Largest crowd in about a century fills the third floor of historic venue in Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Musicians performed at the Pratt Opera House to a full house for the first time in likely a century on Sunday.

There were 22 musicians on stage in the “Live at the Pratt” event in an opera house built in 1882 at 118 North Main St.

Erin Moody closes out a 2 1/2-hour show with “American Pie” by Don McLean. Moody and 21 other musicians played to a capacity crowd.

The 300 people at the performance on Sunday was biggest crowd to attend an event at the Pratt since at least 1930, when the theater closed, a victim of the Great Depression and emergence of movie theaters. The Pratt building was built in 1882.

Michael Bonafede, co-owner of the Pratt with his wife Judith Koehler, welcomes the crowd to Sunday’s performance. Bonafede also played the drums for more than two hours on Sunday.

The husband and wife purchased the Pratt and Day building in 2005. They have put on a new roof and made a series of other interior and exterior improvements to the building, which has several tenants on the first and second floors.

Just in the past few weeks they added 235 chairs that they bought at an auction from Holley Central School, and last week purchased 43 sets of double-auditorium chairs from Wells College. Those seats date back to the 1800s, Koehler said.

The Pratt was sold out on Sunday for the concert in the historic opera house. This photo shows people waiting to enter the building on Main Street.

There was a concert last June in a “test run” to see how the musicians liked the acoustics. They loved them and most of that group was back performing on Sunday, offering their services for free.

“It’s a nice place to play,” said trumpeter Brian Wilkins. “The acoustics are great.”

Bonafede said the Pratt performance venue can be used to promote Albion and the many other historic resources in the community, form the downtown business district, Courthouse Square, Mount Albion Cemetery, Cobblestone Museum and Erie Canal – all of which are either on the National Register of Historic Places. (The Erie Canal and Cobblestone Museum also are designated National Historic Landmarks.)

“We want to create a sense of vibrancy here,” Bonafede said. “We have a lot of unique assets to offer folks.”

The musicians played rhythm and blues, and many rock and roll classics.

From left in front include Brian Wilkins on trumpet, Michael Bonafede on drums, John Borello on Stratocaster guitar and Rich Simbari on Fender P bass guitar.

Bonafede also played with two of his bandmates from Black Sheep. Larry (Rose) Crozier played the piano and Don Mancuso is on the guitar.

Black Sheep, with also included legendary lead singer Lou Gramm before he went to Foreigner. Black Sheep broke up in 1976. But before that they performed in front of tens of thousands of people.

Black Sheep recorded two albums for Capital Records and shared the stage with Kiss, Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon, and Hall and Oates.

Ron Albertson gets a turn at the mic and sings, “Shake.”

Don Mancuso, a Rochester guitar legend, welcomed the chance to perform in Albion on Sunday with his Black Sheep band mate Michael Bonafede.

The Pratt is working on hosting another concert on June 23.

Provided photo: A student from the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia models the prom dress she chose Wednesday from the selection provided by Community Action. Similar sessions are scheduled for any teen in the area on Tuesday at the Main Street store and on April 25 for Albion students at Albion High School.

ALBION – Soon after taking over as manager of Community Action’s Main Street Thrifts, Gifts and More Store last year, Cassie Healy got the idea to collect prom dresses and give them away free to students who couldn’t otherwise afford one.

The program was so successful, Healy wants to make it an annual event.

“Last year we were able to provide many dresses to girls who were unable to get one,” Healy said. “I remember one girl in particular last year who was able to get a dress, shoes, accessories and have her makeup and hair done through us. She told me she had won tickets to her prom but due to her family’s financial situation she did not think she would be able to go. She expressed her appreciation many times and was very excited she would be able to experience her prom.”

She also sent the store some photos of her prom with her friends.

“This is truly one of those ‘This is why I do this’ moments,” Healy said.

This year Healy hopes to reach out to more students, including any in surrounding counties. On Wednesday, she and her helpers took dresses to the New York State School for the Blind for girls to choose from. Eighteen found a dress they could wear to their prom, Healy said.

On April 16 at the Main Street store, Healy expects to have several hundred dresses, suits, makeup and other accessories available for students to choose from, regardless of where they go to school, even outside Orleans County.

There will also be a drawing for free prom tickets, thanks to the Ministry of Concern, who has set out jars for “Pennies for Prom” in local shops. Julia Alt, development director for Hospice, will be on hand to provide students with tips on how to do their makeup on prom night.

The prom giveaway will be repeated at 1 p.m. on April 25 at Albion High School for Albion students only.

“No student should miss their prom because they can’t afford a dress,” Healy said.

The Main Street Thrifts, Gifts and More store is always accepting dresses, suits, shoes, makeup, hair supplies and other accessories for these events. Healy encourages the community to check their closets for prom-appropriate attire and accessories and bring them to the store to help these youth make lasting memories.

For more information, stop in or call the Main Street store at (585) 589-1430.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Cassie Healy, manager of Community Action’s Main Street Thrifts, Gifts and More Store in Albion shows off some of the prom dresses which were available last year during the first free prom giveaway. The store is again offering free prom dresses and accessories to teens who can’t afford them.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion Village Trustee Tim McMurray presents a “Community Service Award” to Faith Smith at Wednesday’s board meeting for her efforts leading the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen.

Smith has built many partnerships in the community to serve several hundred meals each week from the kitchen at the Harvest Christian Fellowship church on Route 31.

The past six weeks the kitchen has averaged about 600 meals each week. The kitchen serves dine-in and take-outs on Thursdays at the church, and also has meals for people over the weekend.

“These aren’t peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” McMurray said. “These are meals.”

Smith said many volunteers, including her husband Mike, are key contributors in the OK Kitchen serving so many people each week.

“I don’t do this for any recognition,” she said. “It’s because the community needs it.”

The Albion Village Board and employees have twice helped serve meals from the kitchen. Smith said more community organizations are always welcome to help prepare and serve food, or make donations.

Smith is the second village resident to receive a Community Service Award. The board is trying to do them quarterly. Susan Oschmann was the first recipient for her efforts spearheading new basketball courts at Bullard Park.

Board doesn’t see many options to whittle down tax rate

ALBION – The Albion Village Board is close to finalizing the village budget for 2024-25, a spending plan that will surely raise taxes.

As it stands, the $8,194,537 budget would increase taxes by 6.83 percent — raising the tax levy from $2,923,473 in 2023-24 to $3,123,167. The tax rate would go from $19.13 per $1,000 of assessed property to $20.43 with the budget that was presented during a public hearing on Wednesday evening.

Board members said they have been over the budget in detail for about two months, working with department heads. Board members don’t see options to bring the taxes down significantly.

They could reduce employee raises from 3.0 to 2.5 percent. They could pull another $6,000 from the village’s fund balance. They could also try to invest some village funds that are in accounts but haven’t yet been spent, perhaps securing a few thousand dollars in interest.

None of the moves would provide much relief for taxpayers. The budget will almost certainly be over the village’s allowable tax increase to stay within the tax cap, said Tracy Van Skiver, the village clerk/treasurer. Albion would have to chop about $111,000 to get under the tax cap, she said. (The board can override the tax cap of about a 2 percent increase with a super-majority vote from the board.)

Board members said rising costs for materials and equipment are driving some of the tax increase.

Mayor Angel Javier Jr. would like to try to bring down the tax increase, especially when the village will also be raising water and sewer rates later this year. Village property owners also saw a big increase in their Albion town taxes this year.

“Let’s give them a break because their costs are going up,” Javier said.

Buy Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley asked just where the village should make a cut.

Javier said the rising taxes will be difficult on residents, and may have them asking if it would make sense to dissolve the village government.

“There will be a point when people will say, ‘Let’s not have a village,’” he said.

The total budget is at $8,194,537, up $651,162 from the $7,543,375 in 2022-23. The budget includes $4,702,052 in the general fund ($4,307,602 in 2023-24); $2,068,150 in the water fund ($1,880,984 in 2023-24); and $1,424,335 in the sewer fund ($1,354,788 in 2023-24).

The budget needs to be adopted by April 30. The board could make changes to the budget before then.

Trustee Tim McMurray said the budget is down to “bone marrow” and he doesn’t expect any significant changes in the current numbers.

New trustee William Gabalski said he has been through the budget line item by line item twice. The only way to bring down the costs significantly would be to scale back services, Gabalski said.

“There’s not a lot left to cut unless there are conversations about services delivered,” he said.

Riley and McMurray said the budget represents the costs to run the village. She doesn’t want to tap more into the fund balance, jeopardizing the future for the village. Van Skiver said in recent budgets the village has taken about $250,000 a year from the fund. There is currently about $800,000 in there. The proposed budget would take $255,000 from that fund balance.

Taken too much could drain that fund, and result in an even bigger tax increase in the future, Javier said.

Riley said she would like to go back to department heads and staff to see if there is any more reductions possible.

There is some relief possible on the horizon. The village is discussing a fire protection district with the towns of Albion and Gaines. That would move the fire department out of the village budget, likely lowering the village tax rate if the district gains voter approval. However, village residents would pay a separate fire protection tax that would be in the town and county tax bill in January.

The village also hasn’t gone through a town-wide reassessment for about five years but that is expected in May. Many of the assessed values are expected to up significantly. That should give the village a much-higher tax base in 2025-26.

The village’s tax base has been shrinking. It went down 1.08 percent or by $1,663,794 –from $154,457,302 in 2022-23 to $152,723,508 in 2023-24. Most of the loss in tax base was from the assessed value be lowered at the plaza at 318 West Ave. That plaza includes Save-A-Lot, Pro Hardware, Dollar Tree and the vacant spot formerly for Gordman’s.

The new budget shows another decrease by $74,424 – from $152,867,932 to $152,793,508.

A bigger tax base should bring the tax rate down, but property owners would likely still see their taxes rise if the tax levy, what the village collects in taxes, continues to go up.

Press Release, Albion H.S. Student Council

ALBION – Albion Central School District invites senior citizens, 55 and older, for our annual Senior Citizen Day on Wednesday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Albion High School Cafeteria.

The school district would like to thank the senior citizens in our community for all they have done to support our students, teachers, and staff throughout the years.

We have a limited number of seats available. Kindly RSVP by Monday, April 22, to the High School Student Council Advisor, Mrs. Sawyer Green, at (585) 589-2040, ext. 8414.

You can also email sgreen1@albionk12.org to secure your reservation. Please leave a message with your name, phone number, and the number of seats you’d like to reserve. Mrs. Green will call you to confirm your participation.

We look forward to having you join us for this wonderful event hosted by our High School Student Council!

Provided photos

ALBION – The American Legion in Albion has a new sign and exterior lighting at the post on Gaines Basin Road.

The former clubhouse at Pap Pap’s Par 3 has been the home for the Legion for several years now.

The veterans’ organization has been working on the building. Last year the organization put on a new roof and siding on the building, as well as electrical and lighting upgrades, and an installation of flags from each branch of the military.

The Legion also put in a new concrete front patio and placed seven spent rounds, and one live round. The live round is in honor of the military currently deployed, the seven other bullets represent the gun salute from the Honor Guard, with three volleys of seven rounds.

This tribute is in front of a memorial bench for the late Jason Johnston, who was 24 when he was killed by a roadside bomb on Dec. 26, 2009 in Arghandab, Afghanistan.

The Sheet Post is named in honor of two brothers from Albion who died on the same day of World War I.

James and Egbert Sheret both died on September 29, 1918.

A member of Co. F. 108th Reg., NY Volunteer Infantry, Sgt. James Sheret was killed in action during the attack on the Hindenburg Line. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for the bravery of his actions.

Pvt. Egbert Sheret, a machine gunner, was also killed in action that day.

Another brother, Andrew, was wounded in World War I, but survived. A fourth brother, John G. served in the Navy and survived the war.

Confection Connection opened in August, with bigger plans for future

Photos by Tom Rivers: Becky Harris, owner of Confection Connection at 223 South Main St., holds a plate of eclipse-themed cookies.

ALBION – Becky Harris embraces a challenge when she is in the kitchen, and she likes to put her talents to the test in celebrating a big event, whether it’s her wedding day or the upcoming eclipse.

Harris opened Confection Connection, a bakery with coffee in August at the corner of Meadowbrook Drive and South Main Street. She and her husband Adrian Harris moved from Lancaster to Albion so she could run the bakery out of their new home. The property also has space for him to grow vegetables as an organic farmer.

The Albion site is zoned commercial and was previously Paradise Healing Arts, and was once used by a dentist.

“Everybody has stories about this house,” Harris said.

Becky and Adrian married in 2016. One of Becky’s goals for the big day was to make her own wedding cake. She made several practice cakes leading up to her wedding, and shared them with friends and family.

“I kept practicing, and was getting better and better,” she said.

She developed devoted fans by sharing those “practice cakes.” They were so good, her friends urged her to consider opening a bakery.

Harris took their advice, and soon the bakery was taking up more and more of her Lancaster home. The Albion location has room for the bakery, a commercial kitchen and their home.

Harris said she has been baking since she was a kid under her grandmother’s tutelage. She continues to add new creations, whether an éclair or the new eclipse cookies. She wanted to help the community celebrate the total eclipse on April 8.

Vanilla buttercream frosting is in between eclipse cookies made with vanilla and chocolate dough.

She makes the eclipse cookies in a range of phases of the moon obstructing the sun. She cuts out portions of circles in vanilla and chocolate dough, and then pieces them together to create the cookies. She make them into a cookie sandwich by putting vanilla buttercream frosting in between.

“I wanted to do something and be a part of all the events going on this weekend,” she said.

Harris still has loyal customers from the Lancaster area. She wants to make the Albion business bigger. She welcomes in-store traffic to 223 South Main St., where she also sells coffee and cold brew drinks. She bought the coffee-making equipment from the Coffee Joint after it closed in downtown Albion.

She also sells her bread at Navarra’s, pies at the Downtown Browsery and makes rolls for the sandwiches at the Wild Flour Deli and Bakery.

Harris is looking to upgrade her food certificate with the Health Department from a food handler to food manager. She would like to offer a sit-down area and serve sandwiches, soups and salads – as well as the array of baked goods. Some of the items would include vegetables and produce grown by her husband in a “farm to oven” concept.

That expanded menu might be at a different location in Albion. Harris is looking for a shop to accommodate all of her goals.

For now, she encourages people to stop by the bakery at 223 South Main, which is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“I want to welcome anyone to come in,” Harris said.

She also welcomes ideas from customers on new flavors or creations.

“I never say no, which is a blessing and a curse,” Harris said. “But I’m up for a challenge.”

Agency moves from Visitor’s Center to Presbyterian Church

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jami Allport, executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, sits at her desk in the agency’s new offices at the First Presbyterian Church. GOMOC moved from the Albion Visitor’s Center to the church with the first day open last Thursday at the church.

ALBION – The Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern has moved into its new offices in the First Presbyterian Church of Albion and the agency is thrilled with the welcome from the church.

GOMOC left the Albion Visitor’s Center after 15 years on the third floor at 121 North Main St. The agency moved after the Village Board raised the rent by 35 percent from $1,146.67 to $1,550.96 a month. The board felt GOMOC’s rent was too cheap at 48 cents per square foot. The board raised it to 65 cents per square foot.

Jami Allport, the GOMOC executive director, said that amount was too much for the agency, and would take away funds it needs to assist people in need.

The Presbyterian Church offered space in four rooms at the lower rate that GOMOC was paying before the rent went up. The church painted two of the rooms and added electrical outlets for the new tenants and also put a wall in. The other two rooms also were recently redone following a third floor water leak that caused some damage to the rooms.

“The church worked really hard for us,” Allport said. “They have been great and very welcoming.”

The offices are accessible on the back end of the church at the entrance to the church office. There is a church parking lot on Platt Street and sidewalks leading to the entrance.

There will be an open house for the community to see the new offices on April 25 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

The Ministry of Concern is known by many as “The Agency of Last Resort.” It provides services to many people in crisis, including working poor who are facing hardship.

The agency last year assisted 2,795 people with 2,192 in Orleans and 603 in Genesee.

Rose Friedl, left, and Jami Allport show one of the revamped rooms at the church which is now used by the Ministry of Concern. Friedl is the coordinator for the furniture program. Another employee, Nicole Brady, coordinates the Just Friends mentoring program.

The Ministry of Concern has in-house advocates who work on behalf of clients with utility companies, landlords and other entities as necessary. Eligible individuals and families can receive help with personal care items, short-term emergency housing and financial assistance with prescriptions. There is a room stocked with supplies named in honor of long-time board member and volunteer, Mary Grace Demarse.

The Furniture Program also accepts donations of gently used furniture and non-gas appliances which are subsequently delivered without cost to people in need. This in GOMOC’s most used program, assisting 945 people last year. Jayquan Brady and Kyle Woolston pick up furniture and appliances for GOMOC and deliver them to people who need them.

Allport has been working as the agency’s director since September. She said the agency makes a difference for many in the community.

She sees GOMOC doing even more. She has assisted some people with resumes to pursue jobs, and gave other help with health insurance and life skills. The break room also has air hockey and other games where teen-agers can come afterschool and hang out in a safe place.

Rose Friedl said she looks forward to coming to work at GOMOC four days a week. She coordinates the furniture program. She said many people get emotional when GOMOC can locate a bed, couch or even a recliner for them.

“This is a feel-good job,” Friedl said. “I put my whole heart into it.”

ALBION – The PAWS Animal Shelter on Gaines Basin Road has been awarded a $51,249 state grant to replace cat kennels, upgrade dog enclosures, upgrade HVAC systems, and replace a heat pump.

Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement this morning. The grant for PAWS is oart of $3.8 million awarded to 10 animal care organizations across the state through the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund, which is in its sixth round.

“New York State’s Companion Animal Capital Fund continues to make a real difference for our shelters and humane societies across the state,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will better equip these vital facilities with the tools they need to improve the quality of care for animals as they await a permanent, loving home.”

The Companion Animal Capital Fund program was started in 2017. It is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The state has dedicated over $33 million to the program.

Competitive grants were awarded to shelters based on a need assessment, detailed project description, and reasonableness of cost.

Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget includes an additional $5 million for the continuation of the program.

“Through six rounds, it has been incredible to see our shelters across the state complete these projects that make life better for the animals in their care,” said Richard A. Ball, the state’s agriculture commissioner. “I’m proud that the funding announced today will continue to build on the great work of this program, helping New York’s animals stay happy and healthy as they await their forever homes.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Alex Nazaretski, a student of classical guitar and piano at the Eastman School of Music, performs at the Hoag Library today.

Nazaretski will graduate from Eastman in May. He kicked off a new season of concerts at Hoag. The events are free to the public and are on Saturdays at noon.

The lineup of concerts for the rest of 2024 include:

• Paul O’Dette, April 20
• Kinloch Nelson, May 18
• Bob Sneider, June 15
• George Collichio, July 20
• Rochester Recorder Society, Aug. 17
• Alyssa Rodriguez, Sept. 14
• Muriel Anderson, Oct. 12
• Duo Tufekčić & Conant, Nov. 9
• Rochester Ukulele Orchestra, Dec. 7

About 50 people attended today’s concert in the main meeting room of the library.

Hoag last year debuted the concerts. They are organized by Jim Doyle, an adult reference librarian at the library. He also has been running Jim’s Guitar Studio for 24 years in Albion, and is a founding member of the Rochester Guitar Club.

Doyle said he reaches out to musicians who generally haven’t performed in Orleans County before. He met Nazaretski when he performed at the Little Theater Café in Rochester.

Funds for the concerts at the Hoag Library come from the state Council of the Arts, with the funds administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kids displayed breakneck speed in hunting down Easter eggs at noon today in Albion. There were about 12,000 eggs scattered on the lawn, up from 10,000 last year.

The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries held its third annual Easter Egg Hunt today. Students from the Iroquois Job Corps Center helped set out the eggs.

About 300 children are lined up ready to go grab the plastic eggs which had candy inside.

Children were divided into three groups – ages 1 to 5, ages 6 to 9, and ages 10 to 14. There will be two golden eggs hidden per age group.

Benjamin Rowcliffe, 8, of Medina found one of the golden eggs.

Jayda Elsenheimer helps hand out some of the 600 Easter baskets. The Albion Rotary Club and Albion Lions Club donated to help buy the baskets.

The Catholic Daughters also bought 200 chocolate Easter bunnies, and the Masonic Lodge served food for free.

Pastor Al Wilson of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries welcomes the kids to the egg hunt. Wilson said the church is happy to put on the event, and see so many families having fun.

“We just love the people,” Wilson said. “It’s about sharing the love of Jesus.”

These kids take off to pick up some of the Easter eggs. The golden eggs were in hard-to-find spots.

Two barbers gave free haircuts for three hours. Jeffrey Echevarria of Albion, left, gets a haircut from Carlito Lopez of Brockport while Amonte Mortensen of Medina, right, gets a trim from Maciel Gomez of Albion.

East State Street in front of the courthouse was decorated in chalk art.

The Albion Free Methodist Church was one of about 20 stops on an Easter Hop where kids could get candy.