Photos by Tom Rivers: The band Eagle Creek kicked off Albion’s Canal Concert series last week on July 14. The bands play under a tent with many of the concert-goers bringing lawn chairs and sitting in the parking lot.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2022 at 9:23 am
ALBION – The village should move its summer concert series from a parking lot by the Erie Canal to Bullard Park, where there is a new amphitheater that would make for a much better venue for the bands and also the spectators, the Village Board was told on Wednesday.
John Grillo, the Albion recreation director, said the concerts would get a bigger turnout up at Bullard, where there is more shade, playground equipment for children, and more parking.
The Albion Fire Department could also use a grill at the park for hot dogs and hamburgers. The department would likely sell more food and beverages at Bullard than the current spot by the firehall, Grillo said.
“The bands and the people know we have a beautiful amphitheater,” Grillo said during Wednesday’s board meeting. “I wonder why we are doing them in a spot where people are uncomfortable.”
Ron Albertson sings “One Way Out” by the Allman Brothers during an open mic night on June 19, 2021. It was the debut event at the new amphitheater. That outdoor stage will host several bands on Aug. 6 for the Summer Festival featuring Rock the Park.
The village kicked off its canal concert series a week ago with the band Eagle Creek. The six-week series runs on Thursday evenings through Aug. 18. (The village approved a change in the lineup with the band Breakout to replace Jonesie & The Cruisers on Aug. 4.)
The concerts last year and last week have been attended by about 100 people. The events are funded with a grant administered through the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. There is no stipulation the concerts be next to the canal, Grillo said.
“I’m in favor of Bullard Park,” he said. “We’d draw tons more people.”
The board didn’t respond to Grillo’s comments on Wednesday.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The board room in the Albion Village Hall was full for Wednesday’s Village Board meeting. In front from left are Village Trustee Chris Barry, Mayor Angel Javier Jr., and trustees Zack Burgess and Tim McMurray.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2022 at 7:29 am
ALBION – The village board room was packed on Wednesday with many residents concerned about whether the village had been overpaying its police officers, and whether those funds – $236,000 over five years – should be recouped.
A CPA firm last week presented the results of a forensic audit, looking at officers’ pay checks over five years, since the village shifted from having officers work five 8-hour shifts a week to 12-hour shifts. With the 12-hour shifts officers worked seven shifts every two weeks for 84 hours of straight time. The change was made to reduce overtime in the police department and to give officers more days off.
Mayor Angel Javier Jr., left, and Trustee Chris Barry spoke at the meeting. Barry faulted the mayor for reducing officers’ pay one pay cycle before the issue had been fully researched.
The CPA firm, The Bonadio Group, said the village made an error in determining the hourly pay rate. The annual salaries should have been divided by 2,184 hours. That’s 84 hours multiplied by 26 weeks.
However, the village used the hours in a 40-hour week or 2,080 for the year. When the salary was divided by 2,080, instead of 2,184, the hourly rate was about 5 percent higher than it should have been.
Bonadio said 15 officers were overpaid ranging from $650 to a maximum of $27,000.
Mayor Angel Javier Jr. unilaterally lowered the officers pay to what he believed was the correct rate. That lasted one pay period in June before the police union filed a grievance and three other board members – Chris Barry, Zack Burgess and Tim McMurray – voted to have the officers continue to be paid at the rate they were getting.
That was before Bonadio submitted its report on July 12.
“We didn’t have evidence in front of us,” Burgess said during Wednesday’s meeting.
Barry said the issue remains unresolved without a final report. He is holding off on making a decision until there are more details.
Village Attorney John Gavenda said the village will have hearings with the police officers’ union as it works to resolve the issue.
“We’re working our way through the process,” Gavenda told residents during Wednesday’s meeting. “We have hearings coming up with the police department. We don’t have answers right now to everything.”
Javier was urged to look into the issue by a village employee in April. He said it came as a shock that the pay rates seemed to be off. Javier said the “potential overpayment” continues and the numbers grow each pay period.
“It is compounded with overtime and everything,” he said.
He has reached out to the state comptroller’s office for an opinion and a course of action.
Some residents spoke at Wednesday’s meeting. Lori Laine, a business owner in the village, said she thinks the village should go to the correct pay schedule with the officers, but not seek any repayments if the village made an error in calculating the pay. She didn’t think that would be fair to the officers.
Her husband Tom Laine also urged the village “to put the brakes on it” and not continuing paying officers at the higher rate.
Javier, in an interview on Sunday, said he wants to hear from the state comptroller’s office about the issue, whether the village needs to pursue getting money back from overpayments.
Kevin Sheehan, a former village trustee and deputy mayor, said the village will lose officers if Albion goes after money caused by a village mistake. Other officers won’t want to come and work at Albion, Sheehan said, calling the issue “a load of crap.”
“You know how hard is it to get people here,” Sheehan said. “No one will want to come here. You’re stepping over dollars to save dimes.”
He said he is sympathetic to the officers, many who are early in their careers with young families and mortgages.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2022 at 11:49 am
Mayor pushes for money to be paid back: Union files grievance
ALBION – A forensic accounting firm has revealed the Village of Albion overpaid police officers $236,000 over five years, a situation that continues every pay period.
A clerical error has resulted in officers being paid at a higher rate, Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said. Representatives from The Bonadio Group – Brian LaFountain and Melissa Bucukoviski – presented their findings on July 12 to the Village Board.
Angel Javier Jr.
Most of the village employees are on 40-hour week schedules. But the police officers are on an 84-hour schedule every two weeks.
The officers in 2017 were switched from three 8-hour shifts a day to two 12-hour shifts. That change was made to reduce overtime in the department and give officers more days off. They would also be paid four more hours of straight every pay period, from 80 to 84 hours.
With the 12-hour shifts, sometimes officers work three in one week and four in others.
To determine the hourly pay in the salaries, the village should have divided the annual salaries by 2,184 hours. That’s 84 hours multiplied by 26 weeks.
However, the village used the hours in a 40-hour week or 2,080 for the year. When the salary was divided by 2,080, instead of 2,184, the hourly rate was about 5 percent higher than it should have been.
Bonadio said 15 officers were overpaid ranging from $650 to a maximum of $27,000, Bonadio said in a report to the village.
Javier said the village needs to recoup the overpayments, especially now that the overpayments have been detailed by a professional firm.
He made a decision last month to have the officers paid at what should be the correct rates, about a 5 percent pay reduction from what the officers had been receiving. That only lasted one pay period.
Three board members – Zack Burgess, Chris Barry and Tim McMurray – voted to have the officers paid at the rates they had been receiving. At that time the forensic audit from Bonadio wasn’t completed.
The village is asking the State Comptroller’s Office for an opinion on how to best remedy the situation.
The union for the police officers also has filed a grievance. The union, led by Dan Baase as president and Robert Wagner as vice president, said the pay reduction in the paychecks from June 16 violated a new labor contract that started June 1. Officers had their pay cut about 60 cents an hour in that pay period.
Baase filed the grievance on June 17 and sought that the pay rate be based on 2,080 hours in a year, which he said had been in place since July 2016. The grievance seeks to have officers made whole for “any losses incurred because of the employer’s unilateral change in the method of calculation.”
Javier, in an interview on Sunday, said the overpayments are a bad situation for everyone. But he said the village will need to be paid back despite it being the village’s error.
“We can’t just ignore it,” he said. “We have to do right by the taxpayers.”
Javier started as mayor on April 4 and right away the Village Board needed to get to work and complete the village’s budget by April 30 for the 2022-23 fiscal year. During that budget process Javier said he wanted to know how all village employee salaries were calculated.
The village’s deputy treasurer at the time told Javier she believed the village had been overpaying officers because the hourly pay rates weren’t changed when the village implemented the new shift schedule in 2017.
Javier requested an independent analysis be done in April and retained The Bonadio Group. Bonadio studied the village pay records and found the pay rates in the system were not adjusted in accordance with the 84-hour pay period, leading to incorrect hourly rates and overpayments.
The Bonadio Group went through the pay records for each officer since February 2017 and determined what the pay should have been at the correct hourly rates, and then subtracted that from the higher rate to determine the overpayment.
Javier said he is pushing to have the situation rectified. He has been joined by Trustee Joyce Riley in voting yes for officers to be paid at a lower rate, with the annual salaries divided by 2,184 hours instead of 2,080.
“The overpayment continues every single day,” he said. “I respect the good work done by all village employees, especially the ones that protect our community. However, I believe they should adhere to the terms of the contract they signed and should not be overpaid.”
Photo by Tom Rivers: Violet Sims, left, and Brandy McKinney celebrate their grand opening today for their businesses. They share space at the Arnold Gregory Office Building at Suite 120-122. Sims is owner of Simply Elegant Nails and More and McKinney owns The Healing Spot.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2022 at 7:57 pm
The Healing Spot, Simply Elegant Nails and More operate out of Arnold Gregory
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the two with a ribbon cutting. Darlene Hartway, right, is the Chamber director. Barry Flansburg, left, represented Assemblyman Steve Hawley and presented the two with citation for the new endeavors.
ALBION – Two Medina residents have teamed to open businesses at the Arnold Gregory Office Building at 243 South main St.
Violet Sims and Brandy McKinney celebrated with a ribbon-cutting today at Suite 120-122. McKinney owns The Healing Spot, offering manicures, pedicures, hair and sugaring (hair removal). She has worked in the cosmetology field for 20 years.
Sims runs Simply Elegant Nails and More with a focus on nails and waxing. Sims is a nail specialist and esthetician. She was working out of a salon in Medina that shut down during the Covid lockdown and didn’t reopen. She has six years of experience.
The two teamed up and last month opened their businesses together at Arnold Gregory.
“We want to bring some funk and more fun into Albion,” Sims said. “We have clients from all over the place.”
The space is decorated with a feather theme.
“That is to relax and get away from things,” Sims said.
The site is open Tuesday through Saturday. Call 585-283-4206 for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2022 at 8:52 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The band Eagle Creek performed on Thursday evening to start Albion’s Canal Concert series.
Albion has six concerts scheduled in the series from 6 to 8 p.m. by the fire hall on Platt Street.
Eagle Creek plays rock and roll with songs by the Beatles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Deep Purple, Black Crowes, Bob Seger, Joe Walsh, Robin Trower, ZZ Top, Gin Blossoms and Stone Temple Pilots. Here the band is performing, “867-5309/Jenny.”
The band members include Nick Salvatore, lead guitar and vocals; Dick Brant, rhythm guitar and vocals; Gary Bassman Tarr, bass guitar and vocals; and Jimmy Joe (Woody) Woodroe, drums.
Nick Salvatore sings and plays the guitar for Eagle Creek.
Dawn Marciszewski fills a bag with popcorn. The Albion Fire Department also sells hamburgers and hot dogs at the concerts.
The attendees at the concert included a boater.
The concerts are sponsored by the Village of Albion with support from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2022 at 3:07 pm
Provided photos
ALBION – The Albion Lions Club celebrated a successful year of community service on Tuesday evening. Dan Conrad, left, passes the gavel of the club’s leadership to new President Ron Albertson.
Conrad will now work with seven local Lions Club in the region to establish or grow Leo clubs in local high schools.
“Being a Lions Club member is more than just a meeting or an event,” Conrad said. “This club is a family and is always there to work with each other and is there for the community.”
Other officers of the Albion Lions include Jake Stinson as vice president, Mary Janet Sahukar as secretary and Lloyd Wright as treasurer.
Conrad welcomed two new members into the Albion club. June Persia is shown in photo at left and Keith Adams is at right.
Christine Buongiorne, right, presents Mary Janet Sahukar with the “John Keding Pride of the Pride Award” in honor of Buongiorne’s father. Keding was a Lions Club member for more than 50 years and a longtime local auto repair shop owner. He passed away at age 85 on Jan. 18, 2021.
Sahukar was praised for her many years of service to the local Lions Club.
“Mary Janet is always there to lend a hand, give advice, mentor new members and always has that great smile on her face,” Conrad said. “The award was voted on within the club and she won anonymously. She always gives it her all not only at meetings but at events also. She is what being a Lion is all about.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2022 at 9:58 am
Ben Curfman of North Carolina likes character of historic church at Courthouse Square
Photos by Tom Rivers: Ben Curfman is the new pastor of North Point Chapel at 19 North Platt St.
ALBION – The new pastor of North Point Chapel already has been struck by the friendliness of the Albion community.
Ben Curfman, 35, and his family moved to Orleans County about three weeks ago. Curfman, his wife Rebekah and their six children relocated to Albion from the mountains of western North Carolina.
“We have a lot to learn from the locals, but the community has been very friendly and welcoming to us over the past few weeks,” Curfman said.
He comes to North Point Chapel as their second pastor since the church began in 2016. North Point is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, but the church is independent.
North Point is located in the former home of the Albion United Methodist Church. That congregation has since merged with the Disciples United Methodist Church on Route 237 in Clarendon.
Ben Curfman and his family moved from the mountains of North Carolina to Albion.
Curfman said he likes how the North Point church building is located in the historic Courthouse Square with many key sites, services and residents within a close walking distance.
He also was drawn to historic and spacious church building that can be used to serve the community.
“There is a great group of people to work with here and a beautiful facility with lots of potential,” Curfman said. “We believe North Point Chapel can be a powerful encouragement to Albion and Orleans County.”
The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building has been under extensive remodeling since it was acquired in 2017 from the United Methodist Church.
“I like serving in a place with character and that has history,” he said. “I like being in a walk-in community where we can know our neighbors.”
Curfman and his family plan to move into the parsonage next door soon.
“We are excited to be at the ground zero of ministry in the village and hope to be good neighbors to those living near the church,” he said.
Curfman was one of three pastors at a church in Asheville, North Carolina. He felt a calling to come to Albion and build a ministry in Orleans County.
“I totally believe God can change people and communities,” he said. “We have a gospel that changes people.”
The Sunday morning services are at 10:30 a.m. each week, and all are welcome to attend.
“We study verse by verse through books of the Bible, so we get the big picture and don’t skip any details or difficult parts,” Curfman said. “It’s a great opportunity to learn whether you have been a Christian for a long time or if you have never read the Bible before. I would encourage anyone interested to reach out to me and share their story or helpful information about the community as we settle into Western New York.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2022 at 8:21 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Firefighters arrive on scene at a fire on the morning on July 8 at 215 East State St. The fire would spread to the house next door at 217 East State St.
ALBION – Fire investigators are unable to pinpoint the cause of a fire at 215 East State St. due to extensive damage to the house “and a variety of potential ignition sources that were unable to be ruled out,” said David Cleary, a fire investigator for Orleans County.
The cause has been ruled undetermined. The fire spread to 217 East State St. The two houses are connected.
The fire displaced 14 residents – 7 adults and 7 children.
The fast-moving fire quickly destroyed much of 215 East State St.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up for residents at 215 East State St. and another GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to assist residents at 217 East State St. with clothing, bedding and other needs.
“I’m having hope that this fundraiser helps raise any amount of funds to help place the family back into a safe home or apartment,” Sarah Drier wrote about the fundraiser for her father-in-law and other residents at 215 East State St. “I’m hoping to raise funds so they can get their everyday essentials that we take for granted. Any amount donated will help.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 11 July 2022 at 2:01 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Flyers on a vehicle at Arnold’s Auto Parts in Albion advertise a car show and fried chicken dinner in their parking lot July 23.
ALBION – Arnold’s Auto Parts at 116 North Liberty St. has opened its parking lot for summer services of Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, weather permitting.
Services are held at 7 p.m. underneath the tent, unless the weather is bad and then they have space at the Arnold Gregory Complex at 243 South Main St. Entrance is gained by back door #H.
From 4 to 7 p.m. July 23, Arnold’s and Royal Body Shop Ministries are planning a fried chicken dinner and cruise-in in the parking lot.
“We are finally having a car cruise-in with a ‘fried’, not barbecued chicken dinner,” said Lisa DeCarlo from Arnold’s Auto Parts.
Aug. 20, 2021 was the first night for services under the tent and the first night for Royal Body Shop Ministries, DeCarlo said. Since, then they have been holding services at 7 p.m. Fridays under the tent.
Albion’s Masonic Lodge will provide the food, with help from Pastor Al Wilson.
The Hula Hoop Girls from Buffalo will entertain during the car cruise-in. They have been regular performers at Arnold’s cruise-ins, DeCarlo said.
A DJ from Buffalo, who is a member of Greater Royal Worship Center in Buffalo, will provide music for the event. All proceeds will benefit the ministry to help fund free community events which they host.
Pre-sale tickets are available at Arnolds and are encouraged. Cost is $12 per person. Diners can eat under the tent or take-outs will be available. More information can be obtained by calling (585) 589-5596.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 July 2022 at 7:15 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Farmers Market returned for the start of its second season on Sunday. The market will be based out of the parking lot for the Main Street Thrift Street, across from Hoag Library.
Amanda Mrzywka of Navarra’s Farm Market & Greenhouses is shown. Navarra’s sells flowers, fruits and vegetables, and home-made soaps.
Pamela Jenks of Pretty Sweet Bakery sells baked goods at the market on Sunday. The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More vendors are welcome to be part of the market. For more information contact Katrina Chaffee of Community Action at 585-589-5605, ext. 117 or Mrzywka or Debbie Prest.
Caleb Hughson, 10, and his brother Cole, 12, held signs encouraging people to buy a chicken barbecue dinner on Sunday to benefit Albion youth football and cheerleading. There were 200 dinners available.
Albion youth football and cheerleading will have a camp this Wednesday and Thursday at Bullard Park from 5 to 8 p.m.
Sunday it was also busy outside Dubby’s Tailgate on Platt Street where there was a car show. Some of the big attractions were a Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini. There were other classic cars as well on display.
Nathaniel Staines, Albion’s K-9 officer, brought Badger to meet with some of the car enthusiasts. Badger is a Belgian Malinois and a very friendly dog.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 July 2022 at 10:51 am
3 firefighters taken by ambulance to be checked for exhaustion
Photos by Tom Rivers: Shelby firefighters spray water from a ladder truck through the roof at 215 East State St. at about 10 a.m. today. A fire broke out at the house this morning at about 8 a.m.
ALBION – The fire at 215 East State St. this morning spread next door, resulting in 14 people being displaced – 7 adults and 7 children.
The Red Cross is assisting those people in temporary shelter.
The houses at 215 and 217 East State are interconnected. Everyone was able to safely get outside.
The fast-moving fire quickly destroyed much of 215 East State St.
Three firefighters were taken by ambulance to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia as a precaution to be checked for exhaustion.
Fire investigators are on the scene. No official cause of the fire has been released.
The fire spread fast with dark smoke and flames shooting out the side windows when firefighters arrived on scene, said James Peruzzini, deputy chief for the Albion Fire Department.
East State Street is closed to traffic from Ingersoll and McKinistry Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 July 2022 at 8:48 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Firefighters respond to a blaze a 215 East State St. this morning. There are about 10 residents in the house. Everyone was able to get out safely, Albion police officers said at the scene.
Multiple fire departments were dispatched at about 8 a.m. At least one car also was engulfed in flames. Residents were able to move other vehicles away from the house.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 July 2022 at 7:55 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from July 13, 2018 shows Bullard Park transformed into a carnival with a bounce house, numerous games, events and activities.
ALBION – The annual kids’ carnival at Bullard Park will be back on July 13 and will include new attractions and activities.
The event will feature bounce houses, carnival games, kids activities, music and a “Say No to Bullying” magic show throughout the day, presented by Mike Seege from Buffalo.
The Albion Renovation Masonic Lodge will have lunch available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Best of Tymes will sell snow cones, popcorn and soda or water for $1 each. Lyncoln Bear and Buddies will be on site, as well as Frosty and Friends Tumbling and Things. The splash pad will also be open.
Cost to enter is a $5 wrist band, which allows children to play all day.
An Albion business has stepped up to sponsor a new program for the carnival. Christina Nenni, who owns Best of Tymes Party Rentals located in the Arnold Gregory Complex, said the business was approached by John Grillo, recreation director at Bullard Park. He asked if Best of Tymes could come up with something affordable for kids and families to do. They will have costumed characters and fun activities for kids.
Carnival Day at Bullard Park will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 13. Sponsoring the event with Best of Tymes Party Rentals is New York State Corrections Officers Police Benevolent Association and Frosty and Friends.
“We are hoping this will become an annual event, and get bigger and better every year,” Nenni said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 July 2022 at 5:01 pm
ALBION – The Albion village office will be staying open until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays to give residents and businesses a later option to stop in and take care of any village business.
The hours will remain 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
