Editor’s Note: Mary Bannister, a retired English teacher at Albion, wrote this poem after a fierce storm whipped through the area last month.

Taking its sweet time to bring it on, bring it on.
Anticipation building as the distant rumble
peaks my interest.
A storm is coming.

Everything is stock still but not for long, not for long.
Sounds of tires on dry pavement will mutate soon
to ‘splish’ ‘splosh’ dampness,
as drivers heighten their awareness,
while wormlike rivulets abound.
A storm is coming.

Sounds seems very distinct right now, right now,
but soon that vibrance will be muffled by the gyrating raindrops
and mocking wind.
Leaves will do the twist and show the silver side of dullness
which seems to harmonize with the steel gray clouds and sky.

Some birds take one last opportunity to boldly proclaim this featured event,
but they too will vanish as soon as they smell the storm’s wet breath.
Fleeing to the safety of a sturdy branch or the haven of a well built nest
is their best option.
Daredevils take chances, but these aviators have studied the invisible face of
air and know the odds.

As for me, the porch seems a suitable retreat to wait and listen.
A marvel of nature is about to unfold and I want a front row seat.
This seems an ideal place to view the performance.
A storm is coming.

Mary Bannister
Albion

File photo by Tom Rivers – The sky was dark over downtown Albion as a severe thunderstorm barrelled through the area on June 17, knocking down trees and taking out power.

Editor:

I look forward to the public meetings on the proposals regarding shared and consolidated services between the Village of Medina, and towns of Ridgeway and Shelby. With that in mind I have yet to see an agenda of topics to be reviewed or who is going to mediate these sessions. Also will there be a public Q&A?

I believe this agenda should be made available in advance. This will provide an opportunity for all board members and public alike to research the details of the anticipated outcomes as well as lead to a better informed debate and constructive contributions to the conversation.

Additionally if for some reason a resident is unable to attend he/she would then be able to inform the board with any concerns regarding particular anticipated outcomes.

Timothy Elliott
Medina

Editor:

I have followed the discussion on village dissolution since the first committee was begun years ago. At that time, everyone from village and both towns rolled their sleeves up and worked together at one table. I was on that committee for a period of time, so I saw it with my own eyes.  Never could I imagine the factionalism that would follow.

As I read the email comments that were made public regarding a meeting between officials of the towns and the village, I noted that Mr. Napoli (Ridgeway town supervisor) stated that dissolution was not a topic to be discussed. Talk about ignoring the elephant in the room!

As I read that, I realized that the leaders in the towns are not representing the totality of their constituents as they draw these very deep lines in the sand. What if some of us in Ridgeway would like dissolution to be discussed?

Have the towns done a survey of their constituents to see how what the public sentiment is about the matter of dissolution? Surveys can be done very cheaply these days and I would much prefer money spent on that than on a disinformation campaign and public relations guru.

I have seen signs up outside the village limits that support One Medina.  Thus, the elected officials have taken sides that do not necessarily represent their constituents. Who has given them their marching orders?

I believe Ed Weider’s letter hits the nail on the head. We’ve come to the table many times on this matter, and now that are elected officials, who are supposed to be representing all of their constituents, are picking and choosing what they will discuss for us. Let’s move on to the ultimate form of a survey – a vote.

If the village decides to dissolve, we should not take a moment to despair in the towns. There are people in the village and towns that can help – we have vast amounts of talents within our borders. We do not need p.r. specialists nor I might add do we need consultants any longer.

We have the ability to work together, we have proven it for almost 200 years. Let’s move beyond the petty bickering, realize that we can face the future challenges, draw on all of our skills and talents of young and old, and face the future with confidence.

Sincerely,

Ann W. Bunch
Resident of the Village of Medina and the Town of Ridgeway

Editor:

As former Medina Village Trustees, we wish to offer our thoughts on the proposed dissolution of village government.

We served on the Village Board at various times in the last 30 years. We know first-hand how difficult it is to maintain services while holding taxes steady.

The math is simple: without rising home values, new construction, or annexations that expand village borders when needed, tax rates must climb. This is not sustainable, and we need to act before it’s too late.

The plan prepared by the Dissolution Committee preserves our services and lowers taxes. It is a credible option that deserves serious consideration.

We urge the Village Board to put the plan up for a public vote so that people – not the politicians – can have the final say.

James Hobbs
James Lustumbo
Judy Szulis
Bernard Amos
Wilson Southworth
Kelly Kiebala
Patricia Crowley
John P. Anderson
Robert Rice
Adam Tabelski
Norma Huth
Susan Squires
David Barhite
Timothy Cooper

Editor:

This letter is addressed to the Medina Village Board. It is time to let the people of Medina vote on the question of dissolution.

Much research has been collected and analyzed. A committee made up of community leaders was named to study the question and make a recommendation. The committee studied and recommended.

The question to dissolve the village government has been discussed ad nauseam. It’s time to let the people of Medina decide. Those opposing the dissolution need to do just one thing: delay the vote. The longer the vote is delayed, the longer the status quo remains, and the longer the people of Medina have no voice.

There is no need for more study or more debate. It is time for a vote. After the vote is counted, local officials from the towns and the village must live with the results of that vote, work together, develop a plan, and do what they are elected to do: provide the best possible services at an equitable cost to both town and village residents.

The Medina area has much to offer and is a great place to live. There is a great school system that has shown it can adapt to change. In the surrounding towns the family-owned agribusinesses carry on a rich agricultural tradition. There are recreational and tourist destinations like Oak Orchard Creek and the canal. The village has a beautiful downtown that is beginning to revitalize. There are neighborhoods with beautiful new and older homes.

But the community’s future is in jeopardy. Blight is spreading in areas you would least expect. Just drive down West Avenue to see once beautiful homes, with architectural features that will never again be duplicated, deteriorating more and more each day.

Eliminating a level of government or two, centralizing services that can be centralized and spreading the tax burden evenly isn’t going to cure all of the area’s ills, but it is a step in the right direction.

Edwin Weider
Medina

Editor:

I live on Route 18 and for the 15 years I’ve been here the state DOT has blacktopped at least twice and painted the lines five times – once about two weeks before paving.

I asked about this and was told it was just a mistake. What did that cost? The state started paving again from Niagara-Orleans line to Kuckville, beginning last Monday on June 9.

We can’t get a water line out here or the Parkway taken care of but we can sure get a speedway for the motorcycles. If we can’t fix the roads, we can just shut them down for the winter. Our candidate for govenor will never see the waste or what is truly needed.

Doug Jordan
Carlton

Writer also sees benefits to proposed quarry

Editor:

The past few months have been, for lack of a better term, enlightening. I am a person that likes to keep in touch with what is happening in our Orleans County region. In order to do that I have tried to make sure that I pull my information from more than one source, review, and come to my own conclusions.

Two issues of late have come to the forefront, urging me to put my thoughts to paper. The first is that of the dissolution of Medina into the local townships. I agree there is nothing clean about this process.

How often do you have a village established on top of a township border? From what I am reading I see that people thought it a good idea at first. Why not? It reduces redundancies in the local infrastructure that tax dollar is paying for.

The problem is that there is no clean way of “sharing services.” Reading the editorials and reports, it reminds me of two siblings arguing over who got the biggest piece of cake.

Instead of being Negative Nancy’s maybe the local leadership should think outside the box so that everyone come out ahead. What if instead of trying to dissolve Medina into two townships the two townships first merged and then absorbed the Village? After all a local Country Club (Shelridge) has already paved the way by supplying a name that captures the essence of both communities.

Quite possibly this has already been explored and there is a plethora of reasons why this would not work. However, on the chance that it has not, I would challenge the local leadership to explore this option, with an open mind.

The second issue that I see cropping up is that of the new stone quarry that is proposed on the Fletcher Chapel Road. “Saturday Night Live” did a skit that the key word was “REALLY” and I think that this is very fitting in this scenario.

So you want to drive down taxes and have more local employment but you want to complain about a business expanding in your community? REALLY? You complain about the unemployment figures and yet you don’t want a business expanding in your neighborhood. REALLY?

You complain about the number of people on welfare but you don’t want a business to expand, allowing the potential of taking people off welfare? REALLY?

I understand that there is the STAMP project that may, or may not, be affected by the ground tremors. The only thing is building a business park does not mean realized business and jobs.

In both cases listed I think that George Carlin said it best. “People suffer from NIMBY.” He went on to say that “people want things to happen but ‘NOT IN MY BACK YARD.'”
How is it that as a society we have taken on this greedy, self-centered arrogance? Think about this: Had the soldiers taken on that fore-mentioned attitude in fighting for our freedom, our surroundings would be much different than they are today.

Dennis Warriner
Lyndonville

Editor:

Medina may benefit from a history lesson, regarding the debate over dissolution.

In 1959 Medina bonded a nearly $1 million waterline project to connect with the Niagara County Water District. A 30-year debt was paid for BY VILLAGE OF MEDINA RESIDENTS. A new sewage treatment facility was needed to service homes, schools and businesses. Village residents paid this bill.

These projects allowed existing businesses to provide jobs, and taxes benefited both the village and towns. The Maple Ridge Corridor, Medina Business Park, Brunner, etc. all benefited.  But this boom also caused infrastructure issues, including flooding, sewer problems (Towne School required reconstruction of North, Elizabeth and State streets).

Infrastructure work was needed for the new high school, Church Street, East Oak Orchard street, and Gwinn  Street and it was all paid for BY VILLAGE RESIDENTS.

These costs made necessary a “sewage tax” (compare my neighbor’s water bill, $145 for one person versus my town friend’s $16). Again, the village residents take one for the team.

The town continued its great need for water in the 1980s and early ’90s. Medina is paying for it all. It is insulting to watch the smug attitude of the towns toward our mayor, who’s trying to ease the burden on village residents.

What ideas do THEY have regarding this great disparity of tax burden?  Oh, guess the PR person from NYC and the attorney speaking for the cowardly town representatives don’t have that on their agenda.

We are neighbors and friends with Shelby and Ridgeway, but this lack of concern for our burden in the village is disturbing, especially if our underpaid, over-extended village reps are willing to try and remediate it.

One Medina now.

Jim Hobbs
Village of Medina

Editor:

Although it is well and good to compare a fire protection tax to your garbage tax, I feel it is unfair for Ms. Babcock not to mention the majority tax base of Barre consists of open farmland. (Click here to see “Writer urges support for new Barre Fire Hall.”)

Farmland is also taxed on fire service. Unless there is a major grass fire, it pretty much takes care of itself.

The statement made of a minimal increase to the average home may be correct but it is not completely accurate in the overall equation. A taxpayer foots the bill no matter where the money comes from.

A new roof and a handicapped accessible entrance do not seem like insurmountable challenges for the current hall.

Will someone just please be honest and say they just WANT a new fire hall?

Martin Bruning
Barre

Editor:

Your editorial on the closing of the Journal-Register was very well put!  (Click here to see “A community newspaper will be missed.”)

I am so sad to see it go. I applaud that your Orleans Hub is available and hope that you will be able to fill some of the void that will be left behind! I am particularly concerned about the Towns of Shelby and Ridgeway and their very interesting behavior in regard to Dissolution of Medina.

I am particularly appalled that they chose to wait out the demise of Journal-Register rather than comply with a FOI request! I hope some journalist will take up this cause!

Thank you for your continued efforts to report on Orleans County!

Sincerely,

Dayton Hausman
Medina