ALBION – The Village of Albion Water Plant expects to start adding fluoride to the public water supply in February after about a 2 ½-year hiatus.

The village hasn’t added fluoride to the water since the summer of 2021. The village kept fluoridation chemicals in the water plant, but plant chief operator Adam Rush said it was a subpar setup.

The village will soon have a new 14-by-14-foot concrete building ready that will be used to store the fluoride. Keeler Construction was general contractor for that project which is nearly done. Rush told the Village Board on Wednesday there are a few “punch list” items to finish.

Keeler Construction submitted the low bid of $388,000 for the project, which included structural, architectural, mechanical (HVAC and plumbing) and electrical components and systems.

The building was funded with a $312,000 grant from the state Department of Health, with the other $76,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Rush wanted the fluoridation chemicals to be in a separate space and not in the water plant. The space in the water plant where the fluoride was kept is now used for the biomass heating system including a pellet boiler.

The American Dental Association backs having fluoride in water because fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by rebuild and strengthening the tooth’s surface or enamel.

The village water plant produces about 1.5 millions gallons of water of day, mostly for the central Orleans towns of Carlton, Gaines, Albion and Barre, as well as the village of Albion.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kyle Gill, left, is shown this afternoon with his daughter Rylee and Kyle’s dad, Ray Gill, during a benefit for Kyle at Dubby’s Tailgate. More than 100 gift baskets, and many larger items were up for raffle.

Kyle, 35, is fighting stage 2 stomach cancer. He has surgery scheduled for Jan. 17 to remove most of his stomach.

Gill is the assistant store manager at Ace Hardware in Albion. He hasn’t been in the store working since July due to his illness and chemotherapy. He is down about 100 pounds and the chemo caused him to lose his distinctive beard.

He said he was grateful to see so many people turn out today, especially the many customers who he used to see so frequently in the store.

These bracelets were available to help Kyle Gill with the costs of his medical care.

Kyle started working for Jerry Ulrich at the Ace Hardware in Lockport when Kyle was 15. He has been in the Albion store the past 15 years, often in the plumbing section, mixing paint and in the back doing window repairs.

Kyle said he wasn’t feeling well back in May, and then was a diagnosed with an ulcer. That ulcer ultimately led to the cancer being detected. Gill said that ulcer likely saved his life and allowed him to get treatment and shrink the cancer.

The Ace Hardware team at today’s benefit includes, front row, from left: Vinnie Tarricone, Lisa Beam, Kyle Gill, Mark Luft, Jed Standish and Jessica Fox. Back row: Bryan Vagg, Hanna Vagg, Lindsy Yeager, Pete Pilon, Molly Jones, Jerry Ulrich, Stew Walck, Jessica Pilon and Renee Colonna.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There are 87 two-person teams playing cornhole in Albion today at Dubby’s Tailgate with $5,250 in prizes up for grabs, including $1,500 to the top team.

The “Cornhole Throwdown” is run by the Medina Rotary Club, and expects to raise about $3,000 for the club, said Peter Bartula, the club president and a cornhole enthusiast.

Troy Kingdollar, right, of Holley takes a warmup throw in the double-elimination part of today’s tournament. His partner is Mike Beach of Albion. The two are among the top players locally. After four games in today’s tournament they were in the C division, the bottom third of the teams.

Beach helped organize todays tournament and noted five professional cornhole players were in the tournament, and other top talent from western and central New York.

Kingdollar welcomes the chance for friendly competition.

“It’s fun,” he said. “It’s socializing with other people. There aren’t any fights.”

Joel Zawistowski of South Buffalo is next to Kingdollar at left. Many of the out-of-town teams heard about the tournament on the Scoreholio app that is used to run corn hole tournaments and leagues.

Zawistowski said he is impressed with the cavernous setup at Dubby’s Tailgate, a warehouse with 10,000 square feet of space. He said it’s much bigger than most of the indoor venues he’s been at for cornhole.

Mike Borelli of the Corny Fellows from Hilton thanked the cornhole players for coming out to Albion for the tournament today. Borelli said he is planning a tournament on March 9 to benefit his brother who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.

Borelli said the cornhole community rallies to support people in need.

The cornhole players enjoyed other games and refreshments at Dubby’s when they weren’t playing.

Brian and Rebecca Alexander opened Dubby’s Tailgate about two years ago. Today was the biggest cornhole tournament they have hosted.

Dubby’s has a regular Wednesday evening league for cornhole players. Bartula plays in that league. He said the success of today’s event will likely lead to three or four cornhole tournaments run by local Rotary clubs during the year.

Brian Alexander said the Dubby’s facility impressed the players from out of area and he is hopeful the site can host more regional tournaments in the future. The players liked the space, and having the option for food and beverages from the restaurant at Dubby’s.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A new 25-bed women and children community residence is taking shape on Butts Road. This will be the first residential program for women and their children for UConnectCare, formerly known as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

Contractors started clearing land, removing trees and brush, back in July. The site will allow women, 18 and older, to receive services to aid in their recovery while in a residential setting. Five of the 25 units will accommodate women with children younger than kindergarten. Up to two children can stay in those units. The property will include walking trails and a playground

The project was awarded a $4.6 million grant from the state Department of Health for construction of the residence, which will total $5.2 million.

UConnectCare has seen more women in recovery and addiction programs during the opioid epidemic, with the prevalence of addictive painkillers, John Bennett, UConnectCare executive director, said during a public hearing about the project on Aug. 3, 2022.

The agency expects new women and children’s residence in Albion to be ready in October 2024.

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer

ALBION – The historic marker about immigrants who worked in the Medina Sandstone quarries has a new coat of paint. The marker is next to the First Presbyterian Church of Albion on Main Street.

The immigrants came from Poland, England, Italy and Ireland to work in the quarries. The church with its 175-foot-high steeple is one of the most prominent examples of their work, according to the historic marker.

Some Albion eighth-graders teamed with Melissa Ierlan with giving the marker a facelift. This photo shows students in a social studies enrichment class – Jessie Moore, Monica Thomas and Alayna Flugel – with Ierlan. This is the 37th historical marker that Ierlan has scraped and repainted.

David Buczek works as a supervisor for National Grid

ALBION – There is a new trustee on the Albion Village Board, and he said he is committed to working for the good of the community.

David Buczek

David Buczek, 33, is a supervisor for National Grid, part of a team based in Albion that serves an area between Lockport and Spencerport, from Lake Ontario to Elba. He was promoted to supervisor after working as a lineman.

Buczek will finish out the final four months of Zack Burgess’s term. Burgess resigned in October after moving out of the village. That term ends March 31. Buczek said he plans to run for election in March for a full four-year term. He is a registered Democrat and will seek the backing of the Democratic and Republican parties, as well as support from independent voters.

“I’m an upbeat and positive person who will work with both sides of the fence,” he said Wednesday evening after attending his first Village Board meeting as trustee. “We need to find common ground at a time when our politics is so divided.”

Buczek said he sent an email to Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley a couple months ago, expressing his interest to be more involved in the community. They interviewed him and he was appointed by the mayor to fill the vacancy.

Buczek, a Lackawanna native, moved to North Main Street in Albion about two years ago. He sees a lot of potential for the village to attract businesses that would prosper, providing good-paying and reliable jobs.

“Albion is a prime location between Medina and Brockport (east and west) and Batavia and Waterport (north and south),” Buczek said. “As a central hub for these locations, an emphasis should be placed on building the infrastructure for businesses and making it easier for them to establish locations here in Albion.”

Main Street also needs beautification and emphasis to fill store fronts. Buczek said he would work with community leaders and the business community on different events and village traditions in the downtown area, and a plan to better utilize the Main Street buildings.

A third goal for Buczek is ensuring the village workforce receives regular training and has the needed technology to help reduce costs and save energy.

“It is my overall goal to bring a positive change to the community and to give a voice to locals within our government,” he said. “I will work with our government employees and the community to continue to drive change for the future of Albion.”

Buczek wanted a career that would require both working with his hands and critical thinking. He earned a certification in energy utility technology from Erie Community College and overhead climbing. He is nearly done with his master’s degree at Buffalo State University in Multidisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Energy Utility Management. He also became certified in project management from Cornell University. He earlier earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Buffalo State.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A fire in the living room of a house at 450 East State St. caused smoke damage to the home.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 11:34 p.m. Collin Aquina, the owner of the house, had just returned from working the second shift. He came home to a house with lots of smoke.

Aquina, 22, just bought the house in October.

Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham said firefighters were able to knock the fire down quickly and keep it from spreading. Graham said there is a lot of smoke damage. The photo shows fans in the doorways and open windows to try to ventilate the building.

Albion code enforcement officer Chris Kinter was on the scene at about 12:30 a.m. to assess the condition of the house.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Olivia and Omar Peterson hug after not seeing each other in nearly a year since he left to begin a four-year commitment with the Marine Corps. Their grandparents, Eddie and Rose English, are in back.

ALBION – Olivia Peterson was called down to the high school office at 2 p.m. today. It was the last day of school before Christmas break.

Olivia, a freshman at Charles D’Amico High School in Albion, made the trek through the hallways and down the stairs.

When she was near the office, she caught a glimpse of a familiar person outside. She took off running and bolted outside to hug her brother.

Omar Peterson, 21, has been gone since February. He was first at the Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island in South Carolina. Since boot camp he has been stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego in California. The private first class is a data administrator.

Olivia has missed her brother in the 10 months he has been gone. She sends him text messages throughout the day, and he stays in touch, and tries to pump her up with encouraging words.

“She is my only sister and she is my best friend,” Omar said. “I text her every day.”

Olivia and Omar Peterson are looking forward to the holidays. Omar is on leave until just after New Year’s Day.

The two have been through a lot together. They cared for their late mother Angela while she battled cancer. She passed away from cancer on Oct. 19, 2020.

Omar said he is proud of his sister for keeping good grades. When he was at Albion, he was the goalie for the soccer team and a swimmer.

“She is way smarter than I was in school,” Omar said.

“Except for science,” Olivia interjects.

Olivia said she had a feeling her brother might be coming home for the holidays. She saw some clues in his text messages.

She is glad he stopped by the school instead of waiting until she got home.

Omar said the Marine Corps has been a great fit for him.

“I’m loving it,” he said. “I’ve grown up a lot.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Elliott Michki, the high school chorus teacher at Albion, directs the Select Choir in singing “Jingle Bells” today at the Albion Walmart.

The choir and the brass ensemble stopped at several stores, the Hoag Library and downtown area on its annual caroling day, the last day of school before Christmas break.

The brass ensemble, led by high school band teacher Mike Thaine, performs “O Come All Ye Faithful” in one of the Albion entrance ways.

The students added some merry music to Walmart at about 10:20 this morning. They made several stops in the Albion community.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Karen Kinter, CEO of Oak Orchard Health, speaks during a celebration for a new warming center at Christ Church, an Episcopal congregation at 26 S. Main St., Albion.

The site has cots, coffee, tea, soup and hygiene kits when the temperature drops below 32 degrees at night.

Oak Orchard Health is taking the lead on the warming center, in a collaboration with other churches, organizations and the county Department of Social Services.

Kinter noted Oak Orchard provides medical, dental and behavioral health services, and pushed to have the warming center for people in a housing crisis because of the impact on their health.

Hoag Library in Albion is a designated warming center from Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The site at Christ Church will open when needed during the hours when Hoag is not open.

For information on the warming center, call (585) 895-4090.

Julie Carasone, warming center coordinator, is in a room at Christ Church with cots, meals ready to eat, hygiene kits and other supplies. She praised religious organizations and non-profits for donating the materials to get the warming center going.

A state grant also is helping to cover the cost of per diem staff. David Starkweather will be the supervisor and will have two other paid staff. At least one will stay overnight when the center is open. It had a person stay overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday nights so far this week.

“We saw a need in unhoused people who needed a place to stay,” Carasone said. “We are officially open and people are welcome here. We do it without judgement. We accept people with open arms.”

The staff doesn’t pry into why people are in a predicament without housing. Carasone said Oak Orchard and the collaboration of others just want to make sure people are not out in the cold.

The Rev. Joseph Kozlowski, the Episcopal priest in charge at Christ Church and also St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Holley, offered a blessing during the official opening. He prayed for those who will take shelter at the warming center and those providing hospitality.

Kozlowski said the church leadership embraced making space available for the warming center. It is in the fellowship hall which for many years was the community kitchen until about two years ago.

“We have the space,” said Kevin Doherty, one of Christ Church’s leaders. “It is God-given space so we should use it for something good.”

Oak Orchard is providing the staff for the warming center, as well as the insurance.

This group, led by Karen Kinter, cuts the ribbon on the new warming center. There are representatives from Oak Orchard Health, the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, United Way of Orleans County, Orleans County government leaders, the Medina Area Association of Churches, Christ Church, Hoag Library, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and a representative from State Sen. Rob Ortt.

Holli Nenni, commissioner of the Orleans County Department of Social Services, said more than 100 people are currently in emergency housing, often in hotel rooms locally or in nearby counties. The warming center is another option for people without a place to stay.

Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, presented certificates of achievement of Oak Orchard Health and Christ Church for their efforts in opening the warming center.

Johnson noted the county has been in a state of emergency for several months due to the rising number of people in emergency housing.

“We have never in the history of Orleans County had as many homeless as we do now,” she said. “The need is great and they (Oak Orchard Health and Christ Church) rose to the occasion.”

Nyla Gaylord, executive director of the United Way of Orleans County, helped bring the different organizations together to work on the warming center, which she said is part of a bigger overall housing crisis in the county.

A shortage of stable housing has negative health impacts for many in the community, she said.

The United Way convened the first housing meeting in February, and a warming center was among the issues. Gaylord said the United Way just secured a grant to hire a consultant to help develop a plan for more housing in general, as well as emergency and low-income options.

That consultant will gather input from developers, agencies, and local government officials.

Gaylord praised the faith community, government leaders, and non-profit agencies for making the warming center a reality.

“This is a triumph of the community collectively,” she said. “And we’re going to do so much more.”