Albion

Kovaleski family launches ‘Live with Purpose’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 August 2016 at 1:10 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers
Kelly and Jay Kovaleski, both Albion teachers, are running a new program to help people focus on goals and find their passion in life. They are pictured by the “Perseverance” crayon in front of the elementary school.

ALBION – Nicholas Kovaleski was remarkably determined, even as a teenager, working towards his goals in football, swimming and tennis, and giving of himself by helping at home and through Boy Scouts.

Nicholas adopted “Live with Purpose” as his motto when he was 11.

He was courageous in his fight against leukemia. The community rallied around him and his family, with many people wearing “Live with Purpose” bracelets and T-shirts.

Nicholas was just 15 when he died from the disease on June 29, 2011.

Nick’s parents want to share “Live with Purpose” with others, helping people identify and reach their goals and passions.

“It’s about discovering talents,” said Kelly Kovaleski, an academic intervention teacher at the elementary school. “It’s about healthy decision making.”

Nicholas was very goal-driven and put in the hard work and dedication. That extra effort can be the difference in excelling, his mother said.

“It just takes that little extra effort to go from ordinary to extraordinary,” she said.

The family has awarded scholarships in Nicholas’s name to graduates who have a record of community service and who “Live with Purpose.”

Provided photo Nicholas Kovaleski pushed himself when he competed in swimming, tennis and football.

Provided photos: Nicholas Kovaleski pushed himself when he competed in swimming, tennis and football.

Now, the Kovaleskis through workshops and presentations believe they can help people work towards their goals.

They use a compass and ask participants to list people and activities that have a positive influence on them. That represents “North.” Those are the people and things that “have your heart,” Mrs. Kovaleski said.

South can be those choices and people who pull you off course – “the detours of life,” Mr. Kovaleski said.

East represents the future and west is the past. Mrs. Kovaleski said many people have unresolved grief. She has used journaling and prayer for comfort since her son’s loss.

Mr. Kovaleski takes an early morning run to process emotions and have his quiet time. Mr. Kovaleski, a physical education teacher and coach at Albion, would like to share the message with youth groups, schools, churches – people of all ages.

“This is about finding our way in life,” he said. “Using the compass you can live with purpose.”

Kovaleski is a tennis and swimming coach at Albion and will be recognized next week with the Sportsmanship Award for Section 6. The family has set up a Website for Live with Purpose. Click here for more information.

Provided photo The Kovaleski family includes parents Kelly and Jay, and Michayla (holding picture of her brother Nicholas), Matthew (back left) and Thomas.

The Kovaleski family includes parents Kelly and Jay, and Michayla (holding picture of her brother Nicholas), Matthew (back left) and Thomas.

Author of new children’s book wants kids to play outside

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2016 at 11:20 am

ALBION – Kim Martillotta-Muscarella holds a copy of her new book, “My Grandma’s Kitchen Window.” The 40-page children’s book includes illustrations by Laura Genagon Kemler and highlights flowers, vegetables, insects and animals in Martillotta-Muscarella’s yard on North Main Street.

Martillotta-Muscarella is a well-known artist. She also has seven granddaughters. A decade ago one of her grandchildren, then age 4, would visit and ask lots of questions about Martillotta-Muscarella’s garden. She wanted to know how many different types of flowers there were. They counted 40 different varieties.

“The girls inspire me all of the time with their curiosity and their questions,” Martillotta-Muscarella said.

Martillotta-Muscarella wants children to rediscover a sense of wonder with the outdoors.

The book is currently available through Amazon (Click here). Martillotta-Muscarella expects to soon have copies of “My Grandma’s Kitchen Window” for sale locally.

She said she wants to see kids spend less time with their phones and more time in nature.

“If you just look out the window and go outside you will see some amazing things,” she said. “If you turn a rock over, nine out of 10 times you will see a cricket.”

This illustration shows Martillotta-Muscarella with her husband Neal and granddaughter Sophia working in the garden.

Return to top

Metro 10 looks to grow following strong feedback

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 August 2016 at 6:10 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers – Austin Heil, 19, of Medina, center, was among about 300 runners who competed in the Metro 10 races in Albion on Saturday. Heil ran the 10-mile race for the Buffalo team. The Metro 10 in its second year added a 5-mile route as well.

ALBION – The Metro 10 is riding positive momentum following Saturday’s second annual event where runners compete for either Rochester or Buffalo, with the team scoring the most points winning bragging rights and a victory glass.

Many of runners have posted positive comments on Facebook and social media about the race, praising the volunteers at water stops, the local police officers along the course, even the design of the shirts.

Everyone who ran in the race had their name on the shirt, either for the Rochester or Buffalo teams.

Every runner who finishes the course scores points for their team. Rochester took the title for the second year in a row.

“I can’t say enough great things about this race!” Carol Lorenz posted on the Metro 10 Facebook page. “Besides the fact that I love the Roch vs. Buff concept, it’s a great course, personalized t-shirts, and glassware. Great idea to pair it with the music festival. What a great community feel to the whole event. I’ll have to work on getting more of the Buffalonians out there next year.”

The race starts and finishes at Bullard Park. This year the Rock the Park music fest followed the race, using the same stage and tents.

Erin Sidari of Albion ran the 10 mile race for Rochester. She posted on Facebook that she preferred the new course, which kept runners closer to the village. “I love this route better than last years!” Sidari said. “It allows you to see so much more of this little town. Great time!!! Can’t wait for 2017!!!”

Race organizer Thom Jennings of Albion addresses the runners at Bullard Park on Saturday. Victoria Freile, a reporter for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, served as an emcee at the post-race celebration along with Jim Salmon, host of the WHAM Home Repair Clinic.

Emma Mathes, left, and her Cross Country teammates made an impression on runners at the Mile 9 mark.

Thom Jennings served as race organizer for the Metro 10, with help from local volunteers as well as captains in Rochester and Buffalo. Jennings said he believes the race is poised to grow from a cap of 300 this year to perhaps 500 next year.

“I think it will continue to grow,” Jennings said. “We’re definitely on the right trajectory.”

He said he was proud of the community participation, especially the enthusiastic groups on the water stops. A local Girl Scout troop won the water stop award. In addition to cups of water, the Scouts gave out popsicles, wet wash cloths and sprayed runners with mists of water.

The Albion Cross Country team also was a favorite of runners. The team was at Mile 9 when many of the runners were struggling to finish. The Cross Country team was loud in cheering on the runners.

“The water stop people totally upped their game again,” Jennings said. “I was touched by volunteer support on the course.”

The race was in doubt on Thursday and Friday because a state Department of Transportation permit was needed for using routes 31 and 98. Police Chief Roland Nenni and Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti stepped in for Jennings and worked hard to get the paperwork done for the Metro 10 so the race could go on.

Some of the runners interviewed on Saturday said they enjoy the friendly rivalry among the runners. They noted that at most others races, runners leave not long after the race. At the Metro 10, the crowd stayed throughout the awards presentation and to see which team won. One runner gave the race a positive overall review, but would have liked more people from the community along the course, especially when runners were in the downtown.

Yvette Alexander of Brockport dressed as a Pokemon character to lift runners’ spirits near the end of the race on a hot and humid morning.

The race was planned for late August when many runners are gearing up for fall half marathons and marathons. Jennings also believes the mutli-terrain route – grass, pavement, towpath, orchard (at Watt Farms) – is a draw.

“Really enjoyed running thru the orchard but also loved seeing the beautiful homes in the village,” runner Mary Kummer posted on Facebook. “Plus loved running on the canal. I think we just loved the whole course!!”

Jennings said he hopes the race promotes the Albion community, bringing visitors to the area and giving them a positive impression of Orleans County.

“The volunteers made people feel welcome,” he said. “I really wanted to showcase Albion as a welcoming and friendly community.”

Proceeds from the race go to the Warrior House, an organization that offers a hunting retreat for veterans in West Shelby.

Student creates walking guides for Mount Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2016 at 3:00 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kyle Thaine, 18, is pictured by the Ingersoll Memorial Fountain on Sunday after a tour of Mount Albion Cemetery. Thaine has created three walking guides for sections of the historic cemetery.

The guides, which include maps and highlights of notable residents, are available at the cemetery or online by clicking here.

Thaine has seen first-hand the popularity of the annual Ghost Walk at Mount Albion Cemetery. Thaine has portrayed several of the Albion residents buried in the historic cemetery.

The Ghost Walk is put on by Albion students and draws about 500 people to the cemetery. Thaine also attends some of the walking tours led by historians Matt Ballard and Bill Lattin. Those tours draw a crowd of people interested in the backgrounds of residents in the cemetery.

Thaine decided to create three walking guides for people who aren’t able to attend the walking tours or Ghost Walk events.

The guides highlight prominent business leaders, politicians, soldiers and others who were victims of tragedies, such as the bridge collapse on Sept. 28, 1859. The bridge collapsed when 250 gathered to watch a tightrope walker over the canal. At least 15 people died in the calamity.

Photo by Tom Rivers

Thaine portrays Rufus Bullock, who grew up in Albion, was a railroad official in George and was elected that state’s governor in 1868. He was instrumental in the reconstruction of Georgia after the Civil War. Thaine portrayed Bullock in the 2014 Ghost Walk at Mount Albion.

Kyle Thaine during the 2015 Ghost Walk portrayed his great-uncle, Eugene Barnum, who was killed during World War II after shooting down two German planes.

Thaine graduated from Albion High School in June and will major in history in college at Albany. He worked on the Mount Albion guides as part of an internship project his senior year with Sue Starkweather-Miller, the school district’s grants manager and internship coordinator.

Photo by Kim Pritt

“I wanted to do a history project,” Thaine said about creating the guides and a website about Mount Albion. “This is for people who can’t make the Ghost Walks or the tours.”

Thaine also helped with two new interpretive panels that are expected to be added to the cemetery this fall.

He was a seventh-grader when he and his classmates researched and set up a permanent memorial for residents of the Alms House, the precursor to the county nursing home.

200 taste wine in downtown Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2016 at 8:00 am

ALBION – Jessica Downey, executive director of United Way or Orleans County, pours a sample of wine from the Flight of Five Winery in Lockport during the third annual “Sip & Stroll Through History” on Saturday in downtown Albion.

The United Way, located in the former Swan Library, was one of 13 stops on the wine-tasting tour. About 200 people attended the event, which was organized by the Albion Merchants Association.

The glass for the event highlighted the Albion United Methodist Church building, which is part of the Courthouse Square Historic District, a group of buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mike Seaver and Jessica Whiting served ice pops from Lake Effect Ice Cream at The Shamrock (Shay’s). Seaver owns the business and Whiting is the manager.

Autumn Moon Winery in Bergen made its debut at the Albion wine-tasting and printed labels for the wine bottles especially for the occasion. Autumn Wine serve tastings at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church. Pictured include winery owners Tracy and Jerry Birge.

Jen Johnson and Andrea Zaccaria served wine from the Lake Ontario Winery and Vineyard in Hilton. They were set up at U-Need-O Burrito, a new stop on the Sip & Stroll.

The rain held off for most of the wine-tasting, but with about a half hour to go a big downpour hit. This photo shows the rain and vegetables from Navarra’s.

Return to top

Albion barber returns to work 4 years after being seriously injured in motorcycle accident

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 August 2016 at 5:07 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers – Greg Dugan gives Ron Armstrong a haircut this morning at Greg’s Barbershop on East Bank Street in Albion. Dugan returned to barber shop on June 13, and is open three days a week.

ALBION – Four years ago Greg Dugan suffered life-threatening injuries when he was riding his motorcycle and was hit by an 18-year-old driver in Farmington.

Bystanders feared Dugan was dead after the crash on Aug. 6, 2012. His motorcycle “totally disintegrated.” He credits a full-face helmet for saving his life.

Dugan was seriously injured, breaking both knees, both wrists, separating his pelvis, fracturing his left hip, and lacerating his left leg.

He was forced to step back from a business he loved. He opened Greg’s Barbershop in 1991. His customers are toddlers to very old men. Dugan has been popular not only for his skills at cutting hair, but for his interest in people’s lives.

Dugan endured intense physical therapy to get back to where he could walk and stay on his feet. It’s still not easy getting by on a shattered hip and femur.

“It’s been a very long road,” he said today at the barber shop. “It’s still painful, but I’m healing and everyday is a better day.”

Dugan has been itching to get back to work. On June 13 he was back at Greg’s. He hasn’t advertised, but the news has spread by word of mouth. He is doing a part-time schedule, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“I missed my friends here at the shop,” Dugan said. “I wanted to visit with all of my supportive friends.”

Ron Armstrong enjoys the camaraderie with Greg Dugan during a haircut this morning.

A month ago Ron Armstrong was driving along East Bank Street and he saw the barber’s sign pole lighted up and spinning outside Greg’s Barbershop.

Armstrong was pleased to see the shop was open. He was thrilled when he opened the door and saw Dugan.

“I am glad to see him back,” Armstrong said. “I like a barber where you can sit and talk and Greg likes to talk.”

Armstrong remains an active Albion firefighter, even in his 80s. He told Dugan he debates whether he should stop going to fire and emergency calls. Armstrong said he would miss it, and the department is often in need of responders.

Dugan believes in trying to be as active as possible.

“When you sit around and don’t stay active, that’s when you start to fail,” he said while talking with Armstrong.
Dugan said he needs to take frequent breaks and he rests on a stool at times when giving haircuts. He said he is thankful for the regained strength and mobility.

“I’m pacing myself with the workload,” he said. “I’m doing fine. I can’t complain. I’ve come a long ways.”

Dugan served as caregiver for his mother, Elaine Dugan, while she recently battled cancer for 18 months. He opened Greg’s on June 13 on her birthday, as a tribute to his late mother.

Dugan has also stayed active with the Knights of Columbus, participating in parades with the group. He isn’t able to march in parades, but rides in floats with the K of C, with his mother’s dog, Buddy, next to him.

Dugan has created an old-time feel in the barbershop. He said he hopes his customers come in and relax, taking a break from their busy lives.

Metro 10 race is sold out for Aug. 20

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 August 2016 at 3:44 pm

Thom Jennings, race organizer for the upcoming Metro 10 race in Albion, is pictured with one of the newly designed medals for finishers of the race on Aug. 20.

ALBION – The second Metro 10 race is sold out. All 300 spots have been taken for the Aug. 20 race that features runners from Buffalo and Rochester competing for the Metro 10 cup and bragging rights as the top running community.

This year’s race starts at 8:20 a.m. at Bullard Park, up from the 10 a.m. start in the debut race last year. Runners in the first race asked for an earlier start when the temperatures aren’t quite as hot.

The race is also scheduled the same day as the Rock the Park music festival at Bullard. The two events should feed off of each other. There will be a post-race party for runners at Bullard featuring food and music from Buffalo based Tiger Chung Lee. After the post-race party, Rock the Park will start with a good-size crowd from Metro 10 to kick off the music festival with several local bands.

“As the runners are leaving, Rock the Park will be coming in,” said Thom jennings, the Metro 10 race organizer. “We both have common golas of wanting to revitalize Albion.”

The Metro 10 course also has been modified to better accommodate runners seeking a 5-mile option. The total 10-mile course is confined between Gaines Basin and Butts Road, and heads as far north at Watt Farms, where runners on the 10-mile course will go through the Watt Orchards.

Here is the new course map for the race on Aug. 20 in Albion.

There are about 225 runners signed up for the 10-mile portion of the race, and 75 for the 5 miler. Everyone who finishes the race earns points for their metro area, either Buffalo or Rochester. There are also additional points for the top runners overall and the leading age group finishers, as well as a tenacity bonus for the last finisher in both the 5- and 10-mile race. (Click here to see the scoring system.)

Add up all of the points, and you have the winner of the second Metro 10. The winning team gets a taste of victory – a custom engraved glass goblet filled with Victory Brew, a craft beer from the Victory Brewing Company.

Rochester won the debut race last year on the strength of overall participation. The race is more even this year in entries, with 60 percent from Rochester and 40 percent from Buffalo. Last year Buffalo runners claimed many of the top spots in age groups, but Rochester claimed the cup because it had so many more runners.

Metro 10 organizers have pushed hard to recruit more runners from Buffalo, and those efforts have paid off, Jennings said.

Each Metro also had a team captain to help promote the race. Marissa Pace serves as Buffalo captain with help from Lisa Rybke-Thrash and Sandra Baxter, and Vickey Beaver heads the Rochester team. Jack Burris has been promoting the race locally. Wayne Litchfield has been coordinating the team of volunteers.

The Metro 10 Cup has made appearances in the region to help build support and awareness for the upcoming race in Albion. Here the cup is pictured outside First Niagara Center in Buffalo with bronze statues of the famed French Connection, the Buffalo Sabres stars in the 1970s – Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Rick Martin on Friday night.

Jennings said he is pleased the event sold out. He said is it poised for steady growth in the future. He wanted to cap the event at 300 so he would not run out of medals, shirts, food and other supplies for the day. (The medals have to be ordered six weeks in advance.) He would like to see the race gradually grow so local services aren’t overtaxed with the event.

He praised Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni for working out a plan for traffic control and safety for the race.

Jennings said in the future the Metro 10 could add a biking component for a duathlon.

“Right now we want to make sure everyone has a good experience on Aug. 20,” Jennings said. “We have created a foundation for the future.”

Jared Ziegler, Ron Ziegler and Ed Martin.

Rochester claimed the Metro 10 Cup in 2015 and many of the runners posed for photos with the trophy afterwards, including this group, from left: Jared Ziegler, Ron Ziegler and Ed Martin.

700 attend National Night Out at Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2016 at 3:20 pm

ALBION – This team of Orleans County Health Department employees wore tutus and competed in the Battle of the Belts competition. They include, from left: Mary Ellen Messmer, Sandy Webster, Shelly Troup and Cathy Miller.

The competition was part of the second annual National Night Out at Bullard Park in Albion. The Health Department team won the turtle award. They were slowest of the teams. The competition has teams of four run to a vehicle, buckle their seat belts and then throw their hands in the air. A referee (a state trooper) then yells rotate and the four team members have to buckle belts at four different seats in the vehicle.

Albion and Carlton firefighters formed a team and they competed in the Battle of Belts in turn-out gear. This photo shows Jeremy Graham from the Albion Fire Department, front, with Chris Standish from Carlton behind him.

Chris Standish races to get in the passenger seat and put on the seat belt. Matt Hughson of Carlton and Jim Peruzzini of Albion also were on the team.

Cole Moyle, 9, of Medina competes in the bike rodeo that was organized by Brian Marsceill, a Medina police officer. Cole completed the course in 23.5 seconds, the fastest time of the day, even beating one of the police officers. Law enforcement officers from throughout the county organized several activities and demonstrations at National Night Out.

Last year was the first time the event was in the county. About 200 people attended last year. Today there were about 700 people.

Nick Mardino of Light of Victory Church in Albion cooks hot dogs that were provided by Fidelis Care.

There were about 30 local agencies and services clubs at National Night Out, including the Albion Lions Club. Members Bill Robinson, left, and Kevin Howard are pictured by the new playground equipment that was recently added to the park with help from the Lions Club.

Children filled out paper T-shirts and were asked to write the names of people they feel safest to talk with. It’s part of a “Speak Your Mind” campaign by the Orleans County Health Department.

Firefighters drew a crowd when they did an extrication drill, removing the top of a car.

Railroad company will replace 3 crossings in August

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2016 at 3:06 pm

Section of Densmore Road will close starting Monday

ALBION – Genesee Valley Transportation Company, owner of the Falls Road Railroad that runs through Orleans County, is replacing three railroad crossings in Orleans County next month.

The first project will be on Densmore Road in the Town of Albion. The section of Densmore near the tracks will be closed beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Monday and is expected to reopen on Friday afternoon next week, said Christian M. Henrici, director of Operations and Projects for GVT, which is based in Batavia.

No detours will be posted, but signs will be placed at the nearest crossroad to advise of closure. The State Department of Transportation is supplying the material and GVT is providing the equipment and labor to install the new crossings.

Other new crossings and a schedule for work includes: Hulberton Road in Town of Murray, closed RR crossing from Aug. 8 through Aug. 12; Lynch Road in Town of Murray, closed RR crossing from Aug. 15 through Aug. 23.

Miniature carnival built by Albion men makes debut at Orleans Fair

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2016 at 3:00 pm

ALBION – The Hudson Magic Midway is making its local debut at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. The attraction is housed in a 40-foot-long semi-truck trailer. Inside is a collection of 40 miniature replicas of midway rides from the 1950s to the most recent innovations in amusement park rides.

Jay Pahura at right and his friends, brothers Charlie and Frank Zicari, have been working on the Midway for several years. It made its first fair appearance last August at the Erie County Fair.

The trailer has flags on top and panels that tell the history of the project. Hudson Magic Midway costs $2 per person to see inside or $1 each person in groups of at least 5. Hudson’s Magic Midway is open the same time as the real amusement rides at the Fairgrounds, from 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

The inside is blacklight, giving a glow-in-the-dark feel. The rides are hand-built. They are illuminated and show a history of amusement park attractions, including Midway rides to popular concessions and games such as Skee Ball.

The rides are all fully operational on a small scale – but not too small. The Sky Wheel, for example, is nearly 5 feet tall at 56 inches.

The miniature carnival started in 1953, when the late Albion resident Harold Hudson started building miniature midway rides in the basement of his home on Caroline Street. The display eventually filled two garages from front to back and Hudson welcomed the community to see them.

Hudson used ordinary materials found around his house, plus his creative ingenuity to make the rides. He hand-built many of the rides just as they were being introduced by ride manufacturers to carnivals across the United States.

Charlie Zicari was a boy when he saw “Hudson’s Exposition Shows.” Zicari was hooked. He became friends with Hudson and started building rides and helping him with the set up. When Hudson died in 1989, he left his miniature carnival to Zicari.

The display inside the trailer includes a skyscape, giving the mini carnival a planetarium feel.

Zicari has built many of his own rides, including more recent additions to carnivals.

The Zicari brothers and Pahura set up the mini midway at the former Erie Canal Schoolhouse Bed & Breakfast in Albion a few years ago. That was the first time the public had seen the rides in many years.

The bed and breakfast has since closed. The Zicaris and Pahura worked on a home for the attraction: the long trailer that needs to be moved by a semi truck.

The Zicaris and Pahura have strengthened some of Hudson’s creations to make them sturdy for trips to fairs and other festivals. The rides have been painted with five to six coats of a reflective paint to make them better illuminate in the black light.