By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 October 2013 at 12:00 am
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 October 2013 at 12:00 am
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.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 October 2013 at 12:00 am
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2013 at 12:00 am
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.
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2013 at 12:00 am
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2013 at 12:00 am
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2013 at 12:00 am
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2013 at 12:00 am
Chris VerSteeg painted this tugboat on the Erie Canal. It’s one of the paintings featured in a new art show about the canal. The opening reception is today from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Marti’s on Main.
Tony Barry of Holley painted this Erie Canal scene. Several of his works are on display at Marti’s.
ALBION – It runs through Orleans County, the iconic Erie Canal. In the eyes of many artists, the canal and its century-old bridges are a source of inspiration, a peaceful path full of beauty.
Several Orleans County artists are sharing paintings, photographs and other art about the historic waterway during a canal-themed art show at Marti’s on Main, an art gallery at 227 North Main St.
The opening reception will be today from 5:30 to 9 p.m. as part of the monthly First Fridays reception, which gives the public a chance to meet local artists. The latest show includes 11 artists. They have photographed or painted all seasons along the canal. Some of the artwork shows boaters or people walking along the canal.
Most of the paintings show a serene location, the canal set amidst changing fall foliage or tranquil waters.
Connie Mosher painted this scene of a canal bridge during the fall.
The following local artists are part of the canal show: Gallery owner Kim Martillotta-Muscarella, Tony Barry, Susan Rudnicky, Connie Mosher, Suzanne Wells, Rose Patronski, Terry Vick, Stacey Kirby, Christine VerSteeg, Arthur Barnes and Tom Zangerle.
In addition to the canal show, Marti’s is displaying art by the Skoog Family Artists, a group artists who started painting once they retired from their careers. Laurie Groth also has featured works about horses.
The First Fridays events at Marti’s are in their fifth year.
Stacey Kirby painted this winter scene of the canal between the lift bridges in Albion, where canal barges and tugboats are kept when the canal is closed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 October 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Kim Pritt, a fifth-generation member of the First United Methodist Church in Albion, volunteers with the hospitality ministry that provides coffee and refreshments for people waiting to take their driver’s test at the corner of East State and Platt streets.
ALBION – The church that voted in August to abandon its historic building isn’t giving up on serving the community.
The First United Methodist Church in Albion is serving spaghetti dinners, offering coffee and conversation at a hospitality table, and planning other events.
“We’re still here,” said Kim Pritt, a fifth-generation member of the church at the corner of East State and Platt streets. “We’re alive and well.”
The church doesn’t have a timetable for when it will leave its building. That is in the hands of the conference. The church voted Aug. 21 to turn over the building, which needs a $1 million roof and building repair.
The Upper New York Annual Conference, which has its main office in Syracuse, is weighing the offer. Church buildings have been abandoned before, but in those cases the congregation typically disbanded. The Albion congregation is staying together and looking for alternatives for a meeting place, perhaps at another local church, Pritt said.
In the meantime, the church doors are open to the community. Last Wednesday the church held its monthly spaghetti dinner and served 73 meals to the community, an all-time high. The church will have a rummage sale this Friday and Saturday and it is planning its annual Country Fair, set for Oct. 19. That includes lunch, crafts, baked goods and other activities.
Kim Pritt has the coffee ready as part of the hospitality ministry at the United Methodist Church in Albion. The church is hosting a rummage sale on Friday and Saturday.
About 10 years ago, church volunteers started a hospitality ministry on Mondays and Wednesdays for people taking the state driver’s test. The test starts in front of the church on East State Street. Church members noticed people often stood outside by the church waiting to take their test or for a friend or child to finish the exam.
The church started to serve coffee and refreshments to those waiting, and to let them come inside the building. Sometimes the testers want to use the bathroom. Sometimes they need a walk in the church to calm their nerves.
Pritt likes to volunteer for the hospitality table. She has met people from throughout the state. Many come from outside Orleans County to take their driver’s test, she said.
“Every single time I have at least one wonderful conversation with someone,” she said. “Sometimes I get lucky and get two or three great conversations.”
She and other church volunteers often give people tours of the historic church. The volunteers also share local history and point people to other local attractions.
When the church building is closed, Pritt said the United Methodists want to keep up the hospitality ministry, but they said it may need to be run from a church across the street, the Free Methodist Church. United Methodists want to help provide the manpower to keep the ministry going, she said.
“It’s a blessing,” she said about the hospitality table. “All of us who volunteer love to meet people.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2013 at 12:00 am
Massachusetts company expects stores to open in Albion and Medina in early 2014
Courtesy of CHA – JFJ Holdings added a turning lane leading to the drive-through based on a recommendation from the Orleans County Planning Board.
MEDINA – Dunkin’ Donuts is working to bring a store to Medina at the southeast corner of the routes 31A and 63 intersection. The site is outside the village in the town of Shelby.
Brian Bouchard, assistant project engineer for the CHA firm in Syracuse, presented a preliminary plan to the Shelby Planning Board on Tuesday. He expects the formal site plan to go before the Orleans County Planning Board on Oct. 24 with the town giving a final vote in early November.
The site is vacant and would have a 2,000-square-foot building, just like the project in Albion. That site on South Main Street next to Tim Hortons was given a final vote of approval tonight from the Village of Albion Planning Board.
Bouchard said JFJ Holdings will work to close on the property in the next two weeks. JFJ is based in North Andover, Mass. The company owns about 200 Dunkin’ Donuts, Bouchard said.
Both the Albion and Medina sites are close to two state roads. Medina’s would be at the intersection of 31A and 63 while Albion is on Route 98, four buildings north of Route 31.
The Albion site includes a big warehouse just south of the railroad tracks. Charles Breuilly of Albion owns the site. Bouchard said the company will likely have to do some asbestos abatement before the building comes down. He would like the site to be cleared in a month so contractors can work on building the parking lot and the foundation so the shell of the building can be up before winter.
If the weather cooperates, Bouchard said it’s possible the Albion store could open in January. If the weather slows down construction, the store may not open until March or April, he said.
The site includes driveways on Main and Platt streets. The Platt Street driveway will line up directly across a driveway that leads to the parking lot for CRFS.
The site plan was tweaked after last Thursday’s County Planning Board meeting when the board recommended JFJ add a turning lane near the Platt Street driveway. The lane will accommodate cars waiting to turn into the drive-through lane. Planners worried there could be a backup of cars waiting to get into the drive-through.
If the parking lot and driveways are congested, JFJ is willing to add a three-way stop near the drive-through to help facilitate traffic flow, Bouchard said. Village officials and the company will see how the site works before committing to the three-way stop.
“If it becomes an issue, we’ll do something,” Bouchard told the Village Planning Board tonight.
The new Albion store will have 30 seats inside, 46 parking spaces, a 230-square-foot freezer next to the building, and a drive-through lane that can accommodate 10 vehicles.
The site plan for Medina will be a little different because the site isn’t as long and narrow as the Albion location. The building, however, will be identical, Bouchard said.
He expects the Medina store will open about a month after Albion.
Press release, Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force
Theresa Nichols
David Nichols
ALBION – Four people, including a mother and her two sons, were arrested today following a 5-month-long investigation into the sale and distribution of prescription narcotic pills in the village of Albion.
The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force and the Albion Police Department executed a search warrant at 209 North Main St. Police seized a quantity of hydrocodone pills and tramadol pills as a result of the search warrant.
A mother and her two sons face numerous counts of criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance. The sons, along with their mother, were allegedly selling hydrocodone and tramadol pills, which were prescribed to the mother.
An Oakfield woman also was charged in connection to the investigation.
The following were arrested:
Theresa S. Nichols, 51, of 209 North Main St. who was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, two counts of conspiracy in the fourth degree, one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.
She also faces a charge of felony welfare fraud in the third degree.
Joshua Nichols
Serena Weber
David Nichols, 28, of 209 North Main St., who was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.
Joshua Nichols, 26, of 209 North Main St., who was charged with one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
Serena L. Weber, 28, of 3039 East Shelby Rd., Oakfield, who was charged with one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
All four suspects were arraigned in the Town of Albion Justice Court by Town Justice Gary Moore. Theresa Nichols and David Nichols were both committed to Orleans County Jail on no bail, due to their previous criminal histories.
Joshua Nichols was committed to the county jail on $2,500 cash bail. Weber was committed to jail on $5,000 cash bail.
All four subjects are to return back to Albion court on Friday at 2 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 October 2013 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The economic development agencies for Orleans County and New York State are each providing some help for Claims Recovery Financial Services to move into the former Chase call center and add 150 jobs.
The company already employs about 600 people in Orleans County at the Olde Pickle Factory in Medina and next door to Chase in Albion.
Empire State Development has offered CRFS an $872,500 incentive package to assist with job creation and retention, which includes a $472,500 wage tax credit and a $400,000 capital grant to help pay for new computers, desks and other office furniture.
The Orleans Economic Development Agency approved a $250,000 low-interest loan from the Orleans Revolving Loan Fund. That money will help CRFS with some of the upfront costs for creating the new work spaces. The EDA also will approve a sales tax abatement for the equipment purchases.
The Chase building at 231 East Ave. has been acquired by Roger Hungerford and his development company, Talis Equity. Hungerford owns the Olde Pickle Factory in Medina.
The EDA board of directors hasn’t met to discuss a tax abatement plan for the building, which is assessed at $4,046,000. The EDA approved a 10-year abatement plan for Chase in 2011. That first year Chase didn’t have to pay any taxes to the local governments. With each following year, the company would pay 10 percent more of a $4,046,000 assessment until the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) expired in 2021.
Once Chase shut down the Albion site, the PILOT was cancelled and the property returned to the tax rolls at 100 percent of its assessed value.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Workers from N. Choops Painting in Lancaster are giving the three-story Five Star Bank site in Albion a fresh coat of paint. The new color is darker than before. Painters also are painting the medallions up high a blue that matches the company logo.
“I love the color,” said Wendy Hinkley, the Albion branch manager. “It stands out more and it looks classy.”
The front on the building facing 102 North Main St. has two rows of medallions that will be painted blue. N. Choops may be able to finish the project later this week.
“It’s going to look sharp,” Hinkley said.
The project is partially funded with a NY Main Street grant, which provided matching funding for several other downtown projects.
