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ALBION – Mary Jo Whitman of Batavia has created a new welcome sign for Albion that village officials are aiming to have installed on the east side of Albion along Route 31.

The village would like to have the new sign up with a dedication celebration on Nov. 21.

The village received a grant through the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) to fund the project.

The sign includes a Santa to highlight Albion as a home for a Santa School that was run by the late Charles W. Howard from 1937 until his death in 1966. The Santa will be mounted on top in the middle of the sign.

Whitman created Albion scenes within the large letters of “ALBION.” Those scenes include a boat on the Erie Canal with a lift bridge, the Civil War memorial tower at Mount Albion Cemetery and the Orleans County Courthouse.

8 students and bus driver checked out by EMS after incident

ALBION – An elementary student released pepper spray on the morning school bus run, which resulted in eight students and the bus driver to be examined on scene by Mercy Flight EMS.

There wasn’t a fight on the bus that led to the student using the pepper spray, said Sgt. Robert Wagner of the Albion Police Department.

A young student had a key-chained pepper spray and sprayed it on the floor of the bus, he said.

“The vapor from the spray caused some students on the bus to be affected by it,” Wagner said.

The Albion School District sent an update to parents about the situation. The school said a student on bus U (274) deployed pepper spray. EMS personnel were immediately called to the scene, parents were contacted and another bus was sent.

“All eight students and the driver on board were examined by emergency personnel, some of which were experiencing eye irritation and coughing,” the school district said. “Parents were given the option to pick up their children from the scene, and the secondary school bus was able to transport the remaining students to school.”

The district said the incident is being investigated and the next steps will be determined in accordance with our Code of Conduct.

“We thank our transportation department, local law enforcement and EMS for their quick response,” the district stated.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Harlem Wizards brought a highly entertaining brand of basketball to a packed high school gym in Albion on Monday. The Wizards played Albion teachers in a game won by the Wizards, 79-89. The top photo shows Talek “Show Out” Williams pumping up an enthusiastic crowd. About 700 people attended the event.

But much of the fun was in the stands, and games involving audience participation. The Wizards had many slam dunks, no-look passes, long jump shots and other acrobatic moves on the court. But they connected most with the fans through dancing, high fives and other antics.

The Wizards were in town as part of a fundraiser for the Albion boys basketball program.

After the game, the Wizards invited all the kids on the court for some dancing.

Tom O’Donnell, a counselor in the middle school, is introduced as one of the players for the Albion teachers. About 20 people from the school played in the game.

Vinnie Strollo, a physical education teacher at elementary school, reacts after making the first basket in the game to give the teachers the lead.

The teams are on court for the opening tip off. Jeff Radder for the teachers won the tip off and Albion scored the first basket.

The game often stopped for crowd participation. Mark Kuntz of Albion was brought out for a dance challenge.

Caleb Wolfe, 13, was blindfolded and tried to find some of the prizes on the court. The crowd yelled to try to steer him in the right direction.

Jonathan “Top Flight” Hevalow delivered a powerful dunk that amazed the crowd.

Talek “Show Out” Williams signs autographs during halftime.

These Wizards players celebrate with two Albion youth football teams that won the league championship on Saturday.

The crowd was often in a frenzy rooting on the teachers and reacting to some of the dunks from the Wizards.

These Wizards paused the game to give Ashleigh Stornelli, the school’s resource officer, a chance to make an easy shot which she did after getting some advice from Lloyd “Loonatik” Clinton.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Residents at Northwood Apartments were evacuated after a fire in one of the apartments just before 6 p.m.

The initial call to first responders said multiple people were trapped inside the apartment. When law enforcement responded soon after the call at 5:54 p.m., the people were already outside the apartment, said Lt. Adam Hazel of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Law enforcement from the Sheriff’s Office and Village of Albion Police then went door to door to evacuate the building. Some of the residents also helped get people out of the building, including some who needed wheelchairs due to mobility issues.

Firefighters from multiple departments responded and are ventilating the one apartment and making sure it is isolated to the one unit. Firefighters said the smokey apartment was caused by a stove fire.

Mercy Flight EMS also is on scene checking people. Some people are being evaluated on scene for smoke inhalation.

No other information is available at this time.

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ALBION – The Albion Lions Club recognized two of its members, June Persia and Ben Lennox, with an award named in honor of the late John Keding, a very dedicated member.

The “Pride of the Pride” award was presented to Persia and Lennox for their outstanding service to the club, and active participation at many of the clubs fundraisers and community service projects.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – This scary character is at the beginning of the Haunted Hallway at The Villages of Orleans, a nursing home on Route 31 in Albion.

For the second year, the activities staff at The Villages has created a “Haunted Hallway” where the community can get a scare, and at the end receive candy and treats from residents of The Villages.

Orly the Ox, the county’s bicentennial mascot, ventured through the creepy hallway. Orly dressed as a nurse. He wanted to support the effort, and meet some of the residents who were passing out candy at the end of the hallway.

The dimly lit indoor hallway has several scary spots. Some Albion students are volunteering during the event which continues today from 6 to 8 p.m. (Watch out for the Silly String from these students.)

The activities department dressed up as characters for the event. From left includes Rhiannon Farrell, Meghan Clark, Orly the Ox and Nancy Donahue.

There is no charge to go through the Haunted Hallway but donations are accepted for the activities department.

Some of the residents passing out candy said they hope to see more kids today going through the hallway.

ALBION – Harry Papponetti has seen a lot of things from local wildlife in his 33 years as animal control officer for the village of Albion.

But Papponetti has never seen squirrels working so furiously to stack pine cones for the upcoming winter. Papponetti has pine trees at his house and he said squirrels are scampering about his property amassing piles of pine cones. He sees it at other residences too in Albion.

He also has received calls from residents about squirrels getting in their attics, and bringing in pine cones.

Papponetti thinks the squirrels know something about the winter, and they are gearing up for extended harsh conditions.

“You’re looking at cold, hard winter coming up,” he told the Village Board during its meeting this evening.

Papponetti said he received many calls about squirrels and skunks on the move recently. He said the wildlife has been active as they get ready for winter.

File photos by Tom Rivers: A hallway at The Villages of Orleans was decorated last Oct. 26 for the first “Haunted Hallway” where residents and staff dressed up and passed out treats. The community is welcome to Haunted Hallway on Oct. 24-25.

ALBION – The “Haunted Hallway” will be back at The Villages of Orleans. Staff and residents will be decorating a hallway and welcoming the community to pass through and be scared.

The second annual Haunted Hallway returns Oct. 24-25 from 6 to 8 p.m. The community is welcome to dress up, too, as they venture down a scary hallway. There will treats waiting at the end.

Donations are accepted but not required for those who head down the Haunted Hallway. Those donations will go towards the Activities Department at The Villages, a nursing home at 14012 Route 31 in Albion.

Residents pass out candy to some of the children and their families who made it through last year’s Haunted Hallway. The residents said they enjoyed seeing kids dressed in their costumes.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jacob Ivison stands outside his business, Homestead Pest Control, at 109 East Bank St., Albion. Homestead is the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s New Business of the Year.

ALBION – Jacob Ivision couldn’t be more thrilled about his recent honor of being named New Business of the Year by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.

“I started my company in January 2024 and to be recognized that early on is very humbling,” Ivison said.

Ivison’s introduction to the world of pest control came while he was working as a delivery driver for an agricultural chemical facility during the Covid pandemic.

“I was delivering products to the owner of a pest control business in Middleport, when we started talking about the nature of his business,” Ivison said. “I’d been spraying our house for bugs with my father since I was a tyke. The guy said I should think about getting into the industry.”

Ivison said he got busier with his delivery job, but three years later when his son was born, a light switch flipped.

“I knew I had to do something that would give him the best life I could,” Ivison said.

He started hitting the books and testing in preparation of opening his own pest control business. He already had a basic license and he added categories to it and got his full license in 2020. During all this time, he said his wife Kara was very supportive of his efforts.

“I could not have done it without her,” he said.

He began doing pest control in homes and commercial facilities to rid them of bugs and rodents.

“There is no shortage of pests,” he said.

When he was ready to open his own business, he discovered his landlord had a vacant store on Bank Street in Albion. It turned out to be the perfect place for Ivison to expand his new business.

 He soon realized he needed an addition to his business, and he hired Matthew Zaffran as office manager.

“Having someone here all the time to answer the phone has resulted in a lot of business for us,” Ivison said. “So many people call another exterminator and get an answering machine, so they call us.”

Ivison said the most challenging job thus far was eliminating an infestation of yellow jackets from a chimney 60 feet in the air on a school roof.

When the gentleman in Middleport who convinced Ivison to pursue the pest control business lost his one employee, he contracted with Ivison to take care of his customers.

“Learning from somebody with 50 years’ experience in the business is more than the knowledge he has shared, it is the confidence he has instilled in me that I can fix my customers’ problems.”

Ivison and his family live in his family’s 1800s homestead on Ivison Road in Byron, where the road named for his ancestors.

Homestead Pest Control can be reached by calling (585) 460-4663 or e-mailing protectyourhomestead@gmail.com.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Dan DeCarlo, shown inside Arnold’s Auto Parts in Albion, has been recognized as the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Business Person of the Year.

ALBION – Dan DeCarlo has been involved in the family business ever since his father purchased Arnold’s Auto Parts in 1968, back when Dan was eight years old.

After taking over the business when his father retired 10 years ago, he became a big supporter of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministry. His business ethics and support of community have earned him the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s honor as Business Person of the Year.

Dan admits he is a low-key guy and doesn’t like to be in the spotlight.

“But it’s nice the Chamber gave me this award,” he said. “I was not expecting it.”

He and his wife Lisa first became supporters of the Royal Body Shop’s Outreach Ministry when the pastor came to town and asked if he could hold Friday night services in their parking lot.

Since then, the DeCarlos have allowed use of their property for various church functions and also agreed to have a refrigerator placed outside their door, which the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministry keeps stocked with food, free to anyone who needs it.

In addition, the DeCarlos have supported the Easter Egg Hunt, Wine Walk and car shows, among other events.

“The community has been good to us and we want to be good to the community in return,” Dan said.

Arnold’s is a full-service auto parts store, and recently started carrying marine parts, Dan said.

They are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

The store is located at 116 North Liberty St.

This photo is from March 2022 when community fridge was dedicated at Arnold’s Auto Parts. Village trustee at the time Stan Farone, left, participates in the ribbon cutting with Pastor Albert Wilson and his wife Ykeeta, center, Dan DeCarlo from Arnold’s Auto Parts and other volunteers including Kevin Lemcke and Jack Burris of Hands 4 Hope.

Provided photos: Pictured from left include Roger Ettinger, Sue Starkweather Miller, Stephen Hastings, Legion Commander Brad Rouse holding a painting of the Sheret brothers, Rick Ebbs, Tim Archer and David Polisoto. The fundraising campaign has topped $200,000 towards a $225,000 goal to put a new slate roof on the chapel and address other issues.

Press Release, “Save our Chapel”

ALBION – The American Legion family of organizations donated $1,500 to the “Save Our Chapel” campaign at Mt. Albion Cemetery.  The Sons of the American Legion, Auxiliary, Legion Riders and the general membership groups collectively contributed.

Save our Chapel organizers Sue Starkweather Miller and Tim Archer met with members to thank them for supporting the chapel restoration project with their generous donation and to give them a tour of the chapel and view the progress that is being made.

A painting of Sergeant James A. Sheret and his brother, Private Egbert Sheret is on permanent display in the American Legion Sheret Post #35 building.

Sheret Post #35 is the oldest American Legion in Western New York. It was founded in 1919 under the direction of Judge Bernard Ryan in honor of Sergeant James A. Sheret who was killed in action on September 29, 1918 near Ronssoy, France while charging the Hindenburg Line. Sheret was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery and was considered “one of the hundred heroes of WWI” by General Pershing.

His brother, Pvt. Egbert Sheret was also killed that day. Their younger brother Andrew, the company’s bugler, was seriously injured but survived. All three brothers were part of the 27th Division of the American Expeditionary Forces, containing the 108th Infantry Regiment and Company F.  The 108th and Company F were the only men to break the Hindenburg Line that day.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The gravesites for Sergeant James A. Sheret and Private Egbert Sheret are located in Mt. Albion Cemetery.  This photo is from Dec. 14, 2024 during Wreaths Across America.

Photo courtesy of Tim Archer, Albion Interact Club advisor

ALBION – The Albion Interact Club had a special visit from Orleans County Sheriff’s K( Odin and his handler, Deputy Jeff Cole.

They were joined by Deputy Ashleigh Stornelli who is the district’s school resource officer this year.

Odin is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois that has been with the Sheriff’s Office for about a year. Before that, Cole worked as a handler with K9 Otto for eight years.

“The visit was part of the student club’s ongoing monthly series of presentations by community leaders,” said Tim Archer, the Interact Club advisor. “The Interact Club does numerous community service projects throughout the school year.”

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer

ALBION – A group of Albion Middle School enrichment students recently joined Craig Lane, the Orleans County DPW Commissioner, at the cemetery for the Orleans County Alms House.

Lane is also a member of the Holley Rotary Club which donated a new flag pole for the cemetery. The Alms House was a place for the poor, indigent and infirmed from 1833 to 1960. It is located at 14064 W. County House Rd., behind the Emergency Management buildings.

The cemetery contains the graves of about 250 people, and many of the sites are marked by simple numbers or have no marker at all. The site was reclaimed and restored beginning in 2010 through projects led by Albion Middle School students and the county.

Lane is shown with student Elizabeth Colmenaro, Oliver Beyrle, Elliot Pettit, Colton Moreland and Maelynn Taylor.

The DPW installed the new flag pole which replaced one that was worn, said Tim Archer, who assists with the enrichment program and spearheaded several of the projects at the Alms House Cemetery.

Students look over some of the gravesites at the cemetery which is visible from Route 31A near Keeler Construction.

Archer was working as a service learning teacher at Albion in 2010 when his seventh-grade students became interested in the site. Bill Lattin, the county historian at the time, was speaking in Archer’s class about how there used to be the Alms or “Poor House” on County House Road from 1833 to 1960. The Alms House closed in 1960 when the county nursing home opened on Route 31 in Albion.

The Alms House was torn down and now the site is the Orleans County Emergency Management Office with a fire training tower.

Maelynn Taylor and Elizabeth Colmenaro visit the gravesite for Daniel Walterhouse, a Civil War soldier buried at the cemetery.

Walterhouse lived at the Orleans County Alms House or Poor House for about 15 years until his death in 1910.

The new headstone was unveiled during a ceremony at the cemetery on May 18, 2025. Two Albion eight-graders – Kendall Peruzzini and Mary McCormick – secured the 230-pound Civil War era headstone from the Veterans Affairs office in Washington, DC. The stone was installed by the DPW.