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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2021 at 3:53 pm
ALBION – Gov. Kathy Hochul announced there will be 13 new Covid testing sites run by the state, including one at GCC’s Albion campus.
The new state testing sites are aimed to address a Covid surge. There were 44,431 new positive Covid cases on Thursday, a new record for the state during the pandemic.
The percentage of tests that were positive on Thursday was 12.37 percent.
“To get through this winter surge and protect New Yorkers, we will use every tool at our disposal,” Governor Hochul said. “By mobilizing testing sites throughout the state, we will make sure testing is more accessible and convenient for New Yorkers. We will continue to expand testing availability to every corner of the state, evaluating where more capacity and additional sites are needed soon.”
The GCC site at 456 West Ave. will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Saturday.
Each of the 13 sites will offer tests by appointment, as well as walk-ins. Upon launch, all sites will offer RT-PCR testing. Rapid antigen and rapid PCR tests will also be available within a few days of opening, Hochul’s office said.
Starting on Monday, New Yorkers can make an appointment for a Covid-19 test by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2021 at 12:32 pm
‘Fowling’ and ‘soccer pool’ among the activities at 10,000 square-foot warehouse in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Rebecca and Brian Alexander are shown with one of their new games – “soccer pool” – that will be offered at Dubby’s Tailgate at 165 Platt St. in Albion.
The couple has operated the popular Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza the past three years. They will continue to run that mobile business while starting a new venture next week.
Dubby’s Tailgate will open on Wednesday from 3 to 10 p.m. with many backyard or tailgate games at a 10,000 square-foot warehouse previously used by Helena.
Barret Alexander, 10, eyes the bowling pins as he gets ready to throw a football about 30 feet. “Fowling” combines football and bowling in one of the games offered at Dubby’s Tailgate.
There are nine sets of throwing lanes on the artificial turf. Cornhole will also be available.
Dubby’s Tailgate has Skeeball and four dart boards.
The Alexanders say the business will be “a house of competition” for people to have fun indoors.
They will have the games ready next week, with a restaurant offering pizza and alcohol in the spring. For now the food options will be snacks and soda.
Brian and Rebecca are Carlton residents. They looked at sites in Brockport and Batavia for the business but decided on Albion, where they said the community has been very supportive of their mobile pizza business.
“Albion is where we started,” Rebecca said. “The community has been so welcoming.”
Barret Alexander gets ready to throw the football in a game of “fowling” against his sister, Abigail, 11.
The person who knocks down all of the pins first is the winner.
Brian Alexander tries soccer pool, where players use a soccer ball to knock balls in the pockets. Players can do trick shots, kicking the ball over some balls to hit the target.
Alexander, a civil engineer, built many of the games and tables with some help from friends. He repurposed bowling lanes for tables at Dubby’s Tailgate.
Pinball machines are among the activities at the new business.
Dubby’s Tailgate charges a $5 admission and then different costs for games, although some are free. Soccer pool is $30 an hour for groups of up to six. Fowling is $10 for unlimited play.
The venue will have 17 televisions, including two giant TVs. The Alexanders also want to display faces of community members to create the feeling of being in an arena.
They also plan to use the large parking lot to host events, including truck shows where people are welcome to cruise in and stay with their tailgates down.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2021 at 10:55 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – David Mitchell, left, is presented with the Robert J. Uplinger Award for dedicated community service by Dan Conrad, president of the Albion Lions Club.
Mitchell, owner of Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, was praised for supporting many events and causes in the community.
For more than 30 years he has also managed the Lions Club’s fund for eye glasses and exams for community members.
Mitchell said his late father, Rho, was an active Lions Club member for many years and set a good example for giving back to the community.
David Mitchell said he has delivered thousands of pairs of glasses collected in the Albion community to Rochester. Sight remains one of the Lions Club’s main missions.
Provided photo
The Lions Club also presented Kim Remley with an Uplinger Award for her work in the community. Club member Ron Albertson presents Remley with the award last week at the Black North Inn.
Remley was a key member of the Rebuild Bullard Committee that was instrumental in about $800,000 of upgrades to Bullard, including a new spray park, amphitheater and pavilion with bathrooms.
Remley also is active in organizing the downtown Fall Fest, including a scarecrow competition.
“She is always cheering on the community and bringing the good vibes,” Conrad said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2021 at 5:34 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Today was caroling day for the Albion High School Brass Ensemble and Select Choir, with the groups performing in several locations in the community, including a finale inside the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.
The groups performed from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations including: Save-A-Lot, Pro Hardware, Tops, Walmart, Hoag Library, Ace Hardware, the Post Office, East Bank Street, Key Bank and East Park Street.
Connor Doran, high school choir director, plays the piano while the Select Choir sings “Go Tell It on the Mountain” at the Presbyterian Church during a community carol singing.
The Brass Ensemble, with many students wearing Santa hats, plays “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
Photo and information courtesy of Albion Correctional Facility
ALBION – The Albion Correctional Facility recently celebrated their fifth canine training program graduation. Two rescue dogs from PAWS Animal Shelter, Moxie and Tex, completed the 12-week program.
Throughout the 12 weeks, two teams of three incarcerated individuals served as handlers for the dogs. A community volunteer trainer, Tom Ryan, visited the facility once or twice a week to instruct the incarcerated individuals on how to properly care for and train the dogs.
The dogs mastered a number of different training techniques and showed off their skills at graduation. Tom Ryan praised the handlers at graduation for their commitment to the dogs.
The program gives a second chance to the rescue dogs by strengthening the possibility of them getting adopted. It also provides secondary social/emotional benefits to the incarcerated individuals. It gives them an opportunity to return something positive to the community.
One of the dogs, Moxie, has already been adopted by her forever family. Tex is still waiting to find his forever home. If you are interested in adopting Tex, applications are available at www.paws14411.com.
Since the graduation, two more dogs arrived to the facility for the handlers to work with and prepare for adoption to their forever homes.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 December 2021 at 8:36 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Diane Argento holds one of the lap robes she made for residents of The Villages.
ALBION – Residents of The Villages Health and Rehabilitation Center will have an extra gift under the tree this Christmas, thanks to the generosity and compassion of an Albion resident.
Diane Argento loves to sew and this fall she got to thinking she’d like to do something nice for someone. She contacted Kristin Bloom, activities director at The Villages, and told her she’d like to make small blankets for each of the residents all 104 of them. In all, Diane made 107, as several of the residents are absent from the facility.
Diane, her husband Joe and daughter Jamie this morning delivered totes full of the lap robes, all in Christmas gift boxes.
“It’s nice to have such support from the community,” Bloom said. “It’s a little Christmas cheer after what the residents have been through, with Covid and not being able to see their families.”
From left, Kristin Bloom, activities director at the Villages Health and Rehabilitation Center, helps Diane and Joe Argento of Albion unload totes full of lap robes Diane made for each resident.
Diane said she went to Joann Fabrics to get the material. It took several clerks to cut the 214 yards of material she needed.
Each lap robe is tied and knotted around the edge, something which was very time consuming.
“This is very much appreciated,” Bloom said.
The Argentos said they were happy to do something for The Villages, as his mom was there several years ago.
The Villages’ activities director Kristin Bloom, Joe and Diane Argento and their daughter Jamie unload 107 boxes of Christmas blankets Wednesday morning which Diane made for the residents.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 December 2021 at 8:11 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Lynn Palmer, owner of Upscale Overstock, displays some of sports clothing and memorabilia she has in her store in Albion in this file photo from February 2021. She credited a microenterprise assistance program for helping her with her business.
ALBION – The Microenterprise Assistance Program has graduated more than 540 prospective business people since its inception, but few have a more poignant story than Lynn Palmer.
At the November MAP graduation, Palmer shared her story of despair and how she has risen above it after completing the MAP.
Palmer not only started a new business, Upscale Overstock on Main Street in Albion, but she was one of seven applicants who received special grants. Palmer received $15,000.
Diane Blanchard, right, coordinator of the Microenterprise Assistance Program, wipes her eyes after hearing Lynn Palmer tell her heartbreaking story of being down and out and how she has fought her way to success. Palmer hugs MAP mentor Jon Costello and Blanchard at the recent MAP graduation.
“I cannot say enough about the Microenterprise Assistance Program,” Palmer said. “Twelve years ago I was a single mom of three children who were 20, 17 and 15 at the time. I had raised them by myself since the youngest was 4.”
She shared how when she became pregnant with her last child she was determined to do whatever she needed to keep that baby. She was living in a very small house, but was able to find a five-bedroom home in Medina whose landlord was willing to rent to her. After a year, the rent was increased to $1,200 a month and Palmer couldn’t afford it.
“I had a degree in early childhood education, so I asked the owner if I could license it as a day care center,” Palmer said. “When I opened, I had a waiting list, so I thought why not re-license it for 16 children and hire some help.”
Then she learned the property owners were not keeping up with the mortgage and she was going to lose everything.
She was able to find space at Towne School, but she had to have a teacher and aide in each room, plus two substitutes. She would have had to pay 20 employees and she couldn’t do it.
“I closed and became depressed, suicidal,” Palmer said. “I took a job in a day care center in Batavia making minimum wage, and went to work at Walmart part-time. It was just paying the bills.”
Palmer began to think she would like to be a business owner again. Her dream was to own a bar and grill with a game room, but she was looking at $250,000.
“I thought long and hard,” she said.
Her daughter, 22, by then was selling overstock merchandise and traveling to cities all over the county, making a good living.
Palmer enrolled in MAP’s class of 2019.
“The timing was terrible,” she said. “On Nov. 30, I opened Upscale Overstock in Medina and three months later Covid shut us down.”
To stay afloat, Palmer’s daughter began making face masks and sanitizer. There was such a demand, she couldn’t make them fast enough. Praising Kids, a child care center in Medina, and Orchard Manor each ordered enough for all their employees.
Palmer tried to apply for a PPE grant to see her through, but because she hadn’t been in business three years she was not eligible. She went to work at Walmart again until June, when she was able to start up her business again.
Her lease in Medina was up at the end of October, and her daughter had seen a “for rent” sign on a store front in downtown Albion.
“A year ago, I would have laughed if you told me where I’d be today,” Palmer said. “I have a bigger store for less rent. I’m next door to a bank and when people cashed their stimulus checks, they came into my store and spent it.”
Her sales in the first month there tripled, she said.
In the spring she got a call from Diane Blanchard, coordinator of the MAP, telling her there was a grant available.
“I wanted to apply, but my computer was 15 years old and my credit was not perfect,” Palmer said.
She contacted Blanchard and MAP mentor Jon Costello.
“Jon sat down with me for hours and helped me,” Palmer said. “But I knew I wasn’t going to get the money.”
Then the day came when Blanchard contacted Palmer and told her to check her e-mails.
“Instead of $10,000, I got $15,000,” Palmer said. “I didn’t sleep that night. I thought it was a joke.”
She called Costello, who congratulated her. She was able to buy a new computer, shelving for her store, a pallet jack cart, and the rest she spent on inventory.
“I’m making more at the store than I did at Walmart,” Palmer said. “If anything, this pandemic has taught me to be prepared. For the first time in my life, I have money in the bank. My credit cards and student loan are paid off. My car is paid off. I have no debt. I cannot say enough about this MAP program.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 December 2021 at 2:37 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Mitch Grater and Ed Wolfe flip chickens that are among the 1,000 chicken dinners being served today at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex on South Main Street.
At 1:45 about half of the dinners were gone. The Albion Masonic Lodge is volunteering to cook the dinners and many other volunteers are serving them as part of a Christmas celebration at Arnold Gregory until 6 p.m.
Best of Tymes Party Rentals, owned by Christine Nenni and Michelle Wiseman of Medina, and the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries worked together to organize the “Que In” for Christmas at Arnold Gregory.
The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, the union representing corrections officers, donated $1,000 towards the chicken dinners.
Today’s event features costumed characters including the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. They are portrayed by Marcus Cavarello and his fiancé Morgan Waple. Their dog Toby is playing the Grinch’s dog, Max.
The Grinch and Cindy Lou are pictured with the Best of Tymes Party Bear (with Christine Nenni in the outfit) and Albert D. Wilson Jr., pastor of the Royal Body Shop Ministries.
Wilson also leads a church in Buffalo. The Albion congregation meets on Fridays for services at 7 p.m.
Wilson’s grandfather, Roy Rodolph, founded the Royal Church of God in Christ on Baker Road in Carlton in 1952.
Wilson said the new church welcomes everybody and reaches across denominations and faiths.
“We want to show the love of Jesus and be kind to one another,” he said.
There were numerous Christmas presents given away today. Kassie Crane, left, joins Jayda Elsenheimer and Theresa O’Hearn in giving out the presents.
Harley Weis, 9, of Albion is happy to meet with Santa.
John Santiago, 6, of Albion joins Santa on a giant white chair.
There were also many games and activities available in the building for children and families.
Santa was given a ride to Arnold Gregory on a fire truck. Here he greets Albion Fire Chief Rob Conner, right, and firefighter Jeremy Babcock.
