Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: The top 3 in the Albion Middle School Spelling Bee include, from left: second place winner, Ben O’Conner; first place winner, Adam Burlison; 2nd place (tie) winner, Finn McCue.
Press Release, Albion Central School
ALBION – Adam Burlison is the Albion Middle School Spelling Bee winner. This is the second year in a row that Adam has won the local spelling bee and will compete at the regional level.
He competed against 24 other students in grades 6 through 8 in the Albion competition.
It took 13 rounds to weed the spellers down to just three finalists. Finn McCue and Benjamin O’Conner were tough spellers and lasted until the 15th round when Finn misspelled the word “solace” and Ben misspelled the word “proximal.”
Adam spelled “misdemeanor” correctly in the 15thround. To win the contest, Adam had to spell the round 16 final word correctly, or Finn and Ben would have a chance to correctly spell the word and continue in the contest.
Adam’s winning word was “hymnal.”
The audience erupted into applause when Adam spelled the word correctly.
Adam received a certificate from Middle School Principal Brad Pritchard and now moves on to the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee on Feb. 29 at 10 a.m. in the Le Roy High School Auditorium. He will compete against other local winners in the GLOW region.
Mrs. Bonnie Baldwin registers the spellers for the bee. Baldwin coordinated this year’s event.
The Genesee Valley Branch of the American Public Works Association recognized two long-time highway workers and a public works project in Orleans County during a Jan. 30 awards program at the RIT Inn and Conference Center in Henrietta.
The following descriptions of the honorees was taken from the program during the awards celebration.
Public Works Project of the Year Award for Small Cities/Rural Communities
The Town of Albion was honored for the Clarendon Road Culvert Replacement Project in Orleans County.
On the surface this project looks like a typical rural town culvert replacement project, the Genesee Valley Branch of the APWA stated.
However, it was the cooperative effort between the Town of Albion Highway Department and the Orleans County Highway Department that sets this project apart.
The existing structure was in very poor condition and lacked appropriate guide rails to protect the traveling public. In addition, Clarendon Road is a heavily travelled thoroughfare adjacent to the Albion Central School District.
This Town of Albion was awarded a grant through the 2016 BridgeNY Program with an overall project budget of $174,000 for design, construction, and construction oversight. The project was put out to bid as a precast concrete buried structure and wing wall system supported on precast concrete footings. The bids came in higher than budgeted and the town needed to find an alternative method for completing this project.
The construction of the new corrugated metal culvert pipe, approaches and guide rails were designed by Labella and constructed by the Orleans County Highway Department under their shared services agreement with the Town.
The project is forwarded to the APWA State Level for consideration of a statewide award. If chosen for a state award, it will be considered for National APWA recognition.
Public Works Leader of the Year
Ed Morgan was recognized for an active 30-year career as highway superintendent for the Town of Murray.
The Public Works Leader of the Year Award was established to inspire excellence and dedication in public service by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of individual public works professionals.
Ed Morgan has served as the Town of Murray Highway Superintendent since elected in 1990. During that time, Ed has helped facilitate the construction of nearly 300,000 linear feet of water main to serve the residents of the community.
Ed performs dual responsibilities, as Water Superintendent operating the water system, while at the same time maintaining over 30 miles of roads throughout the town, along with total winter maintenance on 17 miles of county roads and 16 miles of State roads.
Under Ed’s urging and direction, the Town of Murray Highway Department staff completed the replacement of the Highway Department flat roof with a new truss roof, built a large storage building and expanded the Town Hall to accommodate the expanding court system with accessibility for town residents and operational staff.
They also built a 1,200-ton salt storage building and installed a computerized fuel system to accommodate not only the Town’s needs, but also service two fire departments. These improvements completed by Town staff have saved the Town hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ed and his employees were also the lead agency in the construction of the Holley Industrial Park including, roads, water and sanitary. Ed was also instrumental in building two complete soccer fields for the Holley Central School District.
Ed has works closely with other Town Highway Superintendents to assist them when needed. He has been a strong advocate for highway departments across the state. He has served as President of the Orleans County Highway Superintendents Association several times over the past 30 years.
Ed is community minded and previously served as Treasurer of the Holley Rotary Club, has received a Rotary Paul Harris citation, served as the Orleans County Republican Chairman for 12 years, currently sits on the Western New York OTB Board of Directors as Chairman of the Batavia Downs Committee and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation Board. Ed also serves as Vice-Chairman on the Board of Fire Commissioners for the F-H-M Fire District as well as a Trustee for St. Mary & St. Mark Church.
It is with this combination of professional and personal dedication that we recognize Ed Morgan as the Public Works Leader of the Year.
Douglas C. Zefting Public Service Employee Award
Steve Fuller (right), lead motor equipment operator for the Orleans County DPW, is pictured with John Papponetti, DPW superintendent, during the awards celebration on Jan. 30.
This award recognizes outstanding public service and achievement of an operational maintenance level employee of a public works agency of a political subdivision. Candidates must be employed on a full-time basis by any state, county, city, village or town and shall have a minimum of 10-years public service. The award is named in honor of Douglas C. Zefting, P.E., former City of Rochester Engineer.
Steven Fuller was recognized for his 31 years of service to Orleans County where he has worked his way up through the ranks from laborer to become a Lead Motor Equipment Operator, and head of the County’s paving operation.
Steve is the main point of contact for the County for all paving operations and coordinates all project needs including equipment, materials, and labor. Steve works closely with the 10 Towns and 3 Villages within the County to complete their paving projects. This is a $3.5 million countywide operation each year.
Steve is a valuable asset to the County. He is the first one to show up in the morning, and the last one to leave. He is a hard worker that leads by example and maintains a positive working relationship with all of the Town and Village Highway Superintendents.
BATAVIA – Tompkins Bank of Castile is being honored as the 2019 Business of the Year by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.
The award—which recognizes organizations that demonstrate significant business stability, commitment to the community and leadership—will be presented at the Chamber’s 48th annual Awards Ceremony on Saturday, March 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Quality Inn & Suites in Batavia.
“We are grateful to the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce for this wonderful recognition,” said John McKenna, President and CEO of Tompkins Bank of Castile. “Tompkins is proud to partner with the Chamber and other community organizations to ensure our region’s growth and prosperity in the years to come.”
Tompkins Bank of Castile recently celebrated its 150th anniversary with yearlong celebrations throughout 2019. Based in Batavia, the bank serves the GLOW region (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties) and beyond in Rochester and most recently, expanded into Buffalo with the opening of its Amherst location. Tompkins Bank of Castile has a branch in Medina.
“Tompkins Bank of Castile has seen unprecedented growth in Genesee County in recent years,” said Tom Turnbull, President of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce. “Not only are they a thriving business in our area but they have continued to be a leader in community service and volunteerism. With Tompkins celebrating their 150th anniversary, they were a natural and worthy choice to receive the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 5 February 2020 at 10:21 am
MEDINA – The Medina Railroad Museum’s first efforts to enter a float in Medina’s Parade of Lights on Nov. 30 earned them a Grand Prize trophy and a check for $1,000.
On Friday, Jim Hancock, Dave Miller and Kathie Valley, members of Medina’s Tourism Committee which sponsors the Parade of Lights, presented the trophy to Medina Railroad Museum personnel. Accepting the award was Caitlyn Klotzbach, director of group sales for the museum and daughter of the museum’s director Janine Klotzbach. Caitlyn is also the granddaughter of the museum’s founder Marty Phelps.
Hancock is head of the Tourism Committee and organizer of the parade. Valley and Miller work with the judges and Valley escorts them through the staging area prior to the parade.
On hand for the trophy presentation were volunteers and personnel who helped work on the float. Michael Greybill works on buildings and grounds at the museum, Amanda Majors runs the ticket booth and gift shop, Brodie George is the layout operator and conductor on special trains and Grace Stewart is volunteer coordinator.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Railroad Museum’s float is shown Nov. 30 during the 11th annual Parade of Lights. The museum was named the grand prize winner in the parade that included about 45 participants.
The float was a miniature replica of a railroad station. It was originally designed by Phelps and constructed by the Amish. For several years, it has been towed to train events to promote the railroad museum. It also doubles as Santa’s house at the North Pole during runs of the Polar Express.
Turning it into an award-winning float took hours of work. The crew worked from noon to 9 p.m. one day just covering the roof with lights, then it took another day to put lights on the sides.
“They did a tremendous job on their float,” Hancock said. “It was absolutely fabulous.”
Judges were representatives from major sponsors of the parade. Entries were judged on the number of lights, crowd appeal and creativity, Hancock said.
Volunteers and employees of the Medina Railroad Museum pose with the Grand Prize trophy the museum won for its entry in the Parade of Lights in November. From left are Michael Greybill, who works on buildings and grounds; Amanda Major, who mans the ticket booth and oversees the gift shop; Caitlyn Klotzbach, daughter of director Janine Klotzbach and granddaughter of the museum’s founder Marty Phelps; Brody George, layout operator and conductor on special trains; and Grace Stewart, volunteer coordinator.
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles-based author Julie Berry’s young adult novel set in World War I, Lovely War, has won the prestigious 2020 Golden Kite Award for the top work of young adult fiction by the Society of Children’s Books and Illustrators (SCBWI).
Photo by Travis Tanner of Julie Berry, a 1991 Medina graduate
Instituted in 1973, the Golden Kite Award is an annual award for excellence in children’s literature given in six categories and, along with the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, is the only children’s literacy award judged by a jury of peers.
Over 1,000 books are entered each year. Julie Berry and the other winners in each category will formally accept their awards at SCBWI’s gala on Feb. 7 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City, and will each receive $2,500 plus an additional $1,000 to donate to a non-profit organization of their choice. Berry will direct her donation funds to the Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights advocacy group committed to ending mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial and economic injustice in the United States.
Lovely War, released from Viking Books for Young Readers, has topped several best of year lists for 2019. Lovely War was named a Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Book of 2019, a New York Public Library Best Fantasy for Adults, a Kirkus Best YA Romance of 2019, a Booklist Editor’s Choice for Youth 2019, a Horn Book Fanfare Title for 2019, a 2019 Blue Ribbon from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, a BookPage Best Young Adult Book of 2019, a Shelf Awareness 2019 Best Children’s & Teen Book of the Year, a BuzzFeed Best Young Adult Book of 2019, and a Texas Library Association TAYSHAS Top Ten Book.
Libraries naming it to their best teen and YA reads of the year lists include Chicago Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, San Jose Public Library. The novel also won the 2019 Young Adult Prize given by the Southern California Independent Booksellers’ Association.
Julie Berry’s book, Lovely War, has been critically acclaimed.
At the time of its March 2019 release, Lovely War received glowing reviews from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Cosmopolitan. The New York Times Book Review called Lovely War a “virtuoso” achievement, saying it “reads like a divine mix of Kate Atkinson and Neil Gaiman.” The Washington Post called it “the novel you’ll want to steal from your teen’s nightstand.” BookPage praised “Julie Berry’s superb research and attention to detail” as “perfectly suited to the layers of this moving, unflinching and, yes, romantic story of love in wartime.” Barnes and Noble called it “a story of love, healing, and meddling gods you won’t want to miss.” Lovely War also received seven starred reviews from industry journals including Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, Booklist, The Horn Book, and Shelf Awareness.
Berry is also the author of the award-winning young adult title, The Passion of Dolssa. The critically acclaimed novel won a 2017 Michael L. Printz Honor award from the American Library Association, was a finalist for the L.A. Times Book prize, a The New York Times Notable title, and was on Best of the Year lists with Kirkus, Booklist, School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and others.
Berry’s other novels include All the Truth That’s In Me and The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place, both award-winning titles for young people. This year, she released her first picture books including Long Ago, on a Silent Night, illustrated by Annie Won and published by Scholastic, and Happy Right Now, illustrated by #1 New York Times Bestselling illustrator Holly Hatam, and published by Sounds True.
Julie Berry grew up in Medina and spent most of her adult life in the Boston area before moving to Pasadena, California with her family. She holds a BS from Rensselaer in communication and an MFA from Vermont College of the Fine Arts in writing for children and young adults.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 February 2020 at 4:46 pm
The football division alignment and opponents will have a very new look for Medina this fall as the Mustangs will be competing in Class C instead of Class B due to a change in the state’s enrollment numbers for each of the sport’s five classifications (AA, A, B, C and D).
In 2019 the state’s classification enrollment numbers for Class B were 355-584 and for Class C 230-354.
The new classification enrollment numbers for 2020 for Class B will be 397-629 and for Class C 261-396.
Those changes will have Medina, which is listed at 356, shifting to Class C while Albion at 443 will remain in Class B.
Six other schools, which were in Class B last year, have also dropped to Class C including Tonawanda, Newfane, Lackawanna, Springville, Alden and Eden.
The tentative three division lineup for the 18 schools in Class C will be as follows:
C North – Medina, Newfane, Akron, Wilson, Tonawanda and Cleveland Hill.
C Central – Lackawanna, Springville, Alden, Eden, JFK and Gowanda/Pine Valley .
C South – Fredonia, Cassadaga Valley/Falconer, Southwestern, Chautauqua Lake/Brocton/Westfield, Allegany-Limestone and Clyer/Sherman/Panama (CSP).
The 14 Class B schools will be divided into two enrollment based divisions.
Albion will be in the B2 Division along with Lake Shore, Maritime, Olean, Maryvale, Dunkirk and Depew.
The B1 Division will have West Seneca East, Burgard, East Aurora, Iroquois, Pioneer, Cheektowaga and Lew-Port.
This fall’s Section VI schedule itself could also have a new look as the state Executive Council is scheduled to vote Friday on a proposal to increase the number of regular season games from seven to eight. The eighth game would be played on the weekend which previously was used for preseason scrimmages.
This would be the first time Section VI schools have played an eight game regular season since 2008 when the section added a quarterfinal round for the sectional playoffs. Those quarterfinal games occupied the weekend which had previously been used for the eighth game of the regular season.
Major James M. Hall, a 25-year veteran of the New York State Police, has been named the 25th Troop Commander in the 102-year history of Troop A, which is based in Batavia.
As the Troop A Commander, Hall will oversee all State Police patrol and investigative operations within the eight counties of Western New York for over 400 sworn and civilian personnel.
Hall began his State Police career in 1994 and rose through the ranks, most recently, serving as Troop A’s BCI Captain. His duties have included: Uniform Trooper, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. Additionally, he has served in the Professional Standards Bureau, as well as the Gaming Detail.
Hall received a Bachelor Degree in Organizational Management from Houghton College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Marist College. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.
Throughout his career, Major Hall has had the opportunity to work on several high-profile cases during his various assignments. He is committed to public service and comes from a family with a rich history in law enforcement.
Conservatives not endorsing candidate in special election, but urge Republicans to support Parlato in primary
Beth Parlato
ALDEN – The Erie County Conservative Party has endorsed Beth Parlato for the June 23 Republican primary for New York’s 27th congressional district.
“We’re seeing tremendous grassroots support across the district, and it is an honor to have the endorsement of the Erie County Conservative Party,” said Parlato, a former Darien town justice. “I am not a conservative by convenience just because I am running for political office. I’ve been a conservative all my life. It’s part of who I am.”
Parlato was one of five Republicans considered by eight Republican Party county leaders in an upcoming special election to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Chris Collins. The eight county chairmen picked State Sen. Chris Jacobs as the Republican candidate in the special election, likely to be held April 28.
The Conservative Party isn’t officially endorsing a candidate in the special election. However, the party is looking ahead to the November general election and is urging Republicans to support her Parlato in the June 23 primary.
“Beth Parlato is not a political insider,” said Erie County Conservative Party Chairman Ralph Lorigo. “I’ve seen her ability to approach people, look them in the eye, and convince them. I think she’s an excellent candidate. It will be a great thing to have a woman’s perspective in this particular seat, and she has all of the other excellent qualities along with that. ”
Police chief bemoans no bail could be set under new state justice reform
Press Release, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni
ALBION – The Albion Police Department has arrested three people after the immediate commission of a burglary to a dwelling and the larceny from several vehicles.
Shortly after midnight the Albion Police Department was dispatched to the area of Clarendon Street and Childs Street for an audible car alarm going off and suspicious persons in the area. Albion police officers arrived on scene and took three people located in the area into custody. The suspects were in possession of numerous stolen items and burglar tools.
Those arrested include:
Benjamin Coger
Benjamin Coger, 33, and James Gursslin, 18, of Albion. They both use many addresses in the Village of Albion. The third suspect is 17 and his name is being withheld due to his adolescent offender status.
The investigation resulted in the discovery of a burglary at a residence on Childs Street and several larcenies from vehicles in the area of Childs Street, Clarendon Street and Crimson Heights, all allegedly committed by the three suspects.
James Gursslin
The three suspects were charged with Burglary 2nd (C Felony) and numerous counts of Grand Larceny 4th (E Felony), Petit Larceny and several other A misdemeanors. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges will be filed following the investigation.
Because of the New York State Justice Reform, the two adult offenders were released on appearance tickets and the adolescent offender was placed on house arrest following an arraignment in Orleans County Youth Court.
All of the offenders have also been recently arrested and released for other burglaries they are alleged to have committed and are under investigation for additional burglaries in the immediate area. They cannot be held because of Justice Reform.
This is another example of law-abiding citizens of our community being placed in harm’s way by legislation that hampers law enforcement’s ability to protect our citizens.
We believe that the above defendants may have committed other crimes and if anyone believes they are victims of larcenies or burglaries we ask that you contact the Albion Police or the law enforcement agency where you live.
If anyone has seen the above individuals acting suspicious to please report the activity to the Albion Police at (585) 589-5627.
The Albion Police Department was assisted by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police.
(Editor’s Note: This story was updated with the correct age for James Gursslin. Initially it was reported as 33. He is 18.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2020 at 12:43 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Kahleb Dozier portrays Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, during this morning’s Wax Museum at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School in Albion. Kahleb shared how Elvis was a big star, but would die at age 42 in 1977 from an overdose of prescription drugs.
This is the second year students in Cheryl Rightmyer’s and Shani Farce’s fourth-grade classes researched and dressed up as famous people. The 42 students in the two classes helped make their costumes and brought along props to highlight their characters.
The students would sit still almost like statues. After someone pressed a sticker to represent a button, the students came to life and portrayed an influential person, either in the past or present.
Besides learning about the notable people portrayed at the wax museum, the students also built their confidence in delivering a public presentation.
Kasia Robinson portrays Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks. She is best known for her instrumental role in the Montgomery bus boycott. On Dec. 1, 1955, Parks rejected an order from a bus driver to give up her seat and move to the “colored section” in the back of the bus. She was arrested. Her defiance inspired the black community to boycott the Montgomery buses for over a year.
Jonathan Soule is Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading author, politician, inventor, civic activist and statesman. As a scientist, he made many discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals and the Franklin stove.
Tyriek Johnson portrays Harry Houdini, a master illusionist and stunt performer.
Maci Manicki presents Jane Goodall, who is considered the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees. Goodall has worked extensively on conservation and animal welfare issues for more than a half century.
Makenzie Cook is Anne Frank, a victim of the Holocaust who wrote about her family’s two years in hiding from 1942 to 1944. Her diary is one of the world’s best known books.
Adelaide Pettit highlights Rachel Carson, an American marine biologist, author and conservationist whose book Silent Spring helped advance the environmental movement. That book led to a nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides. Carson inspired an environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2020 at 9:17 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Gaines Basin Road bridge over the Erie Canal is pictured on Monday around 1 p.m. in Albion.
Orleans County will get a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain late Wednesday night, which will likely transition to rain over much of the area on Thursday, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.
The county could get 1 to 3 inches of snow overnight through Thursday morning.
The high temperatures for the next few days include 38 for today, followed by 29 on Wednesday, 38 on Thursday, 30 on Friday and 25 on Saturday.
BASOM – A volunteer who has donated 35,000 hours at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge was honored on Saturday.
Carl Zenger began his volunteer service at Wildlife Refuge in 1997. He created an extensive cavity bird nesting program, helped re-establish a rapidly declining purple martin population, managed habitat, created opportunities for children, and built more nest boxes, bat, bird, and butterfly houses than anyone could count, refuge leaders said.
Zenger was joined by his wife Phyllis at the refuge on Saturday. Refuge Manager Tom Roster presented Zenger with a plaque and a 35,000-hour volunteer pin in front of the 65 visitors, Friends Board Members, Fish and Wildlife Service staff, NYS DEC staff, partners, and other volunteers.
Zenger has given about an average of 30 hours a week in volunteer service to the refuge since 1997. He is retired from a 42-year career as an engineer and supervisor at General Motors.
Carl Zenger has been nearly a full-time presence at the refuge since 1997, and has been instrumental in many projects. He is shown with Tom Roster, refuge manager, during a celebration in Zenger’s honor.
In his tenure at Iroquois NWR, Zenger spearheaded the restoration of what was once a tiny purple martin colony in 2001 into an impressive martin program with over 180 cavities at six locations today. In 2019, these cavities fledged 702 purple martins, which is an increase of 75 percent over the last 9 years.
Additionally, Zenger has headed the cavity nesting program since he learned the ropes. He designed a unique winch system for American kestrel boxes ensuring weekly checks can be safely accomplished. And through this program, Carl has banded and taught others how to age, sex, and band eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, purple martins, great-crested flycatchers, eastern screech owls, American kestrels, and prothonotary warblers. His team of volunteers banded 1,307 birds in 2019 with 99 percent of them fledging.
Zenger has taken students, children, volunteers, and the public under his wing. He has exposed these groups to the refuge, educated them about refuge programs, and has been known to let them hold a hatchling or two. He has been instrumental in a University of Buffalo study on nest parasites of purple martins, assisting the PhD candidate in organization and implementation of data collection at Iroquois NWR.
Every year, the Youth Conservation Corps students rave about working with Zenger on refuge banding projects, stating it was their favorite part of the summer. He helps with public outreach through special events and interpretive programming, and has even developed an educational program called Take-a-Kid-Along, allowing children to participate in and learn in a one-on-one situation about bird banding, bird identification, and marsh habitat exploration. It’s ideas and work such as these that help promote the refuge to not just younger audiences, but to all generations.
Since the day Zenger walked through the door, this energetic man has done anything refuge staff have asked of him from litter pick up to carpentry, habitat work, painting, and mowing, refuge leader said.
Along with the help of other volunteers, he has built 200-300 different habitat houses each year for the refuge’s annual Spring Into Nature festival. He even helps the children (and sometimes adults) build the houses to take home. Since becoming a certified tractor operator, he has personally mowed approximately 3,800 acres over the years in order to maintain habitat for ground nesting birds, pollinators, mammals and native plant species.
Additionally, he obtained his backhoe and tracked dozer operator certificates enabling him to assist with numerous habitat management projects including, floodplain restoration via dike removal, trail development, private lands habitat restoration projects, and water control structure installation.
KENDALL – Kendall High School senior Katherine Pearson was selected as the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen of the Orleans Chapter. She demonstrated the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. She is pictured at left with Principal Carol D’Agostino.
The award includes a $200 scholarship. Pearson was required to write an essay about participating in Empire Girls State program. The focus of the scholarship is patriotism and being proud to be an American.
Pearson is an active student. She is a three-sport varsity athlete (soccer, basketball and softball). She also is an officer in the Principal’s Club, vice president of AFS, performs in the musical, and she sings in the school’s elite choral group, Vocal Effect.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 February 2020 at 2:56 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
BARRE – A tractor trailer went through the intersection at routes 98 and 31A without stopping, and caused an accident with a dump truck from Keeler Construction, a state trooper said at the scene.
The accident at about 1:50 p.m. caused two utility poles to break. National Grid is on scene to replace the poles.
None of the drivers were injured in the accident.
The dump truck from Keeler Construction was headed westbound on 31A and swerved and avoided causing major damage to the tractor trailer. The dump truck is shown at the southwest corner of the intersection.
Albion firefighters Darryl Szklany and Dustin Pahura direct traffic at the intersection of routes 98 and 31A.
