Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A giant banner went up today on the Day and Pratt building in downtown Albion. The Strawberry Festival Committee is trying something new this year to promote the festival and recognize key sponsors of the event on June 10-11.

In the top left in the window, D.J. Button holds a wire to secure the banner. In the lift are Michael Bonafede, building co-owner, and Tim McMurray, a village trustee and festival committee member.

The two-day festival is back for the 34^th time after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Albion Middle School students hold flower-themed designs that will be used when students paint a mural on the former bathroom building at Bullard Park. Pictured form left include Makenzie Cook, sixth grade; Neveya Barnes, eighth grade; and Shayla Higgins, seventh grade.

ALBION – Middle School students will transform the appearance of the former bathroom building at Bullard Park, painting flowers and bright colors to a drab structure.

The students are planning to paint a mural on the building from June 15 to June 17. The district will supply the paint and paint brushes.

The Village of Albion is working to put a tongue-and-groove wood exterior on the concrete-block building. That wood will match the look of the new utility building and bathrooms in the center of the park. That was added as part of $800,000 in upgrades at Bullard, which included new playground equipment, a splash park and amphitheater.

Albion art teachers Kamie Feder and Tina Burgett will work with about a dozen students in creating the mural. The teachers and three of the students – Makenzie Cook, Neveya Barnes and Shayla Higgins – met with the Village Board last week to get permission for the project.

The board gave it the OK and said it would push to have the new wood in place in time for the project.

The painting will be 8 feet high and stretch 36 feet, Feder said. Besides flowers, strawberries and some playground equipment will be painted in the mural to give it a park feel.

In other action from last week’s meeting, the board:

• Accepted the retirement of Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Mary Delamarter, effective June 22.

• Made a motion to start advertising to fill a part-time police officer position. This officer won’t have a regular shift but will fill spot when other officers are out sick or unavailable.

• Appointed Janet Salvatore as an alternate on the Orleans County Planning Board, representing the village of Albion.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Kevin Sheehan, standing, shares his concerns about St. Joseph’s Park staying open all night on Clinton Street. Sheehan, the village’s code enforcement officer, lives next to the park.

ALBION – The Village Board was told by some neighbors of two parks, St. Joseph’s and Lafayette, to keep those sites locked at night or else neighbors will be disturbed at night and the sites will attract illicit activity.

The board last month voted to take the locks off the gates of the two parks on the west side of the village. Both parks are on residential streets with houses close by.

Neighbors attended this past Wednesday’s board meeting and said they have heard people having sex at night at Lafayette and people hanging out very late.

The neighbors said they support keeping the parks open during the day, but should be locked up at night.

“I don’t understand the pros of keeping the parks open at night,” said Lynn Burgess, who has lived next to Lafayette for 34 years. “We shouldn’t have to be woken up at night.”

Village Trustees Tim McMurray and Joyce Riley voted to keep the locks off the parks and they continue to support that. They said more police patrols can help keep the parks safe at night. They urged residents to call the police if there are people in the parks at night.

The village is proposing a parks and recreation code that calls for the parks to be open from 8 a.m. to dusk. People in any of the parks after dusk could be ticketed for trespassing.

Some of the neighbors of Lafayette Park, which has entrances on State and Park streets, asked that the park be locked at night because some of the park users are loud at night disturbing residents.

The other parks don’t have gates that can be locked. Vets Park on Linwood Avenue and Carosol on Ingersoll have low fences without a gate. People could easily hop those fences anyway if gates were locked, trustees said. Bullard Park on Route 31 is wide open and would be impractical to put in fencing with an entrance gate, trustees said.

Chris Barry, one of the village trustees, said Lafayette and St. Joseph’s have the locking devices. He supports locking those parks at night. Lafayette is unusual in that it has entrances from two streets. It’s a “thoroughfare” allowing people to cross from one street to the other, Burgess said.

Mayor Angel Javier, who voted to not locks the parks at night, said there will be incident reports of the local parks that will be posted and made available to the public “so people know what is happening at the parks.”

Kevin Sheehan, the village’s code enforcement officer and a former village trustee, lives next to St. Joseph’s Park on Clinton Street. He said that park has playground equipment in front by the entrance. The park then extends far back away from the road, away from any street lights. That makes it easy for people to congregate at night somewhat undetected and disturb neighbors.

Sheehan said the parks are for kids and should be open during the day, but not at night.

“I love hearing the kids play there,” he said. “It’s like music, but the park should be locked at night.”

Burgess, the Lafayette neighbor, said a lock at night is an easy deterrent “to people who shouldn’t be there at night.”

Trustee Tim McMurray said the parks can be a safe place after hours for kids in unstable homes. Some kids go there after hours and don’t cause trouble.

Trustee Barry said he was one of those kids, however, who went there in the dark and destroyed things.

Susan Oschmann, a member of the Albion Recreation Committee, raised the issue last month of the locked St. Joseph’s Park. She lives close to the park and tried to take her grandchildren there in 2018 and was surprised to see the front gate locked.

The village used to have the police department unlock the gate in the morning and then at dusk, but it didn’t always happen if the police had other calls.

Sheehan was given a key to the gate and he often unlocked and locked St. Joe’s. But Oschmann said it seemed the park was often locked up, even during the summer, despite nice playground equipment and a picnic area.

The village will be putting in brighter lights at Lafayette and security cameras at Bullard to help deter any vandalism.

The village is proposing local parks law that sets the hours of operation from 8 a.m. to dusk. The proposal, which should be voted on next month, also doesn’t allow disruptive behavior – disorderly conduct, harassment or loitering. No person will be allowed to carry or discharge a firearm, slingshot or bow and arrow, and no stone throwing will be allowed.

The code also doesn’t allow any excavating or digging up of plants. No pets are allowed but the village may set aside space for dogs in a fenced in area in the future.

There also shouldn’t be any selling or soliciting in the parks, and no posting of advertisements.

Press Release, Albion Central School

Provided photo: Emily Harling holds her diploma after the GCC graduation on May 21.

ALBION – Emily Harling, an Albion high senior who graduates next month, donned her cap and gown earlier than her fellow Purple Eagle classmates as she earned her associate’s degree in liberal arts and science general studies from Genesee Community College on May 21.

Harling started taking college-level and AP classes during her freshman year and realized an associate’s degree could be attainable with some hard work. She then enrolled in more GCC classes during the summer and reached all the requirements to earn a college degree before receiving her high school diploma.

“It was definitely a lot of extra work,” Harling said. “I’m really happy I did it, and I think I’ll be even happier when I’m in school next year.”

She will already be a step ahead of her fellow high school graduates when she steps on the campus of Duquesne University this fall. Knowing that her GCC credits would transfer into her college of choice was an important consideration when looking at schools.

“Having two years done gave me a lot more flexibility with where I could go because I saved a ton of money,” she said. “And I have all my prerequisites done so I can pretty much get right into major-specific classes. I want to go to law school, so it’s nice that I will not be in school forever.”

Harling took the initiative on herself to get enrolled in college classes while in high school and made sure to ask and look into what opportunities were available. She had help along the way, but also showed an individual personal drive to accomplish the goal.

“In high school you don’t get a lot of cool points for going out and doing this,” added Harling. “But I mostly did it for myself. My parents didn’t pressure me or anything, they were supportive, but they didn’t force me into it.”

For upcoming high school students, Harling advised to talk to the counseling staff and make sure to do your own research to see what scholarship and grant opportunities are available.

On June 24, she will once again put on a cap and gown, this time with her fellow high school senior classmates. For upcoming high school students, she offered this bit of advice:

“Just do what you’re going to look back and be proud of yourself for.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The tugboat Edna A., which is owned by the New York State Marine Highway Transportation Company of Troy, pushes away from the Erie Canal bank just east of the Gaines Basin Road bridge.

It is pushes a barge carrying a condenser for a nuclear submarine. The condenser was trucked in on an oversize load weighing just under 400,000 pounds. The condenser itself weighed about 200,000 pounds. The unit was manufactured by Graham Corp. in Batavia.

The condenser travelled by truck from Batavia this morning and reached the canal in about 2 ½ hours. It went up Route 98, to 31A in Barre, then down Gaines Basin Road before turning right on Albion-Eagle Harbor Road.

A massive crane lifts the condenser from the truck.

Ken Printup of Shelby brought binoculars to watch the heavy-duty operation. He is in the parking lot for the Sheret American Legion Post on Gaines Basin Road.

The heavy equipment was then set on the barge in the Erie Canal.

The process drew a crowd of onlookers along the north side of the canal. Many said they had never seen such big cranes and equipment before.

The Edna A. pushes the barge down the canal. It will go to Albany, then down the Hudson River to New York Harbor. From there it will be moved to an ocean-going-barge for the trip to the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

The tug and barge approach the Main Street lift bridge in Albion at about 1:30 p.m.

State to pay for project through Smart Schools Bond Act

ALBION – The school district has approved spending $1.8 million for an emergency classroom notification system.

The funding comes from Albion’s share of its $2,238,441 in the state-funded Smart Schools Bond Act, a $2 billion fund approved by voters state-wide in 2014.

Albion proposed the “District Network Connectivity and High Tech Security Projects” totaling $1,815,000 on April 4. The plan was on the district website for more than 30 days. No one spoke at a May 9 public hearing about the initiative.

The Board of Education voted May 9 to approve it, and it now goes to the State Education Department for its OK, a process that could take eight to 10 months, Albion school officials said.

Albion’s new emergency classroom notification would replace a PA/clock system with classroom speakers and displays. This will be a digital system with audio and display notification, said Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent.

In addition to the $1.8 million, Albion would need to spend $70,000 to upgrade the IT network to support the system with $15,000 coming from Smart Bond and $55,000 from the E-Rate federal technology fund.

There won’t be any local cost because the funding is already set aside from the state, Edwards said.

Albion will have about $400,000 left of its share of the Smart Schools Bond Act that will be “evergreen funds” that could be used in the future, Edwards said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A Strawberry Shortcake character waves to the crowd during the Albion Strawberry Festival parade on June 8, 2019, the last time there was a Starwberry Fest parade in Albion. The character was among several people in costume from Enchanted Princess Parties of Rochester. The parade returns on June 11.

ALBION – Organizers of the Albion Strawberry Festival are welcoming participants in the parade on June 11.

The floats don’t need to be grandiose displays, said June Persia, festival organizer.

She wants to see businesses, community organizations and agencies put together floats for the parade from the school on Route 31 and then down Main Street to the canal.

There wasn’t a festival in 2020 or 2021, but it returns for the 35^th year on June 10-11.

There are already about 10 marching bands in the parade. Persia would like more community groups, partly to space out the bands so they aren’t playing over each other.

She also wants the floats to showcase a vibrant and dynamic community.

“This parade is all about just having a good time,” she said. “Just come out and enjoy being a part of the parade.”

There are forms about the parade rules on the festival website (click here). The main guidelines are to avoid political messages and keep the display family-friendly.

The festival has about 50 craft vendors committed so far, plus 14 food vendors. There will be a 5k/8k race, the turtle race, a car show, a new 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a pie-in-the-face fundraiser, bounce house, I Got It game and other activities.

ALBION – Voters approved a proposed $38,298,690 school budget today with a 406-98 margin, and also elected Wayne Wadhams to the Board of Education as well as Ocie Bennett Jr., who was a write-in candidate.

Wadhams received 394 votes and Bennett 347. Kevin Doherty, a former board member, received 156 votes. Wadhams and Bennett start five-year terms on July 1. Wadhams is a retired Albion teacher and Bennett worked 20 years for Albion as an aide, teacher assistant and coach. He now works for Vertus High School in Rochester as a physical education teacher and football coach.

The school budget doesn’t increase taxes. The budget keeps the tax levy at $8,449,039. This is the 14th time in the past 16 years the taxes haven’t gone up.

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to come out and vote today,” said Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent. “Support from the community is vital to continuing the success of our students and staff here at Albion. We look forward to another great year ahead with the passing of the 2022-2023 budget.”

Voters also approved the following propositions:

• Bus purchases at $550,000 – 427 yes votes, 72 no votes.
• Hoag Library funding at $648,964 – 380 yes votes, 124 no votes
• New capital reserve fund – 394 yes votes, 106 no votes

Photos by Tom Rivers: This group of seventh-graders and their teacher Tim Archer dedicated this interpretive panel on Friday at Central Hall on East Park Street. The building, currently used by the county treasurer’s office and historian, used to be the Sheret American Legion Post. The post is now located on Gaines Basin Road at the former Pap Pap’s Par 3 golf course. Pictured from left, going up and then back down, include: Wesley LeFrois, Lily Brigham, Maylie Fisher, Anna Grillo, Jillian LeBaron, Tim Archer, Julianna Newbould and Mackenzie LeFrois.

ALBION – An interpretive panel was dedicated on Friday for the Sheret family, where brothers Sgt. James Sheret and Pvt. Egbert Sheret were killed in action on the same day, Sept. 29, 1918.

The two fought in World War I and were killed on the Hindenberg Line. They were in the 108^th Infantry, the only men to break the Hindenburg Line that day.

James Sheret led a charge on German defenses at the Hindenburg Line and was slain after killing German soldiers in two hostile posts with his revolver, and then attacking the enemy in a machine gun nest. Sheret was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army’s second highest military decoration for soldiers who display extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force.

His brother Egbert was a machine gunner.

Another brother, Andrew, was the company’s bugler and was severely wounded during the engagement. A fourth brother, John G., served in the Navy and survived the war.

The Honor Guard gave a gun salute at the close of Friday’s ceremony at Central Hall.

The building was a school from 1882 to 1934, and then was the home of the Sheret American Legion Post from 1935 to 1980. The post then moved down South Main Street at what is now the Main Street Store before moving to the former clubhouse of a par 3 golf course on Gaines Basin Road.

Lily Brigham, a seventh-grader, sings “America the Beautiful.”

County Legislator Don Allport spoke at the ceremony and thanked the students for highlighting the sacrifices of the Sheret family.

“Freedom isn’t free,” he said. “We need to make sacrifices so some day down the road they will look back at say thank you to us, too.”

County Historian Catherine Cooper said the Sheret brothers are heroes, and their parents and family also should be acknowledged for persevering despite their broken hearts.

The family lived on West Park Street and attended the First Presbyterian Church.

The Sheret brothers – James and Egbert – and their family were ordinary people leading ordinary lives, without capes or superpowers, “who found themselves put to the test in extreme circumstances,” Cooper said.

She said the Legion posts in Orleans County bear the names of heroes: Butts-Clark in Medina, Jewell Buckman in Holley, Houseman-Tanner in Lyndonville and Sheret in Albion.

“The thing about heroic actions is that they are elicited suddenly, without warning,” Cooper said. “There’s no time to stand back to analyze the pros and cons of an action when the enemy is upon you or the house is burning. The innate ability to react in a heroic manner must already exist, be a part of a person’s character. James did not hesitate when he came upon the enemy.”

Ron Ayrault, a local veteran and member of the Honor Guard, recalled seeing the citations and displays at the building when it was a Legion Post. Ayrault, 90, said he would visit with many of the veterans who would spend time in the building. He said the community had a lot of fun in the building at dances and dinners.

“I have so many happy memories of this place in the 1940s,” he said.

Ann Jacobs, regent with the Orleans County chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, said the DAR was grateful to be part of the project honoring the Sheret family. The DAR provided some of the funding for the panel.

Before the service, the students cleaned the gravestones at the Sheret family plot at Mount Albion Cemetery.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Leo Gotte, a Cub Scout in Albion, places a flag at a veteran’s grave at Mount Albion Cemetery this morning.

Leo and other Cub and Boy Scouts joined Girl Scouts and two members of the American Legion in setting 2,000 flags by veterans’ graves this morning at Mount Albion and at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

Gabby Greean, a Girl Scout, carefully sets a flag by a veteran’s grave at St. Joseph’s Cemetery along Route 31.

The veterans’ section at Mount Albion received many flags this morning. Dan Flanagan, right, is the Scoutmaster for Troop 164 in Albion. Ben Metcalf, second from left, is the Cubmaster. Metcalf has been helping set flags at veterans’ graves since he was a kid more than 25 years ago. Lincoln Metcalf, 4, is at left and helped the scouts set the flags.

Kylee Cere, a daisy scout, looks for markers at the veterans’ graves at St. Joseph’s.

Sebastian Stritzinger, 7, is a Cub Scout who brought a lot of energy to the solemn duty this morning.

These Girl Scouts helped set flags at Mount Albion and St. Joseph’s cemeteries. In front from left are Kylee Cere, Elise Mateo, Gabby Greean and Eva Mateo. Back row: Emmaline Gailie, Hannah Olles, Neveya Barnes and Aniela Wilson.

Eva Mateo set many flags at veterans’ graves this morning at St. Joseph’s and Mount Albion.

Kevin Christy, the Legion commander, thanked the Scouts for their help this morning. The Legion will place about 800 more flags at 10 other smaller flags in Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton.

The Legion is preparing for a Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. on May 30. The parade is expected to return to the route before Covid: from the intersection of West Park Street and Main Street proceeding to the front of the Middle School.