Site also includes bench and lamppost made from repurposed steel from lift bridge

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion eighth-graders sing “Low Bridge, Everybody Down” as part of today’s dedication ceremony for the Erie Canal Park, a site across from the Albion fire hall on Platt Street. The students are joined by a miniature donkey and mule.

The village Department of Public Works cleared part of the land in the spring and has made other improvements to the park by the Erie Canal, between to the two lift bridges.

Today’s dedication also included the unveiling of a monument to the 15 people killed in the Sept. 28, 1859 bridge collapse. There was a crowd of 250 people, plus five horses, on the bridge that day 165 years ago. The people gathered to see a wirewalker on a tight rope over the canal.

The bridge would tumble into the canal, killing 15 people.

The park includes a lamppost and a bench made from repurposed steel from the Main Street lift bridge when it was originally constructed in 1914. The bridge is getting a major overhaul and is expected to reopen to traffic on Dec. 19 following just over two years of construction.

Bill Schutt, left, is the artist from Batavia who made the lamppost, which will be solar powered. A Go Art! grant paid for Schutt to make the lamppost. Schutt said the lamppost was made in an art deco style from the 1930s and ’40s. He said he enjoys making art from recycled materials.

Albion Mayor Angel Javier Jr. is next to Schutt and Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley is on the bench that was made by employees in the sewer plant, the Joint Pollution Control Facility. Village employees Ric Albright, Kyle Piccirilli and William Malone worked on the bench, which also includes a time capsule to be opened on Sept. 28, 2059.

Albion students who were part of today’s celebration join in the photo.

The village worked with community volunteers to make the Erie Canal Park more enticing to boaters and residents.

Tim Archer, an Albion teacher, served as the emcee for today’s program. Albion students have painted a mural about the canal on the Albion fire hall, put in an interpretive panel about the Erie Canal and its impact on Albion, and also helped secure a historical marker noting Marquis de LaFayette’s tour along the Erie Canal which included a stop in Albion on June 6-7, 1825.

David Oakley (left), owner of Bridgen Memorials, and Dave Strickland, the stone cutter at Bridgen, were instrumental in creating the monument.

They are shown on a side with 15 handprints from local community members to represent the 15 people who died in the bridge collapse.

The side includes a silhouette of Charles Blondin, the famous wire walker who crossed Niagara Falls and who inspired George Williams to try walking on a tightrope in Albion.

The outline of the bridge shows the Squire Whipple bowstring iron truss bridge that crashed into the canal 165 years ago. The bridge was 60 feet long, about half the length of the current lift bridge over the canal.

Those who perished in the bridge collapse include:

• Perry G. Cole, 19, of Barre
• Augusta Martin, 18, of Carlton
• Ann Viele, 36, of Gaines
• Edwin Stillson, 16, of Barre
• Joseph Code, 18, of Albion
• Lydia Harris, 11, of Albion
• Thomas Handy, 66, of Yates
• Sarah Thomas, 10, of Carlton
• William Henry, 22, of Saratoga County
• Ransom S. Murdock, 17, of Carlton
• Adelbert Wilcox, 17, of West Kendall
• Sophia Pratt, 18, of Toledo, Ohio
• Thomas Aulchin, 50, of Paris (Canada)
• Jane Lavery, 16, of Albion
• Charles Rosevelt, 21, of Sandy Creek

The handprints used in the memorial are from people close in age to the victims. Those handprints include Dr. Tom Madejski, 64; Tom Rivers, 50; Aaron Flanagan, 17; Gideon Pask, 16; Nick Andrews, 19; Zack Baron, 16; Mollie Radzinski, 35; Cameron Ecker, 21; Nicholas Baxter, 16; Reuben Rivers, 19; Rosemary Kirby, 9; Phoebe Kirby, 14; Graham Kirby, 10; Cordelia Rivers, 13; and Al Hand, 17.

The Albion Rotary Club led the effort to have the monument erected, and received financial contributions from the Albion Betterment Committee, Albion Merchants Association, the local DAR chapter, Mitchell Family Cremations & Funerals, and an anonymous donor.

Tim Archer, right, interviews middle school students Thailer Seibert, left, and Blake Doty who portrayed hoggees, who were kids who worked with canal boats. Hoggees typically led mule teams that pulled the canal boats.

The miniature donkey and mule that were part of today’s festivities came from Painted Sky Ranch in Brockport.

Sophie Kozody and Hailey Styer portray two of the bridge collapse victims, Jane Lavery and Lydia Harris. In recent years, Albion students worked with Mount Albion Cemetery to have headstones in the cemetery for the two girls. Harris didn’t have a head stone and Lavery’s had broken into pieces.

The site by the canal was never formally named a park until Aug. 14, when the Village Board gave it the name, “Erie Canal Park.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion village trustee Greg Bennett, right, was among a group of about 50 people this morning at the dedication of four memorial benches at the new basketball courts at Bullard Park.

The courts opened last October. Today the four coated steel sport benches were dedicated with memorial plaques. The flowers were donated by Homestead Wildflowers in Albion.

One of the benches is in memory of Craig Anderson, who was a three-sport standout athlete at Albion. A 1972 graduate, he led Albion to its first Section 6 basketball title. He passed away from cancer at age 18 in 1973. The high school gym is named in his honor.

Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church paid the $750 cost to have the bench dedicated for Anderson. Church is good friends with Craig’s younger brother Tom Anderson. Church and Tom Anderson were managers for the Sectional winning team in 1972, back when the two were eighth-graders.

Meghan Doherty speaks about her brother Jonathan. One of the benches is in his honor and was paid for by the Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events. Jonathan was an active promoter of Bullard Park and other causes in the community. He was 38 when he passed away on May 5, 2022.

“His focus was his community, his family and his church,” Meghan said. “He did everything for other people.”

Ron Albertson, a member of the G-ACRE organization and a Lions Club member with Jonathan, said Doherty was well known in the community, by his first name only.

“He is the best team player I’ve ever known,” he said.

 Torin Swartout places the plaque on the bench in memory of his son, Jesse Swartout, who passed away at age 21 in 2002 when he was a senior at Skidmore College. He has family in the local area.

Jesse was a gifted athlete and scholar, and a left-handed pitcher. He loved socializing with his friends by playing sports.

“We hope Jesse’s spirit will help make these courts safe haven for Albin athletes,” his family said.

Alyssa Swanger and her daughter Vivi put the plaque on the bench for Alyssa’s brother, Justin Swanger. He was a basketball star and three-point specialist for Albion. He passed away at age 21 on Nov. 28, 2014.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to make Justin proud and carry on his basketball legacy in this community that would live on for many years to come,” his mother Paula Canne said.

The benches are the latest upgrade to the park. The village would like to add two pickleball courts next to the basketball courts.

Erie Canal Park also will include lamppost, bench made from old steel from lift bridge

Photo by Tom Rivers: Employees at Brigden Memorials today at about 11 a.m. move a 1,200-pound granite monument to the Erie Canal Park. The monument is in remembrance of 15 people killed on Sept. 28, 1859 when the Main Street bridge collapsed. They were among 250 on the bridge watching a tightrope walker attempt to cross the Erie Canal. The Brigden employees include David Strickland, Ken Strickland, Frank Abbott and Dustin Goetze.

ALBION – The public is welcome to attend a dedication at noon on Saturday for the Erie Canal Park. The program will include the unveiling of a monument to the 15 people killed in the Sept. 28, 1859 bridge collapse.

The park also includes a lamppost and a bench made from old steel from the Main Street lift bridge, which is currently undergoing a major rehabilitation. That bridge is expected to reopen to traffic on Dec. 19.

Bill Schutt, an artist from Batavia, created the lamppost, with the village using a grant from GO Art! for the project. The Village Pollution Control Center employees (Rick Albright, Kyle Piccirilli and Michael Malone) made the bench that includes a cylinder that will be a time capsule to be opened on Sept. 28 2059.

The Albion Rotary Club led the effort to have a monument for the 15 people killed in the bridge collapse, which included several children. Brigden Memorials in Albion made the monument at a discount, doing the design, engraving and installation at no charge.

One side of the monument describes the tragic day of Sept. 28, 1859 when a crowd gathered to watch a tightrope walker. At the time Albion was hosting the county fair.

George Williams of Brockport attempted to walk across the canal on a tightrope. He didn’t get too far before the bridge collapsed.

The  monument lists the 15 people who died in the tragedy:

• Perry G. Cole, 19, of Barre
• Augusta Martin, 18, of Carlton
• Mrs. Ann Viele, 36, of Gaines
• Edwin Stillson, 16, of Barre
• Joseph Code, 18, of Albion
• Lydia Harris, 11, of Albion
• Thomas Handy, 66, of Yates
• Sarah Thomas, 10, of Carlton
• William Henry, 22, of Saratoga County
• Ransom S. Murdock, 17, of Carlton
• Adelbert Wilcox, 17, of West Kendall
• Sophia Pratt, 18, of Toledo, Ohio
• Thomas Aulchin, 50, of Paris (Canada)
• Jane Lavery, 16, of Albion
• Charles Rosevelt, 21, of Sandy Creek

The other side of the monument includes a silhouette of Charles Blondin, who started the wirewalking craze by crossing Niagara Falls on June 30, 1859, walking 1,100 feet on a tightrope. Blondin would walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope about 300 times in his career, including blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow and carrying his manager on his back.

The monument has 15 handprints of Albion community members to represent the 15 victims from the bridge collapse. The handprints are people about the same age as those who perished. The monument also shows the bridge in Albion at the time of the collapse, a 60-foot-long Squire Whipple bowstring iron truss bridge.

The program on Saturday includes two re-enactors, Sophie and Mallory Kozody, who are portraying Jane Lavery and Lydia Harris. Sophie is an eighth-grader and her sister is a senior.

Two mules also are expected to be part of the atmosphere on Saturday, and chocolates with a tugboat theme will also be available.

The Cobblestone Museum also will be selling Erie Canal books created by Albion students.

Daniel Walterhouse is buried at County Poor House Cemetery

Provided photos: Albion eighth-graders Mary McCormick, left, and Kendall Peruzzini made a presentation to the Orleans County Legislature on Tuesday.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Two eighth-graders from Albion Middle School, Mary McCormick and Kendall Peruzzini, have been approved to pursue a headstone for a Civil War veteran buried at the Orleans County Poor House cemetery.

McCormick and Peruzzini began investigating Daniel Walterhouse, a Civil War veteran, after learning from Tim Archer, ACS Service Learning liaison, that the soldier could be buried at the cemetery.

“The girls did some research this summer to help verify his [the soldier’s] burial there,” Archer said. “Their classmates will continue their work this fall.”

Working alongside Albion Town Clerk Sarah Basinait and County Historian Catherine Cooper, the students’ goal was to identify the soldier and verify Walterhouse was buried in the cemetery.

“We searched through old death record ledgers from 1910 to verify Mr. [Daniel] Walterhouse’s death at the Orleans County Poor House and his burial at the Poor House Cemetery,” Peruzzini said. “It was confirmed that he was buried there.”

After this confirmation, McCormick says they visited Cooper in her offices at the Court House Square.

“She [Cooper] provided us with several old books that recorded residents at the Poor House by year,” McCormick explained. “Mr. Walterhouse was listed in the documents for several years prior to his death… We learned a lot about our county’s past by looking through these documents.”

On Tuesday, the students gave a brief presentation explaining their research process and requesting permission from the Orleans County Legislature to pursue the headstone.

Now approved, they will be applying for a Civil War-style headstone through the Department of Veterans Affairs. These are provided free of charge with proper documentation. If the marker is received, they plan to hold a community ceremony in the spring to honor Mr. Walterhouse.

“Our hope is that, in some way, our recognizing him these many years later will also honor the many forgotten who lived at the Poor House in obscurity,” McCormick said.

Mary McCormick and Kendall Peruzzini are shown with Albion teacher Tim Archer after their presentation at the Orleans County Legislature. In back are county attorney Kathy Bogan, left, and Lisa Stenshorn, clerk of the Legislature.

Screenshot

Photos and information courtesy of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

ALBION/MEDINA – A dedicated team from National Grid volunteered their time on Sept. 17 to replace three sandboxes at the Head Start locations in Albion and Medina.

The project, which had been on Community Action of Orleans & Genesee’s “to-do” list for quite some time, was made possible through the partnership with National Grid and support from the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes.

In Albion, the National Grid team worked to remove old sand that had accumulated in the playground’s sandbox. The sand was repurposed to reinforce the playground’s fencing, helping to improve overall safety. The team also cleared out intrusive roots, repaired a broken wall, and completed the revitalization by unloading 12 tons of pea gravel into the sandbox. The use of pea gravel was chosen to ensure easier long-term maintenance and increased safety for the children.

After finishing in Albion, the volunteers moved on to Medina, where they filled two smaller sandboxes with an additional 2 tons of pea gravel, completing the project by mid-day.

“Without the partnership from our friends at United Way of ROCFLX and the coordination and manpower from Paul Gister and his team at National Grid, I don’t know when this project would have been completed,” said Ryan Lasal, director of Community & Family Programming at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. “We’re lucky to have such wonderful community partners.”

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, which serves families across the region, is thrilled to have these improvements for the children who attend their Head Start programs. Thanks to the volunteer efforts, the children can now enjoy safer and cleaner playgrounds.

About Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life. Through programs such as Head Start, Emergency Services, and Case Management, the organization works to address the needs of low-income individuals and strengthen the communities they serve. For more information about the services they provide, visit their website at www.caoginc.org.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There were 50 classic cars at a cruise in today at Bullard Park at an event that is now in its 11^th year as a fundraiser for Hospice of Orleans County.

Some sprinkles in the weather kept some of the cars away, but organizers say the event raised at least $1,500 for Hospice.

Becky Karls, right, is the event organizer. She chats with Terry Cook, a Hospice volunteer, at the Hospice booth.

The car show is sponsored by Mitchell Family Cremations & Funerals, Cooper Funeral Home and Rebekah Karls.

The 1957 Chevy Bel Air at left is owned by Rita and Richard Soule.

Some motorcycles were part of the cruise-in today.

The show shifted from the main parking lot of Bullard to the grassy area on the east end. The car owners said they preferred the grass over the asphalt.

Hartway Motors in Medina sponsored the trophies for the car show.

Provided photos

ALBION – The dome on the Orleans County Courthouse will illumined in gold at night the rest of this month to help spread awareness about childhood cancer.

The County Legislature on Tuesday will present a proclamation about Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children, with 43 children per day or 15,780 children diagnosed with cancer annually.

There is a need for new cancer drugs to be approved by the FDA, and more funding to carry this out, local officials said.

That proclamation will be presented to Ryan and Katelyn Pearl whose son, Maddox Pearl, passed away at ae 5 on Sept. 30, 2023 after battling DIPG, a rare brain tumor.

Friends and family of Maddox Pearl gathered at the courthouse on Wednesday to remember Maddox and show support for childhood cancer awareness.

Katelyn Pearl said Maddox’s family and friends plan to add more activities next year to bring awareness to the community.

“Maddox isn’t the only little one that fought or will fight, so we are doing this to honor the past, the present and the future warriors,” she said.

Maddox Pearl’s friends and family gathered on Wednesday to remember the Albion boy who passed away from a brain tumor on Sept. 30, 2023.

Public meeting set for Sept. 26 to outline program

ALBION – The Village of Albion is holding a meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Village Hall to go over the NY Forward program, where municipalities can receive $4.5 million in state funding to help downtown business districts, and tackle other housing and tourism initiatives.

The village is working with its grantwriter, G & G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, to submit an application. G & G will give an overview of the program during the Sept. 26 meeting, and will encourage projects to be submitted for the application.

Businesses, industry groups, cultural organizations, developers, non-profit organizations and property owners can submit a project for consideration.

Potential projects could include new construction (residential, mixed use, hotel, etc.), renovation of existing buildings, facade improvements, renovation of new retail, office, co-working, commercial, industrial, recreational or cultural uses.

The state wants projects that will transform the downtown and support a vibrant and year-round economy.

For more information, send an email to G & G at contact@ggprocess.com.

The Village of Medina has been awarded a $4.5 million NY Forward grant and those projects are expected to take shape in the next two years.

Albion submitted applications last year for the $4.5 million Forward NY program and for up to $10 million in a Restore NY grant.

Albion was denied in both applications in what grant writer Jay Grasso of G & G said are very competitive programs among municipalities looking to help their downtown business districts, and tackle other housing and tourism initiatives.

Grasso said Albion was a strong contender in both programs. Besides NY Forward, Grasso said the village will go after the Restore NY grant again this year.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced today that $50 million will be available in Round 9 of the Restore New York program. The funding supports municipalities’ efforts to demolish, rehabilitate, and restore blighted structures and transform them into vibrant residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments.

“We are revitalizing communities across New York State through the Restore New York Communities Initiative – giving towns and cities the chance to build a future that is safer, more affordable, and more livable,” Hochul said in a press release.

An intent to apply form for Restore NY is due from municipalities to the state by Oct. 23.

ALBION – The public is invited to a dedication at 9 a.m. on Sept. 28 when four memorial benches will be unveiled by the basketball courts at Bullard Park.

The coated steel sport benches are the latest addition to the new courts, which opened last October.

Four people or organizations paid $750 for a memorial bench which will have plaques.

Those memorialized include Jonathan Doherty, an active community member who helped with many of the events and fundraisers at the park. Doherty was 38 when he passed away on May 5, 2022. The Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events is paying for the bench.

Another bench is in memory of Jesse Swartout, who passed away at age 21 in 2002 when he was a senior at Skidmore College. He has family in the local area.

A bench will be in honor of Craig H. Anderson who died from leukemia in 1973 following his senior year at Albion.  He was a standout athlete at Albion and the high school gym is named after him.

The other bench will be in memory of Justin Swanger, who passed away in his sleep at age 22 on Nov. 28, 2014. Swanger played on the Albion basketball team and was a three-point specialist.

The Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events, a non-profit that has helped spearhead improvements at Bullard, also is working on a video promoting the activities and recent upgrades. The group is planning a video shoot at noon on Oct. 12 at the park. The community is welcome to be part of the video.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Marie Snyder, president of the Albion Lions Club, is presented a proclamation from Assemblyman Steve Hawley on Friday in recognition of the 100^th anniversary of the Albion Lions Club.

The Lions celebrated a century of service to the community on Friday during a banquet at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.

Snyder joined the club three years ago, and started as president in July. The Lions meet the second and fourth Tuesdays each month at the Masonic Lodge on Platt Street.

“I like the camaraderie and being able to do things for the community,” Snyder said.

The club and some of the dignitaries stand for the Lions Toast: “Not above you, Noth beneath you, But with you.”

The club welcomed its members for the 100^th anniversary celebration, as well as Lions Club members from Kendall, Lyndonville, Medina, Clarendon, Gates Greece, Brockport, Syracuse and Downtown Rochester. (The Lions Club in Syracuse is also celebrating its 100th anniversary.)

The Albion Lions Club officers currently include Marie Snyder, president; Barb Navarra, vice president; Mary Janet Sahukar, secretary; Lloyd Wright, treasurer; and Ben Lennox, the tail twister.

Other members include Ron Albertson, Ocie Bennett, Christine Buongiorne, Lynn Burgess, Dan Conrad, Kelly Conrad, Kevin Howard, Gary Katsanis, David Mitchell, Kristen Ostrander, Dan Parker, June Persia, Bill Robinson, Dr. Satya Sahukar, Dennis Smith, Henry Smith Jr. and Jake Stinson.

The banquet included a observance for members who recently passed away, including John Keding, Robert Galbreath, Rev. Wilfred Moss, Ben Jones and Jonathan Doherty.

A table displays Lions Club artifacts and name badges for members from many decades ago. There were also photo albums highlighting club activities through the years.

The club remains busy with projects in Albion, including an annual spring clean-up, Mother’s Day rose sale, annual geranium sale near Memorial Day, Strawberry Festival sausage booth, Rock the Park sausage booth, John A. Keding memorial cookout to support scholarship in his name, eye screening at elementary school done with Medina Lions Club, used eye glass and hearing aid collection (drop boxes at Hoag Library and Five Star Bank), various scholarships and award to graduating students at Albion, support disaster relief, hunger relief in the community, others in need in Albion, and Lions Camp Badger in Tompkins County.

Melanie Adams, a member of the Clarendon Lions Club and a former district governor, said the Albion Lions Club has always been welcoming to her.

She praised the club for helping to spearhead the upgrades at Bullard Park in Albion, a park “that has blossomed into an amazing showcase.”

The Lions Club also works on other community projects and fundraisers throughout the year.

“Where there is a need, there is a Lion,” she said.

Jim Hancock, president of Medina Lions Club, congratulated the Albion club on its 100^th. The Medina Lions started in 1935.

The head table leads in singing, “Hail, Hail, the Lions are Here. Don’t you hear them roaring?”

Lloyd Wright, at left, has been a member of the club for 23 years. He visited the club after being invited by long-time member Dan Parker. Wright said he had more free time in his retirement and is glad he become a Lion.

“I enjoy helping people out and giving back to the community,” he said.

Aubrey Gannon holds the first place poster she created for the Lions Club’s 100^th anniversary. Some Albion art students worked on the posters last June.

Erin Weese, left, holds a poster that was in third place. Isabella Gray created the second place poster at right.

The Class of 1974 gathers for a group photo at the Archery Club on Saturday. Front row, from left: Richard Saeva, John Gavenda, Gay Demos, Wanda Riley, Kim Wright Pritt, Sandy Sanders Flugel, Willie Riley, Donna Celmer Woolston, Michele Johnson DiCureia, Sherry Lanning Wheatley.  2nd row: Helen Furmanski Miles, Mary Louise DiGerolamo, Rodney Woolston, Alan Monacelli, Laurie Tully, Helen Markle Shetler, Janet Palacios Hausner, Deb Engle Martillotta, Renee Schoonover Colonna, Sue Forder Polisoto, Sue Hamilton Ries, Sue Salchak Fetzner, Stephen DePeters. 3rd row: Tom Behage, Jim Kirby, Jim Spanton, John Borello, Dan Marek, Joel Allen, Charlie Breuilly, John Pickett, Nancy Weits Horth, Becky Allen Prophet, Linda Hickein Roberts, Tony Navarra, Jim Passarell, Ray Flugel, Peter Southcott. Not pictured, but attended: Gasper Pecorella, Margaret Coville Swan, and Cynthia Taber

Photos and information courtesy of Kim Pritt

WATERPORT – The Albion Central School Class of 1974 celebrated their 50th Class Reunion the weekend of September 9-10.

The class gathered for a Meet ‘n Greet at the Tavern on the Ridge on Friday evening and the reunion was held at the St. Mary’s Archery Club in Waterport on Saturday.

Seventy-three attended the reunion, including 41 classmates. Guests of honor of the class were four former teachers: Mr. Rick Bovenzi – Science, Mr. Mark Chamberlain – Science, Mr. Dick Contant – Business, and Mr. Bill Lattin – Art.

Sadly, the Class of ’74 has lost 32 classmates since graduation. A memorial table with an empty chair was displayed to honor their memory. “Those that touch our lives, stay in our heart forever!”

These retired teachers stopped by the reunion. From left include Mark Chamberlain, Bill Lattin, Rick Bovenzi and Dick Contant.

The Reunion Planning Team, from left, includes: Sue Salchak Fetzner, Nancy Weits Horth, Helen Markle Shetler, John Gavenda, Charlie Breuilly, Deb Engle Martillotta, Kim Wright Pritt, John Borello, Sandy Sanders Flugel, Sherry Lanning Wheatley, Becky Allen Prophet, Laurie Tully and Linda Hickein Roberts. Not pictured is Marilyn Wright Kilborn.

Two class photos were taken. One was missing three classmates and the second then had three different classmates not pictured.

Pictured in front, from left: Gay Demos and Rich Saeva.

2nd Row – John Gavenda, Sue Forder Polisoto, Kim Wright Pritt, Becky Allen Prophet, Sherry Lanning Wheatley, Renee Schoonover Colonna, Donna Celmer Woolston, Rodney Woolston, Stephen DePeters, Margaret Coville Swan and Willie Riley.

3rd Row – Sue Salchak Fetzner, Helen Furmanski Miles, Helen Markle Shetler, Mary Louise DiGerolamo, Michele Johnson DiCureia, Deb Engle Martillotta, Janet Palacios Hausner, Sandy Sanders Flugel, Wanda Riley, Linda Hickein Roberts, Tony Navarra, John Borello, Dan Marek.

4th Row – Jim Spanton, Nancy Weits Horth, Tom Behage, Charlie Breuilly, Laurie Tully, John Pickett, Joel Allen, Allen Monacelli, Gasper Pecorella, Ray Flugel, Jim Kirby, Peter Southcott

Not pictured, but attended: Gasper Pecorella, Margaret Coville Swan and Cynthia Taber.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Some of the worship participants for the First Presbyterian Church of Albion’s 200th anniversary service on Sunday are pictured just before the start of the service at 11 a.m.

From left include Leigh Hamilton; Amanda Krenning-Muoio; elder Mindy Shaffer, moderator with the Presbytery of the Genesee Valley; Jim Vanbrederode, a bagpiper; The Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church; and the Rev. Mary Jane and Gary Saunders, pastors emeritus.

The church celebrated the bicentennial on Sunday and was happy to welcome back former long-time pastors, Gary and Mary Saunders. They have since retired after serving a church in Bowling Green, Ohio.

From left in front include Amanda Krenning-Muoio, Leigh Hamilton, Mary Jane Saunders, Gary Saunders, Kaylin Gannon and Sue Thaine. Elder Mindy Shaffer, moderator with the Presbytery of the Genesee Valley, is in back at podium and brought greetings and congratulations from the Presbytery.

The Rev. Susan Thaine and her husband Mike Thaine dance while the Batavia Swings Band performs on Saturday during a celebration of the 200^th anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.

The Rev. Thaine, an Albion native, has led the church the past six years.

Dan Klinczar and the Batavia Swing Band played for two hours, despite some drizzly weather and cool temperatures. They started with music by Gerswin, then “New York, New York,” and “Moonlight Serenade.”

The community was welcome to enjoy the music and a dance floor outside the church. East State Street was closed to traffic from Main to Park streets for the celebration.

The church wanted to have a catered dinner on the street, but the meal was moved inside due to the weather.

39 Problems catered a meal inside the church in the fellowship hall. The church choir often goes to the 39 Problems restaurant after rehearsals on Wednesday evening.

The dessert on Saturday included a cupcake with two candles. There were 100 cupcakes and the 200 candles represented the church’s first two centuries. The cupcakes were made by Andrea Muoio.

The Rev. Susan Thaine, center, presents Gary and Mary Jane Saunders with certificates and the honorary titles of pastors emeritus. The Saunders were leaders in the church for 24 years and raised their three sons in Albion. They moved to Albion in 1985.

“It’s a profound privilege to have a little recognition and be with you all tonight,” the Rev. Gary Saunders told the group.

Kevin Gardner, an elder in the church, shared about the first 200 years of the church. The congregation started with 16 people and they built a church that has served the community for two centuries and counting.

Initially the congregation met in homes in 1824. Those 16 people were part of the Congregational Church in Barre and withdrew to start the new church in Albion.

The Presbyterians built a church on Main Street in 1830, a building they quickly outgrew. Christ Episcopal Church has used that structure for more than 150 years.

The Presbyterians built a brick church on East State, and then an even bigger building made of Medina Sandstone that opened in 1874. That church, with a 175-foot-high spire, is the tallest building in Orleans County.

Jim Vanbrederode plays the bagpipes during a procession into the church on Sunday.

The Rev. Susan Thaine shared a sermon, “God is Not Done Yet.” She said the church is celebrating the first 200 years of the Presbyterian congregation in Albion, with eyes on the future.

The Albion and Medina school districts said today there is no credible threat to the schools of a shooting.

Albion said that rumor was investigated by the district’s school resource officer and other area law enforcement agencies, the district posted on social media and its website at about noon.

Albion and multiple area schools were informed of a potential threat, but it proved to be unfounded.

“Safety is always our main concern, and we will update you with any information if necessary,” district officials stated in a post to the community.

The Medina Police Department said it would have an increased presence at the Medina school campus today “out of an abundance of caution.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Two members of the federal Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team pause and reflect in front of the Sept. 11 memorial on the courthouse lawn.

They attended a 9-11 memorial service on Wednesday evening, which was the 23^rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 others when four airplanes were hijacked and crashed – with two into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the other into a field in rural Shanksville, Pa.

Firefighters stand under a giant American flag that was hoisted above Main Street by the ladder trucks from Medina and Murray.

Scott Schmidt, Orleans County chief coroner and a local funeral director, served as the keynote speaker at the observance which was attended by about 100 people.

Schmidt spent three weeks with the federal DMORT team and assisted in collecting and identifying remains, and interviewing family members searching for loved ones.

He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero. Two of his colleagues on DMORT attended the service in Albion on Monday.

Schmidt said Americans showed “strength and resilience” following the attack, and showed a great spirit of patriotism and unity following the attack.

He urged people to remember the victims in the attack and he praised the service of first responders and those in the military.

Brad Nudd served as the bugler for the playing of Taps near the end of the service.

Local law enforcement officers, including Sheriff Chris Bourke, stand next to the Honor Guard, which includes Jim Wells at left in white uniform of the Honor Guard.

Brandon Carmichael, a chaplain with the Sheriff’s Office and pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Albion, shares a prayer and later the benediction at the service. Carmichael said many families remain in mourning from that day.

About 20 firefighters from fire departments and companies in Orleans County stand during the service.

In New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, there were 343 firefighters killed responding to assist people in the World Trade Center.

There were 60 police officers killed in New York City that day.

Doug Egling plays, “America the Beautiful.”

Board will discuss with school district whether ACS can help with expense in future

Photo by Tom Rivers: Sgt. Will Francis of the Albion Police Department stops traffic on East Avenue this morning so a student could get across the street. The Albion PD has been filling the role of crossing guard since the school year started last week.

ALBION – The Village Board agreed on Wednesday to fund a crossing guard after the position was cut from the village budget for 2024-25.

The school year started last week with no one as a crossing guard. Some of the board members wanted the school district to assume the responsibility but the district said state law requires the local village, town or city to fund the position. A school district can pay for a second crossing guard, but not the first one.

John Gavenda, the village attorney, said he has discussed the issue with the school attorney and the district is willing to negotiate helping to fund the position, but it is a question of how to do it legally or if it can direct any money to cost. Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said there may a “legal loophole” where the district could help with the exepense.

Trustees Tim McMurray and Greg Bennett for the Village Board said it is a small price to pay for making East Avenue safer for kids to cross in the morning.

Having a crossing guard for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon would cost about $6,200 for the school year at $17 an hour, spread over 182 days.

Trustee William Gabalski didn’t want to commit to the cost for the full school year yet. He made a motion that the village pay the expense for the first semester, and try to get some help from the school district for the second semester, which begins Jan. 27.

District officials told the village the crossing guard may only be needed for a half hour in the morning and then the afternoon, from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m., and 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. That would reduce the cost to about $3,100 a year.

The board will have the police department reach out to the crossing guard from last year to see if she is still willing to serve in the role, and if she would do it in the half hour increments. The board, however, said it would pay for the one-hour shifts in the morning and afternoon if that is needed.

McMurray said he can understand why the burden falls on the village for funding the position.

“It’s village residents who are walking to school,” he said.

Bennett said the law clearly states it’s a village responsibility, so he doesn’t want to see any more instances where the position is cut by the village in the future.

“The law says it should be on us,” Bennett said about the village responsibility. “I don’t know why we’re compromising over something that is a law.”