Provided photos

ALBION – The American Legion in Albion has a new sign and exterior lighting at the post on Gaines Basin Road.

The former clubhouse at Pap Pap’s Par 3 has been the home for the Legion for several years now.

The veterans’ organization has been working on the building. Last year the organization put on a new roof and siding on the building, as well as electrical and lighting upgrades, and an installation of flags from each branch of the military.

The Legion also put in a new concrete front patio and placed seven spent rounds, and one live round. The live round is in honor of the military currently deployed, the seven other bullets represent the gun salute from the Honor Guard, with three volleys of seven rounds.

This tribute is in front of a memorial bench for the late Jason Johnston, who was 24 when he was killed by a roadside bomb on Dec. 26, 2009 in Arghandab, Afghanistan.

The Sheet Post is named in honor of two brothers from Albion who died on the same day of World War I.

James and Egbert Sheret both died on September 29, 1918.

A member of Co. F. 108th Reg., NY Volunteer Infantry, Sgt. James Sheret was killed in action during the attack on the Hindenburg Line. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for the bravery of his actions.

Pvt. Egbert Sheret, a machine gunner, was also killed in action that day.

Another brother, Andrew, was wounded in World War I, but survived. A fourth brother, John G. served in the Navy and survived the war.

Confection Connection opened in August, with bigger plans for future

Photos by Tom Rivers: Becky Harris, owner of Confection Connection at 223 South Main St., holds a plate of eclipse-themed cookies.

ALBION – Becky Harris embraces a challenge when she is in the kitchen, and she likes to put her talents to the test in celebrating a big event, whether it’s her wedding day or the upcoming eclipse.

Harris opened Confection Connection, a bakery with coffee in August at the corner of Meadowbrook Drive and South Main Street. She and her husband Adrian Harris moved from Lancaster to Albion so she could run the bakery out of their new home. The property also has space for him to grow vegetables as an organic farmer.

The Albion site is zoned commercial and was previously Paradise Healing Arts, and was once used by a dentist.

“Everybody has stories about this house,” Harris said.

Becky and Adrian married in 2016. One of Becky’s goals for the big day was to make her own wedding cake. She made several practice cakes leading up to her wedding, and shared them with friends and family.

“I kept practicing, and was getting better and better,” she said.

She developed devoted fans by sharing those “practice cakes.” They were so good, her friends urged her to consider opening a bakery.

Harris took their advice, and soon the bakery was taking up more and more of her Lancaster home. The Albion location has room for the bakery, a commercial kitchen and their home.

Harris said she has been baking since she was a kid under her grandmother’s tutelage. She continues to add new creations, whether an éclair or the new eclipse cookies. She wanted to help the community celebrate the total eclipse on April 8.

Vanilla buttercream frosting is in between eclipse cookies made with vanilla and chocolate dough.

She makes the eclipse cookies in a range of phases of the moon obstructing the sun. She cuts out portions of circles in vanilla and chocolate dough, and then pieces them together to create the cookies. She make them into a cookie sandwich by putting vanilla buttercream frosting in between.

“I wanted to do something and be a part of all the events going on this weekend,” she said.

Harris still has loyal customers from the Lancaster area. She wants to make the Albion business bigger. She welcomes in-store traffic to 223 South Main St., where she also sells coffee and cold brew drinks. She bought the coffee-making equipment from the Coffee Joint after it closed in downtown Albion.

She also sells her bread at Navarra’s, pies at the Downtown Browsery and makes rolls for the sandwiches at the Wild Flour Deli and Bakery.

Harris is looking to upgrade her food certificate with the Health Department from a food handler to food manager. She would like to offer a sit-down area and serve sandwiches, soups and salads – as well as the array of baked goods. Some of the items would include vegetables and produce grown by her husband in a “farm to oven” concept.

That expanded menu might be at a different location in Albion. Harris is looking for a shop to accommodate all of her goals.

For now, she encourages people to stop by the bakery at 223 South Main, which is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“I want to welcome anyone to come in,” Harris said.

She also welcomes ideas from customers on new flavors or creations.

“I never say no, which is a blessing and a curse,” Harris said. “But I’m up for a challenge.”

Agency moves from Visitor’s Center to Presbyterian Church

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jami Allport, executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, sits at her desk in the agency’s new offices at the First Presbyterian Church. GOMOC moved from the Albion Visitor’s Center to the church with the first day open last Thursday at the church.

ALBION – The Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern has moved into its new offices in the First Presbyterian Church of Albion and the agency is thrilled with the welcome from the church.

GOMOC left the Albion Visitor’s Center after 15 years on the third floor at 121 North Main St. The agency moved after the Village Board raised the rent by 35 percent from $1,146.67 to $1,550.96 a month. The board felt GOMOC’s rent was too cheap at 48 cents per square foot. The board raised it to 65 cents per square foot.

Jami Allport, the GOMOC executive director, said that amount was too much for the agency, and would take away funds it needs to assist people in need.

The Presbyterian Church offered space in four rooms at the lower rate that GOMOC was paying before the rent went up. The church painted two of the rooms and added electrical outlets for the new tenants and also put a wall in. The other two rooms also were recently redone following a third floor water leak that caused some damage to the rooms.

“The church worked really hard for us,” Allport said. “They have been great and very welcoming.”

The offices are accessible on the back end of the church at the entrance to the church office. There is a church parking lot on Platt Street and sidewalks leading to the entrance.

There will be an open house for the community to see the new offices on April 25 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

The Ministry of Concern is known by many as “The Agency of Last Resort.” It provides services to many people in crisis, including working poor who are facing hardship.

The agency last year assisted 2,795 people with 2,192 in Orleans and 603 in Genesee.

Rose Friedl, left, and Jami Allport show one of the revamped rooms at the church which is now used by the Ministry of Concern. Friedl is the coordinator for the furniture program. Another employee, Nicole Brady, coordinates the Just Friends mentoring program.

The Ministry of Concern has in-house advocates who work on behalf of clients with utility companies, landlords and other entities as necessary. Eligible individuals and families can receive help with personal care items, short-term emergency housing and financial assistance with prescriptions. There is a room stocked with supplies named in honor of long-time board member and volunteer, Mary Grace Demarse.

The Furniture Program also accepts donations of gently used furniture and non-gas appliances which are subsequently delivered without cost to people in need. This in GOMOC’s most used program, assisting 945 people last year. Jayquan Brady and Kyle Woolston pick up furniture and appliances for GOMOC and deliver them to people who need them.

Allport has been working as the agency’s director since September. She said the agency makes a difference for many in the community.

She sees GOMOC doing even more. She has assisted some people with resumes to pursue jobs, and gave other help with health insurance and life skills. The break room also has air hockey and other games where teen-agers can come afterschool and hang out in a safe place.

Rose Friedl said she looks forward to coming to work at GOMOC four days a week. She coordinates the furniture program. She said many people get emotional when GOMOC can locate a bed, couch or even a recliner for them.

“This is a feel-good job,” Friedl said. “I put my whole heart into it.”

ALBION – The PAWS Animal Shelter on Gaines Basin Road has been awarded a $51,249 state grant to replace cat kennels, upgrade dog enclosures, upgrade HVAC systems, and replace a heat pump.

Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement this morning. The grant for PAWS is oart of $3.8 million awarded to 10 animal care organizations across the state through the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund, which is in its sixth round.

“New York State’s Companion Animal Capital Fund continues to make a real difference for our shelters and humane societies across the state,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will better equip these vital facilities with the tools they need to improve the quality of care for animals as they await a permanent, loving home.”

The Companion Animal Capital Fund program was started in 2017. It is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The state has dedicated over $33 million to the program.

Competitive grants were awarded to shelters based on a need assessment, detailed project description, and reasonableness of cost.

Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget includes an additional $5 million for the continuation of the program.

“Through six rounds, it has been incredible to see our shelters across the state complete these projects that make life better for the animals in their care,” said Richard A. Ball, the state’s agriculture commissioner. “I’m proud that the funding announced today will continue to build on the great work of this program, helping New York’s animals stay happy and healthy as they await their forever homes.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Alex Nazaretski, a student of classical guitar and piano at the Eastman School of Music, performs at the Hoag Library today.

Nazaretski will graduate from Eastman in May. He kicked off a new season of concerts at Hoag. The events are free to the public and are on Saturdays at noon.

The lineup of concerts for the rest of 2024 include:

• Paul O’Dette, April 20
• Kinloch Nelson, May 18
• Bob Sneider, June 15
• George Collichio, July 20
• Rochester Recorder Society, Aug. 17
• Alyssa Rodriguez, Sept. 14
• Muriel Anderson, Oct. 12
• Duo Tufekčić & Conant, Nov. 9
• Rochester Ukulele Orchestra, Dec. 7

About 50 people attended today’s concert in the main meeting room of the library.

Hoag last year debuted the concerts. They are organized by Jim Doyle, an adult reference librarian at the library. He also has been running Jim’s Guitar Studio for 24 years in Albion, and is a founding member of the Rochester Guitar Club.

Doyle said he reaches out to musicians who generally haven’t performed in Orleans County before. He met Nazaretski when he performed at the Little Theater Café in Rochester.

Funds for the concerts at the Hoag Library come from the state Council of the Arts, with the funds administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kids displayed breakneck speed in hunting down Easter eggs at noon today in Albion. There were about 12,000 eggs scattered on the lawn, up from 10,000 last year.

The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries held its third annual Easter Egg Hunt today. Students from the Iroquois Job Corps Center helped set out the eggs.

About 300 children are lined up ready to go grab the plastic eggs which had candy inside.

Children were divided into three groups – ages 1 to 5, ages 6 to 9, and ages 10 to 14. There will be two golden eggs hidden per age group.

Benjamin Rowcliffe, 8, of Medina found one of the golden eggs.

Jayda Elsenheimer helps hand out some of the 600 Easter baskets. The Albion Rotary Club and Albion Lions Club donated to help buy the baskets.

The Catholic Daughters also bought 200 chocolate Easter bunnies, and the Masonic Lodge served food for free.

Pastor Al Wilson of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries welcomes the kids to the egg hunt. Wilson said the church is happy to put on the event, and see so many families having fun.

“We just love the people,” Wilson said. “It’s about sharing the love of Jesus.”

These kids take off to pick up some of the Easter eggs. The golden eggs were in hard-to-find spots.

Two barbers gave free haircuts for three hours. Jeffrey Echevarria of Albion, left, gets a haircut from Carlito Lopez of Brockport while Amonte Mortensen of Medina, right, gets a trim from Maciel Gomez of Albion.

East State Street in front of the courthouse was decorated in chalk art.

The Albion Free Methodist Church was one of about 20 stops on an Easter Hop where kids could get candy.

ALBION – The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries will have its third annual Easter Egg Hunt today at noon at the courthouse lawn, 27 Platt St. in Albion.

Children will be divided into three groups – ages 1 to 5, ages 6 to 9, and ages 10 to 14. There will be two golden eggs hidden per age group.

The activities go from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free barber cuts, free food from the Masonic Lodge, and free face painting.

There will also be free Easter baskets while supplies last.

The Albion Merchants Association also has its Easter Hop today. More than 20 Albion businesses are participating in the event today from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Children can pick up a free Easter basket at Wild Flour Deli & Bakery, Confection Connectin, Pretty Sweet Bakery and Bloom’s Flower Shop. The baskets have a list of businesses where children can stop in and receive an Easter treat.

ALBION – Hoag Library has two trustee positions up for election on May 6.

People interested in serving as a trustee need to live in the library service area (central Orleans towns of Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton).

Petitions needs to be signed by at least 25 adults in the service area. Petitions have been available at the library service desk since March 14. They are due by 5 p.m. on April 5.

The election will be from noon to 7 p.m. with results announced that night during the library’s annual meeting.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Mallory Ashbery, center, is Marmee March, the mother of four daughters in Little Women. Marmee’s husband and the girls’ father is away in the Civil War, serving as a Union Army chaplain.

The girls include, from left: Danielle Wyant as Meg, Lily Brigham as Amy, Ella Trupo as Beth and Mallory Kozody as Josephine “Jo” March. They are at home in Concord, Mass. Mr. March sends a letter that he has contacted pneumonia. His wife prepares to go see him in Washington.

Albion performed the musical with shows on Friday at 7 p.m., and today at noon and 7 p.m. in the middle school auditorium.

The show is co-directed by Elliott Michki, Kailey Winans and Kathy Winans.

Jo (Mallory Kozody) acts out one of her novels, “An Operatic Tragedy,” while sister Meg (Danielle Wyant) chimes in.

Jo aspires to be a great novelist. Her stories entertain her family but so far have been rejected by 22 publishers.

James Ruiz plays Mr. Laurence and Zackary Baron is Theodore “Laurie” Laurence. Mr. Laurence is upset that Jo cut down one of his trees.

Laurie becomes friends with the March sisters. He first proposes to Jo and is rejected, and later marries Amy, the youngest sister.

Sawyer Brigham plays Sir Braxton and acts out a scene Jo’s operatic tragedy, with Clarissa, played by Keira Zambito. She is fleeing Sir Braxton and is heroine of Jo’s operatic tragedy. Julia Button, right, is in the ensemble.

Jo (Mallory Kozody) comforts her sister Beth (Ella Trupo) who has been stricken by scarlet fever and would die from the illness, causing a great sadness in her family.

Gideon Pask plays Professor Bhaer, a German professor who falls in love with Jo. The two become engaged with plans of opening their own school. Pask sings “Small Umbrella In The Rain.”

File photo by Tom Rivers: This portrait of Wayne Burlison was displayed on a tree along the course at Mount Albion Cemetery during the 2016 race.

ALBION – A big snow overnight has necessitated a course change for this morning’s 5-kilometer race in Albion.

The Wayne Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K is in memory of an Albion elementary music teacher who passed away at age 36 from colon cancer on March 26, 2014.

The route usually starts on Clarendon Road by the elementary school and heads east on Route 31 to Mount Albion Cemetery for a loop there and then heads back on 31 to the school parking lot.

But with about a half foot of snow on the ground, the state Department of Transportation advised race director Bert Gallmon that Route 31 would be off limits for the race.

He was informed of the change Friday when the forecast called for significant snow. Gallmon and Albion school officials have come up with a modified course that includes three loops of about a mile in the school parking lots.

The race starts at 10 a.m. Participants can sign up this morning beginning at 8:30 a.m. inside the elementary school in the cafeteria. A post-race gathering with food will be at Dubby’s Tailgate.