news

Hospital celebrates completion of North Wing renovation

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Donors gave $513,000 to update nursing home section of hospital

Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Jim Moody, executive director of the Orleans Community Health Foundation, addresses donors and supporters in the new community room of the North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital after a donor recognition board was unveiled on Thursday.

The hospital seven years ago started raising money to update the North Wing, which is a nursing home for 30 residents.

Donors gave $513,000 towards the project, with renovations occurring over two years.

Christina Khushalani (center), North Wing administrator, helps to unveil the donor appreciation display in the community room. There were 805 donations, at an average of $638, towards the project.

“We don’t want to be an institution, we want to be home,” Khushalani said a reception to celebrate the renovations.

Besides revamped living and community areas, the North Wing has an environment enriched with green space, visitors and activities, Khushalani said.

“This is a beautiful environment,” she said.

The project included a new sprinkler system, four air handler units, new cabinetry, an updated area for the nursing staff, new furniture for the resident rooms and the dining room, a new floor and a fresh coat of paint, and the new community room.

There also is access to an outdoor patio at the North Wing, which is on the second floor of the hospital.

The improvements were made room by room to reduce disruptions to residents.

Each of the rooms has new furniture, paint, windows, and other improvements.

“It’s a more comfortable place,” said Sandra Madejski, president of Orleans Community Health Foundation. “We’ve always had excellent care but our facility needed to be updated. Now we have great care and a facility that is worthy for residents to call home.”

Cheryl Ann Bilski, president and CEO of Functional Interiors, worked on the interior design for the project.

“The goal was to take away from the antiquated look it had,” she said. “It’s important the residents feel comfortable in their surroundings.”

Nurses Jen Rider, left, and Miranda Miller are pictured at the new nurses station, which tends to be a popular place for residents to congregate.

The project reduced the nurses station area by half and added more chairs, and a fake fire place in an area where residents like to socialize.

There are four color-coded door frames – gold, rust, live green and teal – to help residents and visitors be oriented in the wing.

Takeform Architectural Graphics in Medina designed new room numbers and donor plaques with a floral feel, an in-kind donation for the project. Takeform also donated the donor recognition board.

Wendy Jacobson, interim CEO and president of the hospital and Orleans Community Health, thanked donors for supporting the project.

“It’s a wonderful thing that so many community members have created this wonderful home,” she said.

Smoke but no fire in Hulberton

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
HULBERTON – Firefighters responded to call about a house filled with smoke at about 7:30 p.m. at 3380 Hulberton Rd.

The house is north of the canal. Firefighters did not find a fire, nor an obvious cause of the smoke. The smoke came through the chimney and fireplace, but the chimney had recently been cleaned. Fran Gaylord, Orleans County deputy fire coordinator, said firefighters believe a big gust of wind may have blown the smoke down the chimney and into the house.

Firefighters helped ventilate the house before leaving the scene. Albion, Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray departments all responded to the call.

Fire police had a section of the road closed near the canal.

Medina will plant 60 trees for Arbor Day

Posted 10 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photo – Hundreds of children from Oak Orchard Elementary School gather for Medina’s 2013 Arbor Day Celebration.

Press Release
Medina Tree Board

MEDINA – Arbor Day 2015 will mark the eighth year in a row that the Village of Medina has been awarded the Tree City USA designation by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The award honors Medina’s commitment to community forestry.

This year Medina will plant 60 trees, mostly along areas of Park Avenue with additional plantings on West Center Street, West Avenue, Gwinn Street, Elizabeth Street and Mead Avenue.

Medina’s annual Arbor Day Celebration is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on April 24 at the Medina Historical Society, 406 West Ave. Hundreds of grades kindergarten through second grade school children from Oak Orchard Elementary School are expected to attend and participate.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley will be in attendance along with Michael Kracker, aide to Congressman Chris Collins. Mayor Andrew Meier will read the annual Arbor Day Proclamation.

“We’re so very proud to be a Tree City USA community,” Meier said. “It demonstrates commitment to the community’s environment and helps make our village an attractive place to live, work and visit. Other communities continue to look to Medina for help over and guidance in starting their own Tree Board and planting initiatives. It’s a source of pride knowing that our urban forestry efforts have inspired others.”

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, and the USDA Forest Service. Tree City USA is a national designations.

This year the village will plant six trees from citizen-sponsored tree requests.

“Each year, we receive more and more applications from citizens looking to plant trees on the right-of-way in front of their home,” said Chris Busch, Medina’s Tree Board chairman. “For $150, the village will plant an approved tree, sponsored by a citizen (provided the site/tree meet criteria). This year we’re planting six trees in village neighborhoods.”

Applications for citizen-sponsored tree plantings are available on the village’s Municipal Tree Board website, by clicking here.

“We commend Medina’s elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees provide numerous environmental, economical and health benefits to millions of people each day, and we applaud communities that make planting and caring for trees a top priority.”

Nicole Goyette, Arbor Day coordinator for the village and Creative Studies teacher with the Medina Central School District is quick to tell of the many benefits of planting urban trees.

“Trees dramatically increase the overall quality of life in the community,” she said. “Time and again, research has shown the multiple benefits. Trees reduce carbon dioxide, dust and other air pollutants; they are natural stormwater capture and retention devices, lower summer air temperatures, and- most importantly- increase property values.”

Recent studies indicate a row of mature street trees has been shown to increase property values up to 18 percent.

Arbor Day is celebrated in Medina and across New York State on the last Friday in April, this year on April 24.

Whipping wind knocks down trees, wires

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

The area has been hit with hard winds today, with some gusts up to 50 to 60 miles per hour.

Those winds have knocked down some trees and taken wires off poles. The top photo shows a telephone pole that tipped along Route 31 near Densmore Road in Albion.

The winds seemed to pick up around 3 p.m., Orleans County dispatch said. There was a partial barn roof collapse in Clarendon on Holley-Byron Road at about that time.

Some wires were also knocked down on East Barre Road in Barre, South Gravel Road in Shelby and Eagle Harbor Road in Gaines.

The wind was going so hard this flag was blowing upwards. The flag is at the Albion Sportsmen’s Association on Keitel Road in Albion. The canal bridge is in the background.

This photo shows a barn on Transit Road in Albion near a corn field.

Church bells will ring to mark 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s death

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

The bells on the Cobblestone Universalist Church will ring at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, the 150th anniversary of the death of Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln was shot on April 14 while watching a play at Ford’s Theater. An actor, John Wilkes Booth, shot the president in the back of the head. Lincoln’s death came six days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, effectively ending the Civil War.

Churches around the country will ring bells at 7:22 a.m. on April 15 to mark Lincoln’s death. The Cobblestone Society met last night during its board meeting and agreed to have the historic church on Route 104 join the bell-ringing in appreciation of Lincoln’s life.

Other churches are urged to participate.

This statue of Abraham Lincoln looks out over the City of Buffalo from the Buffalo History Museum in this photo from November. Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State, left, and the Richardson Olmsted Complex loom in the background.

Albion village officials try to trim tax increase

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2015 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A tentative village budget would raise taxes by 7.3 percent, but Mayor Dean London said the Village Board and department heads will work hard to bring that increase down.

He would like to avoid a tax increase over 2 percent. To do that, the board will need to chop about $130,000 from the budget.

The board has already cut many costs from the 2015-16 spending plan, and trustees said they will try to find more expenses to trim.

The board will meet Saturday to go over the budget and has scheduled a vote for 7 p.m. on April 22 to pass the budget. It must be adopted by April 30.

The tentative budget includes $6,562,504 in the general, water and sewer funds. The village would need to collect $2,640,662 in taxes as part of the budget, which is up $180,333 from the $2,460,329 in 2014-15.

If the village raises taxes by 2 percent that would be about $49,200 more in taxes, rather than the $180,333 in the tentative budget.

“We still have our work cut out for us,” Trustee Gary Katsanis said during Wednesday’s board meeting.

Albion already has one of the highest village tax rates in the region at $17.48 per $1,000 of assessed property. The tentative budget would raise that by $1.29 to $18.77.

The village has seen the rate climb in recent years as the overall tax base of the community went down. A year ago the village lost $2.7 million in assessed value. The latest numbers show another decline, but only by $60,830. The village’s taxable value for 2015-16 will be $140,690,261.

Young entrepreneurs in Lyndonville make pitch to investor panel

Posted 9 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photo – Jeremy Foss is pictured with his teacher Todd Wolford. Jeremy was picked to advance to a national competition.

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – Students in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy at Lyndonville Central School recently took the stage to present their business to an investor panel.

Each student or group of students was given 6 minutes to pitch their business ideas. Based on the appeal and merit of the presentations, students were awarded funds to be used toward startup costs.

Jeremy Foss of Tightlines Bait and Tackle was selected to advance to the YEA Saunders Scholars National College Scholarship competition. He will compete for college scholarships and an all-expenses paid trip courtesy of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to America’s Small Business Summit in Washington D.C.

Jeremy also was awarded a $500 shopping spree at Sam’s Club. He plans to run his online business starting this summer and while he attends Cobleskill College.

The 15 students in YEA at Lyndonville are among 8,000 students in 38 states nationwide enrolled in the entrepreneurial education classes that teach students how to generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, and launch their own, legally registered companies.

High wind warning issued for Friday

Staff Reports Posted 9 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – The canal bridge by State Street Park in Medina is pictured this evening while it was raining.

Orleans and several other Western New York counties could see southwest winds on Friday from 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts of 50 to 60 mph.

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning on Friday from 8 a.m. until midnight for Orleans, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, Genesee and Monroe counties.

The strong winds could bring down trees and powerlines and result in scattered power outages. Travel in high profile vehicles will also be difficult at times, the Weather Service said.

Lisa Tombari was out with her dog, Jazzy, for a walk and jog this evening in Medina by the canal and State Street Park.

Albion will pursue spray park, playground for Bullard

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2015 at 12:00 am

ALBION – The Village Board approved a plan for a new spray park and playground for Bullard Park, improvements the village eyes as part of a state grant application.

The village twice before has tried for state grants for park improvements, but was denied. Those applications didn’t include the spray park, and the “splash pad” was identified in a community survey as the top request for Bullard.

The spray park would be the first in Orleans County, and is seen as a draw for Albion, while boosting the quality of life for people in the community, especially on hot days.

Engineering cost estimates say the spray park would be $200,000, with another $50,400 for a utility building for the spray park with bathrooms, $45,000 for storm sewer improvements for the park, $40,000 for playground equipment, $11,000 in parking lot improvements, and other sewer and water main upgrades that bring the total project cost to $551,246.

The spray park is unlikely without the state grant, Bullard Park Committee members have said.

The village has retained Jean O’Connell and Associates from Clarence to write the grant for the project. That fee could be $6,000. O’Connell met with the Village Board on Wednesday and then discussed hiring her company for $34,000 a year to pursue other grants for streets, police, archival records, and other community projects. The Bullard grant would be included in that $34,000.

Mayor Dean London and board members say they would like to hire O’Connell for $34,000 annually, but the board wants to make sure the village can afford it. The board is nearly done with the 2015-16 budget, a spending plan that must be adopted by April 30.

O’Connell said she expects she would seek 10 to 12 grants for the village each year if her company was retained.

Trustee Pete Sidari said the village has struggled to secure grants in recent years without a dedicated grantwriter.

“If we don’t invest the money we won’t get any money in return,” Sidari said. “We need to do something. We’re not getting grants.”

Holley fifth grader will perform with Genesee Symphony Orchestra

Staff Reports Posted 9 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Debbie Patt – Jonathan Jaeger, Music Instructor at Roxy’s Music in Batavia, practices with students Lucia Sprague, John Patt and Kirk Ellison.

HOLLEY – John Patt, a fifth grade student at Holley Central School will play with the Genesee Symphony Orchestra this weekend.

Students are participating in the 2015 Genesee Symphony Orchestra String Workshop. They will be performing “1812 Overture” and “Concerto Grosso” with the orchestra on Sun., April 12, at 4 p.m., at the Batavia High School.

Nice little waterfalls run through big culvert under railroad

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – You live in a place for two decades and you think you’ve found all the nice spots. On Tuesday, while heavy equipment was ripping apart the Clarendon Street bridge, I noticed Sandy Creek ran under the railroad tracks just east of Clarendon Street. I hadn’t seen this place before.

I decided to take a look. I didn’t expect to seen the little waterfalls and the impressive culvert, with some fine Medina sandstone work. That big culvert was built in 1919.

Orleans County has many nice waterfalls and nature trails, but many do not have public access or signage pointing people to the locations.

Places like this are good for the body and soul. As a community we should develop a map, improve signage and accessibility for these special places.

The bottom photo shows the Clarendon Street bridge in the upper right corner before it was knocked down. You can see it through the trees.

Counterterrorism grants include $105K for Orleans

Staff Reports Posted 9 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced more than $233 million in federal grants that will support counterterrorism and emergency preparedness activities in counties and urban areas across New York State, including a $105,000 grant for Orleans County.

The funding, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through its Homeland Security Grant Program, supports regional preparedness efforts, including planning, organization, and training activities that are critical to sustaining and improving community prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities.

“New York continues to be a target for terrorism, and we must ensure there is adequate funding to prepare, plan and prevent,” Cuomo said. “This funding will help defend the state against those who wish to do harm and will support our first responders who are called upon when emergency strikes. Keeping New Yorkers safe is the top priority, and through these programs and exercises we will continue to work toward this goal.”

The homeland security grants support exercises and training for first responders, equipment purchases, and other capabilities essential to keeping New Yorkers safe. Federal guidelines require that 25 percent of each county’s total award be directed toward law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.

Priority projects include efforts that build upon Cuomo’s Citizen Preparedness Program, development of effective cyber security programs and policies, and continued coordination of emergency management planning efforts.

The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is also advancing regional partnerships and enhancing information sharing among law enforcement. The agency provides guidance and support to counties, which must submit detailed project plans in order to receive reimbursement-based grant contracts.

Key programs and grant amounts include:

The Urban Areas Security Initiative, which is providing nearly $181 million in funding to critical anti-terrorism programs in the New York City urban area, which includes New York City, the City of Yonkers, Westchester County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County.

The State Homeland Security Program, which is providing more than $52 million in funding to counties across the state and to New York City to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic disasters.

The Western NY region also received a $2,322,953 grant.

Fire departments welcome recruits at open houses April 25

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2015 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – Firefighters work to put out a fire in a garage on Fancher Road in Clarendon on March 23.

Some local fire departments will participate in open houses on April 25-26, part of the fifth annual Recruit NY state-wide initiative to draw more volunteers to fire departments.

“There is a great demand for firefighters and EMS personnel throughout the state, but even more so in our local area,” said Gary S. Sicurella, president of the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company. “This event is to help bring this issue to the public as well as possibly increase our recruiting base.”

FHM, Carlton and Kendall departments have committed to the events.

Sicurella said local departments need more active members to provide the optimum level of protection for residents.

At the open houses, community members can tour the fire houses and apparatus, and learn about the commitment needed to help the fire department. Visitors also can try on firefighter gear and see demonstrations. FHM will have a children’s corner with kids’ activities.

FHM has set its open house for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 25 and noon to 4 p.m. on April 26 at the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company, located at 3353 Hulberton Rd., Holley. FHM may also have Mercy Flight visit on Sunday.

Carlton will have an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 25 at the Fire Hall at 13504 Waterport/Carlton Rd.

Kendall will have its open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 25 at its fire hall on Kendall Road. That will include a child seat inspection by Orleans County Sheriff’s Department.

Concert, ‘Run for Wayne’ meet $10K goal for Burlison scholarship

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion High School Alumni Foundation will offer a new scholarship this year in memory of Wayne Burlison, the district’s elementary band teacher who died at age 36 from colon cancer on March 26, 2014.

Burlison also served as assistant marching band director, assistant jazz band director and was active in many community musical groups. He also was co-founder of the Albion Running Club and spearheaded a fitness program through the Albion Free Methodist Church that helped many people run their first 5-kilometer race.

A concert on Jan. 30 included 20 musical acts and raised about $7,000. A “Run for Wayne” on March 28 raised another $3,000 towards the scholarship. The proceeds from the events met the $10,000 goal for an endowed scholarship in honor of Burlison.

Some of the leaders of the Albion Running Club met with Burlison’s family and Chris Haines, president of the Alumni Foundation, for a check presentation today.

The group includes, from left: Thom Jennings, Running Club communications director; Brian Krieger, Running Club executive director, Adam Burlison; Lisa Burlison; Mark Moore, Run for Wayne race director; Chris Haines from the Alumni Foundation; and Shannon Brett, board member for Running Club.

The first scholarship for $500 will be awarded in June at Class Night. It will be presented to a graduate with a passion for the arts, who demonstrates perseverance and overcame challenges, said Mrs. Burlison. She and her son Adam will be on the selection committee with members of the Alumni Foundation’s Scholarship Committee.

The scholarship winner doesn’t have to be majoring in music or the performing arts, but needs to participate in the fine arts in college.

“Wayne believed anyone could be a life-long musician,” his wife said.

She is grateful the community responded to the concert and the “Run for Wayne” and raised the money for the scholarship. She thanked the Running Club for organizing the run and walk on March 28 and Mike Thaine, the high school band teacher, for taking the lead in the concert on Jan. 30.

“I’m very grateful for how it all came together,” Mrs. Burlison said. “I couldn’t have done it by myself. They’ve turned into beautiful community events.”

Hydropower approved for company eyeing Medina site

Staff Reports Posted 8 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Sen. Ortt also introduces legislation to extend hydropower to hospitals, housing authorities

MEDINA – More incentives are being offered to a Canadian company, trying to make Medina the best option for a new vegetable processing, packaging and distribution facility.

Pride Pak Canada Ltd. has been offered 1 megawatt of hydropower, deeply discounted electricity from the New York Power Authority.

Pride Pak is considering acquiring and renovating the former BernzOmatic plant in Medina, a site vacated last year by Worthington Cylinders. Pride Pak’s investment in Orleans County and the property would be $18 million and would create 163 new jobs, according to the New York Power Authority.

“These low-cost hydropower allocations from the Niagara Power Project demonstrate the Power Authority’s commitment to invest in the people and businesses of New York State,” said John R. Koelmel, NYPA chairman.

Low-cost Niagara hydropower is currently priced more than 40 percent less than wholesale market electricity in the Buffalo-Niagara region and is linked to tens of thousands of existing jobs, NYPA officials said.

Pride Pak, based in Mississauga, Ontario, is currently Canada’s largest fresh fruit and vegetable processor.

The power allocation follows a move by the Orleans Economic Development Agency last month that would save Pride Pak $1 million in property taxes over 20 years at the site, plus $280,000 in sales tax for materials and equipment in the renovation and expansion.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, praised the news from NYPA.

“As a small-business owner, I know the resources that are necessary to flourish in New York’s economy,” Hawley said. “I am excited to see public-sector entities actively supporting private-sector businesses in my district. For the private-sector businesses to thrive, we need initiatives such as these that will create jobs and grow Western New York’s economy.”

State Sen. Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, also said the NYPA decision is good for Medina and the regional agricultural economy.

“This proposed project is a great example of how low-cost hydropower can be used to help grow our local economy while meeting the demand for locally grown food,” Ortt said. “Working with our partners across the border to deliver fresh, healthy food from a home base in Medina is a start to strengthening our region’s and state’s leading industry, in hopes of one day, distributing these local products around the world.”

Ortt also announced on Tuesday an effort to make the hydropower available to hospitals and housing authorities in Niagara and Orleans counties.

Ortt has introduced a bill (S4414-A) that would make low-cost hydropower easily available to hospitals and municipal housing authorities located in the two counties.
These types of institutions in the two counties would not be required to go through the eligibility process that’s currently in place for allotments of power through the Niagara Power Project, Ortt said.

“Niagara Falls is a powerful resource in our very own backyard, and certain facilities should be able to take advantage of its ability to produce cost-effective electricity provided by the Niagara Power Project,” Ortt said. “Making hydroelectricity easily accessible to housing authorities and hospitals in Niagara and Orleans counties will help those in need while spurring economic development.”

The idea to implement this bill came after Senator Ortt realized how many entities, including the Niagara Falls Housing Authority, are not currently eligible to take advantage of low-cost hydropower.

A hydropower allocation would reduce the operating costs at Medina Memorial Hospital, said Wendy Jacobson, interim chief executive officer for Orleans Community Health, the hospital’s parent organization.

“Cost containment is essential to smaller hospitals,” she said. “Reducing operating expenses through lower cost hydropower will help us to continue serving health care needs in our community. Along with physician alignment and affiliation with larger institutions to share resources, cost containment measures such as lower cost hydropower will assist Medina Memorial Hospital in achieving a healthy future.”

Eligible facilities that do not fall under the category of a housing authority or hospital would still need to apply for low-cost hydropower as long as they are within a 30-mile radius of the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston, Ortt said.