Cooper Traxler giving hair in memory of friend, Byron Neal

Photos courtesy of Jamie Traxler

BROCKPORT – Cooper Traxler, 12, of Albion is shown on Friday before he got his hair cut at Next Level Barbershop in Brockport.

Cooper had 16 inches taken off with his first haircut in five years. He is donating the hair to Wigs for Kids in memory of Byron Neal, who passed away from cancer at age 8 on April 14, 2023. Byron and his family sat in front of Cooper for church services at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Albion.

Cooper got a major overhaul with the haircut by Jeremy Burris at Next Level Barbershop. Many of Cooper’s friends and football coaches recommended Jeremy for the haircut.

Cooper said he was excited for the change with a new school year starting next week. He will be going into seventh grade.

Cooper’s hair will be given to Wig for Kids out of Ohio. He will be raising $500 to go with his hair which will start the wig production, said his mother, Jamie Traxler.

Many kids with cancer lose their hair while enduring chemo treatments.

“He wanted them to have his hair to make them feel more like themselves until their hair grew back,” Jamie Traxler said. “So that they could focus on feeling better and getting better while not worrying about people staring because of losing their hair and how that made them look.”

Anyone interested in donating towards the new wig can send the money by Venmo to @JamieTraxler82.

Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: New Albion teachers stopped by Panek farms on Thursday.

ALBION – The group of new Albion teachers toured sites in the community on Thursday as part of their orientation.

Tim Archer, a retired teacher who led many community services projects with students, led the new teachers on a three-hour tour of the Albion community.

They visited Doug Farley, Bill Lattin and Collin Capurso at the Cobblestone Museum and its one-room schoolhouse, Kathy Harling (associate court attorney) at the Orleans County Courthouse, the Rev. Sue Thaine at the First Presbyterian Church, Harriet Greaser in her home (former Presbyterian Church manse), the Mt. Albion Cemetery Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Civil War memorial), and Jim and Kerry Panek at Panek Farms. New school board member Kaitlyn Panek was on hand to welcome the teachers.

Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum, shows the teachers a one-room schoolhouse that was built in 1849 and served the school district until 1952.

The teachers are shown inside the County Courthouse, a building constructed in 1858 that remains as the county’s main courts facility.

Provided photos

ALBION – SUNY Brockport students were at Bullard park today sanding the pavilion and digging out weeds in the playground. They also raked up mulch and filled in sports around the park.

There were about 1,000 Brockport students working on projects around the Rochester region today for the university’s annual Saturday of Service.

 Brockport wants to see students build community connections and a strong civic responsibility.

These students are pictured with John Grillo, Albion recreation director for the past 50 years.

Some Brockport students also worked on projects at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion. They helped with some painting and weeding around the church.

Students are shown in the sanctuary of the historic Albion church.

Aric Albright to take over in expanded role as superintendent of streets

File photo by Tom Rivers: Jay Pahura, Albion’s Department of Public Works superintendent, checks on the spray park at Bullard Park in June 2020. Pahura and the DPW did a lot of work on the upgrades at Bullard, in addition to their work maintaining and plowing streets, fixing water leaks, setting up and tearing down for events, and other projects in the village.

ALBION – The village’s superintendent of the Department of Public Works will be retiring on Friday. Jay Pahura has worked for the DPW the past 36 years.

Pahura has been a master problem-solver for the village, keeping the streets maintained, fixing waterlines and other aging infrastructure, village officials said in commending Pahura on Wednesday during his final Village Board as DPW superintendent.

“Over the years, you have helped keep this community moving—often behind the scenes, often without recognition, and always with a commitment to getting the job done right,” Mayor Tim McMurray said in praising Pahura on Wednesday. “From responding to major infrastructure repairs and unexpected emergencies, to preparing for public events and handling all the details that others may have forgotten to ask about, you have been someone the village could count on.”

Pahura brought a deep knowledge of the village and its infrastructure and strong work ethic to the job.

“Your work has made a real difference in the day-to-day lives of our residents,” McMurray said. “The roads, water, facilities, events, and services that people rely on do not happen by accident. They happen because of dedicated public servants like you who take pride in their work and understand that the smallest details often matter the most.”

The Village Board on Wednesday appointed Aric Albright, the chief operator of the village sewer plant (Pollution Control Facility), to an expanded role as superintendent of streets.

Albright will oversee the DPW, sewer plant, water plant and Mount Albion Cemetery. He will take on the added duties without a pay raise at his request, McMurray said.

Jason Zicari, the long-time superintendent at Mount Albion, also is retiring. Scott Bradshaw will serve as the working foreman at the cemetery.

Levi Boyer, chief operator at the water plant, will continue in that role.

McMurray said there will be cost-savings for the village with Albright in the new expanded role, and the mayor said it also makes more sense with the new position supervising all four departments.

“The village will be better off having one manager over everything,” McMurray said.

Albright and the village staff at the sewer plant as will continue to manage the sewer plants for Holley, Elba and Bergen.

The board on Wednesday voted to hire a part-time clerk to help with the paperwork and reports required at the sewer plants, and also Mount Albion. Callie Allport was hired for the job at $19 an hour.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Rich Nolan, lead singer for the Highway 31 band, belts out a song during Wednesday’s concert at Bullard Park.

The band was scheduled for Aug. 12, but a thunderstorm postponed the concert to Wednesday.

The band is shown performing a medley of “Jack & Diane” by John Mellencamp and “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen.

The band members include Rich Nolan of Gasport as lead singer, and the guitar trio of 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.

There was a large crowd for the concert, including this group of dancers. Organizers said about 1,000 turned out for the event.

Food vendors were available throughout the concert series which started on June 10.

This group sat a little farther away from the amphitheater.

The concert series was funded with state arts money administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Village last adopted plan 13 years ago; needs to address changes in community

Photos by Tom Rivers: Albion Mayor Tim McMurray speaks during a meeting last week about an updated comprehensive plan for the Village of Albion. The plan was last updated in 2013 in a joint project with the town of Albion. The new plan will be specific to the village. McMurray said a comprehensive plan should be updated every five years.

ALBION – The Village of Albion is working to update a comprehensive plan that will guide land use and help set policies for addressing needs in the community for housing, economic development, recreation, public safety, infrastructure and historic preservation.

The village last adopted a comprehensive plan in 2013 in a joint effort with the town of Albion. The new plan will be focused on the village and overdue in addressing changes in the community, Mayor Tim McMurray said.

He welcomed about 30 people last week to an informational meeting on the initiative to update the plan. He wants to hear from more residents and Albion stakeholders on how the village should be planning for its future.

Albion has changed since the 2013 plan.  The population is down 6.9 percent from 2010 census to 5,637 in 2020. The largest private employer was at the former call center on east Avenue used by Chase and CRFS. That site is now vacant.

The Erie Canalway Trail that passes through Albion is now part of the Empire State Trail, creating strong opportunities for tourism and the downtown.

There have also been changes with bridges closures/reconstruction, emergency service restructuring (Albion Fire Department now in Albion Joint Fire District and COVA Ambulance closed with area served by Mercy Flight EMS). There is a renewed discussion of village dissolution.

There are also new state policies and funding programs to address broadband, climate resilience, wetlands, housing and historic preservation.

Albion is working with G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing on the updated plan. G&G shared the following data about the village:

• Median household income is at $41,581 in village compared to $65,969 countywide
• Renters are severely cost-burdened with 37.4 percent paying at least 50 percent of income on rent
• 312 housing units are considered distressed, abandoned or off market.
• 40.7 percent of housing is built in 1939 or older
• 16.0 percent of workers are doing their jobs from home

Village officials want to hear ideas on developing a clear identity for Albion, McMurray said. Albion has several authentic stories to build on, but what story best reflects the community as a whole, he asked the group gathered at Hoag Library.

He said some possible themes or brands include Christmas Town, a sports and youth-focused community, a creative and artistic community, a historic Erie Canal community with landmark architecture, and “a community of caring and connection” where neighbors look out for one another. Or perhaps, McMurray said, Albion should look at a different brand entirely.

“What is our 5, 10, 15 and 20-year plan, rather than going day by day,” he asked the group.

Jay Grasso, owner of G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, is working with the village on the updated comprehensive plan. Not only will the plan help guide future development and land use in the village, Grasso said an updated plan is imperative for Albion to secure larger grants for housing, economic development and other community needs.

Some of the categories and ideas identified so far include:

Downtown and economic development

• Continue building renovation and downtown revitalization, and connect heritage tourism to the Empire State Trail.
• Diversify the economy away from a dependence on any single large employer and create an “Underutilized Sites Redevelopment Program” with the initial focus on the vacation former CRFS and Chase building.

Housing and Neighborhoods

• Make housing affordability and cost burden an explicit priority
• Create a village-specific housing needs assessment to better target programs
• Establish a vacant property registry and annual inspection program
• Pursue CDBG housing rehabilitation and demolition/clearance funding
• Allow carefully regulated ADUs (accessory dwelling units) to expand smaller-unit housing options

Transportation & Infrastructure

• Continue phased improvements to sewer plant, water plant and distribution system
• Develop a coordinated street and stormwater capital improvement plan
• Continue sidewalk repair and complete a current sidewalk condition survey
• Add a “complete streets” focus for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Study circulation and emergency-response impacts from the permanent Clarendon Street and Brown Street crossing closures
• Treat broadband as essential infrastructure; coordinate mapping/expansion and consider a “dig-once” policy

Government, Parks & Community Service

• Institutional future: acknowledge village dissolution/consolidation question while writing comprehensive plan and make recommendations that are useful under either outcome
• Shared Services: Build on existing intermunicipal cooperation. Monitor Mercy Flight EMS arrangement and joint fire district, and evaluate additional service-sharing opportunities.
• Community Assets: Continue park maintenance, seek funding for Bullard Park improvements, and address Village Hall records-storage conditions

Historic & Natural Resources  

• Albion is a certified local government and the village should leverage that designation to pursue grants. Albion should also connect historic sites to the Canal/Empire State Trail, and promote historic tax credits and NY Main Street funding
• The village should consider pursing the Climate Smart Communities registration, and should pursue a village street-tree program

Public Safety

• Continue safe neighborhoods, downtown, parks and public spaces through strong local police services, including coordinating police, code enforcement and housing initiatives to address vacant, distressed and problem properties.

Some needed updates for land use and zoning:

• Modernize the Canal Overlay for completed Empire State Trail; finish updates for signage, awnings, outdoor dining, and planned unit development
• Village should consider accessory dwelling units (ADUs), re-evaluate earlier R2 to R1 rezoning recommendations, energy efficiency and equity considerations to site planning.

McMurray, the village mayor, welcomed residents to be part of subcommittees working on different parts of the comprehensive plan.

“If you want things to change get involved,” he said.

Jerome Pawlak, a resident, attended the meeting and urged the village leaders to collaborate more with the towns of Albion and Gaines, as well as officials with the county and the local agencies.

County Legislator John Fitzak said the grants shouldn’t be viewed as “free money” because municipalities and businesses often need to provide some of their own money and may have to front the costs before getting reimbursed the grant amount.

“We still have to do most of the work ourselves,” Fitzak said about funding projects. “The grant is the cherry on top.”

Scott Burto, grants manager for G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, speaks during last Wednesday’s meeting about the comprehensive plan. Burto previously served 23 years as mayor of West Carthage in Jefferson County in northern New York. Burto said it is a very competitive environment with many municipalities seeking grant funding.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Anita McCarthy places tickets in baskets up for raffle this afternoon at the Lockstone in a fundraiser for a new Santa School Museum.

There were just over 100 baskets in the raffle. The Albion Betterment Committee put on the benefit to help raise money for a new roof for the museum at 128 North Main St. Organizers say just over $4,000 was raised at the benefit today.

The group has secured a $10,000 grant from the Rochester Area Community Foundation, but the cost is expected to top $70,000 for the roof.

The Betterment Committee will be seeking a grant from Preserve New York for the roof and a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson for arts space and programming on the second floor.

People gather inside the Lockstone for today’s fundraiser.

The Betterment Committee purchased the building at 128 North Main last November from the estate of Henri Pulley. The site is 6,600 square feet. The Betterment Committee said the roof needs to be replaced before a museum opens.

The winning numbers for the basket raffle are called off. From left include Gail Ebbs, Lori Laine and Maureen Bennett. Laine helped secure many of the baskets for the raffle.

She said the museum on Main Street will be a boost for the community and the downtown business district.

“I believe in Albion and Albion needs to be branded,” Laine said. “What is a better brand than Santa Claus?”

The museum will pay homage to the late Charles W. Howard, who created the first Santa School in the world. He ran it on Phipps Road in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966.

The group wants to develop an interactive tourism center with displays about the Charles W. Howard Santa School and Christmas Park, which Howard ran for many years near his farmhouse on Phipps Road.

Laine said many people still have strong memories of visiting Christmas Park as kids and meeting Santa.

“They hold that place as very special in their hearts,” Laine said.

Nolan Blake, grandson of Betterment Committee member Valerie Rush, served as an elf and took gift baskets to the winners. Rush has long portrayed Mrs. Claus during community events.

Betterment Committee leaders Joe Martilotta, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent have worked for years to promote Charles Howard’s legacy in Albion. Gehl, center, pulled the winning 50/50 ticket. Peter Turkow, the winner, donated the money back to the Betterment Committee.

Gary Simboli played Christmas music from his keyboard during the benefit.

Jesse Colmenero took photos of people and families in a holiday backdrop.

These Santa-themed rocks were painted during the event.

Provided photo from Susan Starkweather Miller

ALBION – The new slate roof is shown on Mount Albion Chapel on Friday. Easton Specialties Inc. in Honeoye Falls put the new Vermont slate on the roof for the chapel, and it was done in a way that the pattern and colors match the original slate from 1875.

The new roof is part of an overall $225,000 restoration of the building.

Local mason Neal Muscarella last year repaired and repointed the chapel’s entire exterior.  The most extensive damage was in the northwest section.

Easton also has rebuilt the northwest corner’s rafters and repaired the roof deck in spots where it has failed over the years. The company installed an ice and water shield, a copper drip edge and flashings.

Mount Albion will host a tour of the cemetery at 6 p.m. on Aug. 30, with the tour led by retired Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin and current Village of Albion Historian Sue Starkweather Miller. There is tour this evening beginning at 6 p.m. at the Otter Creek Cemetery with Town of Gaines Adrienne Kirby (13252 Ridge Road, Gaines).

There will be other substantial work to follow at the chapel including interior replastering of the north wall; electrical upgrades (wiring, outlets, internal and external lighting); heating unit for seasonal use; removal of old floor, repair subfloor and put in a new floor; and refurbish exterior doors and window trim.

The $225,000 for the chapel restoration was funded by donations from the community.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The chapel at Mount Albion Cemetery is shown in September 2024 before getting new mortar and a new roof.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Marti’s on Main art gallery in Albion held a reception on Friday for a new art show featuring Jan Kisiel, Jenna Papponetti, Paul Facklam and Sharon Stewart. The top photo shows Harriet Symons, 10, taking a photo of paintings by her grandmother, Sharon Stewart of Albion.

Sharon Stewart is shown with some of her acrylic landscape paintings. Some of them are from trips she went on to Italy and Greece.

Stewart is a retired math professor from a community college in Kentucky. She and her husband Brian moved to Albion to be close to their daughters and their families, including six grandchildren.

Stewart, 79, was an art minor at Houghton College. She has 21 paintings featured in the new show at Marti’s, which is located at 20 South Main St.

Jenna Papponetti, 26, of Albion has seven charcoal landscape drawings on display featuring the Erie Canal. Papponetti also has written and illustrated three books. For more information on her books and artwork, click here.

Paul Facklam is recently retired as an art teacher at Roy-Hart, working in the elementary, middle and high schools. Before his 27-year teaching career, Facklam worked 20 years as an illustrator.

He has paintings with marshmallows, which he said represent “that soft, sensitive part out us.”

The paintings by Facklam shows marshmallows with fishing lures, billiard balls, and a hammer and nails.

“The hammer and nails represent the difficult or painful things that happen to us,” he said. “The fishing lures symbolize the things that we can be drawn to that are not particularly healthy for us.”

Jan Kisiel, a retired event planner who lives in Holley, has 12 pieces in the art show. She uses egg tempera painting, mixing dry pigment, egg yolk and some water.

The top painting shows a lamb sticking out its tongue. It was inspired from the ‘Good Shepherd” stained-glass window at the Canalside Community Church in Albion, a former United Methodist church. That window shows Jesus as a shepherd with lambs. In the window, one of the lambs is sticking out its tongue.

Kisiel said being an artist and an event planner are similar in that both need a strong attention to details.

For information on Marti’s, click here or call 585-590-9211.

Photos courtesy of Marlene Seielstad

ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club on Thursday presented a ceremonial check for $5,000 to the Office for the Aging in Orleans County. Rotary held its annual golf tournament last month at Shelridge Country Club in Medina and most of the proceeds will go towards the OFA’s volunteer transportation program, which provides rides for local senior citizens to medical appointments and essential errands.

Pictured from left include tournament committee leader Cindy Perry-Follman, OFA director Melissa Blanar, OFA employee and golf tournament committee member Becky Karls, and OFA employees Jackie Taylor and Kathleen Bates.

For information about senior rides and volunteer driving, contact the Office for the Aging at (585) 589-3191

Kathleen Bates also was honored and welcomed as a “Friend of Rotary.” Bates has volunteered at many Rotary community events, including the golf tournament, dinners and by selling light-up toys at Albion’s July 3^rd celebration at Bullard Park.

She was presented with the honor by Becky Karls and Rotary President Mike Bonnewell, left.

The Rotary Club meets the first and third Thursdays at Tavern on the Ridge with the first meeting at noon and the second meeting at dinner time.