Albion

Attorney hired as Albion, Gaines look at possibility of fire district

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Albion fire hall on Platt Street is shown this morning. The department responds to about 500 calls a year.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2023 at 2:24 pm

ALBION – The Village of Albion and towns of Albion and Gaines will look closely at the possibility of forming a fire district to manage fire protection for the two towns and village.

The Village Board on Wednesday voted to hire attorney Raymond DiRaddo of Rochester at $175 an hour. That cost will be shared by thirds among the two towns and village, the Village Board said.

The fire department is currently managed by the Village Board and the funding is included in the village budget with the two towns paying a fire protection contract to the village.

The village would like the two towns to pay more towards the fire department budget. With a fire district the fire department expenses would be in its own budget, rather than folded into the village budget.

The costs would be clearly identified, and the communities would likely pay a share based on their assessed value.

The fire district would be managed by a board of commissioners who would be elected. They could focus on managing the fire department.

Lyndonville just shifted to a fire district, rather than having it be part of the village budget with the town of Yates paying a fire protection contract. Holley and Murray also recently formed a joint fire district.

The issue has been brought up before in Albion. Some Village Board members are interested in exploring the district especially with the village facing the need to replace two fire trucks that together could be close to $3 million. The Albion Fire Department has been strongly urging the village in recent years to prepare for replacing a ladder truck from 1996 and a pumper from 1992.

Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said that cost is too much to be borne in the village budget. He said the expense should be spread out among the entire community served by the fire department.

In 2023 the fire protection rates for the towns includes $1.03 in Albion, $1.56 in Barre, 77 cents in Carlton, 89 cents in Clarendon, 78 cents in Gaines, $1.15 in Kendall for the Kendall fire district and $1.61 for the Hamlin-Walker-Morton combined fire district, $1.82 in Murray, $1.16 in Ridgeway, $1.55 in Shelby, and $1.05 in Yates.

Main Street in downtown will be closed off to traffic during Strawberry Fest

Photo by Tom Rivers: Main Street in downtown Albion is shown this morning with a closed off section from Beaver Alley to the canal. The Main Street lift bridge has been removed while it is worked on by contractors.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2023 at 10:54 am

ALBION – The Village Board has approved closing off part of Main Street to traffic during the Albion Strawberry Festival on June 9 and 10, a decision that needs a final OK by the state Department of Transportation.

Main Street is already closed from Beaver Alley to the canal while the lift bridge is out for an extensive rehab project.

East Bank and East State streets are closed during the festival from Main to Platt streets. But traffic could always head down Main Street and cross the bridge on the lift bridge. Organizers were concerned traffic would head down Main Street and not have anywhere to turn because West Bank is used for some festival activities.

“The main reason is for the safety of residents and patrons of the festival,” said Village Trustee Tim McMurray, who is a member of the Strawberry Festival Committee.

The plan is for Main Street to be closed off to traffic from Park Street to the canal during the festival. McMurray said there won’t be vendors allowed in the middle of the street, but people can cross Main without being worried about traffic.

The village also will have Bank Street and State Street closed to vehicles from Platt to Liberty streets.

In addition, State Street will be closed on the Saturday, June 10, from Platt to Ingersoll streets for a car show.

The Village Board also approved closing Main Street on Thursdays after 3 p.m. from Beaver Alley to Bank Street from June 22 to Sept. 28. The request was made by the Albion Merchants Association which is planning a concert series on Thursday evenings. The state DOT needs to give final approval for closing off that section of the street.

The board also approved a request to close East Bank Street to traffic from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 28 for a “Spooky Night” celebration with food vendors, Halloween costumes and other activities. Dan Conrad, owner of Toyz n Kandy, is taking the lead in planning that event.

Monument planned by canal in Albion for 15 victims of bridge collapse from 1859

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Albion Rotary Club would like a monument in this area of the canal for the 15 victims of the bridge collapse from Sept. 28, 1859. There is a historical marker about the tragedy on the west side of the canal, but that marker doesn’t include the names of the victims.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2023 at 8:56 am

ALBION – The Village Board on Wednesday backed an effort by the Albion Rotary Club to have a red granite monument by the canal that would honor the 15 victims of the bridge collapse from Sept. 28, 1859.

The monument would be approximately 4 feet high and would note one of the worst tragedies to ever happen on the canal and in Orleans County.

The monument is planned to have artwork on the side facing the water, perhaps 15 handprints to represent the victims. The other side would face the one-way street next to Krantz Furniture. That side would include the names of the victims and provide a brief description of the incident that claimed their lives.

File photo: A historic marker just west of the bridge notes the calamity but doesn’t have enough room to list the people who perished in the disaster.

The deceased from the bridge collapse include: Perry. G. Cole, 19, of Barre; Augusta Martin, 18, of Carlton; Ann Viele, 36, of Gaines; Edwin Stillson, 16, of Barre; Joseph Code, 18, of Albion; Lydia Harris, 11, of Albion; Thomas Handy, 66, of Yates; Sarah Thomas, 10, of Carlton; Harry Henry, 22, of Saratoga County; Ransom S. Murdock, 17, of Carlton; Adelbert Wilcox, 17, of West Kendall; Sophia Pratt, 18, of Toledo, Ohio; Thomas Aulchin, 50, of Paris, C.W; and Jane Lavery, 16, of Albion.

This side of the monument could include artwork to show a silhouette of a wire walker and an image of the bridge.

A big crowd of 250 people and five horses were jammed onto the bridge to watch a wire walker on that fateful day. The community was hosting its annual county fair. At the time the fairgrounds was on Orchard Street about a block from the canal.

A wirewalker, George Williams of Brockport, was going to cross the canal which was about half the width as it is now. The wirewalker took a few steps on the tight rope just west of the canal and then the bridge collapsed, killing 15 people and maiming many others.

There was a wire-walking frenzy back in those days. Jean Francois Gravelet, “The Great Blondin,” walked across Niagara Falls on a tight rope on June 30, 1859. A bunch of copycats sprang up, including one in Albion three months later during the county fair.

The Rotary Club will be seeking a grant through the Rotary district to help pay for the project. It expects to hear back on that application in July. The monument may not be ready until late 2023 or early 2024. The village will put in a concrete footer for the monument, which would be delivered and installed by Brigden Memorials in Albion.

Editor’s Note: I’m a member of the Rotary Club and am “project manager” for the club in working on this monument. I believe the monument will highlight a very tragic day in the community’s past and also will help with heritage tourism efforts in the community. The Albion canal waterfront can use more elements that would interest people. This monument would leave a strong impression on local residents and visitors.

This monument would also be in place for the 200^th navigational season on the Erie Canal next year, and also a year before the bicentennial anniversaries for both the Erie Canal and Orleans County in 2025.

Albion village makes many annual appointments

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 April 2023 at 9:48 am

ALBION – The Albion Village Board held its annual organizational meeting last week and approved many appointments to committees and also to positions.

Those appointments include:

Fair Housing Officer – Tracy VanSkiver who is village clerk and treasurer
Disaster Coordinator – Police Chief David Mogle
Village Attorney – John Gavenda
Historic Preservation Commission (terms to expire April 2027) – Richard Nenni and Ian Mowatt
Planning Board (term to expire April 2028) – Deb Zicari
Zoning Board (term to expire April 2028) – Bruce Dugan
Grievance Committee (term to expire April 2024) – Anthony Wynn, Kim Remley and Jason Dragon
Recreational Committee (term to expire April 2024) – Annette Finch, Terry Wilbert, Susan Oschmann, Lisa DeCarlo, Geno Allport, Bernie Baldwin and Michael Beach
Library Board (term that expires 2024) – vacant
Historic Preservation Commission (term that expires April 2026) – vacant
Official banks – Key Bank, Five Star, JP Morgan Chase and NYCLASS
Mileage reimbursement rate set at 65.5 cents a mile to village officers and employees of the village who use their personal automobile while performing their official duties
Official newspaper for carrying public notices – The Daily News in Batavia

Mayor Angel Javier Jr. also gave the village trustees their committee assignments.

Trustee Joyce Riley will be on the committees for Albion Police Department, Albion Fire Department, Sewer Department, Cemetery, Water Department, Law and Public Relations.
Trustee Chris Barry is assigned to committees for DPW, Code Enforcement, Historic Preservation Commission, Recreation Department and Trailer Parks.
Trustee Zach Burgess’s committees include the Albion Police Department, Code Enforcement Historic Preservation, Animal Control, the Planning Board, Village Office and Insurance.
Trustee Tim McMurray’s committees include DPW, Albion Fire Department, Cemetery, Water Department, Recreation Department, and Law.
Mayor Javier to serve as ex-officio member of each committee.

800 kids quickly locate 10,000 eggs scattered on courthouse lawn

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2023 at 6:00 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kids ages 6 to 10 take off at the start of an Easter egg hunt today on the Courthouse lawn in Albion.

The egg hunt started at 1 and in about a minute the kids had scooped up 10,000 eggs filled with treats.

One of nine big golden eggs is placed at the far end of a taped off area for the egg hunt. The kids were placed in three different age groups: 1 to 5, 6 to 9, and 10 to 14.

The golden tickets gave a chance for bigger prizes including an extra-large chocolate bunny, a scooter, a bicycle, cash, GoGo toys and McDonalds gift certificates.

Al Wilson, pastor of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, and his wife Ykeeta Wilson welcome the kids for the egg hunt.

The 10,000 eggs is up from the 3,000 last year in the debut event organized by the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries. The kids took off fast at the beginning and quickly grabbed the eggs. The First Presbyterian Church is in the background.

The church spent about three months filling the eggs with candy and treats, and also putting together 600 Easter baskets which were all available for free to the community. The church ran out of baskets due to the demand.

A big crowd gathers to get an Easter basket after the egg hunt.

John Hollenbeck gets an order of French fries ready. The Masonic Lodge, which is led by John’s brother Matt, served 800 hot dogs and 125 pounds of fries for free.

Maciel Gomez of Mr. FineLines in Brockport gave haircuts for free. He is working on the hair of Kaiden Gray, 9, of Albion.

Nick Prest, an Albion high school student, volunteered to help kids move in inflatable balls. There were six bounce houses as part of the fun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pam Bennett hands out candy to sisters Alexis Stinson, 10, and Amber, 8, at Pretty Sweet Bakery.

This was part of an Easter Hop at 29 locations in the downtown, on South Main Street and Route 31. North Point Chapel donated 288 baskets and kids went to businesses to get treats. There were 430 baskets in all available for kids at the Easter Hop.

Ben Curfman (center), pastor of North Point Chapel, gave out 300 stuffed animals of dinosaurs, teddy bears and rabbits. The church also had packs of flower seeds.

Oliver Stoffa and Lux Froman gave out candies at The Coffee Joint, one of the 29 spots for the Easter Hop.

Some residents speak against drug rehab site at former Clover Hill site in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 April 2023 at 5:55 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Clover Hill assisted living site at 355 South Main St. closed in March 2022.

ALBION – Six residents spoke out at a recent Village Board meeting against having the former Clover Hill Adult Residence being turned into an in-patient drug rehab center.

Randy Cimino, president of Gates to Recovery, spoke at the Feb. 22 Village Board meeting and said his organization wanted to invest $1 million in interior and exterior improvements to the property. It would like to operate a 35-bed residential treatment program with a focus on mental health.

Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley told Cimino then they didn’t want to see another tax-exempt property in the village, and they didn’t think the site was a good fit. Clover Hill is on Route 98 at the southern entrance of the community, leading into a residential neighborhood with many stately homes.

Cimino left that meeting discouraged, but said that feeling changed when he saw hundreds of comments on the Orleans Hub Facebook page in support of the project. Cimino said Gates to Recovery offers longer-term residential stays, up to 18 months, and will work to address mental health issues behind the addiction.

Cimino said this week his organization remains very interested in Clover Hill for the rehab site, which he said will save lives in the community.

Six residents – Diana Reed, Diane Heminway, Jason Dragon, Terry Wilbert, Quincy Washburn and Rachael Spearance – spoke at Monday’s Village Board meeting. They said they don’t want Clover Hill to become a rehab site. They support those facilities that provide treatment and assistance to those with addictions, but think those being served would do better in a more remote location.

Diane Reed bought the house next door last year. It was her childhood home until she was 10 in 1954. The home came back on the market about a year ago and Reed left Florida to move back after 60 years away from Albion.

Reed, 78, said Albion has declined in those 60 years with many beautiful homes demolished for chain stores or carved up into apartments. She said South Main is a rare neighborhood in Albion that has retained its character.

“If you want to keep it that way, you do not cap it off with a drug rehab facility,” she said.

The site should be in a non-residential area out in the country, Reed said.

Jason Dragon and Quincy Washburn both shared their concerns that another tax exempt site would deprive the local municipalities of needed revenue – about $30,000 total.

Dragon also questioned whether the zoning would allow such a use. He said Clover Hill is in a limited business district. He doesn’t think a drug rehab facility fits the criteria.

“I’m not opposed to a rehab facility, but I’m opposed to it at this location,” Dragon said. “We need to protect the property values in the village. Dozens of nearby properties could lose values.”

Rachael Spearance and Terry Wilbert also said there are better spots in the community than Main Street for a drug rehab site.

Diane Heminway also said she supports such a facility, but not in a residential area.

“Drug addiction continues to be on the rise as synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, infiltrate even small communities,” Heminway told the Village Board. “Today, addiction crosses all social strata, regardless of education, occupation, financial status or IQ. Sadly, drug addiction has touched has touched the lives of most of us as we’ve helplessly watched families torn apart emotionally, financially and sometimes physically by this tragic, progressive disease, which too often takes its victims by overdose or suicide.”

Heminway said that despite the best intentions of family and friends, those with drug addictions will often take advantage of them and steal from them.

Heminway said there is a high relapse rate among addicts – 40 to 60 percent within the first month of leaving a facility and 85 percent within a year.

“South Main Street is not an appropriate location for such a facility where neighbors’ homes and yards could be ‘cased out’ for future looting,” Heminway said. “There are far better locations away from homes for this vitally needed facility.”

New store opens inside The Villages, serving nursing home residents for free

Provided photos: Sandy Flugel and her son Eric, the administrator of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, are shown at the new store inside the nursing home on Route 31 in Albion.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 April 2023 at 4:50 pm

ALBION – A store has opened inside The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center making new and gently used items available to residents for free.

Sandy’s Boutique opened last week with a variety of clothing, jewelry, hats, shoes, and other items to put around their rooms. Residents enjoy shopping there and picking out items at no charge.

Donations are welcome from the community, with the current greatest need slip-on footwear, men’s pull-on pants, summer bonnet-style hats and baseball caps.

People can drop off donations at the front door. If those donated items aren’t needed, they will be passed along to other agencies such as Community Action, the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and the PAWS animal shelter, as well as churches.

Eric Flugel, the nursing home’s administrator, had the idea for the store, and received lots of help from family members and friends to bring it to reality.

Eric’s daughter Autumn, mother Sandra, nieces Liana and Alayna Flugel, aunt Sherry and Madison Watts all helped get the store set up. Other friends and cousins who joined the effort included Felicia Beach, Chantee Johnson, Melissa Olles, Ryan Olles, Sean Yantz, Michelle Ashton, Cass Dezarn, Lindsey Dezarn, niece Madeline Tabor, along with Jennifer Watts, Eli Howard, Christina Tilbe and Eric’s father Ray Flugel.

The new store is named Sandy’s Boutique and opened last week.

10,000 eggs will be scattered on Courthouse Lawn for egg hunt on Saturday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2023 at 11:39 am

Albion businesses also doing Easter Hop with 29 spots

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Easter Bunny hugs Joshua Bennett, 4, of Albion while his mother Jamie Bennett gets a photo after the egg hunt on April 9, 2022. There were 3,000 eggs last year at the event, and will more than triple that on Saturday.

ALBION – It will be a big Easter egg hunt on Saturday on the Courthouse lawn with 10,000 plastic eggs with treats inside scattered about the property.

The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries is planning the event after last year’s debut hunt with 3,000 eggs, including nine golden eggs with tickets for bigger prizes, such as bicycles and scooters. The golden eggs will be back on Saturday.

The Masonic Lodge also will be serving free hot dogs and French fries. Last year the Masons served up 500 hot dogs and 600 orders of French fries.

“We just want to love on the children of the community,” said Pastor Al Wilson of the Royal Body Shop.

There will also be 600 baskets available for free for kids when they go hunting for the eggs.

The egg hunt starts at 1 p.m. and will be in three different age groups: 1 to 5, 6 to 9, and 10 to 14.

There will be food served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wilson also reached out to a barber, Mr. FineLines, who will be giving haircuts for free from noon to 3 p.m.

There also will be face painting and a visit from the Easter Bunny.

Saturday also will be the Easter Hop with 29 Albion businesses and organizations offering treats.

The Easter Hop runs from 9 a.m. to noon. The North Point Chapel donated 288 baskets. The hop starts at either Toys n Kandy, Pretty Sweet Bakery, and Bloom’s Flower Shop. They will provide a basket and map of the locations which include the downtown, Arnold Gregory Office Building, and spots on Route 31 and spots on South Main Street. The Easter Bunny will be at the Wild Flour Deli & Bakery.

The hop is coordinated by Dan Conrad, owner of Toyz n Kandy, and Heidi Peterson, an employee at The Coffee Joint.

Dr. Rumble to retire after 37 years as dentist in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2023 at 8:51 am

‘I’ve enjoyed all these years with the patients. It’s hard to say good bye.’

Photos by Tom Rivers: Dr. Mark Rumble is retiring at the end of this month after 37 years as dentist in Albion. He said he is happy he has worked in a small-town environment for his career.

ALBION – A dentist will be retiring the end of April after providing dental care to the Albion community for 37 years.

Dr. Mark Rumble said he has enjoyed his career in Albion, forming many friendships with his patients over the years. He didn’t want to be in a big practice where he said it’s a less personal environment.

“I’ve enjoyed all these years with the patients,” Rumble said Monday at his office in the Arnold Gregory Office Building. “It’s hard to say good bye.”

Rumble is a native of Randolph in Cattaraugus County. It is a smaller community than Albion. Rumble in 1986 bought the practice of the late Dr. David Hesek. After he died of cancer, Rumble was helping out at the practice. Hesek’s widow encouraged him to buy the practice and Rumble agreed, choosing Albion over a practice in Rochester.

“I’m from a small town,” he said. “I’m still a small-town guy. It’s been a good fit.”

Rumble has three operatories at 243 S. Main St., suite 121. He has embraced technology with the latest advances in digital and ceramic technology, including a CEREC machine, soft tissue laser and digital X-rays.

Rumble said he tries to use humor and compassion to make what can be a stressful and scary time for patients a bit easier. He also has lots of plants in the office to make it feel more comfortable for the patients.

He praised his staff for their dedication. That includes Jennifer Fitzwater as the dental assistant, Sue Flanagan as the hygienist, and Terry O’Brien as the front desk manager.

“It’s gone by quick,” Rumble said about the 37 years. “You establish a relationship over the years. The small-town patients, they are just nicer. I feel like I fit in.”

Dr. Jeremy Brandwein will be taking over as the dentist in Albion at Dr. mark Rumble’s practice. Brandwein has been working with Rumble since January. “He is very friendly,” Rumble said about Brandwein. “He is great with the patients. His personality fits right in.”

Dr. Jeremy Brandwein will take over as the dentist at Rumble’s practice. Brandwein, 31, has been working with Rumble since January.

Brandwein is a Queens native. His wife is from Toronto. They live in Rochester as a halfway point between their families.

Brandwein earned his dental degree at Touro College of Dental Medicine in Valhalla in 2021. He was networking in Rochester among dentists, and he was encouraged to meet Rumble. The word was out in the Rochester dental community that Rumble was retiring.

Brandwein said he has enjoyed the past three months with Rumble and the Albion community. Even though he is a New York City native, Brandwein said he prefers working in a smaller practice in a smaller community.

“In a big city, it’s high volume,” he said. “People are people and you want to help people wherever they are. Here it’s about bringing a quality of care and a personal touch.”

Rumble said Brandwein has already made a smooth transition to Albion.

“He is very friendly,” Rumble said. “He’s great with the patients. His personality fits right in.”

Brandwein is accepting new patients.

With Rumble’s retirement, he will be the last of his contemporaries to retire in Albion. For many years in his career the other dentists in town included Dr. Karl Heuer, Dr. Don Bishop and Dr. A.J. Monacelli. They have all retired. Rumble said the four enjoyed a good working relationship among each other.

He is looking to the next stage in his life.

“I’m getting tired of Western New York winters,” he said. “I’m leaving to go to warmer shores.”

Mercy Flight approved by state to take over COVA’s certificate of need for central Orleans, and Hamlin

Posted 3 April 2023 at 2:51 pm

Press Release, Mercy Flight EMS

Photo by Tom Rivers: Mercy Flight EMS has been operating COVA ambulance based out of Albion and Hamlin since mid-November.

ALBION – A process that began nearly six months ago to the day has culminated in a successful expansion of territory for Mercy Flight EMS.

As of Friday, March 31, upon approval by the NYS Department of Health, Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance’s (COVA’s) Certificate of Need was officially transferred to Mercy Flight EMS. This allows the nonprofit to operate ground ambulance service in all of Orleans County and the Town of Hamlin, in addition to its existing territories of Genesee and Niagara Counties, and the Town of Concord and Village of Springville in Erie County.

“Until last Friday we’ve been operating in Orleans County and the Town of Hamlin under an agreement with COVA that allowed us to hire all of their former employees and staff their ambulances,” said Scott Wooton, Mercy Flight’s Executive Vice President. “Now, we can continue to provide high-quality, nonprofit EMS services in these particular municipalities in our own right.”

Operationally it is a “cosmetic change” as Mercy Flight looks to add its branding to the COVA ambulances and outfit the former COVA employees in Mercy Flight EMS uniforms, Wooton said. “But as an organization, it validates what we aim to do and the manner in which we try to do it,’” he said. “We believe that patient-focused, compassionate, nonprofit ambulance service can thrive, even in rural communities where limited access to healthcare can be a major risk factor for residents.”

Mercy Flight’s agreement with COVA was effective at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13. Mercy Flight will provide ground ambulance service under COVA’s NYS Department of Health “Certificate of Need,” said Scott P. Wooton, executive vice president and treasurer for COVA.

Mercy Flight President Margaret Ferrentino adds, “We’d like to thank the Big Lakes and Monroe-Livingston Regional EMS Councils as well as the NYS DOH Bureau of EMS for their work and diligence during the application process. Just as importantly, we’d like to recognize COVA for over 40 years of dedicated service to their community and their efforts to ensure that the residents of Central Orleans County experienced no lapse in ambulance coverage. We are really proud to have been able to hire COVA’s dedicated employees and pick up the torch that they’d been carrying for over four decades.”

Editor’s Note: Mercy Flight EMS started officially operating COVA on Nov. 15, 2022. That includes the operations in Orleans County based in Albion and in Hamlin, Monroe County. COVA has about 16-20 employees working out of the COVA base in Albion, and about 15 out of Hamlin.

Six towns in central and eastern Orleans have a contract with Monroe Ambulance to provide ambulance services in Orleans during 2023 for $181,200. Monroe will start on April 16 with two dedicated ambulances to eastern/central Orleans County.

Today is deadline to submit petitions to run for Hoag Library trustee

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 April 2023 at 7:44 am

ALBION – Today is the deadline for candidates to submit petitions to run for a trustee spot on the Hoag Library board of trustees.

Petitions signed by at least 25 adults in the library’s services area – towns of Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton – need to be submitted to the circulation desk by 7 p.m. today.

The position open is the trustee post currently filled by Joyce Riley.

The election will be May 1 from noon to 7 p.m. with results announced at the Hoag Library annual meeting.

Near full house to kick off Hoag Library concert series

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 April 2023 at 7:25 am

Photos by Marsha Rivers

ALBION – It was a near full house with more than 75 people attending the concert Saturday at Hoag Library.

Kinloch Nelson, a professional musician who plays the fingerstyle guitar, performed for the crowd at the Hoag.

The library started a new series with concerts played the first Saturday each month at noon. The new series is the brainchild of Jim Doyle, an adult reference librarian at the library. He joined Hoag in October. He also has been running Jim’s Guitar Studio for 23 years in Albion, and is a founding member of the Rochester Guitar Club.

“We wanted to bring in people who haven’t performed in Orleans County before,” Doyle said. “I think the community is hungry for music and the arts.”

The next concert will be at noon on May 6, featuring Ricardo Saeb.

The concerts are free to the public with support from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council and Friends of Hoag Library.

Kinloch Nelson gave a high-level performance on Saturday at Hoag Library.

Sip N’ Stroll proves crowd-pleaser in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 April 2023 at 8:19 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Barry Hebrank, left, of Main Street Winery in Arcade serves up samples of a green apple wine to Jennifer Ingersoll, right, and her best friend Kelly Froman.

They are inside the Downtown Browsery, one of 14 stops in the Albion Merchants Association’s annual Sip N’ Stroll. More than 300 people were part of the wine-tasting tour.

“I see people I haven’t seen in a while,” Froman said about all the people walking throughout the downtown. There were also stops at Dubby’s Tailgate and the Arnold Gregory Complex.

Darian Papia serves Niagara wine from Viscarra Vineyards in Gasport to Julie Sanford of Albion. They are inside Arnold’s Auto Parts.

“I like to support the community and see everybody having fun,” Sanford said.

The souvenir glasses celebrated the lift bridges in Albion.

Sip N’ Stroll is the biggest fundraiser for the Albion Merchants Association, which uses proceeds for other events and community projects.

Randy Schell of the Iron Smoke Distillery in Fairport serves bourbon, whiskey and whiskey crème in the back of the Toyz N Kandy store on Bank Street.

Megan Marisa of the Blue Barn Cidery in Hilton serves a white peach mango jam to Jonpaulette Boyce and Jeannie Olsen, right, both of Albion. They are inside the Gotta Dance Studio.

Olsen said she enjoyed sampling the wines with her friends and family.

“It’s a fun night out,” Boyce said.

Raffle for pet-themed quilt at Browsery in Albion and Medina will benefit PAWS

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Angie Coon and Erik Sinkora show off a quilt being raffled off by the Downtown Browsery in Medina and Albion to benefit PAWS. A lottery tree donated by the Browsery’s vendors will also be raffled on May 3.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 1 April 2023 at 5:23 pm

ALBION/MEDINA – The Downtown Browsery in Medina and Albion have joined forces to sponsor a raffle to benefit PAWS in Albion.

A drawing will take place May 3, in which a quilt and a lottery tree will be raffled off.

The benefit came about after Kelly Watson, who works at PAWS with supervisor Patty Coffee, visited the Downtown Browsery in Medina and shared the animal shelter’s needs.

Angie Coon and Erik Sinkora, both vendors at the Downtown Browery, also are pet lovers and own dogs, so they decided to do something to help PAWS.

Darlene Janas, a quilter from Middleport, put together a design featuring animals and pet-related sayings and Sinkora’s wife Sharon added the backing. The quilt is on display at the Medina store.

Vendors at both stores got together and donated a lottery tree, which is on display in the Albion store. Tickets for both raffle items can be purchased for $5 each at either store.

Each shop also has a barrel to accept donations for PAWS. Items in need include cat food, Purina ONE dog and puppy food, litter and pet toys.

“We want to give back to the community,” Coon said.

300-plus expected for Albion’s Sip N’ Stroll on Saturday

File photo by Tom Rivers: Sarah and Tim Brigham, right, were among the crowd at a Sip N’ Stroll in downtown Albion on March 3, 2018. They are sampling wine from the Victorianbourg Wine Estate in Wilson.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 March 2023 at 1:37 pm

ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association is expecting at least 300 people for the annual Sip N’ Stroll on Saturday.

There are 14 stops with the start and after-party at Dubby’s Tailgate at 165 South Platt St. The wine-tasting starts at 4 p.m. and continues through 7.

This event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Merchants Association, which uses the proceeds to fund other community events and projects.

Dubby’s started a new tradition for the Sip N’ Stroll last year with the after-party and it was a hit, said Natasha Wasuck, the Merchants Association president.

The Merchants moved the event back a little in the spring to boost the chances for better weather. Previous Sip N’ Strolls have been in very gusty weather or in the snow.

Wasuck said 300 people have already paid $25 for tickets in advance. On Saturday, tickets can be purchased at the door for $30. The event also includes a souvenir glass with a lift bridge theme. For more information on tickets, click here.

The 14 stops are in the downtown, at Dubby’s and at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex.

The Merchants also are excited to be hosting a concert series this year on a closed off section of Main Street, between Beaver Alley and Bank Street.

GO ART! approved $5,000 towards the concert series, Wasuck said. More details will be announced about that series, which is expected to run after the concert series by the canal.