High School team also placed 14^th out of 46 teams in NYS

Press Release, Orleans County Clay Crushers

The 2022 Orleans County Clay Crusher season has come to an end. This year we had 34 student-athletes registered for the Orleans County Clay Crushers and 11 registered for the Albion High School Clay Target Club.

Practices for trap and sporting clays were held at the Barre Sportsmen’s Club and practices for skeet were held at the Medina Conservation Club. We would like to thank both clubs for hosting or practices!

Our season ended with four major competitions – three for the Scholastic Clay Target Program (Orleans County Clay Crushers) and one for the New York State Clay Target League (Albion High School Clay Target Club).

The SCTP is broken down into 5 categories: Collegiate, Senior/Varsity, Senior/Junior Varsity, Intermediate/Advanced, and Intermediate/Entry. We had student-athletes competing in all five categories.

The first State Championship (Skeet) was held at Victor Rod and Gun Club on June 4. We had six members competing in four of the categories with the top finishers for the Orleans County Clay Crushers being Collegiate – William Gregorie, Senior/Junior Varsity – Kyle Stephens, Intermediate/Advanced – Jonathan Frasier, Intermediate/Entry – Lane Woodworth.

From there the student-athletes traveled to Pathfinder Gun Club in Fulton NY on June 18 for the second State Championship (Trap) where 17 student-athletes from the OCCC competed. Top finishers for Orleans were Collegiate – Mackenzie Donahue, Senior/Varsity – Tommy Fox, Senior/Junior Varsity – Kyle Stephens, Intermediate/Advanced – Zachary Freas, Intermediate/Entry – Dennis Mathes.

Our third and final State Championship for the SCTP was hosted by the North Forest Rod and Gun Club in Lockport on June 25. We had a total of 8 student-athletes participate with Collegiate – William Gregorie, Senior/Junior Varsity – Kyle Stephens, Intermediate/Advanced – Nate Woodworth and Intermediate/Entry – Lane Woodworth.

The Albion High School Clay Target Club competed in the New York State Clay Target League this spring and finished 3rd in their conference. There was a total of 11 student-athletes registered for Albion High School.

On June 26, six student-athletes traveled to the Bridgeport Gun Club in Cicero to compete against 46 other schools in New York State. Albion High School finished 14th with the top student athletes from Albion High School being Varsity – Tommy Fox, Junior Varsity – Kyle Stephens, and Novice – Donovan Braley.

As you can see, we have had quite the season! Thank you to all of the parents, volunteers, and sponsors that make it all possible!

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These kids play Gaga Ball at Bullard Park on Friday at the end of the first week of the summer parks program in Albion.

There are 100 children registered for the program so far. The free program runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Mondays through Fridays. It starts on June 27 and runs until Aug. 5.

The Recreation Department will have tennis camps the next two weeks at the Albion High School tennis courts. No pre-registration is required. These camps are free for beginners to advanced players. Session one is July 5-8 and Session two is July 11-15. They are from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The recreation department also will host Carnival Day on July 13 at Bullard Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be bounce houses, kid activities, carnival games and music.

This group plays basketball on Friday at Bullard.

These kids are working on crafts under the pavilion next to the splash pad.

The program will be based at Bullard each day. Initially, village officials wanted to have some days at Lafayette Park on Park and State streets and Veteran’s Park on the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street. But the bathrooms there need new doors. At about $1,000 apiece the village decided to keep the program at Bullard and try to replace the doors in the next budget year.

ALBION – The Village Board has filled the vacant code enforcement officer position with two part-time employees.

Kevin Sheehan resigned from the 20-hour-a-week position about a month ago. The village on Monday hired Anne Podolak and then on Tuesday hired Jeff Gifaldi. They will share the duties of the position, each working about 10 hours a week.

Podolak works as the code enforcement officer in Le Roy and Gifaldi is the Carlton codes officer. He also is the Orleans County undersheriff.

They are viewed as a temporary solution while the village looks for a longer-term answer for the position.

The two started right away. That followed last week’s Village Board meeting when a representative from Milestone Construction Partners in Rochester said the lack of a code officer in the village had stopped construction of a 2,250-square-foot addition for Oak Orchard Health behind its site at 301 West Ave.

Milestone wasn’t able to proceed without an inspection from the codes officer and that delay for nearly three weeks was threatening Oak Orchard’s ability to meet the deadline for a $757,000 grant from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Podolak and Gifaldi were both at the site on Tuesday and gave Milestone the OK to finish the project.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Justin Suarez works on a mural today on the south side of The Lockstone and Tinsel building at 160 North Main St., facing the Erie Canal next to the Main Street lift bridge.

The mural gives a dramatic scene as people head north on Main Street across the lift bridge.

Suarez also painted the mural of the Santa School on the north side of 170 North Main St., the building for The Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub.

Suarez of Rochester uses spray paint to create the large paintings. He expects to complete the mural today.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club welcomed two new members last Thursday. Matt Holland, left, is a grant writer for the United Way of Orleans County. Tracy VanSkiver is the clerk/treasurer for the Village of Albion.

The Rotary Club is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year. The group meets Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. at the Cobblestone Museum’s visitors’ center.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – One of the dance studios at Gotta Dance by Miss Amy was packed with gift baskets and people on Saturday during an event to raise money for a scholarship in memory of Kelly Ricker. There were about 80 gift baskets available.

There were also services up for auction that were offered by community members. Community members bid on many service, including catered meals, fishing trips, a bartender service, a cottage stay, a wine tour, haircut and style, photo shoot, a custom cake, plowing, kayaking and other prizes.

Reese Conley, back center, and Emily Harling paint a butterfly on the face of Mckenna, 7, of Albion.

There were many activities as part of the celebration for Ricker on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ricker passed away at age 50 on Oct. 10 after a fight with cancer. A 1989 graduate of Albion, Ricker was a lifeguard at Albion for more than 30 years and was the school’s assistant swim coach.

She was an active Girt Scout leader, assisting girls including her daughter Laiken. For 15 years she was actively involved with the board for Sandstone Park. Her son Patrick played on the team for many years. She also was very involved at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Albion.

Photos courtesy of Jordan Thomas

West Bank Street was closed to traffic from Main Street to Liberty Street for dance performances, food trucks and other events including a live auction.

These dancers perform during the fundraising event on Saturday.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Ricker family on June 17 presented the first scholarship in memory of Kelly Ricker to Emily Harling. The scholarship was presented at class night by Ricker’s husband Ron and their children Patrick and Laiken. Katharine Waite, the high school assistant principal, is at left.

The Ricker scholarship is for $1,250 and is presented to a graduating senior who demonstrates a passion for swimming by striving to be their best through hard work and dedication to the swim team.

The Ricker family said they appreciate the community’s support on Saturday.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance is putting in a memorial brick sidewalk and memorial garden by the COVA base at 239 South Main St.

The organization this morning added a new bench by the garden and a fountain is coming, too. The bench was donated by Brigden Memorial and says, “MAY THE WHEELS OF EMS FOREVER ROLL.”

The garden will honor the founders of COVA from when it formed in 1979. The memorial bricks for the walkway can recognize anyone. Those bricks are $50 each. The proceeds will go towards upgrading the base and equipment for the emergency medical technicians for COVA.

COVA volunteers, staff and board members are pictured by one of the COVA ambulances today. The organization is holding its second annual “Caring for COVA” event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pictured in front from left include Dan Conrad, Bob Stilwell, Faith and Mike Smith. Back row: Zack Laurin, Jennifer Stilwell, Megan Amacher, Aaron MacKenzie, Sam McKeon, Laurie Schwab, Brandi Fisher, James Fisher, David Bertsch, Dylan Marx and Megan Tabor.

“The big reason we’re doing this is to show COVA is here and we hope to stay here,” said Brandi Fisher, COVA’s chief financial officer and an EMT.

Twisted Treats served up ice cream from their food truck. Pictured from left include owner Jessica Taylor and her mother Bobbie Jo Taylor.

Michelle Wiseman checks out the gift baskets inside the Arnold Gregory Office Building. There are about 70 that will be raffled off.

Students urged to focus on who they are, rather than what they will do for careers

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Arianna Tyler is decked out for graduation on Friday in Albion. She walks across the stage to accept her diploma. She is one of 136 in Albion’s Class of 2022.

Graduation was held outside on the football field for the second straight year. This time the grads sat on the field instead of in the bleachers like in 2021.

The graduates toss their caps near the end of the 90-minute ceremony.

The students were praised by High School principal Jennifer Ashbery for responding to the Covid-19 and its impact on their education. The students abruptly were forced to go from in-person classes to on-line only in mid-March of 2020 until the end of that school year. Then much of the 2020-21 school was with a hybrid model, with two days in-person and three days of remote learning.

“This class has distinguished itself by its resilience,” Ashbery said.

These students are happy after receiving their diplomas and getting ready to toss their caps.

Mickey Edwards, the school district superintendent, praised the group for their flexibility during the Covid pandemic, and for developing a level of independence in completing their schoolwork.

“Your world was flipped upside down but you adapted,” he said.

Board of Education President Linda Weller also commended the class for succeeding and meeting the standards of graduation during a challenging two-plus years of the pandemic.

These students are excited after receiving their diplomas. From left include Kemony Hamilton, Lily Zambito and Zoe Cusson.

Samuel Fry waves to a friend in a procession to the football field. In front of him is Bryce Froman and Tyler Gibson is behind him.

The Caledonian Pipe Band continued a graduation tradition with bag pipes played at the beginning of the ceremony and then during the recessional.

Class President Carson Bader gave a welcome address as a class president and then the salutatory speech. Bader will be a childhood education major at St. Bonaventure.

Bader has played in youth hockey leagues for several years. He shared how he first struggled to skate, even landing on his face. He is diminutive in stature and many of the bigger players would knock him down or ram him into the boards.

But Bader said he didn’t give up. His skating improved to where he could pass and shoot the puck. He developed an awareness on the ice to avoid some of those big hits, too.

He compared hockey to what many of his classmates have faced and will confront in life. His classmates, just like his teammates in hockey, have been an extended family.

“So for some advice in the future, lace up your skates and keep working hard towards what you are passionate about,” Bader said. “Learn to pass and shoot, developing the skills you require from yourself to do what you love. If someone hits and knocks you down, get right back up and face those challenges with determination. And most importantly have each other’s back because no matter how far our small Albion family spreads, we will all be connected by the fact that we are members of the 2022 graduating class!”

Leah Kania delivers the valedictory address. She will major in vocal performance at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio.

Leah Pritchard gives a thumbs up before heading to the stage for her diploma.

Kania said students, going back to kindergarten, have been encouraged to think about what they want to do as adults for careers. When she was in kindergarten, Kania said she wanted to be a bunny rabbit, while other classmates wanted to be rock stars, professional athletes, teachers, astronauts, even Santa Claus.

Kania said whatever she and her classmates do for jobs “are merely a piece of who we are.” She urged the grads to focus more on who they are, rather than what they will do for careers.

“We will experience bumps and unexpected turns on our paths, and at times we may feel that life is fighting against us,” she said. “But these times are chances for us to grow from our experiences. We must see the mistakes we make as opportunities to learn and exhibit our resilience. These are the moments that make us who we are.”

She said that life is unpredictable and the world is often a harsh place.

“We must always remember to spread joy and be kind, in order to lift each other up so that we can all rise together,” she said. “Love one another and don’t be afraid to show it. And most importantly, smile and be happy with your life. Our positivity will be infectious. It won’t be our material possessions that will be remembered, but who we are.”

Two of the graduates were able to receive their diplomas from their mothers because of their service on the Board of Education. Margy Brown presented her son Jeffrey with his degree. Emily Harling hugs her mother Kathy after Emily received her diploma.

These two hold up signs congratulating Alicia Allen on graduating.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The “Caring for COVA” event last June included several food and craft vendors, and other entertainment. Serenity Acres brought along several farm animals including a horse. A petting zoo will be back on Saturday.

ALBION – The second annual “Caring for COVA” event will be Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with many activities planned, as well as a tour of the COVA base at 239 South Main St.

There will be a basket raffle with 60 to 70 baskets, tours of COVA ambulances and fire department apparatus, a petting zoo led by the Albion FFA, rock painting, and activities from Best of Thymes Party Rental.

There will also by child car seat checks from the Albion Police Department, the State Police seat belt simulator, and food and beverages from the Albion Masonic Lodge, Blue Groove Coffee, The Coffee Joint and Twisted Treats ice cream.

“It’s learning about why COVA is here and the services we provide,” said Brandi Fisher, an EMT and chief financial officer for COVA. “At time a when ambulance providers are struggling all across the country we are very fortunate to have a community-based ambulance service like COVA.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: There is a lock at the gate by the entrance of Lafayette Park on West State Street. Neighbors have urged the Village Board not to leave the park open at night.

ALBION – The Village Board reversed a decision from two months ago when it voted to not lock Lafayette Park and St. Joseph’s Park at night.

That was a 3-2 decision on April 27. Mayor Angel Javier and Trustees Tim McMurray and Joyce Riley voted to not lock the parks at night, saying other parks in the village were always kept open.

But residents near St. Joe’s and Lafayette say those parks have had adults in them at night, who are sometimes smoking marijuana, having sex or vandalizing the sites.

Trustees Chris Barry and Zack Burgess want to lock Lafayette and St. Joe’s at night. Burgess grew up next to Lafayette. His mother Lynn Burgess has been one of the most vocal detractors of the decision to keep the park open at night.

She asked on Wednesday that the village go back to locking it at night and having the police or DPW open the locks in the morning at 8 a.m. and then have the police lock them at night.

Barry said he has listened to concerns from residents the past two months and wants to have the two parks locked at night, but he acknowledged other trustees didn’t see that as consistent with the other parks that aren’t locked.

So Barry made a motion to put gates and locks at the entrances of Carosol Park on Ingersoll Street and Vets Park on Brown Street, even though those parks have short fences.

It would be financially cost prohibitive to put a fence and gate at Bullard, a large park on Route 31, he said.

If the four smaller neighborhood parks were locked, the DPW and police would need to lock and unlock them.

That prompted Trustee Joyce Riley to change her opinion about locking Lafayette and St. Joe’s. She said the residents near those parks have shared their worries about them being open at night. The other parks are in more wide open areas and residents near those parks haven’t shared concerns about the sites being open all night, Riley said.

She also doesn’t want to see the DPW and police have their time gobbled up with locking and unlocking parks at four sites.

The village will keep locks on Lafayette and St. Joe’s with the DPW unlocking them in the morning on Monday through Friday, with the police locking the parks at night and unlocking them on Saturday and Sunday. The village will put signs at the two parks to call the police if the parks are locked in the morning.

Trustee McMurray cast the lone vote on Wednesday to have all parks be open at night. He said they can provide a refuge for some people who need a safe place.

Provided photos: Hoag Library has a display near the front entrance promoting this summer’s reading program for children and adults.

Press Release, Hoag Library

ALBION – Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Program returns under the tent to Hoag Library next week!

Children, teens, and adults can stop in on Monday, June 27 to pick up reading logs and event calendars.

The first events will be a visit from the Aquarium of Niagara on Wednesday, June 29 (kindly register, 589-4246) and an Afternoon Movie Thursday, June 30.

Other program highlights include: Movement classes with Miss Chelsea and Miss Amy on Mondays; Teen programs on Tuesdays; Storytimes on Wednesdays; and animal visits from Know Your Rep, Serenity Acres and Poverty Hill Farms on Thursdays.

August events include juggling and spinning plates instruction by Benjamin Berry, and interactive entertainment by Defiant Monkey Improv.

Hoag Library will also hold programs offsite, including at the Orleans County 4-H Fair and Bullard Park.

Story Walks can be enjoyed outdoors all month in July at Mount Albion Cemetery (south west corner) and the Albion Elementary School.

A special Christmas event on July 25 will include a notable visitor!

We look forward to seeing you under the tent this summer!

The library has the big tent back for the summer reading program.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A rainbow emerged after rain on Aug. 16, 2020 in this photo with the First Presbyterian Church of Albion, which was inducted in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame in 2017.

MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Society is accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame, seeking to recognize prominent buildings made of Medina Sandstone that are well-maintained and architecturally significant.

Since the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame was created in 2013, the society has inducted churches, public buildings, private buildings and other ornamental buildings/structures, such as the Civil War Memorial at Mount Albion Cemetery. There have now been 32 inductees.

The inductees last year included Bent’s Opera House in Medina, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Brockport, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Canandaigua.

This year’s class could include nominations from previous years not already selected, and any new nominations received by July 9.

People can nominate a site by filling out a form: www.sandstonesociety.org/hof-nominations.

Criteria for consideration shall include age, beauty, longevity, structural soundness, and architectural uniqueness. If possible nomination information should have full background and documentation, and, at the very least, should give a name and phone number to be contacted for further information or a website.

Thomas Hock sets $20,000 goal to fill truck with medical supplies

Photos by Tom Rivers: Thomas Hock of Munich, Germany left Albion this morning on the start of a two-week bike ride along the Erie Canal to Albany, then to New York City and Long Island. He has met half of his $20,000 fundraising goal to purchase medical supplies for people in Ukraine.

ALBION – Thomas Hock has set out on a mission to get medical supplies to the people in Ukraine. Hock is using a network of Rotarians to acquire the supplies a deep discount and then transport then from Germany to Poland and to the Ukraine border.

From there Rotary clubs in the Ukraine will get medical supplies, insulin and painkillers to people in need by delivering to clinics in the war-torn country.

Bruce Landis, left, hosted Thomas Hock last night. Bruce and Sue Landis live in Barre. Landis also helped Hock find a new bike after his was missing.

Hock started a bike ride in Albion this morning that will cover about 800 miles in the next two weeks. His goal is to raise $20,000 which he said will fill a truck with supplies. He already has raised about half of the $20,000.

“The people who suffer the most must bear it even though they aren’t responsible for it,” Hock said this morning by the Main Street lift bridge in Albion.

Hock, 54, assists families with financial planning in Munich, Germany. He is an avid cyclist and the trip along the Erie Canal by bike was suggested to him. He will ride to Albany then to New York City and Long Island.

He flew to Toronto but his bicycle wasn’t there waiting for him as planned. He believes it was stolen. He took Uber rides to get to the border.

Alex Krebs, president of the Albion Rotary Club, met him in Niagara Falls and brought him to Orleans County. Bruce Landis, another member of the Albion Rotary Club, helped Hock find a new bicycle at Bert’s Bike and Fitness in Buffalo. Landis and his wife Sue hosted Hock last night at their Barre home.

“I’ve already experienced love with Rotary friends who were complete strangers,” Hock said this morning. “All the help I’ve received is unbelievable.”

Hock plans to meet with other Rotarians along the way in Albany, Peeksville and New York City. His goal today is to ride about 75 miles to Newark.

For information about donating to the #ride4ukraine, click here.

Thomas Hock heads east on the Erie Canal in Albion this morning.

‘It’s definitely bright, bold and beautiful’

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Neveya Barnes, an eighth-grader at Albion Middle School, puts a finishing touch on a flower-themed mural on the back of the former bathrooms at Bullard Park.

That building is now used for storage after new bathrooms opened last year.

Neveya and 12 other middle schoolers have been painting the back side of the building since Wednesday.

The students are giving the back of the building a bold and colorful look. The wall is 36 feet long and 8 feet high. It will be visible to people using the new walking trail and also to motorists from Clarendon Street.

Mary Delamarter, the village’s deputy clerk-treasurer, reached out to the middle in late April about a mural. Village officials wanted to paint the building as part of the Day of Caring on April 27, but it was too chilly that day.

Rather than just paint it one color, Delamarter and DPW Superintendent Jay Pahura thought a mural painted by students would be a welcome addition on the west end of the park.

Shayla Higgins works on painting a flower this morning.

Students incorporated flower designs into the larger mural. They teamed with their art teachers, Kamie Feder and Tina Burgett, to block out the design on Wednesday. They have ben painting the last three days and will complete the project today.

Ayme Vallejo Morales, a sixth grader, works on the mural today. “It’s been really fun to paint and we get to hang out with our friends,” Ayme said.

Drake Schomske works on some fine lines to give the mural an added dimension.

Students who painted the mural include:

Sixth grade – Ayme Vallejo Morales, Drake Schomske, Mackenzie Cook and Sadie Money.

Seventh grade – Cerenity Johnson, John Marat, Abby Kipler, Kaiser Allport and Shayla Higgins.

Eighth grade – Neveya Barnes, Julissa Marmolejo, Jenna Barnard and Hanna Kumalac.

Kaiser Allport works on a finishing touch for the mural. The students painted the protruding pipes, blocks and a meter on the wall.

“It’s definitely bright, bold and beautiful,” said Feder, one of the art teachers.