village of Albion clerk-treasurer who was a long-time volunteer with the Strawberry Festival.

Ludwick passed away on September 2, 2017. She worked for the village for 32 years. She was one of the founding committee members of the Albion Strawberry Festival devoting many years as a volunteer and continued helping as a bookkeeper up until her death.

Funds from the Albion Main Street Alliance covered the cost for decorating the bench.

Provided photo: Kathy Ludwick’s family is pictured with the bench at the start of the parade at 10 a.m. in Albion today.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Strawberry Festival opened today for its 32^nd annual celebration. Volunteers with the Albion Music Boosters sold strawberry sundaes. They include, from left: Pam Allen, Stacey Andrews and Samantha Metzler.

The food court was a busy place with vendors and live music.

Miniature train rides are available.

Rocco Sidari, 6, of Albion tries a bean bag toss, one of several games run by the North Point Chapel on the lawn of the former Swan Library.

Skip Stratton and the Albion Lions Club are selling sausage and peppers by the Post Office.

The Orleans Girls Softball league is new to the festival this year. They well selling hot dogs and hamburgers. The group pictured includes, front, from left: Isabella Dhondt, Aubrielle Barry and Taylor LeFrois. Second row: Madalyn Ashbery, Adysyn Stirk, Maia Pate and Olivia Andrews. Back row: Mallory Ashbery and Doug Ashbery, one of the coaches. The OGSL has five teams from Albion and one from Holley.

The Attaboys perform in the food court.

The Strawberry Festival has a bigger schedule on Saturday. Some of the highlights include:

• Pancake Breakfast at the First Presbyterian Church from 7:30 to 10 a.m.

• 28th Annual 5k/8k Race (Registration 7 – 8 a.m. at the Courthouse Square.)

• Car Show registration 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Judging 12 – 2 p.m.; Awards 3 p.m.

• Parade at 10 a.m. featuring the following bands: Albion Purple Eagles, Hitmen Brass Band, Mighty St. Joes, Mark Time Marchers, Pembroke Dragons, White Sabres Drum Corps, Batavia High School, Downbeat Percussion, Kendall/Holley, and Rochester Scottish Pipes and Drums.

• Chalk Art from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• The turtle race at 2 p.m.

• People can also stop by the fire hall from 2 to 4 p.m. and get a sneak peek of a Santa mural that will soon be installed in downtown Albion. That mural is 24 feet long and shows Santa in a sleigh over the Courthouse Square.

• There will be live music, craft booths and other activities until 9 p.m.

Click here to see the full schedule.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion seniors Elliott Neidert, left, and Preston Flugel put clear-coat finish on a new “Buddy Bench” for the elementary school. Students in Kristen Martin’s high school woodworking class made five of the benches.

Third-graders in Sheryl LeBaron’s and Maggy Orbaker’s classes painted the benches purple and art teachers decorated them.

There will be a ribbon-cutting for the benches on Monday at the “farm playground” at the elementary school. There will be benches at the two playgrounds and other sites in the school. If people are feeling lonely, they can sit on a bench and a friend is encouraged to go sit with them.

Preston Flugel puts the finish on the bench.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Renee Van Epps, mother of student Hannah Van Epps, reacts during a DWI simulation after seeing her daughter on a stretcher and pronounced dead this morning. It was part of a demonstration to send a message about the dangers of drunk driving.

Van Epps wailed in agony when she saw her daughter wearing fake makeup to show blood.

“That was probably the worst experience ever and it was fake,” Van Epps told students after in an assembly at the gym. “I can’t imagine if it was real.”

Nate Smith pretends to be drunk while Hannah Van Epps lays on the hood of the car.

Albion students have their prom tonight and will be attending graduation parties later this month and over the summer.

They were given a powerful reminder this morning about the dangers of drunk driving.

There was a simulated car crash in the high school parking lot, with five students wearing makeup to show blood from the accident. One of the students didn’t survive and was taken from the scene by a hearse from Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes. Three other students left by COVA Ambulance.

Zach Moore portrays an injured student in the car wreck.

Firefighters use extrication tools to open doors to free students.

Albion police officers Nathaniel Staines, left, and David Mogle do field sobriety tests on Smith.

COVA EMT Shelby Reis, left, and COVA paramedic Barb Morlino take Chase Froman, an injured student, by stretcher.

County Coroner Scott Schmidt, left, and Albion firefighter Jeremy Graham close a body bag on Hannah Van Epps. Josh Mitchell, in back, of Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes also was part of the demonstration. Mitchell took Van Epps away in a hearse.

Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone, left, and Gaines Town Justice Bruce Schmidt were part of an arraignment and sentencing for Smith. Schmidt said judges often have to sentence defendants to mandatory sentences in prison.

Cardone told the students they have worked hard to get to this point in their lives. He urged them to responsible.

Nate Smith is led away in handcuffs by Albion Police Officer Nathaniel Staines after Judge Schmidt sentenced Smith to 15 years in state prison for first-degree vehicular manslaughter and three counts of vehicular assault in the first degree.

Nate’s parents were also there and asked for a goodbye hug, but they were denied by the judge.

Cardone said the crimes not only affect victims but the people responsible for the crimes and their families.

The DA said many people with promising futures make bad decisions and have to live with the repercussions.

“Mr. Smith needs to understand when he gets behind the wheel he takes responsible for the other occupants of the car and the other drivers on the road,” Cardone said.

Renee Van Epps urged the students to make good decisions.

“Words don’t describe the agony you feel when someone you know dies in a senseless way,” she said.

Albion Police chief Roland Nenni is in back. He thanked Van Epps and the students for their participation in the simulation.

Nenni urged student s who have been drinking to not drive. If students believe they don’t have any options for a ride home, Nenni said they can always call the Albion police for a ride.

He urged the students to intervene if they see a classmate get behind the wheel after drinking.

“Have courageous convictions,” he said. “Don’t let people drink and drive and destroy other peoples’ lives.”

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Provided photo

ALBION – An Albion woman was headed to work this morning when she hit a deer on Route 31, near Tuthill Road. Sue Flanagan said the deer hit the bumper of her Volkswagen Beetle, and then smashed through the windshield, pushing back the roof and coming to rest in the passenger seat next to her.

Flanagan wasn’t injured except for scratches and small cuts from the glass. COVA and Albion firefighters were at the scene, but Flanagan didn’t need additional medical attention.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Frank’s Auto in Albion removes the damaged Volkswagen Beetle.

Flanagan is thankful she wasn’t seriously hurt. It all happened very fast just after 6:30 this morning when she was headed east for her job as a dental hygienist for Western New York Dental in Irondequoit.

“It could have been bad,” she said. “It hit the roof and then was right next to me.”

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Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Annalise Steier, an Albion ninth-grader, will serve as queen of the Albion Strawberry Festival. Annalise was presented with a certificate last week during the Albion Rotary Club meeting by Karen Sawicz, a member of the Rotary Club, which sponsors the festival.

Annalise will be in the beginning of parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. She has to then head back to the school and join the marching band. She plays the clarinet for the Purple Eagles.

Annalise was picked as queen after submitting an essay about the importance of cobblestones to the community. The 32^nd annual Strawberry Festival will be Friday and Saturday and this year’s theme celebrates cobblestone country.

Photo courtesy of Megan Zambito

Brody Hefner is prince and Keira Zambito is princess of the festival. Besides being in the parade, the fair royalty will serve as ambassadors of the festival and will help at the turtle race at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

For more on the festival, click here.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: The summer park supervisors in Albion include, front row, from left: Kyle Smith, Kendall Eibl, Kiara Smith, Charlyne Olick and Sarah Graham. Back row: Alex DeSmit, Gerardo Solis, Kyle Thaine, Owen Foos, Lauren Freeman and Kaitlyn Van Skiver. Missing from photo: Preston Flugel.

ALBION – The Village of Albion will run a six-week summer parks program beginning June 20 through July 27.

The village will have paid park supervisors on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bullard Park and Pee Wee Park, which is part of Bullard on Route 31, at the east end of the village. There will be recreational and arts and crafts activities available for free for boys and girls, ages 5 to 16. The program is open to children in the Albion Central School district.

Parents and guardians are urged to attend registration the first week of the parks program to meet the supervisors and fill out important paperwork.

The parks program will also offer the following camps: tennis for grades 5-12 from June 25-29; wrestling for grades 6-12 from July 2-6; volleyball for grades 6-12 from July 2-6; baseball for grades 4-8 from July 9-13; and tennis for grades 5-12 from July 16-20.

John Grillo is the recreation director. This summer’s program has added weekly fitness challenges as well as special events, including presentations from the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and the Genesee-Orleans Youth Bureau on making good choices.

The annual senior citizen picnic will be July 24 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Children’s Carnival will be July 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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