Seven sites featured on ‘Garden Tour’ on July 13

Photos by Tom Rivers – Gary Wilson leads a group on a train ride at a garden in Barre he has created the past 34 years with his wife Doreen.

Doreen Wilson is pictured with the S-shaped Weeping Atlas Cedar, part of a 2-acre landscape at the Wilson property on Route 31A.

BARRE – For 34 years Gary and Doreen Wilson have nurtured flowers and trees, stacked stone to create old English walls, and designed 16 gardens in their backyard.

Mr. Wilson built a miniature train with a gas engine and laid 1,000 feet of track that weaves between trees, goes under a tunnel covered in flowers and vegetation, and circles the lush landscape.

The Wilsons have happily shared the space with their grandchildren and friends. On July 13 they will open it to the public as part of the fifth annual Garden Tour organized by the Master Gardeners.

“It’s a lot of work,” Mr. Wilson said tonight while giving a preview of the tour. “We enjoy sharing it. Otherwise what’s the point?”

He gave train rides to visitors this evening. The train is a 2 ¼ scale model of a steam engine. Wilson pulls three cars, two gandolas and one box car with the train.

The track passes along the banks of Otter Creek, and goes over a trestle bridge.

The tunnel for the train is covered with wisteria, yellow trumpet vine and autumn clematis.

The property also features raised beds, an organic vegetable garden, and compost piles. The site was picked the fourth best garden in the world in a 2009 contest by the Walker Lawn Mower Company. Walker published an annual “Beautiful Places” calendar the Wilsons’ backyard was featured.

The Wilsons are one of seven stops of the Garden Tour, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 13. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Other stops on the tour include Paul and Joyce Beatenbough of Lyndonville, Anne Smith of Lyndonville, Tom Wenhold of Lyndonville, Brown’s Berry Patch with berry demonstrations in Waterport, Ginny Byers of Kendall and Gertrude Hauck of Kendall.

For more information, call the Extension at 798-4265.

Gary Wilson likes to share his garden. “Otherwise what’s the point?”

Photo courtesy of Village of Albion Parks – The team of park supervisors for this summer at Albion includes: front row, from left: Alexis Hinkley, Caitlin Francis, Joyce Lalonde and Halle Jurs; Middle row: Melissa Dibley, McKayla Allen, Henry Haines and Josue Serafin; Back row: Ed and Jack Narburgh, Elliott Foos, Sabastian Piedmont, Travis Downs and Nate Lester.

ALBION – Four village parks will have supervisors and activities for children beginning Wednesday. The park season runs until Aug. 2 and is open to children, ages 5 to 16 in the Albion school district.

Park supervisors will be on duty from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following parks: Bullard – Route 31, east of the village; Pee Wee – Route 31 (part of Bullard); Veterans – corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street; and Lafayette – West Park and West State Streets.

The park program includes the following week-long camps:

TENNIS from June 25-29 for grades 5-12 at the school tennis courts from 9 to 11 a.m. and again the following week.

WRESTLING from July 9-13 for grades 6-12 at the high school gym from 9 to 11 a.m.

BASEBALL from July 23-27 from grades 4 through 8 at the varsity baseball field from 9 a.m. to noon.

VOLLEYBALL from July 30-Aug. 3 for grades 6-12 at the high school gym from 9 a.m. to noon.

The camps are free to children in the Albion school district.

Parents are urged to attend the registration during the first week of the Parks Program to meet the supervisors and to fill out important paperwork. No fees will be charged.

ALBION – Village officials support bringing music to downtown Albion, but it won’t be a simple addition.

Town Councilman Jake Olles last month approached the village about adding the speakers. The town offered to pay for the speakers, using funds from its park budget. Olles said it would cost about $700 for 10 outdoor speakers.

Those speakers would have wire and would be attached on the light poles on East Bank Street. However, the poles already are at capacity with wires.

“They’re already full of wire,” Dale Brooks, the Department of Public Works superintendent, told the Village Board this week. “We can’t pull the wires through without hurting the other wires.”

Brooks and village electrician Rick Albright are looking at wireless speakers. They are expected to cost more.

The village may also need to pay to play copyrighted music. Albion could play songs in the public domain, but Mayor Dean Theodorakos said that might be similar to just playing “elevator music” in the downtown.

“We need to find out the costs for the speakers and then you get into what kind of music,” Theodorakos said. “There’s a lot to it.”

Trustee Pete Sidari said songs performed by the Albion jazz band and other local musical groups could be recorded and played.

Medina has the outdoor music system, and Trustee Kevin Sheehan believes it creates a nice atmosphere in the downtown.

“I liked it when I heard it in Medina,” he said.

In another initiative, the village is considering allowing alcohol on village property for special events only. Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti noted the success of a wine-tasting event in Holley on June 1 at the community’s Canal Park.

Albion could try similar events, but would need to change its policy to allow for wine-tastings, as long as a permit is secured for a special event. Village attorney John Gavenda said he would check with Albion’s insurance provider to see if there is an impact in coverage and costs.

Albion girl celebrates Quinceanera at Holy Family Parish

Photos by Tom Rivers – Wynter Dumont is pictured with her damas, her close friends or “pretty maids,” who joined in her Quinceanera today at Holy Family Parish.

Malvy Rivera places a necklace on her daughter Wynter Dumont during Mass this evening.

Wynter Dumont prepares to make a profession of faith during Mass at Holy Family.

ALBION – It felt like a wedding during Mass at Holy Family Parish in Albion this evening. Boys and men wore tuxedos. Young ladies wore formal dresses, and Wynter Dumont looked like a princess with a tiara. She was led down the aisle of the church by her escort, Ryan Pytlewski.

Wynter’s close friends and family joined with the Holy Family Parish in celebrating her Quinceanera, a popular tradition in the Hispanic culture when a girl turns 15. It signifies a girl’s transition to young womanhood.

Wynter Dumont hugs her cousin Israel Florentino of Albion before Mass at Holy Family.

The parties are popular in the Hispanic culture and often begin with a church service and conclude with a festive reception. Wynter’s party will move to the Elk’s Club this evening.

Wynter stood up during Mass before about 300 people, professing her faith and thanking her mother Malvy Rivera and the church community.

Wynter Dumont’s damas sat up front during Mass this evening.

The Rev. Richard Csizmar, the parish priest, said about one Quinceanera is celebrated at Holy Family each year. Wynter’s sister Samantha had hers two years ago. The events have a big impact on the parish. They see a young person profess her beliefs.

“It’s a great testimony of faith,” Csizmar said after Mass. “It’s a wonderful custom. The people just love it.”

Wynter smiles with the Rev. Richard Csizmar after Mass this evening at Holy Family Parish.

ALBION An annual memorial service that was scheduled for Saturday has been pushed back to July 6 because of the soggy grounds by the memorial pond at Mount Albion Cemetery.

The Albion Fire Department will have the service at 10 a.m. on July 6 with a brunch following at the fire hall on Platt Street.

Press release, U.S. Rep. Chris Collins

ALBION – JP Morgan Chase will have a job fair at its soon-to-close Albion site on June 26 and June 28.

The company announced last week it is shutting down its mortgage servicing business in Albion, and will lay off about 400 employees in September. The company will retain 150 of those jobs at other sites in Western New York. It will give its Albion workers a shot at those positions.

The company will be joined by other employers at the job fair later this month, U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence, announced this afternoon.

“I appreciate Chase’s commitment to engaging on opportunities for its employees and keeping jobs in area,” Collins said.“This is a good outcome for both the workers in Albion and the Western New York economy.”

The job fairs will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days.

“We have more work to do to help the people of Orleans County, but this is a huge step in the right direction,” Collins said. “I will continue to work with JP Morgan Chase and our partners in the private sector and at every level of government to help find jobs for each person affected.”

ALBION – The Village Board voted on Wednesday to fill a vacancy in the Police Department by hiring an officer who has been working with the Holley PD the past 1 ½ years.

Robert Wagner is expected to join the Albion PD in about two weeks. He will fill the opening created when Sgt. Mark Luft retired in January. Wagner will be on a 52-week probationary period with Albion.

The board accepted 13 new members into the Fire Department, including Jeremy Babcock, Amber Boyer, Janet Cheverie, Robert Emerson, Paula Fuller, Laurie Gleason, Cindy Hunt, James Peruzzini Jr., Renee Rowley, Spencer Misiak, Barb Szklany, Kelly Szklany and Carol Tibbits.

Some of the new members are interior firefighters, while others will provide scene support and serve in the Ladies Auxiliary.

ALBION – Two major chains – Dunkin’ Donuts and Advance Auto Parts – are looking at sites in Albion, village officials said at tonight’s Village Board meeting.

Neither company has submitted a formal application to the village. But village officials said Advance Auto is serious about the former Rite Aid building at the northeast corner of the routes 98 and 31 intersection. The site has been vacant for several years since Rite Aid moved to the former Eckerd building across the street.

Advance has nearby sites in Brockport, Batavia and Lockport.

Dunkin’ Donuts is looking at a building next to Tim Hortons. The company is considering tearing down a warehouse owned by Charles Breuilly and building a new site for Albion. Dunkin’s closest site is in Batavia.

CRFS, in expansion mode, could hire many of the employees

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s office

ALBION – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Monday and urged the bank’s leader to give priority to Albion workers for 150 Chase jobs in Rochester and also help connect Albion workers with local employers such as Claims Recovery Financial Services.

Chase announced on Thursday it would close its Albion mortgage servicing facility that has 413 employees. The site will shut down in September.

Claims Recovery is a fast-growing post-foreclosure claim recovery firm in Orleans County that is eager to hire. CRFS now employs 550 workers in Albion and Medina and is looking to fill 178 openings. The company has plans to further expand and increase employment.

“Last week’s unexpected announcement that JP Morgan will close its Albion facility has hit the community like a ton of bricks,” Schumer said.  “I was blindsided by the announcement, and upset that we were not given more of an opportunity to address the issues ahead of time. But the workers there need our help and we need to be proactive in finding Albion employees new work.”

Chase says the decision is final. Schumer has been working to help reduce the impact of impending job losses in Albion by identifying new work opportunities for the Albion employees.

Schumer spoke by phone this weekend with CRFS CEO Jodi Gaines. Schumer said that much of the employees’ skills at Chase in Albion can translate to the work done at CRFS. He wants Chase to coordinate with CRFS and other local companies in Western New York in terms of timing, severance and other important factors in order to find work for the Chase employees.

“I believe that CRFS is one of our best bets to get these soon-to-be displaced workers new employment opportunity,” Schumer said. “Connecting with this fast-growing local employer and others in Western New York is the very least JP Morgan can do to help reduce job losses in Albion.”

Press release, Albion Police Department

ALBION – The Albion Police Department participated in the “Buckle Up New York Campaign” from May 20 to June 2 and arrested 65 people for not wearing seatbelts.

The Police Department was awarded a $779 grant from the New York State Governors Traffic Safety Committee to participate in this state-wide initiative.

Albion officers issued 138 tickets for various vehicle and traffic law violations during the 14-day enforcement wave. Besides the 65 seatbelt violations, officers issued 13 speeding tickets (six in the school zone), 10 uninspected motor vehicles, five unlicensed operators, six aggravated unlicensed operator in the third degree, one ticket for facilitating unlicensed operator in the third degree, four for operating without insurance, one for reckless driving, two for operating with registration suspended/revoked, and five for talking on cellphone while driving.

Police Chief Roland Nenni III said the department also made arrests for driving while intoxicated and for driving while ability impaired by drugs/marijuana.

The Albion Police Department hosted two multi-agency road checks during the campaign period with assistance from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

During the road checks, which were conducted on North Main Street and South Main Street, officers issued a total of 26 uniform traffic tickets. One motorist was arrested during the road checks for DWAI by drugs/marijuana and unlawful possession of marijuana.

The main factors that cause fatalities in motor vehicle accidents continues to be speeding, not wearing seatbelts and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, Nenni said.

“The safety of our streets continues to be the number one goal of the Albion Police Department,” he said. “We will continue to strive to make our community safe.”

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Albion Women’s Select Choir includes Maria Ostafew, front right.

Steven Stauss, right, and other members of the Albion Men’s Select Choir give an enthusiastic performance of a romantic song.

Gary Simboli plays the keyboards and directs the Albion Men’s and Women’s Select Choir.

ALBION – The Theatre on Main Street production on Saturday resulted in a treasure trove of images. I shared some after the show last night, but here are some more.

A stage with professional sound and lighting was set up on West Bank Street for the three-hour show.

John Martin, “Zilch Fletcher,” of Medina shared a few folksy songs.

Albion residents Dorothy and Milt Boyer, center, react to a funny line from one of Martin’s songs.

Performers from Lisa’s Dance Boutique on Holley were among the acts in the three-hour show.

A group of four dancers from Dance Reflections by Miss Heather perform during Theatre on Main Street.

Dance, music, theater on display at Albion event

Photos by Tom Rivers – Ryan Haight, center, and other members of the Albion Men’s Select Chorus ham it up with Director Gary Simboli during Theatre on Main Street on Saturday.

Mary Martin and the Albion Women’s Select Chorus performed several songs for about 400 people at the Theatre on Main Street.

Elizabeth Banty is the swan queen surrounded by black swans in a performance by the Gotta Dance by Miss Amy studio.

ALBION – Performers from several communities in Orleans County were welcomed for the debut of Theatre on Main Street.

The three-hour show was on an outdoor stage on West Bank Street.The crowd seemed to get bigger throughout the night. Organizers estimated 400 people were there.

Organizers hope it’s the beginning of more shows drawing dancers, musicians and theatrical performers to the county. Someday soon, the stage could be the opera houses in Albion and Medina.

The National Park Foundation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor contributed grants for the first Theatre on Main Street. The groups wanted the performance close to a historic opera house. Michael Bonafede and Judith Koehler own that building and are working to restore the site.

The Spotlight Dance Studio in Albion gets a chance on the stage.

Students from Dance Reflections by Miss Heather were among the performers.

John Martin, “Zilch Fletcher,” of Medina entertained with some light-hearted songs.

The Three Little Maids include, from left: Maarit Vaga, her daughter Lydia Erakare and Kristi Phillips.