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Albion merchants plan busy ‘Hometown Holiday’ on Saturday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2020 at 7:09 pm

Events include tree-lighting at Waterman Park, selfies with Santa

Photo by Tom Rivers: This Christmas tree is shown last December at Waterman Park by the mural showing Albion native Charles Howard as Santa, flying over the downtown and Courthouse Square. The tree will be lighted up at 4:15 on Saturday during the Hometown Holiday celebration.

ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association has several activities planned for Saturday as part of the annual Hometown Holiday celebration.

The schedule includes:

10 a.m. to noon – Selfies with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Beaver Alley
10 a.m. to noon – Ribbon ornaments at Town and Country Quilter
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Ornament kits at Red Check Rustic
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Christmas Time Fun at 49 Main St. while supplies last
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Letters to Santa at Downtown Browsery
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza at The Lockstone
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Ornaments with Mrs.Claus at The Back Room
Noon to 4 p.m. – Cocoa & Christmas Canvases at He Brews 5:9/Marked by Janna
2 to 4 p.m. – Free ice cream at Tinsel
4:15 p.m. – Tree Lighting Ceremony at Waterman Park

The winners of the storefront decorating contest will be announced at the tree-lighting. People can vote for their favorite on the AMA Facebook page (click here).

The events on Saturday also include at a ribbon-cutting at Maison Albion, the former Pillars at 13800 County House Rd.

Kerri and Cole Glover, the owners of Maison Albion, will host a grand opening with a Victorian holiday party with a French flair. Click here for more information on the party – Fête de Nöel.

Medina will be busy on Saturday for Olde Tyme Christmas celebration

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 27 November 2020 at 9:25 am

Photos by Tom Rivers: Cobblestone The Girl Scouts in the Cobblestone Service Unit won the “Littlest Elf Award” for their float in the Nov. 24, 2018 parade.

MEDINA – In spite of the Covid pandemic, the village of Medina has found ways to celebrate their annual Christmas in Medina, scheduled on Saturday.

While the annual Christmas in Medina will have a different look this year, there will be a celebration on Saturday, which will conclude with the Parade of Lights in a reverse format.

Cindy Robinson and Kathy Blackburn are the annual chairs of the day-long event in Medina, which will begin with the Home for the Holidays 5K at 9 a.m. That event is sold out.

Residents are invited to join merchants for Shop Small Saturday, with specials being offered by many local small town merchants.

One local shopper is Karen Sawicz, owner of the Orleans Hub and Lake Country Pennysaver, who prefers to shop as much as possible with small local merchants in Orleans County, because she believes they are the backbone of the county in providing jobs as well as goods and services.

Shopping local and supporting small town businesses is crucial to their existence, especially with the hardships caused by the pandemic.

Due to Covid restrictions, visits with Santa on Saturday will be at the Senior Center on West Avenue this year. Children and parents can enter through one door and exit through the other, thereby adhering to social distancing. Masks will be required and there will be no sitting on Santa’s lap this year.

Santa and Mrs. Claus’ schedule for their appearances at the Santa House in Rotary Park throughout the holiday season will be posted on Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas Facebook page and in store windows.

Here is map for the “reverse parade” on Saturday at the Medina school campus. The floats will be stationary and people will pass by them in vehicles. The entrance is on West Oak Orchard Street at the Oak Orchard Elementary School drive. Vehicles will exit on Maple Ridge Road near the high school.

The fourth annual Parade of Lights Toy Drive, led by Andrew Szatkowski, also had to adapt this year, and instead of collecting toys downtown, they are hosting a “Santa Hat Drive” at the start of the parade. Volunteer elves with Santa hats, much like a fireman’s boot drive, will be at the parade to collect spare change. All donations will go directly to local groups to help make a brighter Christmas for kids in Orleans County.

The Cutest Little Elf contest has gone virtual this year. Pictures can be submitted to Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas Facebook page from this Saturday through Dec. 12. Winners will be based on how many “likes” a photo receives. Prizes will be provided by hometown businesses.

The Children’s Window Scavenger Hunt theme this year will be “The Night Before Christmas Mouse.” Entry forms are available online at christmasinmedina.com and at the English Rose Tea Shoppe, 527 Main St.

The Canal Village Farmers’ Market will take on a Christmas theme every Saturday until Christmas. The market is located at the corner of West Avenue and West Center Street.

The traditional children’s activities offered by downtown merchants will be available this year for two weeks – on Saturday through Dec. 12 (unless otherwise noted) during each business’s regular hours. This is to avoid large crowds which might violate Health Department recommendations.

Shoppers can enter to win an electric toy train by dropping off a non-perishable food item at the English Rose Tea Shoppe and receiving one raffle ticket for each item donated. Donations will be given to the Medina Food Pantry. Also at the English Rose Tea Shoppe, kids can pick up their special Santa Claus stationary to write their letter to Santa. Letters can be mailed in a special mail box in front of Rotary Park. The Tea Shoppe will also be handing out free samples of their most popular teas.

Alexandra Peracciny Photography on the second floor at 519 Main St. will be offering a holiday photo card/frame kit. Also, a complimentary photo booth will be set up in the studio from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12.

At Case-Nic Cookies at 439 Main St, kits to “Frost Your Own Cookie” will be sold for $1, with the proceeds going to the Medina Food Pantry.

Creekside Floral at 509 Main St. will offer a surprise “take and make” craft to complete at home.

Children can pick up a picture at Blissetts, 449 Main St., for a coloring contest. Pictures should be returned to blissetts by Dec. 12 to be entered to win a prize.

At the Book Shoppe, 519 Main St., there will be a take and make snowman bookmark craft.

Upscale Overstock at 339 North Main St. will offer a different take home kids’ craft each week.

Also at 339 North Main St., Mandeo’s Candy Shoppe will have cups of hot chocolate (with surprise ingredients, such as a peppermint stick or chocolate spoon) to make at home. Cost is $3 and proceeds will be donated to Anchoring Hope of New York and Buffalo Sabres Warriors Sled Hockey Program.

The Downtown Browsery at 413 Main St. will offer a take and make Santa ornament and a letter to Santa on which children can put their wish list. It can be returned to the Browsery and put in the Letters to Santa mailbox. The Browsery is also one of the locations for the MAAC collection barrels, and shoppers are encouraged to drop off a new toy to help make Christmas special for those less fortunate.

Since Canalside Tattoo can’t host the toy drive this year, they got together with Erin Townsend Photography to make 2021 calendars which they will sell for $30.

A variety of take and make crafts will also be available at Lyric & Lizzy Boutique, 335 North Main St.

Santa and Mrs. Claus make their way to the Medina Theatre after a parade through the downtown last year on Nov.30 when they rode in an old Medina fire truck. This year they will be at the Senior Center on West Avenue. Children and parents can enter through one door and exit through the other to adhere to social distancing. Masks will be required and there will be no sitting on Santa’s lap this year.

Anyone who brings a small baby item to Herbalty Collage will receive a “Stress-Free Holiday Bath Soak.” Baby items will be donated to Care Net of Greater Orleans.

Shoppers can drop off a gift for children and/or teenagers in the MAAC barrel at Ashlee’s Place, 116 East Center St.

As is the tradition, the day will be topped off with the spectacular Parade of Lights, which definitely has a different look this year. There will not be the traditional fireworks, but Instead of the parade passing by the spectators, the parade will be stationary and the spectators will drive by it. This is to eliminate the big crowds which usually gather on Main Street.

This year, cars will enter the parade route on West Oak Orchard Street at the Oak Orchard Elementary School drive near Genesee Street. Genesee Street will be closed to traffic. Cars are to proceed to the parade entrance and follow the route through the school campus, exiting at the high school on Maple Ridge Road. The parade will start promptly at 5 p.m., immediately after a ribbon cutting near Vets Park with parade marshals Dave and Trudy Schwert. Parade floats will be on display until 8 p.m., according to parade chairman Jim Hancock.

Christmas garlands, streamers return to Albion downtown

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 December 2019 at 10:10 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Some of the Christmas garlands and streamers are back in the downtown, including these decorations on the Pratt building on Main Street.

The Village Board declared some of the decorations as surplus and they were purchased by Liz Groat, president of the Downtown Browsery. Groat repaired many of the decorations and convinced some of the merchants to hang them on their buildings.

Krantz Furniture was the first to display the decorations. The village didn’t want to hang the garlands and streamers across the street because of concern the buildings didn’t have attachments to securely display the decorations across the street.

The decorations gradually fell into disrepair and were declared surplus. The village sold eight stream liners which include two 22-foot lighted garlands with a lighted wreath. Groat submitted the highest bid of $360. She spent more money and time repairing the decorations.

The Pratt and Day buildings, owned by Michael Bonafede and Judith Koehler, give the decorations prominent display.

The Village of Albion DPW this year set up the Christmas tree in the downtown at Waterman Park by the mural showing Albion native Charles Howard as Santa, flying over the downtown and Courthouse Square.

The DPW also put up many wreaths and banners about the holiday season. This banner celebrates Charles Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 to 1966.

The Albion Merchants Association announced the winner of the Hometown Holiday Window Decorating contest. Frontier Heating & A/C Service Inc. won for this display at its storefront on East Bank Street.

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Albion downtown was busy with activities for Hometown Holiday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 December 2019 at 10:20 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Grinch was a greeter at 39 Problems on Saturday as part of Albion’s Hometown Holiday.

The Grinch is Chet Kwiatkowski. He is pictured with his granddaughter Myleigh Miller, grandson Garrett Miller, and daughter Erica Miller.

39 Problems would later host an ugly sweater contest.

The Albion Merchants Association had many activities in the downtown as part of the annual Hometown Holiday.

Paula Brooks, a vendor at the Downtown Browsery, dressed up as Sparkles the Elf. Many of the stores had opportunities to make Christmas cookies, write letters to Santa, make ornaments and sample holiday treats.

Nathaniel Staines, an Albion police officer, joined children and families in a coloring contest at the Albion Village Hall. Police officers were on hand to share coffee, doughnuts and pizza.

Saturday there was also a benefit by Red Check Rustic for Lisa Wilson and her family. Wilson recently suffered three strokes and is recovering at Unity Hospital in Rochester. The benefit included 105 baskets that were raffled from the second floor of the Pratt Building.

Debbie Prest, second from left, was one of the main organizers of the benefit. She is pictured from left with June Wilson (Lisa’s mother-in-law), Terri Drennan and Lynn Burgess. Lisa’s son Damian, a senior at Albion, is at far left. Lisa also has a son Drake with her husband Chad.

The two went to Albion school together and have stayed in Albion. Lisa works for ESL in Rochester after working about 20 years in Albion at the site that has been Dime Bank, Washington Mutual, Chase and CRFS.

Her husband thanked the community for its support, and the organizers of Saturday’s benefit.

Provided photo: Tinsel hosted a Christmas painting with Santa in the morning and later showed holiday movies and did cookie decorating.

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Mr. Scribbles, Santa add star power to Albion’s Hometown Holiday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2018 at 8:14 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – “Mr. Scribbles” – Michael Sparling of Perry – was a popular person Saturday during the Hometown Holiday celebration in downtown Albion. Sparling lets kids scribble on a paper and then he adds cartoons of animals with a friendly message.

He is making a picture for Carsyn Mogle, 7, of Holley at the Village Office.

Oliver Carter, 5, Albion gets his picture taken with four members of the Albion Police Department, including from left: officer Daryl Robb, Lt. David Mogle, officer Nathaniel Staines and Police Chief Roland Nenni.

The Police Department served coffee and doughnuts in the morning and pizza for lunch. They were one of the stations at the Village Hall.

The Albion merchants Association organized the seventh annual Hometown Holiday, which included many activities at downtown businesses and a raffle.

Al Capurso helps children with a craft. He also led the group in singing Christmas carols.

Albion police officer Karol Hughes chats with Santa at the Village Office.

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Many activities in Albion downtown for Hometown Holiday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2018 at 10:37 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association is hosting its seventh annual Hometown Holiday in the downtown today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Debbie Grimm, left, and Grace Kent are getting crafts ready for children in the Village Office at 35-37 East Bank St.

The Village Office also will have Mr. Scribbles, coffee with a cop and a coloring contest. There is free coffee and doughnuts this morning and free pizza at noon while supplies last at the Village Office.

Other businesses are also hosting activities, including cookie decorating, a sing-a-long, letter writing to Santa, crafts with Mrs. Claus, Christmas trivia and a reindeer raffle with 28 items up for raffle.

Anita Finley is ready for people to enter the coloring contests. There will be prizes for children 5 and under, ages 6 to 9, and ages 10 to 12. Finley’s husband Todd is owner of the Oak Orchard Canoe. They are members of the Albion Merchants Association.

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Albion has many fun activities today for annual Hometown Holidays

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2017 at 11:36 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There are many fun activities scheduled today in downtown Albion for the annual Hometown Holidays event organized by the Albion Merchants Association. New this year is “Coffee with a Cop” at the Village Office form 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Albion police officers Daryl Robb, left, and Karol Hughes are shown chatting with Stan Farone, a village trustee. The Albion Dunkin Donuts donated the doughnuts and coffee for the event.

There are many activities on schedule until 4 p.m., with Santa stopping by the former Swan Library from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Arianna McGurn, left, and her friend Logon Conlon are running the selfie photo station at the Village Office. They are both in ninth grade.

Lisa Stratton, owner of the Hazy Jade Gift Shop, is hosting a wine-tasting with Midgard Winery from Corfu. Michael Potoczak has several different wines available for tasting. Midgard will be back on March 3 for Albion’s annual wine tasting event.

Ariana Mateo, 12, and her sister Eva Mateo color in a Christmas-themed design at one of the stations at the Village Office.

Brushstrokes in Medina brought ornaments for children to paint. Kiri Keller, left, and Becca Lusk work on painting ornaments.

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Albion businesses have many activities today for Hometown Holiday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2016 at 10:32 am

Santa will make appearance at old Swan Library

File photo by Tom Rivers: Mrs. Claus is pictured here during Hometown Holiday in December 2013. She will be back at Knight’s Pride today from noon to 3 p.m.

ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association has many activities planned today for the fifth annual Hometown Holiday.

Children can make ornaments (at MMIM), make reindeer dust (at Lynne Marie Hair Boutique), play holiday games, write letters to Santa and eat cookies.

Mrs. Claus will be at Knight’s Pride from noon to 3 p.m. and Santa will be available to meet youngsters at the old Swan Library from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

The activities are all free go from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (although not all locations will be participating the full six hours).

Here is a list of some participants: SnL Sweet Escapes, cookie decorating; Digital Ink Arts, holiday games; Tease, cookies and hot cocoa; Xpress Fitness & tanning, reindeer raffle; Hazy Jade Gift Shop, Santa hand print art; Uptown Browsery, snowman ornament; Olde Dogge Inn, pine cone ornament; Downtown Browsery, letter to Santa; and Save-A-Lot, coloring contest.

There will also be an elf hunt, where people can win a ticket for the reindeer raffle if they find an elf. The Merchants also have a 12 Days of Christmas Scavenger Hunt.

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Albion hosts Hometown Holiday on Saturday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Downtown Albion is decorated with banners and wreaths for the holiday season. Many of the merchants also have lighted displays in their storefront windows.

ALBION – Albion business owners will host their fourth annual “Hometown Holiday” on Saturday. The event has grown with new activities including a “Where’s Rudolph” challenge.

“This is our annual community program where we encourage people to shop local,” said Carolyn Ricker, president of Albion Merchants Association and owner of Bindings Bookstore. “There will be a lot of activities for kids and families to do together.”

There will be a Rudolph at 19 sites and children who can find at least five will receive a goody bag. Each participating merchant will have a passport for all of the reindeer locations.

Merchants will host other activities, including ornament making, letter writing to Santa, story time, coloring contest, and cookies with Mrs. Claus. The events run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Santa at the Cobble-Ridge Co-op at 14462 Ridge Rd. from 1 to 3 p.m.

The event also includes a Christmas Gift Fair with several vendors at the Pullman Memorial Church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on the day, visit one of the businesses or check the Merchant’s Association Facebook page by clicking here.

A slender Santa who resembles Jim Knight helps promote the Christmas Gift Fair last Saturday. Vendors will be back tomorrow at the church.

Albion church, Masonic lodge will serve 200 Thanksgiving dinners

Photo by Tom Rivers: The team from The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries and the Renovation Masonic Lodge are shown last Thanksgiving on Nov. 24, 2022 at the Masonic Lodge in Albion. They pose in the kitchen after they served 182 Thanksgiving dinners. Pictured in front from left include Lisa DeCarlo, Val Rush and Bonnie Johnson. Back row: Dan DeCarlo, Pastor Al Wilson, Ykeeta Wilson, Decklan Meiers, Nicole Horn and Jeff Holler.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2023 at 11:39 am

ALBION – About 200 Thanksgiving dinners will be served beginning at noon on Thanksgiving at the Masonic Lodge at 39 North Platt St.

The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries and Masonic Lodge will have the meals available to eat-in or take-out until 3 p.m. or until they are all gone.

Pastor Al Wilson said volunteers already have a list of people where they will make deliveries.

The church last year prepared and served 182 of the meals for free on Thanksgiving. Wilson said about 200 of the meals are ready for Thursday.

Wilson also leads a church in Buffalo, the Greater Royal Worship Center, that served 4,500 Thanksgiving meals on Tuesday.

“It’s my ministry, it’s not a job for me,” Wilson said today.

The church has other big events planned in Albion. It will be doing its third annual “Que In” for Christmas from noon until all 2,000 chicken dinners are gone on Dec. 9. Those dinners will be served as part of Albion’s Hometown Christmas event. The meals will be take-out only at the Masonic Lodge, 39 Platt St.

Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries also is organizing a Resource Fair on Dec. 8 at the Elks Lodge, 428 West State St.

There will be information on programs and services available in Orleans County from noon until 3 p.m. There will be free giveaways and food, as well as the chance to meet with local agency leaders.

2,000 free chicken dinners in hot demand at Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2022 at 3:31 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Wayne Downs and Ron Gaesser cook chicken dinners this afternoon outside the Masonic Lodge in Platt Street.

The Renovation Masonic Lodge and The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries prepared 2,000 chicken dinners to be given away for free.

The meals were scheduled to be available from noon to 4 p.m. but a long line formed outside the Masonic Lodge by 10 a.m. The meals were served ahead of time and by 11, 600 were gone.

Val Rush helps serve the meals in the kitchen at the Masonic Lodge. The meals also included beans, macaroni salad and a roll.

Pastor Al Wilson counts meals to be delivered in the community.

The church last year served 1,000 chicken dinners and that wasn’t enough. The Royal Body Shop decided to double the effort this time and received many donations, andfood at a discount from Save-A-Lot.

“It’s such a blessing to help meet the needs of the community,” Wilson said.

The Rev. Richard Csizmar from Holy Family Parish offered a blessing before the meals were served.

“It’s bringing the community together of all ethnic backgrounds and faiths,” Wilson said.

The downtown area has been busy today with many events as part of Albion’s Hometown Christmas. A section of the Main Street between Bank Street and Beaver Alley will be the focus for events this evening.

The “In the Square” schedule includes:

3 to 5 p.m. – Book sale for publication about Charles Howard compiled by Albion seventh-graders in 2021
3:30 to 8 p.m. – Cookies and baked goods by Pretty Sweet Bakery, and hot cocoa and drinks from the Coffee Joint
3:30 to 8 p.m. – Food booth by Albion Lions Club
5:30 – Santa’s Hometown Parade
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Santa’s Jollies (for 21 and over) by Mountain Mule Ciderhouse
6 to 8:30 p.m. – Live music and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus
There will also be opportunities for the Santa Shuffle, Reindeer Games and Christmas Selfies

This group from the Downtown Browsery dressed up as “Misfit Toys.” They include, from left: Liz Groat, Paula Brooks, Dar Krull, Donna John and Diane Wight.

Performers on Main Street stage help Albion celebrate Small Business Saturday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2022 at 3:35 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Members of the 3D Trio (John Borello at right, Alona Kuhns at center and Lonnie Froman at left) perform this afternoon on a stage on Main Street in Albion.

With the lift bridge bridge closed to traffic, the stage was set up for performances from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Beaver Alley and Bank Street.

The 3D Trio who are all members of the Who Dats sang holiday favorites today. The lineup of performers was arranged by Amy Sidari, owner of Gtta Dance by Miss Amy.

She used the backdrop from previous Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas events.

Amy Sidari and Crystal Hollenbeck lead a group in line dancing as part of today’s entertainment. The performers helped celebrate Small Business Saturday to encourage shopping at locally owned businesses in Albion. The businesses had a passport that encouraged people to visit 20 businesses for the chance to win prizes.

These four competed in an ugly contest. They include from left: Lily Madison of Albion, Brooklyn Carr, Joline Gabrielson of Albion, and Gabrielson’s daughter, Myah Bisig.

Myah Bisig holds up her trophy for winning the ugly sweater contest.

Albion merchants bringing back wine walk, look to do eagle mural

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2022 at 1:21 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers: This photo from March 7, 2020 is from the last Albion Sip N’ Stroll. About 350 people attended the event, about a week before the Covid-19 lockdown. The photo shows Jennifer Mateo and her husband Erik Mateo trying wines from Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina. Sarah Geer served the wine at Red Check Rustic in the Pratt Opera House building. Geer was joined by her husband Peter in serving the wine for Leonard Oakes.

ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association is looking forward to the return of the Sip N’ Stroll wine walk. The event will be March 12 and has an expanded route from the downtown to include Dubby’s Tailgate on Platt Street and the Arnold Gregory Office Complex on South Main Street.

There will also be a limo bus taking people to the locations. That is sponsored by The Drink Shoppe and Susie’s Boat-tique.

The Sip N’ Stroll will include wineries, distilleries and breweries. The Merchants had the biggest Sip N’ Stroll two years ago with 350 participants. They have 500 souvenir wine glasses made for the March 12 event from 4 to 7 p.m.

The tickets are available on line (click here) or at The Coffee Joint, Arnold’s Auto Parts/NAPA Auto Parts, Bloom’s Flower Shop, Dubby’s Tailgate and The Downtown Browsery.

The Merchants are also working on doing another mural. They did one in 2020 showcasing Albion as the home of the Santa Claus School. That mural is on the north side of the Lake Country Pennysaver building.

Justin Suarez of “Aerosol Kingdom” made the Santa School mural and the Merchants want to have him paint a Purple Eagle themed mural on the side of Arnold’s Auto Parts on West Bank Street. There is a GoFundMe (click here) set up to raise money for the project.

The Merchants also are planning a return of the food truck rodeo. It will be in July instead of June. Last year about 400 people attended the food truck rodeo which helped the void of the Starwberry Festival which was cancelled. That event will be back June 10-11.

The group also is expecting a return of the fall festival and Hometown Christmas.

The group’s officers this year include President Natasha Wasuck of The Lockstone and Tinsel, Vice President Rebecca Alexander of Dubby’s Wood Fired and Dubby’s Tailgate, Secretary Tara Thom of Town and Country Quilter, and Treasurer Anita Finley of Oak Orchard Canoe Kayak Experts.

Wasuck also has reached out to the Canal Corp. about having a retired tugboat set up on display near the canal.

This photo from June 2018 shows the Tugboat DeWitt Clinton in Albion. The vessel hasn’t been operational for about three years. The Albion Merchants Association would like to have a retired tugboat on display on land in Albion.

Albion’s elementary school principal leaving for job in Chautauqua

Photos by Tom Rivers: Rachel Curtin, the elementary school principal the past seven years at Albion, attempts a shot during a basketball game on Oct. 26. She was on the Albion Hotshots, a team of teachers and staff who played the Harlem Wizards in a fundraiser for the Albion PTA.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 July 2020 at 1:59 pm

ALBION – Rachel Curtin, the principal at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School the past seven years ,is leaving Albion to lead the Chautauqua Lake Elementary School in Mayville.

That is near her hometown of Ripley. Chautauqua Lake is a merged district of Ripley and Mayville.

Curtin’s resignation was accepted during a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. She starts her new job on Monday.

“I’m really grateful for the time I have had here,” Curtin said today. “I worked with so many wonderful and caring teachers. Our students also are an inspiration, they really are.”

Rachel Curtin performed at several community events, including the Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas. She is shown singing “Heaven Everywhere” during the show in December 2015.

Curtin joined Albion after working as a principal in Silver Creek, which is also in her home county of Chautauqua. She started her career as a music teacher.

She said the Covid-19 pandemic made her want to be closer to her family back home.

“I really thought I would retire at Albion,” Curtin said. “Chautauqua Lake is my hometown. The Covid crisis has taught us family is so important to have in your life.”

The Board of Education on Tuesday also accepted the resignations of Lisa Burlison, an AIS and reading teacher at the elementary and middle schools, and Anna Atwater, an elementary vocal music teacher.

Rachel Curtin stands on a new elementary school playground with a megaphone on May 22, 2014. She thanked the contractors, community and school employees for working to make the project a reality. After the opening ceremony, students joyfully played on new slides, swings, climbing apparatus and other playground equipment. The new playground replaced one made out of wood that tended to attract bees.

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Albion will busy this weekend with holiday events

Provided photos: These dancers will be performing Saturday at Gotta Dance by Miss Amy on East Bank Street in Albion, where many performers from the community will be doing three shows for the ninth annual Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas. These dancers include, from left: Evee Heinsler, Sierra Kast, Gina Sidari and Miranda Gebo.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 December 2019 at 4:59 pm

ALBION – It will be a busy weekend in Albion with many events to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season.

After a taking a break last year, Gotta Dance by Miss Amy has put together the ninth show for Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas. It features many dancers, singers and some comedy in three shows – noon, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The later show is already sold out. (Click here for ticket ionfromation.)

Amy Sidari is the organizer of the event at her dance studio and cabaret at 28 West Bank St. The Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas is a showcase of community talent, and also has raised about $20,000 for a scholarship in memory of Nicholas Kovaleski. The scholarships are given annually to graduating high school seniors who “Live with Purpose.”

Nicholas inspired the Albion community with his valiant fight against leukemia. He passed away at age 15 on June 29, 2011. He was a popular student at Albion, excelling at football, swimming and tennis.

These children, ages 5 to 16, practice the opening number for the Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas. Amy Sidari, owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, said the opening number begins the show with “unbeatable energy and joy.”

The Albion Merchants Association also has many activities planned in the downtown on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a coloring contest, bake sale, brunch with the Grinch, caroling, donuts and pizza with the Police Department, letters to Santa, Christmas movies, cookie decorating, watercolor painting and an ugly sweater party.

Click here to see the full schedule from the Merchants Association.

Sunday the First Presbyterian Church is hosting the annual Home for the Holidays Christmas concert at 3 p.m. The concert is organized by the Albion Alumni Association and includes Albion students and adults from the community, including an 80-person community choir.

Tickets are $5 with the proceeds going towards scholarships for Albion High School seniors.

Performers at the concert include Gary Simboli, Gwen Martillotta Ferchen, Mike Thaine, Kailey Winans, Travis Klossner, Eric Deiboldt, Janet Miller, Mike Grammatico, Kyle Thaine, Karen Kenney Conn, Shannon Broda, Alec Sherman, the Albion High School Percussion Ensemble (led by Mike Thaine), Albion High School Select Choirs (led by Gary Simboli), Community Brass Ensemble, Community Christmas Choir and a trio that includes Aleka Schmidt, Sue Boring and Sue Thaine.

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