Julie Berry, acclaimed author from Medina, sees resurgence in independent book stores

Photos by Tom Rivers: Julie Berry is shown late Saturday afternoon after a busy first day at the Author’s Note, the former Book Shoppe at 519 Main St.

MEDINA – It was Friday night when Julie Berry posted on social media that Saturday would be opening day for Author’s Note.

She was expecting a soft opening on Saturday, with some people popping in to see the remodel of the former Book Shoppe.

But longtime customers and the Medina community wouldn’t have a tepid debut for store. There was a line waiting for outside the Author’s Note when it opened at 10 a.m. at 519 Main St. and the people kept coming throughout the day.

“I hoped for a good day but it was an extraordinary day,” Berry said on Saturday afternoon. “We’ve had a phenomenal first day.”

The Author’s Note has completed the full remodel of the store. The back section, where the Book Shoppe used to sell toys and games, is expected to open in about three weeks as an area for children.

It has been an ambitious remaking of the space, with two drop-down ceiling taken down to showcase the original tin ceiling, which needed repairs, sanding and painting.

The linoleum and floors, and the sub-flooring also were removed. That revealed a hardwood floor that was sanded after the staples and nails were pulled up.

Berry said the floor and ceiling makes the store feel bigger and taller.

“This has been a dream to have a book store,” Berry said.

The Author’s Note team includes, from left: Erica Caldwell, book buyer; Julie Berry, owner; and Olivia Marchese, book seller.

She bought the business from Gloria and Fred Fierch. They operated for the Book Shoppe for about a year. Susan Phillips previously owned the store for 21 years.

Berry said the Book Shoppe has a clear following in the community. She expects those core customers to keep coming back, and she will be working to draw in new people.

Julie Berry is an acclaimed author of 25 books, including several award-winning youth adult novels. She is holding her latest book, Cranky Right Now, which was released on May 11. This photo shows the tin ceiling and hardwood floors that are now visible as part of the store’s remodel.

Besides selling books in the store and online through the Author’s Note website, the inventory will include toys, puzzles, crafts and science-based projects for children. And Author’s Note will continue to offer a customer favorite: coffee.

Berry is a 1991 Medina grad who has written 25 books, with some under a pen name. She has won numerous prestigious awards.

Berry, her husband Phil and their children were living in Los Angeles last year when her sister told her the Book Shoppe was for sale. Berry welcomed the chance to come back to her hometown, and own a book store. She moved back to Medina in November.

Phil and many of Berry’s family and friends have tackled the renovations with zest.

“I see Author’s Note creating a community for book lovers and connecting readers to their favorite authors,” Berry said. “I think of all books as being an ‘author’s note’ to the world. I hope this community will see this book store as my love note to Medina.”

She has an office downstairs and will continue to write two to three hours a day. She also will spend several hours in the store with customers.

Her cousin Erica Caldwell is a key part of the operation, as the book buyer. Caldwell owned her own book store in Batavia, Present Tense.

Berry said many independent book stores are seeing a resurgence with Covid-19 restrictions giving people more time to read. The pandemic has also made many people value small town merchants more, including the locally owned bookstores.

“The bookstores that succeed are the ones that have created a community with their customers,” she said.

Photos by Alicia Vanderwalker: FaithAnn Vanderwalker, a senior at Medina High School, celebrates her graduation this past weekend from Genesee Community College by throwing her cap in the air.

MEDINA – FaithAnn Vanderwalker has achieved an honor rarely attained by youth her age. She has graduated from college before she finished high school.

FaithAnn, a daughter of Todd and Alicia Vanderwalker of Stone Road, graduated this weekend from Genesee Community College with a degree in liberal arts and natural sciences, a month before she will graduate from Medina High School as valedictorian.

Her future plans include attending the State University of New York School of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse to major in wildlife biology and environmental science.

FaithAnn earned more than 90 college credits during the last four years of high school. She was a member of the Advanced College Studies ACE class, where she began her college journey while in Middle School, after being nominated for the two-year math/science prep program, according to her mother Alicia. FaithAnn attended college classes concurrently while enrolled in advanced classes at Medina High School.

In addition, FaithAnn was on the Provost List for having a GPA at the college of higher than 3.75, and was part of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Along with her extra courseload during the past six years, she participated in the Medina Mustang Marching Band and is a three-sport athlete.

In sixth grade, FaithAnn won first place in the Math Science Prep Science Fair during her enrollment process for college. More than 200 students from the GLOW region were nominated for the program and they then needed to apply and complete knowledge tests in math. Only the top 50 made it into the program and went on to compete in the science fair.

FaithAnn Vanderwalker

FaithAnn is also very involved in her church and youth group, with whom she has gone on two mission trips to Mexico, where they are helping to build an orphanage. In her free time, FaithAnn has chickens, goats and a large garden. She loves the outdoors and is currently working on hiking the 46 high peaks in the Adirondacks. She has won first place in the 90-mile Adirondack Canoe Classic with her dad.

“FaithAnn gives her all to everything she has done and has made her family, school, church and community so proud of her,” her mother said.

Group makes sure veterans recognized at Millville, West Shelby, Marshall Road and Bates Road cemeteries

Zach McAdoo, a volunteer from the community, places a flag on a veteran’s grave in Millville Cemetery on Saturday morning. McAdoo was one of a handful of community members who assisted the Lincoln Post VFW and Butts-Clark American Legion Post.

Jim Freas, standing at right, instructs Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and members of the VFW and American Legion in Medina on placing flags on veterans’ graves in local cemeteries.

MEDINA – Placing flags on veterans’ graves before Memorial Day has been a tradition for veterans’ groups in Medina for decades.

The only thing that has changed is that the number of veterans who turn out to volunteer is declining, said Dave Kusmierczak, a member of the Butts-Clark American Legion and Lincoln VFW posts in Medina.

As is customary, the veterans met at the VFW Post on East Center, along with members of Girl Scout Troop 82094, Cub Scout Pack 28, their leaders and parents and several community volunteers.

Jim Freas welcomed the group and explained the cemeteries they would be visiting. He said a handful of veterans last week had already placed flags on a dozen of small cemeteries located throughout the Medina area.

On Saturday, the volunteers went to Millville Cemetery, West Shelby, Marshall Road and Bates Road. In all, they estimate they placed more than 500 flags on veterans’ graves.

The flags will remain in the cemeteries until after Veterans’ Day in November, when the volunteers will return to retrieve them.

Veterans who placed flags on veteran’s graves in Millville Cemetery were, from left, Norm Slayer, a Korean War veteran, Steve Johnson, Dave Kusmierczak and Glen Whitmore, all members of the VFW and American Legion in Medina.

Tony Vicknair, a member of the VFW and American Legion in Medina was one of less than a dozen veterans who helped place flags on veterans’ graves Saturday morning.

Arthur Barnes creates ‘magical’ scene, his fifth canal-themed mural

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Arthur Barnes is shown installing a mural today at the Orleans County YMCA facing West Avenue on a brick building near Lee Place.

This is the fifth Erie Canal-themed mural Barnes has created.

Barnes used a scene near the Allens Bridge Road canal bridge on the west end of Albion for inspiration.

“The picture of the home and bridge was important not only to this canal community, but it’s the Y’s desire to be building bridges to the home and connecting the community to health and wellness,” said Greg Reed, YMCA executive director.

Barnes said he painted the sky five different times with a striking sunset that reflects in the canal water.

“I was trying to do something magical instead of a tourism brochure,” Barnes said.

He used mural paint on a special plywood suitable for murals.

Barnes was assisted in the installation today by his friends, Leon Jonathan and his sister Deanna Jonathan.

Barnes said he has some touching up to do on the painting, and needs to add his signature.

This project was funded through a grant from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

MEDINA — Medina will be going to four days of in-person learning for grades 7 to 12 starting June 1, the district announced on Thursday.

The district last month was able to bring the elementary students back to school four days each week, when the CDC and state reduced the social distancing for desks from 6 to 3 feet.

The high school wasn’t able to move forward with four days because of the Covid-19 caseload in Orleans County. But the cases have been declining, with the designation for the county changing from “red” to “orange” with the falling Covid transmission rate, Mark Kruzynski, district superintendent, said in a letter to the community on Thursday. (The NYS Department of Health currently puts Orleans County at 81.78 cases per 100,000 the past seven days.)

“Please understand that is cases surge in the next week, and Orleans County returns to a ‘red’ designation, our plans may change and we will be forced to remain in our current hybrid model,” Kruzynski said. “Thank you for your patience and understanding. We are looking forward to all students returning to campus on June 1!”

Medina will continue to have a virtual day with all students on remote learning at the high school on Wednesday.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has dissolved a Police Reform Committee that formed last summer and prepared a plan that needed to be submitted to the state as part of a police reform and collaboration mandate from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Medina sent its plan to the state in late March. That fulfilled the committee’s mission, which also included dialogue with the community about policing.

Medina village officials want to keep the discussion going, continue to look about local policing policies, and offer residents at least an annual opportunity to offer input on the Police Department.

The board is looking to fill spots on a new Police Advisory Committee. Village officials and the Police Department will reach out to members of the Police Reform Committee to see if they want to serve on the advisory committee. One of the reform committee’s recommendations was creating the advisory group.

“This advisory committee can continue the work that was started, and attempt to further build positive relations with the community,” said Lt. Todd Draper of the Medina Police Department.

The reform committee also has been asked to make recommendations of members of the new advisory committee. All members will need to be appointed by the Village Board.

The initial 12 members of the reform committee included Daniel Doctor, Pastor Jovannie Canales, Mayor Michael Sidari, Jacquie Chinn, Lt. Todd Draper, Scott Robinson, Sherry Tuohey, Chief Chad Kenward, David and Cynthia King, District Attorney Joe Cardone and Public Defender Joanne Best.

The initial reform committee updated and reviewed policies on use of force, mental health, body worn cameras, community relations, civilian personnel complaints, performance evaluations, handling deadly force incidents, and use of firearms including taser and less lethal shotgun.

The committee recommended the advisory board include a cross-section of the community and meet regularly. That community policing board would work towards forming better relations between law enforcement and the community.

Organizers don’t expect to have Super Cruise on Main Street later in summer

File photo by Tom Rivers: Classic cars are lined up on Main Street during the Super Cruise on Sept. 2, 2015 when part of Main Street in Medina was blocked off. The car show will be held in the Canal Basin on Fridays from June 11 until Aug. 27.

MEDINA – The classic car cruise-ins will be back in Medina on Friday evenings beginning June 11. The events typically bring out 100 to 125 cars in the Canal Basin.

Last year the cruise-ins were cancelled early in the season because they were drawing crowds that exceeded the 150-person cap at the time, which was the maximum crowd limit set by the state with Covid-19 restrictions.

That cap currently is 500 people for outdoor gatherings. David Green, retired Orleans County sheriff, said there likely won’t be a Super Cruise with Main Street blocked off due to the large crowds that event draws. But he expects there will be a special event to close out the season on Aug. 27.

The events will be on Fridays from 5 to 7:30 p.m. People can just drive in with a classic car and they are encouraged to set up in chairs behind their cars.

Medina has been hosting the car shows on Fridays for more than 20 years. The event is sponsored by the United Way of Orleans County. There will be 50-50 raffles with proceeds going to the United Way.

DJ Hank Nevins will be back playing music. Green said several businesses have donated to cover the costs of the DJ.

Tim Hortons in Medina hosting bracelet sale May 25 for Medina native battling ALS

Provided photos: Jimmer Szatkowski has on boxing gloves to show he plans to fight ALS, following his diagnosis of the disease.

MEDINA – The Tim Hortons on Maple Ridge Road will be hosting an ALS awareness event on May 25. Andrew Szatkowski will be selling “Team Jimmer” bracelets to raise money for ALS research and trials.

Szatkowski is leading the effort in honor of his brother Jimmer, who was diagnosed with ALS last month. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

Jimmer Szatkowski, 48, is a Medina native. He now lives in the Syracuse area and owns two Chick-fil-A restaurants, with sites in Cicero and Clay.

Jimmer has already raised over $8,000 for ALS with donations through the Tackle ALS website.

“I was  diagnosed with ALS in April 2021,” he writes on his fundraising page for the site. “God is good always, and I am still climbing by his Grace. I accept nothing besides His greatness. I intend to fight this disease and to help a whole lot of people along the way. Please join me in the fight. God Bless, Jimmer#keepgrinding”

Jimmer’s brother Andrew has been active in the community in recent years, raising funds in annual toy drive and helping to send local kids to summer camp.

Andrew works as director of operations at Takeform in Medina. He also is a frequent customer at Tim Hortons. He talked with Joey Fillippelli, who runs the Tim Hortons in Medina and he agreed to host the ALS fundraiser from the site’s parking lot. Tim Hortons will also donate $1 for every $5 bracelet sold that day.

“This is all happening because of people who care,” Szatkowski said today. “It is people helping people. I know we can make an impact as a community.”

Szatkowski will be out early in the morning on May 25 selling the bracelets and expects to be there until 5 p.m.

He has already sold about $700 of the bracelets and heard from several in the community who have lost loved ones to ALS.

Jimmer Szatkowski has set a goal to raise $1 million to help fund research and trials for ALS, which currently doesn’t have a cure.

Andrew Szatkowski will be selling these bracelets and cards for $5 on May 25 outside Tim Hortons in Medina to raise money for ALS research and clinical trials.

The bracelets and cards include a message that May is ALS Awareness Month.

“We have hope that there will be a cure; however ALS research is underfunded,” the card states. “We need funds to make this Cure possible!”

The fundraiser will direct 100 percent of the funds to research, clinical trials and also clinical care at Healey Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The other side of the card includes a Bible verse from Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

MEDINA – The district’s $39,323,374 school budget for 2021-22 passed easily in a vote today, with 360 yes votes and 36 no’s.

The tax levy, what the district collects in taxes, remains at $8,641,861. Medina now has not increases taxes in the last 10 years and 13 of the last 14 years.

Board of Education – There are three seats up for election with two 3-year terms and the other for just over a year.

Only two people – Corrine Ryan and Alissa Bruce – had their names on the ballot. Three others mounted write-in campaigns.

Bruce had the most votes at 297 and Jennifer Buondonno had the second most in a write-in campaign with 239 votes. They were elected to three-year terms.

Debbie Tompkins, another write-in candidate, was elected to the one-year term with 222 votes. That term starts May 19 and continues through June 30, 2022.

Ryan received 152 votes and Ann Webster-Bunch had 44 as a write-in.

MEDINA – Medina’s Releaf Society met May 5 to discuss further tree plantings in the village.

Donations have been received for 12 memorial trees, to be placed in Medina’s six parks with accompanying plaques. Parks are Butts Park on South Main Street, Gwinn Street, State Street, Pine Street, Gulf Street and Rotary Park. Cost for a memorial tree with plaque is $300.

Releaf Society chair Kathy Blackburn said while the tree fund drive officially ended April 30, they still welcome donations. She said they could use money for bushes and shrubbery in Butts Park. They would also like to add some greenery along the south side of Rotary Park. In addition, Blackburn said trees are needed in Boxwood Cemetery to replace some of the many old ones which have or will be taken down in the cemetery.

Jason Watts, superintendent of the Village Street and Parks Department, said they won’t be planting any more trees until fall. While he has planted as many as 60 in previous years, he told Blackburn 40 was a more comfortable number.

Blackburn reported that Gary Kent of Albion had donated a variety of saplings, which Mayor Mike Sidari said could be used on the north end of Boxwood Cemetery. Plans are to plant them in the grassy area adjoining the town of Ridgeway.

Blackburn said she had learned from National Grid that they will reimburse the village $50 for any tree which meets its growth requirements for under wires.

She also reported trees were needed on South Avenue and Frank Street, and she would like the village to look at strategically planting some flowering trees, similar to those on State Street.

The Medina Releaf Society was formed last year to work with the Medina Tree Board. The Releaf Society is able to fundraise, while the Tree Board is not. The Releaf Society conducts fundraising, and then the Tree Board steps in and decides what kind and where trees can be planted  and which need to be trimmed or cut down.

Blackburn reminds residents that no one can cut down a tree within the village on the village’s right-of-way. That is the area between the street and sidewalk, she said.

She also explained that before any tree is planted, a sample of the soil is sent to Cooperative Extension for analyzing, to determine which trees grow best in that certain area.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Medina Releaf Society can send a check payable to Orleans Renaissance Group, P.O. 543, Medina, with a notation for Medina Releaf Society.

Members of the Releaf Society, in addition to Blackburn, are Bob Sanderson, Lisa Tombari and Jake Hebdon.

Covid shutdown cancelled last year’s induction ceremony

Press Release, Medina Central School

Provided photos: Seniors Evie Schultz, Ianah Drisdom and Corey Saj take the National Honor Society Pledge.

MEDINA – A distinguished group of Medina juniors and seniors were celebrated in two ceremonies at High School as they were inducted into the Arista Chapter of the National Honor Society.

In order to become a member, students must have a cumulative average of 90% or higher. They must also fill out an application and submit an essay to be reviewed by the faculty council made up of high school teachers.

Because of the school shutdown last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Principal Michael Cavanagh and the planning committee felt it was important to honor this year’s and last year’s honorees together.

“It is truly an achievement to make the National Honor Society,” said Mark Kruzynski, district superintendent. “I am especially proud of this group, because of all of the adversity that they have had to overcome because of the pandemic.  These students excelled whether learning remotely or in school, and they adapted to every situation.  Congratulations to all of our National Honor Society inductees.”

Two ceremonies were held on May 5, coordinated by National Honor Society advisors, Alissa Dunham and Samantha Rennie, with guest speaker, Jackie Gardner.  A community member who has been a leader in many organizations like United Way and GCASA, Gardner also has been involved in the American Bankers Association for 33 years.

Gardner has devoted her time to the Orleans County United Way for eight years and served and president and vice president. She also helped to co-chair the United Way Allocations Committee and is currently part of Leadership Orleans. In addressing the students, she talked to them about the four pillars of National Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, service and character and how to incorporate them into their lives now and in their future. She encouraged students to get involved in their community and wherever they go in the future. The school district would like to thank her for impact on their community.

Ianah Drisdom, a senior, is congratulated by her mother.

The ceremonies included excerpts from essays that students submitted with their applications for the National Honor Society.  The topics for these essays were: an adult that made the greatest impact on them, being an A student or the four pillars of the National Honor Society.  The ceremony was concluded with a candle lighting ceremony, the receiving of their gold cords from Assistant Principal Joel Reed and the reciting of the National Honor Society Pledge.

The new inductees include:

Seniors: James Bieliski, Arella Biesinger, Abigail Blount (Vice President), Tessa Boyce, Brooklyn Brown, Sophia Cardone (President), Emma Carson, Alwyn Cayea, Morgan Crossett, Ianah Drisdom, Carter Green, Devin Griffin, Alexis Hare, Makayla Heideman, Corinne Hill, Kylie Hinman (Social Chair), Bailey Jackson, Hannah Kenward (Treasurer), Carina Kingsbury, Emma Leonard, Madison Meyers, Abigail Neuman, Jaden Pencille, August Pietrafesa, Emma Roush, Jack Rutkowski (Secretary), Corey Saj, Evie Schultz, Emma Schwarzott, Sarah Sones, Madison Stewart, Ryan Taylor, Faith Ann Vanderwalker, Jacob Velesko, Sydney Watts and Amanda Woodruff.

Alexis Jones (Social Chair) and Micaela Erway (Vice President), graduates from the Class of 2020, also participated in the ceremony for the seniors.

Juniors: Dakota Alexander, Andrea Benz, David Berry, Suvi Biesinger, Thomas Burgess Jr., Lily Carpenter, Joseph Cecchini, Zachary Fike, Benjamin Griffin, Samuel Kingsbury, Kaylee Lacey, Drayven Oakes, Kristi Oliver, Xander Payne, Jaxon Phillips, Victoria Potter, Karina Rotoli, Charisma Roy, Willy Sanchez Cabrera, Aleena Silker, Willow Smith, Alexandria Strong, Kristen Trillizio, Emma Wagner, Hayden Woodroe and Megan Zakes.

Press Release, NYS Department of Transportation

KNOWLESVILLE – The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that the bridge carrying Route 31 over the Falls Road Railroad in the town of Ridgeway is expected to close Tuesday, May 11, to accommodate construction that includes bridge deck repairs, joint replacement and slab reconstruction to enhance safety.

The bridge is expected to be closed to traffic through the end of June. A signed detour will be in place for motorists to use Route 98, Route 31A, Route 63 and Route 31. Local roads near the bridge will be accessible during construction. This is the bridge just west of the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.