Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Al Capurso portrays a pioneer on this float by the Orleans County Historical Association on Saturday during the Strawberry Festival Parade. Capurso and the Historical Society won a special recognition award for community service by judges of the parade.

Capurso is president of the Orleans County Historical Association. He dressed as a pioneer resident with a log cabin shed to honor the pioneer residents of Orleans County. Barre and Shelby this year are observing their bicentennials, and other towns have recently marked their 200^th anniversaries. The Erie Canal is marking a bicentennial observance from 2017-2025. Orleans County also will be 200 in 2025.

The Albion Strawberry Festival Parade, now in its 32nd year, was another energetic processional that lasted nearly 1 hour and 30 minutes on Saturday, starting at Albion Central School and concluding at the Main Street lift bridge.

The parade and festival featured a theme of “Celebrate Cobblestone Country.”

Parade judges have announced the winners of several categories:

• Best use of theme (“Celebrate Cobblestone Country”) – Panek’s Pickin’ Patch had a float celebrating cobblestones and the county’s early years when many of the cobblestone buildings were erected.

• Most original – Barre Bicentennial Committee for its float promoting the town’s 200th anniversary celebration from June 29 to July 1.

Town Historian Adrienne Daniels, left, and Town Clerk Maureen Beach dressed as pioneers to promote the town’s 200th anniversary bash.

The Barre Town Park on Route 98 will host a Bicentennial Festival on June 29-30. Friday hours will be from 2 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. There will be a parade on Saturday, June 30, starting at 10 a.m. The parade route will be from East Barre Road north to the Town Park. There will be games, dances, music and food both days. There will be fireworks on Saturday, June 30.

Best band – The Albion High School Marching Band impressed with its show featuring music from the rock group, Queen. Mykailah Roberts, left, is captain of the Color Guard.

Andrew Moore, a senior with the band, plays the trumpet with gusto in his final performance with the band.

Arella Ives, a drum major, is one of the leaders of the band.

• Best cheer/dance – The Batavia Silver Stars, a square dancing group from Genesee County, made its debut in the parade and many people found the group delightful.

• Best public safety agency (fire department, police, ambulance) – The Albion Fire Department had strong representation from its members marching in the parade (including Allyson Irwin, left, and Heather Johnston in front carrying the banner). The Fire Department had a lineup of very clean fire trucks.

• Best classic car – A 1947 Cadillac owned by Brad Shelp. He rode in the car with his wife, Pat. The car has a message in the back window: “And they lived happily ever after.”

• Best use of humor – Hoag Library, where staff had a dance routine with library carts to promote the upcoming summer reading challenge. Staff member Dirk Climenhaga is at right. The summer reading challenge is called “Libraries Rock!” The library will have numerous events during the six-week program with the kickoff at 11 a.m. on June 16. The challenge continues until Aug. 4 with a 3 p.m. ice cream social at the library.

Teresa Gaylord is the children’s librarian at the Hoag.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Robin Wehling, right, and her friend Jan Toale are close to the finish in the 5-kilometer race Saturday morning in Albion during the Starwberry Festival.

Wehling, 62, of Medina wanted to complete the 3.1-mile course as a celebration of surviving a massive heart attack last Aug. 30 and completing six months of cardiac rehab at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

“This was to celebrate everything is good” Wehling said after completing the course, her first time ever attempting a 5K. “God is good.”

She was joined by nine friends from the Medina United Methodist Church.

“I couldn’t have done it without them,” she said.

While she was recovering from the heart attack, her friends brought her and her husband home-cooked meals and were a strong emotional support.

Wehling completes the course before a cheering crowd on Saturday by the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.

There were 219 people who finished the 5K or 8K courses on Saturday.

Dana Goetze, 26, of Lyndonville won the women’s 5K in a time of 22:40. Alden Cayea, 17, of Medina was the first male to finish the 5K with a time of 17:46.

The 8K winners were Christopher Smykal, 38, of Orchard Park with a time of 31:33 and Krista Healy-London, 38, of with a time of 37:55.

To see all the results from the race, click here.

Calvin Smith, 26, of Belfast pushes his son Silas in a stroller. Smith is an Albion native and ran the race with several other family members.

Albion sixth-graders Meganne Moore, left, and Gina Sidari, both 11, sprint to the finish. Meganne nipped Gina by a second.

Jill Pegelow and Jarred Saj complete the last stretch of the 5K course. Saj also was the top salesman for turtle race tickets, selling 100 for the fundraiser that supports the Strawberry Festival.

Lynn Creasey, president of the Western Orleans Senior Center, pins a rose on Stanley Stack of Medina. Stack will be 96 on July 3 and still enjoys playing pinochle two days a week at the Senior Center.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent

MEDINA – The Senior Center of Western Orleans celebrated 50 years of serving the senior population of the Medina area during an open house Saturday.

Six of the Center’s members who are 90 or older were in attendance, including Stanley Stack, who will be 96 July 3; Jack and Mitzy Bellack, Pete Amos, Paula Mack and Anne Albone, who just turned 90 on June 8. Albone is also the longest paying member of the Senior Center.

The open house included a visit from Barry Flansburg, representing Assemblyman Stephen Hawley. Flansburg read a proclamation from New York State Assembly, in which the Senior Center was recognized as “an exceptional organization worthy of the esteem of the community and the Assembly of the State of New York.”

The center was founded 50 years ago when several seniors got to thinking there should be a place in Medina for seniors to gather and enjoy camaraderie.

The village was approached about using the New York Central railroad depot on West Avenue, and an agreement was reached to allow use of the building.

The late educator Clifford Wise was the first president and the Rev. Burt Entrekin was the first speaker.

The group at one time had 600 members, but as president Lynn Creasey told the crowd on Saturday, many senior organizations are closing their doors. The Senior Center of Western Orleans has shrunk to 250 members, but the center is still active and thriving.

Lynn Creasey, president of the Senior Center of Western Orleans, presents a red rose to Kelly Shaw, executive director, and Jean Wetherbee, membership chairman, during the 50th anniversary open house on Saturday.

Creasey said he became a member at the urging of the late Lee Roberts, who loved to play cards.

“He asked me to join, but I told him I didn’t have time,” Creasey said. “He even offered to pay my $10 dues, but I told him that wasn’t the issue. I just didn’t have time. He finally convinced me and I joined. It was the best thing I’ve ever done and I have the most fun playing cards.”

The Center has euchre games every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and players are always welcome. Cost to play is only $2. A group also plays pinochle in the back room.

Paula Mack and Pete Amos, both over 90, share a hug during the Western Orleans Senior Center ’s 50th anniversary open house on Saturday.

There are exercise classes on Wednesday mornings and one can expect to find a jigsaw puzzle in the works any time.

The Center has a gift shop which is always full of unique gift items, puzzles, clothing, jewelry and hand-knitted and crocheted items.

Many seniors and members of the community turned out for the open house, to enjoy refreshments, browse through scrapbooks of articles and pictures chronicling the 50-year history and share memories.

There was talk of the Blizzard of ’77 and how 50 years ago, all the ladies in the pictures had dresses on.

Creasey said the organization was blessed and it was important to thank all the members – those who support it financially and physically. He said the Senior Center had made changes during the years, such as new signs and new LED lighting which is just being installed.

He thanked the village and the community for their ongoing support and the volunteers who help with special events, sit at the front desk or just buy a ticket for a fundraiser.

The Senior Center has dinner meetings the second Monday of the month, an annual rummage sale and a basket raffle twice a year. Tickets for the spring raffle went on sale Saturday.

Donations are always welcome for items to sell in the gift shop, merchandise for the rummage sales and baskets for the basket raffles.

Visitors to the 50th anniversary open house at the Senior Center of Western Orleans on Saturday found time for a game of cards. From left are Linda Britton, Jane Stroyan, Lee Smith and Diane Fry. Standing at rear is Gloria Bellack, one of the Senior Center’s 11 members over 90, who is talking to Sherry Tuohey at right.

Barry Flansburg of Albion, right, reads a proclamation from Assemblyman Stephen Hawley at the Senior Center of Western Orleans’ 50th anniversary open house.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A girl plugs her ears while fire trucks head down Main Street, with their sirens going, during the Strawberry Festival Parade this morning.

The parade included many marching bands, drum corps, community floats, classic cars and other entertainers.

Annalise Steier, the festival queen, waves to the crowd. Brody Hefner is prince and Keira Zambito, the princess.

Annette Finch of Albion gives State Assemblyman Steve Hawley a big hug during the parade.

Erin Smith of Albion dressed as “The Strawberry” during the 5K/8K in the morning. Runners who beat her won an ice cream sundae from Lugia’s Ice Cream on Wheels. Those who finished behind The Strawberry still won an ice cream cone for finishing.

Phil Warne and other members of the Honor Guard march down Main Street. Warne is a member of the American Legion. Members of the Rochester Scottish Pipes and Drums are behind the Honor Guard.

The Albion Marching Band concluded its season with a performance in its hometown today. The band’s show is based on music of the rock group Queen.

The White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps from Dansville brought out the brass.

Gotta Dance by Miss Amy had some enthusiastic dancers.

The Geneses Community College Cougar appeared in the parade in honor of GCC’s 50th anniversary.

The Albion FFA also showed up with a big float.

Brendan Nashburn, left, and his dad Dave Nashburn, coach of the Vets, pass out candy on the parade. The Vets were one of six teams in the Albion Midget League in the parade.

Dance Reflections by Miss Heather had a strawberry theme for the parade.

A girl on the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company rescue boat waves to the crowd on Main Street.

The Batavia Marching Band performs at the festival.

The Mighty St. Joe’s Drum and Bugle Corps has been popular in the parade for many years.

Barre brought a fire truck and a float celebrating the town’s bicentennial.

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus wave to the crowd on Main Street. The Albion Betterment Committee brought Santa and Mrs. Claus to the parade to highlight the local effort to have a memorial in downtown Albion in honor of Charles Howard, who ran a Santa Claus School from 1937 to 1966 in Albion.

Arnold’s Auto Parts organized a car show in the parking lot for Five Star Bank. There were about 60 cars in the show, including this 2016 Chevy Corvette owned by Steve and Dixie Gern.

People check out a 1929 Ford Model A owned by Brian Connor.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This new bench, painted by Carol Culhane of Gaines, was unveiled today in memory of Kathy Ludwick, the late Village of Albion clerk-treasurer who was a long-time volunteer with the Strawberry Festival.

Ludwick passed away on September 2, 2017. She worked for the village for 32 years. She was one of the founding committee members of the Albion Strawberry Festival devoting many years as a volunteer and continued helping as a bookkeeper up until her death.

Funds from the Albion Main Street Alliance covered the cost for decorating the bench.

Provided photo: Kathy Ludwick’s family is pictured with the bench at the start of the parade at 10 a.m. in Albion today.

“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 23

MEDINA – Shortly after starting my tenure as County Historian in 2015, I wrote a short piece about a photograph of Sacred Heart Church given to me by Mary Ann Tillman of Albion. I stumbled upon the photograph again this week and thought that perhaps my initial article on the subject was rather short, lacking a more detailed account of the earliest years of the parish.

In the early 1970s, Helen Allen compiled a thorough record of historical accounts from various churches throughout Orleans County. She notes that Medina’s first Polish settlers came to the area in the early 1880s in search of work within the area’s sandstone quarries and factories. Facing language and cultural barriers, the growing community lacked a space for meeting their spiritual needs so local Poles attended St. Mary’s Church until a priest was available to say Mass in their own language.

Ks. Stanislaus Bubacz (Ks. or Ksiądz, meaning priest or clergyman), then the rector of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Albion, recognized the need for Polish communicants to practice in their own language and organized a Mission at Medina. According to Medina Historian Cecilia White, Bubacz visited Medina every Sunday and “conducted services in a Commercial Street residence owned by Wincenty Wysocki.” The community was encouraged to appeal to Bishop Charles Colton to establish a parish for the congregation.

On February 1, 1910, Bishop Colton appointed Ks. Tomasz Gwodz as the first resident priest and tasked him with establishing the parish and constructing a church. Construction of the wood frame structure began in the spring of 1910 and finished during the summer of the same year. On August 7, 1910, at 9 o’clock in the morning, Mass was celebrated in the new building and High Mass celebrated at 11 o’clock. In October of 1910, Msgr. Nelson Baker, who attended in place of Bishop Colton, formally dedicated the church. K.S. Jan Pitass of Buffalo, the father of Buffalo’s Polish community, celebrated the Mass following the dedication ceremonies. Ks. Wojcik, Ks. Burtkowski, Ks. Bubacz, Ks. Gwodz, Rev. O’Brien, and Rev. Malloy were also present.

The choir from Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Albion sang the Mass and the men from the St. Joseph and St. Stanislaus Societies participated in the program. A large delegation of men, accompanied by two bands, escorted the officiating clergy to the church where hundreds of people crammed into the new edifice. Those who were unable to secure a seat in the church participated in the service from the front lawn of the property.

Ks. Adalbert Cichy arrived in 1912 to replace Ks. Gwodz, the former initiating a two-week Mission over Christmas and the New Year to “raise the spiritual and moral standards of his parishioners.” In 1925, Ks. Charles Mioduszewski petitioned the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph to establish a parochial school for the young congregants of the parish. The parish purchased a convent and constructed a schoolhouse prior to the arrival of the Sisters in December of 1925 and school commenced on January 2, 1926 with 62 pupils taught by two Sisters. It was during this time that parishioners recognized the need to improve their house of worship and bricked over the church edifice, the rectory, and the school. Roofs were replaced, new heating systems, plumbing, and lighting were added and the parish debt continued to grow. As a result, the congregation made few improvements until 1975 under the pastorate of Rev. Msgr. Marcinkiewicz when he initiated the repair of bricks, replacement of roofs, and repainting of the buildings.

Unfortunately, an arsonist destroyed the sanctuary of the church in 1981, requiring nearly two years of remodeling. In 2008, the Diocese of Buffalo closed the church and merged the parish with St. Mary’s of Medina and St. Stephen’s of Middleport to create Holy Trinity Parish as part of the Diocese’s Journey in Faith and Grace program.

This particular photograph shows the original church edifice of Sacred Heart of Jesus R.C. Church in Medina, located at the corner of Ann and High Streets. The children of the parish are gathering on the front steps of the church and the appearance of white dresses suggests that it was a First Holy Communion celebration. It appears as though the priest is standing on the porch of the house, which served as his living quarters.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Strawberry Festival opened today for its 32^nd annual celebration. Volunteers with the Albion Music Boosters sold strawberry sundaes. They include, from left: Pam Allen, Stacey Andrews and Samantha Metzler.

The food court was a busy place with vendors and live music.

Miniature train rides are available.

Rocco Sidari, 6, of Albion tries a bean bag toss, one of several games run by the North Point Chapel on the lawn of the former Swan Library.

Skip Stratton and the Albion Lions Club are selling sausage and peppers by the Post Office.

The Orleans Girls Softball league is new to the festival this year. They well selling hot dogs and hamburgers. The group pictured includes, front, from left: Isabella Dhondt, Aubrielle Barry and Taylor LeFrois. Second row: Madalyn Ashbery, Adysyn Stirk, Maia Pate and Olivia Andrews. Back row: Mallory Ashbery and Doug Ashbery, one of the coaches. The OGSL has five teams from Albion and one from Holley.

The Attaboys perform in the food court.

The Strawberry Festival has a bigger schedule on Saturday. Some of the highlights include:

• Pancake Breakfast at the First Presbyterian Church from 7:30 to 10 a.m.

• 28th Annual 5k/8k Race (Registration 7 – 8 a.m. at the Courthouse Square.)

• Car Show registration 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Judging 12 – 2 p.m.; Awards 3 p.m.

• Parade at 10 a.m. featuring the following bands: Albion Purple Eagles, Hitmen Brass Band, Mighty St. Joes, Mark Time Marchers, Pembroke Dragons, White Sabres Drum Corps, Batavia High School, Downbeat Percussion, Kendall/Holley, and Rochester Scottish Pipes and Drums.

• Chalk Art from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• The turtle race at 2 p.m.

• People can also stop by the fire hall from 2 to 4 p.m. and get a sneak peek of a Santa mural that will soon be installed in downtown Albion. That mural is 24 feet long and shows Santa in a sleigh over the Courthouse Square.

• There will be live music, craft booths and other activities until 9 p.m.

Click here to see the full schedule.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Charlie Bruning, left, celebrates with his teammates after hitting a home run in the Rams state semifinal loss to Seton Catholic this afternoon at Maine-Endwell High School near Binghamton.

Unable to overcome an early five run deficit, Roy-Hart dropped a 7-1 decision to Seton Catholic of Binghamton in the semifinals of the state Class B baseball championships this afternoon at Maine-Endwell High School near Binghamton.

Seton Catholic jumped out to a quick 2-0 first inning lead on an RBI double by Cody Malyszek and an error as a leadoff triple by Zach Pruden set up the threat.

The Saints upped the advantage to 5-0 by tallying three times in the top of the third inning on an RBI double by Finbarr Huff, a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly by Michael Martin as back-to-back leadoff singles sparked the uprising.

Roy-Hart right fielder Mike Huntington stretches to make a catch as second baseman Charlie Brigham moves in.

Roy-Hart missed a golden opportunity to get back in the game in the home half of the third.  The Rams got two runners aboard with just one out on singles by Noah Hardy and Karson Grover but the Saints defense came up with a huge inning ending double play to quickly wipe out the threat.

The Seton Catholic defense also turned a double play in the second inning to wipe out a potential Roy-Hart threat after Ben Schwab had leadoff with a single for the Rams.

The Rams scored their only run in the fourth inning on a leadoff home run by Charlie Bruning.

Seton Catholc though got that one right back in the fifth as winning pitcher Mason Vaughn tripled and came home on an error to make it 6-1.

A pair of errors plated an insurance run for the Saints in the sixth frame.

Roy-Hart did get runners to second and third in the bottom of the sixth after a single by Al Xapsos and a double by Jake Bruning but Vaughn quickly got out of the jam on a groundout back to the mound.

On the day, Vaughn scattered 6 hits and struck out 7,

“It’s a tough one to swallow right now,” said Roy-Hart Coach Mike Tarnowski. We’ve gotten into a hole before and I thought we would comeback but today they had the better team. They out hit us and out pitched us. I’m just so proud of our team though. They couldn’t have left their mark on school history any better.”

Roy-Hart, which advanced to the state semis by capturing the school’s first sectional and regional baseball titles, finishes  at 19-3.

Seton Catholic advances to Saturday’s championship game against Center Moriches which shutout Albany Academy 4-0 in the other semifinal.

Roy-Hart’s Ben Schwab dives to try and make a stop at third base.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman

ENDWELL – Roy-Hart fans congratulate the Rams for a great season after they lost today to Seton Catholic 7-1 at Maine-Endwell High School in the Class B state semis.

Roy-Hart advanced to the final four in the state tournament after capturing the school’s first sectional and regional baseball titles.

The defeat today near Binghamton ends Roy-Hart’s season with a record of 19 wins, 3 losses.

Check local sports later for more on the game.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion seniors Elliott Neidert, left, and Preston Flugel put clear-coat finish on a new “Buddy Bench” for the elementary school. Students in Kristen Martin’s high school woodworking class made five of the benches.

Third-graders in Sheryl LeBaron’s and Maggy Orbaker’s classes painted the benches purple and art teachers decorated them.

There will be a ribbon-cutting for the benches on Monday at the “farm playground” at the elementary school. There will be benches at the two playgrounds and other sites in the school. If people are feeling lonely, they can sit on a bench and a friend is encouraged to go sit with them.

Preston Flugel puts the finish on the bench.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Renee Van Epps, mother of student Hannah Van Epps, reacts during a DWI simulation after seeing her daughter on a stretcher and pronounced dead this morning. It was part of a demonstration to send a message about the dangers of drunk driving.

Van Epps wailed in agony when she saw her daughter wearing fake makeup to show blood.

“That was probably the worst experience ever and it was fake,” Van Epps told students after in an assembly at the gym. “I can’t imagine if it was real.”

Nate Smith pretends to be drunk while Hannah Van Epps lays on the hood of the car.

Albion students have their prom tonight and will be attending graduation parties later this month and over the summer.

They were given a powerful reminder this morning about the dangers of drunk driving.

There was a simulated car crash in the high school parking lot, with five students wearing makeup to show blood from the accident. One of the students didn’t survive and was taken from the scene by a hearse from Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes. Three other students left by COVA Ambulance.

Zach Moore portrays an injured student in the car wreck.

Firefighters use extrication tools to open doors to free students.

Albion police officers Nathaniel Staines, left, and David Mogle do field sobriety tests on Smith.

COVA EMT Shelby Reis, left, and COVA paramedic Barb Morlino take Chase Froman, an injured student, by stretcher.

County Coroner Scott Schmidt, left, and Albion firefighter Jeremy Graham close a body bag on Hannah Van Epps. Josh Mitchell, in back, of Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes also was part of the demonstration. Mitchell took Van Epps away in a hearse.

Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone, left, and Gaines Town Justice Bruce Schmidt were part of an arraignment and sentencing for Smith. Schmidt said judges often have to sentence defendants to mandatory sentences in prison.

Cardone told the students they have worked hard to get to this point in their lives. He urged them to responsible.

Nate Smith is led away in handcuffs by Albion Police Officer Nathaniel Staines after Judge Schmidt sentenced Smith to 15 years in state prison for first-degree vehicular manslaughter and three counts of vehicular assault in the first degree.

Nate’s parents were also there and asked for a goodbye hug, but they were denied by the judge.

Cardone said the crimes not only affect victims but the people responsible for the crimes and their families.

The DA said many people with promising futures make bad decisions and have to live with the repercussions.

“Mr. Smith needs to understand when he gets behind the wheel he takes responsible for the other occupants of the car and the other drivers on the road,” Cardone said.

Renee Van Epps urged the students to make good decisions.

“Words don’t describe the agony you feel when someone you know dies in a senseless way,” she said.

Albion Police chief Roland Nenni is in back. He thanked Van Epps and the students for their participation in the simulation.

Nenni urged student s who have been drinking to not drive. If students believe they don’t have any options for a ride home, Nenni said they can always call the Albion police for a ride.

He urged the students to intervene if they see a classmate get behind the wheel after drinking.

“Have courageous convictions,” he said. “Don’t let people drink and drive and destroy other peoples’ lives.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – Firefighters have been working since about 11 a.m. to put on soybean bales that caught on fire at Kirk Mathes’ beef farm on Mathes Road.

Mathes was burning a pile of brush. The wind shifted this morning and a spark from the fire caught the bales of soybean on fire, said James Neal, Barre fire chief.

Barre firefighter Chris Flansburg directs water on the bales.

A public water line doesn’t go by the farm so tankers needed to be brought in for water to fight the fire.

Mathes uses the soybean bales for bedding. “Luckily this year we have a lot of it,” he said. “It will be a mess to clean up.”

Barre Fire Chief James Neal walks by some of the bales that are burning. He said the big piles of bales would have to be torn apart to make sure the fire is put out.

Firefighters wait for water to put on the fire. A pond tank was set up so firefighters could direct water on the fire.

A spark from this brush fire caused the bales to ignite.

A member of the farm watches the bales burn.

Provided photo

ALBION – An Albion woman was headed to work this morning when she hit a deer on Route 31, near Tuthill Road. Sue Flanagan said the deer hit the bumper of her Volkswagen Beetle, and then smashed through the windshield, pushing back the roof and coming to rest in the passenger seat next to her.

Flanagan wasn’t injured except for scratches and small cuts from the glass. COVA and Albion firefighters were at the scene, but Flanagan didn’t need additional medical attention.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Frank’s Auto in Albion removes the damaged Volkswagen Beetle.

Flanagan is thankful she wasn’t seriously hurt. It all happened very fast just after 6:30 this morning when she was headed east for her job as a dental hygienist for Western New York Dental in Irondequoit.

“It could have been bad,” she said. “It hit the roof and then was right next to me.”

Provided photo

LYNDONVILLE – Students in Jeff Gress’s technology class created and installed this lending and borrowing library in front of the L.A. Webber Middle-High School.

The students include, from left: Josh Allen, Andrew Brabon and Karl Schulz. The new mini library is an effort to promote literacy.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Annalise Steier, an Albion ninth-grader, will serve as queen of the Albion Strawberry Festival. Annalise was presented with a certificate last week during the Albion Rotary Club meeting by Karen Sawicz, a member of the Rotary Club, which sponsors the festival.

Annalise will be in the beginning of parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. She has to then head back to the school and join the marching band. She plays the clarinet for the Purple Eagles.

Annalise was picked as queen after submitting an essay about the importance of cobblestones to the community. The 32^nd annual Strawberry Festival will be Friday and Saturday and this year’s theme celebrates cobblestone country.

Photo courtesy of Megan Zambito

Brody Hefner is prince and Keira Zambito is princess of the festival. Besides being in the parade, the fair royalty will serve as ambassadors of the festival and will help at the turtle race at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

For more on the festival, click here.