MEDINA – The Medina Rotary Club has $2,500 available for a scholarship for either one Medina senior or it will be shared with two recipients at $1,250 each.
The award is based on a combination of academic achievements, community service, and work within the community. Conor Crandall was the recipient of the 2024 scholarship.
The club in 2022 boosted the scholarship amount from $500 to $2,500. The deadline to apply is June 30. The award of the scholarship(s) will be determined shortly thereafter.
Completed applications can be submitted via email to: medinanyrotary@gmail.com or by dropping off in person at Rotary Club of Medina, c/o Jennifer Hill at Art Hill Excavating, 4040 Bates Rd., Medina, NY 14103. Click here to see the application.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2025 at 10:25 pm
James White
LYNDONVILLE/MEDINA – Voters went to the polls in two villages in Orleans County today.
Lyndonville elected a write-in candidate, James White, over Steven Colon, who was on the ballot for a two-year trustee term.
White, a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, received 53 of the 78 votes cast. Colon received 19, followed by 2 for Thomas Goetze, and 1 each for James Smith, Valerie Wells and Dennis Seekins.
White will fill a vacancy on the board created when Terry Stinson stepped down as trustee in August.
White’s term starts on April 1.
James “Scott” Bieliski, left, and Jess Marciano
Medina had two positions up for election but only James “Scott” Bieliski turned in enough petitions to be on the ballot. He was elected today with 201 votes.
The other two-year trustee position was determined by write-in ballots. Jess Marciano, an incumbent with nearly four years on the Village Board, was elected with 90 write-in votes, followed by 30 for Mike Maak. Others received one or two votes, said Judy Szulis, chairwoman of the election inspectors.
“I am very excited to serve the people,” said Bieliski, co-owner of a communications services business for hospitals and the healthcare system.
The trustees will be faced with putting together the village’s 2025-26 budget by the end of April. Bieliski said he is eager to get to work and join the board when the term starts April 1.
“I’ve already gone over the village budgets,” he said. “I have a good overview of where we’re at.”
Marciano didn’t circulate petitions to run for trustee. She instead was considering going for the Ridgeway Town Board. But she said she is happy to have two more years as a village trustee.
“I’m incredibly excited for the next two years,” she said.
Marciano won’t be pursuing the Ridgeway position this upcoming election “because that would be a disservice to the 90 people who voted for me today.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2025 at 3:17 pm
Marciano also mounting write-in campaign for other trustee position
James “Scott” Bieliski
MEDINA – Despite the packed-out board meetings in recent months for the Medina Village Board, only one candidate will be on the ballot in Tuesday’s election.
Two trustee positions are up for election, but only James “Scott” Bieliski turned in petitions to be on the ballot. Candidates needed to turn in petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters in the village by Feb. 11
Bieliski will be the only name on the ballot in the election. He is running under the “For the People” party.
Voting is from noon to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center, 615 West Ave.
Two of the incumbent trustees, Diana Baker and Jess Marciano, didn’t turn in petitions for re-election, but Marciano now is seeking election as a write-in candidate to help keep experience and continuity on the board. The trustee terms are for two years.
The two top vote-getters, whether through a mark on the ballot or write-in, will get two-year terms that start on April 1.
Bieliski, 56, has lived in the Medina community his entire life. He is co-owner and chief operating officer of Maza Communications, which provides communications services to hospitals and the healthcare system. The business takes him all over the state and region.
“My intention is to be solution-based,” he said. “For every problem we have to find a solution.”
Bieliski has considered running for the Village Board before, but believed he was too busy, until now. He is stepping back a little form his business and has the time to devote to the position, he said today.
He owns seven houses in the village, and he said the village taxes have been a big concern for many residents. They have shared those worries when he went door to door to get petitions signed.
Bieliski said he is proud of the village and Medina community, especially with a vibrant business district and professional village staff. But he said village taxpayers bear too much costs for those services.
He wants to see the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway contribute more to Medina’s services, and he said it is long overdue for the county to share more of the local sales tax with the village.
“I want to keep what we have, but we need help from towns,” he said. “Everybody benefits from the village of Medina but the village pays the entire bill.”
Marciano also has made a push for more sales tax sharing as a focus, saying the village needs to keep the pressure on the County Legislature to significantly increase how it shares the local sales tax. The county hasn’t increased the amount to the local towns and villages since 2001, despite the sales tax revenues more than doubling in that time.
The village will get $159,630 of the sales tax in 2025 out of a total expected to be around $23 million this year. That is less than 1 percent for Medina of the total local sales tax in the county.
Bieliski said Medina generates a big share of that sales tax.
“It’s peanuts what we get back,” he said. “We make the county beautiful. We are putting it on the map. We capture that dollar and the person coming in.”
More of that sales tax would bring down village taxes, and allow Medina to continue with full-time fire and police protection.
He said additional revenues from county and the towns is critical for the village. He also said he will take a detailed look at spending, and work with the village employees to identify what they need to do their jobs to serve the community.
“I don’t want them in subpar working conditions,” he said about firefighters, who expressed their concern about an out-of-date fire hall, aging fire trucks and equipment and the proposal for a one-bay addition for a new ladder truck. Firefighters said a two-bay addition and overhaul of the current fire station would best serve the community.
But the board balked at a $6 million price tag, and is now looking at $1.1 million for the one-bay addition.
Bieliski sees the addition as a “band aid” solution to a bigger problem. He thinks there could be other options for housing the ladder truck and doesn’t want to commit just yet.
“We can think our way through this,” he said.
Bieliski has confidence in a quality staff of village employees. He has worked with village DPW, water and sewer, code enforcement for work on his properties.
“I don’t want any of our employees to think they are not valued,” he said. “Ultimately it’s what’s fair for our employees and what’s fair for our tax dollars.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2025 at 8:30 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Medina Jr./Sr. High School Musical Theater Program is performing Mamma Mia! The first show was Friday evening with more performances at 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. on Sunday at the school auditorium. Tickets are available at the door.
The top photo shows three friends who used to be in the singing group, Donna and the Dynamos, returning to performance with “Super Trouper.” From left in front include Arianna Lake as Tanya, Madelyn Elliott as Donna and Lyla Page as Rosie.
Ava Blount, center, plays the role of Sophie Sheridan, Donna’s daughter. She reads her mother’s old diaries and realizes three people could be her father. She shares this discovery with her best friends, Peyton Kennedy as Lisa, left, and Makenzie McGrath as Ali. They sing, “Honey, Honey.”
Sophie invites the three men noted in the diary to her wedding so she can find out who is her father. The possibilities include an American architect named Sam Carmichael, an Australian writer and adventurer named Bill Austin, and a British banker named Harry Bright.
This is the third year for Medina’s musical program since it returned to Medina after a shared program with Lyndonville.
Medina takes on ambitious musical with Rachel Trillizio and Anna Ferlito are directors of the show for Medina. The school performed “Little Mermaid” in 2023, “Les Misérables” in 2024 and now “Mamma Mia!”
Sophie (Ava Blount) meets Harry Bright (Logan Trillizio) and Bill Austin (Ryder Jones), who fly in for her wedding. Sam (played by Riley Tompkins) also is in the scene and they sing, “Thank You for the Music.”
Donna (Madelyn Elliott) greets Sam (Riley Tompkins) on his return. Donna is surprised to see her three ex-lovers. She didn’t know Sophie invited them to the wedding.
Donna struggles with running her tavern and also is jolted by seeing the three ex-boyfriends. Her best friends, Rosie (Lyla Page) and Tanya (Arianna Lake), help Donna to get her groove back. They are singing, “Dancing Queen.” The musical includes songs by ABBA.
Jackson McGrath plays the role of Sky, who is engaged to marry Sophie (Ava Blount). He sings, “Lay All Your Love On Me.” There are about 50 students in the cast.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2025 at 10:43 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Medina school district hosted ColorBurst 2025 on Saturday with 23 winter guard teams performing in the high school gym. The event draws about 500 spectators to Medina. The Medina guard is shown in the top photo.
Winter guard is a hybrid artform and sport that combines elements of music, dance, choreography and military-like precision in a competitive arena. Winter guard is touted for benefits for participants that include teamwork, fitness, timing, planning, responsibility, coordination, and goal-setting.
Medina competes in the SA class and presented its show, “Tidal.” Medina portrayed the power of water, and how the pull from the moon and natural events can disrupt the typically serene element into a powerful tidal wave.
There are 16 students in Medina’s varsity winterguard. The Medina JV also performed a show, “Going Up.”
Here are the top scores for the different divisions on Saturday:
Novice – Gates Chili with a score of 52.45.
Cadets – Ventures with 60.38
Regional A – Naples with 70.84
A1 Class – Ventures in A1 class with 71.18
Scholastic A – Victor Blue Devils in Scholastic with 83.5
Independent A – Gates Chili at 81.87
Seniors – Luminosa with 80.05
Independent Open – Gates Chili at 83.60
Greece Regional A presented its show, “Dancing Queen,” and featured music by Cyndi Lauper, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and Billy Elish’s “What was I Made For.”
Marcus Whitman performed “Tightrope” with music from The Greatest Showman. The show explores the power of trust and collaboration. ‘Life’s challenges are best faced together,” the Marcus Whitman Winterguard said in a message in the program. “Join us as we discover the strength found in walking side by side.”
The Victor Cadet Winterguard performed a show, “Singing in the Rain.” The cadets range in age from grades 5 to 8.
The crowd gave an enthusiastic response to the Victor cadets.
The all-abilities colorguard, Heritage Hurricanes, include performers from Heritage Christian Services and other community members in the Rochester area. They perform to the “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind and Fire. The group is directed by Medina native Melissa Jaeger.
The Hinsdale Headliners performed to a full moon poem, set in a deep dark forest. The show celebrates the moon and seeks to bring peace.
Ventures did a show, “The Overview Effect,” that reflected on the cognitive and emotional shift astronauts experience when viewing the Earth from space. It was set to music from “It’s A Wonderful World.”
Victor’s varsity guard did a powerful show, “Fragments of Forever.” The show included childhood photos of the guard members, who performed to Adele’s song, “When We Were Young.” They invited the crowd to walk down memory lane and revisit childhood memories.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2025 at 9:12 am
Megg Wakefield
MEDINA – A local resident is asking the Village Board to back an effort to create a community garden in Medina.
Megg Wakefield said the effort would beautify part of the village and engage residents in growing vegetables.
She asked the board to think about a spot in the village for a garden. It could be at a park, a vacant lot, or on other village-owned land, perhaps next to the village office on Park Avenue.
She would like a spot in the village that is easily accessible to many residents, including those with limited transportation.
Wakefield said the garden could start small this year. She envisions it being “as low impact as possible.”
There may be grants available or donations to help with the costs for seeds, raised beds and other supplies.
Wakefield pointed to Holley’s community garden as a model. The Medina Village Board asked Wakefield to submit information on how the Holley garden functions.
Holley opened its community garden in 2017 on Route 31 on the east side of the village. The garden opened in the spring 2017 when the Clarendon Lions Club and the Myron Holley Garden Club agreed to supervise the project, which was facilitated by a $15,000 grant through the Orleans County Public Health Department. The grant was supplied by the Medical Reserve Corporation under the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Association of City, County and Health Officials.
Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman would like to pick a site in the village soon because the spring planting season isn’t too far away.
“It’s a great idea,” she said during Monday’s Village Board meeting. “It’s great for communities.”
Wakefield said she would start a Facebook group for the Medina Community Garden. Others interested in the effort can email her at Meggan.wakefield@gmail.com.
File photo: Holley celebrated the opening of its community garden in May 2017.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2025 at 11:15 am
Village seeking federal assistance to bring down cost to local taxpayers
File photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina ladder truck from 1996 is shown in March 2023 when the fire department had an open house showing the tight quarters at the fire hall, especially for the ladder truck which only has 2 inches of clearance in pulling in and out of the fire hall.
MEDINA – Paying $3 million off over the next 20 years for a new ladder truck and addition to the fire hall will cost the average household an additional $100 in village taxes each year, Mayor Marguerite Sherman said during Monday’s Village Board meeting.
That is how it stands now if the village is unable to secure any grant assistance for the truck and the addition.
Medina is spending $1,698,995 with Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisc. to build the new fire truck with a 100-foot-long ladder. That truck is due to arrive between October and December, Sherman said. It will replace a ladder truck that is 29 years old.
Paying off the ladder truck with an annual bond payment will cost 46 cents per $1,000 of assessed property, she said. The average house is assessed for $129,000 in the village. Sherman said that puts the annual burden for the truck at $59.34 a year over 20 years.
She is pursuing federal assistance for the truck from Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer. An application to those offices is due March 31 and Sherman said the village should be notified in June whether any support will be coming towards the truck.
Medina also is looking at taking out a $1.3 million bond towards a fire hall addition for the new truck, which wouldn’t fit in the current fire station.
With that addition, if there aren’t any grants for Medina, the bond would impact the tax rate at 32 cents per $1,000 of assessed or $41.28 a year for the average. She said the village may pursue assistance for the addition from the Community Development Block Grant program through the federal Housing and Urban Development Grant program. Those applications open in May, Sherman said.
Together, for the two bonds, the impact would be $99.62 if the village is unable to secure outside funding for the truck and addition.
The Village Board is holding off on taking out finalizing a bond for the addition until it finds out more from the grant possibilities.
The mayor said it is unlikely the addition will be ready in time for the new truck. Village officials are looking at temporary housing for the truck. It will need to be in a heated building, she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2025 at 9:47 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Clarice Assad collects sound near the Medina Waterfalls on Saturday afternoon. Assad, a Grammy-nominated composer, is working on a piece for the Albany Symphony to debut during a July 2 concert in Medina, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal.
Several community members joined Assad in a walk along the towpath and around the Canal Basin. She wanted to hear their insights about the community.
Clarice Assad walks along the towpath with Daniel Rosentreter on the north side of the Canal Basin. Rosentreter, co-owner of the Coffee Pot Café, also developed a bluebird trail in Medina including several bird boxes along the canal.
Assad walked with the group on Saturday and also was out on her own earlier in the morning. She was collecting sounds of nature, wildlife and other environmental noise, including church bells in the distance.
Assad has been a professional performer since she was 7. She was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2009 and a Grammy in 2022. She has more than 90 compositions to her credit, including many commissions for Carnegie Hall, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Orquestra Sinfônica de São Paulo, ROCO, LA Philharmonic, Grand Teton Music Festival, Santa Rosa Symphony, Metropolis ensemble, the Bravo! Vail Music Festival and the La Jolla Music Festival.
The group stops by the Big Apple along the canal. Assad also ventured over to the first quarry site for Medina Sandstone, John Ryan’s first commercial quarry in 1837. The quarry industry would bring thousands of immigrants to the community in the following century from Italy, Ireland, Poland and Britain.
Assad said she will take in what she heard and experienced in Medina as she works on the new piece.
People are also welcome to record their favorite sounds from Medina – a spot in the woods, birds singing outside their window, or other places that bring them comfort. Those sound files can be emailed to MedinaSoundArchive@gmail.com. Files can be in any format and should be under 5 minutes.
Clarice Assad welcomes a group of about a dozen people on the sound-gathering expedition. Stephen Shewan, a composer from Shelby, is next to Assad.
The Albany Symphony will be doing a concert with 35 musicians for the debut of Assad’s piece on July 2. The project is funded by the New York Power Authority and NYS Canal Corp. The Albany Symphony is planning five concerts which will all debut new compositions as part of the bicentennial.
The group walks along the towpath. While on their expedition, a bald eagle flew by.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Brandi Zavitz, left, and Cindy Davis, vice president of Friends of Medina Dog Park, are shown next to a gazebo at the Medina Dog Park. Zavitz will be painting a mural to be displayed on the wall at the park. She will paint about 50 dogs on the mural at $100 apiece with the proceeds going to the Dog Park.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 March 2025 at 12:48 pm
MEDINA – The Medina Dog Park opened in September 2020 at a fenced-in area on North Gravel Road, next to the village’s former compost plant, just south of Boxwood Cemetery.
The site has been a big success, drawing hundreds of regular users, with many form outside Medina, said Cindy Davis, vice president of Friends of Medina Dog Park.
Zavitz made this portrait of her brother’s Bassett Hound, Hazel, in a tutu. This dog would tap her feet when she walked.
The site has added features since its opening, with agility equipment, a water station and a gazebo.
Soon the park will add large mural of local beloved dogs. Brandi Zavitz, a retired art teacher, will paint 50 portraits of dogs on the mural. She wants to show them with personalities, wearing super-hero capes, princess crowns, and other accessories to help shown when they are so loved.
Zavitz is backed by a grant from GO Art! to create the mural. She also painted the mural under the Glenwood Avenue canal bridge. She is teaming with the Friends of the Dog Park for an additional $100 fee to have a dog painted on the mural. Those proceeds will go towards the Dog Park which would like to add another water station, a second gazebo, another fenced-in area for smaller dogs and include more agility equipment, Davis said.
The mural will make a popular place even more special, she said, with all the portraits of dogs.
“In Medina you see so many people walking their dogs,” Zavitz said. “They love them like they are their children.”
She welcomes people interested in having their dogs in the mural to email her two photos of the dogs. She wants details about the dog’s personality (affectionate, goofy, etc.), whether or not it is living, if it is male or female, and some of the activities the dog enjoys.
If a dog has passed away, Zavitz will paint angel wings on that portrait.
For more information, contact Zavitz at brandizavitz@gmail.com or by text (585) 798-9780, or Davis at (585) 590-6543. Click here to see the Facebook page for the Friends of Medina Dog Park.
The mural will be 24 feet long. Zavitz said she will paint the portraits on site and expects the project to be done in the summer.
A retired Holley art teacher, Zavitz said she has been painting dog portraits for many years.
“This will be very spontaneous,” she said about the mural. “It’s going to be very exciting with a lot of movement.”
MEDINA – The application for Medina’s Full Day Universal Pre-K (UPK) program is now available on the Primary School’s website or by going to oak.medinacsd.org and looking under “News and Announcements.”
Parents of children not already enrolled in UPK who are interested in enrolling their child in Kindergarten for the 25-26 school year are also asked to complete the application form.
To be eligible for UPK, children must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2025. To be eligible for Kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2025.
For any families looking to learn more about the full-day UPK program, the Medina School District will be hosting an Information Night on Thursday, March 13th from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., held at Oak Orchard Primary School. Childcare will be provided for any children eligible to attend school in the 2025-’26 school year.
Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. and the evening will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. There will be a brief general session for adults in the auditorium, and then participants will visit scheduled locations throughout the building. Please plan to arrive by 5:30 and stay for the duration, in order to receive all the information prepared.
Families interested in learning more about Medina’s UPK program are encouraged to attend the Information Night. If you are unable to attend, information will be shared afterward on Oak Orchard Primary School’s website.
Timeline for UPK Application, Acceptance, Registration and Screening:
February 26 – April 7: UPK applications accepted by calling the Oak Orchard Main Office, or through our website, starting on 2/26
Thursday, March 13: UPK Information Night 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at Oak Orchard Primary
April 8: Families notified of acceptance into UPK Program or if program capacity is reached, that lottery is to be held.
Week of April 7: Lottery held, if needed, and registration packets mailed.
Week of May 19 – May 23: UPK Student Screening, applicants should bring all registration materials to the screening. A parent and the child are expected to attend the screening. Applicants will be contacted by phone to schedule their screening time.
Any questions can be directed to the Oak Orchard Main Office by calling (585) 798-2700, option 3 and then 0, between 7:30 to 3:30, Monday through Friday.
Photo by Scott Robinson: Some of the women who own businesses in Medina met in Rotary Park for a photo on Tuesday, in observance of International Women’s Day on Saturday. Women who own 14 businesses in downtown and the Medina area are affiliated with Creekside Floral, A lily and a sparrow, Bent’s Opera House, Hometown Wellness, Vintage Cigar, English Rose Tea Shoppe, Hans’s Bakery on Main, Ontario Shores Credit Union, Law Office of Katherine Bogan, Premier Cleaning Services, the Willows, RLW Cattle Co., KG Rentals and Author’s Note.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 March 2025 at 8:56 am
MEDINA – It is ironic the idea to pay tribute to Medina’s female business owners should come from a man.
The idea to observe International Women’s Day came from Scott Robinson, a member of the marketing committee and past president of the Medina Area Partnership.
Information online indicates National Women’s Day was first observed in the United States on Feb. 28, 1909, stating the Socialist Party of America designated the day to honor the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested poor working conditions.
An initial observance occurred in 1975, however, the day wasn’t officially designated until March 8, 1977.
March was declared as Women’s History Month by Barack Obama’s administration in 2011.
One of Medina’s many women business owners is Mary Lewis, who opened her first flower shop on Maple Ridge Road after Muchow’s closed in 2006. A year later she moved her business, Creekside Floral, to 422 Main St., and then in 2018 to her current address at 509 Main St.
“A woman brings everything to a business, especially mothers who are used to multi-tasking,” Lewis said.
Of more than 100 businesses who are members of Medina Area Partnership, more than 40 are owned or co-owned by women.
Some of those business owners came to Rotary Park earlier this week. Those business owners represented Creekside Floral, A lily and a sparrow, Bent’s Opera House, Hometown Wellness, Vintage Cigar, English Rose Tea Shoppe, Hans’s Bakery on Main, Ontario Shores Credit Union, Law Office of Katherine Bogan, Premier Cleaning Services, The Willows, RLW Cattle Co., KG Rentals and Author’s Note.
“I was thrilled with the turnout,” Robinson said. “Mary Lewis did the legwork of getting people there, even minutes before, making sure everyone had an opportunity. It’s a great testament to the business community and many of the powerful women helping it thrive.”
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Board members of the Medina Historical Society who presented a program on the pioneer history of Orleans County at their opening meeting of 2025 are, in front from left, Barb Filipiak, Gail Miller, Shane Sia (Ridgeway and Shelby historian), Georgia Thomas, Erica Wanecski and Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper. At rear are Kay VanNostrand and Medina Historical Society president Reinhard Rogowski.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 March 2025 at 8:00 am
MEDINA – The Medina Historical Society’s first meeting of 2025 took place Feb. 24 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library and featured a program on the pioneer history of Orleans County.
In honor of the county’s bicentennial this year, Orleans County historian and Medina Historical Society board member Catherine Cooper suggested a program focusing on stories of the early pioneer settlers and the hardships they faced. She got the idea from Amanda Burris of Texas, who reached out to her over a year ago, explaining her connection to one of the early settlers. Burris’s ancestor is Aretas Pierce, whose stories she heard while growing up. Burris runs a recording studio and was interested in re-issuing the stories and also creating an audio version.
“With the upcoming bicentennial, the timing was perfect,” Cooper said. “Her book became available Jan. 1, so I proposed we devote the February program to a presentation on the pioneers and their stories.”
Board member Georgia Thomas took the reins and organized the entire event, Cooper added.
Historical Society president Reinhard Rogowski welcomed guests and described Orleans County in the early years.
“It was heavily wooded north of the woods, resulting in its being called the Black North,” Rogowski said. “Pioneers had to deal with bears, beavers, panthers, rattlesnakes and malaria, along with starvation.”
Rogowski then introduced board members, each of whom gave a presentation on a different town in Orleans County.
Barb Filipiak talked about Barre; Gail Miller, Clarendon, Carlton and Yates; Shane Sia, Ridgeway and Shelby; Georgia Thomas, Gaines; Erica Wanecski, Knowlesville; Catherine Cooper, Eagle Harbor, Kendall and Murray; Kay VanNostrand, Medina, Holley, Hulberton and Hindsburg.
In the late 1860s, the early pioneers of Orleans County were encouraged to write about their experiences, their journey here, how they settled the land and their hardships.
“Early pioneers were very conscious of their place in history. Their heart-felt stories provide a unique insight into the early history of the county,” Cooper said. “Their accounts were beautifully written, and then along came Arad Thomas and put them into a book.”
At this time, Pierce’s Pioneers of Orleans County is available as a set of three titles, including a pioneer cookbook, on Amazon.com. One volume may be purchased, or the entire set. T-Shirts, like the board members wore during their presentations, will soon be available on Burris’ site – https://folk.studio/blog/
In honor of the county’s bicentennial, the Medina Historical Society is planning to devote a future meeting to the history of Medina and how it was laid out by Ebenezer Mix, in a program by former Medina mayor Adam Tabelski.
Meetings are at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month through May, with programs resuming in September at Lee-Whedon Library.
Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper provided this photograph of the Pioneers of Orleans County, taken by George P. Hopkins at their 11th annual meeting June 19, 1869 in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 March 2025 at 7:13 am
MEDINA – An increase in need and decline in donations has prompted Medina’s Emergency Food Pantry at St. Lutheran Church to embark on a community-wide fund appeal.
According to Jim Hancock, who has been involved with the food pantry since its inception in 1982, the number of people they are serving is increasing greatly, while donations are declining.
“The amount of food we are having to buy is depleting our reserves,” Hancock said. “We are spending $600 to $700 a month purchasing food.”
While he said they do receive a lot of donations from places like the library, school and postal workers, they still have a great need for cereal, pasta and spaghetti sauce.
“These things are not being received in the quantity we need,” Hancock said. “If we don’t get help, it won’t be long until our resources will be depleted.”
In 2024, the Emergency Food Pantry served 898 adults, 343 seniors and 374 children, for a total of 1,615 individuals.
This represents an increase of 15% over the previous year, Hancock said. To receive food from the pantry, people must reside within the 14103 zip code area. There is no income criteria, however, an individual may only receive food from the pantry once a month.
Monetary donations may be sent to St. Peter’s Emergency Food Pantry, 1355 West Ave., Medina, 14103. Checks or donations of food may be brought to St. Peter’s when the food pantry is open, from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or dropped off at sites, such as the library, or food drives conducted by organizations like the library and schools.
They are sending letters to groups and organizations asking for financial donations.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 6 March 2025 at 8:36 am
$1 cookies are fundraiser for Arc GLOW
Provided photo: Nicole Tuohey holds a heart cutout cookie as she stands in front of the former Case-Nic Cookies to promote her annual Have a Heart Campaign in honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March. New owner Hans Rosentrater is allowing use of his windows to promote charitable events and will sell the cookies in his bakery for $1.
MEDINA – For most of the years Mary Lou Tuohey ran Case-Nic Cookies, she baked heart cutout cookies which she and daughter Nicole sold in March to support Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
Now that Tuohey has sold the building to Hans Rosentrater, he is willing to continue the tradition. He is following Tuohey’s example of allowing non-profits to use the store windows for basket raffles. Currently baskets are on display to benefit Arc GLOW, which assists individuals with disabilities in the four counties of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming.
The frosted heart cookies are $1 and can be purchased at the store or ordered by calling (585) 798-1676.
The Tuoheys have been avid supporters of people with disabilities since Nicole was born with Triple X Syndrome and doctors told them she may never walk, talk, read, write or do math.
“As of that moment, we were determined, and she has been determined not to be ‘labeled,’” Mary Lou said. “Nicole is 33 years old and has done all of what the doctors said she wouldn’t do, and more. She has danced with Miss Stephanie for 28 years. She plays basketball, bowls, rides a horse, swims and rides a bike. She volunteers for different events at the Arc. She, too, is a person, not just a label, who has feelings, potential and determination. She may not do things the way other people do, but that doesn’t mean it is wrong. It means there are other ways to accomplish the same goal.”
Nicole attended Rainbow Preschool from 3 months of age to 5 years old and currently is part of Day Hab through Arc GLOW.
Each year in March, Mary Lou has included Nicole in fundraising to support the organization during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This is the seventh year they have sold heart cutout cookies, using a red frosted cookie and a red and white frosted one to demonstrate how things, especially people, can be different, but the same.
Their annual campaign always included the words, “One is red, one is pink. The pink one has a bite out of. Other than that they are the same – made of the same ingredients, rolled out the same, cut the same and taste the same.”
That is the same with people, Tuohey explained.
“We are made of the same thing,” she wrote. “We might look different. We might not think the same, learn the same and socialize the same. But we all have feelings, all have potential and all have determination.”
Nicole and Mary Lou urge people to continue to support the charitable causes as they have in the past.
Provided photos: The late Art Hill on Saturday was inducted by the FOAR SCORE Fan Club into its auto racing hall of fame. Hill passed away at age 78 on Jan. 25, 2023.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2025 at 9:23 am
Art Hill’s children, Jerry Hill and Jennifer Hill-Young, hold the Hall of Fame award presented for their father who was active in auto racing for about 60 years.
AMHERST – The late Art Hill, who was active in auto racing for about 60 years, was inducted into a racing hall of fame on Saturday.
The Friends of Auto Racing Seeking Cooperation of Racing Enthusiasts (FOAR SCORE) enshrines people who are outstanding in their profession and who make outstanding contribution to the sport of auto racing throughout the Western New York, Western Pennsylvania and Niagara Ontario Regions of Canada.
FOAR SCORE Club was established in 1948 by race fans for the betterment of auto racing. It is the oldest active auto racing fan club in the U.S.
FOAR SCORE honored Art Hill of Medina on Saturday at Classics V Banquet House in Amherst. Hill, the late owner of Art Hill Excavating, was an owner, sponsor and driver in auto racing.
The Hall of Fame listing for Hill states:
“The late Art Hill was involved in many different capacities in his long association with area motorsports. After some drag racing in the early 1960s, he teamed with brother Aaron to try some oval track racing at Lancaster.
“Ultimately, he connected with driver Pete Hayes; Art crewed for and eventually took on ownership of the Hayes Modified through the ’70s, travelling all over the northeast. He stepped away from active involvement in the early 1980s to focus on his business and raising a family, but maintained a connection by sponsoring a number of racing teams.
“He jumped back into the ownership/crew chief ranks in the late ’80s, teaming with Hall of Famer John Julicher to form a potent combination. That pairing resulted in Super Stock/Late Model titles at Lancaster in 1994, ’97, ’99 and 2001, and numerous feature victories, including the Race of Champions weekend Late Model event in 1999.
“In 2001, Art climbed back into the driver’s seat in a Late Model at Lancaster for a few seasons, and though he never visited victory lane, he developed into a consistent top five racer. He later moved his involvement to the asphalt Sportsman division, first as a major sponsor of John Julicher, Jr., then as a car owner for Hall of Famer Bobby Weber before his untimely passing in 2023. Art’s daughter Jen and son Jerry accepted the honors.”
About 225 attended the awards banquet. Pete Stefanski of North Tonawanda and George Skora III of Eden were honored as “Drivers of the Year” on dirt and asphalt, respectively.
Others inducted in the Hall of Fame include Linda Pratt, Bruce Roll, Dave Schulz and Kenny Troyer.
