By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 December 2021 at 8:00 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – This decorated car was part of the debut “Santa’s Coming Home” light parade in Albion today.
The procession included about 30 vehicles. They started from the parking lot at COVA and the Arnold Gregory Office Complex on South Main Street and went north before turning onto East Bank Street. Then children were welcome to visit with Santa in the Albion firehall.
Rose Friedl, right, and Chelsea Arnold worked together to help organize the parade, along with others. They are shown with Friedl’s display.
They were pleased with the turnout for the debut event, which was organized in the past three weeks.
“I’m so happy and so excited,” Friedl said.
She wants to see Albion celebrate its role as home of a Santa Claus School run by the late Charles Howard from 1937 to 1966.
Chelsea Arnold decorated her car with a National Lampoon’s Vacation theme, including a cutout of Clark Griswold in the front passenger seat.
About 30 vehicles decorated for the parade with lights and characters. This photo shows one of the vehicles turning onto East Bank Street.
Last Saturday’s Barre Lighted Tractor Parade was cancelled due to the powerful winds. Two of the tractors usually in that parade made the trip to Albion.
The tractors turn from Main onto East Bank.
This group has fun on a float from LoMay Mo Llamas in Oakfield.
COVA Ambulance was among the participants in the parade.
This vehicle had Darth Vader spreading holiday cheer.
Santa rides in style on his way to the Albion fire hall where he met with youngsters and gave them presents.
Addie Rotoli, 5, of Pavilion shares her Christmas wish with Santa.
Twin brothers Lexington and Roman Prigden, 3, of Albion get ready to meet Santa in the fire hall.
Photos and information courtesy of Albion Central School
ALBION – Community Action of Genesee & Orleans staff this morning received many donated items collected from students at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School.
Students in Mrs. Joan Mrzywka’s third grade class and students in Mrs. Toni Plummer’s health class led the initiative. After contacting Community Action to see what items were most needed, the elementary school gathered donations of personal care items, winter wearables and pet food and supplies.
In all, the school collected 218 toothbrushes, 130 tubes of toothpaste, 50 deodorants, 100 pet items and countless hats, mittens, scarves and socks, as well as some toys. A group of students made the trip over to Community Action to donate the items this morning.
Pictured with students include from left: Michelle Figueroa, Community Action case manager; Cameron Richardson, head custodian in back; third grade teacher Joan Mrzywka; and Katrina Chaffee, Community Action director of community services and reporting.
Mrs. Plummer’s classes discuss empathy, gratitude and becoming a change in the world, lessons that play a big role in the holiday season. The giving tree was a great way for all elementary students to have a chance to help community members.
Community Action of Orleans and Genesee’s mission is to provide services, with dignity and respect, that help people become self-sufficient. The organization has helped low-income and disadvantaged individuals and families for more than 40 years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 December 2021 at 10:40 am
ALBION – A caravan of vehicles decorated in lights and Christmas displays will be part of a debut “Santa’s Coming Home” parade in Albion today.
The community is welcome to decorate cars and other vehicles and show up at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex on South Main Street at 5:30 p.m.
At 6 p.m. the vehicles will head down Main Street and then turn on Bank Street.
Rose Friedl has taken the lead in organizing the event with help from Angie Wolfe, Cassie Dash, Tim McMurray, Angel Javier Jr. and Kevin Sheehan.
The community is welcome to line up on the parade route to see the display. Afterwards, Santa will be at the Albion fire hall on Platt Street giving out presents.
Many of the Albion businesses also will be staying open until 9 p.m. today.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 December 2021 at 6:04 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Bill Robinson of the Albion Lions Club took a two-hour shift this afternoon at Tops in Albion, ringing the bell for the annual Red Kettle campaign. Lions Club members have been there throughout the day.
Last year there weren’t bell ringers due to Covid concerns. Instead, residents were encouraged to give to the campaign through counter-top kettles that were placed in many local stores.
This year the bell ringers are back.
The proceeds from the Red Kettle campaign go to serve people in crisis in Orleans County. The campaign usually raises about $25,000 which is administered by Community Action.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 December 2021 at 8:55 am
Albion Correctional provides gifts for children of young mother killed in October
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Cameron Richardson, custodian at Community Action in Albion, stands in a hallway full of boxes he taped together and helped fill for families at Christmas.
ALBION – The holiday time is incredibly busy at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.
As Christmas day rolls closer, staff at Community Action have been taken applications for holiday assistance, packing boxes of food for families and filling bags with presents for children.
The halls in the office at 411 East State St. are lined with food boxes and offices are piled high with bags full of gifts.
On Tuesday afternoon, Community Action was involved in a very special donation.
For four years, the Albion Correctional Facility has adopted a family and provided enough toys and gifts which Santa would admit would fill his sleigh.
Yeshua Nunez-Rexach, 16, and his brother Yelian will receive gifts and toys for Christmas donated by Albion Correctional Facility.
This year, the correctional facility chose to help the family of Cristal Nunez-Rexach, the 33-year-old mother who was killed Oct. 15 on Route 104 in an accident with a tractor trailer.
Nunez-Rexach left behind two children, Yeshua, 16, and Yelian, 13.
Her story is heartbreaking for Michelle Figueroa, emergency services case worker at Community Action.
“We had become good friends,” Figueroa said. “I helped her get clothes and an apartment when she first came to the area.”
Figueroa explained Nunez-Rexach moved locally after Hurricane Maria devasted her home in Puerto Rico.
Stephanie Peruzzini, offender rehabilitation coordinator at Albion Correctional Facility, said they were blessed to have been able to provide this family with a Christmas they truly deserve.
“We love sharing our experience working with you guys, which has over the years has resulted in others in our families and our friends helping contribute with us,” Peruzzini said. “This is honestly something we look forward to each year, knowing we can help others in need, especially with all that is going on in the world.”
Annette Finch, soon-to-be-retired emergency services coordinator at Community Action for 30 years, said Albion Correctional Facility is a great friend to Community Action. She said last year they adopted a family with young children who didn’t have beds and were sleeping on the floor.
“The Correctional Facility went all out last year,” Finch said. “With help from the Emma Reed Foundation, we got beds for all three girls and the Correctional Facility bought clothes and toys for all of them.”
This year, in addition to clothes and toys for the Nunez-Rexach children, the Correctional Facility purchased the family a large television.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2021 at 9:36 pm
ALBION – School district residents passed a $26,690,000 capital improvement project today by a 225-44-vote.
The project includes work at all three schools, the district office, the bus garage, and will put in new synthetic playing surfaces for football, soccer and softball. There will also be security enhancements to all of the school buildings.
“Thank you to everyone who came out and voted,” Superintendent Mickey Edwards said. “This project will greatly benefit all students in the district. We are excited to move forward and bring these needed upgrades to Albion.”
The next step is the design phase, which will begin in January and run through August 2022. Construction is expected to take place 2023-2024.
There will be no new tax impact on property owners. The local share of the project already has been saved in a capital reserve fund.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2021 at 9:13 am
ALBION – Eligible district residents 18 and older will vote today on a $26.69 million capital project that includes all three schools, as well as the bus garage, and new synthetic playing surfaces for football, soccer and softball.
Residents can vote from noon to 8:30 p.m. at the District Office Conference Room A which is in the back of the elementary school.
District officials say there won’t be an additional tax impact from the project because the local share of $7,195,000 is already in a capital reserve. State funding at $19,495,000 will cover the rest.
The project was identified following a building conditions survey required every five years by the state. King & King Architects of Syracuse worked with the district on putting together the project. Kirk Narburgh, King & King CEO, is an Albion graduate and led a discussion about the project during a public hearing on Dec. 2 in the middle school auditoirium.
The scope of the project includes:
Elementary School – $6,300,000
Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
Refinish main gym floor and replace folding partitions with divider curtains
Reconfigure entry vestibule and finish renovations to the district office
Replace plumbing fixtures and domestic hot/cold water, sanitary and storm piping in 1955 building
Mechanical upgrades, including original building wing unit ventilators
Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade building system controls, panel board and switchgear
Sidewalk replacements
East side drop-off loop improvements
Kirk Narburgh, CEO of King & King, goes over the capital project during a public hearing on Dec. 2. Here he is highlighting synthetic fields for football, soccer and softball, which he said will allow teams to be outside on the surfaces sooner in the season. Physical education classes could also use the fields, and they could be opened to the community for some activities as well.
Middle School – $9,945,000
Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
Gymnasium renovations, including gym floor refinishing, lift replacement, new wall pads, ceiling and lighting
Renovate pool lockers shower areas, including plumbing and lighting
Replace auditorium air-conditioning
Provide parallel pool pump and replace hot water heaters and storage tank
Mechanical upgrades for electrical room/transformer vault
Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade building system controls, panel board and switchgear
Reconfigure parent drop-off loop. (Traffic often currently backs up to Route 31 due to long lines. Albion would reconfigure the loop to allow for more staging of vehicles.)
Renovate playground
New multi-purpose field surface at soccer/softball complex
High School – $9,795,000
Security enhancements to include safety films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
Gymnasium renovations, including gym floor replacement, re-surfaced folding partitions, bleacher replacement, ceiling/lighting, ventilation system and new wall-mounted scoreboards
Renovate locker rooms
Replace corridor lockers
Replace hot water heaters, add additional boiler and replace heating line
Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade building system controls, panel board and switchgear
Improve sidewalks for accessibility
Tennis court reconstruction
New multi-purpose field surface at football stadium complex
Bus Garage – $650,000
Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware
Replace large overhead doors in 1997 maintenance bay addition
Replace roof in 1997 maintenance bay addition
Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade panel board
Extend paving at bus parking and dumpster pad
Campus Notification System
In addition to the renovations being proposed in the capital project referendum, Albion Central School District is planning to install a new public address and visual notification system for the elementary, middle and high schools. This work may be separate from the capital project and would be paid for using $1,995,000 in funding available to our district through the Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014.
A timeline for the project includes:
Dec. 14: Project vote, noon to 8:30 p.m., District Office Conference Room A
Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School
ALBION – The Albion FFA held its annual food drive this past Saturday with more than 45,000 pounds of food donated to Community Action.
The yearly event, which began more than a decade ago when students raised about 3,000 pounds of food the first year, continues to have a big impact on the community with locally grown food remaining in the area for those in need.
Students, staff and volunteers spent Saturday morning sorting and loading produce then delivered and unloaded the donation at Community Action.
“It’s been cool to see it grow every year and get more food,” said senior Emily Harling. “When we get to Community Action, seeing everyone get excited is my favorite part.”
First-year FFA advisor and agriculture teacher Scott Oldenburg noted all the hard work the students put into the event.
“The officers did most of the work,” Oldenburg said. “They made all the calls and all the arrangements for pickup or deliveries, and they asked for all the donations.”
The FFA would like to thank the following for their contributions: Panek Farms, Kludt Brothers, Orleans County Farm Bureau, Nesbitt Fruit Farms, Orchard Dale Fruit Farms, Kreher’s Farms, Martin Farms, Kirby Farms, Mighty Acres, Partyka Farms, Starowitz Farms, Poverty Hill Farms, Torrey Farms, Lynn-Ette and Sons Farms, Rush’s Vegetables, Intergrow Greenhouses and Root Brothers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2021 at 4:36 pm
Jolly old elf will be giving away toys and taking wishes at store
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Santa Claus greets Adeline Munn, 6, of Medina at Toys n Kandy on East Bank Street. Santa was planning to drive around the village and give out presents beginning at 4 p.m. today but that was grounded due to the high winds.
Santa will instead be at Toyz n Kandy until about 6 p.m. There are more than 200 gifts to be given away. Those toys have been donated by community members, including the Albion Lions Club.
Chance Brendlinger, 9, of Medina gets ready to greet Santa.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2021 at 12:33 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Alicia Marciszewski is in the Albion Village office today helping children make ornaments as part of the Albion Merchants Association’s annual Hometown Holiday. Kay Ecker in back is offering coloring books, crayons and stickers.
Many of the businesses are offering indoor activities and free prizes for kids.
Adelina Greenwood checks out the candy canes, stamps and pencils offered by Alice Marciszewski at one of the stations in the Village Office. Adelina is joined by her father, Matthew Farley. Anita Finley, left, was at a station offering stuffed animals and other goodies for people who answered trivia questions. Oak Orchard Canoe sponsored the activities at the Village Hall.
Pretty Sweet Bakery hosted a station for people to make reindeer dust and reindeer food. This group includes Carter Conrad and his mother Courtney Burch, and their friend Mallory Marshall, right.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2021 at 9:31 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Four new electric charging stations were turned on at about 2:45 p.m. on Friday in the Hoag Library parking lot. Three electric car owners parked and got a charge at the new units, which were almost completely funded with grants.
Hoag Library used $23,000 in a Charge Ready grant from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and $1,000 from National Grid to cover nearly all of the $24,809 expense of putting in the four charging stations.
The first three people to pull up for a charge included Grace Kent, in front, with a Nissan Leaf; Diana Dudley in middle at left and her niece Hillary Clark with a Chevy Bolt; and Linda Weller in back with Tesla.
Weller is the library’s board president and Dudley also serves on the board of trustees. The library has worked 2 ½ years through the grant process to have the charging stations installed. Weller praised library director Betty Sue Miller for her diligence in seeing the project to completion. The units were installed by Gofoth Electric in Albion.
Weller has owned her Tesla since October 2020. The vehicle has a range of 311 miles before needing a charge. She has driven it to New York City, the Thousand Islands, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Sometimes she stops in a community to charge her vehicle and she will go explore the town while the vehicle is powered up. She expects the charging stations at Hoag will bring some people to the Albion community.
There are also public charging stations in Orleans County at the Burger King in Medina and the RTS Orleans/Orleans County DPW on West Academy Street in Albion.
People can charge their vehicles for free at the library, with Hoag paying the cost of the electricity. The library has solar panels on the roof, and library officials wanted to use that renewable energy to power the vehicles.
Diana Dudley, 87, has owned her Chevy Bolt for three years and driven the car 30,000 miles.
“I love it,” she said. “I would never go back to a gas car. You just get in and go.”
Grace Kent, owner of the Nissan Leaf for three years, doesn’t miss paying for gas. She said the electric car gives her a warning when it’s low on charge, just like a gas car when it’s low on fuel.
“People think it will just stop on you, but it won’t,” she said. “It switches to turtle mode to tell you to get to a charger. Overall, I love it. It’s environmentally friendly and very serviceable.”
Photos by Tom Rivers: A sign in the front window at 25 East Bank St. declares the site offers "Powered for life training."
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 December 2021 at 9:45 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Heidi Dorpfeld, left, and Jean Bogue chat in the lounge of the new home of Trade 180 at 25 East Bank St., Albion. Trade 180 supports young marginalized people in Orleans County ages 18 to 25 with life skills and work readiness.
ALBION – While working for 12 years as a job coach to special needs youth at BOCES, Heidi Dorpfeld often noticed how the children thrived while receiving extra attention in school, but often fell through the cracks when left on their own in the outside world.
That gave her an idea for a program which would help these students transition from one lifestyle to another, and she formed Trade 180, what she calls “A home of hope to become whole.”
Earlier this year, Dorpfeld and her team were working to renovate a home on East Avenue owned by Harvest Christian Fellowship, with plans to open her ministry there.
Then she was contacted by the Giordano family from Kent with an offer too good to be true.
Beth Giordano had formerly run Rise Above Ministries for years out of a building she owned at 25 Bank St. After hearing about Dorpfeld’s plans, she contacted her and offered to give Dorpfeld the building for $1.
With help from supporters, including Ninandre Bogue of Lyndonville, who did most of the painting in the building, they transformed it into a classroom, gathering room, training kitchen and office space for Trade 180.
Last Saturday they held an open house and basket raffle to introduce the community to their new venture.
Their program for men 18 to 25 includes a class titled “Powered for Life” and “Jobs for Life,” a nationally accredited program. Participants learn faith-based character building, conflict resolution, dignity of work, life skills, a trade and how to act in an interview and prepare a resume. Both men and women will learn in a 16-session class how to find and keep a job, develop character and receive a supportive community through mentorship.
The Biblical curriculum will help young people discover God’s purpose for their lives, thereby helping them become inspired, Dorpfeld said.
“We focus on special needs – not necessarily physical – but emotional and spiritual,” she said. “We want to get young people before they go down the wrong road.”
Classes are noon to 3 p.m. and lunch is served. In addition to an instructor, a nutritionist is available and mentors will be on hand.
Trade 180 is operating under the umbrella of Harvest Christian Fellowship. They are counting on donations and support from the community to operate. Anyone is invited to become a mentor, volunteer or support Trade 180 with a financial donation.
Donations may be made by logging on to www.hcforleans.com (under Trade 180 tab).
The building at 25 East Bank St. was given by Beth Giordano to a new working training ministry.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2021 at 8:42 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Frontier Heating & A/C Service has a nice display in its window along East Bank Street. The business won the window decorating contest in 2019.
The Albion Merchants Association is offering $100 for the first place winner of the decorating contest. Businesses have until Dec. 19 to post photos on the AMA Facebook page under the post about the contest for businesses.
There is also a contest for homeowners with $200 for first place, $100 for second, and $50 for third. The prizes will be in gift certificates from AMA members. Residents can enter by Dec. 19 and post photos on the AMA Facebook page in the comment section of the post about the “Deck the Town” contest.
The Orleans Travel Bureau decorated its window on East Bank Street for the Christmas season.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 6 December 2021 at 9:01 am
Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, Best of Tymes Party Rentals teaming for holiday event at Arnold Gregory
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Best of Tymes Party Rentals and Royal Body Shop Ministry are joining forces to present a Christmas extravaganza on Dec. 18 at the Arnold Gregory Complex. Gathered around Santa Claus’ chair are, from left, Christine Nenni and Michelle Wiseman from Party Tyme Rentals, Royal Body Shop pastor Albert Wilson and his wife Ykeeta and Lisa DeCarlo of Albion, who owns Arnold’s Auto Parts with her husband Dan.
ALBION – An Albion business and a new ministry are planning a unique Christmas celebration for the community on Dec. 18.
Best of Tymes Party Rentals, owned by Christine Nenni and Michelle Wiseman of Medina, and the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, who each have quarters in the Arnold Gregory Complex, will present “Que In” for Christmas on the lawn at Arnold Gregory.
The event will run from noon to 6 p.m. and feature a takeout chicken barbecue cooked by Albion’s Renovation Masonic Lodge free to the first 1,000 people, a gift for each child, raffles, face painting and other activities. Also included is a drawing for a 43-inch TV. Tickets are now available at $5 each or three for $10 at Arnold’s Auto Parts and Best of Tyme Party Rentals. All proceeds go back to the church for future community events. Best of Tymes Party Rentals will provide free hot chocolate, and horse and buggy rides will be available.
Michelle Wiseman, left, and Christine Nenni from Best of Tymes Party Rentals stand next to the Santa mailbox outside their store on the second floor of the Arnold Gregory Complex.
In addition to Santa and Mrs. Claus, Que In for Christmas will feature the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who and Jolly Jingles Bear.
Spearheading Que In for Christmas is Pastor Albert D. Wilson Jr.’s church, Royal Body Shop Ministries. Wilson is director of 27 community centers in Buffalo and senior pastor of the Greater Royal Worship Center at 1355 Clinton St., Buffalo. Lisa DeCarlo is administrative assistant to the pastor and Dan is training to become a deacon in the Albion ministry. The DeCarlos are also members of his Buffalo church.
Wilson first became acquainted with Orleans County as a result of visiting the Royal Worship Church of God in Christ on Sawyer Road, Kent, which his grandfather founded in 1952. He and Lisa DeCarlo were having coffee at HeBrews in Albion, where they talked to a young man who made Wilson realize there was a spiritual need in the community.
DeCarlos offered space to set up a tent and on a Friday night in August they had their first service in Albion. It was so successful, it continued every Friday night until cold weather was approaching and they realized they needed a warm place to meet.
Nenni and Lisa had been friends since high school, and Nenni told Lisa about the empty conference room at Arnold Gregory, which Wilson was able to rent.
Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries now holds a service in the conference room at 7 p.m. every Friday night, and want the entire community to feel welcome there. Currently the room is set up with a throne for Santa and a holiday display.
The name for his new ministry, Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, comes from his affiliation with Arnold’s Auto Parts. Its purpose is to work on the mind, body, soul and spirit, he said. The pastor is assisted by his wife Ykeeta and son Albert III. The depend upon donations to fund their ministry, and donation baskets are located throughout the community.
Giving to the community on holidays is nothing new for Best of Tymes Party Rental. Nenni and Wiseman started giving out goodie bags of treats to children last year on Halloween and Christmas from their home on State Street in Medina. They also handed out free cotton candy and popcorn and offered pictures with Santa.
They also have a Santa mailbox set up in the hall outside their second floor store in the Arnold Gregory building. Every child who writes a letter to Santa and includes his address will get a reply, Nenni said. Another small Santa mailbox is set up outside their Medina home.
Pastor Wilson plans to continue doing events to bring people in the community together, he said. They plan to target low poverty areas. Lisa will be giving out gift cards at Save-A-Lot beginning at noon on Dec. 11.
“It’s all about spreading love and holiday cheer,” the pastor said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 December 2021 at 11:21 pm
Photos courtesy of Susan Starkweather Miller
ALBION – The First Presbyterian Church of Albion hosted the annual Community Christmas Concert, which featured many Albion alumni, current students and other community members.
The top photo shows the Albion High School Christmas Choir singing, “Cold December Flies Away.” The group is directed by Connor Doran.
Last year’s concert wasn’t in-person for attendance and instead was recorded and available to watch online. Today’s concert was recorded and will be available on the Albion Alumni Association website. Proceeds from the concert go to the First Presbyterian Church and Albion Alumni Association.
Gary Simboli, an Albion graduate and retired music teacher, performed “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and also led the crowd in “Sleigh Ride.”
Cheyenna Eagle plays the oboe in solo, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
Jackie Madejski performs “Beautiful City.”
Eric Deiboldt sings “Christmas Song/Christmas Time is Here.”
Dylan DeSmit offers a rendition of “Hallelujah it’s Christmas.”
Erin Moody and Kailey Winans sing “Winter Wonderland/Let it Snow.”
Other performers included: Christmas Brass, Carrie Kozody, Denise Thomas, Annabella Salisbury, Elijah Martin, Mike Thaine, AHS Tuba Ensemble, Alec Sherman, Maarit Vaga and Darryl Smith and Victor Benjovsky.
ALBION – Eligible district residents 18 and older will vote today on a $26.69 million capital project that includes all three schools, as well as the bus garage, and new synthetic playing surfaces for football, soccer and softball.
