By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 August 2023 at 8:51 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Trio Ghidorah, a classical guitar trio, performed on Saturday at Hoag Library in Albion for about 50 people. The group includes Ken Luk, Bernardo Marcondes and Erik Gibelyou.
The three musicians formed their group while pursuing their doctoral degrees at the Eastman School of Music. The trio creates arrangements for three guitars of music not originally written for the instrument, including works by Stravinsky, Mozart, and Philip Glass.
They were the fifth performers in a new concert series at Hoag this year.
The remaining schedule includes:
Sunshine Quan: Saturday, September 23, at noon
Maya Ana Loncar: Saturday, Oct. 14 at noon
Rochester Mandolin Orchestra, Saturday, Nov. 4 at noon
Dr. Lynn McGrath, Saturday, Dec. 9 at noon
The concerts are free to the public with support from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council and Friends of Hoag Library.
Bernardo Marcondes, left, and Erik Gibelyou are shown during the concert on Saturday.
Trio Ghidorah released its debut album, Dances and Fantasies, in March 2021.
The trio has performed frequently in the Rochester area. Their concert programs include music from the classical canon, contemporary works and Latin American music.
Ken Luk performs during the concert. Luk is an active performer, educator and arranger of classical guitar and mandolin.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 August 2023 at 3:01 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Motorcyclists start a 118-mile ride today, leaving at the Elks Lodge on East State Street. The dice run is a fundraiser for the Jason Johnston scholarship.
That scholarship is in memory of Jason Johnson, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Dec. 26, 2009. Johnston was a specialist and paratrooper in the Army. He was on his second tour in Afghanistan. He completed a 13-month-deployment in 2008 and left again for the war-torn country in October 2009.
The $1,000 annual memorial scholarship that goes to a student pursuing a career in a helping profession, such as a nurse, doctor, firefighter, counselor or other social services.
“The recipient of the award should be of good character, show dedication, effort and potential while working to the best of their,” according to a description of the scholarship provided by the Elks. “Specialist Johnston believed in the Golden Rule – ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’”
The riders gather at the start of the ride.
The Elks Lodge will be serving food later this evening the band Begging Angels will perform. That event is open to the community with a $5 cover charge.
Mike Clemons served as ride captain for more than 50 riders. He welcomes the group for the 10th annual ride as a memorial for Johnston. The Albion Elks Riders organized today’s ride.
The riders broke into three groups and staggered the starts every 20 minutes. The route included stops at the Elks in Lockport, the Silo in Lewiston and the Open Air Bar in Newfane.
Brad Johnston, Jason’s father, joins the other riders for a pre-ride talk, where they shared the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. Brad has been part of all 10 rides in memory of his son.
There is memorial stone for Jason Johnston at the Elks Lodge in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2023 at 4:39 pm
Ted Farwell
An Albion native whose family runs a crop-dusting business was killed on Saturday in a helicopter crash.
Theodore “Ted” Farwell, 39, works with Triple F Flying with his father Rick and brothers Joe, Will and Jesse.
The family bases the crop-dusting business out of Albion on County House Road and in Benton in central Pennsylvania. The Farwells have been in the crop-dusting business since 1999.
Ted Farwell lived near the Benton base of operations with his wife Jessie and their three children. A fourth child is due in January.
Farwell was flying a helicopter on Saturday morning when he hit an electrical line, which then downed the Bell 47G-5. The helicopter caught on fire after crashing. Farwell was removed from the helicopter and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to multiple media reports in Pennsylvania.
The son of Rick and Pam Farwell, Ted is a 2002 Albion graduate. He has a large extended family in the Albion area.
His funeral is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Stillwater Christian Church in Stillwater, Pa. Contributions for Ted’s wife and children may be sent to the Stillwater Christian Church, 39 McMichael Street, Stillwater, PA 17878, and note “Farwell Fund” on any donations.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2023 at 1:29 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Today is the annual Holy Family Lawn Fete in Albion. This group is running the Merchandise Wheel on a closed off West Park Street, from Main to Librarty.
They include, from left: Debbie Groden, Mindy Warne, Leah Warne and Samantha Bouche. Leah and Samantha are both starting fourth grade next month.
At the Merchandise Wheel, $1 gets three tokens to win a prize. “You spin until you win,” Mindy Warne said.
Alan Worgo, front, and Doug Miller check out some of the raffle baskets available at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. There are 150 baskets available.
The Lawn Fete continues until 5 p.m. today and is a fundraiser for the Holy Family Parish.
Janet Navarra sets out pies that are for sale, as well as produce in a booth run by th Ladies of Charity. Many of the 100 pies quickly sold after the Lawn Fete started at noon.
Mike Fischer, left, and Mike Grabowski are working the grill with hot dogs, sausage and hamburgers. Pasta fagioli, goulash, salt potatoes and other food is available.
There are also kids’ games, pull tabs and a 50/50 drawing, a wine toss and other activities.
The Catholic Daughters – Gayle Ashbery, Darla Swierczynski and Jan Albanese – are giving away rosaries and book, Empire State Catholics – A History of the Catholic Community in New York State. The foreword includes a photo of the altar and murals at St. Joseph’s in Albion. The Ladies of Charity are making the books available for free.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 August 2023 at 9:48 pm
Provided photo
POINT BREEZE – Albion’s Class of 1958 gathered today at the Black North Inn for the class’s 65th reunion.
Pictured in front row, from left: Allport, Martha Standish, Patricia Gaze Harrold, Marlene Finney Graham and Jim McGlen.
Second row: Adrienne Daniels, Helen Grzywacz Wilkens, Marjorie Narburgh McWethy, Stanley Pieniaszek, Janel Koch Edwards, Ella Mae D’Angelo Caroll, Ben Canham, Sibyl Dale Pilon, Judy Bruski Newton, David Wells, Lynn Roy Blackburn and Ken Laubacher.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 August 2023 at 8:52 am
ALBION – The Albion school district is seeking state approval for free breakfasts and lunches to be offered to all students this school year.
Albion has applied to the state Department of Education to be included in the Community Eligibility Provision of the National School Breakfast/Lunch Program.
To qualify, a district or school building must have an Identified Student Percent (ISP) of at least 40 percent. Albion is at 51 percent, and that number has increased since Albion last looked at being in the program in 2018, said Rick Recckio, Albion’s school business administrator.
The ISP isn’t determined by student eligible for free and reduced lunch. Instead it depends on SNAP and Medicaid recipients identified through the electronic direct certification matching process (DCMP) and extension of these eligibility benefits to siblings or other household members not matched. It also includes homeless children identified by the homeless liaison, Head Start students, migrant, runaway and foster children certified directly by the state or local foster agency, Recckio said.
“We submitted our application to the state and we are working with them to transition to CEP from our current program allowing all students to have free breakfast and lunch,” he said. “This is not a guarantee as the state needs to approve us in order to offer this program. This would be funded by the state and federal government.”
Recckio and Albion school officials are hoping the state Education Department will make a decision on Albion’s application before the start of the school year.
The state budget for 2023-24 increased state spending by $134 million for school districts to participate in CEP.
“For kids to be successful in school, they can’t sit there with their stomachs growling — they’re hungry,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in announcing the funding increase. “They need nutritious food to focus and thrive.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 August 2023 at 11:28 am
Rate is about $4 lower for towns that completed revaluations
ALBION – Property owners where towns have completed reassessments will see a sharp decline in their school tax rate in the Albion school district.
The Albion Board of Education approved the final tax warrant on Monday. The district isn’t increasing the tax levy again this year. It remains at $8,449,039. This is the 15th time in the past 17 years that the levy has either stayed the same or gone down.
But not all towns have the same tax rate because some towns have put off town-wide reassessments or revaluations.
Carlton, Kendall, Ridgeway and Shelby all are doing the reassessments this year. Barre and Clarendon did them last year, while four other towns – Albion, Gaines, Murray and Yates are waiting. Some town officials was to see if the real estate sales boom will cool off.
For towns that haven’t done town-wide reassessments, the state uses equalization rates to try to make sure those property owners are paying their fair share of the taxes.
Carlton, Kendall, Ridgeway and Elba all did townwide reassessments this year. Their total assessed values went up and their tax rates went down to $10.87 per $1,000 of assessed property. Carlton’s school tax rate was $14.63 a year ago.
Albion and Gaines, which are now four years without a town-wide reassessment, will have their property values billed at a $14.69-rate per $1,000 of assessed property.
The tax warrant approved by the board on Monday includes the following for the towns in the Albion school district:
Elba (Genesee County), 100 percent equalization rate, $10.87 school tax rate; 84-cent library tax rate ($11.71 total)
The district has a total assessed value of $632.2 million. That includes $236.2 million in the Town of Albion, $145.7 million in Carlton, $135.7 million in Gaines, $106.7 million in Barre, $6.0 million in Murray, $1.2 million in Kendall and $251,914 in Ridgeway.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 August 2023 at 9:35 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A new scoreboard is in place at the Albion football field and construction is ongoing for a new artificial turf field.
The project will be done in time for the varsity football team’s home opener on Sept. 15 against Roy-Hart/Barker, district superintendent Mickey Edwards said after this evening’s Board of Education meeting.
Albion will play its first two games on the road at Iroquois on Sept. 1 and at Dunkirk on Sept. 8. Albion’s JV teams also will be on the road the first two weeks.
The new turf field is among an extensive campus upgrade. School district residents on Dec. 14, 2021 approved the $26.69 million capital project that includes all three schools, as well as the bus garage, and new synthetic playing surfaces for football, soccer and softball.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman: JaQuess Harrison returns a punt for the game-winning touchdown for Albion against visiting Springville in this game Sept. 1, 2017. Albion won 40-34. The photo shows the former scoreboard and grass field.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 August 2023 at 1:24 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The eighth edition of Rock the Park was a big hit on Saturday with an estimated 700 to 1,000 people attending the Albion Musical Festival that featured seven bands and two acoustic acts.
Nerds Gone Wild, top photo, closed out the day of music for the second year in a row. The band from the Buffalo area performs popular party music from the 1980s.
Ron Albertson, one of the organizers for the festival, said it was a record crowd on Saturday. The festival also had a popular open mic night on Friday making it a two-day event for the first time.
Albertson is joined on the committee by Zack Burgess, Debbie Prest, John Grillo, Bernie Baldwin, Jill Albertson, Tim McMurray, Terry Wilbert, Susan Oschmann and Dan Conrad.
Many other volunteers also made the event possible. The Village of Albion DPW helps set up the event and the town of Albion Highway Department provides a snow fence separating people who pay the $5 admission to be under the main tent with access to alcohol.
Ed Wyner aka “Milton Wild” is lead singer for the band. Some of the first songs by the band were “Tainted Love,” “Always Something There To Remind Me,” “Power of Love” “Footloose” and “Take Me Home Tonght.”
The Nerds had people on their feet and close to the stage for the finale on Saturday.
The Nerds Gone Wild are celebrating their 10th anniversary this month. The band members include John Gibbon on bass, guitar and vocals; Ed Wyner on lead vocals and guitar; Eddy Tabone on drums and vocals; Brian Beaudry on keyboards and vocals; and Eric Rovner on lead guitar and vocals.
Highway 31 performed for the first time at Rock the Park. They rocked to ’90s music, contemporary country and some rock, including favorites like “Footloose,” “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” and “Little Less Talk and Lot More Action.”
Rich Nolan of Gasport, right, is the lead singer. Here he watches the guitar trio of from left, 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.
Nolan said the band enjoyed playing in the music festival. They performed 13 songs in about an hour.
“It’s fun because you get to hear a lot of bands,” Nolan said. “We’re all hear supporting each other.”
Highway 31 was the seventh of the nine performers on Saturday. (Highway 31 will be back performing at Bullard this Wednesday at 6:30 for a full concert.)
Eclipse performs “Would?” by Alice In Chains. Erin Moody is lead singer for the band with Brett Zambito on bass, left, and D.J. Button, right, on guitar. Mike Parker is drummer for the band. Eclipse is a ’90s-’00s rock/metal cover band.
The music lineup for Saturday included: Carlton Station at 11 a.m., Chris Moore at noon, Shotgun Pauly at 2 p.m., Eclipse at 3 p.m., driVen at 4 p.m., Zackstreet Boys at 5 p.m., Highway 31 at 6 p.m., The Who Dats at 7 p.m. and Nerds Gone Wild at 8:30 p.m.
Saul Harrison, right, served chicken and ribs with his business, Daisy’s Sweet Sauce. He is joined by John Butler, left, and Mehkyron Drisdom. They were among several food vendors for Rock the Park.
The Zackstreet Boys perform on the amphitheater stage at Bullard. Their first two songs were “Sugar We’re Goin Down” by Fall Out Boy and “The Boys of Summer” (Ataris’ version).
The band includes Zack Burgess, right, on guitar and vocals; Kole Moore on guitar, left; Mike Whiting on guitar, center; and Brian Domenick on drums.
Mike Whiting performs with the Zackstreet Boys with Brian Domenick the drummer.
The Who Dats, a long-time local favorite, performed for the crowd. Alex DeSmit is on the drums with Todd Graham, left, and John Borello on guitar.
This photo shows the entire Who Dats band, which includes lead singer Lonnie Froman in yellow shirt, John Borello on guitar (polka dot shirt, Todd Graham on guitar (second from left), Ed Hilfiker on guitar (far right) and Alex DeSmit on drums.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 August 2023 at 11:22 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Karen Conn, center, has opened Hearth & Home Real Estate Professionals at 110 East Ave. Conn celebrated the grand opening of the business on Friday evening. She is joined by her sister Laural Prentice, left, and niece Emily Banks.
Conn has been in the real estate business for 16 years. She is the owner/broker. Prentice has worked as a real estate agent the past two years. Banks will be the administrative assistant for Hearth & Home, which has regular office hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Mondays through Fridays. The office also will be open by appointment.
Conn works as an elementary-general music teacher at Albion. Art teacher Tina Burgett designed the Heart & Home logo and students in the high school art club painted the sign.
Karen Conn is shown on the stairway of Hearth & Home. She and her husband Mitch Conn gave the building an extensive makeover with new windows, sanding and staining the hardwood floors, new lighting, a roof, painting the interior and the exterior.
Conn wanted to run the business out of a former home, rather than an office building. She has decorated the site with many images of Victorian homes.
Conn has a conference room upstairs to meet with clients, as well as offices downtstairs.
“It’s important to make people feel comfortable when doing business,” she said. “I want to put them at ease.”
Conn said she enjoys working with people, especially first-time homebuyers. She wants to help them through the process of finding a house that is the best fit for the long-term.
“I will give them honest answers with no pressure,” she said.
When Hearth & Home closes on a sale, Conn said the buyer will get a wreath for the home.
Shown at a ribbon-cutting on Friday evening includes Laural Prentice, Mitch Conn, Karen Conn, Emily Banks and Darlene Hartway, executive director of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 August 2023 at 10:44 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Ed Anderson Jr. sings U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” for the band Distant View during an open mic this evening at Bullard Park for Rock the Park – Albion Summer Music Festival.
The event, in its 8th year, has expanded the first time for two days of music.
Saturday is the busier day with musicians playing from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Distant View performs “What I Like About You” during open mic night. The band includes lead singer Ed Anderson Jr., right; guitar player Chris Oakes, left; and Bryce Waterson on drums. Rusty Fisher, not pictured, also plays guitar.
Rusty Fisher plays the guitar for Distant View while singer Junior (Ed Anderson Jr.) sings for the band during open mic this evening.
The band Good News performed several songs during open mic. Jason Wilhelm is the lead singer, John Angelucci plays bass, and Bryce Waterson stepped in to play drums. Some of the songs included “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “I Won’t Back Down,” “Proud Mary – Rollin’ Like A River” and several others.
Good News performs during open mic night. The band plays at many Christian festivals in Western New York.
Rock the Park tries to build off the event each year and this time expanded to include Friday evening music, said Zack Burgess, one of the coordinators of the event all eight years. His band, Zackstreet Boys, also performs at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
There are nine bands performing on Saturday. Burgess said the open mic night was a way to expand the festival and also give more musicians a chance to perform on the main stage at the amphitheater.
Saturday’s lineup will be capped by Nerds Gone Wild who proved to be a crowd favorite last year.
The music lineup for Saturday includes:
Carlton Station on acoustic stage at 11 a.m.
Chris Moore on acoustic stage at noon
Shotgun Pauly on main stage at 2 p.m.
Eclipse on main stage at 3 p.m.
Driven on main stage at 4 p.m.
Zackstreet Boys on main stage at 5 p.m.
Highway 31 on main stage at 6 p.m.
The Who Dats on main stage at 7 p.m.
Nerds Gone Wild on main stage at 8:30 p.m.
There will also be arts and crafts vendors, as well as food and beverages. There is a $5 admission charge good for all day Saturday to have access to the tent in front of the main stage. People can also listen to the music for free away from the tent.
Provided photos: Olivia Krenning accepts her Hoag Engineering Scholarship from Alumni Foundation President Steve Hicks.
Posted 3 August 2023 at 9:50 am
Press Release, Albion Alumni Foundation
ALBION – The Alumni High School Alumni Foundation awarded $136,500 in scholarships to Albion High School Class of 2023 graduates during their Class Night ceremony. These awards provide financial assistance to seniors as they continue to pursue their educational goals.
The Foundations’ scholarship committee chose recipients for 50 academic, vocational, service, leadership, arts and athletics scholarships. They poured over numerous applications and chose students that they felt best fit each scholarship’s criteria.
Several newly created scholarships were presented for the first time this year. They are:
The Betty West Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship was established in honor of Betty West, who taught 1st and 2nd grades in the Albion Primary School for 35 years, retiring in 1993. From childhood, her desire was always to become an educator. This scholarship is funded by both generous contributions and West family contributions and awarded to an Albion senior with the same passion for teaching.
Stewart New Scholarship – This scholarship was established in honor of Stuart New, who taught agriculture at Albion High School and served as the FFA supervisor. He encouraged and supported the education of students in our community who were interested in the Ag field. This scholarship, in turn, is in support of current students who have demonstrated a work ethic and goal related to an agricultural career in the local community. It is funded by Dr. Ronald and Suzanne Harling.
Dick Tower Scholarship – This scholarship was established in memory of Richard “Dick” Tower by his family and Preston’s Landscaping. Dick was a hard worker, starting as a laborer in a textile company and advancing through the ranks to a Production Supervisor. Dick helped to mentor and train many young people entering the workforce. After he retired he helped establish and worked for Preston’s Landscaping.
The Alumni Foundation’s scholarship program continues to grow and benefit more students each and every year. Scholarship funding is made possible through memberships and gifts from AHS Alumni and community members, as well as individuals and organizations that contact the Foundation to establish a scholarship. The Foundation manages the funds and awards the scholarships annually during Albion High School’s Class Night.
The Foundation would like to thank the generous donors that work with us to create and sustain these scholarships. Our donors are helping to make a difference for a lifetime for Albion graduates. Contact Steve Hicks at steve@albionalumni.org to learn how you can create a scholarship.
If you are interested in donating to any of the scholarships you can go to our donate button on the homepage of our website (albionalumni.org) or write to us:
Albion High School Alumni Foundation
P.O. Box 345
Albion, N.Y. 14411
Rebecca Wager presents the Ronald L. Sodoma Memorial Scholarship to Ulises Ledesma. This scholarship is in honor of her father who was ACS superintendent for 18 years.
Congratulations to all 2023 scholarship recipients!
Albion High School Alumni Foundation – Natalie Baron, Javon Jones
Paul R. Haines Memorial Scholarship – S’Koi Sanders Smith
St. Gobain Adfors Scholarship – Vincent Molisani
Elizabeth Balcom Smith – Brianna Sample
Golden Performance Scholarship – Hailey Crawford
Jim & Susie Fraser Health Careers Scholarship – Miranda Gebo
Dr. Lee N. Minier Science Scholarship – Clara Bolton
Albion Alumni Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship – Nicholas Andrews
Coach Richard Diminuco Scholarship for Athletic Excellence – Amari Jones
Harry W. Salchak Science Scholarship – Nick Harling
A.B. Dick Eddy Service Above Self Scholarship – Audrey Pask
Nancy Elaine Lagamba Scholarship – Clara Bolton
Dr. Paul Mahany Family Scholarships – Miranda Gebo, Samantha Hand, Daisy Reyes, Natalie Bertsch
File photo by Tom Rivers: These kids try catching fish last Aug. 13 for the 26th Daniel Spierdowis Memorial Fishing Derby. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. The Sportsmen’s Association brought it back last year and 63 kids tried to catch fish.
Posted 3 August 2023 at 9:21 am
Press Release, Albion Sportsmen’s Association
ALBION – Free fishing. Free food and drinks. Lots of prizes.
What better way to spend a Saturday.
The 27th Annual Danny Spierdowis Memorial Kids’ Fishing Derby will be from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 12 at Albion Sportsmen’s Association on Keitel Road.
The derby is open to Orleans County residents ages 16 and under, with prizes given to all entrants and special prizes awarded to the winners in all age groups and categories. Last year, 18 children won fishing poles and all entrants received mini-tackle boxes full of tackle.
The not-for-profit club provides drinks and lunch to all the children and parents.
The derby is named in honor of Danny Spierdowis, who died at age 19 in a car crash Jan. 20, 1990.
Anyone wishing to participate in the derby must register before Aug. 12 by calling or texting Scott DeSmit at 585-815-5150. You can also email him at desmitmail@yahoo.com. Please provide the names and ages of the children and the number of adults attending.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2023 at 11:32 am
Dan Rubinstein says traveling by water is great way to slow down and reconnect with oneself, nature
EAGLE HARBOR – A lone standing figure, on an inflatable paddleboat, is slowly working his way across the Erie Canal.
Dan Rubinstein, 49, has spent the past two weeks paddling across the Erie Canal, going about 20 to 25 miles day. He made it to Albion on Monday. He camped overnight and today is headed west to Gasport.
The canal trek is part of bigger journey that started June 24 in Montreal. Rubinstein, an Ottawa resident, went to New York City on the Hudson River. From there he took a bus to Albany to get on the Erie Canal.
After he reaches Buffalo, he will cross the Niagara River and head to Toronto.
The paddleboard expedition is part of a book he is working about our relationship with water. Not only is water critical to life, but it has the power to help people connect to themselves and nature.
“When we’re on water things slow down,” he said this morning, paddling in Eagle Harbor.
He goes about 3 miles an hour and feels like a metronome, losing himself in the repetition.
Rubinstein is a writer whose project immerses him in “blue space.” He has been interviewing people along the way – some in planned discussions but most in serendipitous encounters.
Dan Rubinstein cuts a path through the water this morning. He has been traveling on the canal the past two weeks.
On Monday evening, he met Doug Miller and Susan Starkweather Miller of Albion. They are featured on his Instagram page that chronicles his journey.
“Everybody has been welcoming and generous, and sharing their stories,” he said. “Everybody has been amazing.”
Susan Starkweather Miller, the village historian, talked about Albion’s canal history and some of the notable events and people in the past, including the 1859 bridge collapse on the canal that killed 15 people. She directed Rubinstein to the Pullman church and its 41 Tiffany stained-glass windows.
“He is a really nice guy and personable,” Starkweather Miller said. “He is very interested in hearing stories.”
She volunteers at the Brockport Welcome Center and her brother is a retired tugboat operator on the canal.
She was impressed Rubinstein took on the physical task on rowing against the current on the canal, and made the effort to hear from local people along the way.
Dan Rubinstein paddles on the 14-foot-long board.
Rubenstein said the canal brings people together of all backgrounds. He has met wealthy people on large boats and others struggling to get by who are fishing for food.
The canal became noticeably more interesting with lots of joggers, walkers and cyclists as he got near Rochester and headed east.
His trip aims to explore sustainability, health, equity, social justice and community.
“To me, paddleboarding — on rivers, lakes and oceans — is a unique way to interact with both natural and human aquatic ecosystems; it can help connect us to this vital natural resource that we often ignore or neglect,” he states on his website about this project. “Standing upright on the water, moving with or against the flow, you see yourself and your surroundings in a new way.”
Rubinstein has a working title for the book, “Water Borne.” He is also the author of “Born to Walk: The Transformative Power of a Pedestrian Act.” The book was published in 2015.
For more on Rubinstein’s Water Borne project, click here to see his website. Check here to see his Instagram account.
Rubinstein passes through Eagle Harbor headed west towards Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 July 2023 at 11:18 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Chuck Prentice and Nicole Boldt, paramedics with the Le Roy Ambulance Service, led about a dozen parents in training to use CPR and a defibrillator.
The training was at Bullard Park on Wednesday evening. Many of the people learning the skills were parents of Albion youth football players. The training was organized by Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program or AYSAP.
Chuck Prentice, a Gaines resident, led the training. He said chest compressions should be done 30 times and two breaths with about 100 to 120 compressions a minute.
He told the attendees they should first check for a pulse and any signs of the person is breathing. The chest compressions should be done on a hard surface, either the ground or floor, he said.
He urged community members to be trained in CPR and be ready to act. Someone could collapse in a grocery store and need CPR, Prentice said.
A defibrillator or AED is used to restart a heart.
