By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 May 2025 at 8:56 am
Photos courtesy of American Legion Sheret Post in Albion: (Left) Legion Commander Brad Rouse, left, congratulates Phil Warne for 50 years of service to the Legion. Warne is a Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam War era. (Right) Rouse thanks Ralph McMurray for his service to the Legion. McMurray is a United States Marine Corps veteran who served during the Vietnam War era.
ALBION – The American Legion Sheret Post 35 celebrated 50-plus years of service for members followed by a complementary Steak Dinner for them and their guests.
The following were recognized: Phil Warne, 50 years of service; Dr. John Fernandez with 50 years of service, Gus Revelas with 53 years of service, Ralph McMurray with 58 years of service, Ted Swiercznski with 62 years of service, Lester Marble with 60 years of service, and Bob McGaffick with 71 years of service.
(Left) Brad Rouse commends Lester Marble, a United States Marine Corps veteran who served in combat in the Korean War. (Right) Ted Swiercznski accepts a certificate from Rouse and Legion. Swiercznski is an Air Force veteran who served during the Korean War Conflict.
Bob McGaffick, who served in the Army during the Korean War Conflict, was proudly represented by his great-grandson during the celebration for long-time Legion members.
Immediately following the steak dinner, a fundraiser was held to raise money for flags and grave markers for veterans’ grave sites.
Monetary donations were also accepted from Don Jones at $100, Gary Dieboldt at $50, and Tim DeRuyscher at $50.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 May 2025 at 5:54 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Kairo Bennett holds up a sign trying to get people to buy a burger, hot dog or other food today. The Masonic Lodge was serving up the grilled and fried goodies in the parking lot at Save-A-Lot as a fundraiser towards a new concession stand at Bullard Park.
The Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program (AYSAP) is pushing the project and wants a two-story building with concessions and storage in the first floor and a second-floor for a press box.
Geno Allport, AYSAP president, said the building is likely $20,000 to $30,000. The concessions stand would be available to be used by other organizations doing events at Bullard, he said.
“We want everyone to enjoy it – not just football,” Allport said.
The building would be positioned close to the 50-yard line of the football field.
The Masonic Lodge served up food from the grill. From left include Ed Wolfe, John Hollenbeck and Jeff Holler in back.
The next fundraiser for the concessions stand will be a beef on weck dinner on Saturday, May 31, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Albion Elks Lodge. There are 300 ticket available at $15 each. There will also be a basket raffle and 50/50 drawings.
Many businesses and service organizations are donating and assisting with the event.
These kids were out drumming up support for today’s fundraiser. From left include Oliver Dillard, Zurie Dillard, Gavin Jackson, Gunner Jackson and Kairo Bennett.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2025 at 8:53 am
For 17th time in last 19 years, school budget holds the line on taxes
ALBION – The Albion school district budget holds the line on the tax levy, with no increase for the 17th time in the past 19 years.
Albion district residents will vote on the budget on Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m. at Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.
Overall spending in the proposed $44,750,485 budget is up 5.7 percent or by $2,429,819 – from $42,320,666 in 2024-25.
Most of that increase will be offset by a hike in state aid. Albion is budgeting for $1,942,442 more in state aid or an increase of 5.9 percent – from $32,774,455 to $34,716,897. State aid accounts for 77.6 percent of the Albion budget.
Property taxes or the tax levy remain at $8,449,039. Other increases in revenue include more appropriated fund balance – from $455,605 to $683,996 – and more earnings from interest, from $591,111 to $793,153.
“This budget is more than just numbers – it reflects our priorities and commitment to delivering a high-quality education for every student which includes but is not limited to: maintaining small class sizes, enhancing student support services, upgrading technology, and ensuring our facilities are safe and functional,” Wayne Wadhams, the Board of Education president, said in a budget message on the district website.
“Maintaining our precedent of conservative financial planning, we are once again proposing a tax levy with a zero percent increase. While we, like so many, continue to face challenges regarding rising operational costs and potential changes to federal funding, we continue to believe that the District can be fiscally responsible while remaining firmly committed to the future of our students and community.”
The vote on Tuesday also includes the following propositions:
• Authorization to spend $1 million for new buses
• Authorization to collect $657,560 for Hoag Library (down from $664,510)
• Establish a capital improvements reserve fund
• Establish a technology reserve fund not to exceed $3 million
• Approval of multi-year transportation contract with Student Transportation of America
There are also three candidates on the ballot for three positions on the Board of Education. Two incumbents are seeking re-election. Chris Kinter, the Albion code enforcement officer, is seeking another term along with John Kast, a farmer who is also on the board for Farm Bureau and the Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District.
Lauren Stirk, a registered nurse, also is seeking a position on the board.
The top two vote-getters will get five-year terms with the third place candidate getting a two-year term.
Candidate statements in the school budget newsletter include:
Chris Kinter: “Over the last five years it has been a pleasure to serve our community and gain insight into how our school system operates. I’m dedicated to open communication and ensuring that parents feel heard and valued.
“I have made it a priority to be available addressing any concerns and working collaboratively to enhance our educational environment. Together we can build a strong foundation for our students and ensure their success.”
Lauren Stirk: “As a proud alumna, I now have children attending Albion schools. Professionally, I am a Registered Nurse, and I bring both personal and professional dedication to this role.
“I have a vested interest in the safety, quality of education, and opportunities available to our students. I am passionate about supporting the continued growth and excellence of our district, and I’m committed to ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education and the support they need to succeed.”
John Kast: “It has been an honor to serve the ACS community over the past five years through the challenges of the COVID pandemic, working collaboratively to hire our new superintendent, and assisting the completion of a major capital project that improved our facilities for years to come.
“My experience serving on other community boards, such as Farm Bureau and Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District, as well as being a farm owner has helped me on the School Board understand how to keep our school and community strong.”
Photo and article courtesy of Albion Central School
ALBION – Thirty-one members of Albion’s Class of 2025 were recognized for their academic honors on May 7 during the 16th Annual Honors Convocation dinner and ceremony.
Hosted in the newly renovated high school gym, graduating seniors with a cumulative weighted grade point average of 90% or higher were recognized for their achievement in front of their families, administrators and board of education members.
2025 academic honors students include Zachary Abel, Mallory Ashbery, Zackary Baron, Nicholas Baxter, Oliver Beach, Leo Bolton, Sawyer Brigham, Olivia Brooks, Cassandra Brown, Dillion DiGiulio, Kelli Dingle, Samantha Dobo, Nolan Franzese, Nathan Garrett, Tracy Garrett, Alexis Hand, Rori Higgins, Matthew Kania, Mallory Kozody, Seth Krenning, Madison LeBaron, Kenadie Patten, Emily Richardson, David Rosario-Soto, MacKenzie Snook, Natalie Soule, Roselan Steffen, Tye Talbot, Ella Trupo, Zachary Yankevich and Keira Zambito.
The honorees were called to the stage individually to receive their certificate and then were adorned with their honors cords from their parents/guardians.
Mr. Kyle Thaine, ’16, was the guest speaker for the evening. Thaine currently teaches Global History II, US History and is the Senior Class Advisor in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District. Thaine’s words of wisdom to the Albion Class of 2025: “Read something every day. It can be a book, an article from the news, or a writeup on last night’s game. Anything. Just find time every day to read something that someone else has written.”
The Class of 2025 is set to graduate on Friday, June 27.
Provided photo: Albion eighth-graders Mary McCormick (left) and Kendall Peruzzini (right) are shown in November with Craig Lane, superintendent of the Orleans County Department of Public Works, after a headstone was delivered for a Civil War soldier buried in an unmarked grave at the Alms House Cemetery on West Countyhouse Road. The public is invited to a dedication ceremony at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday at the cemetery.
ALBION – The hard work and research of two Albion Middle School students on a forgotten Civil War veteran buried at the Orleans County Alms “Poor”House Cemetery will culminate with a special “headstone unveiling” this Satursday at 10:30 a.m.
All are invited, rain or shine.
Last fall eighth graders Mary McCormick and Kendall Peruzzini discovered that a former Civil War soldier, Daniel L. Walterhouse, was buried at the cemetery in an unmarked grave.
After verifying the soldier’s lengthy stay at the Alms House and his significant military history, they applied for, and received, a Civil War era headstone from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Local dignitaries, historians, veterans, teachers, students, and interested parties will be in attendance. The program will conclude with a special military salute.
The project has garnered national media attention with coverage from the Washington Post, Fox News, the New York Post, and, most recently, the current edition of Reader’s Digest.
The cemetery is located a quarter mile behind the Emergency Management buildings at 14064 W. County House Rd., Albion.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for seating and umbrellas if there is rain.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 May 2025 at 12:59 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Medina Marching Band performs on Sept. 21 at Vets Park during the Fall Festival of Bands. Despite being of the smaller schools that competes in the field band competition, Medina has won the New York State Field Band Conference Championship several times.
The national list of school districts with outstanding music programs once again includes Albion and Medina.
The two districts in Orleans County join 935 districts total around the country as “Best Communities for Music Education.” Albion has now received the designation the past 18 years while Medina is one the list for the second year in the row.
The North American Music Merchants has presented the annual list for 26 years. The recognition highlights outstanding efforts by school districts and their communities music education.
“Your collective efforts — teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders — have been instrumental in making music part of a well-rounded education for every child,” NAMM said. “We applaud your community’s unwavering commitment to creating an environment where each child can learn and grow with music.”
Medina for the third year started doing its own musical in the junior-senior high school after about a decade of a shared program with Lyndonville. Medina has long had a stellar marching band program.
The NAMM Foundation’s list includes other nearby districts: Roy-Hart, Akron, Batavia, Geneseo, LeRoy, Lockport, Mount Morris, Perry, Warsaw and York.
Albion High School’s drama department performed Cinderella in late March. The district is perennially recognized as an outstanding musical among small schools in the Rochester region. This photo shows Zack Baron as Prince Christopher putting the slipper on Mallory Kozody who is Cinderella. Phoebe Allen, the evil stepmother, is on the couch. In back include Ella Trupo as Fairy Godmother, Sawyer Brigham plays Lionel, Julia Button as stepsister Joy, and Mallory Ashbery as a stepsister Grace. Albion does two musicals each year at the high school, and two at the middle school. The school also has a marching band and does many concerts and musical programs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2025 at 9:20 am
Photos courtesy of Tim Archer
ALBION – Some Albion eighth-graders teamed with Clarendon Town Historian Melissa Ierlan to give two historic markers a facelift with fresh coats of paint.
The top photo shows Emmaline Gailie, Nicole Loney and Tatiana Morales with Ierlan and the marker for the First Academy between the Niagara and Genesee.
The marker is in Gaines on Ridge Road, one mile west of Route 279.
The students also teamed with Ierlan to give this marker for the Brick Pond fresh paint. This marker is on Route 98, south of Route 104. Ierlan has removed old, flaking paint from about 30 markers in Orleans County and given them new paint.
J.A. Lafler opened a brickyard here in the 1850s, producing drainage tile and bricks for local buildings. He patented a brick machine in 1863.
Lux Froman paints the pole black on the marker for the Brick Pond.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2025 at 8:22 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Mount Albion Cemetery is in its budding and blossoming glory right now, with many colors on display in the historic cemetery along Route 31.
Mount Albion in 2022 became accredited as an arboretum through ArbNet and The Morton Arboretum. The cemetery covers about 100 acres and is home to more than 1,100 trees and an array of flowers and bushes.
There are 65 varieties of trees, ranging from alder to beech, butternut to basswood, oak to spruce, hemlock to dogwood, pine to cedar and chestnut, according to the listing by ArbNet and The Morton Arboretum.
“But what dominates the landscape is New York State’s official tree – the Sugar Maple,” the group stated. “It’s brilliant fall colors dance across the landscape like a kaleidoscope of calm.”
Many people enjoy walking and visiting the cemetery, especially in the fall. But right now might be the best time of the year to visit the cemetery.
The cemetery hosts tours in the summer. A spring-time tour highlighting the different types of trees would be much appreciated by the public as well.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 May 2025 at 8:11 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Peter Stritzinger, 13, places flags on veterans’ graves this morning at Mount Albion Cemetery.
Stritzinger and other Scouts in Troop 164 and Pack 164 set flags on more than 1,300 flags at Mount Albion and St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
The Scouts for decades have teamed with the American Legion and VFW to have the flags at veterans’ graves before Memorial Day.
Leo Gotte, 12, of Troop 164 and his mother, Megan Gotte, place flags where veterans are buried at Mount Albion.
Jack Breuilly, 13, (left) and Colson Braley, 14, carry flags while looking for veterans’ graves at Mount Albion.
Jay Baron, 5, teams with his father Jeff Baron to put flags at veterans’ markers. Jeff is the dean leader for Pack 164 which allows Scouts as young as 5. Jeff remembers putting flags at the cemetery before Memorial Day when he was a kid and a Boy Scout.
Colton Durow, 14, finds a veteran’s grave to place a flag. Mount Albion has many varieties of trees in bloom right now.
This year the Memorial Day parade begins on May 26 at 10 a.m. at the corner of Park Street and South Main Street and proceeds to the Middle School where there will be a service at 11 a.m. in front of the school.
People and organizations interested in being the parade should contact Phil Warne of the Legion at (585) 589-5701. He is co-chairman of the parade with Matt Passarell from the VFW.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 May 2025 at 11:06 am
150 dresses and counting have been given out last 3 years
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Ayesha Way, a senior at Albion High School, checks out a dress which caught her eye at the Main Street store on Wednesday evening. (Right) Melody Snook from Holley High School models the gown she chose for her prom.
ALBION – Dozens of seniors in area schools will attend their proms this spring, decked out with beautiful gowns, stunning accessories and flattering makeup, thanks to Community Action’s Main Street Thrifts, Gifts and More store.
This is the third year store manager Cassie Healy has promoted a prom giveaway, in which donated prom dresses, accessories, makeup and hair products are given free to high school seniors in Orleans County and Batavia.
Kristalyn Taylor, a 16-year-old senior at Albion High School, picks out hair accessories and makeup for her prom.
Healy and her volunteers have already taken dresses to Niagara-Orleans BOCES, the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia, Lyndonville High School and Holley High School. Upcoming events are scheduled Friday in Albion High School and Tuesday at Medina High School.
Last year Healy said they provided free prom attire for 52 girls. This year they have already given out 68 gowns, and that doesn’t count the number of gowns chosen Wednesday evening at the Main Street store or the giveaways scheduled Friday at Albion High School and Tuesday at Medina High Schools.
Healy said the community has been very generous with their donations, and prom dresses are being donated all year. A section at the back of the store has been curtained off with tables full of makeup, jewelry and accessories, a backdrop for taking pictures and a changing room.
Also on site Wednesday night was Valerie Webb of Le Roy, a teacher at Holley, who volunteered to do on-the-spot alterations when needed.
Senior Ayesha Way from Albion High School was delighted with the opportunity to get a prom dress.
“Some prom dresses go for $400 or more, and not everybody can afford that,” she said.
Melody Snook, 16, a senior at Holley, shopped with her mom, who approved the dress she chose.
“I thought this was a wonderful opportunity for the girls,” said her mother Colleen Wiest. “I’ve seen nothing but happy faces coming and going. We had been shopping in the stores for a dress but couldn’t find her size.”
Healy said the dresses on her racks ranged from size 0 to 24, in all colors and styles.
Many of the girls also found shoes in their size to match their dress.
Store associate Anna Geldard helped girls to choose makeup, fake eyelashes and jewelry to complement their gowns.
“We have a very wide array of things to choose from, and girls are obviously very appreciative,” Geldard said. “I still have the pictures from my prom five or six years ago and I remember what a special day it was. Being able to be part of helping someone else get ready for their prom is very special.”
ALBION – The Albion school district budget holds the line on the tax levy, with no increase for the 17th time in the past 19 years.
