By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 August 2023 at 9:35 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A new scoreboard is in place at the Albion football field and construction is ongoing for a new artificial turf field.
The project will be done in time for the varsity football team’s home opener on Sept. 15 against Roy-Hart/Barker, district superintendent Mickey Edwards said after this evening’s Board of Education meeting.
Albion will play its first two games on the road at Iroquois on Sept. 1 and at Dunkirk on Sept. 8. Albion’s JV teams also will be on the road the first two weeks.
The new turf field is among an extensive campus upgrade. School district residents on Dec. 14, 2021 approved the $26.69 million capital project that includes all three schools, as well as the bus garage, and new synthetic playing surfaces for football, soccer and softball.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman: JaQuess Harrison returns a punt for the game-winning touchdown for Albion against visiting Springville in this game Sept. 1, 2017. Albion won 40-34. The photo shows the former scoreboard and grass field.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 August 2023 at 1:24 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The eighth edition of Rock the Park was a big hit on Saturday with an estimated 700 to 1,000 people attending the Albion Musical Festival that featured seven bands and two acoustic acts.
Nerds Gone Wild, top photo, closed out the day of music for the second year in a row. The band from the Buffalo area performs popular party music from the 1980s.
Ron Albertson, one of the organizers for the festival, said it was a record crowd on Saturday. The festival also had a popular open mic night on Friday making it a two-day event for the first time.
Albertson is joined on the committee by Zack Burgess, Debbie Prest, John Grillo, Bernie Baldwin, Jill Albertson, Tim McMurray, Terry Wilbert, Susan Oschmann and Dan Conrad.
Many other volunteers also made the event possible. The Village of Albion DPW helps set up the event and the town of Albion Highway Department provides a snow fence separating people who pay the $5 admission to be under the main tent with access to alcohol.
Ed Wyner aka “Milton Wild” is lead singer for the band. Some of the first songs by the band were “Tainted Love,” “Always Something There To Remind Me,” “Power of Love” “Footloose” and “Take Me Home Tonght.”
The Nerds had people on their feet and close to the stage for the finale on Saturday.
The Nerds Gone Wild are celebrating their 10th anniversary this month. The band members include John Gibbon on bass, guitar and vocals; Ed Wyner on lead vocals and guitar; Eddy Tabone on drums and vocals; Brian Beaudry on keyboards and vocals; and Eric Rovner on lead guitar and vocals.
Highway 31 performed for the first time at Rock the Park. They rocked to ’90s music, contemporary country and some rock, including favorites like “Footloose,” “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” and “Little Less Talk and Lot More Action.”
Rich Nolan of Gasport, right, is the lead singer. Here he watches the guitar trio of from left, Aaron Clark of Holley, Clinton LaPorte of Le Roy, and Clinton’s dad Tim LaPorte Sr. of Batavia. Timmy LaPorte of Elba, Tim’s son and Clinton’s brother, is the drummer for the band.
Nolan said the band enjoyed playing in the music festival. They performed 13 songs in about an hour.
“It’s fun because you get to hear a lot of bands,” Nolan said. “We’re all hear supporting each other.”
Highway 31 was the seventh of the nine performers on Saturday. (Highway 31 will be back performing at Bullard this Wednesday at 6:30 for a full concert.)
Eclipse performs “Would?” by Alice In Chains. Erin Moody is lead singer for the band with Brett Zambito on bass, left, and D.J. Button, right, on guitar. Mike Parker is drummer for the band. Eclipse is a ’90s-’00s rock/metal cover band.
The music lineup for Saturday included: Carlton Station at 11 a.m., Chris Moore at noon, Shotgun Pauly at 2 p.m., Eclipse at 3 p.m., driVen at 4 p.m., Zackstreet Boys at 5 p.m., Highway 31 at 6 p.m., The Who Dats at 7 p.m. and Nerds Gone Wild at 8:30 p.m.
Saul Harrison, right, served chicken and ribs with his business, Daisy’s Sweet Sauce. He is joined by John Butler, left, and Mehkyron Drisdom. They were among several food vendors for Rock the Park.
The Zackstreet Boys perform on the amphitheater stage at Bullard. Their first two songs were “Sugar We’re Goin Down” by Fall Out Boy and “The Boys of Summer” (Ataris’ version).
The band includes Zack Burgess, right, on guitar and vocals; Kole Moore on guitar, left; Mike Whiting on guitar, center; and Brian Domenick on drums.
Mike Whiting performs with the Zackstreet Boys with Brian Domenick the drummer.
The Who Dats, a long-time local favorite, performed for the crowd. Alex DeSmit is on the drums with Todd Graham, left, and John Borello on guitar.
This photo shows the entire Who Dats band, which includes lead singer Lonnie Froman in yellow shirt, John Borello on guitar (polka dot shirt, Todd Graham on guitar (second from left), Ed Hilfiker on guitar (far right) and Alex DeSmit on drums.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 August 2023 at 11:22 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Karen Conn, center, has opened Hearth & Home Real Estate Professionals at 110 East Ave. Conn celebrated the grand opening of the business on Friday evening. She is joined by her sister Laural Prentice, left, and niece Emily Banks.
Conn has been in the real estate business for 16 years. She is the owner/broker. Prentice has worked as a real estate agent the past two years. Banks will be the administrative assistant for Hearth & Home, which has regular office hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Mondays through Fridays. The office also will be open by appointment.
Conn works as an elementary-general music teacher at Albion. Art teacher Tina Burgett designed the Heart & Home logo and students in the high school art club painted the sign.
Karen Conn is shown on the stairway of Hearth & Home. She and her husband Mitch Conn gave the building an extensive makeover with new windows, sanding and staining the hardwood floors, new lighting, a roof, painting the interior and the exterior.
Conn wanted to run the business out of a former home, rather than an office building. She has decorated the site with many images of Victorian homes.
Conn has a conference room upstairs to meet with clients, as well as offices downtstairs.
“It’s important to make people feel comfortable when doing business,” she said. “I want to put them at ease.”
Conn said she enjoys working with people, especially first-time homebuyers. She wants to help them through the process of finding a house that is the best fit for the long-term.
“I will give them honest answers with no pressure,” she said.
When Hearth & Home closes on a sale, Conn said the buyer will get a wreath for the home.
Shown at a ribbon-cutting on Friday evening includes Laural Prentice, Mitch Conn, Karen Conn, Emily Banks and Darlene Hartway, executive director of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 August 2023 at 10:44 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Ed Anderson Jr. sings U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” for the band Distant View during an open mic this evening at Bullard Park for Rock the Park – Albion Summer Music Festival.
The event, in its 8th year, has expanded the first time for two days of music.
Saturday is the busier day with musicians playing from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Distant View performs “What I Like About You” during open mic night. The band includes lead singer Ed Anderson Jr., right; guitar player Chris Oakes, left; and Bryce Waterson on drums. Rusty Fisher, not pictured, also plays guitar.
Rusty Fisher plays the guitar for Distant View while singer Junior (Ed Anderson Jr.) sings for the band during open mic this evening.
The band Good News performed several songs during open mic. Jason Wilhelm is the lead singer, John Angelucci plays bass, and Bryce Waterson stepped in to play drums. Some of the songs included “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “I Won’t Back Down,” “Proud Mary – Rollin’ Like A River” and several others.
Good News performs during open mic night. The band plays at many Christian festivals in Western New York.
Rock the Park tries to build off the event each year and this time expanded to include Friday evening music, said Zack Burgess, one of the coordinators of the event all eight years. His band, Zackstreet Boys, also performs at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
There are nine bands performing on Saturday. Burgess said the open mic night was a way to expand the festival and also give more musicians a chance to perform on the main stage at the amphitheater.
Saturday’s lineup will be capped by Nerds Gone Wild who proved to be a crowd favorite last year.
The music lineup for Saturday includes:
Carlton Station on acoustic stage at 11 a.m.
Chris Moore on acoustic stage at noon
Shotgun Pauly on main stage at 2 p.m.
Eclipse on main stage at 3 p.m.
Driven on main stage at 4 p.m.
Zackstreet Boys on main stage at 5 p.m.
Highway 31 on main stage at 6 p.m.
The Who Dats on main stage at 7 p.m.
Nerds Gone Wild on main stage at 8:30 p.m.
There will also be arts and crafts vendors, as well as food and beverages. There is a $5 admission charge good for all day Saturday to have access to the tent in front of the main stage. People can also listen to the music for free away from the tent.
Provided photos: Olivia Krenning accepts her Hoag Engineering Scholarship from Alumni Foundation President Steve Hicks.
Posted 3 August 2023 at 9:50 am
Press Release, Albion Alumni Foundation
ALBION – The Alumni High School Alumni Foundation awarded $136,500 in scholarships to Albion High School Class of 2023 graduates during their Class Night ceremony. These awards provide financial assistance to seniors as they continue to pursue their educational goals.
The Foundations’ scholarship committee chose recipients for 50 academic, vocational, service, leadership, arts and athletics scholarships. They poured over numerous applications and chose students that they felt best fit each scholarship’s criteria.
Several newly created scholarships were presented for the first time this year. They are:
The Betty West Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship was established in honor of Betty West, who taught 1st and 2nd grades in the Albion Primary School for 35 years, retiring in 1993. From childhood, her desire was always to become an educator. This scholarship is funded by both generous contributions and West family contributions and awarded to an Albion senior with the same passion for teaching.
Stewart New Scholarship – This scholarship was established in honor of Stuart New, who taught agriculture at Albion High School and served as the FFA supervisor. He encouraged and supported the education of students in our community who were interested in the Ag field. This scholarship, in turn, is in support of current students who have demonstrated a work ethic and goal related to an agricultural career in the local community. It is funded by Dr. Ronald and Suzanne Harling.
Dick Tower Scholarship – This scholarship was established in memory of Richard “Dick” Tower by his family and Preston’s Landscaping. Dick was a hard worker, starting as a laborer in a textile company and advancing through the ranks to a Production Supervisor. Dick helped to mentor and train many young people entering the workforce. After he retired he helped establish and worked for Preston’s Landscaping.
The Alumni Foundation’s scholarship program continues to grow and benefit more students each and every year. Scholarship funding is made possible through memberships and gifts from AHS Alumni and community members, as well as individuals and organizations that contact the Foundation to establish a scholarship. The Foundation manages the funds and awards the scholarships annually during Albion High School’s Class Night.
The Foundation would like to thank the generous donors that work with us to create and sustain these scholarships. Our donors are helping to make a difference for a lifetime for Albion graduates. Contact Steve Hicks at steve@albionalumni.org to learn how you can create a scholarship.
If you are interested in donating to any of the scholarships you can go to our donate button on the homepage of our website (albionalumni.org) or write to us:
Albion High School Alumni Foundation
P.O. Box 345
Albion, N.Y. 14411
Rebecca Wager presents the Ronald L. Sodoma Memorial Scholarship to Ulises Ledesma. This scholarship is in honor of her father who was ACS superintendent for 18 years.
Congratulations to all 2023 scholarship recipients!
Albion High School Alumni Foundation – Natalie Baron, Javon Jones
Paul R. Haines Memorial Scholarship – S’Koi Sanders Smith
St. Gobain Adfors Scholarship – Vincent Molisani
Elizabeth Balcom Smith – Brianna Sample
Golden Performance Scholarship – Hailey Crawford
Jim & Susie Fraser Health Careers Scholarship – Miranda Gebo
Dr. Lee N. Minier Science Scholarship – Clara Bolton
Albion Alumni Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship – Nicholas Andrews
Coach Richard Diminuco Scholarship for Athletic Excellence – Amari Jones
Harry W. Salchak Science Scholarship – Nick Harling
A.B. Dick Eddy Service Above Self Scholarship – Audrey Pask
Nancy Elaine Lagamba Scholarship – Clara Bolton
Dr. Paul Mahany Family Scholarships – Miranda Gebo, Samantha Hand, Daisy Reyes, Natalie Bertsch
File photo by Tom Rivers: These kids try catching fish lastAug. 13 for the 26th Daniel Spierdowis Memorial Fishing Derby. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. The Sportsmen’s Association brought it back last year and 63 kids tried to catch fish.
Posted 3 August 2023 at 9:21 am
Press Release, Albion Sportsmen’s Association
ALBION – Free fishing. Free food and drinks. Lots of prizes.
What better way to spend a Saturday.
The 27th Annual Danny Spierdowis Memorial Kids’ Fishing Derby will be from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 12 at Albion Sportsmen’s Association on Keitel Road.
The derby is open to Orleans County residents ages 16 and under, with prizes given to all entrants and special prizes awarded to the winners in all age groups and categories. Last year, 18 children won fishing poles and all entrants received mini-tackle boxes full of tackle.
The not-for-profit club provides drinks and lunch to all the children and parents.
The derby is named in honor of Danny Spierdowis, who died at age 19 in a car crash Jan. 20, 1990.
Anyone wishing to participate in the derby must register before Aug. 12 by calling or texting Scott DeSmit at 585-815-5150. You can also email him at desmitmail@yahoo.com. Please provide the names and ages of the children and the number of adults attending.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2023 at 11:32 am
Dan Rubinstein says traveling by water is great way to slow down and reconnect with oneself, nature
EAGLE HARBOR – A lone standing figure, on an inflatable paddleboat, is slowly working his way across the Erie Canal.
Dan Rubinstein, 49, has spent the past two weeks paddling across the Erie Canal, going about 20 to 25 miles day. He made it to Albion on Monday. He camped overnight and today is headed west to Gasport.
The canal trek is part of bigger journey that started June 24 in Montreal. Rubinstein, an Ottawa resident, went to New York City on the Hudson River. From there he took a bus to Albany to get on the Erie Canal.
After he reaches Buffalo, he will cross the Niagara River and head to Toronto.
The paddleboard expedition is part of a book he is working about our relationship with water. Not only is water critical to life, but it has the power to help people connect to themselves and nature.
“When we’re on water things slow down,” he said this morning, paddling in Eagle Harbor.
He goes about 3 miles an hour and feels like a metronome, losing himself in the repetition.
Rubinstein is a writer whose project immerses him in “blue space.” He has been interviewing people along the way – some in planned discussions but most in serendipitous encounters.
Dan Rubinstein cuts a path through the water this morning. He has been traveling on the canal the past two weeks.
On Monday evening, he met Doug Miller and Susan Starkweather Miller of Albion. They are featured on his Instagram page that chronicles his journey.
“Everybody has been welcoming and generous, and sharing their stories,” he said. “Everybody has been amazing.”
Susan Starkweather Miller, the village historian, talked about Albion’s canal history and some of the notable events and people in the past, including the 1859 bridge collapse on the canal that killed 15 people. She directed Rubinstein to the Pullman church and its 41 Tiffany stained-glass windows.
“He is a really nice guy and personable,” Starkweather Miller said. “He is very interested in hearing stories.”
She volunteers at the Brockport Welcome Center and her brother is a retired tugboat operator on the canal.
She was impressed Rubinstein took on the physical task on rowing against the current on the canal, and made the effort to hear from local people along the way.
Dan Rubinstein paddles on the 14-foot-long board.
Rubenstein said the canal brings people together of all backgrounds. He has met wealthy people on large boats and others struggling to get by who are fishing for food.
The canal became noticeably more interesting with lots of joggers, walkers and cyclists as he got near Rochester and headed east.
His trip aims to explore sustainability, health, equity, social justice and community.
“To me, paddleboarding — on rivers, lakes and oceans — is a unique way to interact with both natural and human aquatic ecosystems; it can help connect us to this vital natural resource that we often ignore or neglect,” he states on his website about this project. “Standing upright on the water, moving with or against the flow, you see yourself and your surroundings in a new way.”
Rubinstein has a working title for the book, “Water Borne.” He is also the author of “Born to Walk: The Transformative Power of a Pedestrian Act.” The book was published in 2015.
For more on Rubinstein’s Water Borne project, click here to see his website. Check here to see his Instagram account.
Rubinstein passes through Eagle Harbor headed west towards Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 July 2023 at 11:18 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Chuck Prentice and Nicole Boldt, paramedics with the Le Roy Ambulance Service, led about a dozen parents in training to use CPR and a defibrillator.
The training was at Bullard Park on Wednesday evening. Many of the people learning the skills were parents of Albion youth football players. The training was organized by Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program or AYSAP.
Chuck Prentice, a Gaines resident, led the training. He said chest compressions should be done 30 times and two breaths with about 100 to 120 compressions a minute.
He told the attendees they should first check for a pulse and any signs of the person is breathing. The chest compressions should be done on a hard surface, either the ground or floor, he said.
He urged community members to be trained in CPR and be ready to act. Someone could collapse in a grocery store and need CPR, Prentice said.
A defibrillator or AED is used to restart a heart.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 July 2023 at 11:33 am
Village still needs to OK final site plan for project creating 18 apartments
Photos by Tom Rivers: Bilal Huzair of Carlton, CEO of Buildmore Corporation, discusses a plan to turn the former Clover Hill Adult Residence into 18 one-bedroom apartments. Jeff Palumbo, an attorney, is in back. Huzair’s company would do the interior construction for the project if it moves forward.
ALBION – The Village of Albion Planning Board on Thursday approved a special use permit to turn the former Clover Hill Adult Residence into a multi-family dwelling.
Clover Hill was an assisted living site at 355 South Main St. It closed in March 2022.
Realtegic LP in Amherst is seeking to acquire the site and turn it into 18 one-bedroom apartments that would also include a bathroom and kitchen. Ravi Prasher is president of Realtegic.
The project still needs a site plan review before going forward.
Bilal Huzair of Carlton and his company, Buildmore Corporation, would do the interior construction. Huzair spoke during a public hearing on Thursday about the special use permit. He was joined by attorney Jeff Palumbo.
The Clover Hill assisted living site at 355 South Main St. closed in March 2022.
They said they were holding off on the site plan until first hearing whether the special use permit would be approved. Now that Realtegic has that permit, the business will have an architect work on the renderings for how the building will be transformed into the one-bedroom apartments.
Huzair said they will be rented for $1,500 a month and that is all inclusive with utilities.
The apartments aren’t exclusively for senior citizens, but Huzair said he expects seniors seeking to downsize will pursue the apartments, which will also appeal to younger adults and couples.
Some of the nearby residents voiced their displeasure during a public hearing that the site would turn into a muti-family dwelling.
“We don’t want high-density living right there,” said Diana Reed, who owns the house next door.
She said the change to apartments would have a bigger impact on the neighborhood than when it was assisted living. She said there would be more traffic and noise with the change to apartments.
“What is the highest and best use of the property that won’t be something that will degrade the neighborhood?” Reed asked at the hearing.
Jason Dragon, a village resident on East Avenue, also sees the switch to apartments as a more intrusive use for the neighborhood, possibly pushing down property values.
Jeff Palumbo, the attorney for Realtegic, said there are other multi-family dwellings nearby, as well as commercial businesses in the neighborhood. He said the change to one-bedroom apartments makes good use of existing facility that has been vacant for 16 months now.
Karen Conn, the Planning Board chairwoman, said the switch to apartments will not be a significant change on the site. She and the board said they foresee it could result in a moderate increase in traffic.
The special use permit is limited to Realtegic only. If a different owner acquires the site, that owner would have to seek its own permit. Conn noted the board and public can also review the site plan and offer more feedback at a future meeting.
Conn, who also is a real estate agent, said there is a need in the community for apartments for seniors looking to downsize from larger homes and yard work. Many younger couples and singles are also looking for apartments that aren’t targeted for lower-income tenants, she said.
Huzair said the property will stay on the tax rolls and the owner won’t be seeking tax breaks as part of the project.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2023 at 9:05 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The band Zero closed out a 10-year run with a rocking concert on Wednesday evening at Bullard Park.
This photo shows Mike “Thunder” Warren, Zack Burgess and Dylan DeSmit. (Chad DeSmit plays the drums for the band.)
The members are in other bands and their schedule is busy, making it difficult to make the time to rehearse and schedule performances.
The band was a mainstay at the Rock the Park music festivals, helping to raise money for improvements at Bullard.
Zack Burgess sings “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Burgess also performs with the Zackstreet Boys.
Mike Warren strums the guitar. He had the crowd rocking with his performance of “TNT” by AC/DC. Warren is a member of the Savage Cabbage band.
Chad DeSmit pounds the skins as the drummer for the band. DeSmit fills in for other bands as a drummer.
Dylan DeSmit performs at the amphitheater on Wednesday. He is also a member of driVen and Appetite for Voltage.
The band opened the concert by performing by playing “Slither” by Velvet Revolver.
The Albion summer concert series continues at Bullard with the remaining schedule: August 2, Hastings Duo; August 9, Highway 31; August 16, McHenry & Baz; August 23, Rain Date; and August 30, Geneseo Wind Quinet.
The shows all start at 6:30, except for the final one on Aug. 30 which begins at 6 p.m.
Rock the Park also is back on Aug. 4-5 with nine bands performing over two days as well as an open mic opportunity.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2023 at 4:56 pm
85 see snakes and reptiles up close at Hoag Library program
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Ken Kuehne of Kent, left, brought 12 exotic snakes and other reptiles to Hoag Library today as part of a summer reading program. Kuehne and his daughter Amanda, right, let these kids hold an 11-foot-long Columbian red-tailed boa constrictor that weighs about 60 pounds.
Kuehne owns Know Your Rep and does events with snakes and reptiles at schools, community organizations and businesses, and at parties.
He said snakes are often portrayed as villains in movies.
“We have a learned fear of snakes,” he said. “I want to get rid of that myth.”
Layla Hanna and her mother Jessica Hanna touch one of the snakes at today’s presentation at Hoag Library. About 85 people attended the event, the most popular so far in the summer reading program.
Michael Magnuson, the Adult Services Librarian, built up the courage to hold the big boa.
Amanda Kuehne lets the kids touch a jungle carpet python that is about 9 feet long.
Ken Kuehne also brought a baby alligator to today’s show outside on the lawn at the library. He gets nose to nose with the alligator which has 80 teeth, 40 on top and 40 on the bottom.
He said the alligator has been trained to respond to his voice commands. Alligators can slow their heart rate down to two or three beats a minute to stay under water for up to an hour.
Elizabeth Tuttle, the Youth Services Librarian, gets a close look at the alligator.
Willa Diegelman, 2, of Waterport touches the scales on two snakes. Willa’s mother Katherine is next to her.
Katherine Diegelman of Waterport takes a turn holding the mammoth boa.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2023 at 1:02 pm
Melissa Prince takes over Brushstrokes and Amanda Flagler opens ‘Learning Lab Tutoring Center’
Photos by Tom Rivers: Melissa Prince, new owner of Brushstrokes Studios, is shown with some of the bisques to be painted and then glazed. Brushstrokes is located on the second floor of the Arnold Gregory Office Complex at 243 South Main St. Prince is also an elementary art teacher at Albion.
ALBION – Two elementary teachers at Albion are both running businesses at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex. They didn’t plan to have the businesses next to each other on the second floor.
But Melissa Prince and Amanda Flagler see opportunities to promote each other’s business and work together.
Prince is the new owner of Brushstrokes Studio. She bought the business from Dee and Al Hansel. Prince, an elementary art teacher for 23 years, praised the Hansels for building up Brushstrokes and making a comfortable space for artists to create at Arnold Gregory. Brushstrokes has a painting room, display room, inventory room, space for a kiln and a birthday party room.
“I feel like it’s an extension of what I’m doing and it’s my passion,” Prince said about the business offering art to the community.
Brushstrokes has several hundred different bisques – plates, cups, platters, seasonal and holiday items, many woodland creatures, animals and characters from video games. Prince said Brushstrokes has been popular with many beginning artists and those farther along with their skills.
The prices range from $10 for smaller bisques up to $45 for the larger pieces. That includes the bisque, paint, supplies, studio time and to be dipped in glaze and fired in the kiln.
“It’s about disconnecting from electronics and exploring your own creativity,” Prince said.
The remainder of the summer Brushstrokes will have studio hour Tuesday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Prince will also have pop-up events in the community on Mondays. (She will be at the Rock the Park music festival at Bullard Park on Aug. 5.)
Once the school year starts, Brushstrokes will be open for appointments Monday through Friday, with studio hours on the weekends.
Prince said she is planning to offer art classes at Brushstrokes in the future. Click here for more information.
Amanda Flagler has opened The Learning Lab Tutoring Center on the second floor at Arnold Gregory. She is standing in front of a sensory bin on the table where kids find letters, sorting through beans. She has activities, puzzles and games to help students with phonics, math and reading skills.
Flagler opened The Learning Lab Tutoring Center on July 3. She has been an elementary teacher for 10 years and is moving from fourth to fifth grade this school year at Albion.
She will have the Learning Lab open after school from 4:30 to 7 p.m. from Tuesday to Thursday.
She will be working with students from pre-K to grade 8, and has students this summer to help prevent the “summer slide” where students often have learning loss in math and English. She also is helping some younger students with kindergarten readiness.
Flagler has worked as a private tutor. She said many students have gaps due to the Covid pandemic with students out of in-person classes for several months, and then on a hybrid schedule for much of the 2020-21 school year. She works with students one-on-one to fill those gaps.
The Learning Lab has bean bag chairs, tables and a comfortable rug for students to work on their skills with reading, math and phonics.
“This is a separate space outside their home that is safe and quiet,” Flagler said.
Flagler said she expects most of the Learning Lab students will be from Orleans County. She picked the Arnold Gregory site because it is close to the Albion schools and the former hospital is well known in the community. She also likes the connections in the building, including The Tree House, an early childhood enrichment program on the second floor of Arnold Gregory.
The Learning Lab will have an open house from 9 a.m. to noon on Aug. 26. For more information, contact Flagler at (716) 525-3976 or check The Learning Lab Facebook page.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2023 at 8:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Crews have starting clearing land on Butts Road in Albion for a 25-bed women and children community residence. This will be the first residential program for the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse that serves women and their children.
These photos were taken last week as contractors made a path to the site and removed trees and brush.
GCASA has seen more women in recovery and addiction programs with the opioid epidemic, with the prevalence of addictive painkillers, John Bennett, GCASA executive director, said during a public hearing about the project on Aug. 3, 2022.
The $4.6 million community residence will be the first in the GLOW region for women in recovery.
About 12 years ago, women accounted for 23 percent of the GCASA census or people served by the agency. But by 2016-17, that percentage jumped to nearly 40 percent, Bennett said.
The Albion 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.
This project will be one of the few residential programs in the state that is solely for women with room for their children.
“Women have been neglected in residential programs,” Bennett said during the hearing.
The project has been awarded a $4.6 million grant from the state Department of Health for construction of the residence. That grant doesn’t include the operation of the site, which will be staffed 24-7, Bennett said during the hearing.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Denise Thomas plays the keyboards while her daughter Lauren shines light on the pages during an opening reception on Thursday evening for the new Long Haul Gallery at the Care Net Center of Greater Orleans. More than 100 art pieces are for sale to help support the center.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2023 at 12:06 pm
ALBION – A new art gallery has opened at the Care Net Center of Greater Orleans. Many artists are featured in the gallery and their paintings, photography and other creations will support the center at 168 S. Main St. in Albion.
Wende Swick, the center’s executive director, started to consider a gallery after Margaret Gerhardt, wife of Care Net board president John Gerhardt, donated two paintings as a fundraiser for the center. (Swick previously worked as an exhibit curator for an art center in Old Forge.)
Other artists contributed art work, and Chris Marlowe donated about 45 paintings from his own art collection, as well as some of his own work.
The result is about 160 pieces of artwork on display in the new Long Haul Gallery. The name was picked to represent Care Net’s willingness to be with someone through a crisis pregnancy and long after.
Care Net also has been in the community for 32 years and plans to stay for many years to come, Swick said.
Long Haul also was picked as a name because the artwork is in a long hallway at Care Net.
The Long Haul Gallery features artwork from many artists. Some of the artist featured include A. DeVity, Alfred Renz, B. Doyle Maher, Betty Angell, Betty Merring, Carole Mitchell, Cbabi Bayoc, Cheryl Knight-Knapp, Christopher Marlowe, Colin Harris, D. McCou, Delia Delgado, Dick Brown, E. Hesse, Erin Townsend, H. Lohn, Hannah O’Connor, Hellinga, Henriette Ronner, J. Combe, Jack Broer, Jacqueline Lighthall, James K. Bonnar, Jamie Dianne, Jamie Dianne, Janine Miller, Joseph Correle, K. Jann, Katie Becker, Kurt Gardner, Linda Derwick, Lisa Behrend, Lloyd Schafer, Lou Smith, Margaret Gerhardt, McKenzie, Miles, Myles, Ninandre Bogue, Rachel Grout, Ricky, Robert Peter Kyle, Ruth Coverston, S. Terrigino, S. Van De Water, S.H. Letchworth, Sandy Broer, Sharon Sugar, Sun Lee, Tony Barry, Tracy Bugna, Vonnie R. Kinney, W. Ritter, Wende Swick, Zoe Cusson and unknown artists.
Provided photos (left): This young visitor was one of about 100 to attend the opening reception on Thursday evening. (Right) Joyce Foley, a Care Net board member, checks out the art displayed in the new gallery.
(Left) Margaret Gerhardt stands next to the two paintings she donated to help start the new gallery. (Right) Margaret and her husband John Gerhardt cut the ribbon on the new gallery.
Care Net staff include from left: Joanie Vendetti, nurse manager; Wende Swick, executive director; Sharon Sugar, office manager; and Lee Anne Jedamski, client services manager.
Care Net is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The center offers 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.
