Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Fire Department has been testing the fire whistle on top of the Village Office this afternoon. It is expected to go off again at about 3:30 this afternoon after being activated earlier in the day, said Fire Chief Jeremy Graham.

The fire whistle has been inactive for more than a decade after some of the downtown business owners complained the siren was too loud.

The Fire Department would like to make operational again to use only for big emergencies, such as structure fires and other community emergencies, Graham said.

ALBION – Zack Burgess, one of the youngest elected officials in Orleans County, resigned from the Albion Village Board on Monday after he moved out of the village.

Zack Burgess

Burgess, 34, was elected to a three-year term on the board in March 2021. He leaves about six months left on his term.

Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said the vacancy will be filled by a mayoral appointment, but he isn’t looking to fill the post immediately. He said he expects to fill the position with someone who intends to run for the position in the upcoming March election.

Burgess, in a Facebook post today, said he remains concerned about the vacant buildings in downtown Albion. He favors a law similar to the one in Medina. That village has a vacant building registry, with annual fees assessed for vacant buildings and a plan needed for how to utilize them.

Burgess has been active in the village, serving as co-chairman of the Rock the Park Music Festival at Bullard Park. He works as a sales representative at Bentley Brothers and also performs at many local venues with his band, the Zackstreet Boys.

“I’m grateful for the support over the course of my term as well as during my election campaign,” Burgess said in a Facebook post.

He plans to remain active with Rock the Park.

Aniyah CM. Hyde, age 14, has not been in contact with her family since running away on Oct. 12.

ALBION – An Albion teen has been reported missing after not being in contact with her family the past five days, the Albion Police Department said this morning.

Aniyah CM. Hyde, 14, is Black with brown eyes and hair. She is 5 foot, 2 inches and about 140 pounds.

The Albion PD said Aniyah’s family reports she ran away at about 9 a.m. on Oct. 12 and has not been in contact with her family since then. It is unknown what Aniyah could be wearing at this time.

Anyone with any information regarding Aniyah’s whereabouts is urged to contact APD at (585) 589-5627, or through the Orleans County Sheriff’s Dispatch at (585) 589-5527 or 911.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Ryan and Katelyn Pearl are shown with a table full of presents and gift cards during a birthday party this evening at Dubby’s Tailgate for their late son, Maddox Pearl, who would be 6 tomorrow.

Maddox passed away on Sept. 30, 2023 after battling DIPG, a rare brain tumor.

Ryan and Katelyn said they appreciated the community’s support for the past year, and they said they feel thankful for the Albion community’s love and generosity.

“We live in a community where when you ask for help they’re there to help you,” Ryan, 32, said during the gathering this evening at Dubby’s that was attended by more than 100 people.

These gifts will be given to organizations that assist children with serious health issues.

Katelyn, 30, said the family wanted to celebrate Maddox’s birthday, and pay it forward and help the organizations that were there for them. They will give the presents and gift cards to three organizations: Compassion Net, C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association in Rochester, and the Willoughby Foundation that assists children with life-threatening health issues.

Compassion Net sent nurses to provide palliative care for Maddox. That allowed him to be home and not in a hospital. The C.U.R.E. seeks to provide emotional, social, financial and educational support to a child with a chronic sickness.

The Willoughby Foundation provided a tablet to help Maddox communicate and a large mattress for Maddox and his parents to be together in the living room. That foundation will distribute some of the gifts at Maddox’s party to other children in hospitals who are battling serious illnesses.

Dubby’s hosted a benefit for the Pearl family last Nov. 22 with more than 200 gift baffles up for raffle. Other organizations in the past year helped raise money for the family.

Katelyn said Albion is a close-knit community that rallies for people in a crisis. That isn’t the case in many communities, she said, especially in cities and big towns where the people aren’t as well connected to each other.

Katelynn and Ryan say they may make Maddox’s birthday party an annual community event, with presents and gift cards to be collected and given to organizations that help children with serious health challenges.

Many of the gifts given had train themes. Maddox loved trains, especially The Polar Express and Thomas the Train Engine.

“He watched The Polar Express every day, from Christmas to the next Christmas,” his father said.

Ryan and Katelyn are going to spend tomorrow, Maddox’s sixth birthday, on a train at the Arcade and Attica Railroad for a ride in honor of their son.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Barre firefighter Gary Rowley lets Albion kindergarten Ethan Dona spray water at a target in the elementary schoo, parking lot today to conclude Fire Prevention Week at the school.

Firefighters visited classrooms from prekindergarten to grade 5 earlier in the week. Today about 800 students went to different spots in the parking lot to see fire trucks, a fire rescue boat, and see some of the tools and equipment used by firefighters.

Carter Klips, a kindergartener, checks out the inside of the Albion ladder truck. He is shown some of the gear by Rob Conner, a past fire chief for Albion. Carter was impressed there was a small refrigerator in the truck.

Aubrey Stinson, below, and Amelia Fisher crawl through a room simulated to have smoke. They are third-graders. (This week is also homecoming at Albion and Aubrey has on some face paint.)

The smoke simulator is in a fire safety training trailer owned by the Orleans County’s Emergency Management Office. It has a fog machine to simulate smoky rooms. Students were urged to “Stay Low and Go.”

These third-graders climb on the Carlton rescue boat.

Mark Farone of the Barre Volunteer Fire Company assists Maisyn Stirk with spraying water at a target.

Charlie Monacelli, an Albion firefighter, shows some of the tools used by firefighters. Monacelli took the day off from work today and volunteered to help with fire prevention week. He has a kindergartener at Albion.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club last week presented a ceremonial check for $4,300 to support transportation and respite programs for the Office for the Aging.

The golf tournament was held on July 20 at Shelridge Country Club in Medina.

Pictured from left include Bill Downey, a member of the Rotary Club; OFA Director Melissa Blanar; Becky Karls, Albion Rotary Club member and OFA employee; and Cindy Perry, Rotary Club member.

Blanar said the funding will help with a transportation program where volunteers take senior citizens to appointments in Orleans County and surrounding counties. There were 432 requests for transportation from Sept. 20, 2022 to Oct. 1, 2023.

The nine volunteer drivers traveled 7,716 miles, Blanar said. They receive mileage reimbursement for the trips which are often to medical appointments, the pharmacy, the bank, hairdresser or to see a loved one in a nursing home.

For more information about the volunteer program, either as a driver or rider, contact the OFA at (585) 589-3191. Drivers can specify if they only want to do trips within Orleans County.

Blanar said some of the funds from the golf tournament will also help with a new respite program being developed by the OFA. That program provides activities for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia and can provide respite for caregivers.

This group of long-time firefighters gathers last week at St. Mary’s Athletic Club on Moore Street for a monthly meeting.

Photos and information courtesy of Chuck Norman

ALBION – Did you know the original four departments of the Albion Fire Department still meet the first Wednesday every month?

Several years ago, Active Hose graciously asked the separate departments to join together for meeting and fellowship. Those departments included Dye Hose, Hart Hose and Hook & Ladder.

The meeting is held at the St. Mary’s Club in Albion and a meal is served to those in attendance.  The October meeting meal was a stuffed porkchop with mashed potatoes and green beans, and dessert of ice-cream and a mini-donut.  The meal was prepared by local renown chef Theresa Schmackpfeffer.

This month’s meeting was brought to order by Darryl Szklany (Active Hose 1969) and the pledge to the flag was recited. The minutes from the prior meeting were read and accepted.  Old business, new business, birthdays and next month’s food committee was elected; motion for adjournment was made and seconded.

Fuzzy Norman of Dye, right, and Ace Caldwell of Dye, left, show their appreciation to Theresa Schmackpfeffer for last week’s meal. All three are 91 years old.

Fuzzy has been a member of the Dye Hose since 1950, while Ace has been a member since 1952.

Other members in attendance at the recent meeting include:

Dennis Stirk – member of Active hose since 1969

Dennis Smith – Active Hose since 1968

Ed Norton – guest – Barre Center 1971

Mike Stirk – Active Hose 1965

Darryl Szklany – Active Hose 1969

Bill Basinait – Active Hose 1974

Micky Pilon – Die Hose 1960

Bert Mathes – Active Hose 2010

Francis Dibley – Active Hose 1971

Missing from the photo, Chuck Norman – Dye Hose 1973; and Willie Culverwell – Active Hose.

Darryl Skzlany, back left, and Bill Basinait listen to the conversation at the meeting.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Candace Pitts of Medina paints a tiger face on Izabella Tilbe, 9, of Albion during today’s Fall Fest in downtown Albion.

Pitts had a line of kids who wanted their face painted. The event was organized by the Albion Merchants Association.

Craig Wilston of Albion and his grandson Gavin meet a llama on Main Street. There were several animals in the petting zoo.

Amy Viza and her son Cameron Froman, 4, of Albion make a scarecrow in one of the activities for the Fall Fest.

There were other games and activities, as well as food vendors and live music.

Chris and Lisa Barry join their son Kolton, 9, of Albion in making a scarecrow that Kolton called, “Steve the Pirate.”

Mason Rodden, 4, (right) and his sister Charlie Ebbs, 5, of Albion decorate pumpkins with stickers and markers.

Gianna Hyde, 9, (right) decorates a pumpkin with her mother Emily Hyde and their friend, Ayme Vallejo Morales, 13, (left).

The Albion Merchants Association said many children and adults showed lots of creativity today with the pumpkin designs and scarecrows.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion eighth-grade students in Kamie Feder’s art class completed a revamp of the canal mural on the north side of the Albion fire hall.

The students and their teacher finished the job on Thursday after several days of painting in 80-degree weather.

The mural was 25 years old and was originally painted by Corinne Toenniessen for her Girl Scout Gold Award in 1998. She received some design help from local artist Terri Wood.

The paint became faded over the years and was given a fresh coat in the same design. The new project added “Welcome to Albion” above the 36-foot-long painting.

Feder and the students added a cat on the boat in appreciation for a neighborhood cat that seemed to be watching their work this week.

The students and Mrs. Feder paid tribute to Toenniessen and Wood for the original mural.

The other lower corner notes the students stepped up to give the mural a facelift in 2023.

Toenniessen, now Corinne Upcraft, is a teacher at the Mexico Academy and school district, north of Syracuse. She posted this message today on the Orleans Hub Facebook page:

“I cannot begin to express how beautiful this turned out and how much it means to me that Albion teachers and students have worked on this project.

“It feels like a lifetime ago when I completed this project, and as a teacher now myself I love that current students are still learning about the history of our town and actively participating in that history.

“As a 17-year-old kid, I didn’t even think about whether that mural would still be there 25 years later, but I’m so glad it is and that it continues to be a beautiful welcome point for people coming in to my wonderful hometown.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion Middle School students spent several hours during the school day on Tuesday and today giving the canal mural on the back of the fire hall a fresh look. Here they are shown nearing the end of the project at about 1 p.m. today.

The mural is 25 years old and was originally painted by Corinne Toenniessen for her Girl Scout Gold Award in 1998. She received some design help from local artist Terri Wood.

Kamie Feder, an Albion art teacher, had eighth-grade enrichment students work on touching up the mural in the same style the past two days. Feder expects there will be a little more work on Thursday to finish the effort.

“It beautifies the community,” Feder said. “There are tons of foot traffic down here.”

She said several passing boaters waved and beep their horns to encourage the students.

Tra’Monie Walker works the mural. The theme is in the canal’s early days when boats and barges were pulled by mules. The canal was completed in 1825 and will celebrate its 200^th anniversary in 2025.

Students painted over the mural on Tuesday in the same style as the original, and today added highlights and shadows.

Lillian Fisher works on the mural which is 36 feet long and 12 feet tall. Feder, the art teacher, painted the “Welcome to Albion” message on Sunday. Students weren’t able to paint the letters due to liability concerns about the height. They were able to paint most of the mural by standing, with some help in spots from stools and a lift.

Here is how the mural looked before the recent upgrade.

Here is how it looked this afternoon.

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer

ALBION – Albion Middle School art teacher Kamie Feder added “Welcome to Albion” above the canal mural on the Albion Fire Hall this weekend.

Middle school students this week will work on freshening up the 25-year-old mural of a canal boat pulled by mules.

The artwork originally was the Girl Scout Gold Award project for Corinne Toenniessen, who received some help in the design from Terri Wood.

Feder, the art teacher, used a lift to get above the mural to add the welcome message. Students won’t have to get so high up to work on the mural this week.

Provided photos from Mrs. Kasha Davis Crew

ALBION – A sold-out show brought 175 people to The Lockstone today for “Drag Me to Brunch.”  The event prompted some controversy in Albion when a group of about two dozen pastors asked that it be cancelled in a Sept. 15 Letter to the Editor posted on the Orleans Hub. That letter drew more than 1,600 comments on the Orleans Hub Facebook page with most of the comments in support of the drag show and LGBTQ+ community.

The pastors said they didn’t want to normalize drag queen events and have them become a precursor to drag queen story hours with children.

The letter to the editor and the response resulted in news coverage from Rochester and Buffalo new stations, and fueled ticket sales to the event.

The show today featured music, dancing and comedy by the performers Mrs. Kasha Davis, Darienne Lake, Aggy Dune and Ambrosia Salad, said Dr. Rebekah Greene, an Albion native who attended the show and now lives in Irondequoit.

She said there were attendees from as far away as Hamilton, Ontario, and many in the audience wore apparel signaled their welcoming acceptance and support of members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“Attendees enjoyed a cash bar, photo stations, a tasty buffet catered by Chap’s of Elba, and a prize drawing,” Greene said. “Multiple attendees noted that they were excited to visit Albion for the first time, observing that the event and the surrounding controversy had drawn their attention to the town and its potential as a future tourism destination.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Marti’s on Main is in the final days of an art show featuring two artists, with the gallery’s final show of the season coming up in October.

The top photo shows Carrie Boyer of Albion with some of her acrylic paintings on display at Marti’s, 20 South Main St.

Boyer works as a manager of about 50 people in the commercial mortgage servicing business. She tried painting after seeing some examples of other people’s work on facebook.

She has been doing it for about 2 ½ years. The display at Marti’s is her first show as a featured artist.

Boyer has about 35 pieces of artwork on display with many ocean and water themes, especially jellyfish.

“This is the first hobby I’ve ever had in my life,” Boyer said recently at Marti’s.

She also makes coasters and jewelry.

Sarah Hyatt also is featured at Marti’s. A school nurse at Brockport, Hyatt has 22 oil paintings on display at Marti’s, featuring animals, nature and flowers.

Hyatt is a member of the Brockport Artists Guild, where she connected with Kim Martillotta-Muscarella, owner of Marti’s.

The gallery is open by appointment. Contact Martillotta-Muscarella at (585) 590-9211 for more information.

Boyer and Hyatt’s work will be taken down on Saturday to make way for the next exhibit featuring sculptures by Richard bannister of Barre.

There will be an opening reception for Bannister from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 6.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Eddie Quatro (left), 7, of Albion and his brother Danny, 9, have the binoculars out to watch a condenser from the Graham Corp. in Batavia be loaded onto a barge at about 10 a.m. today.

Eddie and Danny are home-schooled. Their mother Ellie Quatro wanted the boys to see the cranes moving the big piece of equipment onto the barge.

“This is the perfect field trip that came to us today,” she said.

The condenser is about 200,000 pounds. It left Batavia early this morning around 4 a.m. and headed down 98.

Stephanie DiGiulio took this photo and the one below of the condenser going down Route 31A in Barre. A caravan helped move the equipment on the slow journey.

The route included Route 98, to 31A in Barre, then down Gaines Basin Road before turning right on Albion-Eagle Harbor Road.

There were people to raise the wires so the equipment could pass through without taking down utilities.

Graham did a similar effort on May 25, 2022, when a condenser was taken from Batavia to Albion by truck, and then loaded onto a barge. That condenser was used for a nuclear submarine. Graham officials declined to discuss the condenser this morning.

The Tug Edna A with Barge 82 is taking the condenser east along the canal. The shipment’s final destination is in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The condenser will be used by the Navy.

The Tug Edna A is owned by the New York State Marine Highway Transportation Company of Troy. It picked up the oversize load along the canal just east of the Gaines Basin Road bridge.

There were several onlookers to see the huge cranes move the 200,000-pound package.

The condenser is on site by the canal and a worker checks it before being lifted onto the barge.

These cyclists ride on the towpath and get closer to the heavy equipment moving the package onto the barge.