Risen Café offers ‘safe place with no judgement’

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Risen Café opened on Tuesday the former Crooked Door Tavern at 469 East State St. Pictured from left include Sarah Ferguson, Terry Bryant and Jeannie Sullivan.

ALBION – Pastor Terry Bryant of God’s Voice Ministries wants to lead a 21^st Century church where he said everyone is welcome, and they don’t feel out of place if they aren’t familiar with hymns, Bible passages and the usual structure of a church service.

Bryant and the church members at God’s Voice have opened the Risen Café at the former Crooked Door Tavern at 469 East State St. They serve coffee and have a breakfast and lunch menu of soups and sandwiches. They are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday.

“Cheers without beers,” Bryant said. “Everybody can feel comfortable here.”

However, their main goal is offering people a place to share prayer concerns and develop a deeper spiritual life.

“This is a place to connect with people,” Bryant said today at the café. “We want to reach people that wouldn’t come into a traditional church. This is a very nonthreatening environment.”

The church has been meeting out of Bryant’s home the past four years. It was meeting at a Best Western hotel in Lockport until Covid restrictions sent them to Bryant’s living room.

Two of the church members moved to Brown Road in Albion. Bryant was visiting them when he saw the former Crooked Door. He saw the building as a way to serve the community, giving the public another dine-in option for coffee and meals.

But he also sensed people who aren’t connected to a church might see the site as a place to get spiritual guidance.

The congregation has been meeting in the back side of the building since November for Sunday church services at 11 a.m. That space, with a capacity for 37 people, also is used for Bible studies and other gatherings for the church.

The former bar side of the building is the café, where Bible quotes are now on the walls.

Scripture is displayed on the walls at the Risen Café. There is also a prayer corner and a spot for people to submit prayer requests.

Sarah Ferguson of Lyndonville is one of the servers at the Risen Café. She also is the church’s associate pastor. She has master’s degrees in pastoral counseling and addiction recovery. She wants to lead a Christian-based Celebrate Recovery program to help people with addictions, and also direct them to other resources in the community.

“This is somewhere where I can talk about Jesus, learn about people and pray for people,” she said. “We are creating a safe place with no judgement.”

Bryant has worked as an IT systems administrator for about 30 years. He works out of the Larkin Building in Buffalo for Kaleida Health. In 2009, he said he lost feeling in his legs from symptoms of multiple sclerosis. But he said God restored his health and he has been striving to serve God since. He earned a ministry degree while working his other job in information technology.

Bryant initially pushed his ministry with his wife Denise. She contracted Covid and passed away on Dec. 20, 2021. Bryant said he misses his wife very much. He believes that difficult loss can help him relate to others enduring heartache.

“This can be a place where we can have uncomfortable conversations,” he said. “We want to love people where they are.”

ALBION – Katharine Waite, Albion’s high school vice principal, will be retiring on March 31. She was worked at Albion for nearly eight years, after 10 years as a principal at Perry Central School.

The Board of Education on Monday appointed Dan Monacelli to fill in as interim vice principal, beginning after spring recess on April 10 until the end of the school year in late June.

Monacelli, an Albion resident, retired as the middle school principal in 2017. He also has filled in as an interim junior-senior high school principal in Holley for three months in late 2018 and early 2019.

Mickey Edwards, the Albion district superintendent, said he reached out across Western New York and there weren’t any other candidates for the position to close out the school year. He said he appreciated Monacelli’s willingness to come back to the district in the interim position.

In other action during the board meeting on Monday:

• School resource officer Matthew Prawel, a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, outlined how his first year has been going with the district so far. Prawel said his main focus is the security of the campus. He has connected with other law enforcement agencies, giving them a color-coded map showing different zones of the school buildings.

Prawel said he would welcome more chances to connect with students and staff but most of his time is dedicated to security and safety.

He recommended the board add a second school resource officer, either through the Sheriff’s Office or Albion Police Department. That would increase a safety response and also allow for more positive connections between students and the school resource officers, Prawel said.

• Brad Pritchard, the middle school principal, gave a presentation to the board on how the middle school is doing more computer based testing, which he said not only measures academics but familiarizes students with keyboarding, software and using Google Docs and other software.

• Approved a trip to Boston from May 26-28 for 18 students from minority backgrounds. The trip for the Girls Leadership Group is covered through a Community Schools grant.

• Changed the date of the Honors Convocation for graduating seniors with GPAs at 90 percent or higher from May 11 to May 4. The date was changed so some of the seniors can be a part of the “Stars of Tomorrow” program featuring students in the musical. They will be able to perform at the Rochester Broadway Theatre League.

• Julianna Kuntz was recognized with the elementary student leadership award and Brody Furness was honored with the elementary school character award.

$22 million overall construction work starts next week with district office the first project

ALBION – The Board of Education approved a bid for $2,567,090 on Monday from the Day Automation of Victor for access controls, which is a card swipe system that will allow the district to lock down all the doors in case of an emergency.

District personnel will have badges to unlock and lock doors as part of this project.

That brings the total construction bids to $21,866,992. Eight other bids were accepted at last month’s meeting. The board wanted more time to review the proposal from Day Automation for the access control system that will be in all classrooms throughout the district.

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.

The other bids accepted last month include:

• Site work – $6,295,082 by Diehl Development
• General Trades – $5,441,000 by Javen Construction
• Mechanical – $2,797,700 by T. Bell
• Plumbing – $1,636,300 by Blackmon Farrell
• Playground equipment – $257,027 by GameTime
• Scoreboards – $124,725 by Toth
• BMS (Building Management System) Controls – $339,068 by Day Automation

The first project gets started next week at the district office. District office staff will move to the E wing of the elementary school while the dstrict office is upgraded.

People visiting the district office will need to go to the main entrance of the elementary school starting on Monday.

The construction schedule for 2023 and next year includes:

Site Work – In 2023 the work includes the football field replacement, track resurfacing, multi-purpose field replacement (softball and soccer – starting June 1, 2023 and ending July 15, 2024), elementary school hot water service line, elementary school drop-off loop and sidewalks, elementary school playground fence replacement and high school hot water service line.

In 2024, the site work includes middle school hot water service line, tennis court replacement, middle school drop-off loop reconstruction, concrete sidewalk replacements, playground replacement at middle school, baseball field drainage improvements, JV softball field drainage improvements.

Construction at elementary school – In 2023, district office renovation, classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at E wing (Nov. 6 to Dec. 1), classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at D wing (Dec. 11 to Jan. 5), crawl space plumbing and hot water heaters, EIFS replacement, carbon monoxide detectors/fire alarm, and electrical abatement and replacements.

In 2024, classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at C wing (Jan. 1 to Feb. 9), classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at B wing (Feb. 19 to March 15), classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at A wing (March 25 to April 19) and classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at G wing (April 29 to May 24), emergency generator replacement, doors/hardware/security enhancements, main office windows and fire shutter, and gymnasium folding partition replacement.

Construction at middle school (basement) – In 2023, pool deck structural repairs, boiler room abatement and demolition, boiler room plumbing renovations, ad pool pumps.

In 2024, electrical room A/C and auditorium A/C.

Construction at middle school (first floor) – In 2023, domestic hot water repairs, replace insulated window panels, gymnasium renovations, pool lighting and locker room renovation, replace ANSUL system, exhaust fan and relief air work, flooring abatement, flooring installation, carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarm, and electrical service component replacements.

In 2024, doors/hardware/security enhancements and auditorium AC.

Construction at middle school (second floor) – In 2023, exhaust fan and relief air work, replace insulated window panels, flooring abatement, and flooring installation.

In 2024, convert lockers into storage rooms, electrical room A/C, auditorium A/C, and doors/hardware/security enhancements.

Construction at middle school (third floor) – In 2023, exhaust fan and relief air work.

In 2024, doors/hardware/security enhancements.

Construction at high school (first floor) – In 2023, library door reconstruction, window lintel replacements, domestic hot water heaters and carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarm.

In 2024, replace lockers (with wider units), doors/hardware/security upgrades, gym renovations and gym locker room renovations.

Construction at high school (second floor) – In 2023, library door reconstruction, window lintel replacements, domestic hot water heaters, and carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarm.

In 2024, replace lockers, doors/hardware/security upgrades, gym renovations, gym locker room renovations, gym HVAC abatement and demo, gym HVAC installation.

Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – Middle school Science Olympiad students participated in the regional competition this past Saturday at St. John Fisher University, with many students placing in the various events.

Students who competed were Payton Babcock, Evan Love, Jaili McPhatter, Sadie Money, Tatiana Morales, Aries Webster, Brilee Seewagen, Payton Gray, Brad Pierce, Charles Warren, and Lily Allison. Mr. Petrus and Ms. Fiegl coached the students.

The following are the top results for the Albion students:

• Anatomy and Physiology: Brad Pierce and Aries Webster, First Place
• Green Generation: Brad Pierce and Sadie Money, First Place
• Bio Process Lab: Brad Pierce and Brilee Seewagen, Second Place
• Solar System: Charles Warren and Lily Allison, Fifth Place
• Crave the Wave: Sadie Money and Lily Allison, Sixth Place

Father Richard Csizmar has served as pastor in Albion the past 28 years

Photos by Tom Rivers: Father Richard Csizmar is shown inside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where he has been the parish priest for 28 years. He is retiring from full-time ministry. He will continue to lead Mass at local Catholic churches while living in Albion.

ALBION – The Rev. Richard Csizmar has announced his retirement from full-time ministry after more than a half century as a priest.

Csizmar, 80, could have retired five years ago but chose to continue in a full-time role at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the Holy Family Parish. Csizmar will continue to live in the church rectory in Albion and lead some Mass services as needed in a family of churches that includes Catholic sites in Kendall, Holley, Albion, Medina, Lyndonville, Barker and Middleport.

Father Mark Noonan, the former priest at St. Mark’s in Kendall and St. Mary’s in Holley, is returning to lead the family of local Catholic churches, beginning next weekend.

“It’s been great,” Csizmar said about his 28 years in Albion. “I’ve really loved it. I see myself as the community’s priest.”

Csizmar has two long tenures in his ministry. Before coming to Albion, he served 25 years at Notre Dame High School in Batavia as a teacher and development director. He also served on weekends at St. Joseph’s and St. Anthony’s in Batavia.

He started his ministry with a year in Cherry Creek, and also three months at the Nativity at Harris Hill in Williamsville.

Father Richard Csizmar is shown inside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. About 700 families are part of the Holy Family Parish.

In Albion, Father Csizmar was active in the Albion Ministerium, a group of local clergy that plan community ecumenical services and a baccalaureate service for graduating high school seniors.

He praised the Albion parish for their love shown towards him and many in the community. The parish includes about 700 families and 1,600 people.

“I have felt at home here,” he said during an interview at the church rectory. “It has been a great run. I’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences.”

Father Csizmar said he continues to feel a call to ministry and enjoys preaching and leading Mass.

“I haven’t run out of gas,” he said. “I’m always getting new ideas.”

Susan Starkweather Miller said Father Csizmar has been accepting of new ideas to engage the community, including a new Bible study she is leading with Pete Sidari on Monday mornings and Tuesday evenings. About 70 people are attending that study on the Passion of the Christ. Csizmar is among the attendees.

“Father loves community,” Starkweather Miller said. “He loves to build community in our church. He’s always been very positive and willing to try new things. He is always on board.”

Starkweather Miller is a lecter, eucharistic minister, altar server and Bible study leader at the parish. She is very thankful Father Csizmar will be staying in the Albion community.

“We care so much about him,” she said. “We are so thankful he wants to be with us. Father Dick can continue to do the things he loves.”

Father Dick Csizmar greets Albion firefighters and other first responders during a “Blue Mass” on Oct. 22, 2017 at St. Joseph’s. The service offered appreciation and blessings for first responders. Csizmar worked to connect with many community members during his time at St. Joseph’s.

The parish is also looking forward to Father Mark Noonan leading the family of churches.

“We have the best of both worlds,” Starkweather Miller said.

Joe Gehl is a current church trustee for the Holy Family Parish. He has attended St. Joseph’s since 1971. He said the parish admires Father Csizmar and appreciates his long commitment to the Albion community.

“He is not afraid to get involved in things,” Gehl said. “He considers wherever he is at as part of his family. He just blends in well with anyone regardless of their religious affiliation. He accepts everybody for who they are.”

Father Csizmar in a message to the parish in this weekend’s church bulletin said he is very proud of Mark Noonan who brings a kind and gentle spirit.

“It’s great to be passing the torch to a new generation pastor,” Father Csizmar writes.

Father Richard Csizmar prays a blessing on Albion graduates during a baccalaureate service on June 2, 2019 at the First Baptist Church. Csizmar has been very active in the Albion Ministerium, a group of local clergy members.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Lenten lunches returned on Wednesday for Albion area churches. This group from the Gaines Congregational Church – Laurie Hatch, Kathy Smith and Chris Sartwell – serve soups prepared by the church.

The event was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion. The Presbyterians provided sandwiches.

The lunches will be at noon every Wednesday in March at the Presbyterian Church. Different churches take turns providing food and the message.

Marie Follett plays the piano and the Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Albion, leads the singing of hymns during the Lenten luncheon.

The luncheons are back for the first time in three years after being cancelled during the Covid pandemic.

Thaine also delivered a short message for the group. There were about 40 people from several churches at the gathering. The luncheons are free with a goodwill offering accepted.

The Lenten luncheons also are back in Medina at the Presbyterian Church on Main Street. It is a tradition going back several decades and sponsored by Medina Area Association of Churches.

All luncheons are served at the Presbyterian Church, with members of MAAC taking turns preparing the meal. Take-outs are available at 11:45 a.m., with serving at noon followed by a brief message. This year’s theme will explore “The Passion of Christ.”

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Starting today, registration is open for Albion Central School’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program.

To be eligible, children must be four years old on or before December 1, 2023 and must live in the school district. Parents interested in registering their child/children for the UPK program must fill out the form in full, including the application, transportation form and meal information.

UPK is held in two sessions. The morning session is held from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The afternoon session is 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parents may not choose which session their child attends.

Completed forms may be returned ASAP to the district office or elementary school office. Completed applications may also be mailed to:

Albion Central School District

UPK Program

324 East Avenue

Albion, NY 14411

Please contact the district registrar with questions at 585-589-2051.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Burger King in Albion has been collecting donations this month for Supportive Care of Orleans and was at $3,456 as of 1:30 this afternoon.

Pictured from left include Sam Rogers, Krystle Hughson, Owen Mitchell, general manager Shelby Hollenbeck and assistant general manager Liz Lamay.

Hollenbeck said she is pleased by the response from the customers. Many give their change, or a dollar bill, while others have donated $20s, with several people giving a hundred dollars. Jim and Kerry Panek donated $1,000 to the organization that assist hospice patients and their families.

“People love to give to local organizations,” Hollenbeck said.

The Burger King will be accepting donations until tomorrow, and will then turn over the funds to Supportive Care of Orleans.

There are donations boxes inside the BK and also at the drive-through.

Presbyterian Church will host Wednesday gatherings for 5 weeks

Press Release, Albion Ministerium

ALBION – After a three-year hiatus, Lenten lunches will resume this Wednesday, as hosted by the Albion Ministerium. The gatherings will take place at noon each Wednesday in March at the Albion Presbyterian Church, 29 East State St.

Participating congregations will take turns providing a simple meal of soup, sandwich, and cookies, with beverages also provided. At each event, a pastor from the community will lead a devotional message, and musicians will lead three well-known hymns.

Anyone from the Albion area is welcome to attend. A free will offering will be collected and used to offset expenses for future Ministerium-sponsored events, including the Baccalaureate service for Albion High School graduates in June.

The 2023 schedule of Albion Lenten lunches and leaders is:

• March 1 – Pastor Sue Thaine and the Albion Presbyterian Church, with musician Marie Follett will accompanying the hymns: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” and “Because He Lives.”
• March 8 – Pastor Marsha Rivers, with the Albion Baptist and Gaines Carlton Community churches, with musician Marie Follett will accompanying the hymns: “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” “I Need Thee Every Hour,” and “Wonderful Words of Life.”
• March 15 – Father Dick Csizmar and the Holy Family Parish, with musician Kay Marsh accompanying the hymns: “I Love to Tell the Story,” “Blessed Assurance,” and “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.”
• March 22 – Pastor Jim Heiler and the West Barre United Methodist Church, with musician Kay Marsh accompanying the hymns: “How Great Thou Art,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” and “Bind Us Together, Lord.”
• March 29 – Pastor Randy LeBaron and the Eagle Harbor United Methodist Church, with musicians Jim Heiler and Susan Boring accompanying the hymns: “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord,” and “Standin’ in the Need of Prayer.”

With questions about the Lenten lunches or Albion Ministerium activities, contact Pastor Marsha Rivers at (585) 355-7373.

ALBION – The owner of a storage business is planning three more buildings at the site on West Countyhouse Road which will add 138 more units.

David Hill has the Orleans County Planning Board’s support for the project. The board on Thursday recommended the Town of Albion approve the site plan and permit for the project.

Hill in October 2020 opened Orleans Storage with 107 units at three buildings on West Countyhouse Road in Albion, just east of Route 98at Orleans Self Storage. He expanded the site last year and is 77 percent full with 221 units.

He wants to get the new buildings done to meet the growing demand. Hill told the Planning Board he doesn’t anticipate doing another expansion after this one.

There are currently five storage buildings at the site. The new buildings will be 230 feet long. One will be 30 feet wide and the other two will be 25 feet wide. The three new buildings will add 138 more units.

“He’s been quite successful filling these spaces on his property,” said Dan Strong, Albion code enforcement officer and County Planning Board member. “We’ve never received a complaint about it.”

Hill said most of the customers are local residents. He said he appreciates the community support and the cooperation from the local governments.

In another decision, the Planning Board voted to support a permit and the site plan for farm labor housing in Kendall at 1561 Norway Rd.

Zingler Farms will convert an existing single-family residence into living space for farm workers.

Gates to Recovery says it would invest $1 million into improving site, add 90 to 100 jobs

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Clover Hill assisted living site at 355 South Main St. closed last March. It is listed for sale by Snell Realtors for $899,900.

ALBION – An organization that has been overseeing walk-in centers for people fighting addictions wants to operate a residential site in Albion at the former Clover Hill Adult Residence at 355 South Main St.

Randy Cimino, president of Gates to Recovery, said the organization is looking 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.

Cimino, who said he is a recovering addict and is 15 years sober, said the mental health treatment is critical to breaking the cycle of addiction. He also said Gates to Recovery would offer longer supervision and treatment – from 4 to 18 months. He said most treatment programs are only a month – not enough time for many people to be successful in breaking their drug addictions.

“This is about saving lives,” Cimino said in a presentation to the Village Board this evening. “This village could be the one place where it all started, where we change rehabilitation.”

Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said Gates to Recovery hasn’t shown a proven record in running a rehab facility. He told the group the Village Board doesn’t support that use of the Clover Hill site, which is close to many residential properties.

He said he also doesn’t want to see the property become tax exempt, taking away about $30,000 in tax revenue for local governments. Javier said he also envisions the facility putting a strain on local police and ambulance services.

Cimino and Gates to Recovery representatives said they didn’t see the site putting a demand on local services. Cimino said there would be about 90 to 100 employees at the site, about 30 per eight-hour shift.

Cimino said the organization has the financial backing to run the program in the foreseeable future. He said the local governments could be paid any lost tax revenue. He urged the board to support the effort. If Gates to Recovery fails, Cimino said the community would get back an upgraded Clover Hill site with about $1 million in improvements.

“Give us a chance,” Cimino said. “I’m telling you we can do this.”

Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said Albion already has two drug treatment sites in the community, plus two state prisons.

“We don’t want to be known as the drug rehab center of Western New York,” she said.

Riley said the village can’t stand in the way of Gates to Recovery purchasing the property, which is listed for sale at $899,900. But Gates will need “a certain amount of community buy-in, acceptance and tolerance” to succeed, Riley said.

The organization also will need to find a full staff of professionals to run the site, and Riley, a retired nursing supervisor, said there is a shortage of healthcare professionals.

Gates to Recovery reps said they have some key staff members ready to go, and relationships with colleges for work placements.

Cimino said Gates to Recovery sees the Albion location as ideal for the program. But he doesn’t want to move forward if the board and community are opposed to the effort.

He was joined at the meeting by recently retired Gates Police Chief James VanBrederode. He said the opioid crisis has caused over 100,000 fatal overdoses annually in the country, and numerous related burglaries, larcenies and crimes as people try to feed their addiction.

He said the longer-term residential program will make a big difference for those in the program, who are only there if they choose to be.

“This is a perfect facility for us,” Cimino said. “We could do a lot for your community. I know it works because it worked for me.”

Store receives donation of many new and gently-worn dresses

Photos by Ginny Kropf: An array of prom dresses are available at Community Action’s Main Street Store, and along with tips on makeup and accessories, will be free to any girl in Orleans County. Store manager Cassie Eagle, pictured, came up with the idea last year.

ALBION – Cassie Eagle, manager of Community Action’s Main Street Store, is a firm believer no girl should miss her senior prom because she can’t afford a dress.

Eagle was appointed manager of the store last year, and shortly after a large donation of prom dresses was received. Some are gently worn, but many others are brand new. They are all colors, sizes and styles.

Originally Eagle thought she would have a special sale and offer the dresses at a low cost, but then the idea hit her to offer them free, so every girl could have the opportunity to go her prom, regardless of their financial situation.

Cassie Eagle, manager of Community Action’s Main Street Store, shows some of the prom dresses which will be given free to girls in any Orleans County school.

After getting approval from her supervisors, Eagle contacted Albion school and the Orleans/Niagara BOCES. After much planning, they are on board with the idea.

On a designated day in May, High School Principal Jenn Ashbery will bring a cosmetology class from BOCES on a field trip to Albion High School. During the day, high school girls can come in and learn how to do simple updos and makeup from the cosmetology students. Students will be asked to bring their own makeup and hair supplies.

Later on the chosen day, Eagle will open the Main Street Store at 6 p.m. and invite girls from any Orleans County school to come and pick out a prom dress.

“We will be reminding them that after their prom they can donate the dresses back so we have them for next year,” Eagle said. “I plan to make this an annual event.”

The Main Street Store will also have shoes and handbags, along with hair styling items for sale at this time. Eagle is encouraging girls to pre-register for the event.

The store will be looking for volunteers to help the girls that night and anyone interested in helping can call 589-1430.

Eagle is also going to ask some of the students from BOCES to come in that night and help the girls. It is hoped those who are able will give tips to the BOCES stylists.

Eagle is hoping to solicit donations of makeup and hair products from local beauty shops, as well as monetary donations from any business who would like to support this event.

“Everyone so far is excited and ready to get this going,” Eagle said. “It is much bigger than anything I imagined when I first started it, so I am open to any help or ideas.”

Dresses are available in every color. Many are long gowns, some are mid length and others are minis. Sizes range from 1 to 23.

The exact date will be announced as soon as it is approved.