ALBION – School district residents passed a $26,690,000 capital improvement project today by a 225-44-vote.

The project includes work at all three schools, the district office, the bus garage, and will put in new synthetic playing surfaces for football, soccer and softball. There will also be security enhancements to all of the school buildings.

“Thank you to everyone who came out and voted,” Superintendent Mickey Edwards said. “This project will greatly benefit all students in the district. We are excited to move forward and bring these needed upgrades to Albion.”

The next step is the design phase, which will begin in January and run through August 2022. Construction is expected to take place 2023-2024.

There will be no new tax impact on property owners. The local share of the project already has been saved in a capital reserve fund.

National Grid has restored power to all of its customers in Orleans County.

The county had as many as 8,046 National Grid customers without electricity at 9 p.m. on Saturday. That was 41 percent of NG’s 19,601 customers.

That was down to 1,683 last evening at 7 p.m. and by 4 p.m. today there were only 2 without power.

Orleans County was among the hardest hit of National Grid’s customer base from the windstorm on Saturday with gusts peaking near 70 miles per hour.

National Grid had 221,000 customers without electricity in Upstate New York. That was down to 52 total at 8:47 p.m.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Heather Smith, left, director of Orleans Community Health Foundation, and Jeanne Crane, president of the Twig Association, hang angel ornaments of the Christmas tree in the lobby of Medina Memorial Hospital. The ornaments are available as a fundraiser to support the hospital.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health Foundation is again offering the public a chance to remember loved ones by purchasing their 2021 memorial ornament.

The ornament this year is a pair of angel wings in bright blue with silver and white feathers on top.

“It is a beautiful ornament that sparkles with glitter and sequins,” said Heather Smith, director of Orleans Community Health Foundation.

The ornaments will be hung on the holiday tree in the lobby of Medina Memorial Hospital through Jan. 2. They will be ready for pickup or shipping after Jan. 3.

There was a delay in shipping the ornaments this year, however, the remainder of the order was due to arrive today.

Ornaments cost $10 each plus $5 to ship one or $8 to ship two. Click here for the web link to order ornaments. Checks should be made payable to OCH Foundation and mailed to 200 Ohio St., Medina, 14103.

When ordering, remember to include the name of the loved one in whose memory the ornament is being purchased.

To make arrangements for picking up the ornament or for more information, call (585) 798-8426.

Photo courtesy of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center

MEDINA – The American Legion and VFW in Medina delivered gifts to veterans at Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center to remember them at the holiday season.

The photo shows Dave Kusmierczak from the American Legion and VFW in Medina presenting Ted Fiorito with a Christmas gift. Fiorito served in the US Marine Corps and was very active for many years with the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Volunteer Fire Company. There are 23 veterans at the nursing center.

Photo and information courtesy of Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association

ALBION – During the month of November deputies from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office participated in “No Shave November,” which allows for the deputies to bend department policy and grow facial hair in lieu of charitable donation.

This year the Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association donated $500 to Orleans County Child and Family Services. The donation will be used to purchase Christmas presents for local children. The Deputy Sheriff’s Association would like to thank Sheriff Christopher Bourke, Undersheriff Jeffrey Gifaldi and Chief Deputy Rob Riemer for allowing the deputies to participate.

7 projects don’t include Orleans; Brockport approved for signage celebrating lift bridges

Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

WATERFORD – Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, in partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation, is pleased to announce that seven organizations have been selected to receive Erie Canalway IMPACT! Grants totaling $64,323.

Funded projects include vital work to showcase canal heritage and welcome people to explore the canal in their local communities.

“We are thrilled to support these community-driven projects to strengthen the Canalway Corridor as a vibrant place to live, work, visit, and play,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “These exciting projects will foster greater awareness and pride in New York’s canals that will have lasting benefits for residents and visitors.”

The grants range from $2,000 to $12,000 and will leverage an additional $161,107 in private and public project support. Over the past 13 years, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has made 90 grants to communities and non-profit organizations that have spurred $2.4 million in additional investments in heritage preservation, recreation, and education.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “It is an honor to join with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in supporting education, recreation, and tourism along New York’s canal system. The history of our canals provides the framework for our State’s great legacy, and we look forward to supporting and enhancing awareness of these storied waterways for years to come through these IMPACT! Grant projects.”

The grants include:

• Village of Brockport, Brockport – Award: $5,000: Design and install a pair of outdoor interpretive signs that celebrate the history, design, and operation of the Village’s iconic lift bridges.
• Corn Hill Navigation, Pittsford – Award: $8,954: Improve educational and program delivery with new technology at a new visitor center being developed at Corn Hill Landing in Rochester.
• Erie Canal Museum, Syracuse – Award: $9,015: Develop programming related to the Empire State Trail including a Syracuse-based Trail Ambassador Program and trail amenities that raise user awareness of the museum. Pilot both weekend and Corridor-wide trail rides.
• Explore & More: The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum, Buffalo – Award: $11,454: Design and present an Erie Canal themed educational play experience every Wednesday throughout 2022 that will engage children and families.
• Friends of Stewart Park, Ithaca – Award: $5,900: Design and install five outdoor interpretive signs that showcase the history of the Erie Canal and Cayuga Lake as they relate to the City of Ithaca.
• National Abolition Hall of Fame, Peterboro – Award: $12,000: Design and install two outdoor interpretive signs within the Village of Canastota to raise awareness of the National Abolition Hall. Funds will also support a reenactment of a dramatic event that shaped the abolition movement in the United States.
• Schoharie River Center, Esperance – Award: $12,000: Implement a series of educational programs with at-risk urban and rural youth to investigate water quality on the Erie Canal/Mohawk River and adjacent tributaries.

ALBION – Eligible district residents 18 and older will vote today on a $26.69 million capital project that includes all three schools, as well as the bus garage, and new synthetic playing surfaces for football, soccer and softball.

Residents can vote from noon to 8:30 p.m. at the District Office Conference Room A which is in the back of the elementary school.

District officials say there won’t be an additional tax impact from the project because the local share of $7,195,000 is already in a capital reserve. State funding at $19,495,000 will cover the rest.

The project was identified following a building conditions survey required every five years by the state. King & King Architects of Syracuse worked with the district on putting together the project. Kirk Narburgh, King & King CEO, is an Albion graduate and led a discussion about the project during a public hearing on Dec. 2 in the middle school auditoirium.

The scope of the project includes:

Elementary School – $6,300,000

• Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
• Refinish main gym floor and replace folding partitions with divider curtains
• Reconfigure entry vestibule and finish renovations to the district office
• Replace plumbing fixtures and domestic hot/cold water, sanitary and storm piping in 1955 building
• Mechanical upgrades, including original building wing unit ventilators
• Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade building system controls, panel board and switchgear
• Sidewalk replacements
• East side drop-off loop improvements

Kirk Narburgh, CEO of King & King, goes over the capital project during a public hearing on Dec. 2. Here he is highlighting synthetic fields for football, soccer and softball, which he said will allow teams to be outside on the surfaces sooner in the season. Physical education classes could also use the fields, and they could be opened to the community for some activities as well.

Middle School – $9,945,000

• Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
• Gymnasium renovations, including gym floor refinishing, lift replacement, new wall pads, ceiling and lighting
• Renovate pool lockers shower areas, including plumbing and lighting
• Replace auditorium air-conditioning
• Provide parallel pool pump and replace hot water heaters and storage tank
• Mechanical upgrades for electrical room/transformer vault
• Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade building system controls, panel board and switchgear
• Reconfigure parent drop-off loop. (Traffic often currently backs up to Route 31 due to long lines. Albion would reconfigure the loop to allow for more staging of vehicles.)
• Renovate playground
• New multi-purpose field surface at soccer/softball complex

High School – $9,795,000

• Security enhancements to include safety films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
• Gymnasium renovations, including gym floor replacement, re-surfaced folding partitions, bleacher replacement, ceiling/lighting, ventilation system and new wall-mounted scoreboards
• Renovate locker rooms
• Replace corridor lockers
• Replace hot water heaters, add additional boiler and replace heating line
• Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade building system controls, panel board and switchgear
• Improve sidewalks for accessibility
• Tennis court reconstruction
• New multi-purpose field surface at football stadium complex

Bus Garage – $650,000

• Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware
• Replace large overhead doors in 1997 maintenance bay addition
• Replace roof in 1997 maintenance bay addition
• Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade panel board
• Extend paving at bus parking and dumpster pad

Campus Notification System

In addition to the renovations being proposed in the capital project referendum, Albion Central School District is planning to install a new public address and visual notification system for the elementary, middle and high schools. This work may be separate from the capital project and would be paid for using $1,995,000 in funding available to our district through the Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014.

A timeline for the project includes:

Dec. 14: Project vote, noon to 8:30 p.m., District Office Conference Room A

January 2022 to August 2022: Design Phase

September 2022 to December 2022: SED Review

2023 to 2024: Construction

State DOH puts Covid deaths at 100 in Orleans, 150 in Genesee

The number of active Covid cases declined in both Orleans and Genesee counties in the latest update from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

In Orleans, the active cases are down from a pandemic high of 334 on Thursday to 273 on Monday. In Genesee, the cases declined from 286 to 261 in the four days.

The counties each have three more Covid deaths since Thursday and Orleans has now had 100 residents pass away from Covid during the pandemic and Genesee is at 150 deaths from Covid, according to the state Department of Health.

In Orleans County the active cases declined since Thursday with 99 new Covid cases and 158 recoveries or previous positive individuals who completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

The new cases since Thursday put Orleans past 6,000 cases since March 2020. The county is now at 6,061 total cases.

The new cases include individuals in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Genesee is reporting 210 new positive cases since Thursday and 229 recoveries. The county has passed 9,000 cases during the pandemic – now at 9,199 total cases.

The new cases are individuals in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Genesee’s hospitalizations due to Covid is up from 35 to 37 since Thursday while Orleans remains at 13.

The seven-day positivity rate for Covid tests in the two counties also is down slightly. Genesee is currently at 11.0 percent and Orleans at 10.5 over the previous seven days compared to 12.5 percent for Genesee and 12.2 percent for Orleans for the seven-day average on Thursday. The current state-wide positivity rate for seven days is 4.6 percent.

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Board of Education formally appointed Sharon Smith as the district’s interim superintendent during Monday’s board meeting.

Sharon Smith

Mrs. Smith has been Lyndonville’s director of Instruction and Student Services for the last two years. Her focus has been on the district’s students and families and ensuring best-practice, individualized educational services and strategies are implemented to ensure the highest level of student achievement.

“Sharon is a true asset to our district,” said BOE President Theodore Lewis. “She takes the time to really connect with and understand our students and families. We believe she will do a great job as our interim superintendent.”

Previously, Mrs. Smith worked as Kendall’s elementary principal for seven years. She also was a curriculum coordinator for Frontier Schools and assistant principal, and CIO and grants coordinator for Newfane schools. Prior to her administrative career, she worked as an elementary teacher for 22 years.

“I am honored to be appointed as interim superintendent of Lyndonville Central Schools,” she said. “I have been fortunate to work with, and learn from, Jason Smith, and I wish him the very best. I promise the community, the students, the faculty and staff to give my best every day in fulfilling our vision to strive to lead in academic excellence, safety and community pride.”

Mrs. Smith will begin serving as interim superintendent on Jan. 3, when Jason Smith leaves for his new position as superintendent for Batavia CSD. The Board will continue with its search for a superintendent for the district.

No deficiencies found for skilled nursing facility

MEDINA – The North Wing, a skilled nursing facility with 30 beds at Medina Memorial Hospital, recently received a deficiency-free report – with no issues of concern, following an extensive review.

“This outcome is a direct result of the planning, implementation and monitoring of the unit and the extraordinary care provided by our dedicated and compassionate nursing and support staff,” said Scott Robinson, director of marketing, communications and outreach for Orleans Community Health/Medina Memorial Hospital.

In March of 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began a new, targeted inspection plan designed to help keep nursing home residents safe in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The plan called for focused inspections on urgent patient safety threats (called “immediate jeopardy”) and infection control, Robinson said.

This fall, Medina Memorial Hospital had an unannounced survey, conducted by a New York state surveyor which centered around standard and transmission-based precautions and regulations; quality of resident care practices, including those with Covid-19; the facility’s surveillance plan; visitor entry and facility screening practices; education, monitoring and screening practices of staff; and facility policies and procedures to address staffing issues during emergencies, such as transmission of Covid-19.

The full day audit included staff and resident interviews and the review of a wide array of documentation.

Hardest hit areas may not have power back until Tuesday evening

National Grid has restored power to 97% of the nearly 221,000 upstate New York customers impacted by the windstorm over the weekend, the company said this evening.

Orleans County has the most customers without electricity as of 7 p.m. with 1,683, including 918 in the Kendall area.

Orleans is the only county in the National Grid service area that has more than 1,000 customers without electricity. Monroe has 964, Genesee is at 446 and Niagara at 543.

They are among 5,226 Grid customers in Upstate without electricity as of 7 p.m.

“While we have made steady progress, there is still work to be done and our expanded field force will continue to work around the clock to ensure every customer’s service is restored as safely and quickly as possible,” said Matt Barnett, National Grid’s Vice President of New York Electric Operations.

He noted that the remaining outages are in regions that experienced the most extensive storm damage, including Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Orleans and Niagara counties in western New York, and Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties in northern New York.

“Our crews are in these regions continuing the hand-to-hand combat of cleanup, reconstruction and restoration,” he said. “We understand the inconvenience of being without power and will continue to restore service hour by hour.”

Genesee Region of Genesee, Orleans and Monroe counties experienced the most extensive storm damage. Crews are in the field restoring service hour by hour and 95% of customers in these areas will have service restored by 5 p.m. Tuesday, with the remaining customers in the hardest-hit communities seeing power restored through Tuesday evening, National Grid said.

Photo and press release, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office

LOCKPORT – This past Saturday, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with all three Niagara County Walmart locations, (Lockport, North Tonawanda, Niagara Falls) hosted the 10th annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart in Lockport.

This event paired up 28 children with deputies, dispatchers, correction officers and NYS troopers. A parade of police vehicles traveled to Walmart where the children shopped for gifts for themselves and family. Once their shopping was complete, the children met Santa, colored and were treated to lunch, which was provided by Walmart.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the men and women of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti stated. “Saturday wasn’t just a shopping trip to Walmart, they made Christmas brighter for many families. They truly care about the community they serve and donated their time on Saturday to make things better for total strangers.”

We are grateful for the staff at Walmart and the continuous support they provide to make this event a success, Filicetti said.

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office received a Community Grant from the Walmart Foundation which allows for the purchase of gift cards for the children to use while they shop.

Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – The Albion FFA held its annual food drive this past Saturday with more than 45,000 pounds of food donated to Community Action.

The yearly event, which began more than a decade ago when students raised about 3,000 pounds of food the first year, continues to have a big impact on the community with locally grown food remaining in the area for those in need.

Students, staff and volunteers spent Saturday morning sorting and loading produce then delivered and unloaded the donation at Community Action.

“It’s been cool to see it grow every year and get more food,” said senior Emily Harling. “When we get to Community Action, seeing everyone get excited is my favorite part.”

First-year FFA advisor and agriculture teacher Scott Oldenburg noted all the hard work the students put into the event.

“The officers did most of the work,” Oldenburg said. “They made all the calls and all the arrangements for pickup or deliveries, and they asked for all the donations.”

The FFA would like to thank the following for their contributions: Panek Farms, Kludt Brothers, Orleans County Farm Bureau, Nesbitt Fruit Farms, Orchard Dale Fruit Farms, Kreher’s Farms, Martin Farms, Kirby Farms, Mighty Acres, Partyka Farms, Starowitz Farms, Poverty Hill Farms, Torrey Farms, Lynn-Ette and Sons Farms, Rush’s Vegetables, Intergrow Greenhouses and Root Brothers.

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School District’s fitness center will open to the community beginning Dec. 14.

District residents are welcome Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. The cost for use is $10 a month or $2 per visit. All attendees must sign-in upon arrival, and masks are required.

Lyndonville’s fitness facility includes treadmills, ellipticals, arc trainers, adaptive motion trainers, expresso bikes, Cybex machines, free weights, heart rate monitors, a tri-fit machine and a dance/exercise room.

Our fitness center is a great way to start or maintain a healthier and more active life!

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Maddison Button, a seventh grade student at Albion, is dressed in an outfit from Santa Claus Suit & Equipment Company, which was one of the enterprises run by the late Charles Howard. He also ran a Santa Claus School in Albion from 1937 to 1966, and opened Christmas Park at Albion.

Copies of the book sold for $5 and were quickly sold out on Friday.

Maddison and her classmates in Tim Archer’s service learning class put together a 44-page book about Howard’s life. The book and artifacts from the Santa School and Christmas Park were featured in a program on Friday at Hoag Library.

The first 100 copies quickly sold out at $5 and another printing is expected.

Howard’s Santa suits were known nationwide for their high quality and unique features. Elizabeth Babcock of Albion eventually took over the suit business.

“The vivid scarlet red suits were made of the finest wool,” Maddison said. “They were trimmed with French white rabbit fur, and included an eight-point buckle and a hair and beard set of Tibetan yak hair.”

Eight students spoke about Howard’s life during Friday’s presentation, which also included comments from past employees at Christmas Park, Howard’s grandchildren Jane Holland and Charles Bergeman, and a Santa School graduate.

Lorelei Gailie, a seventh-grader, shared how Howard started building toys and doll furniture at age 7 with a coping saw he received from an aunt.

He then created sets and designed costumes for local productions. He wrote, produced and directed plays, and acted and sang in them.

He graduated from Albion High School in 1916. Two years later, after his father’s death, Howard bought a 400-acre farm at the corner of Phipps Road and Gaines Basin Road.

Nicholas Luft told a crowd of about 75 people how Howard was a church-going and civic-minded man. He attended the local United Methodist Church and was a charter member of the Albion Lions Club. He was active in the Orleans County Farm and Home Bureau, Orleans County 4-H and built displays and floats at the State Fair.

Olivia Andrews then shared how Howard portrayed Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1948 through 1965, which put him in the national spotlight.

Ava Woolston highlighted the Santa Claus School which Howard started in 1937 at age 41. People thought Howard was crazy to start such a school, and it got off to a slow start with only three students the first year, including a neighbor and a close friend. Only one paid the $15 tuition, a welder named Frederick Wise.

The school brochure advertised its purpose: “dedicated to the training and equipping of men to play the important role of Santa Claus.” Howard’s goal was to produce a “ruddy cheeked, ample-bellied” Santa that was “clean, jolly and considerate.”

Friday’s presentation included memorabilia from Christmas Park. Howard designed the signage in a distinctive style in red and green letters.

Brooke Doty shared Howard shut down the family farm and established Christmas Park, which opened on Sept. 22, 1956. Tens of thousands visited it annually to enjoy games and rides and visit with Santa. “A hallmark of the park was a mighty stone fireplace, wth a permanent evergreen wreath hanging above it,” she said. “The fireplace still remains – the last vestige of the Park.”

This beanie hat is from Christmas Park in Albion

Adam Burgio highlighted famous quotes from Charles Howard including:

“He errs who thinks Santa enter through the chimney. He enters through the heart.”

“To be Santa Claus is a privilege, not a job.”

“Santa should be lively and quick, not slow and dumpy.”

“Santa is not just toys, not just tinsel. He stands for love.”

“It’s so real to me sometimes that I can feel the reindeer breathing on my cheek.”

Grace Nesbitt shared Howard’s goodbye. He died at age 69 on May 1, 1966 in Newfane. Albion businesses closed down for his funeral between 2:45 and 3:45 p.m. at the request of Mayor William Monacelli.

Congressman William Fitts Ryan addressed the U.S. Congress sin Washington, DC that day, saying, “Mr. Speaker, I know of no one who brought more joy to the hearts of children of America, than our nation’s No. 1 Santa Claus.”

Charles Howard’s grandchildren thanked the community for its continued interest in their grandfather. Charles Bergeman of Lewiston, left, said his grandfather “dedicated his life to bringing joy to others.”

Jane Holland of Williamsville said Howard was a devoted family man who left a large impact on the Albion community and beyond.

“We appreciate all of your interest in keeping his memory alive,” she said.

Holland said she grew up visiting a man who took pride in being a grandpa. He was humble and delighted in designing and building the extravagant sets for Christmas Park while not having indoor plumbing in his own home. He kept a three-seat outhouse instead.

Tim Archer, teacher of the class, said the students admire the man who developed the Santa School which continues in Howard’s name in Midland, Mich.

“He was without a doubt an ambassador of goodwill,” Archer said.

Archer said the community should feel proud of Howard, whose school was world famous and featured in Life magazine and other national publications as “The Harvard of Santa Claus Schools.”

Archer noted signs went up on Route 31 in Albion last year declaring that section of the road the Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway.

And Archer commended the Albion Betterment Committee for working to have a bronze statue of Santa Claus in downtown Albion in honor of Howard.

Tim Archer goes through photos about Howard, including this one in the 1961 Life magazine about the Santa Claus School. That article on the school raised Howard’s profile nationwide.

Jack Miles, a retired Albion highway superintendent, worked at Christmas Park as a teen-ager. He said Howard would often waive the 25-cent admission fee for families with many children. He also tended to let kids go on rides if they didn’t meet the height requirement.

Miles also shared how Howard let him be on the float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which remains a thrill and unforgettable moment for Miles more than a half century later.

Ken McPherson of Medina displays artifacts from the Santa School and Christmas Park, including a Santa suit. McPherson, in back speaking, has graduated from the Santa School several times. He said he is proud to have “a bachelor’s degree in Santa Claus.”

McPherson said Albion remains a special place for those who portray Santa Claus because of Howard and the school.

“Albion has bragging rights,” McPherson said. “It should be kept in the limelight.”