Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A high-arcing shot goes up Saturday in one of the 3-on-3 basketball games on Main Street in Albion.

More than 45 kids played in the youth basketball tournament during the Albion Strawberry Festival. The event raised $1,300 towards new basketball courts at Bullard Park on Route 31.

A cornhole tournament organized by Dubby’s Tailgate on Friday night also raised $300 towards the new basketball courts.

Part of Main Street was closed to traffic for the festival. Organizers wanted to take advantage of the Main Street lift bridge undergoing a once-in-a-century overhaul which allowed for the street to be shut down for traffic.

The Bounce for Bullard Committee organized the tournament and has another planned for Aug. 5 as part of the Rock the Park event or the Albion Summer Music Festival.

Construction expected to start soon on two new courts. The Greater Albion Recreation and Events, Inc., a non-profit organization, secured a $40,000 grant from the James and Juli Boeheim Foundation towards two new full-size courts at Bullard.

Keeler Construction will soon put in the subsurface for the courts.

The winning teams in the 3-on-3 tournament include:

• High School – first place, Triple Threat from Lockport; second place, Thunder from Alden; and third, Batavia from Batavia.
• Middle School – first place, Certified Munchies from Albion; second place, Batavia from Batavia; and third place, 5 Stars from Medina.
• Elementary – first place, Rangers from Spencerport; second place, ROC Boys from Rochester; third place, Ranger Rebounders from Spencerport.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Gary Simboli of Albion and Sarah Hill of Medina are teaming up for concerts Friday at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina and Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.

ALBION – Gary Simboli remembers hearing Sarah Hill perform at an open mic night more than a decade ago at an Albion coffee shop.

Simboli, who was then Albion’s high school chorus and musical director, was very impressed by Hill.

He has heard her many times since at Lake Plains Players productions and other musical competitions. But he never performed with her, and he wanted that to change.

Simboli, who is now retired from teaching, is teaming up with Hill in a cabaret-style show on Friday and Saturday. Both will be singings solos, and some duets.

“Her vocal ability is second to none,” Simboli said about Hill. “She can sing any style of music, from serious, light and comical.”

She will perform a classical aria, “Vanilla Ice Cream,” a song from Bette Midler, “Miss Otis Regrets,” and other songs in the first half. The second half of the 90-minute show will be a truncated version of the musical “Funny Girl,” made popular by Barbra Streisand in 1968.

Simboli said he hopes the performances Friday and Saturday can be a springboard for Hill.

A Rochester native, she spent most of her childhood in Orlando, Fla. She moved to the local area more than a decade ago. She has performed in more than 20 different productions with the Lake Plains Players.

She is currently working part-time as a water clerk for the Town of Royalton. She has a twin sister, Sam, who is a clay artist in Medina.

Sarah said she appreciates Simboli teaming up with her for the upcoming concerts.

“It’s been so much joy,” she said. “It’s been so easy and it has come together so fast. It’s two friends hanging out and singing great songs together.”

The shows are at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery at 7 p.m. on Friday at 106009 Ridge Rd., Medina and at the First Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. on Saturday at 229 East State St., Albion. Tickets are $15 at the door or through Venmo.

Provided photos

ALBION – Albion High School English teacher Kristin Roche reaches for some cash when she was stopped this morning before school by senior Vincent Molisani. The senior class did their prank this morning, and required teachers to pay a $5 minimum to enter the parking lots to go into school.

The prank raised $900 for the family of Maddox Pearl. He has been receiving treatments for a brain tumor.

Vincent Molisani was stationed in the main driveway of the high school this morning, collecting $5 from teachers to enter as part of a senior prank with a good cause.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Amazing Turtle Race is a mainstay of the Albion Starwberry Festival. The turtles are usually launched into the Erie Canal from the Main Street lift bridge.

But with the bridge removed for a major rehabilitation, organizers of the event needed to improvise, and the turtles on Saturday afternoon were launched from a boat owned by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

The turtle launchers include from left: Albion Police chief David Mogle and Lt. Brandon Annable, top ticket seller Jarred Saj, County Legislator John Fitzak and Aric Albright, superintendent of the village’s sewer plant.

The turtles work their way east on the Erie Canal.

There were 800 turtles in the racer, and Saj sold 375 of the tickets. They were $5 each or 5 for $20. Proceeds are used to help defray costs of the Strawberry Festival.

The turtles are numbered and the first five earn prize money for the ticket holders. The winners include: Dave Green in first, $500; Kevin Bogan in second, $300; David Schubel in third, $100; Lin Schafer in fourth, $50; and Mike Goheen in fifth, $50.

Becky Karls is the organizer of the turtle race. She is pictured with Aubrey Kennedy, 11, of Kent who wore the turtle costume for the race and also during the parade.

Gary Simboli served as emcee of the race and shared many corny turtle jokes. Donato Rosario and McKenna Boyer, bottom left and center, take in the spectacle by the canal.

Dallas Ecker, second from left, grabs the top five turtles. Jay Kovaleski, an Albion physical education teacher and swim coach, is at left. Ecker was assisted in the kayaks by Josh DePoty and Jackson Moody.

Photos by Vivian Rivers

ALBION – Brett Sobieraski heads to the finish line on Saturday morning in the Albion Strawberry Festival 5k.

Bert Gallmon and Wolfpack Multisport, organizers of the race, embraced the theme of the Strawberry Festival: “Here Comes Santa.”

They had a large Santa inflatable at the finish line.

Sobieraski of Carlton ran the race on Saturday as part of his 49^th marathon in 49 days. He completed his 50^thmarathon in a row on Sunday as part of a tribute to fallen Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz, who was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022.

Dana Martin, an Albion teacher, leads this group to the finish line.

Photo by Tom Rivers

The age group awards included a Santa theme, and so did the race T-shirts. Gallmon and Wolfpack also gave out Santa hats to the runners.

There were 127 people who completed the 5K. The top three male finishers in the 5K include Matt Seyse at 21:07, Carter Pietrzykowski at 21:10 and Mark Nichols at 21:21.

Top three female finishers in the 5K include Colleen Carroll at 22:54, Cordelia Rivers at 23:59 and Dana Goetze at 24:32.

Another 45 runners completed the 8K course. The top three male finishers in the 8K include Mark Czopp at 34:33, Brandon Carmichael at 34:36 and Sam Glushefski at 34:39.

Top three female finishers in the 8K include Miranda Leo at 34:39, Elizabeth Ogden at 34:52 and Lindon Morici at 35:34.

Provided photo: Brett Sobieraski is pictured with Gene Christopher and his son David Cristofaro.

Bert Gallmon. Gene’s late wife Judy organized the race for nearly 20 years.

Photo by Vivian Rivers

Runners head towards the Santa inflatable at the finish along East State Street.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – “Santa Vern” from Boonville, NY, engages the crowd along Main Street in Albion during the Strawberry Festival parade on Saturday. Santa Vern was a vendor selling kettle corn in the food court.

He took a break from the popcorn to be part of the parade, and zipped along the parade route on his scooter. Santa Vern said he wanted to be part of the parade with a theme, “Here Comes Santa.” He also was part of the celebration after the parade with the unveiling of a bronze statue in honor of the late Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 to 1966 and also operated Christmas Park.

Sheryl Watts, owner and artistic designer of Air Raising Events, made a purple eagle costume out of balloons. Ina previous parade she made a strawberry out of balloons.

Strawberry Festival royalty acknowledge the crowd, including King Nick Andrews and Queen Jackie Santiago Garcia.

There were two princesses for the festival: sixth-grader Brooklyn Miens, left, and seventh-grader Ayme Vallejo-Morales.

Kerry Panek and Jim Panek, back left, get a float ready with help from their grandchildren and other family members. They are celebrating 40 years of growing strawberries at Panek’s Pickin’ Patch.

Aubrey Kennedy, 11, of Kent wore the turtle costume in the parade and later for the turtle race along the canal with more than 800 toy turtles. She had some downtime before the parade and played Uno with her brother Auden and their mother Pam. The 50 parade floats and other participants met at the parking lots at Albion High School and the elementary school to get their spots in the parade that last more than an hour.

Neveya Barnes and other Girl Scouts wore Santa hats and beards as part of the float with the North Point Chapel.

The Rochester Scottish Pipes & Drums were among several marching bands in the parade.

Dance Reflections by Miss Heather added a Christmas theme to their routine in honor of the parade theme, “Here Comes Santa.”

Brad Shelp drives a classic convertible in the parade in front of the Mark Time Marchers. Shelp served as the parade’s main coordinator.

The Albion Purple Eagles Marching Band performed their “Jersey Boys” show in front of the home crowd.

Amy Sidari, owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, was an enthusiastic participant in the parade.

The Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps from Le Roy put on an impressive show, especially on Main Street in front of the festival grounds.

The Rotary Coach Pitch team was among several youth sports teams in the parade, tossing candy and treats.

The parade went on despite the Main Street bridge being out of service. The bridge is actually off set as part of a major rehabilitation. Instead of crossing the bridge, the parade route turned left off Main Street to West Bank Street.

Gary Kent drives a John Deere tractor and pulls Santa in a sleigh set on a trailer to close out the parade. Kent wanted Santa to be pulled by a deer. They were on their way to dedicating a new bronze statue for Santa after the parade. The statue is a tribute to the late Charles W. Howard, the founder of a Santa school in Albion.

Statue honors legacy of Charles W. Howard who ran Santa School and Christmas Park in Albion

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A bronze statue was unveiled today at about noon honoring Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 until 1966.

Leaders of the Albion Betterment Committee – Gary Kent, Gary Derwick (behind Kent) and Joe Gehl – are joined by three Santas in celebrating the unveiling of the statue.

When the covering was removed from the statue, confetti was shot into the air.

The Betterment Committee worked on the project for eight years, raising about $80,000 from the local community without any grants or state funding.

Mary Ida Doan, center, takes a close look at the statue depicting Charles W. Howard. She and her late husband, Nate Doan, both graduated from the Santa School led by Howard. She traveled from Michigan to be in Albion for the dedication. She was joined by her son Jack.

Mrs. Doan said Howard “was like family” and she didn’t want to miss the statue unveiling.

After Howard’s death in 1966, Nate and Mary Ida Doan continued the school in Howard’s name. They would eventually move the school to Bay City, Mich. and they served as the school deans until Tom Valent took over the leadership in 1987. Mr. Valent continues to lead the school today in Midland, Mich. and he has kept the school in Howard’s name.

Three of Charles Howard’s grandchildren and pictured with the three Albion Betterment Committee directors who have worked on the statue project the past eight years. From left include Charles Howard’s grandchildren Susan Howard Brown, Charles Bergeman and Jane Holland and ABC directors Gary Derwick, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent.

The statue of Charles Howard in a Santa suit is in front of a 24-foot-long mural created in 2018 by Stacey Kirby Steward, an Albion native.

The new statue is at ground level so people can easily get close and get a picture with him, with the mural providing a striking backdrop for photos. The statue is just about life size at 6 feet tall.

Gary Simboli, a retired Albion music teacher, leads the group in Christmas music, including “Here Comes Santa Claus,” before the statue dedication. To the left are members of Charles Howard’s family, including three grandchildren and great-children. Mary Ida Doan and her son Jeff from Michigan also attended the celebration today in Albion.

Jane Holland of Williamsville, Charlie Howard’s granddaughter, thanked many people in the Albion community for working to honor her grandfather. She made special note of Ken McPherson of Medina, who is a Charles W. Howard Santa School graduate and a collector of memorabilia for the school and Christmas Park.

Holland said everyone can be a part of Howard’s legacy by asking themselves a simple question: “What can we do to make somebody else’s life brighter?” she said.

Howard’s grandson, Charles Bergeman of Lewiston, said he was named after his grandfather and was called “little Charles” when he was growing up.

Brian Porter, the sculptor of the statue, had experts on Howard over several times to his home and studio. In one visit to Porter’s home, Bergeman suggested the cheeks needed to be a little bigger to better reflect the likeness of his grandfather. Bergeman smiled and Porter took a photo, and used that image to shape the cheeks on the statue. Bergeman said the final look is perfect in capturing the look of his grandfather in a Santa suit that Howard himself designed.

Gary Derwick, Joe Gehl Gehl and Gary Kent, leaders of the Albion Betterment Committee, were the driving forces in raising money for the statue and seeing the project to fruition. The community gave $80,000 towards the project. There weren’t any grants or government money towards the statue.

Kent said Howard remains a revered leader in the Santa community. Kent was able to see that first-hand during Santa conferences in Albion in 2010 and 2015, when people who portray Santa traveled all over the country to come to Howard’s hometown.

Some of those people were disappointed there wasn’t more done in the community to celebrate Howard.

The Betterment Committee has since put up “Believe” signs, installed a lighted welcome sign with a cutout of Howard in a Santa suite on Route 98, upgraded a sign at the former Santa School site, and supported other projects honoring Howard, including the mural at Waterman Park where the statue is located.

Kent and the ABC group believe celebrating and highlighting some of the community’s history can help Albion be more vibrant today. Putting in the statue in the downtown should help bring more people to the business district in the heart of the community.

A crowd gathered at Waterman Park, which is a half block south of the Erie Canal. The Albion Betterment Committee thanked donors for making the project a reality.

Susan Howard Brown, second from right, is Charles Howard’s granddaughter. She made a 6-hour drive from Michigan to be at the statue unveiling. She is joined by her son William Brown and his girlfriend Catherine Crowell (left), and daughter Stephanie Brown and her fiancé Steven Evans. Santa Vern from Boonville, NY also joined the celebration.

Stephanie Brown, Howard’s great-granddaughter, said “the magic of Christmas” remains very special in the family, as well as Howard’s role leading the first Santa school. He was a prominent Santa who also starred in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for nearly 20 years.

“It’s nice to see that he is treasured here,” Brown said after the statue dedication. “He loved people and it’s nice to see the people around here love him back.”

Brian Porter, a sculptor from Pendleton, is photographed with the statue he created over about 18 months. Porter also is the sculptor for the bronze statue of a soldier outside the Orleans County YMCA, which is the former Medina Armory.

The statue in Medina of the soldier was dedicated on Sept. 7, 2019 in a project honoring the 550 soldiers who trained at the Armory from 1898 to 1947. They fought in four major conflicts: the Spanish American War, Mexican Border Incursion, World War I and World War II.

Many people stopped by the statue today to get a photo, including Stacey Kirby Steward, the mural artist of the Santa in a sleigh over the courthouse and downtown Albion. She visited the statue with her niece Rosemary Kirby, center, and daughter Skylar.

Mary Ida Doan, a Charles W. Howard Santa School graduate from when Charles Howard taught the school, gives the statue a close inspection. Howard’s family and local Santa enthusiast Ken McPherson of Medina also touch the statue and give it a close look. They all said the statue is a fitting tribute to the man who helped so many people serve in the role as Santa.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There are about 40 chairs up for bid util the library closes today at 2 p.m., including the one in the top photo with a Pac-Man design. It was painted by students at Albion High School.

The bids art at a minimum of $20.

Cathy Moore, a member of the Friends, said the chair auction s one of the biggest fundraisers for the Friends. She encourages people to bid, and to check out the creative displays on the stools and chairs.

“It’s fun,” she said about the chairs painted in many different colors and designs. “You get all kinds of different things.”

Albion Middle School students painted the chair at left with a music theme and also the stool that looks like a cow, including with an udder below the seat. Judy Manley painted the rabbit-themed chair at far right.

Many local residents and artists contributed to the chair auction, including former library director Susan Rudnicky. She painted flowers on a folding chair. Rudnicky has painted a chair for the fundraiser every year since it started more than a decade ago back when the auction was held at the former Swan Library.

‘This is an amazing part of your life but I want you to be safe and smart – and not just for prom and graduation season, but for a long time to come.’ – HS Principal Jenn Ashbery

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion firefighters and paramedics from Monroe Ambulance take Albion student Miranda Gebo on a stretcher this morning as part of a simulation showing the dangers of driving while drunk.

Gebo portrayed the injured driver of a vehicle that was hit by a drunk driver.

First responders with help from five Albion students simulated a crash this morning. They were sending a message about the importance of making good choices and not driving while intoxicated or under the influence of marijuana or drugs. Albion’s prom is this evening at Hickory Ridge in Holley. Students also are expected to attend many graduation parties and other gatherings this summer.

The two vehicles in the crash were provided by Mike and Joe Quill from Quill Diesel Repair and Towing in Barre Center.

Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham checks on the one of the students, Samantha Basinait. She suffered fatal injuries in the crash, as portrayed in the simulation. She was a passenger in a vehicle that was driven by Nick Andrews, left. Another student, Maya Knaak, checks on the driver in the other vehicle.

Nick Andrews tries to walk straight as part of a field sobriety test administered by Cory Martindale, an Orleans County Sheriff’s deputy.

Natalie Baron, a senior at Albion, is taken by stretcher to an ambulance.

Scott Schmidt, the Orleans County chief coroner, would declare Basinait deceased as part of the simulation.

Students would gathering in the LGI in the high school after the simulation. Matt Prawel, an Orleans County deputy sheriff and Albion’s school resource officer, discussed “Red Watch Bands” which were given to the students to remind them about the dangers of toxic drinking deaths.

Boys (men) are in danger of losing consciousness if they have five or more alcoholic drinks in two hours, while girls (women) could suffer alcohol poisoning with four or more drinks within two hours.

Mary Wright, a prevention educator with GCASA, urged the group to look after each other, and call for help immediately if they see someone who is vomiting from alcohol, or if they don’t respond when shouted at, if they have very slow breathing, can’t stand up, have pale/bluish skin or an irregular/slow pulse.

“Alcohol overdose is a serious medical emergency,” she told the group of about 80 students.

Albion Town Justice Gary Moore sentences Nick Andrews to 5 to 8 years in state prison for aggravated vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated. Andrews, when he’s released from prison, also will need to use an inter-lock ignition device for a year that measures his BAC before starting a vehicle.

Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone, center, said incarceration was needed given the reckless disregard for others and lapse in judgement from Andrews that will have “a tremendous impact” on Basinait’s family and friends.

“He truly has remorse for what he did,” Cardone said about Andrews in the simulated sentencing. “He will have a heavy burden on his shoulders the rest of his life.”

Cardone spoke to the group and congratulated them on all of their hard work over years to be on the cusp of graduation.

He urged them to use good judgement as they enjoy the upcoming period of celebrations.

High School Principal Jenn Ashbery told the students they are loved and cherished.

“This is an amazing part of your life but I want you to be safe and smart – and not just for prom and graduation season, but for a long time to come,” she told the group.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Scott Mann of Mann Vs. Food checks his pork belly burnt ends. He is one of many food vendors in the food court along East Bank Street.

Albion is celebrating its 35^th annual Strawberry Festival today and Saturday. There are two full days of music and activities in downtown Albion and at the Courthouse Square.

Click here to see the schedule.

One new event is a cornhole tournament at 6 p.m. on a closed off part of Main Street between Bank Street and Beaver Alley. That area will also have food and beer served by Dubby’s Tailgate, which is running the cornhole tournament.

Kris Kingle Kettle Korn has several flavors of kettle corn available, including a Christmas flavor with red cinnamon, blue raspberry and caramel. Pictured are “Bonnie Claus” and “Santa Vern.” They are from Boonville in Oneida County.

Warterman Park has a Christmas theme in preparation for Saturday’s unveiling of a new bronze statue that looks like Santa. The statue pays tribute to the late Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966. Howard is revered in the Santa community for setting standards for how Santa should look and act.

The unveiling of the statue will follow the parade on Saturday at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Mike Thaine praised for rapport with students, setting high expectations

Photos by Tom Rivers: Albion Central School Superintendent Mickey Edwards presents the district’s “Educator of the Year” award to High School band director Mike Thaine, right, during Wednesday’s night high school instrumental music spring concert.

ALBION – The school district has honored Mike Thaine as Albion’s “Educator of the Year” for the 2022-23 school year.

Thaine was praised for leading the high school band, marching band, jazz band and for conducting the high school pit orchestra for the musical.

“He has incredible rapport with students, in and out of the classroom,” said Jennifer Ashbery, the high school principal.

Her daughters are both in the band program led by Thaine.

Clara Bolton, a senior in the band, was among the nominees for Thaine to receive the award.

“Mr. Thaine is an adult everyone can trust,” she wrote.

He encourages the students to work hard and excel, she said.

The award is typically presented just before the Board of Education meeting in June, when the district also recognizes retiring teachers and other staff. Thaine was unable to attend Monday’s recognition program because he was with students at a New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) solo competition in Brockport.

Karen Conn, a music teacher in the high school, said Thaine is highly respected by his colleagues.

“He is a calming presence and an excellent confidante,” she said.

Thaine graduated from Albion in 1986. After working at the Prattsburgh school district for eight years, Thaine came back to Albion and was an elementary music teacher from 1998 until moving to the high school in 2006.

He has been part of a music program in Albion that has won national recognition the past 16 years from the NAMM Foundation for “Best Communities for Music Education.”

Thaine told the crowd at Albion that he loves his job, working with 80 students in the high school band program.

“These guys make it so nice to come to work,” Thaine said about the students. “Kids, I love you and I tell you that all the time and I mean it.”

Thaine has worked more than three decades as a music teacher and he said he is enjoying the job now more than ever.

“I’m blessed with the nicest group of kids I’ve ever had,” he said after Wednesday’s concert.

Mike Thaine introduces the next piece of music during Wednesday’s concert. The jazz band and concert band together performed 10 songs during Wednesday’s concert.