Albion
Disc golf course goes in at Bullard Park in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Dylan Coyle of Albion tosses a frisbee at a basket at Bullard Park this morning. The village Department of Public Works put in several of the baskets today as part of a nine-hole disc golf course.
Coyle has been pushing for a disc golf course in Albion for several years. He lives right around the corner from Bullard.
Coyle is up close and tries a frisbee that functions like a putter for short-range tosses. Coyle also has frisbees for mid-range distances and then a driver for long throws.
The new baskets are funded with a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. The Orleans County YMCA received the grant is spearheading nine-hole courses at Bullard and also at Gulf Street Park in Medina.
The grant covers tee boxes, signs and baskets that are mounted in small concrete foundations – 8 inches wide by 20 inches deep.
Coyle said he plays at courses around the region, including one at Lakeside Beach State Park. He said the sport is fairly inexpensive with the specialized frisbees available for $20 or less.
“There are no green’s fees,” he said. “It’s a great activity to get out into nature and have fun with your friends.”
Village of Albion Department of Public Workers employees put in one of the baskets for the disc golf course. From right to left include Charlie Ricci, Scott Bradshaw (in orange shirt), Shawn Stephens and Jeff Arnett (in backhoe).
The DPW expects to finish putting in all nine baskets on Wednesday.
One of the signature holes for the course has the basket nestled back in the woods along the bank of Sandy Creek.
The creek passes by this hole. One of the hardest holes has a tee-box from the top of the sledding hill.
As book circulation decreases, Hoag sees demand for computers, meeting rooms
Photos by Tom Rivers: Betty Sue Miller, Hoag Library director, discusses how the library is making efforts to meet the needs of the community.
ALBION – Hoag Library is a busy place, even as the circulation for books goes down.
The library, at its annual meeting on Monday, reported a total circulation of 40,082 in 2022, with 28,927 from books being checked out and 11,025 non-books. Prior to the Covid pandemic, the circulation was about 90,000. Circulation was at 46,270 in 2021.
Hoag sees lots of demand from the community in other ways, said Betty Sue Miller, the library director.
The meeting rooms were used 1,598 times in 2022. There were 12,260 WiFi sessions for internet use, 3,531 computer sessions, 971 Fax services, 654 reference questions, and 463 notarized documents.
There were 555 programs hosted by the library in 2022 with a total attendance of 5,433. There were 4,695 items from Hoag taken out through the inter-loan library system with 6,274 items borrowed through that program run by the three-county Nioga Library System.
The library last year also started hosting blood drives for the American Red Cross, AAA defensive driving courses, hot spots for the internet and welcomed a piano in memory of Jared Fearby.
This year the library has started a new concert series. Kinloch Nelson opened the series on April with about 75 attending the concert. Ricardo Saeb is the next performer this Saturday at noon.
Veronica Morgan was elected as a trustee on Monday. She received 25 votes as the lone candidate on the ballot. The board then re-elected the same officers for the new year with Linda Weller as president, Mary Covell as vice president, Dawn Squicciarini as secretary and Rachel Hicks as treasurer.
“This isn’t just a library but a community base,” Weller said. “I believe in the vision of this library to provide the services it does to the community.”
The library paid off its mortgage in 2021 following several large donations from Maurice “Mo” Hoag and his wife Courtenay. Their contributions totaled $1 million.
When the mortgage was paid off, the money the library sought from taxpayers through the school budget vote dropped 10.3 percent from $724,260 in 2021-22 to $648,964 in 2022-23. The amount requested with the upcoming May 16 vote will be $683,100.
Betty Sue Miller is shown giving blood during a blood drive at Hoag Library on Dec. 17. She gave blood for the first time that day.
Frosty and Friends plans 40-mile motorcycle ride to benefit Justice for Children
Provided photos: Frosty and Friends has held several community events and fundraisers to support local charities in the past year, including a recent visit from the Easter Bunny. The group is planning a 40-mile motorcycle ride to support Justice for Children Advocacy Center.
ALBION – A motorcycle group that raises funds for non-profit agencies and also gives toys to hundreds of local children is planning a 40-mile motorcycle ride on May 13 to benefit the Justice for Children Advocacy Center.
Frosty and Friends will be escorted by Orleans County Sheriff’s Department on the ride. Frosty and Friends is looking to assist Justice for Children, an organization based in Batavia that serves children who are victims of abuse.
“We will be doing a lot more in the future to support them,” said Sean Paul, Frosty’s director. “At Christmas time we donated over 100 toy rescue pets for them to give to the kids during intake interviews.”
Justice for Children provides forensic interviews, victim advocacy, medical exams, mental health counseling and other services.
Frosty and Friends during the Christmas holiday distributed toys out to nearly 1,000 kids and helped five other nonprofits during an event at the Arnold Gregory Office Building. The bikers for charity motorcycle group has an office at Arnold Gregory, 243 S. Main St., Suite 235.
The ride on May 13 starts at the Arnold Gregory site and ends at the Old Crow Motorcycle Club at 2355 Peter Smith Rd. in Kent. Emelio Sebastian, pastor of Jubilee Christian Church in Brockport, will offer a bike blessing before the ride.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with music, food and drinks, games, vendors and bike blessings. To ride, the cost is $20 for the bike and $5 for a passenger. At the Old Crow, for those not on the ride, admission is $15 per adult and $5 per child.
Registration begins at 10 a.m. with kick stands up at 12:15 p.m. to head out for the ride around the county.
The Old Crow in Kent will host the end-of-ride party with food, drink, live music, vendors and raffles.
Albion village approves budget with 2.5% tax increase
Assessed value for plaza at 318 West Ave. drops about $1 million
ALBION – The Albion Village Board approved a $7.5 million village budget for 2023-24 that will increase property taxes by 2.5 percent.
The village will collect $2,923,473 with the tax levy, up 2.5 percent from the $2,851,056 in the 2022-23 budget.
The tax rate will increase by 3.6 percent of 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed property, from $18.46 to $19.13.
The tax rate increase was higher than the levy as a percent because the village’s overall assessed value dropped by 1.08 percent or by $1,663,794 – down from $154,457,302 to $152,723,508. Most of the loss in tax base was from the assessed value be lowered at the plaza at 318 West Ave. That plaza includes Save-A-Lot, Pro Hardware, Dollar Tree and the vacant spot formerly for Gordman’s.
That value for the site has been reduced from $1,856,300 to $816,000 as part of a settlement between the Town of Albion and the owner, A & D Properties (Westwood Financial). As part of the agreement the village and taxing entities don’t have to pay back funds collected while the issue was in dispute.
“Our assessments went down by a lot and that really hurt our budget,” said Tracy Van Skiver, the village’s clerk-treasurer.
The budget was approved by the board unanimously on Friday.
The total budget is at $7,543,375, a $390,198 increase or up by 5.45 percent from the $7,153,177 in 2022-23.
The budget includes $4,307,602 in the general fund ($4,106,279 in 2022-23); $1,880,984 in the water fund ($1,797,521 in 2022-23); and $1,354,788 in the sewer fund ($1,249,377 in 2022-23).
The spending plan includes 2.0 percent raises for department heads; 2.5 percent for employees in the DPW, clerks, cemetery, sewer and water department; and 3.0 percent for police officers.
The budget includes the fire department, but the village is talking with the towns of Albion and Gaines about establishing a fire district which would take the fire department out of the village budget, possibly starting in 2024-25. If that happens, there would be a separate fire district tax for village taxpayers. The village tax rate would then likely be lower but there would be the other fire district charge.
Marti’s on Main kicks off 13th season of art shows in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Kim Martillotta Muscarella, right, talks with Elizabeth Penafiel during the opening reception for an art show on April 21. Penafiel’s father, Robert Wisner, is one of the featured artists in the new show. The wooden sculpture in the foreground was created by Richard Bannister of Barre.
Muscarella has organized a new season of art shows for Marti’s on Main. This is her 13th year of doing the shows and the third season at the former Cornell Cooperative Extension building at 20 South Main St. Mantis is open Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.
This year she is welcoming artists who haven’t shown before at Marti’s.
The works in the current show will be on display until May 31. A new show featuring Jill Gussow, Richard DellaCosta and Will Robinson will be featured from June 16 to July 31. The season then concludes with a show featuring works by Carrie Boyer and Sarah Hyatt from Aug. 18 through Sept. 30.
Robert Wisner is shown with a painting he did in the 1970s showing the inside of the Orleans County Courthouse dome.
“I was fascinated by the architecture,” Wisner said about the dome.
Wisner, a retired art director who worked in advertising in Rochester, has about 20 paintings on display at Marti’s including this one of “Penelope’s End,” an egg tempera painting of Orleans, Cape Cod.
Wisner also painted this watercolor of canal boats in Albion.
This is his first show in Albion in more than 40 years. His first show was in the former Swan Library in Albion. His work is often shown at galleries in Honeoye Falls and in Cape Cod.
Colette Savage of Rochester has been a plain air landscape painter the past 20 years. She is shown with some of her landscape painting at Marti’s. Savage has 50 paintings on display featuring many scenes in Rochester and the Finger Lakes.
Tom Zangerle of Medina greets Colette Savage and compliments her for the many landscape paintings in the show.
Nancy Radzik turned this dollhouse into The Dead Artists’ Residence. It includes rooms featuring famous artists Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Jackson Pollock and a garden in the style of Claude Monet.
Radzik painted the shingles of the doll house in the Starry Night style of van Gogh.
Radzik decorated the rooms featuring prominent artists including Frida Kahlo. Radzik spent several months on the project. She is a resident of Ontario in Wayne County and became friends with Muscarella through the Brockport Art Guild. Radzik also makes assemblage sculptures from drift wood.
Hoag Library annual meeting, election today
Veronica Morgan
ALBION – The annual meeting for Hoag Library will be today at 7 p.m. Residents in the Hoag Library service area also will elect a trustee to the library board.
Veronica Morgan is the lone candidate for the board. She has been a wedding and portrait photographer the past 30 years. She also has received GO ART! grants for projects in the county, including the upcoming live history event in October called, “I was a Hoggee on the Erie Canal.”
The election will be from noon to 7 p.m. at the library, 134 South Main St.
Residents 18 and older in the service area — Albion, Barre, Gaines and Carlton – are eligible to vote.
Supportive Care of Orleans announces new leaders for local hospice
Organization also will change name back to Hospice of Orleans
Press Release, Supportive Care of Orleans
ALBION – Supportive Care of Orleans, a leading provider of compassionate end-of-life care in Orleans County, is proud to announce new leadership with a deep background in nursing and a passion for hospice care.
Provided photos: Marilyn Almeter-Milbrand has been hired as the Hospice administrator & director of patient services.
As the hospice industry continues to evolve, Supportive Care of Orleans is committed to maintaining its position at the forefront of patient-centered care. With this goal in mind, the organization has selected a new leader who understands the unique needs of hospice patients and the critical role that nurses play in providing exceptional care.
Marilyn Almeter-Milbrand, RN, BSN, MSM brings years of experience as a registered nurse and a proven track record of success in healthcare leadership. Her commitment to patient-centered care and her passion for hospice makes her an ideal fit for the role.
“I am honored to be joining the incredible team at Supportive Care of Orleans,” Almeter-Milbrand said. “I have long admired this organization’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care to its patients, and I look forward to working alongside our dedicated team of nurses and caregivers to continue this important work.”
Under her leadership, Supportive Care of Orleans will continue to prioritize the needs of its patients and their families. The organization’s RN-driven approach will remain central to its mission, as Marilyn works to ensure that every patient receives the compassionate, personalized care they deserve.
Melissa Mitchell is Supportive Care’s nurse manager.
Almeter-Milbrand has selected Melissa Mitchell, RN, BSN, CHPN, OCN, RN-BC as nurse manager to lead the clinical team. Melissa has an extensive knowledge and background in Hospice and Palliative Care as well as Oncology with a strong focus on staff development and education.
“I am thrilled to have Marilyn on board as our new leader,” Mitchell said. “We go back 15 years when I first started my nursing career and now working together along with our amazing Hospice team has re-energized our staff. With her nursing experience and commitment to excellence, I am confident that she will help us take our organization to the next level. We are focused on not only providing high quality- compassionate care to our patients and families but also focusing on teamwork and a positive work environment.”
The organization also has plans to change its name back to Hospice of Orleans. “People in the community still know us as Hospice of Orleans. We are passionate about what we do and are excited to go back to our roots,” Almeter-Milbrand said.
Supportive Care of Orleans is actively seeking individuals to add to its growing clinical team.
Career opportunities include:
- Registered Nurse (Full Time, Part Time, Home Care On Call, and Per Diem)
- Home Health Aide (Full Time Nights, Full Time Days, Full Time Home Care)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (Full Time Nights, Full Time Days)
“Our patients come first and our goal is to have a strong clinical team who are passionate about what they do,” said the organization’s new administrator.
Applicants can call the office directly for more information. 585-589-0809.
About Supportive Care of Orleans:
Supportive Care of Orleans is a leading provider of end-of-life care in Orleans County. Our team of experienced nurses and caregivers is dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered care to those facing life-limiting illnesses. For more information, visit supportivecareorleans.org.
Medina expects fast charging stations to go at Canal Basin
Albion looking at municipal lots for charging stations
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board expects the fast chargers that were approved for the community in a state grant to go in the Canal Basin.
The Village Board initially was thinking the fast chargers would go in the municipal lot behind Main and East Center streets. But the village plans to upgrade that lot as part of the $4.5 million approved in the NY Forward grant, which will touch on several projects in the community.
With that lot likely to be changed with some extensive work, Medina village officials are instead looking to the Canal basin for the charging stations.
The village was approved for $245,184 for two direct-current fast charger pedestals, while the Village of Albion was awarded $10,500 for two Level 2 charging ports. Each charging port can accommodate two vehicles at once and would need the community to set aside two parking spaces for each station.
In Albion, the Village Board was looking at the municipal lot across from the village office on East Bank Street. That lot is in demand and often fall during the workday.
Village officials said they will look at other municipal lots with DPW Superintendent Jay Pahura and Aric Albright, an electrician who is also the sewer plant superintendent.
Both Albion and Medina expect there will be a credit card payment device on the charging stations for people to pay when they use the chargers.
Contractor makes quick work of clearing site for Taco Bell
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – RPS Companies of Spencerport is making quick work of the demolition work for the new Taco Bell in Albion.
The company has removed a 36-foot-high water tank, as well as guard rails and chain link fencing at 118 West Ave. Part of the water tank is shown in the foreground of the top photo.
RPS brought equipment, including an excavator, to the site on Friday. On Monday it started taking down the water tank, guard rails and fencing in a parking lot that once served the former Liptons’ facility in Albion.
RPS expects to be on location for about two months doing the site work, including utility connections. Milling at the site is to start today.
Mulvey Construction is the general contractor for the new Taco Bell, which is owned by Hospitality Syracuse.
The new 2,600-foot could be ready in August. About 40 percent of the 1.33-acre lot will be green space. The chain-link fences will be replaced with ones made of wood.
Albion district makes it 16 straight years of national recognition for music program
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mike Thaine, director of the Albion High School band program, directs the group during an all-district concert on March 1 in the high school gym.
Press Release, Albion Central School
ALBION – The school district has once again been named a Best Community for Music Education by the National Foundation of Music Merchants (NAMM), marking the 16th consecutive year to receive the recognition.
The award program honors outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education.
There are 830 school districts across the country to receive the distinction this year, but few have sustained Albion’s excellence when it comes to music education. No other school in Orleans County received the recognition while only Pembroke made the list out of Genesee County. (Editor’s Note: Other nearby schools to receive the honor include Roy-Hart and Akron. Among the GLOW counties, Geneseo, Mount Morris, Perry and Pioneer also were honored.)
Albion prides itself on a long tradition of entertaining chorus, band and drama programs. This fall, the high school performed The World According to Snoopy and the middle school brought Dear Edwina to the stage. The concert season began with the annual high school Veteran’s Day event to honor our troops. Senior Tea, a long-standing tradition, showcased an array of musical talents as the class of 2023 showcased their vocal and instrumental skills.
Nick Andrews plays the role of Uncle Fester and sings a love song to the moon – “The Moon and Me” – in Albion’s production of The Addams Family in late March. Albion performs two musicals a year in both the high school and middle school. The high school spring show each year regularly receives many awards from the Stars of Tomorrow in the Rochester Broadway Theatre League.
The holiday season is always a festive time as each school hosts a holiday concert within the month of December. Right before winter break, select high school chorus and band members spent time in downtown businesses and streets caroling for the community. High school musicians also took part in the Hometown Holiday event this school year. Additionally, students and alumni performed for a packed audience at the annual Albion High School Alumni Foundation concert.
During both semesters, Albion was proud to send numerous students of all grades to the two All-County music festivals. Collaboration was key when band directors worked together to put on an all-district instrumental concert in early March in front of a standing room-only crowd in the high school gym.
The drama departments brought beloved characters to the stage this spring. First, the middle school transformed the auditorium into a distant land with The Jungle Book. Then, the high school performed a spectacular showing of The Addams Family. The latter included a live orchestra composed almost completely of current students, staff and Albion alumni.
Lindsey Almeter, elementary music teacher, leads the young musicians during the all-district concert on March 1.
Throughout the school day, all students from kindergarten through 12th grade are taught or given the opportunity to take a variety of music classes. High school students in the music history class enjoyed a tour of the Parsons Pipe Organ Builders during the school year while the high school choir welcomed guest conductors from the Eastman School of Music and Nazareth College. The district is also fortunate to include a musical therapist on staff.
Music remains a constant presence at Albion through the end of the school year with spring concerts scheduled in May and June. The Purple Eagle marching band will be on proud display at community events including the Strawberry Festival and Lilac Festival parades.
All musical events and performances throughout the school year are open to the public and, other than the four stage productions, are free to attend. The continual support and collaboration with alumni and community members helps keep music education alive and thriving.
Founded in 2006, the NAMM Foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. The organization represents the generosity and philanthropy of the music products industry and is funded through trade association activities and donations. For more information, visit NAMMFoundation.org.
Many volunteers picked up trash in canal communities
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – These Albion students were among many volunteers in today’s Canal Clean Sweep, a state-wide effort along the Erie Canal towpath and in the canal communities.
From left includes sophomores Nicholas Baxter, Zack Baron, Kennedy Patten and Joseph Hartman. They enjoy some ice cream outside Tinsel on North Main Street after dropping off their trash.
They pulled these shopping carts, a bike and four big bags of trash from the canal and towpath near Ingersoll Street.
“It was fun to spend time together,” Hartman said about the trash hunting. “There was a lot of small containers and cups, and a lot of glass.”
Hartman was in a group that was mostly members of the Student Council.
This group of Albion students finds lots of litter in the grass along the railroad tracks near Dunkin’ Donuts. Many of these students were in the Albion Interact Club. Some Albion Rotary Club members also were part of the effort along the railroad tracks from east of Platt Street to near West Academy Street. They filled about 20 bags with trash.
The 18th annual Canal Clean Sweep included more than 130 events along the canal system and the Canalway Trail. The events are promoted by the NYS Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York. There were several cleanup efforts around Orleans County.
Adam Burgio, an Albion eighth-grader, finds bottles and other litter along the railroad tracks.
Audrey Pask and her brother Gideon have filled a big bag of trash. Charles Warren is behind them.
Shania Mathes finds a shoe among the discarded plastic bottles and other litter.
Nick Luft carries a big piece of cardboard found along the railroad tracks.
These trash hunters include, from left in front: Cordelia Rivers, Lucy Rivers, Shania Mathes, Adele Mathes and Audrey Pask. Back row: Brad Shelp of the Albion Rotary Club, Charles Warren, Nick Luft, Adam Burgio, Gideon Pask, Lorelei Gailie, Jillian LeBaron and teacher Tim Archer, the Interact Club advisor.
Orleans County high school seniors can check out free prom dresses May 22 in Albion
Photos courtesy of Katrina Chaffee: (Left) Sarah Mathes and Isabella Gray pose with the free prom dresses they chose at Community Action’s Main Street Store in Albion. (Right) Kinzie Rickner had her make-up done by volunteers, who will also be available May 22 to help Orleans County seniors get ready for their prom, after choosing a free prom dress at the Main Street Store.
ALBION – Community Action’s Main Street Store welcomed Orleans County seniors last week to the first of two opportunities to choose free prom dresses. Girls may also visit the store to choose a dress from 6 to 8 p.m. May 22. Shoes in limited sizes, handbags and other accessories will also be available.
Store manager Cassie Eagle came up with the idea to offer free prom dresses after the store received a large donation of them last summer. Many were new.
She is a firm believer no girl should miss her senior prom because she can’t afford a dress, she said. Seniors from any Orleans County school or BOCES are welcome to come and choose a dress.
For more information or to register for a time to pick out a dress on May 22, call 589-1430. The Main Street Store also is being renamed Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More.
New name announced for store in Albion – ‘Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More’
Photo by Tom Rivers: Community Action of Orleans & Genesee opened the Main Street Thrift Store in October 2014 at the former American Legion, 131 South Main St.
ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee has announced a new name for its Main Street Thrift Store.
The board decided last year to rename the store to better reflect the wide range of goods and services they offer there, said Jeanette Worsley, case manager and health coach at Community Action.
After running a contest for a new name, the organization has chosen “Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More.”
The winning name was chosen by Kinzie Rickner of Albion, who will receive a $50 gift certificate to the store.
“The Ad-Hoc Committee which decided on the new name didn’t want to move too far from the Main Street theme, so people knew it was the same ownership,” Worsley said. “But they wanted people to also know it is so much more than a thrift store.”
In addition to being a great place to shop, the store also a workforce development program, where community members can learn new skills and receive help with resume building, job searches, interview skills or obtain professional attire.
Other available services include emergency service referrals, a credit recovery program where Albion High School students are offered individual assignments and activities to help make up credits needed to graduate, and most recently, installation of a tele-health pod where veterans can privately make telehealth appointments.
The store also hosts public events, such as the new prom dress giveaway on May 22, and offers educational opportunities, including a financial literacy workshop presented by M&T Bank, beginning April 26.
Community Action will work with Orleans-Niagara BOCES students to create a new sign for the building.
Site work starts in Albion for new Taco Bell
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – An excavator is parked this afternoon in Albion at 118 West Ave. Site work has started at the location which will be a new 2,600-square-foot Taco Bell.
Hospitality Syracuse is the developer for the project on vacant land owned by Landsman Development of Rochester.
The new Taco Bell will go next to McDonalds and across from Freeze-Dry Foods. Hospitality Syracuse will remove the 36-foot high steel water tank from the back corner of the lot, and make about 40 percent of the 1.33-acre lot green space with grass. The company will remove the chain-link fences and replace them with ones made of wood.
3 more dogs complete training at Albion Correctional and are available at PAWS
Provided photos: These three dogs, from left – Dewey, Huey and Louie – recently completed an 8-week training program, learning obedience skills from incarcerated individuals at the Albion Correctional Facility.
ALBION – Albion Correctional Facility has again partnered up with community volunteer trainer, Dawn Spencer, who has over 25 years of experience in dog training. Dawn is the owner of Eye of Oden K9 Training in Kent.
In collaboration with PAWS Animal Shelter, Albion Correctional Facility welcomed three rescue dogs – Huey, Dewey and Louie – on Feb. 1. All the puppies are 6 months old and have completed the 8-week training program.
Throughout the 8 weeks, three teams of incarcerated individuals served as handlers for the dogs. Dawn Spencer visited the facility once a week to put the puppies through the AKC S.T.A.R Puppy Program.
The S.T.A.R. stands for Socialization, Training, Activity, and Responsible owner – the pillars of getting puppies off to a good start. Dawn instructed the incarcerated individuals on what skills to work on each week.
The graduation of Huey, Dewey and Louie occurred on April 10 and the pups are currently up for adoption. If you are interested in adopting Huey, Dewey or Louie, applications are available at paws14411.com.
