Hayes, 33, currently part of cast in The Color Purple at Shea’s 710 Theatre

Provided photos: Jake Hayes has starred in the Western New York theater for the past decade, doing a variety of characters, from silly to serious. In the top photos he is the Beast, left, in Beauty and the Beast, and Sebastian in Little Mermaid.

BUFFALO – Jake Hayes is one of the hardest working people in Buffalo show business.

The Albion native performs in four or five different productions a year. He is currently in the cast for The Color Purple at Shea’s 710 Theatre. The show started Sept. 14 and runs until Oct. 1. Click here for ticket information.

“Jake is a dynamic force both off and onstage,” said Kristin Bentley, executive director for The Color Purple for Second Generation Theatre. “He’s able to bring a smile to your face with his charm and charisma then seamlessly move you to the edge of your seat with his powerful commitment.”

Hayes, 33, works a full-time job during the day as activities director for a nursing home in Buffalo. In the evening, he is often rehearsing for a show or performing for a live audience.

Jake Hayes, back right, is currently in the cast of The Color Purple at Shea’s 710 Theatre in Buffalo. He is in the ensemble and also plays Buster and a prison guard in the production. The show runs until Oct. 1. (Photo by Stephen Gabris)

Hayes said he is a people-person and feels energized on stage in front of hundreds and sometimes thousands of people. He also is thrilled to be running programs for the senior citizens at the nursing home.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work a full schedule,” Hayes said in a recent interview in Albion. “I’m always in shows.”

He has performed at The Place Theatre in Lockport, Shakespeare at Delaware Park, Shea’s Smith Theatre in Buffalo, Shea’s 710 Theatre in Buffalo and other venues.

“This is a total artform for me,” Hayes said. “I love telling stories.”

Hayes was a star in the Albion High School musicals. He pursued theater after being encouraged to give it a try by his friends. Hayes wasn’t in a show until he was a sophomore. He played baseball and that schedule didn’t allow him to be in the spring musicals.

But after being injured and unable to play as a 10^th grader, Hayes tried out for the musical. He had a small part as a servant in the ensemble of Into the Woods. He felt an immediate connection with the theater. He loved being on stage and among the cast and crew.

The Albion crowd in the middle school auditorium gave a thunderous applause for the students on stage. Hayes said it was overwhelming.

“To get that from peers and the community was just amazing,” he said.

Jake Hayes has performed in Little Shop of Horrors. He is shown at right with a nomination for best character performance for Little Shop of Horrors.

As a junior he played a lead role, the character Laurie in Little Woman and was recognized at The Stars of Tomorrow, honoring the top high school theater talent among high schools in the Rochester area. As a senior he played the lead role of Harold Hill in The Music Man. (Hayes twice has played Laurie as in adult in other productions of Little Women.)

Hayes felt his confidence grow on stage. He credited Gary Simboli, the musical director at the time, for helping him to read music and to refine a stage presence.

Simboli also was the high school choir director, and Hayes served as the group’s president. He said that experience helped him to grow as a leader.

“I owe a huge portion of my talent and abilities to him,” Hayes said about Simboli. “I got brave and audacity from being in the choir. Gary showed me that I’m valuable.”

Hayes made his debut singing in public before he was in the school musicals. He was 9 years old when he did his first solo at the Shiloh Baptist Church (where his cousin Trellis Pore is now pastor). Jake’s mother, Dolores Patterson, was the choir director. Hayes still has a strong recollection of singing the gospel song, “Have You Heard of The City Paved With Gold.” He was so nervous to sing in front of the crowd.

“I was absolutely terrified,” he said.

The church made the youth speak publicly, sharing a highlight of the week. They were urged to be part of the choir.

After graduated from Albion, Hayes earned a degree in communication/mass media at Pace University in New York City, with a minor in acting. He graduated in 2013. He didn’t stay in NYC. He came close to home to be near family. His grandmother passed away less than a month after he graduated.

Hayes still wanted to be in theater and tried the local community group, Lake Plains Players. The group in the fall 2013 was performing an ambitious show, Les Misérables. Hayes tried out and landed one of the big roles, Marius, the lover of Cosette and a revolutionary.

From there Hayes performed at the Palace Theatre, including as Donkey in Shrek, and now is a sought after performer in Buffalo, earning money for the roles. He saves the money he earns at theater to travel. He and his girlfriend recently went to Thailand. Hayes is planning to take his mom on his next trip to Puerto Rico.

Jake Hayes performs in about four or five different productions a year. He was recently on the cover of the Buffalo Spree magazine in an issue promoting the upcoming theater season in Buffalo.

Hayes said he is so grateful to be in a different show about every 10 weeks, while still doing a full-time job in the day and being close to family. For many of the shows it’s a demanding month of rehearsals, typically from 6 p.m. to 10-10:30. Then the productions often have a three-week run.

In one play, Once in a Lifetime, the Buffalo-focused show had the Bills winning the Super Bowl. Hayes is currently part of The Color Purple, a musical where hundreds auditioned to be in the cast of 17. It is a powerful African American story from the early 20^th century to mid 20^th century.

Hayes works with many actors and directors who have Broadway experience. He encouraged people from Orleans County to attend a show in Buffalo or Lockport and see the talent on stage, and be moved by the story being presented.

He said he is living his dream by working with so many talented people in the Buffalo theater community. New York City is viewed as a the ultimate destination for theater, but Hayes said Buffalo has given him so many opportunities. It’s similar in many smaller large cities.

“You can have a strong variety-filled career working in cities such as Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Wichita, Kansas,” Hayes said. “For someone like me you want to be able to perform and express your artform. In Buffalo I get to splurge on life because I get to do my hobby almost full-time.”

Provided photos: Community Acton of Orleans and Genesee was presented with donations of cash and toys from ABATE as a result of their annual toy run. Holding some of the donations are, from left, CAOG’s facility manager Ricky Standish, Eastern Orleans Community Center coordinator Deborah Rothmund, director of community services Katrina Chaffee and Head Start’s janitor/maintenance man in Batavia, Marc Malaniak.

MEDINA – A toy run to benefit Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is an annual event for the Orleans County Chapter of ABATE.

This year’s run took place Sept. 17 and kicks off the holiday season for Community Action, according to Katrina Chaffee, director of community services.

Chuck Persons, president of the local chapter of ABATE, said they have been hosting this run for 40 years.

Lineup is always at Ridgeway Fire Hall and travels around Orleans County, and back to the VFW in Medina, where chapter members prepare lunch for the riders. Community Action always provides dessert as a “thank you.”

The toys and cash donations will be used by Community Action to help the hundreds of families who apply for assistance at holiday time. This includes toys and gifts for each child in a family and a box containing all the food necessary for Christmas dinner.

This year’s run resulted in a donation of $661 in cash and $100 worth of toys.

The toys and cash donations will be used by Community Action to help the hundreds of families who apply for assistance at holiday time. This includes toys and gifts for each child in a family and a box containing all the food necessary for Christmas dinner.

(Left) Chuck Persons, president of the Orleans Chapter of ABATE, poses with Katrina Chaffee, director of community service at Community Action, after the annual toy run. (Right) ABATE member Al Schumacher rode his bike as Santa Claus.

Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – Some of our Albion Middle School students last Tuesday were lucky enough to have a special guest from West Africa come and speak to their class.

Keith Ellenberger is a West African Christian missionary, currently visiting with the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, and has spent his entire life in countries like Mali and Senegal. According to Ellenberger, his family has resided on the African continent for approximately 100 years working as missionaries.

According to Middle School Principal Brad Pritchard, Ellenberger’s visit comes as part of a series of enrichment classes being offered at the Middle School this year.

“We have many different enrichment classes this year covering a variety of subjects including art, health, PE/SEL and history,” Pritchard said. “In each of these classes, students will have the opportunity to connect with special guests, all from various disciplines, whose life experiences correlate to our students’ lessons.”

During his visit, Ellenberger spoke to some of Albion’s seventh and eighth-grade students in David Skrip’s Social Studies classes about what life is like in Africa, highlighting both the similarities and differences of the areas. Though they are an ocean apart, Ellenberger helped the students draw connections between Albion and West Africa especially through agriculture.

“These visits are important because they help our students connect and contextualize the curriculum they are learning to the real world,” Pritchard said.

According to Tim Archer, a service learning liaison, the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church has partnered with the district over the last several years by providing multiple missionary guests to share their experiences and bring a new perspective to our students.

As of now, there are many other guests and projects planned for the school year, including local history field trips and an Erie Canal project.

West Barre UMC, Salvation Army and Emma Reed Foundation give to agency

Provided photo: Pictured from left include Sharon Miller, a representative from the West Barre United Methodist Church; Renee Hungerford, Community Action’s executive director;  Jeanette Worsley, Community Action case manager; and Melinda Daniels, Community Action’s executive assistant.

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee has received generous donations from several local organizations to help support the Albion Emergency Services Department.

West Barre United Methodist Church – Thank you to the West Barre United Methodist Church. Your generous gift of $1,491 is sincerely appreciated. $465 will be used for school supplies and the remaining $1,026 will help support our food pantry.

The Salvation Army – Thank you to the Salvation Army for gifting brand-new backpacks to 100 students. Our school supplies drive could not have been a success without you.

Emma Reed Webster Foundation – Thank you to the Emma Reed Webster Foundation for your donation of $500. This was used to help purchase school supplies that helped 111 students prepare for a new school year.

The Albion emergency food pantry has seen an exponential increase in visitors this summer these past few months; providing emergency food to 625 people and supplying hygiene or household supplies to 187. If you or anyone you know is in need, call us at (585)589-5605 to schedule an appointment, or visit us at one of the locations below.

Albion: 409 E State St. and Batavia: 5073 Clinton Street Rd. – Walk-in service from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon  on Fridays and are closed daily for lunch from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Holley: 75 Public Square – Appointments are available Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Village imposing 35% hike on non-profit in Visitor’s Center

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jami Allport, director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, is shown on the third floor of the Albion Visitor’s Center, where the Ministry of Concern is a tenant. The village is raising the monthly rent by about $400.

ALBION – The Village of Albion is raising the rent for the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern by 35 percent or by about $400 a month.

That will be a hardship for the agency, and may mean the Ministry of Concern will have less money to assist people in need locally, said Jami Allport, the director for the Ministry of Concern.

She attended last week’s Village Board meeting and asked the board not to impose such a steep increase for an agency that is mostly funded by donations.

The board is raising the rent from $1,146.67 to $1,550.96 a month. That amount also includes utilities.

“We’re a great tenant,” Allport told the board. “We’re clean. We don’t rock the boat.”

Joyce Riley, the village’s deputy mayor, said the Ministry of Concern rate was well below market rate and what the village has been charging other tenants.

The Ministry of Concern uses 2,386 square feet on the third floor at the village-owned 121 North Main St. At $1,146.67 a month, that is 48 cents a square foot. With the new rate at $1,550.96, the square footage is 65 cents a month.

That is below the $1.65 a foot paid by Assemblyman Steve Hawley for 860 square feet on the first floor ($1,416.77 total); $1.30 by the Orleans Economic Development Agency for 1,686 square feet on the second floor ($2,196.06 total); and the $1.40 a foot for Darlene Benton of Paradise Healing Arts, who uses 289 square feet for $405 a month.

“In order to do right by everyone in the village we have to raise the rent,” Riley responded to Allport.

Riley said the village offers a fair price when the rent also includes the utilities, and some cleaning and other services by the village.

Allport said the new rent, effective in October, hits the agency as it prepares for an extra busy fall and holiday season, when it sees more demands for services.

She asked the board to consider a smaller incremental rate increase.

The Ministry of Concern has six staff working out of the space, and also has two employees that run a furniture program, picking up and delivering used furniture and appliances.

The agency assists people in emergency situations. It just finished helping 116 families with back-to-school supplies in Genesee and Orleans counties.

“We’re here to help people who can’t get other help,” she said. “We’re here to build the community up.”

Allport said the office space in the Albion downtown has been a good fit. But she said the agency will need to determine what it can afford.

“We don’t want to get in a financial situation where we can’t serve,” Allport said. “We like where we are but we have to look at what we can sustain.”

‘We need to show a plan that we’re trying to revive this entity’

ALBION – The Village Board was urged to step up code enforcement on unkempt properties, and also to pursue state grant funds to add more housing options for residents.

Annette Finch, a long-time village resident, spoke during last week’s board meeting. She said many properties in the village are in rough shape, and it detracts on the entire community.

“We have skunks going up and down the street,” Finch said. “We want people to come into the Albion to live and do business. What’s going on? It’s absolutely disgusting for Albion to look the way it does.”

Janet Salvatore, a member of the Village of Albion Planning Board, also encouraged the board to pursue several different grant options to upgrade the housing stock in the village.

She said there are many programs that would add more quality homes and apartments in the village.

“There is money out there to be gotten,” Salvatore said. “But we need to show a plan that we’re trying to revive this entity.”

She said architectural students from the University of Buffalo could help develop a plan to better utilize upper level apartments in the downtown and other housing in Albion.

“We need to do something to stop the influx away from the village,” she said.

The village is working to submit a grant for the $4.5 NY Forward grant program that includes money to upgrade housing, especially apartments in the downtown.

Vinny Navarra of Albion also would like to develop smaller houses on 25 acres off Allen Road, in an area behind Tops, that could be targeted to senior citizens. The village grantwriter, Jay Grasso, said there are funding programs to help with a senior housing project in the village.

Salvatore said the village currently has a shortage of homes for people to buy. She said rehabbing the second and third floors in the downtown is one option for housing.

But the Main Street and Bank Street business area currently is not too appealing for residents and businesses. She said several properties on just being “held.” They are vacant with no apparent push to be utilized.

“There is a lot of work that needs to be done downtown to make it more attractive and friendlier,” Salvatore said.

ALBION – Jeff Holler has been cooking for years at Bullard Park, bringing a grill to the site and making hamburgers, hot dogs and other food with the Masonic Lodge.

Other groups also bring grills to the park to serve food for other special events and festivals.

Holler would like to see a concession stand at the park near the football field. He pitched the idea to the Village Board last week.

The stand could also have space to store equipment for the youth football program. Right now those are kept in a resident’s garage.

Holler said the small building also could have a spot for an announcer with a PA system for the games.

Albion Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said he is open to the project but he and other board members would like to see a rendering of the building.

Holler said he would work on getting more details for the building.

“This is just the beginning stages,” he said. “We didn’t want to pour money into it if the board isn’t interested.”

United Methodist Church steps up as key donor

The Wendel engineering firm did this rendering of the new proposed basketball courts at Bullard Park. They will be built along Route 31 at the former skate park area.

ALBION – A group working on building new basketball courts at Bullard Park has the funding lined up to complete the project.

The Albion United Methodist Church stepped up and agreed to pay for two of the new hoops, a final top coat, the painting and lining of the courts, fencing on the south side and concrete barriers to keep vehicles from driving on the courts.

Susan Oschmann is shown on the old basketball court at Bullard, which was in rough condition.

The United Methodist Church also recently paid for a three-wheel bike for Cycling Without Age to give senior citizens rides.

The church is trying to support projects that benefit seniors and also youth in the community, said Susan Oschmann, one of the leaders of the “Bounce for Bullard” project.

Sanford Church, the Orleans County Court judge, also is donating for two of the new hoops.

There is a chance the new setup could be ready next month, Oschmann said.

In June, Keeler Construction put down the first layer for two full-size outdoor basketball courts. That was funded with a $40,000 grant from the James and Juli Boeheim Foundation. The Greater Albion Recreation and Events, Inc., a non-profit organization, secured the funding with assistance from the Orleans County United Way.

The effort was still about $100,000 short until the recent donors came forward.

The top surface will be painted purple with white lines for the basketball courts, and yellow lines for the markings for four pickleball courts. There are portable nets for the pickleball courts. (Bounce for Bullard is paying for the lines on two of the courts through its fundraisers.)

Oschmann said there will be 3-on-3 basketball tournaments at the new courts, and basketball camps. There will be time too for people to use the space for pickleball, an emerging sport similar to tennis but in a smaller area.

That will have the basketball court effort nearly done. Oschmann said in the future more fencing could be added for all four sides, and the committee would like benches. The group would also like to see smaller quarter courts for basketball at the neighborhood parks in the Village of Albion.

She said many entities helped move the project along.

“Everybody is really putting helping hands together,” she said. “It is really amazing.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Firefighters check on any hot spots at a trailer on Phipps Road in Albion. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 6:15 p.m.

Lisa McGuire was home and used water from a garden hose to put out a small fire from a plug-in heater that was malfunctioning, said her husband Chris McGuire. Four children were also inside and everyone was able to get out safely.

Mrs. McGuire was checked out at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters from Albion, Barre, Carlton, Medina and Shelby responded, as well as Monroe Ambulance, the Orleans County Emergency Management Office and Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The bleachers for Albion’s side were near capacity for the debut of Albion’s new turf football field under the lights at Spierdowis Field on Friday night. Albion battled the Roy-Hart-Barker team and the Purple Eagles won the game, 36-14.

The ribbon-cutting included the varsity team sprinting through a ribbon held by Wayne Wadhams, president of the Board of Education. The team was led on the field by Blake Preston(2) and Auston Johnson (4).

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion coaches, district leaders, Board of Education members and representatives from the construction and design companies also were on the field for the ribbon cutting.

District Superintendent Mickey Edwards, a 1985 Albion graduate, played defensive back for the varsity teams in 1983 and ’84. The ’83 team won Sectionals and played at Rich Stadium.

Edwards said the turf field allows the team to practice on it, and not just be used for games. The players can better familiarize themselves with the lines and hash tags on the field.

“We don’t have to worry about the rain and the mud,” Edwards said.

When that happened in a game, the grass field was often torn up, and took a lot of work and expense to get back up to par.

“I’m excited for our kids to play on a field like they play on in Sectionals,” Edwards said. “It will be the same for our soccer and softball teams.”

Contractors are working to bring turf to those fields. If the weather allows, the softball field could be ready for the spring season. Soccer will be able to play on the new field in the fall 2023.

Albion coaches, District Superintendent Mickey Edwards (second from left), contractors and the Board of Education check out the soft new turf on the field.

Kirk Narburgh, CEO & managing partner at King & King Architects, worked on the design of the field and many of the recent Albion school construction projects. Narburgh is a 1982 Albion graduate and also played football for the Purple Eagles.

He said the turf field is nearly 100 percent maintenance field. The turf should last 12 to 15 years. It doesn’t need to be mowed, fertilized or have fresh paint for the lines.

“It gives you more play-ability,” Narburgh said. “You can get on it sooner in the spring. With the grass field you couldn’t get on it after it rained.”

Narburgh said the baseball team could practice on the field in the spring and get outside more in getting ready for its season.

The district had been considering a turf field for about 25 years, Narburgh said.

Air Raising Events added balloons for the festive game, including this décor in one of the end zone corners.

The Albion district welcomed representatives from the contractors that worked on the field, including Diehl Development, sitework; Blackmon/Farrell, electrical; Chenango Contracting, turf installers; and the Campus Construction Management Group.

Players from the Roy-Hart/Barker team are lined up in the Albion end zone after the national anthem.

Sarah Dumrese, great-granddaughter of Michael Spierdowis, was part of the ceremonial coin flip with her sons, Isaac and Ezra, and her nephew, Ben Allen. All three are the great-great-grandsons of Spierdowis.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The Spierdowis great-great-grandkids were part of the ceremonial coin flip just before the game.

Albion students dressed up neon construction outfits and had fun in the “De-Construction Zone.” The turf field is part of a major construction project throughout the school district.

Cheerleaders support the team during the season home-opener. They are standing in a spot where a new track will soon be installed.

Provided photos

ALBION – Bullard Park on Saturday hosted the 10^th annual car show to benefit Hospice of Orleans County.

Becky Karls is the lead organizer of the event, which attracted about 50 cars. That was down from the turnout in recent years. The threat of rain kept some car owners away.

Karls said she still expects to present a check for about $2,000 to Hospice. Some donations are still coming in from the event.

Becky Karls, left, congratulates Ed Doran as the “Hospice Choice Winner.” Doran of Medina brought a 1968 Chevy Pickup that he has painted and decorated as a tribute to the 343 firefighters who were killed during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Julia Alt, director of development for Hospice of Orleans, is at right.

Doran used to be a firefighter for Medina, Shelby and East Shelby. Mark Weld, an Middleport artist, did the artwork on the truck.

The car show included several hearses or the vehicles for the “last responder.” Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes is a major sponsor of the car show benefitting Hospice.

Not all of the vehicles were cars or trucks. This old farm tractor has been well cared for.

Village will have to spend about $1 million more to complete project

File photo by Tom Rivers – The 1-million-gallon water tank on Route 98 is pictured through a metal fence at the site north of the village in the Town of Gaines. The village will have the tank demolished and replaced with a new one.

ALBION – The Albion Village Board approved a $1.5 million construction contract on Wednesday evening which is the first phase of replacing a 1-million gallon water tank on Route 98 in Gaines.

The village will have to spend about $1 million more in the second phase.

The first phase includes the demolition of current tank, and installation of new piping, valve and a meter pit.

The board accepted a $1,527,000 bid from STC Construction of Springville for the first phase.

A $1,250,000 grant from the state will cover most of the cost. That money is from the Community Development Block Grant program, with another grant covering 60 percent of the remaining cost. The state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) will cover $166,200 or 60 percent of the remaining $277,000.

The village expects it will pay its share through the water rates in the water fund.

The village broke the project into two phases because it needs to spent the $1.25 million state grant by April 1, said Brian Sibiga, the village’s consultant on the project from Wendel, an engineering and construction management firm.

Albion will prepare bid specifications to replace the water tank from the early 1960s. The current steel tank will be demolished with a new concrete tank or a glass-lined tank. Sibiga said that cost is expect to be about $1 million.

The village could bond the expense with the cost to paid through a long-term loan through a likely increase in the water rates.