The 30th Strawberry Festival 5k/8k will happen on Saturday morning. Last year’s race was cancelled but it is back this year.

ALBION – There isn’t a Strawberry Festival for the second straight year due to the uncertainty with Covid restrictions in the months leading up to the event, as well as the limits on crowd sizes.

Last year it was quiet in Albion when the festival was scheduled for the second weekend in June.

This year, there are several events planned for tomorrow, the second Saturday in June which is typically jam-packed with activities during the festival.

5K/8K RACE: The 5K/8K is back for the 30^th year and begins at 8 a.m., starting in front of the Courthouse on East State Street. So far nearly 200 people are registered for the race. Click here for more information.

CARING FOR COVA: There will also be a Caring for COVA event at the COVA Base and Arnold Gregory Complex at 239/243 South Main St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

That event includes a basket raffle, craft vendors, COVA open house, fire department apparatus, Blue Groove coffee, K9 demonstrations from the Albion Police Department and Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Car Seat Safety Checks, State Police rollover simulator, Best of Tymes Party Rental, Lion’s Club Food Booth and a Car Show sponsored by Arnold’s Auto Parts. The car show will be from noon to 3 p.m. The Lion’s Club will be serving food for free to law enforcement officers. Tree House will be doing a “Splash Bash” with proceeds going to COVA.

FOOD TRUCK RODEO: The Albion Merchants Association has its first Food Truck Rodeo from noon to 7 p.m. on East State Street near the Courthouse.

There will also be three bands playing during the time period.

The band lineup includes:

• Vette, noon to 2 p.m.
• Bobby Skrzypek & the Pedestrians, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Zackstreet Boys, 5 to 7 p.m.

The Albion Merchants will also celebrate opening day of a new farmers market on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be at the municipal lot on main Street next to the Presbyterian Church.

STRAWBERRY SUNDAES: The Presbyterian Church will have strawberry sundaes available from noon to 4 p.m. for $5.

The church is also doing a basket raffle with over 60 baskets that will begin at noon. Tickets and baskets will be available for viewing at the church, 29 East State Street. Tickets will be drawn on Sunday at 3 p.m.

‘It’s all about helping. It’s our love for Orleans County.’

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kevin Ross, an employee at the Iroquois Job Corps in Medina, moves a 20-pound box of produce this morning during a food distribution in Albion.

Anthony Washington, right, is another Job Corps employee who helped lug boxes to car trunks and truck beds for about 2 hours.

The Job Corps had six employees helping at the distribution this morning. The Job Corps staff go to almost every distribution, which typically is three or four a month.

“They have been angels,” said Annette Finch, director of emergency service at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Ross has volunteered at about 25 of the distributions since last year. He works as a nursing instructor at the Job Corps.

“This is about helping people and it’s good for the community,” said Ross, who is also a firefighter and paramedic.

Anthony Washington is a career transitions specialist for Job Corps, helping students to find jobs or get connected to college. He is happy to help at the distributions.

“It’s a change of pace, but it’s more about helping people out,” he said.

Krista Fiegel, an employee at the Iroquois Job Corps, has led the Job Corps team at the distributions since at least last September. She is thankful the Job Corps supports allowing staff to be off site to help at the distributions. With the drive time and work at the distributions it can be a three to four hour commitment.

Finch said the Job Corps staff have a great system down for organizing the boxes and getting people in place. The men often handle the heavier boxes with dairy products, but Fiegel said the women are strong and can move the heavier boxes, too.

There are typically 300 main boxes at the each distribution, but there are often surprise items that aren’t known until the delivery truck arrives in the morning. Today there was tofu for the first time, and corn on the cob, sealed in packages of four.

Community Action staff and the volunteers will quickly count all the loose or unexpected items, and determine how many to include with each boxes. Sometimes that’s two or three bags of Brussels Sprouts, grapes, apples, green bags, containers of yogurt, and other items.

They do the work in all kinds of conditions, from stifling heat to sub-freezing temperatures. At one of the distributions last month, the weather went from rain to sleet to hail to rain in the morning.

“We power through it,” said Fiegel, who works in outreach for Job Corps. “Nobody complains.”

She sends an email to staff with a list of the upcoming distributions, and people volunteer, often from many different departments. The efforts have helped build a stronger team at the Job Corps.

But Fiegel said the main motivation is wanting to help people get food and have the distributions go more smoothly and quickly.

“It’s all about helping,” Fiegel said. “It’s our love for Orleans County.”

The Orleans Hub each year recognizes a group of “Outstanding Citizens.” The Orleans Hub picked the Job Corps as one of the award winners in 2020. We normally recognize the “Outstanding Citizens” during an awards presentation with all the winners. A larger gathering was difficult due to Covid restrictions earlier this year. Tom Rivers, the Orleans Hub editor, presented the Job Corps team with the plaque this morning and commended the group for staying committed to the food distributions.

The group this morning includes from left Anthony Washington, Marylou Porter (human resources manager), Lance Tlustos (TEAP specialist), Krista Fiegel, Kevin Ross and Denise Socha (data integrity specialist).

There was a long line of vehicles down Chamberlain Street this morning. That line then extended down McKinistry, East Park and onto Main Street.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Annalise Steier, one of the drum majors in the Albion marching band, directs the group during a performance for parents and friends last month on May 27. The band performed “Old Town Road.”

ALBION – The Albion marching band, in its only competition this season, won the Peoples’ Choice Award, getting more YouTube likes for its video and two other bands in the AA Division.

The video competition was organized by the Sherburne-Earlville Pageant of Bands is up. People could only vote once. (The video link is no longer available.) Albion topped Norwich HS in second place, and Fonda-Fultonville HS in third.

Albion filmed its video on May 8. The contest gave the band a competition and an event, because its parade season was cancelled.

Albion and its 50 band members performed “Old Town Road” and the video also included some antics and whimsical moments.

“The band appreciates the community’s support, especially in this unusual year, which included practices held virtually via Zoom, no travel, and no live competitions or parades,” said band director Mike Thaine. “I applaud the core of kids who stuck with it!”

Provided photo: Mandy Gilmore and her 2-year-old daughter, Rosie Gaines, were the first ones to try the spray park today at Bullard Park. “We had so much fun,” Gilmore said. “She loved it.”

ALBION – The Village of Albion’s spray park is now open. The village was looking at a July 1 grand opening but moved that up with the current heat wave.

The site is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. There is a touch pad to activate the water at the splash park, which is located at Bullard Park on Route 31.

The village has been working on site for more than two years. It still needs to put in some sidewalks leading to the splash pad, and that could mean the site is off limits briefly.

The spray park has 18 spray elements. It is part of about $800,000 in upgrades to Bullard, Albion’s most popular park on Route 31. The improvements also include an amphitheater, utility building with bathrooms and a pavilion.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The splash pad is shown through a climbing wall at Pee Wee Park that is part of Bullard.

The village in December 2016 was awarded a $499,605 state grant for the Bullard projects. The village also received $97,500 from the county and $45,000 from the town of Albion, money that was through a revolving-loan fund by the Orleans Economic Development Agency.

The Albion DPW is providing $166,370 of in-kind services as part of Albion’s local share for the state grant. The DPW took down a pavilion and storage building in 2019 to make way for the new utility building. The DPW also ran a new sewer line across Route 31 near the Bullard entrance. That sewer line will service the park.

The DPW also ran 600 feet of waterline for the splash pad and utility building, several feet of sewer line, and did the electric service for the amphitheater.

ALBION – The school district is planning to celebrate graduation outside at the football stadium at 7 p.m. on June 25.

The district usually has graduation in the high school gym. Last year, when schools were limited to no more than 150 people at commencement, Albion opted to record each student receiving his or her diploma individually and then compiled a video.

This year the students will all be together for graduation. They will be limited to three tickets. The crowd will sit on the football field, between the 20-yard lines, with the grads in the bleachers.

The state has currently limited outdoor graduation ceremonies to 500 people or 20 percent of venues with more than 2,500 capacity. Indoor ceremonies are limited to 150 people or 10 percent for venues with capacity of 1,500 or more.

If it’s raining on June 25, Albion will move the ceremony to 2 p.m. on June 26. If it’s raining then, June 27 at 2 p.m. is the next option.

Jennifer Ashbery, high school principal, went over the plans with the Board of Education this evening.

The graduates will meet before the ceremony at the LGI in the high school. They will also be given the option of decorating their graduation caps, with the design to be approved by school officials.

The graduates will walk from the community entrance at the back high school parking lot, up the driveway and enter the football stadium from the east gate facing the elementary school. Faculty will line up and create a tunnel for students to pass through.

After the ceremony, the graduates can gather on the grassy area between the football stadium and high school parking lot. That differs from the past when the graduates and their families would congregate in front of the high school.

Ashbery shared other end-of-the-year highlights for seniors, including prom this Friday at Hickory Ridge. Last year’s formal event was cancelled due to the Covid restrictions.

Class night, which is usually on the Friday a week before graduation, this year will be on Thursday, June 17. That’s because there won’t be school on June 18 due to the new Juneteenth holiday.

Class night also will be celebrated in the high school gym instead of the middle school auditorium. Ashbery said she met with the class officers and they preferred the gym.

“They love the atmosphere, the warmth and the feeling of home that our high school gymnasium offers,” Ashbery said.

Members of the junior class will serve the seniors dinner before class night.

The baccalaureate service also will be on Sunday, June 20, at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.

Provided photos

ALBION – Albion students in Sandy Climenhaga’s AP Biology class continued an annual tradition where students fill planters with flowers. They are shown outside at the DPW last week. The bio students have been providing this community service for several years.

It is a fitting end to the year-long class, Climenhaga said. Students study the importance of plants as well as structure and biological properties.

Pictured in front include Emily Mergler, Sydney Mulka and Cameron Bell. In back are Melissa Robinson, Ashley Ames, Gavin Reid, Fjolla Bela and Alexa Grandy.

The group is shown working on the flowers in planters at the Main Street municipal lot. Pictured include Sandy Climenhaga, Sierra Kast, Jacob Thom, Cliff Thom, Jill Albertson, Ashley Ames, Tyler Climenhaga, Dean Marconi and Ziggy the dog.

Press Release, Albion Police Department

ALBION – The Albion Police Department will be conducting a Child Safety Seat Check event in the parking lot of COVA on Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. That is located at 239 South Main St.

This check event, which is sponsored by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and COVA, will allow parents and guardians to have their child seats inspected by a Child Safety Seat Technician. The technicians will determine if the child safety seat will provide adequate protection for the child or if a new child safety seat is needed.

The Albion Police Department received a Child Passenger Safety Program grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. This grant funding allows the Albion Police Department to purchase child safety seats and other related items for conducting child seat inspections. The funding is used to provide child safety seats to persons who currently have seats that do not meet safety standards following an inspection conducted by an Albion Police Safety Seat Technician.

Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% when used correctly. However, misuse reduces effectiveness. More than 90% of child safety seats are used improperly. The Albion Police Department will continue to address this issue by participating in the New York State Child Passenger Safety Grant Program and conduct Safety Seat Inspection Checks.

Residents may call the Albion Police Department anytime at (585) 589-5627 and schedule an individual appointment to have their child safety seat inspected.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Members of the VFW and American Legion posts carry flags at the beginning of a processional on Platt Street in front of the VFW Post. The Albion Village Hall and Police Station are in back.

For the second year there wasn’t a typical Memorial Day parade in Albion. Last year’s parade and service were cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns and restrictions.

The parade route usually starts on Main Street and heads to Route 31, ending at the middle school lawn and memorial.

The local veterans wanted a service this year, and opted for a smaller route and fewer parade participants. The Albion marching band and local scouts weren’t in the parade.

The procession passed by the Orleans County Courthouse on East State Street. Garland Miller, a Word War II veteran, served as honorary parade marshal. He rode in a Kubota driven by his son, Lynn Miller, a veteran who lives in Holley.

The Color Guard rounds the corner along the sidewalk at State and Main streets, headed to the service at the new veterans memorial that was dedicated last year by the Knights of Columbus.

Garland Miller, 95, is escorted in the Kubota by his son, Lynn. During World War II, Miller was an ambulance driver in the Pacific Theater. After the war he worked 21 years as a heavy equipment mechanic for the state Department of Transportation in Pittsford and then close to home in Albion. He also drove a tractor-trailer for 28 years and worked part-time for an auctioneer in Middleport.

This group of veterans bows their heads during a prayer by Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion.

Tim Lindsay said 1.3 million Americans have given their lives in military service for the country in the past 250 years. That sacrifice has made the country – and the world – a better and safer place, Lindsay said.

Lindsay quoted from President Lincoln’s speech at Gettysburg on Nov. 19, 1863, noting the soldiers honored on Memorial Day “gave the last full measure of devotion” to the country.

Lindsay prayed that God would continue to bless the United States keep his “providential hand upon us.”

This group gathers on the Courthouse Square lawn by a veterans’ memorial dedicated last year by the Knights of Columbus.

Tim Archer, a service learning teacher at Albion, has led seventh-graders in several community projects honoring veterans. He said his goal is to help the students become better citizens.

Archer shared that he recently walked at Mount Albion Cemetery and stopped by the graves of six local men who died defending the country over three generations.

One of the soldiers, Jason Johnston, was in Archer’s class.

Archer highlighted these soldiers:

• Private First Class Augustus J. Rogers, Co. B, 315th Infantry, died in 1944 at age 19
• S/Sgt. Howard W. Tucker, Co. M. 385th Infantry, 76th Division, died in 1945 at age 25
• Pvt. Robert Casselman, 79th Qm. Depot, died in 1954 at age 24
• John J. Hornyak, Marine Corps in Vietnam, died in 1966 at age 28
• Pvt. First Class Paul D. Ormand, security agency in Vietnam, died in 1975 at age 19
• Army Spec. Jason M. Johnston, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan, died in 2009 at age 24.

“Their deeds and sacrifice speak to us today — in this great land that God has ordained and blessed. It is our responsibility to remember, preserve and pass on to the next generation those standards and expectations that make America the greatest nation on earth.”

Archer also shared that his students are working on an interpretive panel that would be installed in front of the Treasurer’s Office on East Park Street. That building was the first home for the Sheret Post of the American Legion and was its home from 1935 until 1980.

It was named for Sgt. James Sheret, who died on Sept. 29, 1918 in World War I. Sheret was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for the bravery of his actions during the attack on the Hindenburg Line. General John Pershing considered “one of the hundred heroes of WW1”.

Sgt. Sheret’s brother Egbert, a machine gunner, was also killed in action that day and their younger brother, Andrew, was severely injured.

Issac Robinson, a former combat medic, fires as part of a 21-gun salute near the end of today’s Memorial Day observance. Jim Hollinger, left, and Matt Passarell were part of the Color Guard.

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday voted in favor of four solar projects in county with two in Albion, one in Kendall and one in Carlton.

The Planning Board recommended each town accept the site plans and issue permits for the projects. The projects are all on land that is currently being farmed.

In Albion, a 5-megawatt project with about 40,000 solar panels is proposed at 3852 Long Bridge Rd., on land owned by Brad Bokman near Route 31. The solar arrays will generate enough power for about 700-900 homes, a company representative said by Zoom videoconferencing during Thursday’s meeting.

U.S. Light and Energy in Latham, NY, will use 66 acres of a 92-acre parcel for the ground-mounted solar system. The project includes electrical equipment with transformers on concrete pads, an accessory building, 1,560 linear feet of electrical line, a chain-link fence and an access drive off Long Bridge Road. The landscaping plan also calls for 553 plants, with 292 Wichita Blue Juniper trees.

County planners recommended Albion require an existing berm on the property’s western border remain to provide a buffer for a neighboring house made of Medina sandstone in the Greek Revival architectural style. That house would be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, according to a letter from Oct. 16, 2020 from Robyn Sedgwick, historic site restoration coordinator for the State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

• The other project in Albion is at 3858 Gaines Basin Rd., on land owned by Donna Laubacher. This site is just south of Allen Road.

The 2.5 megawatt solar system with about 8,100 solar panels would use 15.6 acres of the land. AES DE DevCo NC LLC is the developer. The company is based in Louisville, Colo.

AES said the project is expected to have a useful life of 25 years or longer. The landscaping plan includes 470 deciduous and evergreen trees with 183 Northern White Cedars, along with shrubs and pollinators.

• In Kendall, a 5-megawatt project is proposed for 27 acres on Center Road on land owned by Lance Manville of Hilton.

The developer of the project is DG New York LLC, based in Juno Beach, Fla. The project is at 1770 Center Rd., the northwest intersection of Center Road and Kenmore Road.

• In Carlton, a 4.4 megawatt project would be on 26.7 acres at 13759 Waterport-Carlton Rd., land owned by Michael and Jessica Connor.

The developer of the project is Omni Navitas Holdings LLC in Boston, Mass.

The company is proposing 12,700 solar panels, new electrical equipment including four transformers on concrete pads, and 2,417 feet of underground electrical wiring. There would be an access drive on Park Avenue. The solar system would be surrounded with a chain-link fence.

Route won’t include Main Street, which is posted detour with Knowlesville bridge out

ALBION – Garland Miller, a World War II veteran, was an ambulance driver in the Pacific Theater. On Monday, he will serve as honorary parade marshal during Albion’s scaled-down Memorial Day observance.

There won’t be a parade down Main Street, ending at the middle school front lawn due to Covid-19 concerns. There won’t be a marching band and other service organizations for the parade and memorial service.

Last year’s Memorial Day observance was cancelled. This year, the VFW and American Legion are planning a smaller-scale observance, with veterans gathering at the VFW on Platt Street at about 10:30 a.m. The group will then proceed to the Courthouse lawn for an observance at the new veterans’ memorial that was erected by the Knights of Columbus. (The Knights will have a ceremony there too on Monday at 9 a.m. with a bagpiper.)

The veterans were planning to march from the VFW down Bank Street and then turn left onto Main Street. But Route 98 is a posted detour with the Route 31 bridge in Knowlesville currently closed. Because of that, the Department of Transportation was unwilling to close Main Street for the procession, said Gary Befus, who is helping to organize the procession.

The VFW and Legion have a new route, with veterans gathering at the VFW, processing south on Platt Street, then turning right (west) onto State Street, and then taking a left (south) at the Main Street traffic light. They will then march single file down the sidewalk to the veterans’ memorial on the Courthouse lawn, Befus said.

Any local veteran is welcome to join in the procession. At the memorial the service will begin at 11 a.m. with brief remarks from Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, and Tim Archer, an Albion teacher who will highlight some of the service-learning projects by his students that have honored veterans.

Mr. Miller, 95, is expected to join in the procession, riding in a Kubota. After serving in World War II, he worked 21 years as a heavy equipment mechanic for the state Department of Transportation in Pittsford and then close to home in Albion. He also drove a tractor-trailer for 28 years and worked part-time for an auctioneer in Middleport.

He has been busy in his retirement, visiting all 50 states. He stays active, and has been in the news for completing puzzles with several thousand pieces.

Toyz n Kandy owner says site connects to nostalgia, simpler times

Photos by Tom Rivers: Dan Conrad is opening Toyz n Kandy today in the Arnold Gregory Office Building at 243 South Main St. He is on the second floor at suite 235.

ALBION – Dan Conrad hears lots of talk about the good ole’ days. Those remembrances often involve penny candy and simple toys – nothing with electronics.

Conrad, 38, remembers as a kid walking to Fischer’s Newsstand and getting a piece of candy with his buddies. Fischer’s closed on April 30, 2015.

Conrad is opening a candy store today. Toyz n Kandy has a selection of sweets and some old-fashioned toys, including whoopee cushions, Friendship Bracelets, toy harmonicas, chalk and game balls.

Conrad tried to find penny candies, but these days the low price is a nickel for small tootsie rolls and Jolly Ranchers. He has an array of other candy with nothing more than $2.

“We’re trying to bring back the nostalgia, the good times,” Conrad said on Wednesday at the site at the Arnold Gregory Office Building. He is on the second floor next to the Tree House, a childcare and kids’ party business, and also Best of Tymes Party Rentals.

Conrad sees some crossover appeal in the other businesses on the second floor. He said the building is bustling with many other tenants.

He sees the current spot for Toyz n Kandy as the beginning of a business he hopes will expand in the future with root beer floats, ice cream and a wider selection of items. He credited his kids, ages 11 and 4, for helping to pick out the merchandise.

He pushed to open today so people could load up on treats and toys before the Memorial Day weekend. He will have a grand opening today from 2 to 7 p.m., with Golden Tickets at other businesses in the building as part of a scavenger hunt with candy prizes.

Conrad is looking to have the site also be a children’s book share, where people can borrow books for free. He also is planning to do monthly craft days, and is looking to be a vendor at local festivals and other community events.

He also is willing to supply candy and toys for birthday parties, private events and fundraisers.

Conrad will be running the store part-time while working full-time for the Arc of Genesee Orleans. He also is on the board for Hoag Library and COVA, and is president of the Albion Lions Club.

“This is just another way to do something for the kids and the community,” Conrad said about the store.

Dan Conrad on Wednesday is shown getting ready for today’s grand opening from 2 to 7 p.m.

Provided photos

ALBION – Students in the Interact Club at Albion High School planted flowers on Wednesday morning at Mount Albion Cemetery. The flowers were donated by Navarra’s Farm Market and Greenhouse.

Pictured from left include Kenzi Hapeman, Emily Mergler, Ally Mathes and Byrne Dysard.

The students are pictured with Interact Club Advisor Tim Archer. From left include Kenzi Hapeman, Byrne Dysard, Tim Archer, Emily Mergler and Ally Mathes.

Former teacher Doug Mergler, Emily’s father, helped with the effort.

Kristen Ostrander is fifth owner in business’s 85 years

Photos by Tom Rivers: Kristen Ostrander is shown today at Bloom’s Flower Shop at 139 South Main St. in Albion. She bought the business on May 10 from Debbie London, the owner for 21 years.

ALBION – One of Albion’s mainstay businesses, Bloom’s Flower Shop, has a new owner following 21 years of Debbie London leading the Bloom’s.

Kristen Ostrander closed on the sale on May 10. She is grateful and humbled to take the reins of the floral shop that has been a part of so many important moments for families, going back 85 years. (Bloom’s created the floral arrangements for Ostrander’s wedding and also at several of her family funerals.”

“Bloom’s will always have a special place in my heart,” Ostrander said today at the business, located at 139 South Main St.

Ostrander, 39, is a Kendall resident. She and her husband Jon, also 39, started investing in Albion about two years ago. They own five duplexes and a single-family residence in Albion.

Leann Coke, a floral designer at Bloom’s, works on an arrangement this morning.

Mrs. Ostrander and her husband turned to becoming landlords and real estate about two years ago, looking to become their own bosses. However, she was still working as a sales and marketing representative for a health insurance company. Her husband spotted an ad in the Lake Country Pennysaver that Bloom’s was for sale.

He thought his wife would be a good fit for the business. She is creative, for years making wreaths, crafts, welcome signs, centerpieces and boutonnieres.

She reached a deal with London and has been running the business for about two weeks now.

“Albion needs Bloom’s,” Ostrander said. “Bloom’s has been a staple here for so many years.”

She is planning to keep the business with the same friendly touch as with London. Ostrander and her husband are planning to replace the floors and paint the interior. Ostrander also has started a “Bloom’s Box” subscription service where people can get regular deliveries of flowers as often as they like, perhaps monthly or major holidays.

Ostrander takes over during a busy time with families wanting fresh flowers at graves ahead of Memorial Day. It’s also dance recital season, and next month will be proms and high school graduations. The summer will be busy with weddings and graduation parties.

Bloom’s also offers chocolates, stuffed animals, balloons, and is looking to add more gift items and candles.

Leann Coke is working as a floral designer for Ostrander at Bloom’s. She said she is having a blast.

“You touch so many lives in a floral shop,” Coke said. “You see so much love, and you can help comfort people in the sad times.”

For more on Bloom’s, click here.

Photos courtesy of Albion Central School – First Row, from left: Hannah Papponetti, Leah Pritchard and Belen Rosario Soto. Second Row: Aurora Serafin, Alyson Knaak, Kyle Kuehne, Elijah Lloyd, Charley London, Allison Mathes, Bailey Nesbitt and Paris Smith. Third Row: Leah Kania, Eli Pask, Zachary Olles, Reuben Rivers, Presley Smith, Sydney Mulka and Colleen Usselman. Missing from photo: Adrian Kingdollar.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Albion High School inducted 38 students into the National Honor Society (NHS) on May 12.

Split into two in-person events so as to limit the number of people gathered at one time, the ceremony was once again held in the Middle School Auditorium, NHS Advisor Suzane Newton explained.

“It was a night to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of these students in the areas of character, service, leadership, and scholarship,” Newton said. “The current officers led the inductees through the ceremony and we were grateful to be able to have an in-person ceremony this year.”

In order to join, inductees needed to meet the criteria, set by NHS, for their scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

First Row: (left to right) Emily Graham, Kenzi Hapeman and Emily Harling. Second Row: Olivia Bieber, Abigail Allen, Carson Bader, James Beach, Katelyn Beach, Nicolina Creasey and Ann Faery. Third Row: Zachary Albright, Hannah Coolbaugh, Bailey Blanchard, Collin Capurso, Anthony Freeman, Jeffrey Brown, Ethan Ferchen and Tyler Gibson. Missing from photo: Fjolla Bela.

After reciting the NHS pledge, the students were received by the club officers, Alexa Grandy (Secretary), Saleya Williams (Treasurer), Emily Mergler (Vice-President), and Ashley Ames (President), who invited the newly inducted members on stage to sign the membership book, receive their membership pin, and their certificate.

The newly inducted NHS members include Zachary Albright, Abigail Allen, Carson Bader, James Beach, Katelyn Beach, Fjolla Bela, Olivia Bieber, Bailey Blanchard, Jeffrey Brown, Hannah Coolbaugh, Collin Capurso, Nicolina Creasey, Ann Faery, Ethan Ferchen, Anthony Freeman, Tyler Gibson, Emily Graham, Kenzi Hapeman, Emily Harling, Leah Kania, Alyson Knaak, Adrian Kingdollar, Kyle Kuehne, Elijah Lloyd, Charley London, Allison Mathes, Sydney Mulka, Bailey Nesbitt, Zachary Olles, Hannah Papponetti, Eli Pask, Leah Pritchard, Reuben Rivers, Belen Rosario Soto, Aurora Serafin, Paris Smith, Presley Smith, and Colleen Usselman.

Congratulations everyone!