Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Lord’s House, a church in Waterport, concluded a meat raffle this afternoon with a drawing at Save-A-Lot in Albion.

Pastor Eddie English and his wife Rose are leaders of The Lord’s House in Waterport. They are joined at the drawing by their granddaughter Olivia Peterson and Dora Leader, the store manager.

Bob Collins won the shopping cart full of meat and Miriam Smith won the smaller box held by Olivia.

The tickets were $10 each. Pastor English thanked people for buying the tickets and supporting the church’s effort to acquire a stove, refrigerator, sink and other furnishings for a kitchen in the basement fellowship hall.

The church has a $10,000 fundraising goal for the project at 2038 Eagle Harbor Rd. The church last year was painted on the outside.

Pastor English would like to have the kitchen project done this winter.

For more information on the project, contact Rose English at (585) 331-7963.

Photo by Tom Rivers: McKenna Boyer and her mother Deb Boyer hold a commemorative wine glass that will be giving out to people who buy tickets for a March 11 wine-tasting event at the Cobblestone Welcome Center (Thompson-Kast Visitors Center). The Boyers are organizing the event for the Albion Rotary Club.

ALBION – A wine-tasting event on March 11 is intended to bring friends together during the last stretch of winter when people are fighting cabin fever, said Deb Boyer, one of the event organizers.

“Everybody has been cooped up and it’s a chance for people to mix and mingle,” said Boyer, who has been organizing the event with her daughter, McKenna, who is also in the Rotary Club.

The wine-tasting from 2 to 5 p.m. also will be a fundraiser for the Rotary Club to support causes in the community. The event will include wine from four wineries, hors d’oeuvres by Sourced Market & Eatery, music, basket raffles, 50/50 drawings and a chance to tour the Cobblestone Welcome Center (Thompson-Kast Visitors Center) at the intersection of routes 104 and 98.

That welcome center is a brick house from 1824. The museum acquired that site and will be putting on a new addition with bathrooms and a large meeting space.

The wine-tasting also will include artwork from the Marti’s on Main art gallery, led by Kim Martillotta Muscarella in Albion.

Tickets are $20 and are available through Rotary members, Boyer by texting (585) 507-6607 or by venoming @Albion-Rotary.

Boyer said the event is timed so people can try the wine-tasting and then visit a local restaurant. It also is scheduled between Medina’s Wine About Winter on Feb. 4 and the Albion Merchants Association’s Sip & Stroll on April 1 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Payton K. Weese has been reported missing by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate a missing juvenile, Payton K. Weese.

She is 15 years old from the Albion area and approximately 5’2” 125 pounds with long brown hair with blonde highlights, a nose piercing and tattoo on her left hand.

She was last seen wearing a black hoodie with angel wings on it. Her last known location was in the area of the Holley East Crosby’s around 5 p.m. on Friday.

She is known to frequent the Albion, Holley and Rochester area.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Orleans County Dispatch at (585) 589-5527.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Stacey Kirby Steward created these bookmarks featuring some of her paintings at Hoag Library in Albion. They were given out for free on Friday during a public reception at the library celebrating her art projects at the Hoag.

Gary Simboli plays the piano in front of a stained-glass window designed by Kirby Steward as part of Friday’s reception and celebration. Bill Lattin paid for that project as a gift for when the new library opened on July 7, 2012.

Stacey Kirby Steward, left, of Spencerport speaks with her aunt Betty Kenyon at the art reception on Friday.

“I am absolutely amazed at her talent and that she shares it with all of us,” Kenyon said.

In June 2020, Kirby Steward completed the 23-foot-long mural in the Curtis Room. The library’s main meeting room displays the large painting of three swans soaring over the Albion countryside with the Gaines Basin Road bridge in the background.

The family of the late Marion Moore paid the artist fee for the mural of the swans in flight over Albion. Moore served as director of the Swan Library from 1961 to 1973.

In her latest project, Kirby Steward painted six paintings of different animals reading well-known books, including this fox reading The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. The painting is mounted on the wall between two book shelves of popular new fiction books. The fox’s eyes look up from the page.

The artist showed the animals in their environment, reading the books for inspiration. A grant from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) funded the project.

Betty Sue Miller, library director, said the six paintings have been a big hit with library patrons, and library would like to do a second set of paintings. Kirby Steward said she already has new ideas for more paintings. Miller said there will likely be an opportunity for library users to submit ideas, too.

People walk through the library, looking for the six new paintings which are mounted in not-so-obvious places.

This painting shows raccoons consulting a cookbook while making a concoction of soup. In another painting, a skunk reads Dale Carnegie’s self-improvement book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Provided photos: Master-At-Arms Bryan Van Wycke meets with students Dudley Gilbert, Bailey Brewer (Royalton-Hartland), Phallon Rivera (Medina), Gabrielle Rosenbeek (Newfane), Gavin J. Philips (Barker) and Jorden Hagen (Lockport).

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Bryan Van Wycke is a 2018 Albion graduate who attended Dudley Gilbert’s Security and Law Enforcement program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.

After graduation, Van Wycke joined the Navy and became part of their military police known as a Master-At-Arms. Master-At-Arms provide security on ships, at bases and at military installations all around the world.

Van Wycke stopped in to the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center to talk to the Security and Law Enforcement classes of Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Gene Newman. Van Wycke talked about his career in the Navy.

“I wanted to be a police officer, but didn’t want to wait around for three years to become one, so I thought I would join the military and get some experience and have my college paid for,” he said. “I debated between the Marines and the Navy and thought the Navy was a better path for me.”

Van Wycke shared with the classes his experiences overseas and what he enjoys about his job.  He talked about his training at boot camp where he learned antiterrorism techniques, armed sentry/post standing techniques, crime prevention, military and civil law, communications, first aid, firearms deployment and physical restraint techniques.

He encouraged students interested in joining the military to talk to friends and family members in the armed forces and bring a parent or guardian with them when they talk to a recruiter to help ask questions and make a decision.

“It is a great opportunity to help you with your career and schooling and I would highly recommend it,” Van Wycke said.

Provided photo

ALBION – These seventh-graders at Albion, Ayme Vallejo Morales (left) and Monica Thomas, hold a marble marker for the infant son Henry Austin Spencer and Carrie Spencer.

The baby hasn’t had a headstone and is buried at Mount Albion Cemetery at 508 Valley. Jason Zicari, the cemetery superintendent, will have the new headstone installed.

Students in a service-learning class taught by Tim Archer in the middle school led this effort. It ties into a booklet project they are working on about Mount Albion.

The seventh-graders in November had a historical marker installed on Chamberlain Street in honor of Henry A. Spencer, who was the first African-American student at the University of Rochester in 1885. The marker is by the childhood home of Spencer at Chamberlain St.

Spencer was a pall bearer for Frederick Douglass’s funeral, a member of Frederick Douglass Memorial Committee, and secretary for the NYS Assembly.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Members of the Elks Riders Motorcycle Clubs in Albion and Brockport unload a truck this morning as part of a food distribution in Albion.

The pop-up food distribution was scheduled for Monday but was moved to this morning.

The motorcycle clubs stepped up as volunteers in this morning’s freezing cold after the change in schedule.

Gloria Sammons smiles while getting ready for the distribution. She helps every month at the events, where about 200 people typically receive bags and boxes of food at the village’s municipal parking lot at 165 Platt St.

The parking lot is nearly full with vehicles at about 8:30 this morning. The volunteers parked in front right while the people waiting to be served are in the back right of this photo.

The events in Albion are run by Community Action with food delivered by Foodlink in Rochester.

The schedule through June for Albion includes March 13, March 27, April 10, May 8 and June 12.

Provided photo: Orleans County legislators – Skip Draper, Lynne Johnson and John Fitzak – are shown outside the office for U.S. Senate majority Leader Charles Schumer.

ALBION – Three Orleans County legislators spent five days in Washington, D.C. for the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. and also met with representatives of U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Representatives Claudia Tenney and Joe Morelle, whose congressional districts include part of Orleans County.

Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson attended the conference with County Legislators John Fitzak and Skip Draper.

“It is critical that we come to Washington to meet face to face with our representatives and their staff. There is no better way to represent our county and make our voices heard,” Johnson said. “We are looking forward to working with our new Congresswoman, Claudia Tenney and Congressman Joe Morelle and are always grateful for the support that Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have given us.”

Johnson said she thanked Gillibrand for helping to secure $2 million towards upgrading the emergency management office, which was built in a bunker style back in 1962.

The county officials also met with staff members from Congressmen Nick Langworthy NY-23, Brandon Williams NY-22, Marc Molinaro NY-19 and Mike Lawler ‘s NY-17 offices as part of a lobbying day on Capitol Hill with county officials from across the country.

Johnson said discussions with the federal officials centered on more funding for broadband, emergency management, infrastructure, roads, Lake Ontario water levels and dredging.

The National Association of Counties Legislative Conference brought together 2,000 elected county officials to focus on federal policy issues that affect counties and their residents.

“Orleans County is pleased to have participated in this conference and represent our citizens and more importantly, to lobby Congress on their behalf,” Johnson said in a news release.

Conference focused on broadband, agricultural and rural affairs, workforce development, health care and public safety policies. The conference culminated with an address by President Joe Biden.

MEDINA – The Orleans County Board of Elections is encouraging the Town of Ridgeway to consolidate its polling locations to one spot at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company on Route 104.

The BOE urged the town to no longer use the Town Hall on West Avenue as a polling location. Moving it to the fire hall would save about $500 on the cost of elections inspectors for general elections, and about $1,250 on the cost for primaries, according to the BOE.

Currently the fire hall is used as the pilling site for districts 1, 3, 6 and 7, while the town hall is used for districts 2, 4 and 5. Ridgeway is the only town in Orleans County that doesn’t have a consolidated polling location.

The Board of Elections said the fire hall has more parking spaces and more privacy inside for voters.

But Mayor Mike Sidari said it is a longer drive for voters, especially for senior citizens on what can often be cold days in early November for elections.

“This would be a huge hindrance to our village residents,” Sidari said about consolidating all polling sites. “It’s going to be hard for our elderly.”

The Village Board agreed to send a letter to Brian Napoli, the Ridgeway town supervisor, rging Ridgeway not to move the Town Hall polling sites to the fire hall.

Sidari and the Village Board members said they appreciated Napoli sought their opinion before making a decision.

A winter weather advisory has issued by the National Weather Service from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday for Orleans, Niagara, Genesee, Monroe and northern Erie counties.

Freezing rain and mixed precipitation expected, the Weather Service said. The forecast calls for total snow accumulations of an inch or less and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch.

“Temperatures will drop below freezing late tonight, with a period of freezing rain,” the Weather Service said. “Slippery road conditions will impact the Friday morning commute.”

The high temperature on Friday in Orleans County is forecast for 28, followed by highs of 40 on Saturday, 44 on Sunday and 41 on Monday.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that beginning March 3 to 5 this year, and annually thereafter, the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday in March, will be free for all out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers.

During this promotional weekend, the requirement to register in New York is waived for properly registered and insured out-of-state snowmobiling enthusiasts wishing to explore New York’s 10,500 miles of snowmobile trails.

“With the support of local governments and snowmobile clubs, we are so glad to welcome out-of-state snowmobilers each year to New York State trails,” Governor Hochul said. “By offering this free snowmobiling weekend at the same time each year, our hope is to spur friendships, get annual trips on calendars and boost promotion of upstate tourism. Our expansive snowmobile network gives visitors and tourists an incredible opportunity to explore our state.”

Out-of-state and Canadian participants in the free snowmobiling event must operate a snowmobile that is registered in their home state/Province and must carry any applicable insurance as required. Outside of this promotion, out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers are required to register their snowmobiles with New York State before hitting the state’s trails – from the Hudson Valley to the North Country to Western New York.

This year’s free snowmobiling weekend, March 3 to 5, 2023, reinforces the importance of tourism to state and local economies, and New York’s commitment to the industry in the wake of the pandemic.

New York State has made an ongoing commitment to snowmobile trail maintenance and our local grants program is funded by snowmobile registration fees collected by the State Department of Motor Vehicles and deposited into the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund. County and municipal governments distribute the grants to about 230 snowmobile clubs across the state, which in turn groom and maintain the trails. The trail grants support 10,500 miles of designated trails across the state for snowmobilers to safely enjoy.

A guide from I LOVE NY to snowmobile trips available in the state can be found by clicking here.

The DMV reminds New York riders that snowmobile registrations must be renewed annually. DMV allows snowmobilers to renew registrations online on the DMV website, by mail or in person at a DMV office. Snowmobile registration costs $100 but is decreased to $45 if the snowmobiler is a member of a local snowmobile club.

Non-New Yorkers who wish to use a snowmobile in New York State before or after this promotional weekend can use the NYS Registration for out-of-state Snowmobile service to get a 15-day registration and operate their snowmobile here immediately. DMV will send a permanent registration in the mail.

For information on snowmobiling, visit parks.ny.gov.

Press Release, Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association

ALBION — The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will hold a Safety Fair for Orleans County residents from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 23, for those caring for loved ones with dementia. The event will take place at the Cornell Cooperative Extension on Route 31 at the 4-H Fairgrounds.

“Caring for someone with dementia and knowing how to keep them safe is a tough job,” said Chelsea Torgalski, education program manager at the WNY Chapter. “The Alzheimer’s Association, along with other community organizations, will offer resources to help with these challenges.”

In addition to safety and community information, care consultants will be on site to meet privately with caregivers if needed.

Residents may attend anytime between 1 and 3 p.m. Registration is not required but recommended at bit.ly/OCSAFETY. Anyone who registers will receive free safety tools when they attend.

The free program is supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, call the 24/7 Alzheimer’s Association Helpline at 800.272.3900 or visit alz.org.