By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Cyclists in downtown Medina have new spots to tie up their bikes. The Medina Business Association paid for two new bike racks that are shaped like apples.
The Medina Department of Public Works installed the bike racks on Main Street on Monday. A larger bike rack, also shaped like an apple, will soon be set up in the Canal Basin.
“We wanted something that was representative of our area,” said Cindy Robinson, president of the MBA. “We love the design.”
The Business Association worked with Orleans-Niagara BOCES students on the projects. Students submitted designs and fabricated the bike racks. F & H Metal Finishing in Medina painted the bike racks, which were paid with proceeds from MBA events.
Robinson said more of the bike racks could be added to the downtown in the future.
Photos by Sue Cook – Chris Keller watches the game while middle school librarian Jodi Brady has Claire Squicciarini and Logan Conlon roll the dice to pick their next books.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
ALBION – The Fizz, Boom, Read summer reading program continues in the Hoag Library. The program is designed to encourage reading through the opportunity to earn prizes, but Albion has a little extra incentive to draw in students.
Albion students that participate in the summer reading program earn the opportunity for extra credit toward their September English class.
Wednesday nights from 5 to 8 p.m. English Department Chair Chris Keller, along with Albion teachers and the middle school librarian, gather in the teen room at Hoag. Students are welcome to come play a monopoly-like board game which helps guide book choices or independently pick their own reading material. After completing a book, students earn tickets based on their goals to enter into drawings for prizes.
Goals are diverse and offer options for kids to be able to freely pick almost anything they would like to read. Sample goals include reading a newspaper or a book from a series.
“Our goal is to get kids to read,” said Keller. “We want this to be flexible and offer choices in a game atmosphere. The idea was to partner with the local library, raise the kids’ awareness, and turn up the volume on reading.”
The colored spaces offer kids a chance to read a book in the genre listed such as mythology (non-fiction), biography, science fiction or horror for two tickets. Players can also choose to ignore the space and pick a book outside the genre for one ticket instead.
“I love libraries,” Keller added. “I always say I grew up in the library. I am a relatively successful person and I attribute a lot of my success to my public library. It really was a great resource and helped me develop my love of reading.”
Besides just a refresher in reading, the program’s tie into Fizz, Boom, Read means that science and math are incorporated into the program as well. Students that play the board game are quizzed on the periodic table of elements, but also can answer questions about the Latin origin of the words, the history of the elements and the people who discovered them. Correct answers can lead to more prize tickets.
The library also offers opportunities to come in during the regular summer reading program hours on Mondays and Thursdays from 2 to 7 p.m. This gives more flexibility to parents who may not be able to bring their children during the Wednesday hours.
The program is a collaboration between the school and library, which is targeted mostly toward sixth through ninth graders, although any child in the middle or high school is encouraged to participate. Donated prizes to help entice young readers include Kindles, tablets, ice cream party and pizza party supplies, school supplies and gift cards.
The English credit that students earn is factored as extra credit into their Common Core grades. For students that may be struggling, this program could be the difference between pass and fail.
Keller explained that kids lose information over the summer. Reading helps to retain some of the information and can close the gap between children that have a socio-economic advantage over others. Students that have participated in the summer reading programs have shown better scores and overall reading ability when they return to regular classes.
“We knew we had to close the gap, but we also had to fight the summer drop-off,” said Keller.
“We need to get back into the idea that reading is a necessity,” he said, commenting that some homes don’t even have books in them. “Our students leave high school now and are not prepared for college.”
Students can join the reading program at any time. There are still a few weeks left to participate to receive credit toward English class and earn prize tickets. Even a student that only attends a couple of sessions can benefit greatly from the program.
Younger readers and adults can also take part in the library’s regular reading program. The entire program will conclude on Aug. 21 with an ice cream social for all participants.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Two fishermen from Depew were in Medina today for the first time in 20 years, determined to catch bass at Glenwood Lake.
Don Chadwick and Jeff Becker remember fishing at the lake when they were in their teens. They arrived this morning to find the lake’s water level had dropped 2 feet. The boat launch is closed while the lake level has been reduced so emergency repairs can be made to a manhole at the Medina’s sewer plant.
The two fishermen said they were given permission by police to venture into the water because their bass boat has a small engine.
The lake levels are expected to return to normal beginning on Thursday after the repairs are made to the manhole.
A crew works on the sewer plant system for the village of Medina.
By John Grillo, Albion Recreation Program director
Last week was another week of growth and success for the Summer Parks Program. We had very good attendance at each park.
On Monday the wrestling camp started with a great group of campers learning new maneuvers, skills, technique and doing live wrestling. On Tuesday, the parks conducted special events and activities that all the children seemed to enjoy. On Wednesday, The Genesee-Orleans Youth Bureau came to Bullard Park with a nutrition lesson and organized several games.
On Thursday, the parks were bused to the Orleans County Fair. While at the Fair, the children observed a dog obedience show, horse show contest, visited all the sections of animals, walked through all the exhibits and enjoyed the food vendors. On Friday, the parks had a pizza party. That day was “Take your Parent or Grandparent Day to the Parks.”
Due to the hot temperatures earlier in the week, each park had water activities. A blow-up wading pool, slip and slide and old fashion water games were very popular those days. Other activities this week included the children’s favorite game of dodge ball and whiffleball. Many children played old school games such as rubber quoits, table tennis and carom pool. These fun and competitive activities have been in the summer parks program for several years.
The 13 Park Supervisors continue to do a wonderful job of supervising, directing and maintaining a fun and safe place to be. Caitlin Francis, continued to do a great job with the arts and crafts at all the parks throughout the week.
This week there is a Volleyball Camp that starts at 9 am at the High School and continues all week through Friday. On Wednesday (today), the Recreation Department will be sponsoring a Senior Citizens Day Picnic along with a Park Picnic for the children. All park children will meet at Bullard Park for the fun filled day.
(The Senior Citizen’s Day Picnic will go from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the east end pavilion at Bullard Park in Albion. All Senior Citizens are welcome to attend. Senior Citizens are urged to bring a dish to pass and optional place setting. The menu will include hot dogs, hamburgers, pop, chicken wings, pizza, and treats. There will be some fun games and activities provided, if you wish to participate. The Village of Albion Recreation Department sponsors the picnic.)
Thursday will be Arts and Crafts Day along with organized water games. All types of games, musical activities, and low keyed competition will be conducted at all three parks as well. Friday will conclude the summer parks program for the season. These fun activities are still available for anyone wishing to register at any of the three village parks for the final week.
Remember to keep an eye open for the “Spray Water Park” project meetings. That would be a great facility for children and adults in and around the community.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – The cobblestone structures get a lot of the attention – as they should – at the Cobblestone Society Museum, but the museum also includes six outhouses, including the one used by Rufus Bullock and his family.
(In the top photo, museum co-director Sarah Karas is pictured with the Bullock outhouse, which is located behind the Ward House next to the Cobblestone Church.)
Bullock grew up in Albion and went on to be the governor of Georgia during Reconstruction after the Civil War. He gained prestige as president of the Macon and Augusta Railroad in 1867. He was elected governor and served from 1868 to 1871. Bullock was an abolitionist and successfully fought accusations of corruption while he was governor in Georgia.
He returned to live out his life in Albion and is buried at Mount Albion Cemetery. His house still stands at the northwest corner of West Park and Liberty streets.
The Cobblestone Church was built in 1834 and is the oldest cobblestone church in North America. But it’s not the oldest structure on the museum grounds. That distinction goes to this outhouse that was erected in the early 1830s.
The finest of the six outhouses is this one, which has five seats inside. This outhouse is next to the Farmer’s Hall.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Elissa Smith is AVID coordinator at LCS
Provided photo – Elissa Smith, the AVID coordinator for Lyndonville, won an essay contest and delivered a speech before about 2,500 education professionals during a conference in Philadelphia on July 16.
LYNDONVILLE – The coordinator of a college prep program at Lyndonville was picked as the teacher to address 2,500 education professionals during a recent conference in Philadelphia.
Elissa Smith, a Spanish and public speaking teacher at Lyndonville, also is coordinator of the district’s AVID program, which helps students plan for college. The program is targeted to students who could be first-generation college students and begins with students in elementary school.
Smith submitted an essay from a teacher’s perspective and it was selected to be shared during the education conference. Thirteen other Lyndonville teachers attended the conference.
In her speech, Smith compares her job as an AVID elective coach and coordinator to that of a cartographer or mapmaker.
“I must help map the multiple paths to student success,” Smith writes in her essay. “I must carefully mark out the roadblocks and snares along the way, but I am not the navigator. I can only inspire my students to start moving toward their goals, to help them use their struggles as catalysts as they venture on toward their dreams. I need to share information with them to help them know what tools to pack for the adventure and provide them with support when they need a break or need encouragement as they change direction on the journey.”
Smith said it was an “unbelievable” honor to share her speech at the conference. The district just graduated its first class of students in the AVID program. Four of the top 10 students were in AVID.
The district this school year will extend the program to kindergarten, working with potential first-generation college students to avoid pitfalls and attain academic success and rigor throughout their school experience.
“It’s a teacher’s duty to help students along the way,” Smith said.
In her speech at the conference, Smith said many of the AVID students have overcome obstacles to succeed in the classroom.
“Our first AVID class is comprised of students who have nearly every excuse possible not to pick up that map and start the difficult journey to bigger dreams,” Smith said. “You know these students – those who have lost parents, immigrated here from a war-torn nation, those who are hungry, those with families torn apart by addictions – and I know you cheer for them just as proudly as I do. As they get ready to leave us, to move on to the next phase of life, may we be sure that they feel the pride of a community behind them.”
For a link to her speech at the conference, click here.
MEDINA – Glenwood Lake will drop about 2 feet this week so emergency repairs can be made to the Medina Sewer Treatment Plant.
The village is repairing a manhole and needs the lake to drop down or else the lake water will run into the sewer plant, said Peter Houseknecht, Medina’s Department of Public Works superintendent.
Brookfield Power started lowering the water level at Glenwood Lake on Monday. The water level should begin returning to normal after Thursday when the work is set to be complete at the plant, Brookfield officials said.
During the low level period the boat ramp near Boxwood Cemetery at Route 63 will be closed.
MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library will be accepting new school supplies in lieu of fines.
For every dollar owed in overdue fines up to $5, one new packaged item may be donated during the week of Aug. 4-8. We will continue to accept donations for the remainder of the month. However, those donations will not be counted towards fines.
All school supplies donated will benefit the children of the Medina Central School District.
Suggested donations include the following: pens, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, binders, rulers, folders, glue sticks, notebooks, scissors, pencil sharpeners, filler paper, markers, notebooks, scotch tape, and composition books.
POINT BREEZE – When the Weather Service predicted a big storm was coming on Sunday night, Steven Wilson of Albion knew where he wanted to be. He headed to the Bridges in Point Breeze.
Wilson, an aspiring professional photographer, positioned himself near a closed down bridge by Narby’s. He aimed his camera to the big bridge on Route 18 that stretches across the Oak Orchard River. He wanted to capture the lightning over a local landmark.
Photo courtesy of Steven Wilson
He also likes this photo of lightning in the clouds over the bridge.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Shelby, Ridgeway decline dissolution, will look at savings through highway
Photos by Tom Rivers – Shelby Town Supervisor Merle “Skip” Draper, center, said the town will look at assuming some of Medina’s non-emergency services to see how that would affect the tax rate for village residents and town residents outside the village. Town Board members William Bacon, left, and Steve Seitz were also at a joint session among Shelby, Ridgeway and Medina officials.
MEDINA – Before the Village of Medina makes a radical change and dissolves – a move that could shave $6 off the village’s tax rate – the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway believe they can find significant savings for the village with shared services.
Shelby Town Supervisor Skip Draper wants to see how much villagers could save if the two towns took over the village’s highway services. The village already pays twice for the service: to the village and then to either Ridgeway or Shelby.
Draper noted that the town of Yates plows the village of Lyndonville’s roads. He thinks a similar arrangement could work for the village of Medina, which sits about halfway in Shelby and halfway in Ridgeway.
Medina Mayor Andrew Meier reluctantly supported the shared service pursuit. Meier said the issue was brought up before during doomed shared services discussions about two years ago. Meier said a dissolution plan already gives village taxpayers the $6 savings and spells out how current village services would be provided by either the towns, or local development corporations.
About 50 residents attended the meeting at Shelby Town Hall to watch 15 elected officials talk about possibly sharing more services among two towns and the village of Medina.
But Ridgeway and Shelby officials say they won’t talk about dissolution. That angered Meier, who said a committee and consultants worked for nearly a year on the plan.
“There has been a concerted effort to ignore the plan,” Meier said at a joint meeting Monday evening among the three boards.
He asked the two towns to correct “false statements” they have made publicly about the plan.
“That’s your opinion,” Draper responded.
Napoli said the two towns weren’t asked to helped shape the plan.
“That is your plan,” Napoli told Meier. “We were not asked to be involved.”
Meier shared an email from July 2013 that Napoli sent to Scott Sittig, the lead consultant for the plan from the Center for Governmental Research in Rochester. Napoli told Sittig that Ridgeway would not cooperate with the study because “it was a waste of taxpayer money and a waste of Town of Ridgeway employees’ time.”
Meier told Napoli he “removed himself from this process.”
Meier was chided by a mediator, Richard Moffit, for pressing dissolution and Meier’s perceived slights from the towns.
“You can’t keep bringing up the past,” Moffit said.
The highway discussions represented a good start in potential tax savings, he said.
Medina Village Trustee Mike Sidari urged the three local boards to find some common ground. He is joined by Trustee Marguerite Sherman of Medina, Mayor Andrew Meier, left, and Richard Moffit, right, who served as mediator at Monday’s meeting.
Ridgeway and Shelby officials said they wanted to focus on shared services, which can provide immediate relief to taxpayers, rather than a drawn-out process with dissolution. That plan called for creating an LDC to manage some services, create an ambulance district, a debt district and pass other services, including police, to the towns. Draper said it could take years to establish the new taxing entities.
“We should look at everything rather than create LDCs and new layers of government,” he said.
Draper took command of the meeting at times, offering to crunch the numbers and work with Shelby Town Highway Superintendent Mike Fuller about how the town could take over some of the village highway costs.
Draper asked Meier to provide the village’s non-emergency budget for costs outside of police, fire and ambulance. Draper said emergency services account for about $10 of the village $16.45 tax rate. He expects the towns could bring down the other $6-plus of the village tax rate by assuming some of the non-emergency services.
Meier said he would have those budget figures, as well as the revenues for each service, to the two towns by the end of the week.
Draper said he would determine potential cost savings to the village and cost increase to Shelby by the next joint session, which was scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sept. 2.
Meier said the cost impacts have already been spelled out in the dissolution plan. He returned to that document several times during Monday’s hour-long meeting, but town officials wouldn’t discuss the plan in detail.
Mary Woodruff, a Ridgeway councilwoman, said the community isn’t ready for dissolution. The shared services discussions could better prepare the community and the boards for a dissolution and perhaps a merger of the two towns, she said.
One Medina, a group headed by local attorney Nathan Pace with support from Meier, favors dissolving the village and merging the two towns. But Woodruff said that is premature right now.
Town leaders also want to look at how water and sewer services are provided among the three governments and try to find ways to reduce administration and costs for that service.
A long-awaited joint session among the Medina, Ridgeway and Shelby boards occurred on Monday at the Shelby Town Hall.
Draper said the local government leaders will have their work cut out if they are to make a significant change in the tax burden for the village.
“That $6 won’t just disappear with a magic wand,” he said. “There’s work you have to do.”
Meier has pressed for dissolution because he said the current village government isn’t sustainable. The tax base tends to shrink every year as housing values fall. That puts pressure on the village to raise the tax rate. The $16.45 per $1,000 of assessed property is one of the highest in the region. Villagers then have the added burden of paying a $3.04 rate to Ridgeway and $3.35 to Shelby for a combined town-village rate of nearly $20.
“The elephant in the room is the $16.45,” Draper acknowledged.
Dissolution would shift some costs to the two towns. But even with dissolution residents outside the village would pay far less in taxes than the village property owners.
The Ridgeway residents outside the village currently pay a $6.71 rate for town, lighting and fire protection. That would rise 46 percent to $9.83 if the village dissolves and services are picked up according to the plan.
Shelby residents would see a 10 percent increase with dissolution with the current rate for outside-village residents going from $8.36 per $1,000 of assessed property to $9.17. That would raise taxes for a $70,000 home from $585 to $642.
Meier said he wants to compare the impact to outside-village residents with the shared service possibilities and the dissolution plan. The dissolution plan should receive support from the towns, Meier said, if it proves the best way to reduce village taxes while minimizing an increase to the towns, and still maintaining services in the community.
