Photo by Tom Rivers – Ninandré Bogue is pictured in front of a 20-foot-long mural he created in honor of the quarrymen who worked in the Medina sandstone quarries.

ALBION – A mural honoring the workers from local Medina sandstone quarries went up in downtown Albion this morning.

The 20-foot-long painting is located in Waterman Park next to Conrad Cropsey’s building.

“There is an emotional connection with these guys,” said artist Ninandré Bogue of Lyndonville, who created the mural. “There are roots in this community where people are still connected with these workers.”

While Bogue installed the mural with help from the Albion DPW this morning, one quarryman descendant, Vinny Navarra, stopped by and gave the painting his endorsement.

The installation created a buzz on Main Street with some merchants walking over to check it out.

“It gives some eye candy to a place that is a little stale,” said Mike Barnard, owner of Albion TV and Computer. “It certainly can’t hurt.”

Barnard said he knows there are many old quarries around Albion, but he didn’t know the history, the thousands of immigrants who came to the Orleans County to work with the stone. The biggest groups of immigrant stonecutters and quarry workers came from Italy, Poland, Ireland and Britain.

“I knew we had some sandstone history, but I honestly didn’t know much about it,” Barnard said.

These workers use pry bars in a quarry scene created by Nin Bogue.

Bogue looked at photos of the workers and quarries from more than a century ago to try to get ideas for the mural. Most of those photos showed workers in a posed position, resting big sledgehammers on boulders.

He used a book in Italian, that showed workers in quarries in Italy, to see how many of the jobs were done. Bogue said the jobs were dangerous, and they required strength and skill. He noticed many of the workers in the historic photos appeared to be teen-agers, or even younger.

One worker holds a spike while the other hits it with a hammer. Bogue said the workers split the stone by creating a line of holes about a foot apart and 12 inches deep. Holding the spike was a dangerous job, costing many workers their fingers.

The Albion Rotary Club pushed for the mural and lined up the funding with money from the local club, the Rotary District and the Orleans County Tourism Department.

The Albion Department of Public Works provided in-kind services. The DPW built the support structure to attach the mural.

The village and Rotary Club considered attaching the painting to Cropsey’s building, but that wouldn’t have been a good fit with some loose mortar and vinyl siding. Other sites were considered, but the village and Rotary Club preferred Waterman Park.

That spot about a half block south of the Erie Canal is eyed for a quarryman memorial, including a bronze statue of one of the immigrant workers. That project is in the early stages and will likely take at least a $100,000 fund-raising effort from the community to become a reality.

Most of the old photos of the quarry workers show them posed with big sledgehammers by sandstone boulders.

Rotary wanted to highlight the community’s quarrying roots with the mural, while utilizing art for a community beautification project. I’m a member of the Rotary Club and have been working on this project.

I’m hopeful we can lay the groundwork for the statue and start the fund-raising campaign for that early next year. If we can get a good start on the fund-raising, I think we’d have a good chance for a matching state grant.

We could make a compelling case that the statue and a quarrymen heritage site would be a tourism draw, would be an attraction for canal users and would give the downtown business district a boost. We’ll keep chipping away at that project.

Right now, we should celebrate the mural, which utilizes the talents of a local artist while honoring the people who were instrumental in building Albion and the other villages and hamlets in Orleans County.

We’re planning a ribbon-cutting for the mural on Saturday at 10 a.m. That will also serve as a kick off for a shopping tour with many Albion businesses from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. That event includes a raffle and prizes.

Bogue puts the finishing touches on the mural, securing it to its Main Street location this morning.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A 20-foot-long mural celebrating the immigrant quarry workers from more than a century ago is being installed this morning at Waterman Park in downtown Albion. (The photo only shows half of the mural.)

Artist Ninandré Bogue of Lyndonville created the mural, which was painted on two 10-foot-long panels. Bogue, left, is pictured with Jay Pahura from the Albion Department of Public Works.

The Albion Rotary Club took the lead on the project that includes funding from the local club, a matching grant from the Rotary District, and additional support from the Orleans County Tourism Department. The Albion DPW provided in-kind services by building the mount that will hold up the mural.

Orleans Hub will have more on the mural later today.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans Transit Service and the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority have installed a new bus shelter on Route 98 near the Route 31 intersection.

The new shelter is next to Rite Aid. It is the second one installed by OTS. The first one was added in the summer next to the County Administration on Route 31.

County and OTS officials are planning an Oct. 21 dedication for the new shelter.

“It’s a nice thing for the people who ride the bus,” said County Legislator Henry Smith, who represents the county on the RGRTA board of commissioners.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Megan Makarchuk, left, is a volunteer with the new Friendly Phones Program headed by Jim Morasco, right, of Catholic Charities.

ALBION – Twice a week at 8 p.m., Megan Makarchuk calls a senior citizen in Albion. Makarchuk asks the woman how her day went, how her family is doing, and looks for other highlights in her day.

The senior citizen then wants updates in Makarchuk’s life. The two have become friends.

“I look forward to calling her,” said Makarchuk, who works as a counselor at the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. “She’s wonderful.”

Makarchuk is one of 12 volunteers in the “Friendly Phones Program” run by Catholic Charities. Volunteers agree to give seniors a phone call once or twice a week.

Twenty-five seniors have signed up, seeking a phone call from volunteers. The program needs more people willing to spend a few minutes on the phone.

Jim Morasco is manager of the program for Catholic Charities. Friendly Phones is targeted for Orleans County residents, 60 and older who live alone and want to keep an independent lifestyle. A phone call can help those residents stay connected to the community and decrease feelings of loneliness.

Many local seniors are widowed and their children may live outside the area, Morasco said.

“The number one thing is people say they are lonely,” he said.

Catholic Charities screens the volunteers, and also tries to match their interests with the seniors. Some of the callers have started home visits with the seniors.

Makarchuk is the youngest of the volunteers. Morasco said volunteers are welcome ages 18 and older.

Volunteers interested in the program should call Catholic Charities in Albion at (585) 589-7477.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home wanted to raise money for Hospice of Orleans, and also give the community a fun event. On Sept. 29, the funeral home had a section of East State Street closed down and lined with classic cars and trucks.

The car show attracted 59 entries and raised $1,000 for Hospice. Rebekah Karls, Merrill-Grinnell manager, presented a $1,000 on Wednesday to Hospice.

Karls, center, is pictured with Marsha Rivers, Hospice director of development and community relations, and Dennis Bates, a funeral director at Merrill-Grinnell. Karls said the funeral home wants to do the event again next year.

ALBION – For years she was one of the biggest cheerleaders for the Albion parks program. Kathy LaLonde also spearheaded efforts to develop a long-term master plan for the Bullard Park.

She volunteered on the village’s Recreation Committee and personally served refreshments to children at some of the local parks.

The Village Board and Parks Director John Grillo want a memorial for LaLonde at Bullard Park. LaLonde was 54 when she died on Sunday after fighting cancer.

“We just lost a great person who was very into the community,” Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheehan said during Wednesday’s board meeting.

The village and the Recreation Committee will consider how to best recognize LaLonde at the park.

Calling hours for LaLonde are today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home, 12 Ingersoll St. Her funeral service is Friday at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.

ALBION – About six weeks into a volunteer job, Sid Beaty is being praised by downtown Albion merchants for her efforts in coordinating events and planning for the future.

Beaty and the Village Board agreed to a two-month contract on Aug. 28. Beaty isn’t being paid for the first two months. She is based out of Village Hall.

Two merchants, Linda Smith of Krantz Furniture and Carolyn Ricker of Bindings Bookstore, asked the Village Board on Wednesday to hire Beaty once the two month “trial run” is over.

“Her help has been invaluable to me,” said Ricker, president of the Albion Merchants Association. “It would be very wonderful to have someone to help with the overall downtown scene.”

Ricker said she and other business owners and community members have been trying to plan events. Beaty has been instrumental in connecting the merchants and helping to get projects moving, Ricker said.

Beaty helped organize an upcoming Albion Shopping Tour on Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event includes businesses and sites in the downtown and also between routes 31 and 104. Mayor Dean Theodorakos said he supports business development efforts that extend beyond the downtown, and include businesses in the village on Route 31 and South Main Street.

The mayor said he doubts the village will be able to make Beaty a full-time employee, but he said the board may be able to offer her a paid stipend to continue.

She also has helped with the Oct. 25 Beggar’s Night in the downtown, and put together a grant application for a concert series.

“I’m very pleased with the amount of enthusiasm she has for the community,” Smith told the board. “She is very enthusiastic and very approachable.”

Beaty, 23, earned a degree in city and regional planning from Cornell University. Her parents, Anne and Bruce Beaty, have a cottage at Point Breeze. She is the granddaughter of the late Dick Eddy, a long-time community leader in Albion. Beaty is named for Dick’s father, Sid Eddy.

She told the Village Board on Wednesday she would like to stay on after the initial two-month commitment.

“It’s a necessary function,” she said about the job. “It takes some of the burden off the merchants.”

ALBION – The village and the Orleans Economic Development Agency will seek a $750,000 state grant and low-interest loan package to aid the expansion by Claims Recovery Financial Services.

The village of Medina and the EDA pursued the funding last February, when CRFS announced it was expanding into the Olde Pickle Factory in Medina. The state in April approved Medina’s application for a Community Development Block Grant through the state’s Housing Trust Fund Corporation.

However, the money hasn’t been received by CRFS. And now the company is expanding again. It will move its Medina operation and its workforce in Albion to the former JPMorgan Chase site.

The company and EDA want to transfer the grant and loan to Albion. The village will have a pubic hearing on the revised application at 7 p.m. on Oct. 23. The hearing will be at the Village Hall, 35-37 East Bank St.

Mayor Dean Theodorakos said the application will be the same as in February, when the company sought a $367,500 grant and a $367,500 deferred loan. The other $15,000 goes to Harry Sicherman, a grant writer and consultant from Buffalo. He will prepare the application and will administer the funding.

CRFS employs nearly 600 people in Orleans County and is working to add 150 jobs as part of the expansion in the former Chase site. Theodorakos said more details about the application will be available at the public hearing.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – William Scribner takes the oath while being sworn in tonight as sergeant in the Albion Police Department. Scribner previously worked with the Medina PD. He started as a patrolman in Albion in 2005.

His wife Dena is holding the Bible while Village Clerk Linda Babcock is pictured at left. Police Department Lt. Tom O’Hearn, back left, and Police Chief Roland Nenni joined Scribner for the swearing-in.

Scribner’s parents Harold and Eloise Scribner of Lyndonville placed Scribner’s sergeant bars on his uniform.

Nenni said past police promotions were typically low-key occasions. But Nenni wanted Scribner to be recognized during a public meeting in front of the Village Board and community members.

“Bill has a long history with us,” Nenni said. “He is very well disciplined. He’ll fit in good with the command staff.”

Press release, Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force

Turner

ALBION – A Rochester man and Brockport woman were both charged on Sunday after a month-long investigation into the sale and distribution of crack cocaine in the villages of Albion and Medina.

The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force and the Albion Police Department conducted a vehicle stop on Mckinstry Street in Albion and arrested two people from Monroe County. Both were charged with several sale and possession charges.

Police seized a quantity of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, marijuana, some cash and drug paraphernalia.

The following were arrested:

Timothy J. Turner, 32, of 451 Mount Read Blvd., in Rochester, who was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, and five counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Lutsch

Brigitte N. Lutsch, 20, of 53 Katherine Way, Brockport, who was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.

Both subjects were arraigned in the Town of Albion Justice Court by Judge Gary Moore. Turner was committed to the Orleans County Jail on no bail, due to his previous criminal history. Turner is also currently under parole supervision with the State Department of Corrections and community supervision.

Lutsch was committed to the county jail on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond. Both Turner and Lutsch are to return to town court at 9 a.m. on Friday.

This investigation is still ongoing and further charges and arrests are pending.

School spirit soared during festive week

Photos by Michael Karcz – ALBION – Albion High School students capped off a festive Homecoming week with a high-energy pep rally on Friday, which included the Purple Eagle helping raise crowd fervor when the Albion cheerleaders performed their routine.

Junior Class President Aaron Burnside participates in a Dress-Up Race, one of the many competitions that occurred throughout the week. Participants had to dress up, run across the gym, and quickly pass on the clothes to another person to run back.

Albion crowned its Homecoming royalty during the pep rally. The group includes, from left: Kory Reynolds, lord and Nicole Eldred, lady; Grace McQueen, dutchess and Scott Daniels, duke; Justice Nauden, princess and Dominic DiCureia, prince; Samantha Gramlich, queen and Justyn Haines, king.

The Senior class tries its best to be the loudest of the four classes in a yelling competition.

Some Albion teachers perform a variation of the “Thriller” dance by Michael Jackson. They were led by Mrs. Val Pettit, who is shown in front.

A group of sophomore girls play tug of war against female teachers. The sophomore girls won that competition.

ALBION – In June, JPMorgan Chase announced 413 employees at its Albion call center would be out of jobs in September.

That set off a scramble by political leaders and officials at the Department of Labor to help those workers find other job opportunities. Chase hosted five job fairs at its Albion site, connecting employees with 25 prospective employers, including companies like GEICO, Yahoo, Paychex and AMS Servicing.

Many of those employees have found new jobs, including 110 with positions at JP Morgan Chase’s Rochester location, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s office reported.

Claims Recovery Financial Services as hired 55 Chase workers, and CRFS CEO Jodi Gaines said CRFS welcomes more of the workers from Chase, who typically have a shorter transition time to the company due to their background in the banking industry. CRFS announced on Monday it is looking to fill 150 new positions as part of a move to the Chase building.

Schumer reported that GEICO offered positions to 10 former Albion employees and AMS Servicing in Buffalo has made offers to 35 former Chase workers with 28 accepting. AMS is still looking to fill up to 75 new positions over the coming months, his office reported.

“We’re not out of the woods yet, but I am proud of the progress we’ve made in finding new jobs for these workers and I’m optimistic that, with CRFS and CEO Jodi Gaines at our side, we can foster further job growth in Orleans County,” Schumer said in a statement.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – High School Band Director Mike Thaine leads the pep band during tonight’s Albion football game versus Maryvale. The band and the big crowd was in a good mood as Albion rolled to a 39-6 win on Homecoming.

The game also featured the debut of a new popcorn machine run by the Albion Alumni Foundation. Ed Fancher, Class of 1983, fills a bag of popcorn from the new machine, which Fancher said was faster and did a better job than the old one.

Jean Shervin, Class of 1953, also worked in the booth. They were joined by Debbie Heuer, Class of 1970, and former Albion teacher and coach Doug Miller.

They expected to go through a 50-pound bag of popcorn tonight. The Alumni Foundation is donating the popcorn machine to the High School Student Council, but the alumni will continue to have use of it for future Homecoming football games.

Spierdowis Field is aglow as Albion faced Maryvale during tonight’s Homecoming game that filled the stands and about half of the apron by the track.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Painters from N. Choops Painting in Lancaster didn’t let a morning rain and Main Street traffic keep them from working on the Five Star Bank site in Albion at 102 North Main St.

After painting the back and side of the bank, N. Choops is working today on the front of the building, which is part of a downtown business district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Several other building owners are tackling improvement projects with help from a NY Main Street grant, which is providing matching funding.