Amy Sidari has taught dance for 38 years, including 28 years as Gotta Dance owner

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Amy Sidari (center), owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, dances with five generations of the the Sidari family during Saturday’s evening’s dance recital at the Albion Middle School. Her daughter Gina is at left. The Sidari family danced to “Home” by Nick Jonas.

Saturday’s recital was the last one for Sidari as owner of Gotta Dance. She has led Gotta Dance the past 28 years and has been a dance teacher for 38 years. She is retiring to spend more time with her family, including three grandchildren.

Amy Sidari is presented with flowers at the start of Saturday’s recital which was attended by about 400 people. An earlier recital for younger children was attended by 320.

Next to her is dance teacher Crystal Hallenbeck-McPhall at left with Gloria Lear in back and Beth Webb at right.

Lear praised Sidari for creating a “safe haven” for dancers of all abilities and ages.

“Coming through the doors of the studio is like coming home,” Lear said. “We are truly grateful for the opportunities from the studio. We are a family and we will always be connected.”

Lear said there will be an open house for Sidari on April 18 at Gotta Dance, 28 West Bank St., Albion.

Sidari said she will remain active in the Albion community as she steps back from running the dance studio.

Saturday evening’s recital included 46 different dance numbers. Here are photos from some of the dances:

These dancers performed “Jazz Warriors Stand Up.” They include Ella Bruski, Krystal Butler, Eliana Coleman, Vanessa Coy, Millie Fisher, Piper Froman, Layla Kania, Keira Lemcke, Alana McAdoo, Aubrey McPhall, Alaina McPhall, Isabella Pahura, Isabelle Perkins, McKenzie Sample, Aubrey Stinson and Harriet Symons.

This group performed “Lyrical Ashes.”

The group performing “A Ballet Beach Baby” includes Blair Allchin, Olivia Bruski, Millie Fisher, Elady Fisher, Isabella Hafner, Keira Lemcke and Giuliana Liuzzi.

This group led off the recital with a “Mom and Me” dance to “Isn’t Going Down Like That.”

Kasey Neal performs a solo, “A Private Time Will Tell.”

This group dances to “Hip Hop Barbie Mix” and includes Aubrielle Barry, Kaitlynn Basinait, Evee Heinsler, Kendra Kaniecki, McKinley Knight, Mackenzie Lefrois, Nicole Loney, Ava Ludwick, Grace McCormick, Peyton McGuire, Semaj Miller, Chloe Mosele and Isabelle Truelson.

A group of adult dancers perform “Beautiful Things.” They are holding Lauren Thomas. Mollie Radzinski, front left, and Beth Webb, front right, are part of a group that also includes Rebecca DeBoard-Lake, Crystal Hallenbeck-McPhall, Brooke Kiefer, Tisha Loney, Kayla Osborne and Sarah Stornelli.

Jenna Uderitz did a solo dance with lots of gymnastic tumbles to “Private Dream on a Star Mix.”

Evee Heinsler, left, and her sister Thalia Heinsler perform a dance together.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Devon Albone, left, and  Rob Luff get the Albone Spray Foam booth ready this morning at the Home, Garden & Outdoor Show at Dubby’s Tailgate.

Albone, based in Medina, is one of 40 vendors at the show, which continues today until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $3.

Albone usually is at similar home and garden shows in Buffalo and Rochester. He is glad to be closer to home to tout the business’s insulation products.

“It’s more home town here,” he said. “It’s more down to earth.”

These goats greet Laural Prentice at the entrance of Dubby’s. Prentice is part of the booth for Hearth and Home Real Estate Professionals, which is owned by her sister, Karen Conn.

Abby Alexander fastens balloons in an arch inside Dubby’s Tailgate.

Ray Laine, left, and his father Tom Laine of Frontier Heating and A/C Service in Albion are back at the home show after about an absence in recent years. Tom said he likes the heated atmosphere in Dubby’s with close access to their restaurant inside. The home show had been at the fairgrounds.

Frontier was picked as the Chamber of Commerce’s “Business of the Year” in 2024.

The Master Gardeners are at the home show giving out free pumpkin seeds for PumpkinPalooza during the Oct. 11 Medina Scarecrow Fest. They are also giving out seeds from a share program and dispensing other advice.

Seated include Master Gardeners Julie Granchelli, right, and Trina Lorentz. They are chatting with Doreen Wilson, left, and master gardener Nancy Walker.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A very large quilt made by local quilters in 1976 has been put in a new frame and is on display in the Orleans County Courthouse.

County Buildings and Grounds employees made the frame about a month ago for the quilt. The large 35-block quilt has been in storage in the courthouse for more than 20 years. It was taken down as part of a renovation and addition to the courthouse that was completed in 2003.

The quilt was made to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States in 1976. The quilt was done in an appliqué style where one or more pieces of fabric are attached to a larger background fabric to create pictures or patterns.

It is back on display for the Orleans County bicentennial this year.

The center block highlights the train depot in Medina that has been used as a senior citizens center for more than 50 years.

These blocks shows the former Christmas Park in Albion at lower left, the county courthouse, a trolley, and in the top row: the former Swan Library, the county seal (which erroneously listed the county’s founding as 1826 instead of 1825), and the Civil War monument at Mount Albion Cemetery.

These blocks highlight the sloopers who traveled from Norway to Kendall, harness racing at the County Fair, the DAR House in Albion, swans in Lyndonville, and Swan Library in Albion.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision may release some inmates early due to a staffing crisis.

Daniel Martuscello, the DOCCS superintendent, has announced a plan to release incarcerated people with non-violent felony convictions up to 110 days early. But that is only as long as they have suitable housing and did not commit certain sex or drug-related offenses. They will remain under supervision of a parole officer.

Martuscello has asked the superintendents at state prisons to submit a list by noon Friday of inmates who could be eligible for early release. In a memo issued on Monday, he said the early release will strike “the appropriate balance between the safety and well-being of those working and residing in DOCCS correctional facilities and public safety.”

The DOCCS commissioner said eligible inmates can’t be serving a sentence for an A-1 or A-2 non-drug offense, a class B through E violent felony offense, or a sex offense. They need an approved residence, which is not a shelter or a DSS placement, upon release, he said.

State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, told reporters the staffing issue could be solved by hiring back the 2,000 corrections officers who were on strike.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, issued a statement saying the early release of inmates is an insult to the law enforcement community and a serious public safety concern.

“Gov. Hochul’s public safety strategy is beginning to sound like a late April Fools’ joke,” Hawley said. “Not only has she fired thousands of correctional officers across the state, but now she’s letting prisoners out of jail early to try to fix the problem she created. This administration has created a system of anarchy in our state prisons. This is unacceptable, and I will do everything within my power to ensure this policy is reversed and law and order is restored in our state.”

Dan Parker recognized for 35 years in local service club

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Provided photos

ALBION – The Albion Lions Club has donated $500 to the Village of Albion Recreation Department to go towards a fireworks show on July 3 at Bullard Park.

In photo at left shows John Grillo, the village’s recreation director, accepting the donation from Lloyd Wright of the Lions. More donations are welcome with checks made out to Village of Albion with fireworks in the memo line.

Fireworks will cap a busy day at Bullard with live music and other activities and entertainment.

The Lions Club in the photo at right also recognized Dan Parker, left, for 35 years of service with the club. Past President Bill Robinson presented Parker with a letter of appreciation.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee has 10 dogwood trees available for free to churches in the Village of Albion.

Betterment Committee directors Joe Gehl, left, and Gary Kent, are shown with two of the trees today. The group gave two dogwoods to the village for the Erie Canal Park by the canal near the end of Platt Street.

The committee has 10 others and will give them to churches in the village, Kent said. The trees are worth about $100 each.

The Betterment Committee has donated and planted about 40 dogwoods in recent year, mostly in the Albion area. Kent said the white blossoms are a striking sight in the spring, and the leaves change colors throughout the year.

“They are such a gorgeous ornamental,” Kent said. “It’s another way of putting Albion on the map.”

Churches interested in the dogwoods can contact Kent at (585) 331-1846.

Press Release, Albion High School Student Council

ALBION – Albion Central School District invites senior citizens, 60 and older, for our annual Senior Citizens Day on Wednesday, April 30th.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Albion High School cafeteria and gymnasium. The school district would like to thank the senior citizens in our community for all they have done to support our students, teachers and staff throughout the years.

We have a limited number of seats available. Kindly RSVP by Friday, April 11th, to the High School Student Council Advisor, Mrs. Sawyer Green, at (585) 589-2040, ext. 8414. You can also email sgreen1@albionk12.org to secure your reservation.

Please leave a message with the name(s) of those attending, a phone number, and the number of seats you’d like to reserve. Mrs. Green will call you back to confirm your participation.

We look forward to having senior citizens join us for this wonderful event!

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Ella Trupo is the Fairy Godmother and D Johnson is the coachman in Albion High School Drama Department’s production of Cinderella on Friday night. There are two more shows today at noon and 7 p.m. in the Middle School Auditorium.

In this scene, the Fairy Godmother uses her magic to transform a pumpkin into a carriage. She sings, “It’s Possible.” The Fairy Godmother also used magic to turn small animals into horses to pull the carriage and transformed Cinderella’s dress into an elegant gown for the Prince’s Ball.

The production caps off a busy season of school musicals in Orleans County. All five districts performed full-length shows in the past two weeks.

Mallory Kozody is Cinderella and Zack Baron is Prince Christopher. They dance at the ball. Christopher reluctantly participated in the ball, not expecting to fall in love. But he feels a romantic connection with Cinderella.

Kozody and Baron are both seniors and have been in the Albion musicals since middle school.

Cinderella’s mean stepsisters are played by Mallory Ashbery, left, as Grace and Julia Button as Joy. Grace is pulling Joy’s hair. Grace is often itching her arms and Joy has a very obnoxious laugh. They are shown singing “Stepsisters’ Lament.” They are both jealous watching the prince dance with a beautiful, but oddly familiar girl.

Sawyer Brigham plays Lionel and has big news to share with the villagers: the prince is giving a ball. Lionel is the servant of Prince Christopher and his parents, King Maximilian and Queen Constantina.

Al Hand is Queen Constantina and unleashes a long scroll of invited guests for the prince’s ball, which the prince (Zack Baron) is not happy about. He agrees to attend only if his parents then let him pursue love on his own terms. Gideon Pask, left, is King Maximilian.

Mallory Kozody spins as Cinderella’s rags and transformed into a sparkling gown.

Phoebe Allen plays Stepmother who has a crush on Lionel, who heads throughout the kingdom with a glass slipper after Cinderella bolted at the ball after the clock struck midnight. After the Stepsisters’ feet didn’t fit the slipper, Stepmother wanted to try.

‘Rather than eliminating fluoridation, addressing the pressing dental care shortage should be the community’s priority’

ALBION – Oak Orchard Health has issued a statement urging the Village of Albion to keep fluoride in the public water supply.

“Oak Orchard Health expresses significant concern regarding Albion’s potential decision to discontinue community water fluoridation, which directly affects 15,000 residents,” Oak Orchard said in the statement. “With Orleans County already experiencing a critical dental care shortage and located in what is called a ‘dental desert’ – only one dentist is available for every 4,370 people – many individuals, particularly those who are underinsured, are left without essential dental services.”

The Village Board is having a public hearing at 6 p.m. today about discontinuing fluoride. The Albion water treatment plant provides water for about 15,000 people in the Village of Albion, and towns of Carlton, Gaines, Murray, Albion and Barre.

“Water fluoridation has been proven to reduce dental decay by more than 25% and remains a highly cost-effective preventive solution,” Oak Orchard said. “Recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as one of the top ten public health achievements of the 20th century, its removal could exacerbate oral health inequities. Rather than eliminating fluoridation, addressing the pressing dental care shortage should be the community’s priority.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Meleana Mengs played the role of Flounder, an eccentric seagull, in the Albion Middle School production of Little Mermaid on March 14-15. Flounder is singing “Positoovity.”

The high school will be doing Cinderella on with shows at 7 p.m. on Friday, and noon and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Sophie Kozody is in the role of Ariel, a mermaid princess, and a group of seagulls help her to get her balance after she turns into a human. The seagulls include Meleana Mengs, Emmaline Gailie, Olivia Bruski, Zyann Pore, Maci Conn and Nadalee Ryan.

Tatiana Morales plays Ursula, the a villainous sea witch who offers Ariel, her niece, the chance to become human for three days. She will need to win the kiss of her true love Eric, and then she can stay human. If she fails, Ursula gets her soul. During the three days, Ariel won’t be able to use her voice. Ursula sings, “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

Sophie Kozody as Ariel agrees to the deal with Ursula and signs the agreement.

Annabella Dusham plays the role of Sebastian, a red Jamaican crab and a servant of King Triton. Sebastian’s main song is “Under the Sea.”

Brian Kozody, the associate director and husband of director Carrie Kozody, played Chef Louie. The production had a shortage of male performers and Mr. Kozody and also teacher Bruce Pritchett took on roles. Mrs. Kozody said she hoped their performances would encourage more boys to be in the musicals.

Louie is preparing a meal for Prince Eric (at right, played by John Vivas) and his advisor, Grimsby (played by Adelynn Hawkins). Eric and Ariel meet and have a romantic connection.

Bruce Pritchett as King Triton is angered when he learns his daughter has been on the surface of the water and reprimand her. He thinks humans are only savage fish-eaters.

Nicole Loney plays the role of Flounder, center, who is Ariel’s best friend. Flounder, a tropical fish, regularly embarks on adventures despite a cowardly demeanor.

ALBION – The Albion Village Board will have a hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday on discontinuing flouride in the public water supply.

The hearing will be in the board room at the Village Office, 35 East Bank St.

“After reviewing various studies and multiple sources of information, the Village of Albion has decided to begin the process of eliminating the addition of fluoride into the drinking water supply, due to the number and severity of risks associated,” the village posted in a notice.

The Albion water treatment plant provides water for about 15,000 people in the Village of Albion, and towns of Carlton, Gaines, Murray, Albion and Barre.

The village recently had a new building constructed to more safely store fluoride. The village started adding fluoride to the water again in 2024 after a 2 ½-year break while waiting for the new building.

The American Dental Association backs having fluoride in water because fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by rebuild and strengthening the tooth’s surface or enamel.

Amy Sidari has owned Albion dance studio for 28 years

Photo by Tom Rivers: Amy Sidari, owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, was an enthusiastic participant in the Albion Strawberry Festival Parade on June 10, 2023.

ALBION – Amy Sidari will take a final bow on April 5 as owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy in Albion.

Sidari has owned Gotta Dance for 28 years, turning the site on 28 West Bank St. into an entertainment hub with dance and piano classes, and cabaret shows and other live entertainment.

Photo by Bruce Landis: Amy Sidari is grateful for teaching dance locally for 38 years, including 28 years as owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy.

Sidari wants to be more available for her grandchildren and other family members. She said Gotta Dance has been very rewarding, but also all-consuming.

“I am grateful I was able to give as much as I could to the community I love,” Sidari said. “Hopefully, I have impacted them in some way.”

The Cabaret at Studio B will operate through this summer for shows that are already scheduled.

The business is for sale and she is hopeful someone will step forward to continue the site for dance or other entertainment to benefit the community.

“My prayer is for a ready, willing, and able buyer who will serve the community I love,” Sidari said.

The final recitals for Gotta Dance with be in the middle school auditorium on April 5 at noon and 6 p.m.

“I personally thank you for the opportunity to work with your family and to love each of you,” Sidari wrote in a letter to her dance families. “Our studio has proven to be more than a business, it is a community unto itself.  Think back to all the opportunities to learn and grow we have been given. Reminisce about our many cabaret shows that have brought laughter and exceptional entertainment to our community. Always remember the lesson of being a good neighbor shown many times over and over in the benefit variety shows we performed to help those in need. Yes, we have accomplished much on this journey.  I cannot wait to see what you will achieve in the next chapter! God bless each of you!”

Press Release, Hoag Library

ALBION – Hoag Library is seeking community-minded individuals to fill two open positions on the library’s board of trustees. The elections will take place on Monday, May 5, with the annual meeting to follow at 7 p.m.

To be eligible, candidates must reside within the Hoag Library service area (Albion Central School District). The available positions are for a four-year term and a two-year term to fill a vacancy.

Petitions and instructions are available at the library’s Circulation Desk during regular business hours. Completed petitions are due by Monday, April 7, at 7 p.m.

Hoag Library encourages individuals with a passion for public service, education, and community engagement to consider this rewarding opportunity.

For more information, please contact Hoag Library at (585) 589-4246 or visit the library.