Photo by Tom Rivers: Christ Church at 26 South Main St. in Albion will be a designated warming center when temperatures drop below freezing.

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

ALBION – Oak Orchard Health is pleased to be a part of a community collaboration that addresses the needs of people without housing when the temperature is below 32 degrees (referred to as “Code Blue”).

This collaboration resulted in the opening of the Orleans County Warming Center at Christ Church, 26 S. Main Street, Albion. If an individual needs evening shelter during Code Blue, they can call (585) 895-4090 and they will be provided with a warm place to stay at Christ Church.

During the daytime, people can keep warm at the Hoag Library, 134 S. Main Street in Albion. Their hours of operation are Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. When they are not open, the Orleans County Warming Center is available for shelter when needed.

“After several years of planning, our vision of a local warming center has become a reality,” said Holli Nenni, commissioner of the Orleans County Department of Social Services. “This was made possible through the collaboration of many community partners whose goal is to ensure that no one is left without protection from harsh winter weather conditions.”

New York State mandates that if the weather gets below 32 degrees, it’s considered “Code Blue” and the community needs to provide shelter.

“Oak Orchard Health is pleased to be a part of this collaboration and to take the lead on the administration of the Warming Center,” said Karen Kinter, CEO at Oak Orchard Health. “We are responsible for staffing and coordinating the opening of this valuable asset to the region.”

In addition to shelter, hot beverages and on-site food will be available.

“This represents an amazing community collaboration,” said Nyla Gaylord, executive director of United Way of Orleans County. “The United Way of Orleans County was happy to convene the community collaborative to discuss this issue.  We want to thank all the local partners that made this a reality. A special thanks to Oak Orchard Health and Karen Kinter for taking the lead role and establishing the administrative framework for this program.”

In addition to Oak Orchard Health and the Orleans County Department of Social Services, Gaylord said the community partners include Community Action of Orleans and Genesee County, Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, Christ Church, Medina Area Association of Churches, Independent Living of the Genesee Region, and the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: A new project at Community Action’s Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More store is a Wishing Tree, set up at the back of the store. Customers and community members are invited to make out a wish and hang it on the tree for others to see and grant the wish.

ALBION – Community Action’s Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More store has come up with a creative idea to help people at Christmas time.

Store manager Cassie Healy has announced the addition of a Wishing Tree, which is on display in a homey setting at the back of the store. The Wishing Tree will be available during the entire month of December.

“This is the first time we are doing this, but during the time I have been the manager here at the store, I have met so many great people in our community,” Healy said. “I think the Wishing Tree is a fantastic way to bring the community together during this holiday season and foster a sense of generosity and kindness toward each other.”

Customers and community members are invited to come into the front register at the store and ask to fill out a wish. Their anonymous wish ticket will be hung on the tree, where other members of the community can see it. If someone sees a wish they are willing to grant, they remove the wish and inform a store associate, who will tell them the process for granting the wish.

Once the wish is granted, the store will contact the individual to come in and pick up the gift.

For those who would like to help, but do not see a wish they can grant, the store has coupons at the front register which can be purchased. These coupons will be hung on the tree for those in need to choose. These coupons can be redeemed for socks, hats, gloves, winter jackets in the store or for money toward gifts or clothing they may need.

In addition to the Wishing Tree, the store will have cookies with Santa and a craft for children at noon on Dec. 16.

Photos and information courtesy of Susan Starkweather Miller

ALBION – Oliver Smith, left, and his brother Lucas performed “Joy to the World” on Sunday during the the annual Christmas in the Neighborhood holiday concert. This year’s theme was “Merry & Bright.”

The First Presbyterian Church hosted the concert that was attended by more than 200 people.

The concert is coordinated by the Albion High School Alumni Foundation and the First Presbyterian Church. It spotlights talented Albion alumni and community members.

Pastor Sue Thaine welcomed attendees and encouraged them to enjoy the exceptional and unique level of musical talent in the Albion community.

Steve Hicks, Alumni Foundation President, thanked the audience and donors for sponsoring the annual community event.

Bradeen Walders Erakare and her husband Sebastian Erakare sing “Christmas Valentine.” They also performed “Sankta Lucia” with Clarisonus Ensemble that also included Marrit Vaga and Darryl Smith.

The Community Christmas Choir performed “Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah.

Albion High School Clarinet Choir directed by Mike Thaine performed “Wonderful Christmas Time.”

Men’s Christmas Choir sang “Deck the Halls”

(Left) Elliott Michki sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” while accompanied by Gary Simboli. (Right) Mike Grammatico and his grandson Nate Grammatico performed a saxophone duet “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

From left include Kailey Winans who sang “White Christmas”; Alec Sherman who sang “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm”; and Erin Moody who sang “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”

From left include Ron Albertson who performed “Wasn’t His Child”; Gwen Ferchen who sang “The Manger”; and Lonnie Froman who sang “Please Come Home for Christmas.”

The Albion Presbyterian Choir sang “Christmas is Coming.”

Some other performers included Gary and Jim Simboli who sang “Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth”; Denise Thomas who performed a piano solo to “Away in a Manger”; the Albion High School Select Choir which sang “Snow”; Gary Simboli who sang “Christmas Vacation Theme Song”; and Sarah Hill who sang “Love is Christmas.”

More than 200 people attended the concert at the First Presbyterian Church.

Every year the Alumni Foundation gives scholarships to graduating seniors during Class Night.  In 2023 the Foundation handed out $140,000 in scholarships.  In 2024 the Foundation will distribute over $160,000.  This is made possible by the generosity of the Albion community.

If you are interested in learning more about the Albion Alumni Foundation or how to create a scholarship, please contact Steve Hicks at steve@albionalumni.org.

Local churches and organizations welcome to receive a share of the food

File photo by Tom Rivers: Albion FFA members unload a tractor trailer in the food drive in December 2017. The FFA has been organizing, collecting and delivering the food to Community Action since 2010.

Press Release, Community Action of Genesee & Orleans

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee would like to invite all churches, non-profit organizations and licensed daycares in Orleans County to a large food donation this weekend.

Students and staff from the Albion High School FFA will be delivering more than 25,000 pounds of perishable food to Community Action at 9 a.m. on Saturday. In the past, this has included items such as milk, eggs, potatoes, apples, tomatoes, corn, green beans, cabbage and squash.

Any church, non-profit organization or licensed daycare in Orleans County that could benefit is welcome to send one or two representatives to collect a share of this generous donation. Please note, this event is not open to the public.

To register, or for additional information, please call (585) 589-5605.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – One of the four floor beams on the Main Street lift bridge is put back this morning by employees with BVR Construction Company in Churchville.

Clark Rigging & Rental has a big crane with a 400-ton capacity in Albion today, putting trusses and beams back in place on the bridge.

This screen shot from a live feed of the bridge construction is from just after 10 a.m. this morning, showing the second of the two trusses being lifted back on the bridge.

The 53,000-pound trusses were removed on Jan. 27 by Clark Rigging & Rental.

BVR Construction Company put new steel in most of the 115-foot-long trusses. Only the top beam on the trusses remains from the original 1914 bridge.

Provided photos: The trusses are lifted back over the Erie Canal. The trusses were set on the north side of the canal on Jan. 27 for a major rehab.

The four floor beams await to be put on the bridge after the two trusses were put back.

BVR and Crane-Hogan Structural Systems in Spencerport, the general contractor on the project, will continue working on the bridge in the coming. It is scheduled to reopen in the spring.

It is part of a $28.3 million overhaul of the Main Street lift bridges in both Albion and Brockport.

Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION — Nine students from Charles D’Amico High School competed in The American Legion Oratorical Contest on Thursday.

Sponsored by the American Legion Sheret Post #35, contestants participate in the annual contest by writing and presenting an eight to 10-minute speech on a section of the Constitution that interests them.

The participants include Brody Hafner, Matthew Kania, Lucy Rivers, Zack Baron, Jackie Santiago Garcia, Jordan Wright, Aubrey Gannon, Samantha Dobo and Kelli Dingle.

Baron won first place, Rivers was second and Gannon, third. Baron and Rivers advance to the county competition.

Participants are pictured with contest judge and past American Legion Auxiliary President Janet Tanner, contest judge and Legion Auxiliary President Pam Taylor, and local contest organizer and past Commander of American Legion Sheret Post Phil Warne.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Santa squeezed in an hour in his busy schedule this evening to stop by Hoag Library to meet with about 100 people, including Mary Heise of Albion and her granddaughters, Emma Button, 9 months old, and Azaria Poole, 9. Azaria asked Santa for a balance beam.

Hoag Library is usually one of Santa’s early stops locally after the Thanksgiving holiday, before his schedule really gets jampacked in December.

Santa looked very spiffy in red when he came into the main meeting room at the library.

He led the group in some stretches. Santa said he is getting older and a bit “creaky” these days.

Nicholas Bloom, 7, of Albion got to wear a red nose, and Santa gave him some antlers in celebrating his favorite reindeer, Rudolph.

Hadley Oberther, 7, of Medina was picked to ring the bells while the group sang, “Jingle Bells.”

Santa always reads a story when he visits the library. This time he read, “How to Catch Santa Claus,” a story about children setting traps in their house to try to catch Santa. With the help of his elves and reindeer, Santa avoids getting snagged in a trap.

Santa told the kids the library is a great place to visit throughout the year.

John  Santiago, 8, of Albion shares a Christmas request with Santa, who then gave him a candy cane.

Layla Hanna, 4, of Albion had a gift for Santa, a hug.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The lamp post in front of the U.S. Postal Service on Main Street is decorated in a “Peace on Earth” theme. It is one of 38 that will be decorated this holiday season.

A group seeking to “Bring Christmas Back to Albion” presented the idea about two weeks ago and the poles were quickly adopted by businesses, families and organizations.

Sandra Flugel and her granddaughters decorated this pole with a “Believe” theme on Main Street in front of the Lyceum for the Holy Family Parish.

The group includes, from left: Alayna, Autumn, Sandra and Liana Flugel.

This lamp post is decorated in front of Christ Church on Main Street with the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in the background.

There are 41 of the lamp posts. Three won’t be decorated: one in the bridge construction zone and two others on the north side of the canal.

“It’s been great,” said Maureen Bennett, who has headed up the lamp post decorations. “People are very enthusiastic about bringing Christmas back to Albion. It’s become quite the family thing, and also for three Girl Scout troops and some of the business owners.”

Bennett is decorating a pole by the parking lot near the Presbyterian Church with a Christmas tree theme.

There are 10 Christmas trees that will be decorated on the Courthouse lawn. This group from the Albion Free Methodist Church (Community of Hope) decorates a tree on Sunday afternoon. They include, from left, Bob Butler, Brenda Bierdeman, Rose Butler and the Butlers’ granddaughter, Krystal.

The church created ornaments about things they are thankful for, part of the church’s focus on gratitude during the Christmas season.

Lori Laine is pushing the some of the holiday projects in the “Bringing Christmas Back to Albion” group. She is pleased to see local residents responded to the ideas and turning them into reality.

“The community is doing it all,” she said. “It’s fantastic. “There are so many more ideas. This is just the start. Hopefully by next year it will be bigger and better.”

The group meets today at 7 p.m. at Hoag Library.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Firefighters sprayed water on the smoldering ruins at Frank’s Auto Center today after a morning fire caused extensive damage to the business that was started by Frank Strasburger in 1980.

No one was in the building at 14040 Route 31 when the fire broke out at 8 a.m. Orleans County fire investigators haven’t determined a cause of the fire yet, said Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham.

There were still hot spots after the fire was largely put out late this morning in Albion at Frank’s Auto.

Firefighters were dispatched to another fire in Albion at 11:14 a.m. at 312-314 West Park St., a house owned by Vickie Golisano. Two residents there were momentarily trapped but were able to safely get out.

Graham said the cause of that fire also remains under investigation.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A firefighter climbs a ladder and breaks a window to ventilate a house filled with smoke at 312-314 West Park St.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 11:14 a.m. Many firefighters were already busy at the scene of Frank’s Auto on Route 31 where a fire started at 8 a.m.

Murray Joint Fire District firefighters were at the Albion fire station as backup and were first on the scene at the West Park Street location.

Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham said a room and contents caught on fire upstairs. Firefighters were chasing fires in the walls.

Graham said there are more than 100 firefighters in Albion today working at the two scenes. He said it’s been many years since the Albion FD had back-to-back calls for structure fires.

The property at West Park Street has two apartments and is owned by Vickie Golisano. She lives there with Greg Moore. They have been remodeling the other side of the house. Moore said they spent about $20,000 upgrading the other apartment.

They were able to get safely outside with a dog. The Red Cross has been called to assist them.

Shelby firefighters used the Murray ladder truck to get to the roof. They used a chain saw and ax to cut into the roof so the attic could be ventilated.

Frank Strasburger has owned business at Route 31 location since 1980

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A huge fire spewing dark smoke at Frank’s Auto broke out at about 8 a.m. today at 14040 Route 31.

Frank Strasburger has owned the business repairing cars and selling used vehicles since 1980.

He said no one was in the building at the time of the fire.

Two people in a neighboring residence were evacuated from their home. The dark smoke didn’t seem to be having an impact on the two state prisons or The Villages of Orleans nursing home. No one there needed to be evacuated.

Many fire departments joined Albion in battling the blaze. It did not spread to the Root Brothers cabbage facility next door.

Fire investigators are on the scene. No cause has been determined yet.

The fire has closed a section of Route 31 from King Street to Gaines Basin Road.

Photo courtesy of Jackie Dunham: Community Action’s new CFO Tina Schleede, standing, confers with executive director Renee Hungerford, during her first week on the job.

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is ready to kick off the holiday season with expectations of a busy schedule and announcement of a new chief financial officer.

Tina Schleede assumed the new position last week, after the former CFO left unexpectedly, according to Renee Hungerford, executive director of CAOG.

“Tina is very invested in the community and a great fit for our agency,” Hungerford said.

Schleede is an Orleans County native, born in Albion, raised in Lyndonville and living in Waterport with husband Scott. They have three children.

She is a graduate of RIT with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Previously she has been manager of Brown’s Berry Patch, an employee of CRFS for 15 years, general manager of Bald Eagle and Lure’s Restaurant during the pandemic and lastly, employed at Harris Seed.

“After 30 years in the corporate world, I decided to give non-profits a go,” Schleede said. “I’m hoping to make a difference, not just make a living.”

Schleede is familiar with Community Action, having done volunteer work there with her Girl Scout troop.

“I saw the job posted and thought this was a chance to work with a strong team of women,” Schleede said. “How could I resist.”

Schleede and Hungerford said they have exciting things in the works, including a whole new accounting system.

“We are trying to be more effective and efficient,” Hungerford said. “We are putting controls in place to make sure our resources go toward the greatest need.”

With the holidays approaching, Community Action is anticipating one of the busiest seasons ever. They distributed about 150 Thanksgiving meals. Food boxes contained turkey, potatoes, apples, carrots, squash, green beans, corn, eggs, stuffing, gravy, butter, cranberry sauce, Chex mix and brownie mix, according to Jeanette Worsley, case manager and health coach.

“Since Covid, the need for food is unprecedented,” Hungerford said. “Our outdoor refrigerators are in high demand.

Community Action maintains refrigerators at their main building on East State Street and the Main Street Corner Thrift, Gifts and More store on Main Street and at the headquarters on Clinton Street Road in Batavia. They are filled with foods such as fresh produce, milk and snacks.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The kitchen inside the Harvest Christian Fellowship church was busy this afternoon when 630 Thanksgiving meals were served at the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen. Pictured from left include Mary Delamarter and Rick Huntington of Harvest Christian Fellowship, and Javonnie & Melisa Canales of the Oasis Church in Medina.

Faith Smith, leader of the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen, is thrilled to have more than 30 volunteers helping to serve the Thanksgiving meals for free today. The 630 that were served today is up from the 350 a year ago on Thanksgiving.

Smith personally delivered 85 meals to senior citizens and other people in the community.

“Nobody should have to be alone or go hungry,” Smith said.

Another church in Albion, the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, served about 200 Thanksgiving meals from Renovation Masonic Lodge. That is up from 182 a year ago.

The meals were all available at no charge.

The Risen Café prepared the desserts – apple and pumpkin cake at Harvest Christian Fellowship. A line of volunteers is ready to serve the meals which were available to eat-in, for take-out or to have delivered.

Matt and Sharon Sugar of Harvest Christian Fellowship have to-go bags ready with Thanksgiving meals.

There were 40 turkeys cooked for today’s meals at the OK Kitchen.

Debbie Coon serves coffee to Janice Callahan of Albion. Callahan said she appreciated the church welcoming so many from the community for Thanksgiving.

“There’s a lot of good people here,” Callahan said. “They are very loving. We are all friends here.”

Mark Hartleden said he has been coming to the kitchen for about a decade.

“It’s delicious, it’s stupendous,” he said. “They are bringing people together.”

Alicia Rich and Debbie Thies work together in the kitchen.

Photos and information courtesy of Albion Central School:

ALBION – Albion Middle and High School students have made 50 ponchos and over 100 seatbelt covers for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Pluta Cancer Center this fall.

This is the second year Mrs. Shari Berg and Mrs. Kathy Winans’ classes have created ponchos and seatbelt covers for patients. According to Berg, the project was inspired by Kim Toombs, a substitute teacher in the district who makes and donates these items year-round.

Dejeanna C., a high schooler in Mrs. Winans’ class, said that making the seatbelt coverings is her favorite part “because it is soft and [she] likes the fabric.”

As a cancer survivor, Toombs said that, when she went through treatment, having something like a poncho or seatbelt cover to help keep her comfortable helped a lot.

“Some patients have ports for their treatment,” Toombs explained. “The seatbelt coverings help make riding in the car more comfortable.”

Since January 2023, she has made 360 ponchos for patients, not including the ponchos she helped ACS students make.

“I keep track of the number of ponchos I make each year and it’s more than I’ve done in the past,” Toombs said. “The sad reality is that, while I am increasing the number of ponchos I am making this year, the [Pluta Cancer] center told me the average age of patients receiving treatment is declining.”

According to Toombs, on average, more than one person starts treatment at the Pluta Cancer Center per day.

All of the funds for the fabric and materials for the projects was provided by the staff members at Albion Middle School. Each Friday, staff members donate to a cause in order to “dress down.” This fall, members chose to donate to Mrs. Berg’s and Mrs. Winans’ students and help make a difference in the greater Albion community.

Originally, the goal was for students to make 31 ponchos. With at least one new patient receiving treatment daily, on average, that would cover one month of patients at the center.

“I love doing this [making a difference],” Kayla S. said. “Cutting out [the pattern] is fun and easy. I’m good at it and it’s easy to help.”

The students are still working to finish the seatbelt coverings and have plans to use “literally every scrap of material from this project to give back to others,” according to Berg.

“The scraps of fabric have been saved and we have been connected to a lady who uses the scraps to make dog beds that she donates to local shelters,” Berg explained. “We will be using the bigger scraps to make dog toys for Paws Animal Shelter!”

The best part, according to Emily L., a student in Mrs. Berg’s class, has been “working with [her] friends and helping others by making them comfortable.”