Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The community has turned out for a benefit today for Lucas O’Connor, 15, who recently had a brain tumor removed and will need brain scans every three months to make sure the tumor hasn’t returned.

Lucas is pictured with his parents, Jodi and Kevin, at the Elks Club this afternoon, where there is a benefit from 2 to 6 p.m. There are nearly 100 items up for raffle. The beef on wick dinner is a sellout.

“It’s amazing, the generosity of everybody,” said Lucas’s father, Kevin. “So much of the media is negative but this is really about people caring about people.”

Lucas was wrestling last October when he sustained a mild concussion. A CT scan and MRI showed that some of the bone near Lucas’s left ear had changed. He was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor (chondromyxiod fibroma).

That concussion proved to be a blessing, Mr. O’Connor said. Lucas didn’t have any symptoms that the tumor was growing in his skull.

“It’s amazing how God works,” Mr. O’Connor said.

Lucas endured two procedures before he had full craniotomy on July 26 by a team of specialists in New York City. The tumor was benign. Doctors want to check him every three months because the tumor often comes back and is fast-growing.

“He is a fighter,” O’Connor said about his son. “You can’t keep him down.”

Members of the football and wrestling teams are serving the beef on weck dinners. Bryce Pritchard, center, and Jessy Cruz check the potatoes.

Lucas is ready to take the tickets for the dinners. He is joined by his friends Sam Williams, left, and Presley Smith. Presley’s parents, Julie and Ken Smith, were key organizers for the benefit. Sam’s mother, Karen Williams, also was instrumental in the effort.

Tom Smith (left), his brother Gary Smith and Gary’s wife Ronda perform during the benefit.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Members of The Lord’s House in Waterport sold sweet potato pie and many other baked goods today at the Albion Save-A-Lot. The church has Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. at 2038 Eagle Harbor Rd.

Pictured from left include Angela English, Brenda Winters, First Lady Rose English and Nadine Johnson.

Photo by Matthew Ballard: The grave of Cpl. James P. Clark of Company F, 108th Infantry, 27th Division at the Somme American Cemetery in France.

“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 39

Amidst the commotion of political malfeasance, the excitement of football season, and the stress of a new school year comes the centennial of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The massive campaign initiated on September 26, 1918 marked the beginning of the end for Imperial Germany. Over 1.2 million American soldiers participated in the advance that spanned the nearly 50 days leading up to the Armistice of November 11th

Over the last three years, I have authored numerous pieces on the men of Company F in Medina who marched across the fields of the embattled French countryside. All of that research culminated with the opportunity to stand upon the hallowed ground that refused to release the bodies of so many young men. Now that 100 years have passed, a little interest has stirred up locally in an effort to commemorate this monumental anniversary.

The afternoon of September 27, 1918 arrives as the men of the 108th prepare to march from bivouac camp at Ronssoy, France to the trenches along the front lines. A hasty eight and a half mile march is met with a brief pause just west of Templeaux le Geurard before the remaining six miles are covered by night. The enemy is aware of all troop movements and the regiment is met by heavy shelling and concentrated gas; Medina-native Frank Bloom (Kwiatkowski) is killed by a bursting shell.

Approaching the trenches, the men are placed in line with 2nd Battalion under the command of Capt. John S. Thompson. Although zero hour is set, the officers withhold details of the impending advance from their soldiers and sleep is sparse as the men contemplate the inevitability of the coming days. The clock strikes 5:50 a.m. on September 29th and shelling begins from 23 brigades of British light artillery and 10 brigades of British heavy artillery. The shells fall in front of the trenches and a creeping barrage commences, slowly advancing in increments of 100 feet with 4-minute pauses in between. Over 100 machine gun units open fire as the brave men of Medina crawl forth from the trenches under the encouragement of fellow soldiers.

An enemy counter barrage begins to fall across the lines of advancing men, cutting many down in the initial seconds of the advance. In commencing the attack, the men of 2nd Battalion charge across open fields to swing their line parallel to 3rd Battalion on the left. Enemy machine gun fire halts early progress, which is met with bayonets and hand grenades. It is during this action of outflanking German machine gun nests that James A. Sheret is killed. Pressing forward, men drop as they advance in the face of flying bullets and falling shells.

The unit moving under the code name “Tumo,” presses forward with no reports to Headquarters in the early hours of the advance. By 11:00 a.m., reports arrive at HQ indicating that 2nd Battalion of the 108th is on their objective south of Bony, engaging on the main defenses of the Hindenburg Line. Winded from the rapid advance upon the position, progress is halted as 2nd Battalion approaches a thick entanglement of barbed wire. Heavy enemy fire slows progress and cuts down countless officers and non-commissioned officers during which Cpl. James P. Clark assumes control of his platoon. Leading his men against the enemy, fewer than 200 men are able to move upon the wire:

“This was done with a recklessness, valor and determination that proved irresistible. They rushed forward in small groups and as individuals, through the wire, through passes existing in the wire, and in some cases over the top of the wire where it was very thick, all through a heavy pall of smoke.” – John F. O’Ryan

Nearing 1:00 p.m. the battalion solidifies its position in Bony, but finds itself co-occupying the village with enemy troops. The unit repulses several counterattacks throughout the afternoon and into the evening. One of the first groups to reach the impenetrable Hindenburg Line, Medina’s boys fought bravely and suffered severely.

Cpl. James P. Clark, a 20-year-old native of South Dakota, enlisted with the 3rd N.Y. National Guard in April of 1917. His two older brothers, Leslie and Seth, both followed suit and joined in June of the same year. Cpl. Clark was killed by a machine gun bullet nearly 20 minutes after assuming control of his group after all other officers were either dead or wounded. As John S. Thompson later wrote, “The barrage laid down by the enemy tore up the ground around the men and the noise was deafening.” Clark was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry exhibited during the deadly advance and is prominently marked upon his marble cross at the Somme American Cemetery in Bony, France.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Homecoming is this week at Holley Central School and one popular tradition continued on Friday when the classes decorated floats for a parade through the village.

The top photo shows the senior class on High Street for the final stretch of the parade which ended in the parking lot for the old bus garage. The seniors won the parade competition.

The classes had to decorate in the theme of a country as part of culture celebration. The seniors picked an American theme.

Will Lavender dressed as Uncle Sam for the parade with the seniors.

Matt Skehan wears a Rochester Americans hockey uniform while joining his classmate on the parade route.

Brian Bartalo, the superintendent at Holley Central School, dressed as Abraham Lincoln for the parade. He joins some of the seniors, including Julia Smith, a suffragette.

Allie Osbourne is a “Holleywood” starlet for the seniors with their American floats.

The juniors decorated with an Egypt theme.

Part of the junior’s display included two students as a camel, led by a shepherd.

These members of the junior class are part of the Egyptian theme.

The sophomores celebrated the country of France.

Freshmen decorated with a German theme.

Junior high students, seventh- and eighth-graders, joined for a theme about the Bahamas.

The parade heads down Geddes Street before reaching the Public Square. The youth football program had a big turnout for the parade.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Medina Department of Public Works installs a new playground today at Butts Park. The DPW recently removed a wooden playground, which was rotted and in rough shape.

The DPW dug holes and is setting steel poles for the new pieces today. Volunteers have been helping put together the playground. They are expected to be done with the project on Saturday around 1 p.m.

Mayor Mike Sidari, left, and resident Tom McGrane work together to assemble one of the seated areas in the playground. They were there several hours today.

The playground and wood chips cost just under $40,000. Sidari said the volunteer labor from the community is saving several thousand dollars for the installation.

McGrane, a retired teacher, appreciated the opportunity to help.

“The one that was here before needed to be reconstructed,” he said. “This one will be much safer.”

This rendering shows how the new playground will look when it’s complete. Sidari said it should be open to the public on Wednesday.

Owen Toale, left, and Scott Grimm work together to assemble part of the playground.

The village hired Parkitects from Lansing, NY, near Ithaca for the project. Parkitects has a site manager, Nathan Emery, to make sure the playground is constructed properly. Emery said he works with communities every weekend on playground projects, including recent community builds in Salamanca and Jamestown.

“It’s great to get the community involved,” he said. “They take more pride in their playground.”

Volunteers will be at the park until dusk today and will return in the morning.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Mark Cye, CEO of Medina Memorial Hospital (Orleans Community Health), demonstrates the new security system recently installed with a donation by the Association of Twigs. Looking on are Tish McAdoo, secretary of Twigs and Human Resource Benefit specialist at the hospital; Jean Wetherbee, vice president of Twigs; Jeanne Crane, president; and Sandy Smith, treasurer.

MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital (Orleans Community Health) has taken a step forward to insure the security of patients and staff.

With a donation from the Association of Twigs, the hospital has recently installed a new security system.

“With all the things going on today, like the man who broke into Lockport hospital to steal drugs, law enforcement has been checking the ease of access at facilities like ours,” said Mark Cye, CEO of Orleans Community Health. “This is one way to protect staff and patients, and allows staff to better monitor who is coming and going.”

There are three access points at the hospital – through the lobby, the hall after registration and the hall near the access to the elevator.

Employees have a badge to enter, as well as volunteers and board members. Visitors have to be buzzed in.

Twig has long been a supporter of the hospital and has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars for improvements, services and new equipment for the hospital. Most of the money was raised through the gift shop, which they had to discontinue little more than a year ago, because of lack of help.

“Our money we had won’t last forever, but we still have minor fundraisers, such as the vending machines,” said Twig president Jeanne Crane.

Several individual Twig groups have their own fundraisers, such as Lilac which has a jewelry sale and book sale twice a year. Other active groups donate what they can.

Twig was founded in 1963 and had more than 300 members and more than a dozen branches at its peak. Today there are less than half that which still meet.

In the past, Twigs have pledged to build the birthing wing, purchase X-ray equipment and remodel offices and the lobby.

The recent donation for the security system was $11,000

“Without the Twigs’ support, this is another project which we couldn’t have moved forward,” Cye said.

Ghost Walks that highlight local history and prominent residents, as well as some who are relatively unknown, will return.

The Albion High School Arts Department will have its 10th Ghost Walk on Saturday at Mount Albion Cemetery. There are 66 students involved in the event, serving as ghosts, tour guides, singers and the tech crew.

Erica Wanecski of Medina played a suffragette who pushed for women’s right to vote. She is shown during the Ghost Walk on Oct. 8, 2017 at the Cobblestone Museum. The museum will have another Ghost Walk on Oct. 7.

Students will highlight the lives of Rufus Brown Bullock, Elizabeth Harriet Denio, Noah Davis, David Hardie, Hannah Avery, Starr Chester, Dr. Elizabeth Vaile, Emily Pullman (George Pullman’s mother), Alexis Ward’s wife Laura Goodrich Ward, Hiram Curtis, Jenny Curtis and Arad Thomas.

An Albion student will perform the song, “Top of the Tower,” written by former Mayor Donna Rodden. The student will sing from the tower, which is a Civil War Memorial.

The Mount Albion Ghost Walk is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with a $5 donation. For tickets and to reserve a time, call 589-2087. There are tours every 15 minutes.

The Cobblestone Museum also is having a Ghost Walk on Oct. 7. This follows last year’s debut of the event. The Ghost Walk includes community volunteers, from children to senior citizens.

The “ghosts” are connected to the Cobblestone Museum’s past. The walking tour includes about a dozen different locations on the museum’s campus, including the cobblestone schoolhouse, the oldest cobblestone church in North America, and a cobblestone parsonage, all National Historic Landmarks.

Some of the apparitions include newspaper editor Horace Greeley, who once owned the Cobblestone Parsonage; William Babbitt, who supervised the construction of District #5 Cobblestone Schoolhouse and served as Town Supervisor and a State Assemblyman; and Rev. Stephen Smith, who gave the dedicatory address at the opening of the Cobblestone Universalist Church in 1834.

Tours begin every 20 minutes beginning at 1 p.m. and will last about 90 minutes. The final tour will set out from the lower level of the Cobblestone Church at 4 p.m. The cost for the Ghost Walk is $10 for adults and $7 for Cobblestone Society Members. Kids 12 and under are $5 and those under 2 are free. Pre-registration guarantees a spot on one of 10 tours.

Registration can be made in person, by phone at 589-9013, or online at cobblestonemuseum.org. Walk-ins on October 7 will be accommodated in any open slots remaining.

18-year-old allegedly points loaded rifle at deputy and sergeant before dropping the gun

Press Release, Orleans County Undersheriff Chris Bourke

CLARENDON – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office charged three Clarendon residents following a violent confrontation with Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday, Undersheriff Chris Bourke said.

Elizabeth D. Klaver

Deputies were called to 4179 Bennetts Corners Road at 2:15 p.m. for a reported family dispute in progress. Upon arrival, Sgt. David Foeller and Deputy J.J. Cole were confronted by Elizabeth D. Klaver, 22, who had allegedly been ramming her boyfriend’s car with her car.

D’Ann M. Klaver

Elizabeth Klaver refused to comply with deputies’ orders and was refusing to be handcuffed. While this was occurring, Elizabeth’s mother D’Ann M. Klaver, 50, allegedly began pushing deputies, and obstructing. D’Ann Klaver was advised she was under arrest and then began physically fighting with Sgt. Foeller.

At this time two more individuals ran out of the house yelling at the deputies. One of those individuals, Andrew D. Klaver, 18, ran back into the house then came back out with a loaded rifle and allegedly pointed it at Sgt. Foeller and Deputy Cole. Andrew Klaver dropped the rifle moments later but refused to comply with further orders and was taken into custody following deployment of the Taser.

Andrew D. Klaver

The following were arraigned by Town of Clarendon Justice Thomas DiFante

• Elizabeth D. Klaver was charged with obstructing governmental administration in the 2nd degree, and reckless endangerment in the 2nd degree. Bail was set at $10,000 cash or bond.

• D’Ann M. Klaver was charged with obstructing governmental administration in the 2nd degree, resisting arrest and harassment in the 2nd degree. Bail was set at $10,000 cash or bond.

• Andrew D. Klaver was charged with resisting arrest, felony menacing a police officer, and criminal possession of a weapon. Bail was set at $25,000 cash or bond.

All three were remanded to the custody of the sheriff at the Orleans County Jail and will return to Clarendon Town Court on Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the State Police., Holley Police, Albion Police, Brockport Police and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

ALBION – National Seat Check is this Saturday. This event is held during National Child Passenger Safety Week. Each year there is a week set aside to bring attention to child passenger safety.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will check child car seats from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dollar Tree in Albion, 330 West Ave.

According to data, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ranging from 1 to 13 years of age. Preventative measures, such as proper installation of car seats, boosters and seat belts can lower many deaths and injuries.

Informing and instructing parents and caregivers on child safety and proper installation of car seats is critical to saving young lives.

Our certified child passenger safety technicians will inspect car/booster seats to assure that children are in the correct seat for their size and age. If you have any questions, please contact Sgt. Kevin Colonna at 585-589-5527 or Kevin.Colonna@orleanscountyny.gov.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Supporters of the Cobblestone Museum have put out signs to stop a new Dollar General from being built on Route 104, across from the historic Cobblestone Schoolhouse. This photo shows a sign in front of the Ward House. The three cobblestone buildings in the museum are a National Historic Landmark.

GAINES – The Cobblestone Museum has new signs – “Save Historic Cobblestone – No Dollar General!” – also has sent a letter to the Dollar General CEO, urging the company to find another site for a proposed store.

The museum also has petitions signed by about 1,100 people, opposing a Dollar General in the historic district on Route 104, Doug Farley, the museum director, said today.

The “Save Historic Cobblestone” signs are the latest effort to raise awareness about the issue, and to urge the Town of Gaines Zoning Board of Appeals to say no to the project.

The museum also sent a letter in mid-September to Dollar General executives, including CEO Todd Vasos.

“I am writing to make you aware that the reputation of your company is being damaged,” states the letter from the museum. “There is a proposal to build a new Dollar General store in Gaines, NY. The proposed site is within the area zoned Historic/Commercial, but most significantly it is directly across the road from the only National Historic Landmark in Orleans County, the Cobblestone Historic District.

“The addition of a modern building in this district is very upsetting to many of the area residents. In fact, about 1,000 have already signed a petition asking the Town of Gaines to deny this proposal and Dollar General to find a site outside the small historic zone.”

Dollar General hasn’t submitted a formal plan for the store but has been discussing the project with the town. The ZBA will next meet 7 p.m. on Monday at the Albion High School cafeteria. The meeting site has been moved from the Gaines Town Hall to the school due to the expected larger crowd.

The museum sent its letter to the company officials at the Dollar General headquarters in Goodlettsville, Tenn.

“By pursuing this location, your company is portraying itself as uncaring and indifferent to the concerns of the local community,” the letter states. “You are also alienating at least 1,000 potential customers who will not patronize the store if built on the proposed site. Boycotting the store will not be an inconvenience to these people as there are three dollar stores within a five mile radius of Gaines, and another Dollar General three miles away in Albion.

“I urge you to demonstrate your company is a ‘good neighbor’ and find a location outside this zone for your new store. Doing so will greatly improve the tarnished reputation you are currently building with your potential customers.”

ALBION – Two men from Orleans County were arraigned in County Court today in separate cases of sex abuse against juveniles.

Christopher Pressley, 35, of Albion allegedly had sex with a 12-year-old girl. He was arraigned this morning on three counts of first-degree rape, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawfully dealing with a child.

Pressley, represented by attorney Michael O’Keefe, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Susan Howard, the assistant district attorney, asked for an order of protection for the alleged victim.

Judge Sanford Church approved the order and set bail for $20,000 cash or bond.

A Lyndonville man, who allegedly had sexual contact with a victim under the age of 11, also was arraigned.

Jason A. Dusett, 43, is charged with four counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, three counts of first-degree sex abuse and one count of second-degree sex abuse.

Judge Church set bail at $20,000 and issued an order of protection for the alleged victim.

In other cases in County Court today:

• Jordan Herring of Holley, who is in the County Jail due to a parole violation, was arraigned for two counts of making a terrorist threat. He allegedly told a person over the telephone that he intended to stab and harm a probation officer and other law enforcement.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said the phone conversation was recorded from the jail.

Herring will remain in the county jail with no bail.

• An Albion man pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and circumvention of an interlock ignition device.

Jason Perry, 36, was charged on July 26 in the Village of Albion with a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.19 percent. He has two prior DWIs within the past decade.

He could be sentenced to a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison on Dec. 6. He remains in jail on $2,500 bail. His attorney, public defender Joanne Best, asked the bail be reduced so he could continue working. She said the bail is too high.

Judge Church said the bail is reasonable and declined to release Perry on his own recognizance.

• Roy Shonerd, 37, of Albion pleaded guilty to attempted welfare fraud and agreed to pay $9,265 in restitution. Shonerd allegedly accepted welfare benefits he wasn’t entitled to from January 2012 to December 2017. He needs to pay the restitution to the Orleans County Department of Social Services.

As part of a plea deal today, he could face a maximum of nine months in jail. He will be sentenced on Dec. 20.

• An inmate at the Albion Correctional Facility pleaded guilty to attempted prison contraband in the first degree. Shannon Wilson said she had her husband bring a controlled substance to the prison on May 5.

She could be sentenced to a maximum of 1 ½ to 3 years in prison on Dec. 6.

MEDINA – The Medina Lions Club and Shelby Volunteer Fire Company will join forces for the first time on Oct. 13 for two popular events.

For the first time in its more than 10-year history, the Medina Lions Scarecrow Fest will take place at Forrestel Farms, just a stone’s throw from the Shelby firehall on Route 63, where an open house and chicken barbecue have been planned for the same day.

Sherry Wheatley, who started the annual Scarecrow Fest as a member of Medina Lions, Shelby firefighter Jason Watts and Lions member Jim Hancock pose with a scarecrow at Forrestel Farms, where the annual Scarecrow Fest will take place on Oct. 13. The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company will have a chicken barbecue the same day and donate part of the proceeds to the Medina Lions Club.

Sherry Wheatley, who chairs the annual Scarecrow Fest for Medina Lions, called Shelby firefighters to ask if they would consider doing a chicken barbecue during the Scarecrow Fest. Firefighter Jason Watts replied they were already planning some special events for that day, which included a chicken barbecue.

The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company was already planning an open house and fire prevention activities for the community, which will also include tours of the county’s fire safety trailer.

The fire company has agreed to donate a portion of every chicken barbecue ticket sold to the Lions Club.

The barbecue will be served from 11 a.m. until sold out. Tickets may be purchased from any Lions Club member, Shelby firefighter or at Zambito Realty on North Main Street, English Rose Tea Shoppe on Main Street or Ashlee’s Place on East Center Street.

The Lions have been sponsoring a Scarecrow Fest for many years and have tried several locations, including the canal basin, YMCA and Roberts Farm Market. This will be the first year to have it at the historic Forrestel Farm, which was established in 1825.

Owner Mary Herbert was delighted to cooperate with them.

“Our award-winning sports/riding camp here is the best-kept secret in Orleans County ,” Herbert said. “I’m thrilled to share my historic farm with more of the community.”

The Scarecrow Fest is an idea developed by Wheatley and is truly a community event, she said.

A lot of different games are planned for the kids, and everything is donated, Wheatley said.

She gets old clothes from the MAAC Thrift Shop; her mother Pauline Lanning cuts out and sews 200 scarecrow heads; the art classes at Medina High School paints the faces; Iroquois Job Corps makes stakes for the bodies and helps carry out all the T posts the day before; wood for the stakes is donated by Matt Mundion; and Craig Lacy from Medina Parts lets them store the supplies in his building.

Wheatley said this is such a fun event for all ages, and she loves seeing parents’ and grandparents’ faces as their children choose the clothing to make a scarecrow and take part in the other activities.

Charlene Walsh is chairing the Scarecrow Fest with Wheatley.

Photos from State Police: This vehicle was badly damaged Tuesday night after striking a tree on Sawyer Road in Gaines.

Press Release, State Police

Brandon Woodhams

GAINES – State Police in Albion were called to the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Sawyer Road in the Town of Gaines at 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

Troopers found that Brandon Woodhams, 26, of Lyndonville was operating his vehicle south on Sawyer Road at a high rate of speed when he drove off the roadway, striking a tree. The tree was hit approximately five feet off of the ground.

The force of the impact severed the vehicle in two with the front of the vehicle becoming engulfed in flames. Woodhams escaped the wreckage with only minor injuries to his elbow.

Troopers determined that Woodhams was impaired by alcohol and placed him under arrest for driving while intoxicated and moved from lane unsafely. Wood hams was later tested and found to have a BAC of 0.15 percent, about double the legal limit. Woodhams is scheduled to appear in the Town of Gaines on Oct. 10 at 2 p.m.

Splash pad will be constructed next year

Photo by Tom Rivers: The basketball hoop at Bullard Park is pictured in this file photo from Aug. 4, 2015.

ALBION – Members of the Rebuild Bullard Committee told the Village Board on Wednesday they are frustrated by a lack of progress in some of the high-profile improvements planned for Bullard Park, including an amphitheater and splash pad.

Ron Albertson, president of the Albion Lions Club and one of the Rebuild Bullard leaders, say residents tell him they are excited for the upgrades but wonder why it’s taking so long.

The village in December 2016 was awarded a $499,605 state grant for Bullard improvements with the village providing $166,370 with in kind-services or funding.

The overall $665,975 project includes a spray park, amphitheater/performance stage, a walking/hiking trail with signage, infrastructure (water and sewer) for the spray park, a utility building, and parking lot and lighting improvements.

“Are you committed to it?” Albertson asked the board members.

The board members say they are committed to the project. This year there have been unexpected pressing assignments that pulled the Department of Public Works from working on the amphitheater. Albertson had hoped that performance stage would be in place for the Rock the Park concert in August.

The amphitheater was supposed to be a pre-fab building that would be easy to construct. But it is instead a stick build that will require a big effort, more than the DPW can do and still get paving projects done before winter, Jay Pahura, the DPW superintendent, said at Wednesday’s meeting.

“It’s an Erector set,” Pahura said. “My guys are not comfortable with it.”

The village may have the structure built by a contractor. Any in-kind hours from the DPW or dollars spent by a contractor would count towards the village’s local share for the project.

The DPW needed to work this summer on Route 31 as part of the state’s repaving. The DPW reset 25 manholes, and put in new water and sewer infrastructure from 31 to the edge of the park. Lines can be run from that spot once the final layout is determined for the spray park and possibly new bathrooms. (The DPW also had to run a 700-foot water line on West Academy Street so the new RTS Orleans transportation facility would have adequate water pressure for its sprinkler system, another unexpected project for the DPW.)

The spray park was planned to be behind the playground equipment in the middle of the park. Mayor Eileen Banker worries about vandalism with the splash pad, especially in light of frequent damage to the bathrooms at Bullard this year.

“I’m committed but I’m very nervous about the splash pad,” Banker said. “We’ve seen so much damage with our bathrooms at Bullard.”

Police Chief Roland Nenni urged the board to have the splash park closer to road with lighting. He thinks a more visible location would deter vandals.

“Let’s design it so we’re dealing with these problems,” the police chief said.

The spray park is on schedule to be built in 2019, Trustee Gary Katsanis said.

The board said the village will follow through with the park improvements. Not doing so would jeopardize future grants for Albion. The board also wants to see the park better utilized as a draw for the community.

“It has to get done or we as a village will be in trouble,” Katsanis said.

The grant application called for 6,000 hours of work from the DPW, the equivalent of three full-time workers spending a year on the project. Katsanis said that wasn’t a realistic commitment, given the many other projects for the DPW.

“This was a planning failure, a failure of foresight,” he said.

Katsanis and Banker both said the village will push forward with the project and strive to communicate any updates with the Rebuild Bullard Committee.

ALBION – The school district and village are both pushing to have an Albion police officer assigned full-time as a school resource officer, hopefully by the end of this calendar year.

Police Chief Roland Nenni met with school officials during the Board of Education meeting on Sept. 10 to discuss having an officer assigned to Albion Central School.

Both the Village Board and Board of Education want to make a resource officer a reality.

“We’re very much in favor,” said Margy Brown, the Board of Education president. “We’re definitely moving in that direction. The board wants it and I believe it will happen.”

The district and village used to have a partnership for a school resource officer but that stopped about a decade ago. Officers with the Albion Police Department have stepped up their presence at the district in recent years, but no officer is assigned to the schools.

Nenni said officers who stop by often are called away for other incidents in the village. A school resource officer would devoted to the district full-time, except for July and August when the officer would be on regular road patrols.

The district and village are trying to determine the cost. Nenni this evening told the Village Board he believes the cost of the officer, salary and benefits, is $81,250.

Kendall and Lyndonville have both added school resource officers this school year and are paying the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office $100,000 to have a deputy assigned to each district. Medina Central School pays the Village of Medina $60,000 to have an officer assigned to the district during the school year.

Nenni said members of the school district will help determine which officer would work at the district. He said a new position would be created in the department and the position would be posted through Civil Service.

“The officer works for us but he is a resource for the district,” Nenni told the Village Board this evening. “I think it would be an amazing thing.”

The police chief said the officer would provide security for the district, and he sees the role of “relationship building” as another big benefit of having an officer devoted to the schools.

Nenni said he is pleased with the reception from the district. He is hopeful the school resource officer can be a long-term position.

“Things are great right now with the partnership between us and them,” he said.

Brown, the Board of Education president, said the board will likely discuss the position during its next meeting on Monday.