By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 December 2022 at 2:55 pm
Provided photos
MEDINA – David Bellavia, right, signs a copy of Remember the Ramrods, during a book signing on Monday evening at the Author’s Note bookstore on Main Street in Medina.
Todd Draper, a lieutenant with the Medina Police Department, is at left having the book signed as well as a copy of Bellavia’s first book, House to House: An Epic Memoir of War.
House to House details Bellavia’s experiences as a staff sergeant in Fallujah and describes the efforts of front line forces in urban combat against insurgents. (Draper also served in the Army and was deployed in the Iraq War.)
Remember the Ramrods tells the history of Bellavia’s Army unit that fought together in Iraq, including where their lives took them after they returned home from war, and how reuniting when Bellavia received the Medal of Honor helped heal some of their still-present if less visible wounds of war.
David Bellavia and Julie Berry, owner of Author’s Note, are pictured at the bookstore.
The book-signing was scheduled to start at 7 and end at 9, but a long line formed before 6:30. More than 125 people attended the book-signing and Bellavia stayed past 10 p.m..
“David’s energy was unflagging and his warmth toward every guest was authentic and sincere,” Berry said. “He took his time with each guest, making them feel important. He let everyone touch his Medal of Honor, and even put it on if they chose, because he views it as a shared honor, not belonging to him alone.”
David Bellavia and the person in the Santa suit offer each other a salute.
There was a long line of customers wanted a sign copy of the book. Author’s Note has more signed copies in stock.
Bellavia, a Lyndonville graduate, received the Medal of Honor on June 25, 2019, the first living American to receive the Medal of Honor for valor in the Iraq War.
Bellavia has two upcoming book-signing events:
Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble, 4401 Transit Road Suite 800, Buffalo
Friday at 7 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble, Pittsford Plaza, 3349 Monroe Avenue, Rochester
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 13 December 2022 at 1:01 pm
Provided photo: Students from Lyndonville Central School pose with volunteer DeeAnn Diermyer and the food they collected for a food drive to benefit the Lyndonville-Yates Emergency Food Pantry. From left are Diermyer, Austin Gardner, Alex Wilson, Jack Nesbitt, Justin Higgins, Justin Pittler and Chris Mondoux.
LYNDONVILLE – Collecting food for the Lyndonville-Yates Emergency Food Pantry is an annual project for students at Lyndonville Central School.
Every year during Advent, the school’s Leo Club, under the direction of teachers Gina Marker and Teresa Pierson, encourage the entire school district to collect canned goods for the food pantry, better known as LYFE.
The food pantry is an ecumenical effort between churches in Yates and Lyndonville and is totally supported by local donations and help from Foodlink, said Martha Mitchell, pastor of the Lyndonville Methodist Church.
The school just completed its food drive and the boxes of food have been delivered to the pantry.
“This year our shelves were dangerously low, so the extra support from the school means a lot at this holiday season,” Mitchell said.
“I love that the Leo Club is teaching our youth how to embrace service in the community,” she said. “That is a mindset that, hopefully, will carry over into their adulthood.”
The LYFE pantry is supported by the Lyndonville United Methodist Church, Yates Baptist Church, Lyndonville Presbyterian Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church.
The pantry is open from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday to Thursday for area residents. Every Christmas, LYFE provides boxes of food with turkeys and many food staples. The boxes also include gifts for children in the families.
In addition, the pantry hosts two Foodlink pop-up pantry deliveries a month.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 December 2022 at 12:45 pm
This chart shows the new senior citizen income levels and the percent of the property tax discount.
ALBION – The Albion Town Board followed the lead of the Orleans County Legislature and expanded the income levels for senior citizens to qualify for a tax discount. Albion also became the second town in the county to offer a tax reduction for disabled property owners younger than 65.
Like the county, Albion’s senior exemption previously gave 50 percent off property taxes for those 65 and older with an annual income at $15,500 or less.
The new exemption levels offer 50 percent off at annual incomes of $19,000 or less. It then drops in 5 percent increments until bottoming out at 20 percent off between $23,800 and $24,699.99.
This chart shows the new low-income disabled resident income levels and the percent of the property tax discount. Low-income disabled residents will switch to the senior citizen tax exemption once they are 65.
Albion also added income levels for low-income disabled residents. Albion is the second town after Murray to include that exemption. The exemption is 50 percent off for annual incomes at $19,000 or less. That exemption then drops 5 percent before the lowest level of 5 percent off at incomes between $26,500 and $27,399.99.
The exemptions take effect in the 2024 tax bills. Applications for the exemptions are due by March 1.
Property owners can go through the town assessor to apply for the exemption. In Albion, the town contracts with the Orleans County Real Property Tax Services Department, which can be reached at (585) 589-5400. Or click here for an online application.
MEDINA – On Thursday from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at Bent’s Opera House, Medina Lindy in the Village will co-host with Bent’s a “Cool Yule” themed Holiday Lindy Hop swing dance.
DJ Tommy Sprinkles from Swing Buffalo will serve up holiday jazz hits of yore, including classics by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, for area dancers in Bent’s historic opera space, now gorgeously decorated for the season. All dance levels including beginner and spectator are welcome. Holiday attire is optional but encouraged.
The “Cool Yule” holiday dance event caps off an eventful first year of community-centered social dances at Bent’s Opera House. While Lindy Hop Swing dances have become a regular monthly fixture at Bent’s since their August inception, this event is the first to feature a seasonal theme.
A free beginner lesson at 6:30 will be included as part of the evening’s festivities, with the dance itself immediately following at 7:30. Tickets for the dance are $8, which includes the free lesson.
Medina resident Phil Berry formed Medina Lindy in the Village to spread Lindy Hop social dancing through monthly dances and free group and one-on-one instruction, and to keep social dancers informed of learning and practice opportunities in the Niagara-Orleans area.
“I know of no other activity like social dancing for bringing people together from all ages and backgrounds to share a rollicking good time,” Berry said. “It fosters community, building friendships in ways that are healthy, safe, and fun. It doesn’t matter if you’re skillful or a beginner, if you’re shy or if you’re an extrovert. It definitely doesn’t matter whether or not you bring a date. At a social dance, anyone can be your dance partner. This is why social dancing has such a unique ability to foster community. Where else can you see college kids dancing with empty-nesters, and teenagers hitting the dance floor with senior citizens?”
“I’m delighted to see this space used in a way that supports the community,” said Heather Hungerford, owner of Bent’s. “When Phil suggested we hold Lindy Hop dances here I thought it was worth a try. When I saw more than eighty people dancing and having a great time, I was thrilled. This was exactly what I hoped this space could do for Medina. We’ve been holding monthly swing dances ever since.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 December 2022 at 8:57 am
GAINES – The Town Board voted 4-1 on Monday evening to accept a proposal from Monroe Ambulance to provide ambulance coverage in the town for most of 2023.
Gaines accepted the $24,600 contract from Monroe, making Gaines the fifth town in central or eastern Orleans to approve an agreement with Monroe. Carlton is scheduled to vote on the contract at 7 p.m. today.
One of the Gaines Town Board members, Kenny Rush, cast the lone vote in support of Mercy Flight EMS, which proposed serving Gaines in an $18,000 contract.
Mercy Flight took over COVA last month and has hired nearly all of COVA’s 40-plus employees. Mercy Flight said it provide ambulances services from the COVA base in Albion until Monroe is ready.
Monroe officials said it will take about 90 days to ramp up services, putting its start for central Orleans likely into mid or late March.
John Caufield, chief operating officer for Monroe Ambulance, said the company would like to hire the COVA employees for the ambulance service in Orleans.
“We got room,” Caufield said. “No one is going to lose their job over this.”
Caufield provided an overview of the contract to the Gaines Town Board, saying Monroe would station an ambulance in both Albion and Holley. There are about 3,300 calls in eastern and central Orleans annually, with about 40 percent in Albion.
Caufield said the data from the county dispatch and COVA’s reports don’t break out the calls into priority 1, 2 or 3, and also don’t have a breakdown on how they were billed – whether by Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance. Medicaid and Medicare pay at a lower reimbursement rate than private insurance.
Priority 1 is higher service calls and need a paramedic, while priority 3 is the lowest need for service and can be met with EMTs. That matters because Monroe will need to determine how to staff the ambulances. The company usually has 20 to 21 ambulances in service in the Rochester region, with 6 of those staffed by higher-level advanced life support.
“The goal is to provide timely response with the appropriate levels of care,” Caufield said.
The contract with the Orleans towns calls for an ALS ambulance and a basic life support unit.
Caufield said Monroe tracks data and will be intensely reviewing the calls, including response time, to provide service in eastern and central Orleans.
The contract with Monroe is for a year, and the towns will be meeting with Monroe officials, likely in August and September to go over the data.
Monroe’s contract says it will respond 90 percent of the time within 15 minutes for priority 1 calls, 20 minutes for priority 2, and 25 minutes for priority 3.
“I consider this a no-risk deal,” Caufield told the Gaines town officials. “If we don’t measure up, we don’t deserve the contract.”
The Mercy Flight proposal for $18,000 called for at least one ALS unit available in Gaines 24-7, with a basic life support ambulance to be shared with Hamlin 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
Monroe offered the ability to draw from another ambulance in Orleans County, and could back fill from other units in Monroe County when there are multiple calls.
Residents had questions about the agreement, including Richard DeCarlo Jr., co-owner of Heritage Estates. But Tyler Allport, the Gaines town supervisor, cut off the comments and called for a vote at 7:42 p.m., about 40 minutes into the meeting which included other town business.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m. after Allport, Mary Neilans, Ron Mannella and Jim Kirby voted for the Monroe agreement, with Rush casting the lone vote against it.
Doug Heath, the Gaines town attorney, stands up and tells people attending the Gaines Town Board meeting on Monday that no more comments will be taken from the public about a proposed ambulance contract. Town Supervisor Tyler Allport called for a vote, even though residents wanted to ask questions about the proposal. Heath said the town supervisor was within his right to limit comments from the public and call for a vote. The issue has been debated in several recent board meetings.
123 people have now completed program highlighting strengths and challenges in community
Provided photos: Members of the 2022 Class of Leadership Orleans celebrate their graduation last Thursday at the White Birch in Lyndonville. Pictured include front row, from left: Faye Conley, Miranda Bennett, Marlene Seielstad, Jennifer Hill-Young, Patricia Neuman and Becki Gibson. Back row: Susan Howard, Natasha Wasuck, Cyndi Stumer, Jerry Pasnik, Michele Chatfield, Tim Elliott, Benjamin Jones, Jim Doyle, Gloria Brent, Matt Holland, David Warren, Katie Leach, Jennifer Ashbery, Katrina Chaffee, Dawn Borchert and Wayne Wadhams. Missing from photo include Mindy Frasier and Christopher Cappetta.
Press Release, Leadership Orleans
LYNDONVILLE – The Leadership Orleans program held its 5th annual graduation ceremony on Thursday at the White Birch Golf Course.
Leadership Orleans is a year-long education program focused on building leadership skills while exposing participants to the necessary knowledge, experiences and people that make Orleans County work.
Its mission is to create the nucleus for investment in the community through continuing education, volunteerism, and networking to enhance leadership potential throughout our region.
The 2022 Leadership Orleans Class included 24 individuals from a wide array of sectors in our communities, from agriculture to manufacturing, education to government, small business owners to nonprofit service providers.
With this class, the number of those who have completed the program since its inception in 2018 and become LO alumni totals 123.
This year’s graduates include:
Jennifer Ashbery, Principal, Albion High School
Miranda Bennett, Bookkeeper, Town of Shelby
Dawn Borchert, Director, Orleans County Tourism
Gloria Brent, President, MDS Consultants
Christopher Cappetta, CFO, Harris Seeds, Garden Trends, Inc.
Katrina Chaffee, Director of Community Services, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Cyndi Stumer, Deputy Commissioner, Orleans County DSS
Wayne Wadhams, Board Member of O/N BOCES and President of Albion Board of Education
David Warren, Board Member, Kendall Central School District
Natasha Wasuck, Owner, The Lockstone & Tinsel
(Left) Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action, accepts the award for alumna of the year. (Right) Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee and Orleans counties, was recognized by Leadership Orleans with the “distinguished leader” award.
In addition to honoring the LO2022 graduates, the evening’s agenda involved several special awards:
First Impression (voted by class) – Torrey Dairy Farm
Presenter of the Year (voted by class) – Elissa Smith (LO21)
Alumna of the Year – Renee Hungerford (LO21)
Distinguished Leader of the Year – Paul Pettit
The program was kicked off with a welcome by former NYS Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt, comments by Orleans County Legislature Chair Lynne M. Johnson, followed by LO Steering Committee Chair Kelly Kiebala and LO Program Director Skip Helfrich. 2022 LO Class Comments were presented by Miranda Bennett and Susan Howard.
The Leadership Orleans program is thankful for the support of its sponsors: Orleans County, Talis Equity, Barre Stone Products, Baxter Healthcare, Bentley Brothers, Brigden Memorials, Brighton Securities, Brian Bourgraf, Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Claims Recovery Financial Services, Friends of Steve Hawley, Holley Rotary Club, Kast Farms, Medina Area Partnership, Medina Sandstone Society, Orleans County EDA, Orleans Ford, Takeform Architectural Graphics, Watson Enterprises, and Western New York Energy.
Skip Helfrich, director of Leadership Orleans, welcomes the class and guests to the graduation program.
In addition, the program sincerely benefits from the leadership of its director, Skip Helfrich, and its Steering Committee: Kelly Kiebala-Chair, Delano Alvarez (LO19), Jackie Dunham (LO20), Ellen Eaton (LO19), Nadine Hanlon (LO18), Jerod Thurber (LO19), Kathleen “Kitty” Maerten, Charlie Nesbitt, Laura Olinger, Paul Pettit, Barbara Shine, Lisa Tombari (LO18) and Patrick Weissend (LO18).
During her acceptance speech as presenter of the year, Elissa Smith (principal of Lyndonville Elementary School) challenged audience members to “…imagine an issue or problem plaguing your work or community. Really think of something difficult.”
She then paused to allow all to have time to think, and then followed up with, “The answer to solve that issue is in this room. Collaborate with those outside your sphere; join forces with the alumni network for Leadership Orleans to find and leverage resources; or lobby to change policies and procedures.”
Congratulations to all the graduates of the Leadership Orleans Class of 2022!
BATAVIA – Throughout a civilian and military career that includes nearly two decades outside of the United States, Luke Granger said he has made it his “mission” to help others.
Luke Granger
“Whether I’ve been working in full-time ministry, teaching in the military or working in IT (information technology), I’ve always tried to focus on people,” said Granger, who was hired last month as Director of Recovery Services at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
Granger, 58, is back in Western New York after spending 11 years as a senior IT director for a Dallas, Texas company. He and his wife, Teri, are residing in Mount Morris.
The Wellsville native and Army veteran calls his latest assignment, which includes supervision of around 30 GCASA recovery staff members, “one of the most important things I’ve ever done.”
“I’m honored and privileged to be in this position, and am excited for the opportunity,” said Granger, who has been in leadership roles for most of his adult life.
Granger earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Theology from Jacksonville Baptist Theological Seminary and went on to full-time ministry in the Southern Baptist denomination.
He spent eight years in active military service before running military schools in Germany for 10 years – teaching young men and women to become successful soldiers.
From there, his travels took him to Costa Rica and Honduras, conducting mission trips for three years.
He then was the pastor of a church in Coleman, Fla., for about six years prior to taking a position as Director of Religious Education for the Department of Defense, both in Germany and then in Fort Drum (N.Y), from 2007-2010.
“It has been very rewarding. I’ve had a great life,” he said, adding that he also spent some time in Russia and Ukraine for pastoral training.
Granger’s responsibilities at GCASA include overseeing programs involving peer recovery advocates, transportation, re-entry (after incarceration), and The Recovery Station on Clinton Street Road, along with working with management of the treatment, residential and prevention departments.
When not on the clock, Granger said he makes time to craft items out of wood and likes to travel with his wife.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 December 2022 at 1:29 pm
Iroquois Trail and Greater Niagara Frontier joining for new council
A soon-to-be merged Boy Scout council is seeking designs for the shoulder patch for the new organization.
The Iroquois Trail and Greater Niagara Frontier will be merging into the Western New York Scouting Council.
The new council will serve the four rural GLOW counties, plus Niagara and Erie counties.
The contest for a design for the new patch is open to youth and adults, with the deadline to submit designs by 5 p.m. on Jan. 12. Designs should be either emailed to Jessica.bonham@scouting.org, sent by text at 585-993-5359, or dropped off at the service centers for the Iroquois Trail Council or Greater Niagara Frontier. Click here for more information.
The winner will receive a Buffalo Bills tin of popcorn.
The Iroquois Trail has seen youth membership cut in half since Covid-19 caused troops and packs to stop meeting in person for several months beginning in March 2020.
“All reasonable indications are that it will take several years to regain those youth members,” Council leaders stated in a letter in early November. “This challenge, combined with a dramatic reduction in other funding sources, has put the Iroquois Trail Council on a course that is not sustainable over the long term.”
A merger will result in improved program opportunities for members, better support for volunteer leaders, a larger membership base to support more events and activities, and greater financial stability, the leaders said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 December 2022 at 1:11 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Marilyn Interisano (left), an M & T employee, volunteers this morning during the pop-up food pantry event in Albion. She is joined by Katrina Chaffee, director of community services for Community Action.
About 200 vehicles received bags and boxes of food at the village’s municipal parking lot at 165 Platt St.
The events in Albion are run by Community Action with food delivered by Foodlink in Rochester.
Chaffee said the program will continue through at least the end of June.
The schedule for the first six months of 2023 for Albion includes: Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 13, March 27, April 10, May 8 and June 12. The events are scheduled to start at 8:30 although many of the vehicles are in the parking lot well before that.
The next pop-up pantry in the county will start 8:30 a.m. Friday at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, 107 North Main St.
Kim Balcerzak, an employee at the Iroquois Job Corps, fills a bag with fruit during this morning’s pop-up food pantry event. The Job Corps employees have been consistent volunteers at the food distribution events for more than 2 1/2 years.
This group volunteered this morning with temperatures in the mid to high-20s. They include, from left: Jennifer Burkey of M & T Bank, Danny Fenley of the Job Corps, and Candace Pitts of the Job Corps.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 December 2022 at 9:07 am
Donor doubled donations from Friday at Albion Walmart
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Nyla Gaylord, director of development at United Way of Orleans County, rings the bell on Friday for the Red Kettle Campaign in Orleans County. She is joined at the Albion Walmart by Bob Harker (back left), director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern; Katrina Chaffee, director of community services for Community Action; and Matt Holland, grant writer for the United Way of Orleans County.
On Friday an anonymous donor matched the $1,823.33 given at Walmart in Albion.
“We are grateful for the many donors and our volunteers who spread holiday cheer as they rang the bells for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign in the cold,” said Nyla Gaylord, director of development at United Way of Orleans County. “We still need more people to sign up for this coming Thursday and Friday.”
This holiday season there aren’t bell ringers stationed throughout the county. There are two locations with bell ringers – Walmart in Albion and Tops in Medina. Table top kettles are placed in several locations in the county.
To sign up to ring the bell at Tops in Medina, click here. To ring the bell at the Walmart in Albion, click here.
Summer Borck dressed as an elf on Friday at the Albion Walmart and gave away candy to help spread joy during the holiday season. Her mother Rose works at the store.
Keith Adams of the Self Advocacy All Stars took a turn at the Red Kettle on Saturday at Walmart. He is joined by Terry Kingdollar, an employee with ARC GLOW. The Self Advocacy All Stars have volunteered as bell ringers in Albion and Medina.
Provided photo: Albion senior students Jaquis Johnson and Brianna Sample join Mollie Radzinski, Community Schools Public Relations Coordinator at Albion Central School and a United Way board member. They were bell ringers for two hours on Friday.
Money donated through the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign stays in Orleans County. Funds collected are divided between Community Action and the Ministry of Concern to help people in need.
The Salvation Army is promoting the organization’s QR code, which can be scanned in on smart phones to make a donation. The donation will go to The Salvation Army serving the zip code of the phone owner.
‘When I came in here, I felt like I had stepped back in time, back to when T.O. Castle was here, and this was the mecca of Millville.’ – Daniel Hurley
Photos courtesy of Historian’s Office: Daniel P. Hurley displays the sign which will mark the building at 12348 Maple Ridge Road as an officially recognized site on the National Register of Historic Places.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
Illuminating Orleans, Vol. 2, No. 40
MILLVILLE – Christmas came early this year for Daniel P. Hurley, owner of the former T.O. Castle & Son General Store on Maple Ridge Road in Millville.
He was notified that his application for National Historic recognition status for the building was approved on Dec. 8, at the 190th meeting of the New York State Board for Historic Preservation, held at the New York State Museum in Albany.
Hurley, a Gaines resident, first noticed the building in 2019 while driving past the site on Route 31A.
“I was just drawn to this building, it’s hard to describe,” he said. “When I came in here, I felt like I had stepped back in time, back to when T.O. Castle was here, and this was the mecca of Millville.
“It housed the store and the post office back then,” Hurley continued. “Everybody who lived around came in here for items that they needed. This is where the news of the day was gathered and passed on: who was sick, who had died, how the crops were doing. This stove here is probably where the men gathered and talked about politics. You can feel the past in the air here.
“As the application says, this place ‘retains much of its architectural integrity.’ The floors, beams, joists, walls, ceiling, and the shelves are all as they were and that contributes to the feeling that it is a time capsule.”
He sought National Historic Registry status for the building because he felt it was worthy of recognition as an example of an enduring structure and because of the affinity he felt with the T.O. Castle era of ownership.
Built about 1849 of locally sourced stone, it was owned and operated by two generations of the Castle family between 1849 and 1933. Prominently situated at a busy crossroads, this general store served the needs of the local farming community, selling dry goods, crockery and hardware.
At that time, a harness store, tannery, carriage shop and blacksmith shop were also in operation in the vicinity and local children attended School No.7 nearby and the Millville Academy operated until 1870.
Thomas Oliver Castle was born in Parma, Monroe County on April 2, 1826, the son of Jehiel and Nancy (Willey) Castle. He taught school for two years and in 1846, moved to Shelby Center in Orleans County. He worked at the store owned by his uncle, Reuben S. Castle, and then worked in Buffalo for two years as a supervisor of salesmen at the George M. Sweeney store.
After serving in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War, he settled in Millville in 1849. He married Mary Timmerman, daughter of Catherine Timmerman, in December of 1850. He was involved in every aspect of community life. He was a notary public, judge of sessions, post-master, and served on the Millville Cemetery Board. His obituary in the Medina Daily Journal of March 30, 1910, noted that “he was widely known and esteemed.”
Hurley plans to accomplish the necessary repairs as soon as possible. He envisions minimum alterations to the interior as he would like to preserve the store’s sense of the past and operate an emporium there. The building is the second National Historic Register site in Millville – nearby Millville Cemetery was recognized in 2007.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2022 at 8:52 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Air Raising Events owner Sheryl Watts created this snowman out of balloons. She is lined up Saturday evening for “Santa’s Hometown Parade” in Albion.
The participants in the parade gathered at the Arnold Gregory parking lot on South Main Street before heading downtown.
Kaitlyn Samsel, right, helps Cole Samsel with his lighted moose costume before the parade. Kaitlyn would put on a reindeer costume decorated with lights. The family car also was lighted up for the parade.
Natasha Wasuck and her husband John Hernandez take a selfie with their float featuring a bridal gown. They are the owners of The Lockstone, which hosts weddings and other special events.
Don Greenough and his wife Amanda hold their daughter Joy. They decorated their car for the parade. Greenough also has a big lighted display at his home on Platt Street.
“My wife calls me Clark Griswold because I’m over the top,” Greenough said.
He had a cutout of Griswold, the star of the National Lampoon Vacation movies, in the front seat.
This float was ready to carry Santa into the downtown.
Jami Allport helps get the float ready for AYSAP, the youth football and cheerleading program.
COVA and Mercy Flight EMS decorated two ambulances in lights for the parade.
PAWS put lights and a white nose on this vehicle for the parade.
The Oak Orchard Yacht Club created a float to resemble a sailboat.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department’s Marine Patrol Unit decorated a boat for Christmas.
This display sent a message to choose kindness over being a Grinch.
After the parade, there were music and activities in the the downtown. Michael Bonafede on drums joined the Westside Drive band in front of the Pratt and Day buildings, historic buildings owned by Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler.
Melissa Stornelli of Last Call Cocktails served alcoholic beverages in a closed off part of Main Street between Beaver Alley and Bank Street.
Rebecca Alexander and Debbie Prest greet Santa, who took some time out for photos.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2022 at 10:09 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
BARRE – Santa Claus waves to people along Route 98 during the Barre lighted tractor parade this evening. There were more than 20 tractors, construction vehicles and other farm equipment in the parade.
Mike Van Lieshout leads off the parade with a sign proclaiming “A Barre Merry Christmas To All.”
The parade started at Van Lieshout’s farm on East Barre Road and then headed north on Route 98 to the barre Town Park.
This was the fourth Barre lighted parade. Last year’s parade was cancelled due to high winds. The event is organized by the Barre Betterment Committee.
Keeler Construction carried this sign wishing people a “Merry Christmas.”
Basinait Farms had a holiday display with a Christmas tree, Buddy the Elf and a festive M & M.
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.
Hurley, a Gaines resident, first noticed the building in 2019 while driving past the site on Route 31A.
