Press Release, Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Participants in the 2019 Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run head for the starting line last October. This year’s event will take on a different look, due to the Covid pandemic. For the 32nd annual 5K Walk/Run, participants are being asked to walk in their own neighborhoods and make a donation to the Knights-Kaderli Fund.

MEDINA –  For 32 years, the community has gathered for a walk/run to support the patients living with cancer in Orleans County.

Last year, participants walked in their own neighborhoods for the 32^nd annual 5k Virtual Walk/Run. The Covid-19 pandemic forced us to cancel in-person events. Registrants were asked to make a donation to the fund and were offered a Knights-Kaderli cloth mask in lieu of the usual race t-shirt

This year, we can gather again for the 5k on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. at the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Hall. With only a few changes, the event will feel like we are getting closer to what supporters have experienced in previous years.

Registration (click here) will be online only to minimize congestion at registration. To keep people moving, we will have several check-in tables where registrants can pick up their T-shirt and race bibs. Participants are encouraged to participate in our basket raffle. This year we will have a special raffle of a donated item from the talented students in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering class at Orleans-Niagara BOCES.

Lunch will be served immediately following the race and guests may eat outside under the pavilion. When outside, participants are encouraged to use their discretion regarding mask-wearing. Whenever participants are inside the building, we ask that they wear a mask to protect young children, patients and other participants. The safety of our supporters is our top priority. Please remember to photograph your event and tag us on Facebook and Instagram for some fun prizes. #KnightsKaderli5K

The Richard Knights-Sue Kaderli Memorial Fund is a tax-exempt organization, under the Internal Revenue code section 501(c)(3), which is run by a board of directors. Money raised is used for the benefit of Orleans County cancer patients.

This foundation was founded in memory of our loved ones, Richard Knights and Susan Kaderli, two lifelong residents of Orleans County. We raise funds through annual events and various contributions made by individuals, organizations and memorials. Funds thus far have assisted families with nutritional supplements and prescriptions, as well as medical supplies and bills. Run by a board of directors, there are no administrative costs. Thereby allowing almost 100% of money raised to be used to assist Orleans County cancer patients and their families.

For more information or financial assistance, please contact: Mary Zelazny at 585-746-8455, Melissa Knights Bertrand at 716-983-7932 or Stacey Knights Pellicano at 716-998-0977.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Mitchell Kwandrans, owner of the Hemp House in Medina, presented posters full of information to the Medina Village Board on Monday evening, urging the village to opt in and allow marijuana dispensaries.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board heard from many community members on Monday evening during a public hearing about whether Medina should opt in or opt out of allowing legal marijuana dispensaries.

Gregory McCarthy, a local resident, was the first speaker during a public hearing and said the dispensaries would allow regulated products to be sold without unknown dangerous products, such as fentanyl.

A local dispensary would also allow close access for people currently going out of town for medical marijuana sites, he said.

Mitchell Kwandrans, owner of the Hemp House in Medina, said his store is popular for CBD oil and other products. He said marijuana could be a big tax revenue generator for the village with Medina getting a 3-percent tax on the dollar.

He estimated that could be $300,000 annually for the village, based on 20 percent of the county’s 40,000 residents spending about $2,500 per year annually on marijuana. That comes out to over $600,000 a year in tax revenue in Kwandran’s projections. He expects Medina would get half with another community the other half.

The state has approved a 13-percent excise tax on marijuana with a breakdown that includes 9 cents for each taxable sale to the state, 3 cents to the municipality that has the dispensary, and 1 cent to the county.

Village Trustee Owen Toale said the figures from Kwandrans were projections that couldn’t be counted on. It is also unknown if there would be increased demand on the Medina Police Department if the dispensaries were allowed, Toale said.

Village Board members said they want more time to study the issue, and see if the state comes through with any regulations for the dispensaries. The state has empowered municipalities to opt in or out, but hasn’t provided details about the dispensaries.

That bothers Village Trustee Marguerite Sherman.

“They are forcing our hand and I’m disappointed in that,” she said about the state.

The state has given municipalities until Dec. 31 to opt in. But if they opt out, they could always opt back in. But if they opt in before Dec. 31, they can’t then opt out.

Mayor Mike Sidari said he is still reading information about the issue, and isn’t ready to make his own decision. He expects the board will decide possibly next month. By then, there might be regulations from the state.

“I want to opt out until I see what the rules are,” he said. “If it’s something we can live with, I’ll opt in.”

Gregory McCarthy tells Village Board members there are many benefits to the dispensaries, including a regulated product with tax revenue for the village. He said many residents would benefit from having the product legally available for anxiety, pain management and other medicinal purposes.

Residents still urged the board to move forward with opting in, saying the state regulations will be similar to the many other states that have already allowed dispensaries.

Tim Zeiner said Medina could use the revenue to help push down a very high tax burden on local property owners.

Bryan DeGraw said marijuana has long not been regulated. The state regulations will be forthcoming. He said the village needs the revenue, even if that total can’t be predicted for certain.

Several others spoke in favor of the dispensaries, saying it would be a safer product and would help people with pain management and other issues.

Kwandrans, owner of the Hemp House, said there are 24 locations in Medina where alcohol can be legally purchased. He said alcohol is far more dangerous than marijuana, with a large role in criminal activity, violence and car accidents.

Kathy Bogan, an attorney with an office on Main Street, said she is concerned about the impact a dispensary could have on the downtown, which boasts numerous small, family-owned businesses. But the lack of fine print from the state is a major concern, she said.

“There are many why I’m against this, but the biggest reason is there are no state regulations for this,” she said during the hearing.

If Medina decides to opt out, village residents could petition the village to put the issue to a vote in a public referendum. They would need to turn in a petition by at least 10 percent of qualified voters within 45 days of the Village Board’s decision to force a public vote.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: The Class of 1961 from Medina High School met at the White Birch in Lyndonville Saturday to celebrate their 60th reunion. Seated, from left, are Russell Young, Raissa Zolin Semanchu, Jessie Eckerson Green, Jackie Gardner Nicolay, Margo Riemer Schuner and Linda Hudson Hansler. Second row, from left, are David Green, Dale Bacon, Paul Barnes, Don Pritchard, Dianne Pask Domoy, Joyce Hill Cook, Ellyn Keller MacCornell, Ward Crafts, Charles Slack and Marvin Sills. Third row, Richard Hellert, Sue Bliven, Nicki Rogers Fredericks, Marlo Neal Huer, Patty Waters Blackburn, Dave Ehrenreich and Bob Young. At rear are John Slack, Jack Beedon, Everett Harmer, Arnie Canham, Ron Thomas and Peggy Hart Nelson.

MEDINA – The Medina High School’s Class of 1961 has remained a close knit group since they graduated, getting together every five years to renew friendships.

On Saturday, 29 members of the class and their guests met at White Birch in Lyndonville to celebrate their 60th reunion.

Dave and Jessie Green of East Shelby became class sweethearts in seventh grade, and have been together ever since, she said. They, Nicki Fredericks, John Slack and Peggy Hart Nelson have been to every reunion.

There were 138 original members in the Class of 1961. They have lost 38. Robert Crafts was president, Dick Stimson was vice president, Susan Albright was secretary and Jessie Green was treasurer. Edward Devlin was principal at the time.

The class boasts the first Foreign Exchange student in Medina, a boy nicknamed Chico from Italy. He lived with the Jim DiGuilio family. On Saturday afternoon, the class was delighted to contact him on Zoom.

The classmate who traveled the farthest to the reunion was Bob Young, a missionary from Africa. Others came from Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky and Texas.

The committee who organized the reunion has done it every year. They included Dave and Jessie Green, Nicki Fredericks, Patti Blackburn, Diane Domoy, Ellyn MacConnell, John Slack, Linda Hansler and Ron Thomas.

“This is a very good class,” Jessie Green said. “Everybody gets along.”

Dave and Jessie Green, seated, look over a yearbook from when they were in school.

Photos courtesy DeSales Catholic School

LOCKPORT – Arthur Barnes, an Orleans County artist, donated a painter’s box of late Nunzio Maiorana to DeSales Catholic School in Lockport, which will be opening a new art center next month as a memorial to Maiorana.

Barnes found the painter’s box at a yard sale years ago. He used the box in his own art studio.

Barnes noticed the signature inside, Nunzio Maiorana (dated Aug. 14, 1956) and resolved to someday find and give the painter’s box to Maiorana’s family.

Barnes read about construction at DeSales for the Nunzio T. Maiorana ’58 Art Center and wanted to give the box to the site. DeSales reached out to Nunzio’s children, David and Ann-Marie, to return the box.

“Thank you, Arthur for bringing us this most wonderful gift!” said Kim Knuutila of DeSales.

The dedication for the Nunzio T. Maiorana Art Center will be on Saturday, Oct. 16^th, from 1 to 3 p.m. at DeSales, 6914 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Lockport. Guests will have to RSVP to Mary at (716) 870-4340 by Oct. 4th.  Ribbon cutting will be immediately followed by dedication and reception.

Maiorana was a long-time Medina educator. He was a popular teacher and school administrator at Medina as well as the athletic director.

DeSales Catholic School is renovating an area on their campus to create the Nunzio Maiorana Art Center, in honor of a beloved alumnus who graduated from DeSales in 1958.

Maiorana was a highly respected leader in both education and athletics throughout Niagara and Orleans counties.

He was also an accomplished self-taught artist who specialized in pen and ink drawings of historic lighthouses and buildings from across the world. Each of his drawings was hand-drawn using jeweler’s glasses and each art piece contained over 500,000 fine lines and dots. He won his first art show in 1957 sponsored by the Lockport Industrial Management Club.

After graduating from DeSales High School, Maiorana went on earn his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Detroit.  He began his teaching career at the Diocese of Detroit at St. John Berchmans School. In 1963 he came back home to WNY to teach at Medina Senior High School.

This was followed by multiple roles throughout his tenure in Medina starting as a teacher and retiring as superintendent of curriculum and finance. He started in Medina in the fall 1963. His career spanned over 36 years until his retirement in 1998.

At Medina, Maiorana taught pre-vocational studies, English, and history; served as an assistant high school football coach, assistant principal, director of athletics, director of maintenance, grounds, and transportation; principal of Wise Middle School; and superintendent of curriculum and finance. He also sat on state and national committees for athletics and academics to ensure safety, wellness, and rigorous academic instruction for all students.

He remained an influential educator up until the day he passed away on Jan. 22, 2018.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Jeff Taylor and Dennis MacDonald of the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company were among the many firefighters out today from 9 a.m. to noon collecting donations for Make-A-Wish Western New York. They are shown on Maple Ridge Road, east of near the Route 63 intersection.

The firefighters collected about $8,500 today with more donations expected, said Tim Petry, one of the coordinators of the effort from the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

There were firefighters from East Shelby, Lyndonville, Medina, Murray, Ridgeway and Shelby out asking people to “fill the boot” for Make-A-Wish.

They were at the intersections of 63 and 31A (Maple Ridge), Main and Center in Medina, and 63 and 104.

Hunter Salamaca, left, and Harris Reed of the Murray Fire District collected donations on Route 63, just south of Maple Ridge.

Jim and Chris Foss have been mainstays at the bowling alley for decades

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jim Foss and his son Chris became the owners of Medina Lanes last month. They credited the previous owners – Dr. David Stahl, Gerry Allen and Chris Bacon – for a series of improvements at the 20-lane bowling alley on Maple Ridge Road.

MEDINA – There are new owners of Medina Lanes, and the father and son team aren’t strangers to Medina.

Jim Foss, co-owner and manager, has worked at the site for about 40 years. His son Chris also has been a frequent face at the bowling alley, since he was a young kid.

The Fosses purchased the 20-lane alley last month from Dr. David Stahl, Gerry Allen and Chris Bacon. They owned it for 12 years and made many upgrades to the site, including adding synthetic lanes.

Stahl posted on the Medina Lanes Facebook page that the bowling alley is in good hands with Jim Foss as co-owner and running the day-to-day operations.

“We have been looking for the right person to carry on the improvements we have made,” Stahl said. “Jimmy has been a dedicated and excellent employee for many years. We all agreed he is the right fit for the lanes. You all have supported us for the past 12 years and we hope you will continue to do so for Jimmy. Thanks again for your unwavering loyalty  while we made improvements to the lanes.”

Foss, 59, has been working for bowling centers for more than 40 years, starting with the former Ranallo’s on Main Street in Medina. His first job was cleaning tables and the bowling balls. Then he was a “pin chaser,” working in the back. He worked his way up to head mechanic and he often helps other bowling alleys in the region with a malfunction.

He also is a people-person who enjoys bantering with customers and employees. He and his son want to welcome a new generation of bowlers through a youth league on Saturday mornings, and also encourage other adults to give it a try.

Jim Foss is shown on a busy Wednesday league night at Medina Lanes. Foss has worked at the bowling alley for 40 years. The league nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays have about 100 bowlers and they are spread out at tables near the lanes.

Bowling as a pastime was declining about 15 years ago in the region, but the Fosses say it has picked back up with people looking for an inexpensive way to get together and have fun, and also have some friendly competition.

Medina Lanes has seven employees who not only run the bowling center, but serve food – pizza, chicken wings and fish fries. There is also a bar. Some of the customers come in just for food, and to be part of an energetic atmosphere.

Chris Foss, 35, said Medina Lanes is looking to bring back live bands to add to the entertainment on Saturday nights.

Chris has worked full-time the past 10 years as a production worker for BMP America. He is grateful to also have the chance to run Medina lanes alongside his father.

“It’s something we can do together and it’s something we love,” Chris said. “We’ve always been here. We’ve been here our whole lives. We just want to keep it going.”

Jim said the lanes have come a long way in 40 years – from synthetic lanes to automatic computerized scoring. But the core remains the same as a timeless activity spanning generations – rolling a ball down a narrow path, trying to avoid the gutter to knock down pins.

Medina Lanes proudly displays the names of bowlers who have topped 800 in a three-game set. The wall of fame includes Jim Foss and his nephew Curtis.

Jim is also one of the best local bowler, currently carrying a 225 average per game. In his mid-40s, he was at his peak, averaging over 230. Chris is currently carrying a 212 average.

Jim remembers the former Ranallo’s, when owner Frank Ranallo tried to take some of the sting out of a gutter bowl. He put irrigation pipe in the gutter when kids were bowling, an original bumper to help kids gain confidence and avoid the gutter.

Medina Lanes offers the youth leagues and welcomes coaches to help give kids’ pointers on how to hold and let go of the ball.

Medina Lanes continues to be a popular spot for kids’ birthday parties, which includes a package of bowling, pizza and pop – $50 for a group of six.

Medina Lanes will soon be kicking off its senior league on Thursday afternoons starting Oct. 6, and also runs a league for women on Wednesday mornings.

The place can get busy with a full parking lot at times. Jim Foss said he likes to see people having fun.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I just like the atmosphere. You’re always meeting new people.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A new kayak launch that is handicapped accessible was installed today in Medina’s Canal Basin.

BoardSafe, an aluminum boat dock manufacturer from Fleetwood, PA, installed the new launch.

Medina received a $10,500 “IMPACT!” grant from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor for the ADA-accessible kayak launch.

MEDINA – The Village Board wants to hear from the community whether Medina should allow legal marijuana dispensaries

There will be a public hearing Monday at 7 p.m. at the Senior Citizen Center at 615 West Ave. about whether the village will opt in or out of allowing dispensaries, where people could purchase adult-use cannabis products. If preferred, people can send an email with their comments to publichearing@villagemedina.org with marijuana in the subject line.

The state has given municipalities until Dec. 31 to make a decision. If the municipal boards don’t vote on the issue, they are considered by the state to be opting in and allowing the dispensaries.

Towns and villages can opt out by Dec. 31 and then vote again in the future to opt in.

Municipalities also need to decide by the end of the year if they will opt out of allowing onsite consumption at businesses such as a smoking lounge.

The state has approved a 13-percent excise tax on marijuana with a breakdown that includes 9 cents for each taxable sale to the state, 3 cents to the municipality that has the dispensary, and 1 cent to the county. Municipalities that opt out wouldn’t be eligible for the 3-cent share of the 13-percent sales tax.

Towns and villages can’t overstep the state and ban recreational use of marijuana. But the towns and villages can prohibit dispensaries and smoking lounges.

If the municipal board for a village or town decides to opt out, residents could still push a permissive referendum, with the matter going on the ballot. They would need to turn in a petition by at least 10 percent of qualified voters within 45 days of the Village Board’s decision to force a public vote.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Jim Nowaczewski has opened his second coffee shop – this one at 114 East Center St., Medina.

MEDINA – Jim Nowaczewski wasn’t a bit hesitant about opening a coffee shop in the middle of a pandemic.

HeBrews at 59 North Main St. in Albion has become so popular he decided to open another in Medina.

As the name suggests, his business is a coffee shop in a Christian environment, although he says he doesn’t push religion on his customers.

Nowaczewski originally came from Buffalo, then went to work as supervisor for a company in Southern California dealing with rooftop safety. The company is owned by Lyndonville native Michael Mumau, who Nowaczewski says had a big impact on his life.

“He followed the Bible and it touched my heart,” he said.

With family still in Akron and Buffalo, Nowaczewski decided to return to Western New York and bought a home in Albion three years ago. He likes coffee a lot, he said. So opening a coffee house was a natural choice.

HeBrews 5:9 is not only the address of his North Main Street coffee shop, it is a great verse from the Bible, he said, as is HeBrews 1:14, the East Center Street address of his new Medina shop.

Nowaczewski said his move to Medina was jump started by Kathy Blackburn, owner of 114 East Center St., where she formerly had an ice cream parlor.

“She came to Albion and said she’d love for me to do the same thing in Medina,” he said.

He and his helpers started working on the building in July and August.

He said he always thought it would be nice to have a community center, and that is how he hopes his coffee shop will be viewed. There are small rooms with tables and chairs, couches and stuffed chairs. The back room has a pool table and dart board and is capable of accommodating up to 20 people. He hopes groups looking for a place to meet or have a Bible study will consider his space.

Jim Nowaczewski stands in the back room of the coffee shop he opened a week ago at 114 East Center St., the former site of Meggie Moo’s Ice Cream. He has added lounging areas and a meeting room with pool table and dart board.

There is a covered back patio which can seat up to 12 in good weather.

“This is a safe place where people can be people,” he said. “We are a place of hope. Hope lives here.”

He said his menu is simple. Hot coffee, iced coffee, Bubble tea, Papa Thom’s Rockin’ Bagles and fresh muffins from local bakeries. Sometimes he has scones and gluten free baked goods.

He is looking to expand the kitchen and in October, Nowaczewski hopes to begin offering hot breakfasts and soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch.

His coffee beans are roasted by family friends in Buffalo.

Nowaczewski said he is looking forward to Ale in Autumn, as HeBrews is the designated driver headquarters.

He is also excited to have been recently notified his Albion business has been chosen by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce as its “New Business of the Year.”

For now, his hours in Medina are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but he hopes to expand them soon and offer home delivery.

“We will always be closed on Sundays,” he said.

Ceremony also acknowledges courage of residents, staff during Covid pandemic

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – These 30 white bags had lights in honor of the 30 residents at the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center who passed away after getting Covid-19.

Orchard held a reflection service at 7 p.m. Tuesday outside at the front entrance of the site on Bates Road.

Martin MacKenzie, Orchard’s administrator, praised the staff for their courage in providing care and service to the residents at Orchard. Those residents also showed strength, often encouraging the staff during a scary time, MacKenzie said.

About 80 staff members and 100 residents contracted Covid during the pandemic.

He said the virus doesn’t discriminate, infecting people from all backgrounds and circumstances.

“The staff and residents deserve recognition for what they have been through,” MacKenzie said. “The pandemic hasn’t passed but we wanted to recognize what the facility has accomplished.”

He also thanked the Medina Fire Department, the Department of Health at the state and county levels, the National Guard and the Orleans County Emergency Management Office which provided expertise, service and PPE supplies.

Many local residents and businesses also have sent pizza and other expressions of love during a tough time.

“The community support has been absolutely phenomenal for this facility,” MacKenzie said.

Mary Luckman, director of nursing at Orchard, lights a candle in memory of the 30 residents who died due to Covid. Pam Shirback, whose husband passed away from Covid, also lighted one of the candles during the service.

Shirback posted on Orchard’s Facebook page that the service “was a wonderful tribute to both those residents who passed away during the Covid outbreak in 2020, and those who stayed by their sides to care for them at the risk of endangering their own lives.”

She also thanked an honor guard of local veterans and the Medina Fire Department for attending the ceremony

Of the 30 residents who passed away due to Covid at Orchard, six were veterans. The local honor guard did three volleys of a gun salute in honor of the deceased veterans.

Brad Nudd served as the bugler in playing Taps.

The Rev. Dan Thurber, pastor of Oak Orchard Assembly of God Church, offered a prayer during the service.

“We mourn the passing of each dear soul,” Thurber said.

He used to lead church services at Orchard, but during much of the pandemic outside visitors haven’t been allowed. Just two days ago on Monday, Orchard announced it had to temporary suspend indoor visits due to the Covid transmission rate passing 10 percent in Orleans County. The facility will make accommodations for end-of-life or compassionate care.

After the service this group gathered under the canopy near the front entrance. There were cookies available in the shape of butterflies.

Orchard unveiled a new butterfly garden and a plaque in the garden that stated: “Dedicated to the memory of the lives lost and the brave staff who cared for the sick during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Photo from Lakeside Beach State Park: This photo shows someone throwing a frisbee at one of the baskets on the disc golf course at Lakeside in Carlton.

MEDINA – The YMCA in Orleans County is looking for a partner in developing an 18-hole disc golf course.

The Y received a grant for $20,000 to $24,000 for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to develop a course with tee boxes, signs and baskets that are mounted in small concrete foundations – 8 inches wide by 20 inches deep.

Each hole is about an acre so 18 acres would be ideal for the course, said Greg Reed, YMCA director.

He would like the course to be in either the Albion area or Medina and has reached to local officials and hasn’t been able to finalize an agreement.

Reed thought Bullard Park in Albion would ideal for the course, but village officials declined, saying it wasn’t part of the plan for the space. A Bullard Park committee already developed a long-range plan for the park with other uses, Reed said village officials told him.

Reed also is talking with Barre town officials about using part of that park on Route 98. He has approached Medina village officials about Gulf Street Park but that space has neighbors close by and doesn’t have enough room for an 18-hole course. It would be big enough for a 9-hole course, Reed said.

He also said the park area by Glenwood Lake in Ridgeway could be utilized for disc golf. Another possibility for Medina would be to use vacant land in the Medina Business Park with the understanding if a business was ready to build on the acres the disc golf course would have to be removed.

Reed said the courses are “transient” and could easily be taken out and put somewhere else.

The grant from the Wilson Foundation includes utilizing the WNY Disc Golf Association as a design consultant on the course.

The courses tend to be on a mix of open land and paths in wooded areas.

“You want obstacles,” Reed said. “That’s what makes it more fun.”

Reed applied for the Wilson Foundation grant during a time of indoor Covid restrictions on gyms and fitness centers. He was looking for a way to get people outside and active.

He would like to form leagues to have regular players on the course, which would also be open to others who just want to give it a try.

“It’s an inexpensive, anyone-can-do-it-type thing,” Reed said.

He envisions utilized the course for YMCA summer youth programming and day camps.

Reed said there are disc golf courses at Lakeside Beach State Park in Carlton, Golden Hill State Park just across the county line in Barker, and in the Town Sweden, near the Holley community in eastern Orleans. He considers the Medina and Albion areas to be “disc golf deserts.”

A stipulation of the grant says the project needs to be in place by June 2022.