Medina welcome center will move to City Hall

Photo by Tom Rivers – Medina is moving a welcome center from the Chamber of Commerce building to City Hall.

MEDINA – A welcome center offering information about Medina history and attractions is moving from the Chamber of Commerce building to City Hall.

The Chamber has sold its building at 433 Main St. That is prompting the Tourism Committee and Medina Business Association to move the welcome center to the second floor of 600 Main St., the historic City Hall.

Jim Hancock, the Tourism Committee chairman, said the center is looking for volunteers to man the center from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He would people to be at the site from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and 9 to noon on Saturdays.

“We have a loyal crew that volunteers, providing directions and information about Medina,” Hancock told the Village Board on March 25. “But we are in desperate need of volunteers.”

He welcomes people to volunteer for even an hour or two each week.

The Village Department of Public Works will spruce up the second floor space with fresh paint and some historic-looking lights.

Former Mayor Marcia Tuohey urged the village to repair the front stone steps.

“It’s a historic building, the best one we have here in Medina,” she said. “The least we can do is make the steps look good.”

Peter Houseknecht, the DPW superintendent, said he is getting quotes to repair the steps.

Hancock updated the board on other tourism initiatives for 2013. About 550 bike riders are expected in early July for an overnight stay in the village as part of the 400-mile, eight-day “Cycling the Erie Canal” bike tour. Medina will feed the riders dinner and breakfast.

The Tourism Committee also is promoting an Aug. 10 “Blue Grass and the Blues in the Basin,” part of a summer concert series by the canal.

The group also is working with the Business Association for the Old Tyme Christmas celebration and parade of lights on Nov. 30.