By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 June 2025 at 5:26 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Today’s 37th annual Strawberry Festival Parade for the first time include the mini-cars from the Damascus Shriners from Webster. There were eight mini-cars in the parade and the drivers zipped around in circles to the thrill of the crowd.
The cars line up after their spectacle on the street and the crowd gave them a big applause.
Orly the Ox served as grand marshal for the parade. Orly is the county’s mascot during this year’s bicentennial celebration of the county.
Orly was driven by Brad Shelp in a 1954 Bell Air convertible. Behind the grand marshal are royalty members from the middle school, Alexis Neff and Mason Rotthoff.
Fire trucks from the Albion Joint Fire District and other emergency response vehicles make their way down Main Street in the 37th annual Albion Strawberry Festival Parade.
Jeremy Neal drives a tractor, “Little Tex,” named in honor of his late son Byron, who passed away from cancer at age 8 on April 14, 2023. Jeremy’s wife Tina and their friend Adele Mathes were part of the display for the CURE Foundation to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer.
Ryan Lasal, director of Community & Family Program Innovation at Community Action, served as emcee for the parade. He shared details of the marching bands, including the Mark Time Marchers in photo, as well as other floats and participants. There were nearly 50 different entries in the parade.
Amy Sidari, who has retired as owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, joined many of her dancers on the parade route. New owner, Danielle Schmidt, also danced with the group on Main Street.
Sheryl Watts, owner and artistic designer of Air Raising Events, made a butterfly out of balloons. Watts in previous parades has made other characters, including a strawberry and a purple eagle.
Members and supporters of Arc GLOW and the Self Advocate All-Stars marched in the parade, and some carried signs including this one, “Be Kind, For Everyone You Meet is Fighting A Battle.”
Natasha Wasuck wore an inflatable reindeer costume while walking in the parade with her husband, John Hernandez, and their daughter, Ephy. They are members of the Albion Betterment Committee which has tried t promote Albion’s heritage as the home of the first Santa School. The family also owns The Lockstone and Tinsel.
The Albion FFA tossed candy and greeted people from their float.
Kids go over to see veterans who were handing out flags. Honor Guard member Matt Passarell is at front right.
Mike Donahue, right, and James Hollinger handed out flags to children along the parade route. They were also promoting a medical transportation service for veterans run by the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council.
Gilligan’s Galley at Point Breeze made a festive float for the parade.
Kerry Panek, driving the Gator, was joined by many of her family members in celebrating 40 years of strawberries at Panek’s Pickin’ Patch in Albion.
The Town and Country Quilt Shop participated in the parade. From left include quilt shop owner Tara Thom, Debbie Thies, Brenda Radzinski, Hayley Rimmer and Carrie Standish.
The quilters also displayed the Bicentennial Quilt that Town and Country Quilt Shop members made for Orleans County’s 200th birthday this year.
Keira Zambito, left, and Julia Button served as festival royalty from the high school.
Santa and Mrs. Claus made an appearance in the parade to promote the lighted parade in Albion later in December.
Many of the tee ball players and their families and coaches tossed out candy to eager parade spectators.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 June 2025 at 1:37 pm
ALBION – Today is the first day of early voting for Republican primaries in three towns: Barre, Shelby and Yates.
Early voting continues each day until Sunday, June 22. The polling location is at the Board of Elections Office, 14016 State Route 31 in Albion.
The primaries include:
Barre: Two candidates for the town supervisor position – Scott Burnside and Stephen Coville II. Four candidates for two positions as town council member: George McKenna Jr., Wesley Miller, David Allen and Iva McKenna.
Shelby: Two candidates for town supervisor: James Heminway and Scott Wengewicz. Four candidates for two spots as town council member: Vassilios Bitsas, Lawrence Waters Sr., Edward Zelazny and Michael Moriarty.
Yates: Three candidates for two Town Board seats: Harold Suhr, William Jurinich and Terry Chaffee Jr.
Early voting dates and hours include:
Saturday, June 14 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 15 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, June 16 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, June 17 – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 18 – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 19 – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, June 20 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 21 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 22 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Primary voting will also be June 24 with polling locations at the three towns.
ALBION – As part of its ongoing discussion about significant matters that face us as Americans, the Community Coalition for Justice brings you a presentation entitled the “Russian War In Ukraine.”
It will be held on Wednesday, June 18, at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church at 10 East Park Street (corner of Main and Park Streets) in Albion. The presentation begins at 6 p.m.
The main speaker is Dr. Steven J. Jurek, chairman of SUNY Brockport’s Political Science and International Studies Department.
About the war in Ukraine, Dr. Jurek has said:
“The democratization process is heavily influenced by both domestic and international factors. Ukraine is no exception; history, economic, politics, culture and religion are all relevant in how Ukraine has struggled to consolidate democracy in the post-Soviet era and subsequently, the Russian war in Ukraine. Putin’s perception that any westward turn by Ukrainians exposes the fragility of Russian regional hegemony and in turn, threatens his own stranglehold on power in Russia helps us explain events for the last several decades in Eastern Europe and in particular the war of aggression against Ukraine.”
There will be a Question & Answer period and light refreshments. This a free event and all are welcome. There is easy disabled access.
The Community Coalition for Justice is a collaboration of people from the Albion Betterment Committee, the Social Justice Committee, People Embracing Diversity and the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2025 at 7:55 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Elementary students at Holley Central School enjoyed their parade this morning from the school down North Main Street, down Route 31 through the Pubic Square and ending at the Murray-Holley Historical Society depot museum.
The parade has been an annual tradition in Holley since 1957.
Holley Police Chief Robert Barton joined the students in the parade. “Good Citizens” from each grade level also were recognized at the Flag Day celebration.
A student gives a high-five to Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot.
The procession included about 500 students, and many of them were joined by their parents for the walk in the village to the celebration at the museum.
The Safety Pup rode with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. Safety Pup is a nationally recognized mascot of National Child Safety Council. Many police and sheriff departments around the country embrace the Safety Pup as a mascot to promote safety.
After the parade, Orly the Ox met Safety Pup. They are joined by Chief Deputy Jim DeFilipps, left, and Sheriff Chris Bourke.
Lots of red, white and blue were on display as students walked from school to museum.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2025 at 5:16 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Strawberry Festival kicked off today for the 37th time offering many options for food and fun, including these people on a trackless train ride.
Bands today include Sky Cats from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at food court west; the Kendall Community Band from 5 to 7 p.m. at the courthouse; Salvatore Rocks from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at food court east; and Steve Novak, an acoustic soloist from 7 to 9 p.m. at Martin’s on Main.
Saturday will be a full day of events starting with a 5k/8k at 8 a.m., parade at 10 a.m., cruise-in from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., turtle race at 2 p.m., and other live music and entertainment until 8:30 p.m.
There are about 30 food vendors at the festival. It is the big turnout out for food vendors in the festival’s history, and some needed to be located on Main Street, north of Bank Street.
Chad Pike of the Tavern on the Ridge is among about 30 food vendors. He is shown at the grill with marinated chicken and kielbasa kabobs and beef on weck wraps. This is Pike’s first time as food vendor at the Strawberry Festival.
He said he wanted to be part of the festival that means so much to Albion and the Orleans County community.
Buffie Edick of Kent is one of 70 arts and crafts vendors. She makes crocheted stuffies with her business, Buffie’s Loveys.
“I love the festival,” she said. “The whole town comes out and the other vendors are so friendly.”
Edick said she expects her turtle stuffies will be her best sellers, as well as the crocheted strawberries.
She praised the festival committee for putting on a well-organized event.
Jeff Andrews, left, and Dave Allen are making strawberry sundaes and shortcake in the Music Boosters booth by the Presbyterian Church.
Doug Farley, left, and Dick Remley are selling turtle tickets for the big race at 2 p.m. on Saturday on the Erie Canal. About 1,000 turtles will race. The turtles are numbered and the ticket holders of the five winning turtles will win money.
The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion brought 10 residents to the festival and they were joined by family and staff. The residents made their own Strawberry Festival shirts to wear at the event.
Provided photo: Pictured from left include Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of Rochester Business Journal; Karen Kinter, CEO of Oak Orchard Health; and Ben Jacobs, editor of RBJ.
BROCKPORT – The Women of Excellence awards recognize high-achieving women for their career accomplishments, including professional experience, community involvement, leadership, and sustained commitment to mentoring.
Karen Kinter of Albion, CEO of Oak Orchard Health, is among this year’s class, which features 50 women from a variety of industries. The Women of Excellence were honored at an awards celebration on May 8 at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center.
The honorees were selected by a panel of judges comprised of previous years’ Circle of Excellence and Women of Excellence honorees and the Rochester Business Journal’s editorial team.
“The 2025 Women of Excellence are outstanding leaders who inspire innovation, celebrate success and support the next generation of leaders. They open doors and create positive change, sharing their success with their professional network and the community around them,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Rochester Business Journal. “The Circle of Excellence honorees are trailblazers and change makers who aren’t afraid to face adversity and stand up for their beliefs. They know the value of helping other women see something special in themselves, something they might not have known was there. We at the Rochester Business Journal are pleased to honor these transformational leaders.”
Under Kinter’s leadership, Oak Orchard Health has undertaken several major initiatives to improve care delivery for patients.
“I’m honored to be selected among this group of leaders for the Women of Excellence award,” Kinter said. “Leading an organization that positively impacts numerous lives across a vast geographic area is incredibly fulfilling. We provide medical, dental, and behavioral health services to everyone.”
Oak Orchard Health is a non-profit federally qualified health center with 34,000 patients at nine locations.
With more than 20 years of health care experience, Kinter previously served as vice president of specialty revenue program and CEO of Regional Health Services for Rochester Regional Health. She holds an MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business.
Photos by Natalie Baron: High School Principal Michael Cavanagh leads the seniors in the parade. Sophia Gayette is attending the University of Hawaii to become an engineer. Kylee Howard is planning to be a fourth grade teacher, and Taylor Schrader is planning to be a paramedic.
By Natalie Baron, Orleans Hub intern
MEDINA – The Class of 2025 was celebrated with a senior walk this morning. The kindergarten class and community members cheered them on.
A little under 100 members of the Class of 2025 paraded outside, beginning at the Junior-Senior High School and past the Wise Middle School and Oak Orchard Elementary School. Kindergarten students as well as family and community members lined up on either side of the path to congratulate them. The seniors held signs announcing what their plans are post-graduation, including career and college goals.
After the walk, both the senior and kindergarten classes lined up on the field at Vet’s Park Stadium for a special ceremony. The older students gifted words of wisdom to the children on posters. In writing, they answered the question “What does it mean to be a Mustang?” which was printed on the posters. Also passed down from senior to kindergartener were necklaces in their school colors.
Brooke Stewart, who aspires to be an astrologist, and Lexey Cornelius, aspiring to be a law enforcement officer, wrote the advice “Mustangs are brave, kind and make good choices” on their posters. Sophia Goyette wrote to Skylar Houseknecht, “Being a Mustang means having a family, no matter where you go!” Madison Kennedy received the message “Mustangs always show up and try, try, succeed!”
Raquel Russell and Adrianna McMurray, among other students, participate in the parade of graduates. Raquel dreams of being a kindergarten teacher, and Adrianna hopes to be a therapist.
Josephine Pollock aspires to be a diagnostic medical sonographer. Evelyn Phillips wants to work in postal service while Maddie Lewis will study sports studies and physical therapy at D’Youville University.
During the parade, some students posed for the camera. Aubrey Jackson wants to be a restaurant worker and Zoey Weese, a teacher.
Seniors enthusiastically pose so bystanders can take photographs. The energy during the parade is electric.
The parade turns toward Vet’s Park. Garrett Koch aims to be an environmental scientist.
Konner Smith, Gary Sherman, and others approach Vet’s Park. Konner plans to go into filmmaking and Gary into customer service.
Harper Hamilton, along with other family members of the seniors, was among the lineup celebrating the Class of 2025. She happily poses for a picture.
The seniors approach the lined-up kindergarteners. The seniors hand over necklaces and provide them with words of wisdom.
Seniors stoop to speak with the children face-to-face. They would like to meet them on their level.
Some seniors meet kindergarteners they know. They warmly greeted the kids.
Graduation will take place Friday, June 27 at 7 p.m. at Vet’s Park Stadium.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2025 at 8:04 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A boat that is proposed for a guest rental for overnight stays is tied up in Medina’s Canal Basin. Andrew Meier would like to make the boat available to stay in through Airbnb and Vrbo as a short-term rental.
Meier said the boat would stay stationary in the basin with access to village electric and water. The Village Board is determining a fee for a designated spot at its docks and also for access to the utilities.
“This year is the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal,” Meier told the board during its meeting on Monday. “I think it would put Medina on the map.”
Meier works as an attorney and also owns the Hart House Hotel with nine rooms at 113 West Ave. He also developed the Bunkhaus Hostel with three bedrooms at 511 West Ave., two blocks from the Erie Canal.
The boat could draw visitors to Medina which should be a boost to local restaurants, and those with travel boats, he said.
Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman said a portion of the fee for using the dock gets shared with the NYS Canal Corp. She said she supports having the boat available for overnight stays.
Meier would need to have $2 million liability insurance as part of an agreement with the village, Sherman said.
Brian Hellner, owner of North Star Cruises, has been offering boat rides in the canal at Medina since 2023. He urged villages officials and Meier to make sure the boat is property inspected to ensure the safety of people on board. Meier’s boat is 24 feet long.
Hellner leases dock space from Medina. He said he would appreciate access to water as well to clean his boat. The board said it would agree to that and will discuss a fee for water at the basin.
Sherman told Hellner and Meier she appreciates their efforts to bring services to the canal basin.
“We’re all in this together and want to make Medina a better place,” she said.
Meier said this year is more of a trial with the boat, but so far “the feedback has been very positive.”
Photos by Natalie Baron: The top 10 graduates for Lyndonville’s Class of 2025 stand and are recognized during a banquet on Wednesday at the White Birch.
By Natalie Baron, Orleans Hub intern
LYNDONVILLE – The top 10 graduates for the Class of 2025 from all five school districts of Orleans County were honored at the annual Top 10 banquet on Wednesday evening at the White Birch Golf Course.
Top 10 graduates had plenty of advice to offer incoming high school freshmen. Jacob Pitcher, ranked No. 3 from Lyndonville, wanted freshmen to know they should be themselves and not procrastinate in order to have success.
Garrett Koch, the third-ranked student at Medina, and Dan Owen De Vera, the valedictorian from Medina, carried a similar sentiment: Even in your first years of high school, don’t slack off! That will only hurt you later on, they said.
Ava LaMay, ranked No. 5 from Kendall, said “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” and instead focus on what really matters in order to be successful. Isabella Goodrich, the salutatorian from Kendall, advised freshmen that they should “Stick to a schedule” and prioritize themselves.
Dr. Steven Blount of Medina gave the keynote address.
In the keynote speech, students from Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville, Medina and Albion were lauded for their dedication to hard work.
The speaker this year was Dr. Steven Blount, a former top 10 graduate from Medina. Dr. Blount has a Doctorate in Health Administration from D’Youville University, as well as degrees in Physician Assistant studies and Nuclear Medicine Technology. He is working toward the completion of an MBA.
Dr. Blount practices family medicine in Medina and hospitalist medicine in Batavia. He is an assistant professor at D’Youville University and a captain in the Army National Guard, working with the Medical Detachment.
Dr. Blount is also a community leader. He has leadership positions within the Medina Central School District Board of Education and the Medina Zoning Board. In the past, he was also involved with the Hospice of Orleans.
In his speech, Dr. Blount expressed how he changed his major four times and at one point was working three jobs on top of doing college work. “Grit isn’t about never wanting to give up, it’s about committing yourself to feeling that way and then choosing to continue anyways,” he said.
Dr. Blount stated that in being from Orleans County, these graduates understand grit better than most. Orleans County’s farmers don’t stop after one good harvest or bout of bad weather, he said. Their continued achievement relies on ceaseless effort. “Success isn’t a destination. It’s a way of living. Grit is how you build a meaningful life.”
Dr. Blount challenged the students to look around them and identify someone in the room who helped them to see and meet their potential. “Build your team,” he advised. “Find that person who will push you, surround yourself with people who inspire you, and never forget to be that person for others.”
In ten years, no one will be thinking about the graduates’ GPA, he said. They will be thinking about what the graduates did using that GPA, their treatment of other people, the problems they solved, and whose lives they touched along the way. “That’s the legacy of grit.”
As a takeaway, Dr. Blount implored the students to never back down, even when they want to fail, and challenged them to do something that scares them in the next thirty days.
“Talent without effort is just unmet potential,” Dr. Blount said. “Talent might open the doors, but grit keeps you walking through them.”
The Albion Top Ten include: Bottom Row: Tye Talbot, Kelli Dingle, Kenadie Patten, Ella Trupo, Mallory Ashbery and Oliver Beach. Top Row: Sawyer Brigham, Zackary Baron and Tracy Garrett. Missing from the photo: Leo Bolton. Included in the photo are principal Jennifer Ashbery, superintendent Mickey Edwards, and board president Linda Weller.
The Holley Top Ten include: Bottom Row: Zoey Wolf, Allison Merle, Maggie Skehan, Natalie Foose and Mason Hein. Top Row: Alexia Renner, Alivia Wolf and Owen Schultz. Missing from the photo: Abigail Merkley and Gabriel Stevens. Included in the photo are superintendent Karri Schiavone, board president Anne Winkley, and principal Matthew Feldman.
The Kendall Top Ten include: Bottom Row: Isabella Goodrich, Inez Stangler, Savannah Holzschuh, Adareli Contreras Solis, Ava LaMay and Lia Larson. Top Row: William Kludt, Colby Hughes, Nicholas Baxter and Michael Hallowell. Included in the photo are principal Melissa Strelick, board president Rachel Fisken, and superintendent Nicholas Picardo.
The Lyndonville Top Ten include: Bottom Row: Emma Freas, Ava Austin, Aidan Allen, Evee Heinsler, Addison Dillenbeck and Alyssa Prine. Top Row: Elisabeth Ingersoll, Jacob Pitcher, Hannah Marker and Madison Davis. Included in the photo are board president Jerod Thurber, principal Aaron Slack, and superintendent Sharon Smith.
The Medina Top Ten include: Bottom Row: Abigayle Wright, Theresa Biesinger, Dan Owen De Vera, Sofia Gagliardi, Josephine Pollock and Makenzie McGrath. Top Row: Cameron Kenward, Garrett Koch, Riley Tompkins and Ryder Jones. Included in the photo are principal Michael Cavanagh, superintendent Mark Kruzynski, assistant principal Mollie Mark, and board president Alissa Mitchell.
BASOM – Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge will offer for bid 85 acres of grassland hay in 2 fields of 50 and 35 acres.
The refuge annually provides approximately 1,100 acres of grassland habitat for migratory birds and resident wildlife. Active management of these grasslands is necessary to provide the highest quality nesting and migration habitat.
The refuge haying program helps in this management process by reducing encroachment of broad leaf weeds and shrubs. Hay will be allocated on a highest bid per field basis for each field. Sealed bids will be accepted until close-of-business (COB) on Thursday, July 3.
An official bid sheet, available from the refuge headquarters, is required to make a bid. Completed bid sheets can be mailed to the refuge headquarters at 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY 14013 and must contain all the information requested.
If you have any questions about the haying program or would like to see the fields, please call Paul Hess at 585-948-5445 ext. 7032.
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is located midway between Rochester and Buffalo, NY and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 June 2025 at 10:34 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Karen Conn, chairwoman of the Village of Albion Planning Board, said the village needs to work to encourage more housing options for residents. Conn also works as an Albion teacher and real estate business owner. She speaks during a public hearing Wednesday in the village hall about the possibly dissolution of the village and folding it into the towns of Albion and Gaines. “It’s all of us,” she told a packed village hall. “We all have to do our part and choose Albion.”
ALBION – The Village Board held a public hearing on dissolving the village and consolidating its services with the towns of Albion and Gaines.
Residents said there are many unknown answers if that change happened, primarily on whether there would continue to be an Albion Police Department and other villages services.
Village attorney John Gavenda said the Village Board isn’t formally moving towards consolidation or dissolution of the village. Wednesday’s hearing was an initial step to hear from the public, Gavenda said. In back from left are Trustee William Gabalski, Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and Trustee Greg Bennett.
Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said there is no push to dissolve the village at this time, but he said village officials and community need to keep having the discussion about the high taxes in the village and other big increases coming with water rates due to upgrades at the water plant and other infrastructure.
Javier worries the village structure of government in Orleans County may not be sustainable.
“What can we do to make Albion more affordable?” Javier said. “There might be difficult conversations. If you want the services you’re going to have to pay.”
Some residents asked just how dire the situation is for the village, and what kind of savings could the village expect if it was folded into the towns.
There was a consolidation/dissolution study in 2008 led by the Center for Governmental Research. That study concluded the village and towns of Albion and Gaines would see $336,497 in efficiency gains through more cooperation and consolidation. The Center for Governmental Research studied the three municipalities’ combined $7.5 million annual budgets in 2007, looking for ways to better share costs. A committee recommended the village dissolve. But the Village Board opted against putting the issue to a public vote.
Since then, the fire department has been removed from the village budget and now function as a joint fire district with the towns of Albion and Gaines, a move that doubled the fire department’s budget in 2025. Fire commissioners said the previous budgets left the department woefully underfunded, and didn’t set aside reserves for new trucks and equipment.
Kevin Sheehan was on the board in 2008. He said dissolution/consolidation not only was rejected in Albion, but also in Medina in a public vote in 2014. He doesn’t want to lose the Albion Police Department and have to rely on Sheriff’s deputies.
Joe Martillotta said he favors consolidation of local governments. He noted there are 10 towns, four villages, five school districts, a county governments and several fire districts. He believes a streamlined local government would operate more efficiently and at a reduced cost for taxpayers.
Village resident Jason Dragon said the current system pushes too much of the local government costs on village taxpayers. He said the county doesn’t give enough in the local sales tax, freezing the towns and villages at the same level for 24 years now, at a time when the local sales tax has more than doubled.
Dragon said the county and towns have unfairly treated the village for decades, resulting in taxes that are wildly out of whack for the village.
“There is not enough money to go around in the village structure,” Dragon said.
If there is dissolution, the current village functions would likely be assumed by the towns or county, Dragon said. The village employees would shift to a different municipality and carry out similar duties.
He envisions lower and more equitable taxes in the village, which would ring in mor investment from residents and businesses.
Dragon said the village may need to dissolve to get some tax relief, because he doubts the other government entities will provide any relief to Albion.
“I don’t see anything where the towns or county will voluntarily change the situation,” he said.
Villkage trustee Joyce Riley thinks there may be ways of sharing services with neighboring towns to lighten the village’s load without going to a dissolution. She noted the village and Town of Albion share a code enforcement officer in Chris Kinter.
“Where can we share and not lose our identity?” she said.
Paul Weiss, an attorney for Albion’s police union, said the village government is an effective way to provide services, including the police department. He said dissolving the village will prove costly and will result in diminished services for the village residents.
Janet Navarra, a member of the Albion Planning Board, reminded the board she presented them with a list if grant opportunities about a year ago that would help improve the downtown and other parts of the community. She said there are state funds and other programs to help the village without eliminating the village government.
She noted the vacant registry law would also help get residents and businesses in some of the long dormant sites in the downtown.
“You’re raising taxes but you’re not doing anything to increase the tax base,” she said.
Navarra said Albion gets cited in some websites as one of the ugliest communities in New York State.
“It’s very embarrassing to see that,” she said. “We’re standing her floundering when there is money available to help us.”
Major Javier said the board will continue to discuss the issue and could have another public hearing on the matter in the next 60 to 90 days.
Craig Tuohey, the Zoning Board chairman, also is on a committee working to update the comprehensive plan. That process should identify areas for growth with business and residential development, Tuohey said, which could help ease the tax burden. Tuohey urged the community to be part of the comprehensive plan revisions.
