Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A group of first responders was at Tim Hortons in Albion this morning decorating “Smile” cookies with frosting.

Personnel from Mercy Flight EMS, the Albion Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the State Police added the frosting on the chocolate chip cookies. Volunteers from Key Bank also helped this morning.

The are $2 and will be for sale today through May 4 with all of the proceeds going to Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester.

Will Francis, a sergeant with the Albion Police Department, gets ready to frost a cookie. Francis worked at the Tim Hortons back in 2012 before he joined the Albion PD.

Albion police officer Chris Glogowski bought some of the Smile cookies and passed them out from the drive-through window.

Eileen Banker, chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley and the former Albion mayor, joined her grandson Landon Williams in decorating cookies this morning. Landon, 13, spent 11 days at Golisano Children’s Hospital about a year ago after having a tumor removed from his spine. He has recovered and is back to playing hockey, and even scored a goal in his first game back about two weeks ago.

Joey Filippelli, co-owner of the two Tim Hortons in Orleans County, set up three games where people could win Tim Hortons gift cards. Here, Sheriff Chris Bourke guesses the number of Timbits in the container.

Filippelli appreciates the first responders coming in to help boost the sales of the cookies to benefit Children’s Hospital.

 Albion Village Trustee Tim McMurray tries to toss a Timbit in one of the cups to win a prize. The games were available in the morning today, and will be set up in medina tomorrow from 7 to 10 a.m.

These Mercy Flight staff members include, from left: Kara Bentley, Megan Amacher, John McCarthy, Matthew Reed, Ron Kingsbury, Kari Hagglund and Pam Cherry.

This group paused for a quick photo. First responders will be at the Tim Hortons in Medina on Tuesday from 7 to 10 a.m., helping to decorate the cookies. Will Francis of the Albion PD is at front left and Devon Pahuta, an investigator with the Sheriff’s Office, is at front right.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – The Albion Central School District seeks nominations from staff and community members for the Educator of the Year award.

Each year, the Board of Education presents this recognition to a staff member during the Annual Board of Education Recognition Reception in June. We will accept nominations through May 9.

If you would like to nominate someone for this award who you feel is an exemplary ACS educator, please send the following information:

1. Name of educator you wish to nominate
2. Reasons this person should be awarded Educator of the Year. Demonstrate how this individual strives to demonstrate our Mission, Vision and Core Values.
3. Please include your name in case we need to contact you for more information.

SEND NOMINATIONS (either via email or hard copy) TO:

Albion Central School District Office

ATTN: Ms. Cindy M. Ishmael

324 East Avenue

Albion, NY 14411

(cishmael@albionk12.org)

Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – Carl I. Bergerson Middle School inducted 25 students into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) on Thursday, April 10.

The current members of NJHS led the ceremony, explaining that the organization is built on the four pillars of scholarship, service, leadership and character and that inductees must exhibit all four qualities and be recommended by a faculty member in order to be eligible.

The current members of NJHS include Madison Blount, Colson Braley, Stryker Braley, Aubrey Bruning, Kelsey Crawford, Blake Doty, Jax Gotte, Lena Grillo, Rianne Hand, Sophie Kozody, Carter Krull, Maddax Krull, Noah Latz, Nicole Loney, Adele Mathes, Logan Mayes, Mary McCormick, Brooklynn Miens, Tatiana Morales, Jane Nesbitt, Hannah Olles, Kamryn Peruzzini, Kendall Peruzzini, Brooklyn Pisano, Parker Roberts, Thailer Seibert, Scarlett Stambach, Oliver Stoffa and Caden Woolston.

Some of the current members were recognized with the Service Pin for completing 25 hours of service. Those members include Colson Braley, Stryker Braley, Kelsey Crawford, Blake Doty, Jax Gotte, Rianne Hand, Sophie Kozody, Carter Krull, Maddax Krull, Nicole Loney, Mary McCormick, Jane Nesbitt, Kamryn Peruzzini and Kendall Peruzzini.

Once the Service Pins were awarded, Mr. Greg Martillotta, the school’s band teacher, addressed both current and new members of NJHS as the night’s guest speaker.

The soon-to-be new inductees were then asked to stand and recite the NJHS pledge before crossing the stage to receive their certificates and sign the registry book. The newly inducted members of NJHS include Madysin Austin, Luciana Borello, Isabella Colonna, Annabella Dusharm, Jeffrey Echevarria-Saldivar, Avery Faskel, William Fisher, Madison Fraiser, Brody Furness, Robert Hickman, Amelia Klatt, Allyson McQuay, Brian Patten, Peyton Pisano, Kennedy Roberts, Sutton Sanders, John Michael Vivas, Caleb Wolfe, Logan Banister, Lucas Conner, LaDereon Griffin, Aaliyah Jones, Aubrey Marconi, Cindy Trejo Mandujano and Sophia Wendt.

Congratulations everyone!

ALBION – The Albion Village Board is working on a budget for 2025-26 that will likely include a sizable tax increase.

The board held a public hearing on the budget on Wednesday. Although spending is up a modest 2.7 percent, the village is looking at a 13 percent tax increase.

The budget needs to be adopted by an April 30 deadline. There could be some additional reductions in spending and the in tax levy, but Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said there is little to cut in the budget.

The general fund expenses would increase by $126,976 or by 2.7 percent from $4,701,848 in 2024-25 to $4,828,825 in the new budget.

The tax levy, what the village collects in property taxes, would go up 13.2 percent or by $410,520 – from $3,117,813 to $3,528,333.

The budget for 2025-26 doesn’t include the fire department, which is now in its own taxing entity as a fire district. That new district sent out its first tax bills in January as part of the tax bill from the town and county, and the fire district doubled the fire department’s budget.

The village has increased the water and sewer rates, and the 2024-25 village budget imposed a 6.6 percent tax increase.

Mayor Javier said he is sensitive to the rising costs on taxpayers, and he thinks dissolving the village is worth considering to help better spread out the costs of services into the towns of Albion and Gaines. There will be a 6 p.m. public hearing on June 11 at the Village Hall to hear from residents about whether the board should pursue a dissolution of the village.

Albion faces rising costs for equipment, including two new dump trucks in the 2025-26 budget, and lots of other capital expenses in the coming years for water and sewer lines, and other infrastructure and equipment.

The board also is using about $200,000 less of fund balance which is a big factor in the proposed increase. The budget for 2024-25 included $261,150 in fund balance, while the proposed budget for 2025-26 only taps $64,000 in fund balance.

Jeff Holler, a local resident, urged the board to set aside more money in reserve funds for those costs in the future. But Javier said that would only jack up the taxes even more.

Javier said the village has tried to get an increase from the county in the local sales tax but has been rebuffed. The local towns and villages remain at the same level since 2001, while the county has been able to keep the rising sales tax revenue since then. The local sales tax totaled $23.4 million in 2024. The county kept all of it except $ 1,366,671 that is divvied up among the 10 towns and four villages. The Village of Albion will get $162,169 of the sales tax in 2025, less than 1 percent.

Trustee William Gabalski acknowledged the village is in a grim predicament of trying to prevent a tax increase despite the need to provide services and fund infrastructure projects, without a boost in outside revenue. The village taxpayers are bearing nearly the full burden, he said.

“We’re in a very difficult situation,” he said at the hearing, when asked about increasing the reserves. “I’d like to do a lot more, but when I look at where the tax levy is no one will be able to afford to live here.”

Trustee Joyce Riley said she favors an incremental approach to adding to the reserves, and also raising water and sewer rates to fund infrastructure.

A consultant gave the village a report last year, suggesting more aggressive rate increases for water and sewer, but Riley said that was an “outlandish” proposal due to the impact on residents.

“The entire village would have come in here and beat us with a broomstick,” Riley said about those steeper costs.

Riley said she doesn’t think dissolving the village will be the best answer for taxpayers, and for providing services.

“We need to explore all of the options,” she said. “We should use a surgical knife and not a hatchet. Melding into the towns may not be the answer.”

Village taxpayers will see a lower tax rate in the next budget, and that’s from reassessments in the village last year that increased the tax base by 42.2 percent or by $63.0 million – from $152,867,932 in 2024-25 to $215,893,938 in 2025-26.

The bigger tax base will have the tax rate drop from $20.40 per $1,000 of assessed property to a tentative $16.34.

The water fund budget would change from $2,069,406 in 2024-25 to $2,195,250 in the new budget. The sewer fund would increase from $1,412,000 to $1,487,250.

The board will meet again at 6 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss and try to finalize the budget.

Village hopes for new owner, but site could face demolition

Photo by Tom Rivers: The former Shay’s bar at 56 North Main St. is in rough condition inside. The Village Board approved a survey and engineering study for the building to help determine the future of the site.

ALBION – The former Shay’s bar at 56 North Main St. has a gaping hole in the roof and a deteriorating interior, and that condition is worrying village officials.

The former operator, Mike Seaver, passed away at age 69 on Sept. 20.

Code enforcement officer Chris Kinter told the Village Board on Wednesday it would “cost a small fortune” to fix the building. He thinks there might be someone willing to take on the project. Or the building may need to be torn down.

Kinter said the walls appear to be bowing inwards, putting the neighboring and adjoining structures at risk.

The Village Board followed village attorney John Gavenda’s advice and approved getting an abstract survey done on the property to see if there are on liens on it. The board also will have an engineering study of the building to determine the extent of the damage and the building conditions. The village will reach out to T.Y. Lin for the assessment of the building.

Kinter also said Shay’s should have an asbestos survey.

All of those costs are expected to be around $7,000. The village will front the expense and then seek to be reimbursed from the owner’s estate.

Kinter said he is hopeful the actions will lead to a new owner that invests in making the building structurally sound and available for public use.

Provided photo: A food pantry and other services from Community Action are now located at 131 S. Main Street, accessible from Platt Street.

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is excited to announce that its Orleans County Emergency Services and Case Management programs will officially open today at a new location.

The new office, located at 131 South Main St., is just steps behind the agency’s Main Street Thrifts, Gifts, and More store in Albion. Customers are advised to enter through the Platt Street entrance to the plaza.

This move from 409 East State St. reflects Community Action’s commitment to being more accessible to the people it assists. With a more central location, the agency hopes to remove barriers for families who rely on support programs, especially those without reliable transportation.

“We know how important it is for our programs to be easy to find and even easier to access,” said Ryan Lasal, Director of Community & Family Program Innovation at Community Action. “This move brings us closer to the heart of our community and allows us to better meet people where they are.”

The new office will also house the food pantry, previously located at the State Street address. However, the overnight pantry at 409 East State Street will remain open, ensuring that individuals in immediate need continue to have after-hours access to food assistance.

“Sometimes it’s just helping someone get through a tough month — whether it’s paying a bill, getting food, or finding a bit of stability,” Lasal said. “This move brings us closer to the people who rely on us, making it easier to be there when they need us most.”

In addition to the existing programs CAOG offers to help people become self-sufficient, CAOG is actively involved in the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) Program, also known as the “1115 Waiver Program.”

This initiative allows all Medicaid members to be screened for unmet needs related to housing, nutrition, and transportation. Based on screening results and other eligibility criteria, Medicaid members may receive free services to support their overall health and well-being, including rent or utility assistance, medically necessary home modifications, food prescriptions, pantry stocking, transportation, and more.

Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is contracted with the FLIPA “Social Care Network” for which Community Action CEO, Renee Hungerford serves as co-chair of the governing board. The program is funded in New York State through March 2027.

“We will soon be offering these screenings at all locations, including the 131 South Main Street location,” Hungerford said. “We are excited that the new location will make these opportunities more accessible.”

All other Community Action programs will continue operating from their current locations. To learn more about Emergency Services, Case Management, or food assistance, community members are encouraged to call (585) 589-5605 or visit www.caoginc.org.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These kids take off for the Easter egg hunt around noon today at the Courthouse lawn in Albion. The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries organized the event for the fourth year.

About 400 to 500 kids were at today’s egg hunt. They were separated into three age groups: (1-5), (6-9) and (10-14).

For the second straight year Ben Rowcliffe, 9, of Medina got a golden egg. Inside was a ticket for a free bike. There were two golden eggs in each age group.

These younger kids hunt for eggs. Since the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries started the egg hunt in 2022, it has grown from 3,000 the first year to 10,000 in 2023, 12,000 last year and now 15,000.

Pastor Al Wilson said Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries wants to be a blessing to the community, “sharing the love of Jesus.”

Colt Tumia, 8, of Albion gets a Pokémon ball painted on his face by Candace Casey.

Divina Cifunetes of Batavia, 5, was happy to meet the Easter Bunny. (Rose Friedl was in the costume as the Easter Bunny.)

These kids are happy with the eggs they collected. Students from the Iroquois Job Corps spread out the eggs on the courthouse lawn. Within minutes they were all scooped up.

The Masonic Lodge in Albion served 500 hot dogs and about 120 pounds of French fries of free. Shown here cooking are Steve Pawlak in front with the hot dogs and Markus Ruffin in back with the fries.

The Albion Lions Club and Rotary Club also both contributed $300 towards the Easter baskets.

The Easter Bunny visited and greeted Lori Laine, who was at the event with her grandchildren.

Carlitos Lopez, a barber with the Barber Republic in Brockport, gives Gio Ristuccia, 4, of Rochester a haircut. Four barbers were on site giving free haircuts, up from two last year when the lines were long to get a hair cut.

Tony Greene, a barber from Brockport, gives Sebastian Vallejo Morales, 7, of Albion a haircut.

Federal cuts have hit other food programs for needy

Photos by Tom Rivers: Volunteers and employees from Community Action of Genesee & Orleans get food ready this morning for about 200 households in the monthly pop-up food distribution in Albion. Vehicles start lining up in the municipal parking lot by Dubby’s Tailgate at about 6 a.m. for a distribution that usually starts around 8:30 a.m.

ALBION – Despite cuts by the federal government to emergency food programs, the pop-up food distributions are expected to continue in the near future.

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee led a distribution this morning after a delivery by Foodlink in Rochester. Community Action and volunteers gave out about 200 boxes of food. Some of the cars were in the municipal lot on Platt Street at about 6 a.m. for a distribution that started around 8:30.

“It makes a big difference for them because of the price of groceries and everything else,” said Ricky Standish, facilities manager for Community Action.

He put in packages of applesauce at this morning’s distribution, while others sorted out fruit, vegetables and meat.

Community Action has been doing the monthly distributions for five years now. They started during the early days of the Covid pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently recently announced a $500 million cut to the emergency food system in the country. Foodlink said cancellation of “Commodity Credit Corporation” goods as part of The Emergency Food Assistance Program directly impacts 17 truckloads for its food bank – totaling about $655,000 worth of food and an additional $42,500 in funding.

Julia Tedesco, president and CEO of Foodlink, said the $500 million cut by the USDA comes at a time when food insecurity remains at an all-time high, and impacts more than 150,000 people in the Rochester region.

She said food prices remain high, “forcing families across our region to make impossible choices between purchasing food and other basic needs.”

Katrina Standish, director of Community Services & Reporting for Community Action, and Ricky Standish, facilities manager for the agency, carry boxes of food to put in the back end of a vehicle this morning.

Foodlink manages the pop-up pantries in the Rochester region. Foodlink covers the cost and fundraises for the program, which isn’t specifically tied to government funding, said Elisha Mykins, Rural Programs Coordinator for Foodlink.

“The USDA cuts that were recently announced, however, may impact how much food we can offer to our food bank members, which may have a ripple effect on the types and quantity of products available at PUPs (pop-up pantries),” Mykins said. “Foodlink is working on fundraising and getting funding from other avenues to make up for it so it doesn’t make a big impact on our network.”

The schedule for pop-up pantries in Orleans County through June includes:

Albion at 165 South Platt Street – managed by Community Action

Monday, May 12 at 9 a.m.

Monday, June 16  at 9 a.m.

Lyndonville at 107 North Main St. (Lyndonville Presbyterian Church)

Friday, May 2 at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, June 6 at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, June 20 at 9:30 a.m.

Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension at 12690 State Route 31 in Albion (Knowlesville)

Monday, May 5 at 10 a.m.

Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m.

Diane Shiffer among ‘grandfluencers’ who are 60-plus with enormous followings

CBS Sunday Morning today featured Diane Shiffer of Albion who has about 1 million followers on both Instagram and TikTok. Shiffer’s uses the hashtag: “YourChubbyVintageNana.”

ALBION – CBS Sunday Morning today highlighted social media who are 60 and older with enormous followings. Diane Shiffer of Albion is among the “grandfluencers” with a massive following on both Instagram and TikTok.

Shiffer, 68, is a retired educator and social worker. She started to go viral on social media during the pandemic in 2020 when she posted short videos of her in daily life – baking, sewing, doing household chores, sharing words about kindness, and showcasing some of her vintage finds, such as potholders.

Shiffer told the story to CBS about how she first went viral. She accidently took a time lapse video of her doing her hair. She posted it on social media and amassed about 2 million views. She also suddenly had hundreds of thousands of followers.

Shiffer uses the hashtag: “YourChubbyVintageNana.” She speaks directly to her followers in her videos, calling them “my sweeties.”

Instagram: These screenshots from Diane Shiffer’s Instagram account show posts of her doing a household task of the laundry, left, and then her making an announcement she will be writing a book and welcomes title suggestions.

CBS correspondent Faith Salie said Shiffer’s “soothing voice and infectious laugh” are a big part of her appeal. Salie said about Shiffer, “spending time with her feels like a warm hug.”

Other “Grandfluencers” with a large social media following have used that to make big money by promoting products. Shiffer hasn’t done that. She announced she does have a book deal focusing on her messages of kindness to others and oneself.

Shiffer about a year ago did something out of the norm. She asked her social media followers to donate to a family in Medina that suffered a tragic loss. Those followers responded in a big way, donating $100,000 to a Medina family that suffered heartbreak with a miscarriage and then a hospitalization.

Click here to see the feature on CBS Sunday Morning.

Photo by Kyle Gill

ALBION – The Albion Rotary and Interact Clubs picked up trash along the railroad tracks in Albion this morning and filled 19 garbage bags with a total weight of 307 pounds. That topped the 291 pounds from a year ago.

Albion Rotary has done the cleanup the past five years with students from Albion Central School.

Pictured from left include Makenzie Cook, Lillian Fisher, Ayme Vallejo-Morales, Cordelia Rivers, Adam Burgio, Tom Rivers, Maddison Button, Tim Archer and Mike Schmackpheffer.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Adam Burgio, an Interact Club member, hunts down litter just east of Platt Street.

Mike Schmackpheffer, a prospective Rotarian, helped the garbage collection. He is getting trash near the wall by Dunkin’ Donuts.

Lillian Fisher, an Interact member, tosses a bag of litter into the dumpster at Ace Hardware. Rotary and Interact thank Ace Hardware for use of the dumpster.

Photo courtesy of Albion Elks Lodge #1006

ALBION – The Albion Elks Lodge held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser with 70 baskets up for raffle and 50/50 drawings on March 29 for Adrianna, a 7-year-old with cerebral palsy and stage 3 kidney cancer with gene deletion.

The Elks raised $4,905 for Adrianna’s family. Holding the check for the Elks include Richard Robb Sr., the Leading Knight and President of the Elks Riders (left), and Mike Jenks, the Exalted Ruler of the lodge at right. Elk Riders VP Todd Dawley is at left.

“The proceeds are going to family members that go out of their way to make this little girl as comfortable as they can,” Jenks said.

The Elks present a check to Adrianna’s friend Karen Czerniak, and her grandmother who is holding Adrianna’s picture.

“If anyone still wants to make a donation make the check out to the Albion Elks Lodge #1006 and we will make sure it gets to the right people,” Jenks said.