By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 June 2023 at 8:29 am
Photos by Vivian Rivers
ALBION – Brett Sobieraski heads to the finish line on Saturday morning in the Albion Strawberry Festival 5k.
Bert Gallmon and Wolfpack Multisport, organizers of the race, embraced the theme of the Strawberry Festival: “Here Comes Santa.”
They had a large Santa inflatable at the finish line.
Sobieraski of Carlton ran the race on Saturday as part of his 49th marathon in 49 days. He completed his 50thmarathon in a row on Sunday as part of a tribute to fallen Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz, who was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022.
Dana Martin, an Albion teacher, leads this group to the finish line.
Photo by Tom Rivers
The age group awards included a Santa theme, and so did the race T-shirts. Gallmon and Wolfpack also gave out Santa hats to the runners.
There were 127 people who completed the 5K. The top three male finishers in the 5K include Matt Seyse at 21:07, Carter Pietrzykowski at 21:10 and Mark Nichols at 21:21.
Top three female finishers in the 5K include Colleen Carroll at 22:54, Cordelia Rivers at 23:59 and Dana Goetze at 24:32.
Another 45 runners completed the 8K course. The top three male finishers in the 8K include Mark Czopp at 34:33, Brandon Carmichael at 34:36 and Sam Glushefski at 34:39.
Top three female finishers in the 8K include Miranda Leo at 34:39, Elizabeth Ogden at 34:52 and Lindon Morici at 35:34.
Provided photo: Brett Sobieraski is pictured with Gene Christopher and his son David Cristofaro.
Bert Gallmon. Gene’s late wife Judy organized the race for nearly 20 years.
Photo by Vivian Rivers
Runners head towards the Santa inflatable at the finish along East State Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2023 at 10:53 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – “Santa Vern” from Boonville, NY, engages the crowd along Main Street in Albion during the Strawberry Festival parade on Saturday. Santa Vern was a vendor selling kettle corn in the food court.
He took a break from the popcorn to be part of the parade, and zipped along the parade route on his scooter. Santa Vern said he wanted to be part of the parade with a theme, “Here Comes Santa.” He also was part of the celebration after the parade with the unveiling of a bronze statue in honor of the late Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 to 1966 and also operated Christmas Park.
Sheryl Watts, owner and artistic designer of Air Raising Events, made a purple eagle costume out of balloons. Ina previous parade she made a strawberry out of balloons.
Strawberry Festival royalty acknowledge the crowd, including King Nick Andrews and Queen Jackie Santiago Garcia.
There were two princesses for the festival: sixth-grader Brooklyn Miens, left, and seventh-grader Ayme Vallejo-Morales.
Kerry Panek and Jim Panek, back left, get a float ready with help from their grandchildren and other family members. They are celebrating 40 years of growing strawberries at Panek’s Pickin’ Patch.
Aubrey Kennedy, 11, of Kent wore the turtle costume in the parade and later for the turtle race along the canal with more than 800 toy turtles. She had some downtime before the parade and played Uno with her brother Auden and their mother Pam. The 50 parade floats and other participants met at the parking lots at Albion High School and the elementary school to get their spots in the parade that last more than an hour.
Neveya Barnes and other Girl Scouts wore Santa hats and beards as part of the float with the North Point Chapel.
The Rochester Scottish Pipes & Drums were among several marching bands in the parade.
Dance Reflections by Miss Heather added a Christmas theme to their routine in honor of the parade theme, “Here Comes Santa.”
Brad Shelp drives a classic convertible in the parade in front of the Mark Time Marchers. Shelp served as the parade’s main coordinator.
The Albion Purple Eagles Marching Band performed their “Jersey Boys” show in front of the home crowd.
Amy Sidari, owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, was an enthusiastic participant in the parade.
The Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps from Le Roy put on an impressive show, especially on Main Street in front of the festival grounds.
The Rotary Coach Pitch team was among several youth sports teams in the parade, tossing candy and treats.
The parade went on despite the Main Street bridge being out of service. The bridge is actually off set as part of a major rehabilitation. Instead of crossing the bridge, the parade route turned left off Main Street to West Bank Street.
Gary Kent drives a John Deere tractor and pulls Santa in a sleigh set on a trailer to close out the parade. Kent wanted Santa to be pulled by a deer. They were on their way to dedicating a new bronze statue for Santa after the parade. The statue is a tribute to the late Charles W. Howard, the founder of a Santa school in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2023 at 7:32 pm
Statue honors legacy of Charles W. Howard who ran Santa School and Christmas Park in Albion
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A bronze statue was unveiled today at about noon honoring Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 until 1966.
Leaders of the Albion Betterment Committee – Gary Kent, Gary Derwick (behind Kent) and Joe Gehl – are joined by three Santas in celebrating the unveiling of the statue.
When the covering was removed from the statue, confetti was shot into the air.
The Betterment Committee worked on the project for eight years, raising about $80,000 from the local community without any grants or state funding.
Mary Ida Doan, center, takes a close look at the statue depicting Charles W. Howard. She and her late husband, Nate Doan, both graduated from the Santa School led by Howard. She traveled from Michigan to be in Albion for the dedication. She was joined by her son Jack.
Mrs. Doan said Howard “was like family” and she didn’t want to miss the statue unveiling.
After Howard’s death in 1966, Nate and Mary Ida Doan continued the school in Howard’s name. They would eventually move the school to Bay City, Mich. and they served as the school deans until Tom Valent took over the leadership in 1987. Mr. Valent continues to lead the school today in Midland, Mich. and he has kept the school in Howard’s name.
Three of Charles Howard’s grandchildren and pictured with the three Albion Betterment Committee directors who have worked on the statue project the past eight years. From left include Charles Howard’s grandchildren Susan Howard Brown, Charles Bergeman and Jane Holland and ABC directors Gary Derwick, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent.
The statue of Charles Howard in a Santa suit is in front of a 24-foot-long mural created in 2018 by Stacey Kirby Steward, an Albion native.
The new statue is at ground level so people can easily get close and get a picture with him, with the mural providing a striking backdrop for photos. The statue is just about life size at 6 feet tall.
Gary Simboli, a retired Albion music teacher, leads the group in Christmas music, including “Here Comes Santa Claus,” before the statue dedication. To the left are members of Charles Howard’s family, including three grandchildren and great-children. Mary Ida Doan and her son Jeff from Michigan also attended the celebration today in Albion.
Jane Holland of Williamsville, Charlie Howard’s granddaughter, thanked many people in the Albion community for working to honor her grandfather. She made special note of Ken McPherson of Medina, who is a Charles W. Howard Santa School graduate and a collector of memorabilia for the school and Christmas Park.
Holland said everyone can be a part of Howard’s legacy by asking themselves a simple question: “What can we do to make somebody else’s life brighter?” she said.
Howard’s grandson, Charles Bergeman of Lewiston, said he was named after his grandfather and was called “little Charles” when he was growing up.
Brian Porter, the sculptor of the statue, had experts on Howard over several times to his home and studio. In one visit to Porter’s home, Bergeman suggested the cheeks needed to be a little bigger to better reflect the likeness of his grandfather. Bergeman smiled and Porter took a photo, and used that image to shape the cheeks on the statue. Bergeman said the final look is perfect in capturing the look of his grandfather in a Santa suit that Howard himself designed.
Gary Derwick, Joe Gehl Gehl and Gary Kent, leaders of the Albion Betterment Committee, were the driving forces in raising money for the statue and seeing the project to fruition. The community gave $80,000 towards the project. There weren’t any grants or government money towards the statue.
Kent said Howard remains a revered leader in the Santa community. Kent was able to see that first-hand during Santa conferences in Albion in 2010 and 2015, when people who portray Santa traveled all over the country to come to Howard’s hometown.
Some of those people were disappointed there wasn’t more done in the community to celebrate Howard.
The Betterment Committee has since put up “Believe” signs, installed a lighted welcome sign with a cutout of Howard in a Santa suite on Route 98, upgraded a sign at the former Santa School site, and supported other projects honoring Howard, including the mural at Waterman Park where the statue is located.
Kent and the ABC group believe celebrating and highlighting some of the community’s history can help Albion be more vibrant today. Putting in the statue in the downtown should help bring more people to the business district in the heart of the community.
A crowd gathered at Waterman Park, which is a half block south of the Erie Canal. The Albion Betterment Committee thanked donors for making the project a reality.
Susan Howard Brown, second from right, is Charles Howard’s granddaughter. She made a 6-hour drive from Michigan to be at the statue unveiling. She is joined by her son William Brown and his girlfriend Catherine Crowell (left), and daughter Stephanie Brown and her fiancé Steven Evans. Santa Vern from Boonville, NY also joined the celebration.
Stephanie Brown, Howard’s great-granddaughter, said “the magic of Christmas” remains very special in the family, as well as Howard’s role leading the first Santa school. He was a prominent Santa who also starred in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for nearly 20 years.
“It’s nice to see that he is treasured here,” Brown said after the statue dedication. “He loved people and it’s nice to see the people around here love him back.”
Brian Porter, a sculptor from Pendleton, is photographed with the statue he created over about 18 months. Porter also is the sculptor for the bronze statue of a soldier outside the Orleans County YMCA, which is the former Medina Armory.
The statue in Medina of the soldier was dedicated on Sept. 7, 2019 in a project honoring the 550 soldiers who trained at the Armory from 1898 to 1947. They fought in four major conflicts: the Spanish American War, Mexican Border Incursion, World War I and World War II.
Many people stopped by the statue today to get a photo, including Stacey Kirby Steward, the mural artist of the Santa in a sleigh over the courthouse and downtown Albion. She visited the statue with her niece Rosemary Kirby, center, and daughter Skylar.
Mary Ida Doan, a Charles W. Howard Santa School graduate from when Charles Howard taught the school, gives the statue a close inspection. Howard’s family and local Santa enthusiast Ken McPherson of Medina also touch the statue and give it a close look. They all said the statue is a fitting tribute to the man who helped so many people serve in the role as Santa.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2023 at 6:44 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – There are about 40 chairs up for bid util the library closes today at 2 p.m., including the one in the top photo with a Pac-Man design. It was painted by students at Albion High School.
The bids art at a minimum of $20.
Cathy Moore, a member of the Friends, said the chair auction s one of the biggest fundraisers for the Friends. She encourages people to bid, and to check out the creative displays on the stools and chairs.
“It’s fun,” she said about the chairs painted in many different colors and designs. “You get all kinds of different things.”
Albion Middle School students painted the chair at left with a music theme and also the stool that looks like a cow, including with an udder below the seat. Judy Manley painted the rabbit-themed chair at far right.
Many local residents and artists contributed to the chair auction, including former library director Susan Rudnicky. She painted flowers on a folding chair. Rudnicky has painted a chair for the fundraiser every year since it started more than a decade ago back when the auction was held at the former Swan Library.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 June 2023 at 3:44 pm
‘This is an amazing part of your life but I want you to be safe and smart – and not just for prom and graduation season, but for a long time to come.’ – HS Principal Jenn Ashbery
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion firefighters and paramedics from Monroe Ambulance take Albion student Miranda Gebo on a stretcher this morning as part of a simulation showing the dangers of driving while drunk.
Gebo portrayed the injured driver of a vehicle that was hit by a drunk driver.
First responders with help from five Albion students simulated a crash this morning. They were sending a message about the importance of making good choices and not driving while intoxicated or under the influence of marijuana or drugs. Albion’s prom is this evening at Hickory Ridge in Holley. Students also are expected to attend many graduation parties and other gatherings this summer.
The two vehicles in the crash were provided by Mike and Joe Quill from Quill Diesel Repair and Towing in Barre Center.
Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham checks on the one of the students, Samantha Basinait. She suffered fatal injuries in the crash, as portrayed in the simulation. She was a passenger in a vehicle that was driven by Nick Andrews, left. Another student, Maya Knaak, checks on the driver in the other vehicle.
Nick Andrews tries to walk straight as part of a field sobriety test administered by Cory Martindale, an Orleans County Sheriff’s deputy.
Natalie Baron, a senior at Albion, is taken by stretcher to an ambulance.
Scott Schmidt, the Orleans County chief coroner, would declare Basinait deceased as part of the simulation.
Students would gathering in the LGI in the high school after the simulation. Matt Prawel, an Orleans County deputy sheriff and Albion’s school resource officer, discussed “Red Watch Bands” which were given to the students to remind them about the dangers of toxic drinking deaths.
Boys (men) are in danger of losing consciousness if they have five or more alcoholic drinks in two hours, while girls (women) could suffer alcohol poisoning with four or more drinks within two hours.
Mary Wright, a prevention educator with GCASA, urged the group to look after each other, and call for help immediately if they see someone who is vomiting from alcohol, or if they don’t respond when shouted at, if they have very slow breathing, can’t stand up, have pale/bluish skin or an irregular/slow pulse.
“Alcohol overdose is a serious medical emergency,” she told the group of about 80 students.
Albion Town Justice Gary Moore sentences Nick Andrews to 5 to 8 years in state prison for aggravated vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated. Andrews, when he’s released from prison, also will need to use an inter-lock ignition device for a year that measures his BAC before starting a vehicle.
Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone, center, said incarceration was needed given the reckless disregard for others and lapse in judgement from Andrews that will have “a tremendous impact” on Basinait’s family and friends.
“He truly has remorse for what he did,” Cardone said about Andrews in the simulated sentencing. “He will have a heavy burden on his shoulders the rest of his life.”
Cardone spoke to the group and congratulated them on all of their hard work over years to be on the cusp of graduation.
He urged them to use good judgement as they enjoy the upcoming period of celebrations.
High School Principal Jenn Ashbery told the students they are loved and cherished.
“This is an amazing part of your life but I want you to be safe and smart – and not just for prom and graduation season, but for a long time to come,” she told the group.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 June 2023 at 11:04 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Scott Mann of Mann Vs. Food checks his pork belly burnt ends. He is one of many food vendors in the food court along East Bank Street.
Albion is celebrating its 35th annual Strawberry Festival today and Saturday. There are two full days of music and activities in downtown Albion and at the Courthouse Square.
One new event is a cornhole tournament at 6 p.m. on a closed off part of Main Street between Bank Street and Beaver Alley. That area will also have food and beer served by Dubby’s Tailgate, which is running the cornhole tournament.
Kris Kingle Kettle Korn has several flavors of kettle corn available, including a Christmas flavor with red cinnamon, blue raspberry and caramel. Pictured are “Bonnie Claus” and “Santa Vern.” They are from Boonville in Oneida County.
Warterman Park has a Christmas theme in preparation for Saturday’s unveiling of a new bronze statue that looks like Santa. The statue pays tribute to the late Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966. Howard is revered in the Santa community for setting standards for how Santa should look and act.
The unveiling of the statue will follow the parade on Saturday at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Photos courtesy of Mike Hannon/Iroquois Job Corps Center: Iroquois Job Corps students in the Union Carpentry Training Program pose in front of a structure they built over the outdoor fenced in runs for the dogs. Instructor Robert Trautwein is seated at left in white hard hat.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 June 2023 at 3:12 pm
ALBION – Construction trade students from Iroquois Job Corps Center have recently completed a project at PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion.
The students, all members of the Union Carpentry Training Program, logged 892.5 hours building a structure over the fenced-in runs for the dogs. They will be going back to build simple framing to support a roof, which will be completed by another contractor, according to Mark Bates, Career Technical Training Manager at Iroquois Job Corps.
This will basically be a “lean-to” type of structure connected to the existing building. All materials were provided by PAWS. Based on the weather, Bates estimates it will take approximately two weeks to complete the project.
This structure was built by students in the Union Carpentry Training Program at Iroquois Job Corps Center. Students will be returning to do other projects there.
Bates said he received a call from Donna Vanderlaan at PAWS, a not-for-profit organization, requesting assistance in constructing a structure over the outdoor fenced-in runs.
“The Iroquois construction team is working with PAWS to improve the shelter for the dogs waiting to be adopted,” said Mike Hannon, safety manager at Iroquois Job Corps Center. “It is a tremendous amount of work. The students have done such a nice job. We are all very proud of them for all their efforts to help.”
Robert Trautwein, carpentry instructor, said the PAWS shelter is finding more work for the Job Corps students and he is very pleased about it.
“People at the shelter treated our students wonderfully and they will be happy to return for another project,” Trautwein said.
Provided photo: The Albion High School Jazz band will perform at 6:30 p.m. today by the canal and firehall on Platt Street. The summer concert series continue through Aug. 30 with five concerts in the downtown area and the latter six at Bullard Park. Today’s concert is on a Thursday but the following events will be on Wednesday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 June 2023 at 12:18 pm
ALBION – The Village of Albion will kick off a new summer concert series this evening at the spot by the Erie Canal. The Albion High School Jazz Band will lead off the concert series and they will perform across from the fire hall on Platt Street.
The concert today is on a Thursday, while the ones following will move to Wednesdays.
The first five concerts will be either by the canal or on Main Street in front of the closed off bridge area. Then the six concerts shift to the amphitheater at Bullard Park beginning July 19.
The concerts at Bullard will have a beer tent and food vendor, said John Grillo, the village’s recreation director.
Anyone interested in being a vendor at the concerts can reach out to the Village Office at (585) 589-9176.
Grillo encouraged the community to attend the concerts, bring their own lawnchair and enjoy the camaraderie with other people.
The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council approved funding for the concerts.
The shows all start at 6:30, except for the final one on Aug. 30 which begins at 6 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 June 2023 at 8:16 am
Mike Thaine praised for rapport with students, setting high expectations
Photos by Tom Rivers: Albion Central School Superintendent Mickey Edwards presents the district’s “Educator of the Year” award to High School band director Mike Thaine, right, during Wednesday’s night high school instrumental music spring concert.
ALBION – The school district has honored Mike Thaine as Albion’s “Educator of the Year” for the 2022-23 school year.
Thaine was praised for leading the high school band, marching band, jazz band and for conducting the high school pit orchestra for the musical.
“He has incredible rapport with students, in and out of the classroom,” said Jennifer Ashbery, the high school principal.
Her daughters are both in the band program led by Thaine.
Clara Bolton, a senior in the band, was among the nominees for Thaine to receive the award.
“Mr. Thaine is an adult everyone can trust,” she wrote.
He encourages the students to work hard and excel, she said.
The award is typically presented just before the Board of Education meeting in June, when the district also recognizes retiring teachers and other staff. Thaine was unable to attend Monday’s recognition program because he was with students at a New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) solo competition in Brockport.
Karen Conn, a music teacher in the high school, said Thaine is highly respected by his colleagues.
“He is a calming presence and an excellent confidante,” she said.
Thaine graduated from Albion in 1986. After working at the Prattsburgh school district for eight years, Thaine came back to Albion and was an elementary music teacher from 1998 until moving to the high school in 2006.
He has been part of a music program in Albion that has won national recognition the past 16 years from the NAMM Foundation for “Best Communities for Music Education.”
Thaine told the crowd at Albion that he loves his job, working with 80 students in the high school band program.
“These guys make it so nice to come to work,” Thaine said about the students. “Kids, I love you and I tell you that all the time and I mean it.”
Thaine has worked more than three decades as a music teacher and he said he is enjoying the job now more than ever.
“I’m blessed with the nicest group of kids I’ve ever had,” he said after Wednesday’s concert.
Mike Thaine introduces the next piece of music during Wednesday’s concert. The jazz band and concert band together performed 10 songs during Wednesday’s concert.
Provided photos: Students in the Niagara-Orleans BOCES cosmetology program curl hair for Albion girls in a session providing tips for putting on makeup.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 June 2023 at 8:25 am
ALBION – Thirty-five local senior girls will be looking like queens for their proms, without breaking their budgets, thanks to the efforts of Cassie Eagle, manager of Community Action’s Main Street Thrifts, Gifts and More store.
In late winter, Eagle got the idea to offer free prom dresses to local girls who might not be able to afford one. The store had received an entire shipment of assorted styles and sizes of dresses last summer, and Eagle offered them to seniors who needed them.
Employees of Community Action’s Facilities Department load prom dresses to take to the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia, where 13 girls chose a free gown.
The community stepped in to help, with volunteers offering to do makeup and hair, hair stylists offering their services, Orleans-Niagara BOCES cosmetology students coming in to do makeup and the MAAC Thrift Shop in Medina donating makeup and hair products.
In all, 35 girls received free prom dresses, including 13 students at the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia. Community Action’s executive assistant Melinda Daniels arranged to have the facilities employees load the gowns in a truck and take them to the School for the Blind on May 23. This is the first time Community Action has taken their services to the client, said Katrina Chaffee, director of community services and reporting.
Three more events took place prior to prom night – two at the Main Street store and a joint event at Albion High School where Orleans-Niagara BOCES cosmetology students demonstrated makeup tips. The Albion prom will be celebrated this Friday at Hickory Ridge in Murray.
Community Action hopes to make the prom dress giveaway an annual event, Chaffee said. They are in the process of creating a room at their store to house the dresses year-round. This will allow someone in need of a formal dress to purchase one for $30. The Main Street Thrifts, Gifts and More store will continue to accept donations of dresses, suits, makeup and hair products throughout the year.
Special thanks is given to Julia Alt, Rose Freidl, Kristin Grose, Katie Oakes and Girl Scout Kinzie Rickner for volunteering at the store events. Appreciation is also expressed for the MAAC Thrift Store for their huge donations of hair products and makeup.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Albion graduates toss their caps at the conclusion of the commencement on June 24, 2022. The graduates sat on chairs on the football field. The previous year, the grads sat in the bleachers for commencement with family and friends in seats on the football field.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2023 at 3:46 pm
ALBION – The Class of 2023 made it clear to school district leaders they wanted commencement to stay outside.
The previous two years the ceremony was held at the football field. For decades the ceremony was held inside the high school gym.
But this year the football field is under construction with a turf field to replace grass.
The senior class and school district have found an alternative outdoor location: the front lawn between the high school and middle school.
This spot was used for an outdoor band concert on June 11, 2021. It was the first live concert at the school district in the Covid pandemic. Albion was prevented by Covid restrictions from doing in-person concerts beginning in the middle of March 2020.
Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent, said attendees for graduation will be welcome to bring their own lawnchairs to enjoy the ceremony that is scheduled for 7 p.m. on June 23. A rain date will be June 24 with the ceremony at either 11 a.m. or 4 p.m.
Seniors also are set for their prom this Friday at Hickory Ridge Country Club in Murray, and then Class Night in the Middle School Auditorium at 7 p.m. on June 16.
Edwards said the graduation ceremony is expected to return to the football field in 2024.
Albion held a band concert outdoors on June 11, 2021 on the lawn at the back of the high school. That area will be used for the graduation ceremony scheduled for June 23.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2023 at 2:26 pm
District will allow hats for students in high school during school day
ALBION – School officials are proposing changes in the student code of conduct to not allow cell phones during the school day for students in the elementary and middle schools.
The district also is proposing a change that would allow for hats and head coverings in the high school, as long as teachers are OK with it in their classrooms.
There will be a public hearing about the code of conduct at 6:45 p.m. on July 10 before the regular Board of Education meeting.
Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent, during Monday’s board meeting highlighted some of the changes being proposed. He noted many districts have prohibited cell phones for students in the elementary and middle schools.
He noted an advisory last month from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy who said social media can profoundly harm the mental health of youth, particularly adolescent girls.
“The most common question parents ask me is, ‘is social media safe for my kids’. The answer is that we don’t have enough evidence to say it’s safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health,” Murthy said in a statement on May 23. “Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment. And for too many children, social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends. We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis – one that we must urgently address.”
Students at Albion in the elementary and middle schools next school year will need to keep cell phones in backpacks or places where they can’t check them during the school day, according to the policy change in the code of conduct. The change includes cell phones and other cellular communication devices (Apple, Samsung, Galaxy, wrist watches, etc.)
The code of conduct states that clothing and appearance should be safe, appropriate and not disrupt or interfere with the educational process.
Some changes in the code include that shirts must not reveal more than 2 inches of the midsection.
The district is proposing to allow hats and head coverings during the school day at the high school level, but not in the elementary or middle school. These hats won’t be allowed to cover ears or faces, and teachers have the right to permit or prohibit hats in their classrooms.
Edwards said the high school did a pilot of allowing hats through the day in recent months and didn’t find hats were disruptive.
Margy Brown, a member of the board of education, said she is opposed to allowing hats being worn during the school day.
“I cannot wrap my head around the hat situation,” Brown said.
She thinks wearing them in class is a show of disrespect and hats also could be used to conceal weapons.
“I think there are certain things we’ve always stood for in Albion and respect is one of them,” Brown said.
Provided photos: (Left) Mitch DeSmit was recognized with a national award as a “Vet Tech Champ.” (Right) Dr. George McKenna, owner of Country Lane Veterinary Services, is presented with an award last week from Rachel Fronckowiak (left), senior territory manager for Merck Animal Health; and Christina Laniak, territory manager for Patterson Veterinary Supply.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2023 at 10:26 am
BARRE – A local veterinarian and a veterinary technician have received national recognition from Patterson Veterinary Supply and Merck Animal Health for World Veterinary Day.
George McKenna, owner of Country Lane Veterinary Services on East Barre Road in Barre, is one of five veterinarians highlighted by Patterson and Merck for the World Veterinary Day celebration that was on April 29.
Patterson and Merck representatives were at Country lane last week to present McKenna with his award. They also recognized Mitch DeSmit, a vet tech at Country Lane, with a “Vet Tech Champ” award.
McKenna was hailed for providing an elevated level of care to his patients and making a difference in his community. He is a member of the Barre Town Board. He and his wife Iva have raised four daughters in Barre. McKenna still lives in his childhood home.
The family also has been active in the American Guernsey Association. McKenna’s daughter Jenny was the National Guernsey Queen in 2015, and served as an ambassador for the industry.
McKenna said he believes he was recognized by Patterson and Merck because a local woman called to say her dog was feeling lethargic and was refusing to come inside her home once it was let outside. McKenna advised the woman to get a CO detector. She followed his advice and discovered there was a gas leak in her home. McKenna said the carbon monoxide could have been fatal to the woman.
McKenna has worked as a local vet for about 35 years.
“It’s nice to be recognized especially because we’re just a solo practitioner and not a mega-practice,” he said.
McKenna said he was pleased to see DeSmit also get recognition. He has worked at Country Lane for six years, with three other years as an intern. Country Lane welcomes interns or students job shadowing from Albion, Holley, Lyndonville, Medina and Genesee Community College.
“Mitch is independent and he’s very good at his job,” McKenna said. “He is thorough.”
DeSmit will check animals for their temperature, pulse, respiration and do X-rays, ultrasounds, clean teeth and assist McKenna in checking or treating an animal.
The Country Lane Veterinary staff celebrate the awards last week.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2023 at 8:07 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Members of the Barre Cubs introduce themselves on Saturday during a celebration to start of another season of the Albion Midget League.
Barre is one of the original teams of the league that started in 1956.
The league this year has five teams: Barre, Carlton, Elba, Rotary-Elks and Sandstone.
Bryson Potter of Sandstone speaks into the mic during the opening day celebration at the Midget League Field behind the Town Hall on Clarendon Road. Sandstone also is an original team of the league from the first season 67 years ago.
This year there are 133 kids in Albion playing on four coach pitch teams, 3 teams for 9 and under, and 4 teams of 12 and under.
There are also another 65 kids between Kendall’s 9u, and Elba’s 2 coach pitch, 9u and 12u teams for 196 kids total on three levels of baseball.
The Rotary-Elks team introduces themselves to the crowd. The team is again coached by Greg Bennett.
The Carlton team this year is led by coach Ryan Woolston. Ben Narburgh was head coach for nearly a decade, including a victory in the championship in 2019. Narburgh is still assisting with this year’s team but is moving out of the area in about three weeks.
Ben Narburgh throws out the ceremonial first pitch. He is among several coaches who have committed many years to their teams.
Scott DeSmit, one of the Sandstone coaches, said he is looking forward to a fun season for the players and their families.
These Barre players, Easton Neri at left and Jacob Knowlton, have fun in a field next to the actual baseball diamond. They were passing time before the opening day ceremony.
The season runs through mid-July with most games on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The championship game is scheduled for July 15.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2023 at 11:32 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Members of the Albion Police Department carried the torch for the Special Olympics this morning in a 2.7-mile run through the village. The top photo shows Sgt. Will Francis, right, handing the torch to officer Sean McElhinny. They are running south on Main Street.
Police Chief Dave Mogle carries the torch at the beginning of the run. Lt. Brandon Annable is at left. Nearly everyone in the Albion PD was part of the run this morning.
Mogle said he went to a Law Enforcement Torch Run last year in Niagara Falls with Village Trustee Tim McMurray to see what a run in person and the logistics involved.
Mogle wanted to host the run to offer another chance for law enforcement between Erie-Niagara counties and Monroe to be part of a torch run. (Batavia also hosts one in Genesee County.)
“We wanted one in Orleans County,” Mogle said. “We welcome more agencies to be a part of it.”
The Albion Police Department pose with students at Albion before the run.
Alex Yankevich, an Albion student, holds the torch before the police officers started on the run.
Dillon Black, a sergeant with the Albion PD, takes a turn carrying the torch. He is followed by Nathaniel Staines.
Albion police officer Justyn Haines runs on Main Street. He wears a commemorative shirt for the torch run. Matt Prawel, an Orleans County deputy and the Albion school resource officer, is at right.
Erica Raepple, senior director of development at the Special Olympics in New York, said the Law Enforcement Torch Run raised $2.4 million for the Special Olympics last year, with funding going to support unified sports and many other programs for people with disabilities.
Leslie Daum of Waterport carried an American flag for the beginning of the run. She said she has been a longtime supporter for the cause. She remembers attending the opening ceremonies in 1979 at Brockport State College when the local college hosted the International Special Olympics.
The officers head south down Main Street. They were headed to Route 31, where they then went east to the Albion school campus to Clarendon Road, back on Route 31, down McKinistry Street and then back to the village office on East Bank Street.
