Site will add monument to 1859 bridge collapse victims, and bench and lamppost made of old steel from Main Street lift bridge

Photo by Tom Rivers: The park by the canal recently added the concrete planters with flowers. More elements are headed to the site.

ALBION – The small park along the Erie Canal across from the Albion Fire Hall has been referred to as Canal Park and Firemen’s Park over the years.

Now it has an official name,” Erie Canal Park.”

Village Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Van Skiver said the park has never been formally named. She and her staff combed through the village records.

Provided photo: Bill Schutt made a lamppost from old steel from the Main Street lift bridge.

The village plans to dedicate the park with a ceremony at noon on Sept. 28. During that event, a monument will also be unveiled to the 15 victims in the Sept. 28, 1859 bridge collapse. The Main Street bridge at the time gave out when 250 people crammed on the bridge to watch a wirewalker. The Albion Rotary Club is taking the lead in working with Brigden Memorials of Albion on the project.

The village also is installing two pieces made from old steel from the Main Street lift bridge which has been closed since November 2022 for a major rehabilitation.

A park bench is being made by village employees from some of the discarded steel from when the bridge was originally built in 1914.

The village also used a grant from GO Art! to pay artist Bill Schutt to make a lamppost from the old steel. The lamppost will provide another light at the park.

The village also has moved some of the concrete planters that were in the downtown to the park. They are on the back perimeter of the site.

The gazebo also will get new shingles and paint as Albion tries to create a more inviting spot for local residents and visitors on the canal. The Village Board said it is open to naming the gazebo in honor of someone and will take suggestions from the community.

The park includes a historical marker dedicated for a Revolutionary War hero, Marquis de Lafayette. The French military officer provided critical aid to George Washington in securing American independence. Lafayette traveled on the Erie Canal from Lockport to Rochester in June 1825 to great fanfare.

There also is an interpretive panel at the site about different facets of the Erie Canal in Albion.

The park is between Platt and Ingersoll on the south side of the canal.

Group will take ideas from public at Sept. 10 meeting

The late Charles Howard, leader of a Santa Claus School and also Christmas Park, works with a Santa portrayer in Albion in this undated photo. Howard died in 1966. The Betterment Committee may utilize some of his designs and concepts in a new Santa House.

ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee is ready to tackle its next project celebrating Albion’s Santa legacy.

The group wants to build a Santa House on village-owned land next to the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street. The Village Board has given the Betterment Committee permission to pursue the project, with the understanding the board gets a final say on the design of the building and site layout.

The Betterment Committee wants to hear from the public about the project. The group is planning an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 10 at Hoag Library. The public can share its ideas for the how the building should look.

The village doesn’t want the structure to be more than 200 square feet.

The Betterment Committee has $21,000 raised already towards the project. It is pricing out materials and other expenses for the Santa House and site improvements.

The group is also planning to have a sleigh built and installed in the Waterman Park where there is a bronze Santa statue. The Betterment Committee unveiled that statue during the Albion Strawberry Festival in June 2023. The new sleigh will also be a tribute for Howard’s grandson, the late Charles Bergeman. He passed away at age 64 on Oct. 31, 2023.

The Betterment Committee has also put “Believe” signs in Albion, a welcome sign with an image of Charles Howard in a Santa suit, while supporting other projects to highlight Howard and the Santa School that operating in Albion from 1937 until Howard’s death in 1966. (The school continues in Howard’s name today in Midland, Mich.)

The new Santa House will include display areas for memorabilia from the Santa School and the Christmas Park that was also run by Howard.

Natasha Wasuck of the Betterment Committee wants the house to be “cute with a lot of personality.”

The Santa statue is shown in June 2023 with a mural of Santa in flight over the courthouse and downtown Albion. Stacey Kirby Steward created the 24-foot-long mural in 2018. Brian Porter made the bronze statue.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Town of Albion Highway Department has added more signage to draw attention to the underpass on Butts Road.

The signage warns to not have tall trucks go under the bridge and orange flags to draw more attention on previous signs. Together they should alert drivers to an underpass that is struck about three times a year, said Mike Neidert, the town highway superintendent.

The highway department added the new signs and orange flags north and south of the underpass, which has a clearance of 7 feet, 2 inches.

There is another underpass on a railroad bridge not far away on Keitel Road with an 8-foot, 6-inch clearance. Neidert thinks some drivers may confuse the two leading to some of the accidents and scrapes on Butts Road.

The town spent about $1,200 to try to reduce the accidents with the underpass.

9 churches, 65 volunteers joined in hosting event

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jovannie Canales, associate pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship, speaks from the amphitheater stage on Saturday during Family Fun Day at Bullard Park. Harvest and eight other churches put on the event with a Christian message and also many free activities and food.

Canales is joined on the stage by his wife Melisa, left, and Faith Smith, director of the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen at Harvest.

Jovannie and Melisa Canales used to be the pastors at the Oasis Church in Medina, which started Family Fun Day. That church has merged with Harvest Christian Fellowship.

There were six Family Fun Days in Medina at Butts Park before the change to Albion on Saturday.

Jovannie Canales said eight people were baptized on Saturday, and 202 people made commitments or rededications to be Christians as followers of Jesus Christ.

These children use sling shots to fire away at Goliath, a giant, in one of the activities. There were several bounce houses and other games.

About 900 people attended Family Fun Day which used to be held at Butts Park in Medina. This year it shifted to Bullard in Albion.

Volunteers cooked 1,000 hot dogs which were given away for free. Charlie Broadway of the Risen Café, left, works the grill and is joined by John Austin.

There were 65 volunteers for the event on Saturday from nine different churches.

Several local agency leaders spoke at the event about services they provide in the community.

Alaina Fleming, who works for the county’s Office of Child and Family Services in the Department of Social Services, encouraged people to consider being foster families. She also spoke about the Safe Harbour program which tries to educate children and the community about the dangers of human trafficking. Fleming also shared about the youth court program with peers providing accountability for minor delinquent acts.

Faith Carini-Graves of Hillside Family of Agencies works as a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Hillside Family of Agencies. She said Hillside works across the state with youths and families that have experienced trauma and helps them to overcome challenges.

Sharon Sugar, office manager at Care Net of Greater Orleans, shares about the services offered at Care Net including pregnancy testing, education and limited ultrasounds. Besides pregnancy testing and support, Care Net also offers STI testing and parenting classes for both males and females.

Care Net gives out material aid such as diapers, wipes, blankets and clothing up to size 24 months, when available. The center also recently opened an art gallery.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A ministry continues that was started by the late Angela English, who filled purses with personal care kits and offered to pray with people.

Eddie and Rose English, Angela’s parents, on Saturday were joined by friends in making 87 purses available for free. They were at the courthouse lawn for about six hours, giving away the purses and praying with people.

Eddie and Rose are leaders of The Lord’s House, a church in Waterport.

Angela was 37 when she passed away on Oct. 19, 2020. She was diagnosed with cancer on Dec. 27, 2019. Angela started the “Purses with a Purpose” ministry in 2018. She would give purses with toiletries to women in the Albion community.

There were 87 purses available on Saturday. They were filled with soaps, lotions, conditioners, a mirror and earrings. The purses also included messages from Angela’s children, Omar and Olivia Peterson, and information on the HPV vaccine that can help prevent cervical cancer.

Yolanda Rice, center in back, and Evelyn Brady pray with a group of young people.

Rose English said many in the community helped to acquire the purses and fill them, especially the women’s ministry group at the Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The band Tryst from Rochester closed out the Rock the Park 9 music festival at Bullard Park on Saturday night.

The band is performing “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind.

Tryst opened with “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon.

The concert by Tryst capped two days of music at Bullard Park, which has been hosting the music festival as a fundraiser for the park and also to bring people to the park and Albion for a music-filled experience.

Tryst, shown singing “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” by Luke Bryan, made its debut at the Albion Summer Music Festival. Nine different bands performed on Saturday and three bands were on the stage for Friday.

Ron Albertson, one of the committee members, estimated 1,000 people attended the festival over the two days. Some rainy weather earlier on Friday may have deterred some people from attending, but Albertson said overall the weather was very ideal for the outdoor performances.

Ron Albertson, left, is joined on the stage by Scott Ryan, father of the late Dan Ryan, a long-time supporter of Rock the Park. This year’s festival’s is dedicated to Dan Ryan, who passed away at age 39 on June 23.

Scott Ryan pulled the ticket for the winner of a guitar and starter kit. Dan Ryan donated several refurbished guitars for previous Rock the Park events. Scott Ryan said the family will continue to donate a guitar for Rock the Park in the future.

The Zackstreet Boys performed early afternoon on Saturday. The band includes Zack Burgess, center, on guitar and vocals; Kole Moore on guitar, left; Mike Whiting on guitar, right; and Brian Domenick on drums.

Other performers on Saturday included Chris Moore, Ryan & Company, Distant View, Shotgun Pauly, driVen, The Who Dats, 7th Heaven and Tryst.

On Friday, the bands included Triple Play, Lonesome Road and Highway 31.

Bill Pileggi plays guitar and sings for Triple Play, which made its first appearance at Rock the Park. Pileggi, a retired Holley school principal, said he liked how the sound was all set up for the musicians and they were able to easily follow one another on the stage, with most of the concerts about an hour.

“We enjoy listening to each other,” Pileggi said about the showcase for so many bands. “For a small town we have a lot of talent.”

The crowd was close to the stage for Tryst, while many also enjoyed the music from under the tent.

Tryst had the crowd fired up for the show.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Big Futch sings and plays the mountain dulcimer during a concert a Hoag Library in Albion today. Futch is shown singing, “John Henry was a Steel Drivin’ Man.”

Futch has been a professional musician for more than 30 years. He tours nationally and lives in Orlando, Fla.

About 50 people attended today’s concert at Hoag.

Jim Doyle, a librarian at Hoag and the music series coordinator, introduces Futch, who Doyle called “a super cool musician.”

Hoag started the concert series last year and Doyle has tried to line up musicians who haven’t performed in Orleans County before.

A state arts grant administered by GO Art! makes the concert series possible.

The concerts are free and begin at noon. The remainder of the lineup this year includes:

• Rochester Recorder Society on Aug. 17
• Alyssa Rodriguez on Sept. 14
• Muriel Anderson on Oct. 12
• Duo Tufekčić & Conant on Nov. 9
• Rochester Ukulele Orchestra on Dec. 7

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Highway 31 performed on Friday night from the amphitheater stage at Bullard Park. It rained hard earlier in the day on Friday, but the drizzle stopped in time for the bands at Bullard. This photo is taken looking through from under a big tent.

Highway 31 followed Lonesome Road and Triple Play. Today is the second day of Albion Summer Music Festival/Rock the Park 9. Musicians will be on stage from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The lineup includes Chris Moore and Ryan & Company, followed by bands Distant View, Zackstreet Boys, Shotgun Pauly, driVen, The Who Dats, 7th Heaven and Tryst.

Highway 31 includes Rich Nolan as the lead singer, Aaron Clark of Holley and Tim LaPorte Sr. on guitar, Clinton LaPorte on bass, and Timmy LaPorte on drums.

Rich Nolan, lead singer for Highway 31, kept the crowd entertained with ’90s music, contemporary country and some rock. Here he is singing “Something Like That” by Tim McGraw.

Sheri McIlvene, left, and Susan Oschmann are selling $5 tcikets for a chance to win beer and wine packages. Oschmann has been selling the tickets this summer as a fundraiser for pickleball courts at Bullard Park.

The winning tickets will be announced at about 8:45 p.m. today in between the performances by 7^th Heaven and Tryst.

Jill Albertson is selling tickets for a chance to win a guitar and starter kit. This year’s Rock the Park is dedicated in memory of Dan Ryan, who was a key promoter of the event.

Ryan passed away at age 39 on June 23. He donated refurbished guitars as a fundraiser for past Rock the Park events. Ryan also helped with the sound, worked security and played drums in bands that performed at the music festival.

‘Rock the Park’ returns Friday and Saturday

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Frank Starowitz, left, the lead singer for Savage Cabbage and bassist Mike “Thunder” Warren give an energetic start to “TNT” by AC/DC.

Savage Cabbage performed on the amphitheater stage at Bullard Park on Wednesday evening. The band has been playing locally since 1979 and includes cabbage farmers – Frank, John and Andrew Starowitz, as well as other musicians.

Frank Starowitz, center, sings “Lick It Up” by Kiss. From left include Mike “Grinder” Moore, John Starowitz, Frank Starowitz and Mike “Thunder” Warren.

Bullard Park will host the Albion Summer Music Festival/Rock the Park 9 on Friday and Saturday.

The lineup on Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. includes Lonesome Road, Triple Play and Highway 31.

Then on Saturday, the longer schedule from 11 a.m., to 11 p.m. includes Chris Moore and Ryan & Company to start the music, followed by bands Distant View, Zackstreet Boys, Shotgun Pauly, driVen, The Who Dats, 7th Heaven and Tryst.

The Rochester band Tryst will close out the festival on Saturday. Organizers of the event picked a new band to conclude the music on Saturday, after two years of having Nerds Gone Wild for the finale.

“We’re trying to mix it up,” said Ron Albertson, one of the committee members for Rock the Park. “We had real good turnout the past two years with Nerds.”

Albertson said about 1,200 people attended the festival last year. Proceeds go towards upgrading Bullard Park.

The event also will include food, and arts and crafts vendors.