By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2022 at 9:18 am
Candidates seeking to run for the Village Board in Albion and Medina have until Feb. 8 to submit petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters.
These petitions are to run as candidates under an independent party for the March 15 election.
Albion held its Republican and Democratic caucuses on Tuesday evening. Republicans backed Angel Javier Jr. for mayor and Tim McMurray and Dan Conrad for trustee candidates. Democrats picked Vickie Elsenheimer as candidate for mayor, and Sandra Walter and Joyce Riley for trustees.
But there is still time to run as an independent party candidate. The petitions need to be turned into the Village Office by Feb. 8.
Medina doesn’t have major party caucuses. The candidates all run as independents. The positions up for election include mayor (currently Mike Sidari) and two trustee positions (currently held by Tim Elliott and Marguerite Sherman).
There isn’t a village election in Lyndonville this year, and Holley holds its election in June.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 January 2022 at 10:06 pm
Vickie Elsenheimer and Angel Javier Jr. backed for mayor in March 15 election
ALBION – The Republican and Democratic parties each held their caucuses this evening and nominated a slate of candidates for three positions on the Village Board in the March 15 election.
There were 86 registered Republicans in the village at the party caucus at Hoag Library and they backed Angel Javier Jr. with 70 of the votes over current trustee Gary Katsanis for mayor. The Republicans also picked Tim McMurray and Dan Conrad for trustee candidates with current trustee Stan Farone also nominated but getting the third most votes.
The Democrats had 51 people at their caucus at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church. The party picked Vickie Elsenheimer as candidate for mayor, and Sandra Walter and Joyce Riley for trustees.
The Republican Party candidates for the March 15 election include, from left: Angel Javier Jr. for mayor, and Tim McMurray and Dan Conrad for village trustees.
Javier, 33, has been campaigning for the position since November. He said he won’t take the mayor’s salary, which is about $9,000 a year. He owns the former Family Hardware building in downtown Albion and works at Rochester Gas & Electric as a pipefitter apprentice.
He was in the Marine Corps for four years and worked with State Farm insurance before RG&E. Javier said he wants to welcome new investment and more residents into the village, where he noted the population is down 6.9 percent in the latest census from 6,056 in 2010 to 5,637 in 2020.
In a video he posted on YouTube and Facebook, he said the village needs to be more attractive for residents and businesses. He said the village currently has an 11 percent vacancy rate.
McMurray, 38, has been active for many years as a youth football coach and most recently worked with Sanzo Beverages as a merchandizer stocking beer.
Conrad, 39, has been active in the community for many years. He is president of the Albion Lions Club and owns Toyz n Kandy on East Bank Street. He also serves on the board for Hoag Library and Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance.
The Democratic Party candidates for the March 15 election include, from left: Vickie Elsenheimer for mayor, and Sandra Walter and Joyce Riley for village trustees.
Elsenheimer, 56, leads the Democratic ticket. She retired in March 2021 as an executive assistant to the vice president in the Division of Advancement at Brockport State College. She worked 22 years at Brockport, and 13 years prior to that at Albion Correctional Facility. She also served 17 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as a sergeant.
She said she has the time to be a full-time mayor, with a focus on improving neighborhoods and the downtown business district.
The empty storefronts and vacant houses hurt the community’s prospects in attracting more businesses, she said. It will take a community effort to move Albion forward for the future, Elsenheimer said.
“I’m in the right season of life,” she said. “I’m retired. I can give it my full attention.”
Sandra Walter, 73, is retired from CRFS, Dime Bank, Anchor Bank and Kodak. She is the chairperson of the Albion Democratic Party Committee.
Joyce Riley is retired nursing supervisor. She is currently a trustee for Hoag Library and the Cobblestone Museum. She has twice served on the Albion Board of Education and made an unsuccessful run mayor four years ago. Eileen Banker, the current mayor, isn’t seeking re-election.
Photo by Tom Rivers: A notice at the entrance of the Tops store in Albion on Jan. 5 informs the public of the state’s indoor mask requirement.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 January 2022 at 8:16 am
A State Supreme Court justice on Monday ruled that Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Department of Health overstepped their authority in requiring masks be worn in indoor public places.
Hochul announced the mask mandate on Dec. 10, to take effect Dec. 15 to Dec. 31. It has since been extended to Feb. 1.
Judge Thomas Rademaker of the State Supreme Court in Nassau County said Hochul and Department of Health need the State Legislature’s approval to pass such orders. The Legislature last year curbed any governor’s power to issue such decrees during a state of emergency.
Hochul said she will fight the judge’s decision.
“My responsibility as Governor is to protect New Yorkers throughout this public health crisis, and these measures help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and save lives,” she said in a statement. “We strongly disagree with this ruling, and we are pursuing every option to reverse this immediately.”
Mickey Edwards, Albion Central School superintendent, sent a message to the community on Monday, saying the mask mandate remains in effect at the district.
“It is the New York State Education Department’s understanding that the Department of Health will appeal the Nassau County Supreme Court decision, which will result in an automatic ‘stay’ that will unambiguously restore the mask rule until such time as an appellate court issues a further ruling,” Edwards said. “Therefore, schools must continue to follow the mask rule.”
Photos by Tom Rivers: This photo from March 24, 2021 shows the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee with sculptor Brian Porter after they signed a contract to have Porter create a bronze statue of Santa Claus in downtown Albion at Waterman Park. Pictured from left include ABC director Joe Gehl, Brian Porter, and ABC directors Gary Derwick and Gary Kent. The project also includes landscaping, interpretive panels and lighting.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 January 2022 at 8:29 am
ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee has reached its goal of raising $100,000 for a bronze statue of Santa on Main Street in Waterman Park.
The group has been raising funds for nearly seven years for the statue, a base, bench, interpretive panels and other features celebrating the life of Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa Claus School in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966. The school continues today in Howard’s name in Midland, Mich.
The Betterment Committee has hired Brian Porter to create the bronze statue. Porter made the statue of the soldier outside the former Medina Armory, which is now the Orleans County YMCA.
The Albion Betterment Committee had this sign honoring Charles Howard erected in 2015 on Route 98 in Albion.
In November, the Betterment Committee was at $64,000 for the project. It did a community appeal to close the gap, and Maurice and Courtenay Hoag came through with a major donation, said Joe Gehl, one of the ABC’s directors. The Hoags have been a major benefactor for a public library in Albion that bears their name.
“Obviously, we’re very excited in having attained this milestone, which will allow us to enhance the Park and make it more tourist-friendly,” Gehl said.
The Betterment Committee said the statue should be done and dedicated in June 2023 during the Strawberry Festival.
The group wanted to recognize Howard who also operated Christmas Park in Albion and is revered among Santa portrayers even today. About 200 of the “Santa’s” attended a convention in Albion in 2015. That Santa convention “raised awareness of the community-building potential represented by greater acknowledgement of his place in history,” the ABC directors said.
The Betterment Committee has put up new signs in Albion celebrating Howard’s legacy, and also were successful in getting the state to declare part of Route 31 in Albion as the Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway. Those signs went up in December 2020 right before Christmas.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2022 at 5:40 pm
‘This thing is going to change what we know about the universe’ – Dirk Climenhaga
Provided photo: Dirk Climenhaga, a library assistant at Hoag Library, has created a display about the James Webb Space Telescope. Climenhaga, a former engineer at Kodak, worked on the space telescope when he was a engineer with Kodak and ITT.
ALBION – It’s been an exciting few weeks for Dirk Climenhaga with the launch and deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Climenhaga, 64, worked on the space telescope when he was an engineer at Kodak and then ITT.
Kodak and then ITT were among numerous subcontractors hired by NASA to work on the space telescope. Climenhaga was on a team at Kodak in 1994 that worked on part of the secondary mirror on the telescope.
“We made sure it was workable,” Climenhaga said.
The space telescope has proven to be workable. It was launched on Christmas. The powerful infrared telescope has a 21.3 foot primary mirror.
The observatory will study every phase of cosmic history – from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, NASA said. It will essentially be able to look back in time at the first stars and galaxies, Climenhaga said.
“This thing is going to change what we know about the universe,” he said. “We will see the first stars from the beginning. This is so amazing to show what God has done.”
Climenhaga grew up in Medina and lives in Gaines. His wife Sandy is a biology teacher at Albion.
Climenhaga started working at Kodak in 1978 as an assembler and moved up to be a draftsman and an engineer, retiring in 2008.
Climenhaga has been working since 2013 as a library assistant in Albion at the Hoag Library. He does special programs such as 3D printing, classes for mechanical, architectural and animation. He also shares his vintage train setup and assists people with Rokenbok, educational toys that he said better than Lego.
In his latest project, he has a display up in the library about the James Webb Space Telescope. He welcomes people to stop by and ask questions.
“People in the world will be surprised by unexpected discoveries with this new technology,” he said.
Image credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Adriana Manrique Gutierrez – An artist’s conception of the James Webb Space Telescope shows all its major elements fully deployed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 January 2022 at 6:30 am
Provided photos
ALBION – The Town of Albion has a new loader and a state grant for $180,000 covered most of the cost for the $215,000 piece of equipment.
Pictured from left include Wayne Downs, Albion highway department employee; Michael Neidert, Albion highway superintendent; Joe Navarra, Albion highway department employee; State Sen. Rob Ortt; Town Supervisor Dick Remley; Terry Wilbert, Albion town councilman; and Scott Fisher, sale representative with George & Swede Sales & Services in Pavilion.
State Sen. Rob Ortt sits behind the wheel of the loader. Ortt secured a $180,000 State and Municipal Facilities (SAM) grant for the Hyundai wheel loader. It includes a general purpose bucket, clam bucket, forks, snow pusher and extendable boom all designed as quick attach attachments. It was purchased at George and Swede in Pavilion. After a trade the total cost was $187,600, Neidert said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 January 2022 at 11:46 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A firefighter heads face first down a ladder, escaping dark smoke from the upstairs of 136 Knapp St.
The upstairs was full of gray smoke but it turned quickly into rolling black smoke. Four firefighters were upstairs and had to bail out in what firefighters said was a flashover, when a fire quickly intensifies.
Justin Niederhofer (in red) quickly gets out of the house as the fire intensifies while another firefighter hangs out a window. It was a scary moment for the firefighters on the ground and the onlookers as the dark smoke spewed out of the windows with the firefighters inside.
Niederhofer, Seth Dumrese, Steven Papponetti and Dustin Pahura all were able to get out.
Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management coordinator, has been battling fires for over 40 years. He didn’t recall a fire change so rapidly.
Papponetti suffered a cut to his hand in making his escape out of the upstairs, coming down a ladder head first.
The fast-moving caused extensive damage to a home. The homeowner, Mike Reigle, suffered burns on his arms and head. He was able to drag a mattress outside that was on fire.
A propane heater likely caught the mattress on fire, officials at the scene said.
Jerry Bentley, deputy fire coordinator, gets water on the flames in the house.
The dispatch call to firefighters at about 10 a.m. initially said it was a porch fire. But that changed to a fully involved structure fire at about 10:20 a.m.
One firefighter is grabbed after coming down the ladder face-first while another firefighter gets ready to come down in a tense moment this morning.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 January 2022 at 8:14 am
No construction start set for project ending in 2024
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Main Street lift bridge in Albion was originally built in 1914. It is one of 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, and one of seven in Orleans County.
ALBION – The Main Street lift bridge in Albion may close for about two years as part of an estimated $21,200,000 project that includes major repairs to the lift bridge in Brockport on Route 19.
The state Department of Transportation is reviewing bids right now. No schedule has been set for when the lift bridges will close and construction will start, a DOT spokesman said.
The Albion bridge was originally built in 1914. It typically closes a few days each year for short-term repairs. It is one of 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, and one of seven in Orleans County.
The DOT said the work includes installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace the steel floor system and select truss members.
Updates will also be made to the mechanical and electrical components of the lifting mechanisms. The lift tower will also be rehabilitated.
In addition, the bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches will be improved and bridge will be repainted.
The DOT will have the project done the same time contractors work on the lift bridge on Route 19 in Brockport.
Construction is expected to be completed in summer 2024.
The lift bridge on Main Street in Albion typically closes a few days a year for repairs. It will get an extensive overhaul that will have it closed for about two years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 January 2022 at 9:24 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Joe Grube, an Albion firefighter, directs the first blast of water onto a garage that was on fire this morning at 45 Goodrich St., in Albion. The garage is owned by Wayne and Nicole Struble.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 8:30 a.m. The garage is located at the end of a dead-end street in the village. Goodrich is between the railroad tracks and East State Street.
Justin Niederhofer, Orleans County deputy emergency management coordinator, pulls off the basketball backboard and hoop so firefighters could get water in the upper part of the garage.
Firefighters responded from Albion, Barre, Carlton and Murray. National Grid was also on the scene as well as the Albion Police Department and Albion code enforcement. The temperature is in the teens with some strong wind. That wind is blowing away from the house next door.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2022 at 2:46 pm
Theresa Karlak
ALBION – Maison Albion will be hosting a benefit on March 8 for Theresa Karlak’s family at the event venue, 13800 West County House Rd.
The “Tribute to Theresa” will be on Theresa Karlak’s 19th birthday. The gathering from 5 to 8 p.m. will include a ceremonial candle lighting by the pond, light refreshments and appetizers, and a basket raffle.
Theresa was tragically killed after being struck by a vehicle while she was walking on New Year’s Day in Eagle Harbor. A vehicle struck her and also caused minor injuries to her younger sister.
Theresa’s brother Joseph Karlak works at Maison Albion, which welcomes donations from local organizations and businesses for baskets to be raffled during the event.
The gathering is free to attend but guests are encouraged to donate $19 in honor of Theresa’s 19th birthday. Proceeds raised from the event will be given directly to the Karlak family and 19 percent of those proceeds will be donated to a local animal shelter on behalf of Theresa Karlak who had dreams of being a veterinarian.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2022 at 9:49 pm
GoFundMe also established for Theresa Karlak’s family
Theresa Karlak is shown in a photo on a GoFundMe established to help her family.
ALBION – Tim Hortons in Albion sold 3,500 doughnuts in the past two days in a benefit for Theresa Karlak’s family.
Theresa, 18, worked at Tim Hortons the past six months. She was killed on Saturday night after being struck by a car while she was walking with her younger sister in Eagle Harbor.
Theresa was a popular employee at Tim Hortons, who started her workday at 3:30 a.m.
“Thank you to the community that supported the Karlak Family through this fundraiser,” Jennifer Karbowski, co-owner of the Tim Hortons, posted on the Orleans Hub’s Facebook page. “We sold over 3,500 donuts over the last 2 days. It has been an overwhelming response. Thank you for your love and support during this time.”
The doughnuts sold for $1.25 each and all proceeds will go to Theresa’s family. Many customers also made cash donations to help her family.
Theresa’s sister Sarah Karlak also started a GoFundMe to help the family with funeral costs and to pay for a headstone.
“There are no words to describe the pain we are feeling at the loss of our sweetest angel who was taken too soon from us,” Sarah writes on GoFundMe.
Theresa loved animals and wanted to be a veterinarian. Tim Hortons was one of her three jobs. She was saving money to go to college.
“To our littlest Tiny T we love you so much,” Sarah writes. “There is nothing in this world we wouldn’t give to see you one more time and tell you how much we love you.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 January 2022 at 11:05 am
More than 1,000 doughnuts sold, $1,000 donated in first four hours this morning in fundraiser for Theresa Karlak’s family
Photos by Tom Rivers: These doughnuts with vanilla frosting and colorful sprinkles are being sold today and on Wednesday as a fundraiser for Theresa Karlak’s family. Theresa, 18, worked at the Tim Hortons in Albion the past six months.
ALBION – The Tim Hortons in Albion wanted to help Theresa Karlak’s family after the popular employee was fatally struck by a vehicle while walking on Saturday in Eagle Harbor.
Theresa was hit by the vehicle at 8:46 p.m. Her younger sister, 13, also was hit and suffered minor injuries.
Michael Curran, a baker at Tim Hortons, puts sprinkles on doughnuts being sold as a fundraiser for Theresa Karlak’s family.
Theresa’s co-workers loved her, and wanted to help her family during this tragic time.
The employees and store owners decided to sell a special doughnut in her honor today and on Wednesday. The vanilla dipped doughnut with colorful sprinkles costs $1.25. The entire amount goes to Theresa’s family.
Theresa Karlak
More than 1,000 of the doughnuts sold within four hours this morning, and customers also gave more than $1,000 in cash donations. Many of the customers paid well above the bill and wanted the extra to go to Theresa’s family.
The fundraiser was planned to go until 5 p.m. today but there might be a sellout before 5 p.m. The fundraiser will resume on Wednesday at 5 a.m.
Theresa was well-liked for her hard-working ethic and high energy. She brought that positivity to Tim Hortons, even on the very early morning shift, which started at 3:30 a.m. After Tim Hortons she would then go to work at Tops in Albion.
“She was a morning person, there is no doubt about that,” said Michael Curran, who joined her many days as the first employees in the building. “She had a high energy level, right off the bat.”
Theresa was one of 10 children in her family. She loved to take her siblings on walks and bring them treats, the family wrote in her obituary.
Sheryl Miller, one of the bakers at Tim Hortons, gets the frosting ready for the doughnuts.
Jennifer Karbowski, one of the store owners, praised the community and her staff for their response.
“She was a sweet girl and we all wanted to help the family,” Karbowski said. “My staff has been very enthusiastic. We’re like a family and we lost somebody who we care about.”
Some of the Tim Hortons pause for a photo in the kitchen at the Albion store. In front from left include Jennifer Karbowski, Melissa Kuhn and Jenni Simpson. Back row: Nate Simpson, Jared Karbowski, Michael Curran, Sheryl Miller and Samuel Robinson.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 January 2022 at 3:37 pm
‘Everybody loved her,’ store manager says about Theresa Karlak
ALBION – Tim Hortons in Albion will be raising money Tuesday and Wednesday for the family of an employee who was killed on Saturday night.
Theresa Karlak
Theresa Karlak, 18, was walking on Eagle Harbor Road near the hamlet of Eagle Harbor when she was struck by a vehicle at 8:46 p.m.
She was a very dedicated employee at Tim Hortons the past six months, and recently worked the early morning shift starting at 3:30 a.m. She also worked at Tops in Albion.
“Everybody loved her,” said Tim Hortons manager Jenni Simpson. “There isn’t a single person who didn’t like her. I never heard her talk bad about anyone.”
The Tim Hortons will be selling a vanilla dipped donut with green sprinkles on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the entire $1.25 cost will go to Karlak’s family.
Simpson admired Theresa’s work ethic, especially for an 18-year-old. Simpson watched Theresa transform from being shy when she was first hired to being very talkative and funny with her co-workers and customers.
“She was a very kind person who was very driven,” Simpson said. “She loved to learn and wanted to know all of the jobs here.”
Theresa worked the drive-through, the storefront, and with preparing soups and sandwiches. She pushed to be one of two employees who arrive at 3:30 in the morning to get Tim Hortons ready to open at 4:30 with the drive-through and 5 a.m. for customers inside the store.
“I’m still in shock,” Simpson said about Theresa’s death. “She’s a great person.”
The Tops service desk in Albion also will be accepting donations for Theresa’s family.
Provided photo: Kellie Mata gives Aggie Recco a hug this morning at Lydun Drive Extension in Albion. The two volunteered with the Hands 4 Hope Ministry.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 December 2021 at 6:47 pm
ALBION – The Hands 4 Hope ministry has been bringing food and taking prayer requests the past six years.
The group alternates going to four locations the first four Saturdays each month. Today was the first time in the ministry’s history that the fourth Saturday fell on Dec. 25.
Jack Burris, leader of hands 4 Hope, considered taking the day off because it’s Christmas, not sure if there would be volunteers or people in the community who would stop by. He reached out to volunteers with Hands 4 Hope and they wanted to be out today at Lydun Drive Extension.
They were there from 10:30 a.m. to noon. A group of about 15 people quickly formed around the Hands 4 Hope truck at 10:30, with some of the local residents helping to unload the truck and set up totes with clothing and tables with food.
Hands 4 Hope also gave toys to children. The wrapped gifts were donated by the Albion Lions Club.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Hands 4 Hope volunteer team today includes in front: Kellie Mata and Jack Burris. Back row: Randy LeBaron, Kevin Lemcke, Kathy Samborski, Aggie Recco and Neil Samborski.
Kevin Lemcke has been a steady volunteer with Jack Burris since the ministry started. Lemcke is there nearly every Saturday. He also helps clean the truck on Mondays and fill the bags with food. Hands 4 Hope gives out about 30 “shares” of food each week with bags of rice, pasta, spaghetti sauce, green beans, corn, soap, toilet paper, crackers and peanut butter.
Hands 4 Hope was able to give out eggs, milk and veegtables that were donated by the Open Door mission in Rochester. Neil Samborski drove to Rochester to get those items.
Christine Bannister also stopped by this morning and donated Bannister beef from the livestock farm in Carlton.
The youth group at Grace Baptist Church in Brockport also filled 25 stockings for Hands 4 Hope to give to community members this morning.
“It’s a blessing,” Lemcke said about being in the ministry. “I love doing this and giving back. Every day I feel blessed.”
Kellie Mata drove from Batavia to volunteer today at Hands 4 Hope. She enjoys being part of the team of volunteers.
“They’re great people,” she said about the Hands 4 Hope volunteers. “It makes me have a smile on my face being around these guys.”
Signs on Lyndun Drive directed people to Hands 4 Hope.
The ministry also makes stops on Wednesdays from April through September.
Jack Burris said the truck today was hard to miss due to its loud exhaust. One local resident donated $60 to help fix the exhaust.
He thanked his understanding and supportive wife for her blessing in being out in the morning with Hands 4 Hope.
The Rev. Randy LeBaron, leader of Go Scatter Ministries, met with many residents, taking prayer requests.
He was impressed that so many of the people, despite the struggles in their own lives with poverty and health issues, were more focused on other people.
“They want to pray for others and help others,” LeBaron said.
