By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A section of East State Street is closed off today for a classic car show. Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home is hosting the event for the second year. About 50 cars were registered by noon for a car show that runs from 1 to 5 p.m. The top photo shows a 1929 Ford Speedster owned by Randy and Mary Cooper.
Lewis Van Allen of Perry shines his 1983 Chevy Pickup. He goes to about a dozen car shows a year. He has owned the truck for 21 years. It used to be owned by his wife’s uncle. Van Allen had the truck repainted two years ago.
Frank Strasburger gets a 1971 Chevelle Supersport 402 Convertible ready for the car show. Strasburger restored the vehicle five years ago. He also has a 1971 Chevelle SS 454 in today’s car show. He restored that vehicle in 1989.
Becky Karls, director for Merrill-Grinnell, organized today’s car show. The event is a benefit for Hospice of Orleans. The Masons are selling hot dogs and hamburgers with half the proceeds going to Hospice. There is also a DJ playing music.
Glen Busch, a member of the Masonic Lodge, cooks hot dogs and hamburgers at today’s car show.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Zach Shaffer portrays Noah Davis, who grew up poor but was later an esteemed judge. He was elected to Congress in 1869 and appointed US District Attorney by President Grant. David was elected a State Supreme Court justice and presided over the trial of William “Boss” Tweed.
Davis was one of 13 prominent Albion residents highlighted on the sixth annual Ghost Walk on Saturday at Mount Albion Cemetery. There were 66 students involved, serving as “ghosts,” tour guides, singers and on the tech crew.
Shannon Broda portrays Laura Ward, who was married to Judge Alexis Ward, who was instrumental in the development of the Rochester-Lockport-Niagara Falls Railroad. He was elected to the State Assembly in 1854, but died before taking office.
Kyle Thaine portrays Rufus Bullock, who grew up in Albion, was a railroad official in George and was elected that state’s governor in 1868. He was instrumental in the reconstruction of Georgia after the Civil War.
The steps leading up to the Civil War memorial at the cemetery were aglow for the Ghost Walk, which was attended by about 500 people.
William Pecorella portrays Starr Chester, a shoemaker from Gaines. He operated his shoe shop on Ridge Road. That shop was later moved to the Cobblestone Museum, where the building was restored as the John G. Peters Harness Shop.
Evan Steier portrays Judge Arad Thomas who served as county judge from 1860 to 1864. He wrote a book about pioneers in Orleans County. That book published in 1871 – “Pioneer History of Orleans County” – has been a valuable resource for the Ghost Walk.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 September 2014 at 12:00 am
810 Meadworks features honey, historic location
Photos by Tom Rivers – Bryan DeGraw, back left, talks about mead with people on the Ale in Autumn tasting event Saturday in Medina. 810 Meadworks is currently fermenting 200 gallons of mead. The business plans to officially open in early December.
MEDINA – For the past several months, a former barbershop has been transformed into a meadery in the historic R.H. Newell Building in downtown Medina.
Bryan and Larissa DeGraw and their friend Morris Babcock still have work to do, but on Saturday they gave 750 people on the Ale in Autumn beer-tasting event a sneak peek of what’s to come.
The DeGraws and Babcock in early December plan to open 810 Meadworks at 113 West Center St., Suite 1. They have 200 gallons of mead fermenting. They will produce meads, which are alcoholic drinks made by fermenting honey with water and often fruits, spices, grains and hops.
Mr. DeGraw has been a home brewer and mead maker for five years.
The business features a sign made from wood and a piece of stainless from the former barbershop.
810 Meadworks will be the only meadery between Albany and Ohio. That uniqueness will be a draw for “foodies,” people looking for authentic food experiences, said Michael Gaughn, owner of a media marketing company called deus X media.
“This winery really stands out,” Gaughn said Saturday at 810 Meadworks during the Ale in Autumn event. “It is the only meadery within 200 miles of here and you have a winery in the middle of town. This will be huge. This is radically different for wine trails.”
Gaughn works for the Medina Railroad Museum, the Niagara Wine Trail and other clients. He just produced a commercial for the Niagara Wine Trail, highlighting its closer proximity to Rochester than the Finger Lakes. The commercial is being shown on the Food Network, HGTV, and Bravo. Click here to see it.
Bryan DeGraw, left, and Morris Babcock are pictured with some of the 55-gallon drums where they will ferment mead. The meads are alcoholic drinks made by fermenting honey with water and often fruits, spices, grains and hops. DeGraw and Babcock did much of the renovations for 810 Meadworks themselves.
The DeGraws about a year ago moved from New Jersey, Mr. DeGraw’s native state, to Orleans County. Mrs. DeGraw’s parents live in Kent. The DeGraws were attracted to the revitalization in downtown Medina, especially in its historic business district.
They believe their business will complement others in the community, including other ventures in the Newell building, including the Boiler 54 entertainment venue, Shirt Factory Café and the Hart Hotel.
The Niagara Wine Trail was officially extended last year past Niagara County, through Orleans and all the way to Route 390 in Rochester. Medina finds itself ideally situated in the middle of the expanded Niagara Wine Trail. That was another reason why the business partners wanted to open 810 Meadworks in downtown Medina.
Larissa DeGraw is pictured with some of the chocolates she made for Ale in Autumn. 810 Meadworks will also sell her chocolates.
810 Meadworks uses “810” in its name from the Bible verse Nehemiah 8:10: “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Besides serving mead, 810 Meadworks will offer chocolates made by Mrs. DeGraw.
“They conceived of their idea, got the permits and did the construction in less than a year,” Gaughn said. “They’ve done an amazing job.”
810 Meadworks is expected to draw visitors to the R.H. Newell Building and for other businesses in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion firefighters responded to a call about dark smoke coming from Saint-Gobain Adfors at about 12:30 p.m. today.
The company didn’t have a fire at its manufacturing plant located at 14770 Route 31. It was trying to use old oil for its boiler. When the dark smoke surfaced, the company switched the boiler back to natural gas, an employee said.
Photos by Sue Cook – Managing Instructor Deb Roberts stands outside the studio located at 105 Pearl St. in Medina.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
MEDINA – Three Medina residentsthis week opened All Yoga Medina, a yoga studio in downtown Medina that offers classes to anyone of any ability in an effort to promote wellness and self value.
Deb Roberts is the managing instructor of the studio and has been practicing yoga for 16 years.
“It can benefit everyone,” she said. “The wellness benefits of yoga are being scientifically proven. Just breathing increases your wellness. It’s a different way to be strong. For me it’s more about bringing your mind and body in alignment.”
Roberts retired last year from the Cornell Cooperative Extension and decided to operate a yoga studio. She loved the space on Pearl Street that formerly belonged to Rock Paper Salon. When the hair salon moved, Roberts contacted the building owner, Tim Cooper, and was told she was the third person to ask about making the space into a yoga studio.
One of the people to inquire about the space was Katie Hartway, another Medina native. Roberts already knew her and after talking the two decided to also ask Julie Tette to work with them. Tette is another Medina resident who is also a yoga instructor at the Lockport schools and Kwandrans Tae Kwan Do in Medina.
Together, the three of them now offer a variety of yoga classes to suit several different needs. Hartway’s focus is on Power Core Yoga and Tette’s expertise is in Yoga Fit. Tette’s class, Yoga for Runners, is already full with Medina residents signing up as well as the Medina High School cross-country team.
Roberts shows the class how to get into a chair pose.
Roberts teaches a more classical style of yoga, which is slower and more meditative. She even tailors her individual classes to meet the abilities of the people who attend. Some classes she may choose to use certain poses if there are advanced students, whereas beginners receive more instruction and assistance.
“We’re all different ages and we’re at all different stages in life,” Roberts said. “We all share a love of yoga, but that means we kind of have something to offer. That’s really important to us. Not everybody wants to sit and be as meditative as some people do. The challenge for us is how to meet everybody’s needs.”
Younger people might prefer to do more vigorous yoga classes while older people might like the more meditative ones, but she also says that different life circumstances can alter what kind of yoga you’re looking for in life, too. People with kids or high-stress jobs might want a different kind of yoga than someone who is full of energy and wants to burn it off.
“You use yoga differently at different times in your life,” she added.
Roberts does not want anyone to be intimidated if they have never tried yoga before. She wants people to understand you only push yourself as far as you are able, regardless of the levels of your classmates.
Roberts addressed concerns that new learners might have, saying, “You don’t have to be flexible. If you can breathe, if you can raise your hands up in the air, that’s yoga. It’s not about being a pretzel, it’s not about being able to do great accomplishments. Yoga meets you where you are. So if you can’t get up and down on the floor, we’ll give you a chair to work in. If you don’t have balance, we’ll send you to hold on to the wall. There’s no perfect way to do yoga.”
Roberts gets into a warrior pose.
For beginners in Robert’s classes, the key points that are introduced are for students to take care of themselves. They will meditate and practice breathing exercises while beginning to learn yoga terminology. After a warm up, students begin to learn basic poses and core work focused on balance and strength. After the cool down, the class enters a meditative state to relax fully and let worldly cares wash away momentarily to end class in a peaceful state.
“As you build, it’s progression,” Roberts said. “We call it yoga practice for a reason. We don’t call it a performance. It is practicing something over and over and each time you practice it you learn something new, you see something new, you can do something new.”
The studio will offer one more class tomorrow free of charge to celebrate their grand opening. From 1 to 2 p.m. Roberts will have an introductory class before Medina’s Ale in Autumn event begins. The studio is located at 105 Pearl Street.
For more information about All Yoga Medina and upcoming class sessions, call (585) 259-1905 or click here.
Contributed Story Posted 27 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Pamela Moore
The leaves are starting to change colors as fall foliage begins. Pamela Moore sent in these photos from the waterfowl overlook on Albion Road. They were taken Thursday and Friday night in Barre and Oakfield.
Staff Reports Posted 27 September 2014 at 12:00 am
BROCKPORT – A Holley resident was killed on Friday night while trying to help a stopped motorist in the town of Sweden, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is reporting.
Brian D. Lonnen II, 26, stopped on Route 31 near Gallup Road at about 8:20 p.m. While he was crossing the road to help a motorist on the south side of the road, Lonnen was struck by a van and killed.
The driver of the van isn’t facing any charges. The Sheriff’s Office says the accident remains under investigation.
Photos by Sue Cook – Joey Robinson wore lederhosen to hand out glasses.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
MEDINA – The Medina Business Association welcomed the fall season with the annual Ale in Autumn event held downtown. This is the sixth year the group has put on the beer-tasting event.
This year, 24 businesses gave tastings of 28 beers. The 750 people that bought tickets to the event received complimentary glasses to use to sample the drinks.
“From the sale of the glasses to the Chinese auction baskets that we do, we make a good amount of money to where we can do something else major for downtown,” said MBA President Cindy Robinson. “We’re thinking about getting more bike racks made. We’re looking at possibly getting new trash receptacles out there as something that matches more of the historic look.”
Ashlee’s Place, a clothing store, has been a participant all six years of Ale in Autumn. They have seen a lot of new faces at the event, especially people visiting from outside of Medina.
“It’s a beautiful day,” said owner Angela Waldriff. “We are a location that sold tickets for it so we’ve been very busy the last few weeks with people picking up tickets and coming in and asking if they were still available.”
Ashlee’s Place owner Angela Waldriff served apricot Sea Dog.
Kim Keil, owner of Wide Angle Art Gallery, served Dutch and Indian lagers for the event. Her success during the event has her already anticipating Wine About Winter. This was her first downtown Medina event as a business owner.
“It’s really exciting and little bit different because typically we partake in it from the other side of the table. This is the first time being behind the table hosting,” Keil said.
“It’s really interesting that a lot of people are coming in and actually looking at the artwork and taking the time to talk about it,” she continued. “They are interested in classes or possibly putting shows together. It’s a great opportunity for PR and getting to meet the community.”
Andy, Robyn and Tony Ottaviano of Lyndonville raise their glasses. “We’re tasting all these great beers on this perfect day,” said Robyn. Tony added, “There’s been a lot of interesting ones, but we’ve enjoyed them all so far.”
ellen j. goods owner Lynn Brundage was excited that the event started off very strong and didn’t show any sign of slowing down. The business was serving a chili beer which had a chili pepper floating in it. Tasters were commenting that it was a very unique flavor and that it was nice to try something they normally might not.
Julie Tette, an instructor at the new All Yoga Medina studio, was there with the other instructors serving beer for their first Medina event as a new business.
“This is a lot of fun. It’s nice to see a lot of people that we know and some we don’t know. It’s nice to meet new people and give them a chance to see our new place and check it out. The response has been amazing and awesome,” she said.
Tette said that people have already bought class passes and signed up for classes after being able to see the studio for the first time. The event has given them a great opportunity to expand their business while having a fun time.
810 Meadworks had a waiting line for their two special flavors.
The new business, 810 Meadworks, also participated in Ale in Autumn to drum up excitement for their expected opening in late November. Within the first two hours, the meadery had seen almost 200 people with a line stretching out the door.
Bryan DeGraw, co-owner of 810 Meadworks, explained what they were serving. They normally make mead that is more like wine, but offered something a little different for the day.
“We have two meads. One is called Scarlet A, that’s an apple cranberry fermented with blueberry honey. They other is Bee Vomit. That is wildflower honey fermented with cascade hops,” he said. “Both of those are 7 percent and carbonated so they’re more like a beer.”
Stephanie Prawel was serving Presidente in Rosenkrans Pharmacy.
Kimberly Drew comes from Greece, NY, to visit her friends from the area, Danielle and Aaron Montague. They like to go to the downtown Medina events together. They all grew up together in Lyndonville.
“We’re all about the social aspect of the beer tasting,” said Drew. “We are so excited to be here and love to see all the little businesses. I think I’m going to taste a great variety, things I’ve never tried before.”
She added that it was a great way to spend some time in Medina.
“Medina is my playground,” she said. “It was my childhood playground. I love coming here to have fun, like for this and I was here for the wine tasting. I come here for all my fun. Orleans County is awesome.”
Photo by Sue Cook – Simon poses for the camera at Stoney Meadows Alpacas.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
Two Orleans County alpaca farms are holding open houses this weekend to celebrate National Alpaca Farm Days. It is an opportunity for the public to see the animals up close and learn from their farmers.
Tacha Gennarino and her husband John own Genna-rations Farm in Kendall. Tacha has been happily educating people about the alpacas and encouraging questions to help people understand what happens at their farm.
“We want people to come in and educate them on why we raise alpacas, about the fiber industry in America and how to take care of them. We let the kids feed them and pet them,” said Gennarino.
The Gennarinos began their farm in 2003 with three animals. They moved to Kendall after needing more space. They use their pack for fiber and breeding purposes.
Photo by Sue Cook
The female alpacas at Genna-rations Farm enjoy some lunch together.
Genna-rations teamed up with three other farms, including one from Monroe County, one from Genesee as well as Stoney Meadows Alpacas in Holley. They have created a mini fiber-education trail.
“The trail we have today, people can go to four different farms and see the different operations,” Gennarino said. “Here, we’re teaching people about the processing of fiber. We teach what we do once the animal has grown it all year long from shearing right into when it’s made into a product that can be used by fiber artists and textile mills.”
Gennarino also explained to people how alpacas and llamas are different animals. The most obvious difference is the size with llamas running much larger. Llamas can average 400 pounds, while alpacas can be about 150 pounds. Llamas can be almost 6 feet tall and alpacas are about 4 feet. Llamas also have an underlayer to their fiber.
Gennarino submits her fiber to the Northeast Alpaca Fiber Pool. It gets graded for quality, then farms can purchase items made in the United States out of the submitted fiber. This year Tacha is beginning to make items at the farm herself to add to her store. She has made boot cuffs, scarves, fingerless gloves and is starting on teddy bears.
Photo by Sue Cook
Genna-rations farms sells items made from alpaca fibers that demonstrate how versatile it is.
“Alpacas come in 22 different colors and their fiber is water repellant and flame retardant naturally,” she said, explaining how the material is great for both practical and fashionable clothing, especially in wet or winter weather.
Theresa Jewell opened Stoney Meadows Alpacas and Fiber Boutique in Holley today to provide a similar education to the public. Her farm does not use the animals for breeding. Instead, Jewell focuses on the art side of raising alpacas and other animals to create fibers. Jewell takes the process from start to finish at her farm from shearing to spinning to making clothing, toys and jewelry. She does send some of her fibers out to mills as well.
When she was pregnant with her daughter almost 16 years ago, Jewell saw a magazine article in a doctor’s office about alpacas during the height of their popularity. Many of the animals cost as much as $20,000, which caused them to be much more of a rich person’s hobby.
“Thank goodness for me the market in alpacas dropped,” she said. “For me it was wonderful because I was able to purchase alpaca for just a couple thousand. It helped me as a blue-collar person. Before only doctors, lawyers, and people with a great deal of money at their disposal could afford it.”
Theresa Jewell demonstrates her spinning wheel for visitors. She is using fiber from her black alpaca Merlin.
Her farm also includes cashmere and angora goats that mingle with the alpacas. She encourages the public to bring their kids because many of the animals want to be petted and are a good size for children to approach them without being afraid. Because she raised many of them from a very young age, even bottle-feeding some, the animals are very friendly and enjoy human attention.
“Today for our open house, we invite the community to come see the animals up close and to get their hands in the fiber and feel it to truly understand why we’re doing this and what it really is to wear and have organic fiber,” Jewell said. “I really pride myself on the art side of fiber and I do consider myself a fiber artist.”
Because of her variety of animals, Jewell creates items that blend several organic types of fibers along with some items that also contain acrylic yarn. She has many cold weather items for sale including winterwear and blankets. She also teaches spinning lessons that people can create on spinning wheels that she has using fiber from the animals on the farm.
Jewell also hand dyes some of the fiber in bright colors.
For the National Alpaca Farm Days, Jewell is demonstrating many of her techniques and skills, while letting the public meet the animals that the materials come from.
“My farm is more of a petting zoo,” she said. “It’s very clean and it’s a different atmosphere than a ranch. They’re not livestock, they’re my pets and I love them. I like my farm to be open and comfortable where kids can walk through and feel comfortable and be able to pet the animals and get a feel of what farming is like.”
Both farms will be open tomorrow from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. for National Alpaca Farm Days. Genna-rations Farm is located in Kendall at 1536 West Kendall Rd. Stoney Meadows Alpacas is located in Holley at 16038 Glidden Rd.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Tillman says addition keeps historic flavor, accommodates bigger crowds for special events
Photos by Tom Rivers – Mark Tillman, owner of Tillman’s Village Inn, stands next to a new addition under construction at the landmark restaurant at the corner of routes 98 and 104.
CHILDS – As it is nears its 200th anniversary, The Village Inn isn’t standing still as a business.
Two years ago, Mark Tillman gave the dining areas a new look with fresh paint, new tables, booths, finishings, lights, windows and soffits.
This summer, contractors led by Joe Penna of Holley started putting on a new 1,800-square-foot addition. The project should be done in two to three weeks, and will then be furnished to open in time for the holidays.
The addition will boost the capacity for parties and special events to about 225 to 250. The current main meeting room, a former carriage shop, seats about 150 to 165.
“We get numerous calls for wedding receptions, class reunions, banquets and special events,” said Mark Tillman, owner of the restaurant. “Two hundred seems to be the magic number.”
Tillman is also doubling the number of parking spaces to help accommodate the bigger crowds.
The Village Inn opened in 1824, before the Erie Canal opened, and long before the railroads and paved streets with cars. The Village Inn was part of a stagecoach route along Ridge Road, which was originally an Indian Trail.
The other taverns on the trail are long gone. In fact, few local landmark restaurants seem to last more than a generation. Locally, the Basket Factory, Albion Steakhouse, the Apple Grove, Barbary Coast all prominent local restaurants – have all closed.
Tillman said The Village Inn has endured, mainly because of its commitment to consistent high-quality food with a friendly staff. But he said the restaurant needs to be willing to change and seize some opportunities.
The Village Inn, with its historic flavor, stands out from other party houses, Tillman said.
“There are so many party rooms that are sterile,” he said. “They are big open spaces with lights.”
Mark Tillman sits on a carriage step at The Village Inn that notes the restaurant dates back to 1824. The new addition is in the back right. It should be ready for the holidays.
The main meeting room at The Village Inn has hand-hewn beams. Those supports were were shaped by axes and machetes nearly 200 years ago. Tillman displays many artifacts from the bygone era – saddles, harnesses, food barrels and many historical photos. He has the restaurant’s liquor license framed from the early 1900s. In 1905, the license cost $150, a fee payable to the state.
The new addition will blend in with the historic site. Tillman said many customers have brought in community artifacts over the years that he put in storage because he didn’t have enough space to display them. He will soon have more room to show some of those relics.
“The new space will blend in,” he said. “We don’t want to take away from the aesthetics.”
The restaurant has been in the Tillman family for 64 years. Mark is the third generation owner, following his grandfather Sam and Mark’s father Bill. Mark is determined to see the business to its 200th anniversary in 2024.
He knows the business is important for the community, providing jobs for 50 people and drawing visitors from outside the area. Many teen-agers get their first jobs washing dishes and bussing tables at the restaurant. Many of his wait staff have stayed with the Village Inn for decades. Twelve of his employees have a combined 300-plus years of working at the restaurant.
Tillman has a good relationship with the neighboring Cobblestone Museum, which is increasingly hosting weddings at the historic Cobblestone Church, which was built in 1834. People who get married there will soon be able to have wedding receptions at the Village Inn, which also operates the Fairhaven Inn, offering lodging.
“This route was once known as the Honeymoon Trail,” Tillman said, noting the close drive to Niagara Falls. “We’re trying to recreate that.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A construction crew was at the Bent’s Opera House today, pouring cement for a first floor wall below ground. Catenary Construction Corporation of Rochester was hired for the stabilization project for the building, which was built 150 years ago during the Civil War.
The non-profit Orleans Renaissance Group is owner of the site. It is working to restore the building. The immediate task involves stabilizing the southeast corner of the Main Street structure.
Tim Turner, an employee with Catenary, adds fresh cement as the construction company works to rebuild the front wall on the first floor, which is underground.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Gia Arnold worked hard for several months to secure the Republican line for the State Senate, but lost a Sept. 9 primary to Robert Ortt, the mayor of North Tonawanda.
Today, she is coming out in support of Johnny Destino, a lawyer in Niagara Falls who is running under the Democratic Party line. Destino ran as a Republican two years ago in an unsuccessful attempt to get the GOP line from George Maziarz.
Maziarz announced in late July he wasn’t seeking re-election. Ortt was picked by Republican Party leaders to be a last-second switch for Maziarz.
Arnold, 24, had already been working on a campaign against Maziarz. She said the party leaders picked an establishment candidate rather than backing her. She would later withdraw from the race after admitting an affair, but jumped back in after support from residents in the district, she said.
Ortt won the primary on Sept. 9, getting 71 percent of the vote.
Arnold still had a shot to appear on the November ballot, but her petitions for the Libertarian Party were challenged in court. She lost the court fight and won’t appear on the ballot.
She is still determined to have an impact in the race. Today on her Facebook page she said she is backing Destino, and urged people to back Destino who she said is “anti-establishment.”
Destino will fight for Constitutional rights and personal freedom, Arnold said.
“Not only has he vowed to stop corruption and increase transparency, but he has also been fighting against the two-party elitists longer than I,” she said. “You can trust that Johnny will not cater to the pressures of party power, and will only work for the best interests of the people.”
Destino on Thursday also picked up the endorsements of Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster and Congressman Brian Higgins.
Ortt on Wednesday announced he had the endorsement of National Federation of Independent Business. Ortt is the endorsed Republican, Conservative and Independence party candidate.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Meggie Moo’s offers a slower pace, step back in time
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A new business celebrated its grand-opening today in downtown Medina. Meggie Moo’s may be new, but it feels like an old-fashioned ice cream parlor from the 1950s.
The servers wear poodle skirts, Elvis is on the wall and ’50s music fills the site at 114 East Center St.
“This is a chance to go back in time and slow down,” said Kathy Blackburn, who opened the business with her family.
Blackburn is pictured in the top photo at left with her daughter-in-law Kelly, granddaughter Megan and Blackburn’s son Jim in back.
Blackburn operated the 31 Club from the location until closing that bar about 2 ½ years ago. She wanted to use the historic building, and her granddaughter suggested it as a soda shop.
Megan Blackburn, 15, makes a strawberry milkshake during the grand opening of Meggie Moo’s today. Her brother Zack, 18, also will be working at Meggie’s.
Jim and Kelly Blackburn both welcomed the endeavor as long as it had a family friendly focus. The site will be available for birthday parties. Meggie’s will host its first one on Saturday with a theme from the popular children’s movie, Frozen.
Jim was pleased to see a father and son come in for dessert, enjoying conservation while the boy worked on homework.
“This is about being able to enjoy yourself,” Blackburn said. “Everything is so fast. People need to slow down.”
The front counter was decorated for the grand opening today.
Kathy Blackburn is the executive director of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. She also is vice president of the Medina Business Association. She has been encouraged by the renaissance in downtown Medina, with many new shops and businesses opening.
The new ice cream parlor complements the other businesses, and should draw more visitors and foot traffic to the downtown, Blackburn said.
She is retired from Birdseye Foods, where she was international sales manager. Her son works as buildings and grounds superintendent for the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension in Knowlesville. His wife is a 4-H leader for the Paw Praisers Club.
“This all about the kids,” Kelly Blackburn said.
Photo by Tom Rivers
The outside and inside of the building were painted. The interior floor was also raised. Blackburn said the family would like to add fryers and a grill for an expanded menu, as well as opening a back porch.
“We want to make it a fun place for people to come,” she said.
Staff Reports Posted 26 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman
MEDINA – The school district celebrated homecoming this week, and the celebration poured out to the football field, even in a 36-6 loss to Burgard tonight.
In the top photo Homecoming King Adam Cotter and Queen Madeline Bilicki are introduced at halftime.
Ty Hrovat leads the team on to the field.
Coaches and players are on sideline for the national anthem.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Environmental groups push to have plan accepted
Photo by Tom Rivers – This sign on the shore of the Golden Hill State Park in Barker warns of an eroding shoreline.
Officials from Orleans and Niagara counties continue to fight a new plan for regulating Lake Ontario water levels, fearing the lake would see more extremes in water levels, leading to an eroded shoreline during high water and parched marinas during low levels.
The two local counties were represented in a meeting on Thursday in Buffalo with board members from the International Joint Commission. That group includes representatives from the United States and Canada.
It has endorsed a plan that calls for the biggest changes in regulating water levels in the lake and St. Lawrence Seaway since 1958. Orleans and Niagara officials fear hundreds of millions of dollars of valuable property will be lost from erosion, which will force taxes to rise on every resident in the southshore counties.
Orleans County Legislator Lynne Johnson and Niagara County Legislator Dave Godfrey met with several IJC officials to again state their strong opposition to the proposal, Plan 2014. Johnson said the meeting was attended by Gordon Walker, acting chairman, Canadian Section; Dereth Glance, commissioner of U.S. Section; and Frank Bevacqua, public information officer, U.S. Section.
U.S. Rep. Chris Collins helped to set up the meeting, Johnson said. Collins issued this statement after the meeting.
“Plan 2014 is unacceptable,” he said. “It has been plagued by public backlash and flawed economic analyses from the onset. Most disturbing is that Plan 2014 shows no concern for the negative economic impact its implementation will have on the thousands of individuals, families, and businesses along the south shore of Lake
Ontario.”
Johnson and Godfrey went to Washington, D.C. in early August to meet with federal officials, including the State Department, to rail against the plan.
The six southshore counties from Niagara to Oswego have 10,025 parcels of lakefront land with a total assessed value of $3.7 billion. If they suffer a 10 percent loss, those communities would lose $370 million in value, with the difference to be made up by other taxpayers in the counties, Johnson said
Besides the potential loss of valuable shoreline, the plan could cripple fishing and recreational industries on the south shore of the lake, Johnson and Godfrey said.
Plan 2014 has a lot of support from environmental organizations. Representatives from 41 organizations signed a letter, urging U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and elected officials and representatives of federal agencies in the two countries to back the new Lake Ontario plan.
Supporters say Plan 2014 will protect against extreme water levels, restore tens of thousands of acres of wetlands, boost hydropower production, and enhance outdoor recreation and increase the resilience of 712 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline in the U.S. and Canada.
“This is a once-in-a-generation chance to restore a Great Lake, invest in New York’s recreation-based economy and prepare for climate change,” said Jim Howe, The Nature Conservancy’s Central and Western New York Chapter executive director. “We hope everyone will explore the facts about this plan, and express their support for its adoption.”
Signatories for the letter included the New York League of Conservation Voters, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Save The River, New York State Conservation Council, Clarkson University, Natural Resources Defense Council, World Wildlife Fund Canada, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Nature Quebec, the National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy and several others.
Plan 2014 follows 13 years of exhaustive study and bi-national consultation with stakeholders and the general public, supported by state-of-the-art simulation of the impacts of alternative regulation plans, according to The Nature Conservancy.
The environmental groups say the plan is an “economic winner” for the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River region by providing increased hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Collins spoke against the IJC plan during a news conference at Oak Orchard Harbor on July 2. He has urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo to reject the plan due to its potential harm to the southshore. Collins and the local officials say they will continue to voice their concerns.
“Today’s meeting offered my colleagues and me another opportunity to reiterate our strong and continued opposition to this plan, and reaffirm our steadfast commitment to preventing its implementation,” Collins said on Thursday.
