Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – People enjoy a barbecue and lots of conversation on a closed off part of East State Street in front of the Orleans County Courthouse this evening.

The Albion Merchants Association organized the debut event. All 100 tickets sold for $50 each.

“It couldn’t have gone better,” said Linda Smith, one of the lead organizers of the event. “It was a perfect day.”

She was thankful for great weather, even a harvest moon.

Tables stretched along much of East State Street, between Main and Platt Street. The tables were decorated in a fall foliage theme with sunflowers. There were many pumpkins to create a fall festival feeling.

Liz Groat is ready for a meal catered by Chap’s in Elba. The vegetables came from local farms, Rush’s in Carlton and Torrey’s in Elba.

The Albion committee preferred barbecue over a fancier meal, and it proved popular with the guests. (Last Call Cocktail Co. also was at the event serving drinks.)

The desserts were prepared by three bakeries in Albion: Wild Flour Deli & Bakery, Pretty Sweet Bakery and SnL Sweet Escapes. They are in the kitchen area at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.

Michelle Hughson gives pumpkin bowling a try. Participants rolled a small pumpkin at pins. Hay bales served as bumpers on the lanes. Ryan Smith in back helped run the game.

Hughson said she enjoyed the fun and offbeat games, which had people mingling and socializing.

She liked the setting by the courthouse and several historic church buildings.

Butch Markee of Medina gives B’Apple Ball a try, where players attempted to shoot apples through a basketball hoop. Markee made both of his tries.

The winner of the tatter toss game won this trophy.

Dakota Marasco of Albion tries pumpkin bowling. She was glad to see a strong response from the community for the first-time event.

Pastor Albert Wilson of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries offered the blessing before the meal.

Sandy Chappius, left, owner of Chap’s serves an appetizer to Jan Albanese.

Two Albion High School graduates, Karen Conn and Sue Thaine (right), sang a song together set to Edelweiss. Instead the final line saying, “Bless my homeland forever” then changed the lyripcs to “Bless my hometown forever.”

Conn’s daughter Shannon Vanderlaan also sang during the event. Thaine is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.

People dance to the music of Mike McCauley of Medina, the “One Man Band.”

The event is expected to continue next year, and could be shifted to downtown on Main Street when the Main Street bridge will be closed due to an 18-month rehabilitation project.

Besides Linda Smith, the committee for the Farmer’s Feast includes Kim Remley, Anne Beaty, Aric Albright, Karen Conn, Debbie Prest, Anita Finley, Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and his father, Angel Javier Sr.

ALBION – The Albion Town Planning Board on Wednesday approved a 25-bed women and children community residence on Butts Road. This will be the first residential program for the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse that serves women and their children.

The Planning Board approved the site plan for the project. John Bennett, GCASA executive director, said he expects the project will go out to bid for construction next month.

The agency has seen more women in recovery and addiction programs with the opioid epidemic, with the prevalence of addictive painkillers, Bennett said during a public hearing about the project on Aug. 3.

The $4.6 million community residence will be the first in the GLOW region for women in recovery.

About 12 years ago, women accounted for 23 percent of the GCASA census or people served by the agency. But by 2016-17, that percentage jumped to nearly 40 percent, Bennett said.

The Albion site will allow women, 18 and older, to receive services to aid in their recovery while in a residential setting. Five of the 25 units will accommodate women with children younger than kindergarten. Up to two children can stay in those units. The property will include walking trails and a playground.

Keeping the mothers with the children eliminates a huge barrier preventing some women from going into acute recovery programs, Bennett said.

The project has been awarded a $4.6 million grant from the state Department of Health for construction of the residence. That grant doesn’t include the operation of the site, which will be staffed 24-7, including two employees at night.

GCASA will have 25 employees at the site, including mental health counselors, a nurse, peer counselors, aides, drivers, a child care coordinator, administrators and kitchen staff.

One nearby resident, Aaron Vosburgh, said he was concerned the site will add traffic to a road where there are frequent accidents because of a railroad overpass with a low clearance.

ALBION – The Town of Albion is closing a section of Phipps Road to the traveling public starting tomorrow until the culvert (bridge) that crosses Otter Creek can have a thorough inspection, Highway Superintendent Michael Neidert said.

The culvert at the west end of Phipps Roads near Eagle Harbor Road was inspected today and Neidert and John Papponetti, the county DPW commissioner and engineer, agreed it is in the best interest and safety of the public that the bridge be closed to traffic until a more thorough inspection can be done.

The town has applied for the Bridge NY grant to replace the culvert but has was denied, Neidert said.

The town will know more once the culvert is given a thorough inspection, Neidert said.

Village urged to remind community that ‘Downtown is still open’ during bridge construction

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Main Street lift bridge, shown on Wednesday evening, will be closed Oct. 17 for a major rehabilitation of the bridge that is scheduled to take 18 months.

ALBION – Village officials said they would ask the state Department of Transportation to post detour signs in the village when the Main Street lift bridge is closed for about 18 months.

The bridge is set for a major overhaul and will be closed starting Oct. 17. The DOT is doing major repairs to the Albion and Brockport lift bridges on Main Street in a combined project that will cost $28 million.

Karen Sawicz, owner of Lake Country Media which includes the Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub, urged Albion village officials to post detours in the village to help drivers navigate through the village and not just bypass the downtown area during the project.

She also suggested a temporary stop sign at the intersection of Ingersoll Street and East State Street. That area will see a big increase in traffic when the bridge is closed. The Ingersoll lift bridge will become the main outlet to cross the canal.

“We need signage in the Village of Albion,” she said during a forum on Wednesday evening at the Village Hall.

The DOT is planning to post detours on state roads, but wasn’t planning to post signs to help drivers navigate in the village, said Jay Pahura, the village Department of Public Works superintendent.

The village doesn’t post detour signs in the village for state projects, Pahura said, because then the village assumes liability for anything that happens because of that detour. The DOT also has standards for the size and spacing of detour signs.

“We don’t do it because it’s not our project,” Pahura said.

But he said he would ask the DOT to put up more signs in the village while the bridge is closed.

Sawicz said the DOT should pay for the signs and assume any liability.

“The state needs to step up and help these smaller villages,” she said.

The village was also urged to have signs up that “Downtown is Open” while the bridge is shut down.

Wednesday’s meeting was the first village-led discussion on the upcoming project. There will be a “Bridge Brainstorming” meeting on Monday at Hoag Library from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to discuss ideas to help businesses and the community while the bridge is closed.

The village will then have another meeting next Wednesday at the Village Hall at 6 p.m. about easing the impact on the community from the bridge being closed. The village is looking for residents, business owners and property owners to be on a committee coordinate projects on Main Street and also connect with the village and DOT about concerns in the downtown and ways to lessen the impact of the closure.

Sue Starkweather Miller suggested the village allow the merchants to have sandwich signs and bigger signs during the closure. She said the village should consider backing off some of the codes for signs to help the merchants through the bridge closure. She also suggested signs be up in the community, reminding people that the downtown is open for business.

Part of Main Street will be blocked off near the south and north ends of the bridge, and contractors will be parking near the bridge with some supplies kept close to the site.

Sawicz said she doesn’t want to see nearby merchants to lose parking to the work crews. The DOT needs to emphasize that bridge workers don’t take up private parking spots for businesses and property owners in the downtown.

Some of the businesses – Krantz, Morrison Realty, PathStone – won’t have access to the parking in front of their buildings because the DOT will block off part of the street for a staging area.

Village officials during Wednesday’s meeting were urged to install signs identifying the municipal parking lots on Main and Bank streets, as well as a lot behind the fire hall at the end of Platt Street so people can see there are lots of options for public parking.

The village was also asked to see if the DOT could move back the closure of the bridge until work is very close to getting started. The public will be frustrated if the bridge is closed and not much happens with it for several weeks, even months.

Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said the Village Board is open to suggestions and will take concerns to the DOT about the project.

“We understand there will be some hardships and we want to alleviate some of that for us,” Riley said.

60 people currently work out of site on West Avenue

Photo by Tom Rivers: Freeze-Dry Foods is based at 111 West Ave. in Albion, the former Lipton’s plant.

ALBION – Freeze-Dry Foods, which has operated at 111 West Ave. for more than 20 years, has announced that it has been acquired by Thrive Foods, and the new owner will invest in the Albion facility and looks to expand the workforce which is currently at 60.

Freeze-Dry Foods specializes in freeze-dried products, including pet treats, proteins and ingredients. It was honored in 2016 as the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year.

Provided photos: Aimee Galindo, current CEO of Freeze-Dry Foods, and Steve Palmer, CEO of Thrive Foods, celebrate the merger.

The products have a shelf life of up to 25 years because Freeze-Dry eliminates moisture and oxygen, while preserving nutrients, flavor, taste, color and aroma.

It operates out of a 240,000-square-foot facility, which previously was used by Lipton’s and then Ontario Foods.

Freeze-Dry is one of the few freeze dry companies in the United States. (The technique dehydrates frozen foods so the moisture content changes directly from a solid to a gaseous form. The product maintains its original size and shape with a minimum of cell rupture. Removing moisture prevents a product from deteriorating at room temperature.)

Thrive Foods also manufactures freeze-dried products, including fruits and vegetables, proteins, pet treats, probiotics, enzymes and prepared meals. Thrive currently has facilities in Modesto, California and American Fork, Utah. It serves as a technical expert and flexible manufacturing partner for its customers.

“We are very pleased with the acquisition of Freeze-Dry Foods, which will further expand Thrive’s manufacturing capabilities and add to our existing geographic footprint throughout the United States,” said Steve Palmer, CEO at Thrive Foods. “We are impressed with FDF’s focus on high-quality products and look forward to executing upon several key initiatives and opportunities together to fuel further growth.”

The acquisition of Freeze-Dry Foods was announced by Entrepreneurial Equity Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on the food and consumer packaged goods industries, and the Private Equity business of Mubadala Capital, the asset management arm of Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company. Thrive Foods is one of their portfolio companies. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Steve Palmer, CEO of Thrive Foods, met with the Albion workforce on Aug. 26. He told the staff there would be more jobs, and investment in the Albion facility.

Freeze-Dry was founded in 1968. Thrive Foods said Freeze-Dry has established an exceptional reputation for high-quality products. The acquisition will allow Thrive Foods to better service customers across the Midwest and East Coast by adding specialized formulation and wet processing capabilities to Thrive’s world-class freeze-drying operations.

“This strategic acquisition adds valuable customer relationships and production, and we look forward to growing the combined business,” said Ryan Schweet, partner at Entrepreneurial Equity Partners.

Adnan Azam, director at Mubadala Capital, added: “We invested in Thrive as the foundation of a growing platform to build and consolidate the freeze-dried products space. Since we invested in the business, we have been integrating Thrive with Mercer Foods while continuously evaluating new opportunities to expand our product capabilities, enter new markets and create growth opportunities for our employees. FDF achieves each of those objectives and we look forward to continuing its market leadership as part of the Thrive Foods family.”

The Albion workforce gathers for a group photo with Steve Palmer, CEO of Thrive Foods.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Stan Farone, a founding member of COVA in 1979, holds a sign in support of the agency at about 4 p.m. at the intersection of routes 98 and 31.

He was one of about 20 people out with signs in support of COVA. They were also selling COVA T-shirts for $15.

COVA is facing a $150,000 budget deficit and may be forced to close by Jan. 1.

The agency has sought assistance from local governments through their federal American Rescue Plan Act money or through inclusion on the town tax bills in Albion, Barre, Gaines and Carlton. So far there isn’t a plan to keep COVA operating after Jan. 1.

Leslee Lockwood, left, and Linda Kepler try to rally support and awareness for COVA.

Mike Fuller, an East Shelby firefighter, was among those at the intersection in support of COVA. Fuller, the retired Shelby highway superintendent, said he received EMS training through COVA. He now works for Mercy in Batavia and also as an EMT at Darien Lake.

He said COVA needs support from the local governments to keep providing service for the community. He noted in western Orleans, the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates also contribute to an ambulance fund for the Medina Fire Department.

The fiscal challenges on community-based ambulance providers is a nationwide problem, Fuller, with low Medicaid rates and insurance rates, and people who often keep the insurance checks and don’t turn them into COVA.

“COVA is established in the community,” Fuller said. “I don’t want to see it go.”

Michael Smith of Albion holds a sign in support of COVA. He credits COVA staff as well as Albion police officers for saving his life on March 21, 2021, providing CPR and stabilizing him so he could be transported by ambulance to a hospital.

He worries about much longer response times if COVA is gone.

Megan Tabor, a COVA EMT, uses a megaphone to get out the message to support COVA so the agency can keep helping the community.

Janine Miller wears a T-shirt showing she backs COVA.

COVA also announced it secured low-interest financing to purchase a new ambulance at a cost of $160,000. It replaces a nearly 10-year-old ambulance with about 200,000 miles. That ambulance has cost $28,000 in repairs this past year.

COVA’s staff and leadership is committed to seeing the organization be viable and up to date for the community, COVA officials said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Local firefighters are lined up on Main Street in Albion near a giant American flag that was held high from the ladder trucks of the Albion Fire Department and the Murray Joint Fire District (Holley Fire Department) during the Sept. 11 service last year.

Memorial observances are planned on Sept. 11 in Albion and Brockport for the 21 st anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

The service in Albion will be at 6 p.m. on the courthouse lawn near the Sept. 11 memorial. Lynne Johnson, the Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, is scheduled to give the welcome for the event.

“There will be no forgetting September 11th,” Johnson said prior to last year’s service. “It is burned into our souls – those graphic pictures, the smoldering ash, and the endless funerals. We must hold on to our remarkable capacity to mourn those we have lost, be they friends, family or total strangers. Honor the value of all lives. They mattered on September 11th, so must all lives matter today.”

Scott Schmidt will again serve as the keynote speaker at the observance. Schmidt spent three weeks with a federal team – U.S. Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team – and assisted in collecting and identifying remains, and interviewing family members searching for loved ones. He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero.

Other speakers include Dale Banker, the County’s Emergency Management director. He will provide a timeline of events from Sept. 11, 2001.

The Rev. Trellis Pore will sing, “America the Beautiful.” The local honor guard of veterans will fire rifles and play Taps.

In Brockport, the 21st annual September 11th vigil will be held at the Brockport Fire Department Station #4 at 237 S. Main St., where there is a Sept. 11 memorial. There will be an opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m., followed by a ringing of the bell at 8:47 a.m., a “Ring of Gold” observance at 6 p.m. and closing ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Bruce Landis

The Class of 1972 members at the reunion include:

Front row – Joanie Neri, Ann Germeo, Ron Vanderlaan, Carolyn Hill, Marilee Tokotch, Sue Pilon, Susan Glassner, Joey Fiorilli, Vickie Condolucci, Barb Chappius. Debi Becker and Sandy Kast.

Second row – Marita DeLuca, Patti Smith, Bentley, Gail Hudson, Faye Hollenbeck, Sandra Jones, Brenda Staines, Paul Harvey and Joel Linton.

Third row – Clarence Whitfield, Steve Seidel, Vicki Pratt, Ned Parker, Cindy Downey, Steve Licht, Randy Conlon, Eileen Williams, Joanne Githens, Joan Peters, Candy Hockenberry and Christine Mathes.

Fourth row – Howard Ward, Gary Smith, David Kofahl, Rick Babbitt, Dean Burdett, Mark Adema, Pat Scharping, Paul Theodorakos, Bob Capurso, Michael Hinman, Karl Spanton and Dennis Monacelli.

Writeup courtesy of Sally Capurso

LYNDONVILLE – The Albion Central School’s classes of 1971 and 1972 hosted a whirlwind of memories on Aug. 19-20 to celebrate 50 and “50-ish” years since their graduations.

When the class of 1971 found it difficult to book a venue for their 50th reunion in 2021 due to Covid restrictions, they needed to think outside the box. What better way to celebrate than with those who graduated in 1972?

The festivities began with a golf scramble in memory of 1972 deceased classmate, Brian “Bucky” Buckner.  A Friday night gathering at St. Mary’s Athletic Club afforded classmates the opportunity to informally chat and catch up while munching on everything from ACS Sloppy Joes to chips and diverse salsas. Marty Taber ’71 provided an entertaining look back at our high school years.

Saturday morning afforded the classes the opportunity to tour their old high school under the direction of Superintendent Mickey Edwards. What a memory jogger!

The Saturday evening reunion was held at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. Gorgeous table decorations surrounded by tea lights in mini vases with purple ribbon and handmade purple napkin holders warmly greeted the classmates.

After a social hour, there were class pictures by Bruce Landis. Then Melanie Repko Barbarito ’71, Rev. Clarence Whitfield ’72, and Rev. David Kofahl ’72 prayed about the classes’ past, present and future.

MC Bob Capurso ’72 then led us through time: then and now. A trivia contest at the tables afforded a blast from the past as well as an ice breaker. Table winners were presented eagle coasters donated by Jane Kast Gill, ’71.

The Hastings Duo provided background music throughout dinner and gave a chance to show off their dance skills. Sally Sadowski Capurso ’71 presented everyone a verbal collage of highlights of classmates’ contributions to society in the years since leaving ACS.  Barbara Karls Dawson, chief registration collector ’71 and Sally Capurso then awarded the first Humanitarian Awards to one member of each class who has served their communities in selfless ways.

Judy Delamarter Craddock ’71 was the recipient for her selfless missionary work. Howard Ward ’72 was the recipient for his ongoing commitment to many communities. The class of 1971 challenges future 50th Reunion Committees to honor someone with the Humanitarian Award.

In addition to those mentioned above, major contributors of the blended committee included Ann Germeo Tower, chief registration handler for ’72, Marita DeLuca Dumrese, purple decorator extraordinaire, Joanie Neri Millis, Patti Smith Buckner, Eileen Williams, Howard Ward and John Grillo.

The of Class of 1971 attendees at the reunion include:

Front row from left – Elizabeth Thom Cowan, Cindy Glassner Piedmonte, Jamie Lynn Halstead, Pam Staines Merrrill, Bonnie Lee Cooper, Chuck Lafferty, John Grillo, Bernie Baldwin, Alan Heard, Diane Sharping, Barb Karls Dawson, Mike Smith, Ronald Pritt, Delores D’Amico and Ruth Carr Snyder.

Second row – Susan Warne, Bonnie Bower, Donna Kast Trotter, Sue Perfitt Landis, Sally Sadowski Capurso, Roxie Gaylard Basinait, Cathy Boone Sabo, Tom Fiorelli, Melanie Repko Barbarito, Barbara Babbitt, Sue Mack, Mary Keitel Donahue, Bill Munger and Lorinda Cook Anderson.

Third row – Bertha Barber, Betsy Hunt O’sick, Jeanie Sherman Greenwood, Joanie Anderson Smith, Cindy Drew, Judy Delamarter Craddock,  Marcia T Harris, Melanie Woolston Schaffran, Becky McGuire Allport, Jane Kast Gill,  Harold Germeo, David Vanderlaan and Jim New.

Back row – Mary Clair Bell O’Kane and Marty Taber.

Ambulance provider says $150K needed or it faces closure Jan. 1

Photo by Tom Rivers: COVA is based out of 239 South Main St., Albion. COVA responded to 2,214 calls in 2021.

ALBION – A rally is planned on Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. in Albion to show support for COVA, a local ambulance provider based in Albion.

The non-profit organization faces closure by Jan. 1, said Jennifer Stilwell, COVA’s president.

The organization has maxed out its lines of credit, after not needing to borrow until three years ago. COVA started in 1979.

Stilwell wrote a letter to the editor on Orleans Hub on Aug. 14, detailing the fiscal challenges faced by COVA. The organization has tried for four years to secure local support through the taxes in Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton, but that request hasn’t been taken up by the towns. Stilwell said $50 on each property owners’ tax bills in those towns annually would keep the organization viable.

Since her letter, COVA has met with county legislators and Stilwell said she is hopeful there can at least be a short-term solution to keep COVA operating.

She said COVA is seeking $150,000 from the county to stay afloat in the short-term while it tries to find a longer-term answer.

For the rally on Friday, people are encouraged to be at the COVA base at 239 South Main St. by 3:45 p.m. and to bring their own signs showing support for the ambulance provider. There will be T-shirts available for $15 that show support for COVA.

“Together as a community we can make a difference!” a Facebook event post states. “This is truly a life and death matter! Come out and show support for COVA! Don’t wait until it’s too late ..it could be your family that needs the help!”

Stilwell said COVA isn’t organizing the rally. It is done by others in the community.

She said the organization has suffered from very low insurance payments that often are paid at 20 percent of what is billed, people who keep the insurance checks and don’t turn them in, and rising costs for equipment, gas, wages, medical supplies and medications.

ALBION – The state Department of Transportation has reopened the Main Street lift ridge over the Erie Canal, a day after the 1914 span was hit by a pickup truck.

The bridge was hit by a pickup truck at about 8:30 a.m. The bridge was closed until it could be inspected today. The DOT reported the bridge would reopen at noon today.

The bridge is due to be closed on Oct. 17 for about 18 months for a major rehabilitation.

Provided photo: A pickup truck was headed north when it hit the Main Street lift bridge this morning.

ALBION – The Main Street lift bridge in Albion is closed to traffic until the span from 1914 can be inspected.

The bridge was hit by a pickup truck at about 8:30 a.m.

The state Department of Transportation tweeted this afternoon: “After an incident earlier today, the bridge carrying State Route 98 over the Erie Canal in Albion is closed until further notice. Motorists are advised to seek an alternate route.”

The bridge is due to be closed on Oct. 17 for about 18 months for a major rehabilitation.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The band Cold Fusion Arts performs on Thursday evening at the amphitheater at Bullard Park in Albion.

Organizers said about 200 people attended the concert, with about 150 other people at the park experiencing the music. That included Albion youth football teams, cheerleaders and their parents, as well as people on the park’s walking trail.

Kate Egling sings with Cold Fusion Arts. Her husband Doug Egling plays the saxophone. The band played for two hours.

The summer concert series was extended a week. The first six concert were by the canal and the village opted to have one more concert at Bullard, where a new amphitheater opened last year.

Kaitlyn Kinter and her father Chris Kinter served ice cream during the concert. The family runs the Cone Zone in Albion.

Wild Flour Deli & Bakery served baked goods and cotton candy. Other vendors included Last Call Cocktail and the Hot Spot.

Cold Fusion Arts includes Grayson Krol on basses, Mike Putnam on guitars and guitar synths, Paul Goodwin on kit and percussion, Kate Egling on vocals, and Doug Egling on saxes, flutes and wind synth.

John Grillo, the Albion recreation director, said he favors Bullard Park for the summer concerts. He would like to move the concerts to Wednesday evenings next year to not be on the same day as Medina’s blues concerts.

He thanked the concert-goers for attending the event on Thursday, and appreciated the vendors, and the Albion DPW for setting up a fence for where alcohol was served.

Event will be held on East State Street in front of courthouse

ALBION – An upscale barbecue dinner with a dance and games is planned for Sept. 10 on a closed off section of East State Street in front of the courthouse.

There are 100 tickets available at $50, and 60 have already sold. The tickets are available at the Downtown Browsery and Arnold’s Auto Parts.

The event is presented by the Albion Merchants Association. It will be a new fun activity for Albion, said Linda Smith, one of the organizers.

The committee is limiting the tickets to 100 in the first year and wants to expand in the future, she said.

The committee working on the Farmer’s Feast wants to have the event next year on Main Street while it is closed to traffic because the Main Street lift bridge is being rehabilitated.

For now, the spot in front of the courthouse will make a great venue, Smith said. There is space for long dinner tables, and a dance floor. The food will be served on fine china plates from the First Baptist Church.

The dinner will be catered by Chap’s in Elba with desserts prepared by local bakeries. The event also includes alcohol served by Last Call Cocktail.

There also will be games, including a grape stomping competition to see who can fill a cup the fastest with grape juice. Six people will compete to stomp grapes the fastest to fill a cup with juice.

Another game includes pumpkin bowling, where people will roll pumpkins and try to knock down bowling pins. With B’Apple Ball, players will shoot apples through a  basketball hoop.

Sue Beatty is the organizer of the games and also headed the decorations for the farm-to-table dinner. The vegetables for the meal will come from Rush’s Produce.

Music will be provided by Shannon Vanderlaan of Albion, followed by Mike McCauley of Medina.

Besides Smith and Beatty, the committee for the Farmer’s Feast includes Kim Remley, Aric Albright, Karen Conn, Debbie Prest, Anita Finley, Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and his father, Angel Javier Sr.

ALBION – Several members of the Albion Fire Department gave the Village Board an emphatic no when it came to posting the firefighters’ training records on the village website.

Members of the department said they heard some members of the board thought it would be a good way to show the levels of training by the volunteers.

But the several firefighters said that would only bring unwanted attention and some community members would try to rank the importance of each firefighter.

“We all put in a lot of training,” said Austin Zobel, vice president of the Albion FD. “None of us are consenting to our names being posted.”

The Albion firefighters all have their basic training, and others have specialties, which could be as interior firefighters, emergency medical services or traffic control, as well as other areas.

“Everybody has a niche,” he said.

The firefighters do most of their training at the Orleans County Emergency Management Office on West Countyhouse Road, working with firefighters from other departments.

Fire Chief Rob Conner said the issue rankled many of the firefighters, who saw the possible posting of the information as an unnecessary intrusion.

“I’m proud of the work they do,” Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said in response to a question about the making the training records public. “People should know we’re working with quality and we do things right.”

But after the response from the fire department, Riley said she would back off her support for posting the training records.

She said she appreciates the volunteer service from the firefighters and only wanted to recognize that effort.

Village Trustee Chris Barry said Riley should have handled the issue differently, rather than causing angst among the firefighters.

“The board is very appreciative of the volunteer fire department,” Barry said. “This village needs you.”

Riley said she would have welcomed a phone call from a member of the fire department, explaining the concerns about the issue.

In other action at Wednesday’s Village Board meeting:

• The board amended the cost for a Hometown Hero banner from $185 to $200 with the increase covering a hike in shipping the banners. Village Clerk-Treasurer Tracy VanSkiver said the village manages the program at cost with no money made by the village.

• Voted to hire Alana Piccirilli as a part-time clerk at $15 per hour.

• Made Jeff Gifaldi permanent as a part-time code enforcement officer at $25 per hour, not to exceed 1,040 hours in a year.

• Appointed Ian Mowatt to the Village’s Historic Preservation Commission. Mowatt is the Albion town historian.