Money from Treasure Island, Mega Drawing will go towards projects at hospital

MEDINA – After a year dampened by the Covid pandemic, Orleans Community Health has embarked on a campaign of fundraising events.

Heather Smith, executive director of Orleans Community Health Foundation, has announced the return of the Mega Drawing, which took the place of the annual Treasure Island last year.

“The cash raffle was such a success that we have decided to do it again,” Smith said.

Tickets are already nearly sold out, and information to purchase a ticket can be found online at www.supportoch.org/events.

The date of the drawing has been moved up to Sept. 14. With hopes that restrictions will stay lifted, the Foundation is considering a small event that evening, in addition to doing the drawing live online.

Proceeds for this year’s drawing will be split between two projects which are part of the hospital’s “Together We are Stronger” campaign to raise $350,000. The money will be used to fund eight small projects in several departments across Orleans Community Health, instead of one big project, Smith said.

First, they plan to purchase a new Hoyer lift system for the patient care unit on the second floor of Medina Memorial Hospital. The second project will be to purchase a new stress test system for the cardiac services department.

“We feel so blessed to be able to keep this vital service available to our community, however, the time has come for an upgrade to the unit we currently own,” Smith said.

In radiology, the successful golf tournament raised funds to purchase two pieces of equipment – an ultrasound probe and a new ceiling mount for the X-ray machine.

The main laboratory and outpatient lab have received new chairs for drawing blood, and countertops have been replaced in the department.

In February, a new coagulation analyzer was purchased with grants from the Lyndonville Area Foundation and Elizabeth Curtis Dye Foundation.

New hospital beds will be purchased for the second floor, at a cost of $10,000 to $25,000 each, depending upon the size and functionality, Smith said.

A grant from the Association of Twigs allowed for the purchase of a new oven in dietary services.

Other improvements include new privacy walls in registration and a separate entrance door to each registration area, thereby increasing patient confidentiality.

The pharmacy will see a new temperature control system to regulate medications, along with new windows, cabinets and counters.

Outside, all new signage is planned at the hospital and two dialysis centers to better inform anyone visiting.

In addition to raising money from the Mega drawing, the Foundation is planning the return of Treasure Island.

They are hoping to reach their fundraising goal with additional monies from grants, individual giving and corporate donations.

Hospital CEO Marc Shurtz announced the campaign at the end of 2020, and the board approved all eight projects, Smith said.

“The Lyndonville Foundation really got the ball rolling with their grant of $40,000 in February,” Smith said.

She added the hospital opened the door for a huge piece of funding by initiating employee giving this year. In early August they already had $8,000 in pledges, and $80,000 in grants was pending.

If Covid restrictions continue to be lifted, Treasure Island will take place Nov. 6 at Shelby Fire Hall.

District holding off on decision about masking for students until late August

MEDINA — When students head back to school beginning Sept. 8, there won’t be an option for remote education in the 2021-22 school year, district superintendent Mark Kruzynski said in a letter to the community today.

School will be in-person only and will be full-time, five days a week. In addition, instrumental music, chorus and elementary specials will be full classes, just as before the pandemic, Kruzynski said.

The district, however, is holding off on a decision about students wearing masks. Kruzynski acknowledged it’s a controversial issue for many people.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the federal Center for Disease Control and state Education Department are all recommending students, teachers and staff wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. The CDC updated its guidance on Aug. 5 and cited the highly contagious Delta variant. The CDC also recommended maintaining at least 3 feet of distance between students.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will take over as governor following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation on Aug. 24. She said on Thursday she anticipates the state will issue a masking mandate for students.

“Whether those masking mandates are universal or based on community transmission levels remains unclear at this point,” Kruzynski said in his letter.

The district will wait until the end of August to make a decision about masks when it’s clear what will be required from the new Hochul administration.

“Quite simply, there is no reason to put out masking regulations today if things might have to change before school starts on Sept., 8, 2021,” Kruzynski wrote.

The district superintendent said it remains the district’s “number one priority” to have students back in school safely, in person, every day.

‘Rare Mileage Collectors’ praise site in Medina

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Jim Fetchero of Charlotte, N.C., left, talks to passengers as them disembark the train at Medina Railroad Museum Saturday morning. Fetchero rented the train for 50 fellow train buffs who call themselves “Rare Mileage Collectors.” Many have ridden trains in all 50 states, most of Canada and several foreign countries.

MEDINA – The Medina Railroad Museum hosted an uncommon group of individuals on Saturday, who call themselves “Rare Mileage Collectors.”

“We’re not an officially recognized group, just a lot of people who love riding trains,” said Michael Dault of New York City.

Some of the Rare Mileage Collectors aspire to reach 100,000 miles riding the rails.

John Schmidt of Springfield, Va., “Boomer John” as his friends call him, has ridden trains in all 50 states and all but two provinces in Canada. He said with all the places he’d been, he was very impressed with Medina Railroad Museum.

Saturday’s ride from Lockport to Brockport in Medina Railroad Museum’s two first-class dining cars was funded by Jim Fetchero of Charlotte, N.C.

Fetchero admits to being a train buff all his life, in addition to being retired from the Iowa-Pacific Railroad.

“Just like some people are bird watchers and like to watch for all kinds of birds, I like to ride trains and see how many miles I can accumulate while seeing the sights.”

He said he has ridden on too many railroads to count – throughout the United States, Europe and South America.

“I’m delighted to have this museum here,” he said of Medina Railroad Museum, where they stopped for an hour layover. “We’re having a great day and appreciate the museum being flexible and working with us.”

Passengers on the ride came from California, Washington State, Ohio, North Carolina , Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida and Illinois, as well as New York state.

All were impressed with the museum and “awesome,” “awesome” was heard over and over.

John Schmidt “Boomer John” of Springfield, Va. looks at the bell of the famed 999 engine at Medina Railroad Museum on Saturday. He was among the 50 train buffs who rode the train from Lockport to Brockport, with an hour stop at the museum.

“This museum is the ultimate rail fan basement syndrome,” said Greg Molloy of Seattle. He has ridden trains in all 50 states.

Chuck Weinstock of Pittsburgh said he usually isn’t a fan of railroad museums.

“Some people have a couple of rusting cars in the weeds or a room full of junk and call it a museum,” he said. “But this place has great stuff.”

After reboarding the train to continue to Brockport, lunch was served on the train by volunteer coordinator Grace Stewart. The lunch, catered by Captain Kidz, included a sandwich or salad, potato salad, chips, water and a train cookie from Case-Nic Cookies.

Museum board president Rick Henn was conductor for the trip, and engineer was Neal Keirn of Middleport.

“This was a great ride,” Henn said. “It was such fun to be with a group of people who love trains and train riding. It was also great to hear how much they were wowed by the museum.

“It’s a huge credit to everyone involved, including Genesee Valley Transportation. I have to thank them for their assistance in organizing this trip and thank the train crew for their cooperation in making the ride special.”

The Rare Mileage Collectors will continue their quest to rack up the miles by riding the train Sunday from Gowanda to Dayton, and then on Monday the Arcade and Attica.

Jim Fetchero, left, who rented the two first-class dining cars from Medina Railroad Museum for a day-long trip from Lockport to Brockport, talks to Greg Molloy of Seattle and Cincinnati, and Chuck Weinstock of Pittsburgh during their stop to visit the Railroad Museum.

Provided photos: Black Button distillery in Rochester has been a regular at Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market every month all summer.

MEDINA – The Canal Village Farmers’ Market has come a long way since it first opened six years ago.

Like other farmers’ markets everywhere, Medina’s market this week is celebrating National Farmers’ Market Week.

Although struggling through months of uncertainty, farmers’ markets became essential throughout the Covid pandemic, according to Chris Busch, president of the Orleans Renaissance Group, which sponsors the market.

“Now, in 2021, they’re better than ever,” Busch said.

That is the message the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York wants to get out by celebrating National Farmers’ Market Week.

Markets everywhere stayed open throughout the pandemic as an essential source of local, healthy food, and Canal Village Farmers’ Market was no exception, Busch said.  The local market created “meal deals,” which were packages of local products that could be ordered online and picked up via a drive-thru system at the market. Rose and Ken Baker of Baker Farms, along with market manager Gail Miller of Medina, and other CBFM vendors kept the market alive, providing healthy, local food for families’ tables, Busch explained.

“Now that the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, markets are open to all and finding ways to be better than ever,” Busch said.

“People really seem to be grateful for the return of the market,” Miller said. “This year, Canal Village Farmers’ Market has had outstanding vendor participation and record numbers of customers. Our old vendors have returned and new vendors have come on board. While regular and familiar customers have also returned, many new faces are in the mix too – especially young families. It’s been fantastic.”

Dubby’s Wood Fire Pizza made several appearances at Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market this summer. Farmers’ Markets across the country celebrated National Farmers’ Markets Week from Aug. 1 to 7.

After a slow 2019 and 2020, Busch said they are seeing a 65 to 70 percent increase in customer traffic this year.

“Sales are strong with all vendors,” he said. “The increase is tangible and the market is hopping.”

“People are truly enjoying being able to gather Saturday mornings at the market,” Miller said. “Great crowds, outstanding product selection, live music, food trucks, weekly contests for adults an kids are just some of the market events. We absolutely love providing such an outstanding experience for the community every Saturday, and folks seem to be enjoying it.”

New vendors this year include NewHouse Breads, Heartland Organics, HateCuddler Craft Works, HeBrews 5:9 Coffee, Panek’s Pickin’ Patch, Flower Fields Forever, in addition to rotating food trucks, including Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza, Kaleema’s Creative Foods, Greenlief’s On the Go and El Gran Burrito.

Those who are income-eligible are reminded to get and use SNAP coupons at the market. In addition to those, the market also accepts Double UP Food Bucks, FMNP and Fresh Connect checks. Most of the vendors now accept credit, Venmo and/or PayPal, as well as cash.

The summer market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday through October. The winter market will return from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays from November through May.

Several new weekly contests have been added this summer, Busch said. “Passport of Prizes” and a kid’s scavenger hunt are two of them.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Card players passed the time with a game of euchre as they waited for lunch at the Medina Senior Center picnic Monday at Junior Wilson Club. Clockwise from left are Lee Smith, Larry Morgott, Kathy Ausman and Yvonne Peters.

Becky Karls from the Orleans County Office for the Aging distributed farmers’ market coupons to those eligible at the senior citizens’ picnic Monday.

MEDINA – Nearly 65 seniors from the Senior Center of Western Orleans enjoyed a catered picnic lunch Monday at Junior Wilson Club.

The day provided an opportunity not only for lunch, but for camaraderie, fun and a game of cards.

Becky Karls with the Orleans County Office for the Aging was there with coupons for farmers’ markets to those who were income eligible.

Highlight of the picnic was an auction of bagged gifts each senior was asked to bring. Billy Martin of Medina volunteered as auctioneer, as seniors bid on their unknown prizes, which included everything from gift cards and candles to playing cards, candy and gags.

Kelly Shaw, director of the Senior Center of Western Orleans, reminded seniors the center is closed Monday and Tuesday during August, but still open for cards from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Any interested senior is encouraged to join. Cost for the remainder of 2021 is $5 and a full year’s membership, beginning Jan. 1, is $10.

The center offers exercise from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays and free baked goods on Monday mornings, resuming in September.

Events in the planning include a dinner meeting Sept. 13; a chicken barbecue, eat in or takeout, on Oct. 14; and a basket raffle on Oct. 16. Baskets may be donated any time the center is open. Deadline for donating a basket is Sept. 16.

Seniors line up for lunch at the senior picnic Monday at Junior Wilson Club. From left are Rosemary Eden, Cece Wilson, Marsha Snyder and Sherry Tuohey.

Auctioneer Billy Martin of Medina, left, and Lynn Creasey, president of the board of Senior Center of Western Orleans, auction off brown bags full of surprises at the senior picnic Monday at Junior Wilson Club.

Photo courtesy of Medina Central School:  Pictured from left include Daniel Doctor (Co-Principal Clifford Wise Intermediate School), Chris Hughes (Co-Principal Clifford Wise Intermediate School) and Jenn Stearns (Principal Oak Orchard Primary School).

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – Oak Orchard Primary School Principal Jenn Stearns and Clifford Wise Intermediate Co-Principals Daniel Doctor and Chris Hughes are excited about starting the school year with a meet-and-greet with students and their families.

On Monday, August 30^th, from 3 to 6 p.m. between the two schools on the playground, the two schools will be hosting a welcome back picnic.

“We feel this will be a good head start to the new school year and it will be nice to see the kids and their parents,” Mr. Hughes said. “Also we will now have the third grade at the intermediate school and it will give the students and their parents a chance to get comfortable with that.  Summer is long for us when we are at the school and there are no students. We really miss them!”

Mrs. Stearns says the get together will achieve many goals.

“It’s an opportunity to visit the campus before the start of school, meet some of the staff, allow the students to catch up with friends and for us to get everyone’s paperwork before school actually starts,” she said. “For some of our students, they have not been in class for over a year and a half. We want to ease any fears they have about coming back and get them excited.”   Mr. Doctor says it’s a great way to build partnerships with parents.

“We can’t wait to see everyone!”

In the event of rain, the picnic will be moved to the gymnasiums of each school. The principals say that parents can feel free to bring their child’s school supplies in a labeled paper bag. They also encourage families to bring in their filled out paperwork they received in their summer mailer.

For 7th and 8th graders who will be entering the high school this upcoming school year, there will be an orientation and tour on Wednesday, August 25^th, for 7th grade at 6 p.m. and on Thursday, August 26th, for 8th grade at 6 p.m. Students will get information about academics, school activities, clubs and a copy of their schedule.

Medina will apply again for $10 million for series of projects

Courtesy of Village of Medina, previous DRI application: The Village of Medina wants to improve public access to the Medina Waterfalls by constructing an elevated platform from the towpath. That project was part of Medina’s application in 2019 for $10 million in DRI funding.

MEDINA – The Village of Medina has a better chance of landing a $10 million grant as part of state Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

That’s because the state has doubled the funding, from $100 to $200 million for 10 regions in the state. In the first four DRI rounds, the state picked one winner from each of the 10 regions for $100 total.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced the state will be allocating $20 million for each region, with either two $10 million winners or one $20 million recipient.

The communities have until Sept. 15 to submit an application. Medina Mayor Mike Sidari said the village will be trying again for the $10 million and is working with Bergmann, a Rochester engineering and architectural firm, and a local committee to identify projects.

Sidari said he expects there will be some changes from the previous application, including some new projects that may be added. The village’s application also should be strengthened by several recent additions to the downtown, including the completion of the Bent’s Opera House, an expansion at the Zambistro restaurant, several new murals and other projects in the downtown. The state wants to direct the $10 million to villages or cities with momentum in their downtowns.

“We’re marking the Downtown Revitalization Initiative’s fifth year by doubling down on our commitment to help reimagine communities across the state, especially as we prepare for a post-pandemic future,” Cuomo said in a recent announcement. “The DRI is a cornerstone of New York’s comprehensive economic development strategy to drive investment and job creation in downtowns across the state. Our investments will support new and existing businesses, drive new mixed-use developments and bolster the arts and cultural venues to help attract residents and visitors for years to come.”

Medina was one of five finalists in 2019. That makes Sidari think the community already has a strong case for the funding.

Medina missed out to Seneca Falls in the Finger Lakes Region two years ago. The DRI wasn;t offered last year. Previous $10 million grant winners in the Finger Lakes region include the City of Geneva in 2016, the City of Batavia in 2017, the Village of Penn Yan in 2018 and Seneca Falls in 2019.

Applications for DRI Round 5 are available on the DRI website (click here). All applications should be submitted with a $10 million award in mind but may indicate that they would also like to be considered for a $20 million award, Cuomo said in a news release.

As with past DRI rounds, each selected community needs to develop a strategic plan with a vision for the revitalization of its downtown and identifies a list of signature projects that have the potential to transform the downtown. DRI funds will then be awarded for selected projects that have the greatest potential to jumpstart revitalization and realize the community’s vision for the downtown, Cuomo said.

Medina’s application from 2019 listed the following projects to be considered for DRI funding:

• Streetscape Improvements at an estimated $1 million in DRI funding.
• Rail with Trail, a multi-use trail along the Medina Railroad from the museum to Main Street, at an estimated DRI funding request of $200,000.
• The Canal Village Farmer’s Market would become a year-round market with a community kitchen, distillery and event space as part of a $3 million project, with $2.8 million in DRI funding.
• Canal Basin Park – Improved waterfront access and amenities at the Canal Basin Park for $2 million, to be funded with the DRI.
• State Street Park – enhanced programming to make the park a year-round recreational destination, with an ice skating rink, enhanced lighting, boat tie-ups, benches and bicycle racks, and a construction of a nature trail at a $600,000 cost, with the DRI funding $500,000.
• Lions Park Boater Access – The village seeks $250,000 for the DRI to install boat tie-ups and docking facilities at the Lions Park near the Route 63 lift bridge.
• Medina Falls Overlook – The village wants to better utilize the Medina waterfalls by adding a viewing platform and overlook off the Erie Canalway Trail, near the Horan Road Bridge. The project would cost an estimated $1.9 million with the DRI funding $1.5 million.
• Wayfinding Signage – Install a cohesive and well-branded system of wayfinding and directional signs at a cost of $200,000 with the DRI funding $150,000.
• Small Grant Fund – This fund will support economic-development related activities through the distribution of small grants to local businesses and investors. Medina would like a $900,000 fund with the DRI paying $600,000.
• Mustang City: Adaptive Reuse of the old Medina High School – A $9 million project with the DRI request at $3 million.
• Snappy’s Mixed-Use Development: This project at $1.8 million includes a $1 million DRI request. It would redevelop the Snappy facility on Commercial Street by the Erie Canal into a mixed-use commercial and residential space. The property could be redeveloped with the first floor for commercial uses and the second floor for residential.

File photo by Ginny Kropf: Visitors look over a display of Corvair automobiles parked at the Medina Railroad Museum during their visit here several years ago. A grant from the Preservation League of NYS will go towards a plan for rehabilitation and reuse of the 300-foot-long freight house shown in this photo.

MEDINA – The Medina Railroad Museum has been approved for an $8,000 grant to help pay for a “Historic Structure Report” to help the museum plan for rehabilitation and reuse of the 300-foot-long freight house.

The museum plans to hire Clinton Brown Company Architecture for the report on the freight house and to examine potential expansion onto nearby land to increase display space for railroad equipment.

The grant from the Preservation League of NYS is one of 32 for projects in 25 counties that total $297,995 in grant funding.

Each “Preserve New York” grant supports important arts and cultural initiatives, as well as economic development related to our state’s arts and cultural heritage, the Preservation League stated.

“Many of these grants will lead to historic district designation or expansion, telling the stories of communities throughout the state and allowing property owners to take advantage of the New York State and Federal Historic Tax Credits,” the league said. “This is even more valuable now, with the NYS Commercial Historic Tax Credit recently expanded for small projects, granting property owners a 30% credit. The Preservation League of NYS and our program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts and the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation are thrilled to help fund this important work.”

The freight house at the Railroad Museum was built in circa 1905 for the New York Central Railroad. The building is bursting at the seams to accommodate collections storage, 40,000 visitors a year, and museum programs, the league said.

“Navigating the difficulties and hardships of the past year has been a challenge for nonprofits and municipalities across the state,” said Erin Tobin, Vice President for Policy and Preservation and the Preservation League. “The League is grateful to our program partners at NYSCA and the Gardiner Foundation for continuing to support Preserve New York, which will grant much-needed dollars to so many worthwhile preservation projects this year.”

To see a list of all the grant winners, click here.

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Alaina Zapf, president of the Friends of the Medina Dog Park, is shown Saturday at the park at 260 North Gravel Road next to Medina’s former compost plant. She was presented with her Orleans Hub award for being an “Outstanding Citizen” of 2020. Orleans Hub wasn’t able to have its usual awards presentation as a group celebration due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Zapf was instrumental in organizing and raising funds the dog park. She worked with village officials and contractors to get the project open last year with the initial fenced in area for dogs as well as an agility section.

The dog park is a place for dogs to socialize and get some exercise near the village. The dog park is a first in Orleans County. The park is a place for where the dogs can roam leash-free.

Zapf said there are more improvements coming, hopefully in late summer or early fall. That includes a water station for dogs to get drinks and rinse their paws. A small enclosure will also be constructed.

That fenced in area will be 100 by 100 feet. There are currently four memorial benches and two more are coming. Zapf also said security cameras will be added, as well as sponsor signs.

The Friends also want to raise funds for more agility equipment for dogs. The group’s fundraising efforts have been hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information on the Friends of the Medina Dog Park, click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Medina Rotary Club member Carl Tuohey (left) and President Ben McPherson are shown at the tennis courts at Medina Central School, which have been modified this weekend for a pickle ball tournament.

There are 45 participants in the tournament. Tuohey is regular pickleball player in the courts at the Knights of Columbus on Main Street, where the basketball court on the third floor is used for pickleball.

Tuohey said many local service clubs do golf tournaments. Medina Rotary wanted to embrace a growing sport and also put on a unique local tournament.

“It’s good exercise,” Tuohey said. “Anybody of any age can play it.”

In pickleball, the courts are smaller than in tennis. The pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long. This group practices together as doubles teams on Saturday after they competed individually. They include Pete Zamniak (Medina native now in Rochester) and Sean Greif of Rochester on the left side playing against Will Soos of Buffalo and Jordan Hogan of Lockport.

Pete Zamniak returns the ball on Saturday. He said pickleball isn’t as physically taxing as tennis because the court is a smaller space. Pickleball is a test of quick reflexes and hand-eye coordination. The serve also isn’t an overheard serve like with tennis. The ball is similar to a whiffle ball, and the players use paddles, rather than rackets.

The top three individual players on Saturday include, from left: Will Soos of Buffalo, second; Jordan Hogan of Lockport, third; and Sean Greif of Rochester, first.

Jordan Hogan, right, hits the ball back over the net. Will Soos is at left.

Today there will be 16 doubles teams playing in the tournament.