Albion

Free mittens and hats available at Community Action

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 January 2024 at 12:18 pm

National Grid, Tompkins Community Bank kick off new service with donations

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Community Action of Orleans & Genesee has announced a new service – free hats and mittens to those in need. Here, CAOG’s executive director Renee Hungerford, Main Street Thrift Store manager Cassie Healy and case manager Jeanette Worsley fill a box in front of the store with hats and mittens, free for the taking.

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee announced a new service to the community – free hats and mittens to anyone who needs them.

The idea came from Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action, who mentioned it to Jackie Dunham, director of operations.

“I said, ‘We’ve got to make that happen,’” Dunham said.

Hungerford spoke with facilities manager Rick Standish, who indicated he could build a suitable box to hold a supply of hats and mittens. Within a few days, he had completed two boxes, one in front of the Main Street store, and the other behind Community Action’s headquarters on State Street, with the agency’s mini food pantry.

While discussing the new project with Patrick Weissend, manager of Tompkins Community Bank, he asked if Hungerford would like him to run a mitten drive for them. Within two weeks, he had a huge box collected.

“We expect to get people from the new warming center, who will need hats and mittens to keep warm,” Hungerford said.

Another box full of mittens was donated by National Grid.

“There definitely is a need, not just for food, but for warm clothing,” said Jeanette Worsley, case manager at Community Action.

Hungerford said having the boxes available to the public assures those in need can access them any time.

“Obviously, we can’t have staff available 24/7,” she said. “This way, warm hats and mittens are available all the time.”

The public or any organization who would like to make donations of hats and mittens for all ages can drop them off any time in one of the boxes or bring them to the office during business hours or the Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday or from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

Former Albion village official miffed he wasn’t considered for open trustee position

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 January 2024 at 9:56 am

Kevin Sheehan says mayor didn’t acknowledge letter seeking to fill vacancy

ALBION – Kevin Sheehan says he has a 40-year track record of service to the Albion community, from time on the Village Board including a stint as mayor, to many years with the Knights of Columbus, VFW, youth sports and as the current Planning Board chairman for the Town of Albion.

Kevin Sheehan

Sheehan sent a letter to Mayor Angel Javier Jr., offering to fill a vacancy on the Albion Village Board when Zack Burgess resigned as trustee in October after moving out of the village.

Sheehan said his letter was never acknowledged. Javier chose to fill the vacancy last month with David Buczek, a supervisor for National Grid. The position is up for election on March 19

Sheehan said the village never communicated with him about his letter or the process. He told the board during Wednesday’s meeting there was no communication with him, or with Tom O’Hearn, a retired Albion police lieutenant who also sent in a letter asking to be considered for the vacancy.

Filling the vacancy is a mayoral appointment. Javier told Sheehan he wasn’t considered for the spot.

“None of the letters that came in were considered,” Javier said during Wednesday’s meeting. “You have an election in two months. You have all the opportunity that you want.”

Javier said he didn’t interview Buczek to fill the vacancy. Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley met with him, but she said filling the position was the mayor’s choice.

Trustee Tim McMurray said he was left out of the process to fill the vacancy and said Javier does not share information with him. McMurray said he learned of the appointment in a text message from Riley.

Sheehan said the process is slight to long-time residents with a track record of service to the community. Sheehan said Buczek is largely unknown to village residents. He moved to Albion two years ago.

Sheehan and O’Hearn have been publicly critical of Javier in his first two years as mayor, especially with a dispute over pay with police officers that was settled in favor of the police department. Sheehan also briefly was the village code enforcement officer at the start of Javier’s term.

Sheehan said his letter of interest in serving as trustee should have at least been acknowledged by the mayor.

“If you don’t like me, fine you don’t like me,” Sheehan said. “But why wasn’t there any communication?”

Red Kettle drive in Orleans County raised $12K during holidays

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Katrina Chaffee, director of community services and reporting at Community Action, has announced a very successful campaign for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle drive in Orleans County. (Right) Two of the volunteers who rang the bell for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle drive this year were Jim Wells, left, and Dave Wells, on behalf of the American Legion in Medina.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 12 January 2024 at 2:38 pm

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee has announced the conclusion of one of the most successful Red Kettle campaigns in recent years.

Community Action has run the Red Kettle holiday drive associated with The Salvation Army for many years in Orleans County, according to Katrina Chaffee, director of Community Services and Reporting at Community Action, who coordinated the Red Kettle drive.

While the length of the drive and available locations to set up have decreased, the Red Kettle campaign this year raised a near-record $12,328, which will be shared by Community Action and the Ministry of Concern. A portion of the money funds summer camp for children, while the rest is used by the two agencies for emergency services, Chaffee said.

Chaffee thanks all the volunteers who rang bells and to Tops in Albion and Medina, and Walmart in Albion which allowed the bell ringers to set up at their businesses.

In former years, the Red Kettle campaign began the day before Thanksgiving, but this year it began Dec. 7. This year’s total bests last year’s $9,732 and is the highest since pre-Covid.

Chaffee added she has just received permission from The Salvation Army to use some of the Red Kettle money to purchase food for the new Warming Center recently opened at Christ Church in Albion, while the Ministry of Concern has received approval to use some of their share to purchase hygiene products. Since the Warming Center opened, four individuals have used it for multiple days, according to Nyla Gaylord, director of United Way of Orleans County, who worked on the committee to establish a warming center.

Community Action has also announced a very busy holiday season, with a high number of families assisted with Christmas gifts and dinner.

In 2022, 187 children received gifts from Community Action and 348 individuals were adopted by an outside organization. Holiday meal boxes were provided to 647 individuals. In 2023, those numbers rose to 341 children who received gifts, 368 individuals adopted by outside organizations and 752 individuals who received a holiday meal box.

“We are grateful to have the honor of helping families have brighter holidays,” said Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee. “Each year during the holiday season, Community Action is buzzing with activity. The team pulls together in so many ways, like bell ringing, collecting toys, distributing food baskets and so much more. I am proud of our team and their commitment to the communities that we serve.”

Chaffee also added her thanks to all the agencies who adopted individuals, and to those who donated food and cash.

Albion will add fluoride to water again in February

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 January 2024 at 9:48 am

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Big response today for benefit in Albion for Kyle Gill

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2024 at 8:22 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

$5K cornhole tournament brings some top players in state to Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2024 at 6:05 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

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

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

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

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

Kingdollar welcomes the chance for friendly competition.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25-bed residence for women in recovery takes shape in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2024 at 2:32 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

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

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

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

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

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

Benefit on Sunday for Ace Hardware employee in Albion who has stomach cancer

Photo by Tom Rivers: Pete Pilon, manager of the Albion Ace Hardware, and Hanna Vagg, assistant store manager, are shown with some of the baskets up for raffle on Sunday in a fundraiser for Kyle Gill, an assistant store manager at Ace. Vagg is holding a hockey stick signed by members of the Buffalo Sabres.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2024 at 4:24 pm

ALBION – At Ace Hardware in Albion, Kyle Gill is beloved by his co-workers and the customers for his friendliness and knowledge.

Provided photo: Kyle Gill is shown with his 2-year-old daughter, Rylee.

Gill, 35, is the assistant store manager. He has worked at Ace for about 15 years.

“He is a big Teddy Bear,” said Pete Pilon, the store manager. “He would do anything for you. He will always go the extra mile.”

Gill has been diagnosed with stage 2 stomach cancer. He has been undergoing chemo treatments and will have surgery later this month to remove about two-thirds of his stomach. He has lost about 100 pounds, but is optimistic about the future, Pilon said.

There will be a benefit from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at Dubby’s Tailgate, 165 South Platt St. There will be door prizes, basket raffles, cornhole, darts and other games to help raise money for Gill’s medical expenses. A $20 ticket includes pizza, salad, dessert and a door prize entry.

Ace owners Jerry Ulrich and Molly Jones have purchased “Screw cancer” and “Stomach Cancer Awareness” T-shirts and bracelets and are selling them in support of Gill.

Hanna Vagg, assistant store manager, said the store and customers have rallied to help Gill, with about $3,500 in donations so far, not counting the gift baskets and other items at the benefit on Sunday.

“Kyle is a gentle giant who is always super helpful,” she said.

Historic marker for quarrymen gets repainted with help from Albion students

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2024 at 12:14 pm

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer

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

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

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

Bloom’s Flower Shop moves to downtown Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers: Kristen Ostrander, owner and designer at Bloom’s Flower Shop, likes the added space for the flower shop at 115 East Bank St. Bloom’s moved there over the Christmas holiday and opened on Dec. 26 at the new location.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2023 at 8:49 am

ALBION – Bloom’s Flower Shop, one of the Albion’s longest-lasting businesses, has relocated from 139 South Main St. to 115 East Bank St.

Kristen Ostrander, owner and designer of Bloom’s, left a site with 2,000 square feet to move downtown in a building with 10,000 square feet. She welcomes the chance to grow the business and be a bigger part of downtown activities that promote the community.

“Being down here I’m closer to the other businesses and I can participate in the events and host some of the events,” Ostrander said at the business on Friday.

Bloom’s moved on Dec. 24-25 and opened at the East Bank location on Tuesday. Ostrander and her family have put in a new floor, a cooler, painted and taken out a wall.

She already has received much more foot traffic with the store being in the downtown.

“There is better parking and it’s easier to get in and out,” she said. “There aren’t any stairs.”

Bloom’s earlier this year added tuxedos and now has a changing room for people to try on those clothes.

Ostrander purchased Bloom’s on May 10, 2021 from previous owner Debbie London. The business goes back nearly 90 years in Albion, opening on Sept. 15, 1935. Ostrander said it has been in four different locations over the years, including at 16 East Bank. She has a receipt from 1943 showing that Bloom’s location.

Ostrander said the move to more space gives Bloom’s a brighter future.

“Bloom’s Flower Shop is my passion and love,” she said. “Bloom’s has been such a long-term staple. It belongs in Albion.”

The business will have an open house from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12.

Kristen Ostrander works on a flower arrangement  at Bloom’s. The site previously was used by Frontier Heating & AC Service which is now on Route 31A in Barre.

New member joins Albion Village Board

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 December 2023 at 8:35 am

David Buczek works as a supervisor for National Grid

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

David Buczek

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

County planners back solar array in Albion, screening berm at Barre Stone Products

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 December 2023 at 12:14 pm

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board has backed a 2.25 megawatt solar project in Albion and 525-foot-long screening berm for Barre Stone Products.

Planners met last Thursday and recommended the Town of Albion approve a special use permit and the site plan for a solar project with 5,048 panels at 12811 Route 31, on land owned by Rachael Murray near the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. The project is an extension of the solar array on Long Bridge Road, but they are separate facilities with their own interconnections to the grid, planners said.

USLE/West Albion Community Solar of Latham, NY is the applicant for the new solar project. The panels will be connected to a single-axis tracker racking system. The system will encompass 16 acres of a 63-acre site. The solar array will be surrounded by a fence with a vegetative buffer. There won’t be a battery-storage system. Construction of the project will take 6-8 months.

Planners also recommended the Town of Barre approve a special use modification for a 525-foot-long screening buffer berm by a mine at 4412 Oak Orchard Rd.

Keeler Construction and Barre Stone Products will provide a visual shield and sound barrier for the mine. The berm will be 12 feet high with a base width of 112 feet, allowing for a 1:3 slope that will be easy to maintain with a mowable grass cover.

Barre Stone officials estimated the berm will take about two weeks to construct.

Rochester filmmakers release ‘Christmas’ horror short film shot in Albion

Photos courtesy of Liz Groat: The Coleman brothers film an installment of their horror serial, Merry Christmas Harold and Mabel” at the Downtown Drowsery. The film was released today on YouTube. Michael Ciesla is Harold dressed as Santa and Stephanie Harlowe is Mabel.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2023 at 1:08 pm

ALBION – The Coleman brothers have released the latest installment in their short horror films, and this one was shot in Albion, starring Santa. Click here to see “Merry Christmas Harold and Mabel” which is 8 minutes, 50 seconds.

Harold, a serial killer played by Michael Ciesla, plays a department store Santa at the Downtown Browsery. He is filling in for Nicholas, another Santa who is out sick. When Nicholas returns, Harold isn’t happy to give up a job he enjoys.

Stephanie Harlowe plays the role of Mabel who dresses as an elf and is very friendly with Harold. She creates a job opening for Harold by disposing of Nicholas. Harlowe has several millions views on her YouTube channel several million views on her YouTube channel exploring true crime and mysteries.

Liz Groat, one of the vendors at the Browsery, was impressed by brothers James and Vincent Coleman and their production.

“It is amazing to watch the process of creating the appearance of such murder and mayhem,” she said. “They wash off the fake blood, look to see if they needed another take, and then on to the next scene.”

The short film also includes a scene at the home of Charles W. Howard, a founder of a school for Santa Claus. Harold is shown by the historic marker about Howard, and walking to the front door of Howard’s former home now owned by John Kurtz and Brian Quinn. Harold also is shown taking a smoke break on Beaver Alley.

The Downtown Browsery provided the setting in a new short horror film by the Coleman brothers from Rochester.

About the Coleman Brothers

Coleman Brothers Films was started in 2013 by James and Vincent Coleman. They began their journey as filmmakers at the young age of 9 and 10 making numerous short experimental horror films. They went on to study cinematography through school and numerous film sets. This led to their fan film “Halloween Inferno” eclipsing over 1 million views and gaining them 10,000 new subscribers on YouTube. With the success of “Halloween Inferno” the Coleman Brothers wrote and directed the feature film “The Burned Over District.”

They took home multiple awards in several different categories including Best Feature and Best Cinematography at Horrorhound, Days Of The Dead and The Thing In the Basement film festivals in 2023.

James Coleman and Vincent Coleman, known professionally as the Coleman Brothers are Americans who write and direct horror, thriller, and short films. The brothers were raised in Rochester. They began making films in the second grade using a borrowed VHS camera which then turned into a Hi8 video camera gifted by their parents.

Fire causes smoke damage to Albion home on East State Street

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2023 at 12:43 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

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

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

Aquina, 22, just bought the house in October.

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

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

Artist paints ornaments for staff at Hospice after doing many for annual fundraiser

Provided photo: Bonnie Reigle, administrative assistant at Hospice of Orleans County, stands with boxes full of Christmas ornaments, painted and donated by Carol Culhane for the staff at Hospice. These are in addition to the 45 ornaments Culhane painted and donated for Hospice’s annual Light a Life fundraiser.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 December 2023 at 8:53 pm

ALBION – After painting and donating 45 Christmas ornaments for Hospice of Orleans’ annual Light a Life fundraiser, local artist Carol Culhane wanted to do something for the staff at Hospice.

Early in her career, Culhane worked in the nursing field and continues to have a lot of compassion for those who are ailing and their caregivers, especially at Hospice.

This year Culhane decided to paint enough ornaments for the entire staff at Hospice, and she delivered them on Wednesday.

“I’m hopeful this will encourage people to consider a donation to Hospice, perhaps when a loved one dies, instead of sending flowers, send a donation to Hospice or purchase an ornament in their loved one’s name,” Culhane said. “This is a nice way to remember a loved one and help a worthy organization.”

Reigle said Hospice is very grateful for what Culhane does for them.

“She is so generous to our organization,” Reigle said. “When one gentleman in Florida got the ornament he ordered, it was broken, and Carol came here and painted another for him. But to do this for all our staff is amazing.”

Culhane explained painting the ornaments is a labor of love. She said she lines them up like a production line and it takes her about 30 minutes to paint each ornament.