Provided photos: The Masterminds team competed virtually against the other teams and is undefeated so far this season.

MEDINA – A team of students at Medina High School are undefeated in a national academic varsity quiz tournament.

The Masterminds is led by algebra teacher Jeff Dole and includes freshman Alex Balaban, juniors David Berry, Isaac Pace and Arian Cayea, and seniors Suvi Biesinger, Alwyn Cayea and Carter Green, who make up the varsity team.

Jeff Dole, math teacher at Medina High School and adviser for the undefeated Masterminds, talks with senior David Berry, a member of the team. They will compete in the league playoffs on April 30 in Rochester.

The team is 12-0 for the first time in its history. Balaban is high scorer in the league with 570 points. Pace is fourth with 345 points.

There are also two junior varsity teams, one of which is 7-5 and the other 4-8.

The varsity Masterminds have placed first before, but have never been undefeated until this year, Dole said. Their score as of a week ago was 3,250 points, while the nearest competitor was 1,460 points.

Due to the Covid pandemic, the teams have had to compete online this year in the league, which includes teams from Albion, Holley, Kendall and Pembroke. They will face off April 30 with nine teams in the Rochester league. The top three will advance to the next round of the playoffs.

Topics of trivia can be on any subject, Dole said. This includes everything from comic books, sports and history to current events in the world and math.

Dole said the kids like competing in trivia, and whenever they can go to a competition they make an event of it.

“We stop and eat and socialize on the bus,” Dole said. “The kids also like talking to the students at other schools.”

Dole said some of the students decided not to join the team this year because they didn’t like the online format.

Each of the members of the team is especially knowledgeable in a different subject. Alex is an expert in geography and history; Isaac is well rounded; and David knows a lot about sports. Carter knows a lot about pop culture, while Alwyn’s strong points are Greek mythology, science and Roman gods.

“They all have their strong points,” Dole said.

In addition to the Masterminds, Dole coaches varsity track and junior varsity volleyball.

Provided photo: From left, Brian Fox, ETR president/CEO of Iroquois Job Corps; John Thomas, operations director; Rafael Rodriguez, Independent Living adviser; and Dennis Essom, Center director, pose in the Conference Room after Rodriguez was honored for saving the life of a fellow Job Corps employee.

MEDINA – An employee of Iroquois Job Corps was recognized this week for saving the life of a fellow employee.

Rafael Rodriguez is an Independent Living adviser who, without hesitation, put his First Aid/CPR training to work by performing the Heimlich maneuver on another staff member who was choking on an object lodged in his throat.

His actions saved the fellow staff member’s life, said Dennis Essom, Center director, in a press release.

Rodriguez was presented with a certificate of recognition, a monetary award and a paid day off.

The award was presented by Brian Fox, ETR president/CEO; John Thomas, operations director; and Dennis Essom, Center director.

Provided photo: Nicole Tuohey and Case-Nic Cookies, which is owned by her mother Mary Lou Tuohey, sold cookies last month in a fundraiser for the Arc of Genesee Orleans.

Press Release, Arc of Genesee Orleans

MEDINA – Arc of Genesee Orleans extends heartfelt thanks to Nicole Tuohey and the team at Case-Nic Cookies for an impressive $3,200 raised to benefit Arc services during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March.

The proceeds came from Nicole’s “Have a Heart” campaign which included a window raffle and the sale of frosted heart cutout cookies!

Arc’s Director of Development Shelley Falitico was on hand at Case-Nic Cookies recently to accept the donation and thanked Nicole and her mother, Mary Lou, for always keeping Arc of Genesee Orleans and Arc Services close to heart.

“The Tuohey family has been connected to our agency for decades and they’re always ready and willing to help,” Falitico said. “We’re so appreciative!”

Nicole and her family urge people not to label others who may seem different because of disabilities and remember that while people share a lot of differences, they are also alike in many ways.

Auto body students converting Brinks truck into a command vehicle

Provided photos: Brayden James (Niagara Academy), Lt. Todd Draper, Noah Poler (Lyndonville) and teacher Ron Jackson are shown with some of the steel targets made for the Medina PD to use for firearms training.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Lieutenant Todd Draper of the Medina Police Department says the department has always enjoyed their relationship with Orleans/Niagara BOCES.

Not only does Lt. Draper serve on the Advisory Committee for the Security and Law Enforcement program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center (OCTEC), the auto body program and the welding program have been helping the Police Department with projects to assist in their mission.

A finished target is shown next to a Medina patrol car.

“The OCTEC principal Mike Mann has been terrific to work with and so have the teachers,” Lt. Draper said. “They have helped us with safety planning and allowing us to tour the building.  The auto body teacher Tom Struebing and his class are converting a Brinks truck into a command vehicle, which we can share with the Medina Fire Department. Now the welding program, taught by Eric Farrell and Ron Jackson, is helping with making steel targets for the police to use for our firearm training.”

Lt. Draper says the targets will make the training for the police officers more exciting.

“There is something very satisfying hearing that ‘clang’ when you are at the range,” Draper said. “It helps to mix the training up and make it more realistic since they will show the upper torso and head and there are also targets that represent hostages or good people. We think we will get a lot of positive response from our officers using these instead of paper targets.”

Three junior welding students: Brayden James, Noah Poler and Dillion Wagner were assigned the project.

“It is pretty cool to be helping the community with the skills we are learning here,” Brayden said.

“I really enjoyed this project,” Dillion said. “It’s rewarding, we actually get to build something and help the police department.”

Lt. Draper has stopped in to the class to see their progress. He said he enjoys his time with the students as they tell him what equipment and techniques they have used to make the firearm targets.

“It has been very beneficial to us,” Draper said. “We are a small department and our budget is not the largest. The targets are very expensive to buy, so having the class help us has been gratifying and beneficial for all of us.”

Lt. Draper said he and the Medina Police Department would like to extend their thanks to the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center for all their time and energy.

“We truly appreciate all the effort the students and teachers have put in to helping out the department,” he said. “On a personal note, I really enjoy talking to the students and seeing their excitement in showing me what they have accomplished. It is great to see the sense of pride they have in their work.”

Teacher Eric Farrell, Brayden James (Niagara Academy), Dillon Wagner (Barker) and Lt. Todd Draper are shown with some of the targets made by the welding students.

MEDINA – The high school will be virtual for learning the next week due to a Covid outbreak. The district plans to have students back for in-person later at the high school next Tuesday, April 27.

All BOCES programs also will be virtual during this time. The other Medina schools are fully open.

The district will also have to postpone the state assessment tests for grades 7 and 8 until when students are back for school in-person.

Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, said there are currently seven students in the high school who have tested positive and many others are quarantined. Kruzynski said all of the cases have been traced back to transmission outside of school.

Isabelle King Schultz feels the love during celebration at the Willows

Provided photos: Ariana McCuen, 7, gets a hug from her great-great-grandmother, Isabelle Schultz, during a 100th birthday celebration on Saturday.

MEDINA – Isabelle King Schultz celebrated a milestone birthday on Saturday in a very special way.

Schultz, who turned 100 on Friday, was honored on Saturday with visits from her family and friends and a parade of cars through the Willows to wish her happy birthday.

Born April 16, 1921 in Johnson Creek to James and Anna Annable Noble, Schultz spent some of her early childhood in Canada, but lived most of her live in the Middleport/Medina area.

She married Emory Bauer, with whom she had three children, Bill Bauer of Texas, Mary Ann Bauer of Niagara Falls and the late Dian Bauer Grove. After they separated, she married Robert King and had twins Susan King Webber of Middleport and Sharon King Kusmierczak of Brockport and Steven King. After Robert died, she married Donald Schultz.

She has 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Schultz, who has lived at the Willows for the last 15 years, is a member of the United Methodist Church in Middleport, where she ran their turkey dinners for many years. She drove Tri-Town Ambulance and also worked in the Roy-Hart School cafeteria for 15 years. She loved to go camping with her family.

Schultz noted she had seen the coronation of Queen Elizabeth and her marriage to Prince Philip, and the day she celebrated her 100th birthday, Schultz watched Prince Philip’s funeral.

She remembers her family’s first car – a Ford, and also remembers their house had no indoor plumbing and they used an outhouse.

While in her teens, Schultz taught herself to knit, a hobby which became her passion and which she still enjoys today. The hundreds of items she has made include lap robes, Mary Maxim sweaters, Christmas stockings, baby hats and mittens, many of which she gave to church groups.

Although she is hard of hearing, she can still see well enough to knit, and friends were invited to bring her a skein of any kind of “Red Heart” yarn for her birthday.

The family set up a table and chairs outside the entrance to the Willows, where Schultz sat bundled up in front of a little heater, so cars could drive down the driveway and wish her a happy birthday. Many stopped to hand a gift bag out the window or run up and give it to her with a hug.

She still enjoys having her nails and hair done and reads her Bible faithfully.

Isabelle Schultz, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday at the Willows, is surrounded by four of her children. From left are Mary Ann Bauer of Niagara Falls, Sharon Kusmierczak of Brockport, Steven King of Newfane and Susan Webber of Middleport.

Isabelle Schultz celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday at the Willows with four of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. She is pictured here with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-granddaughter.

MEDINA – There are three seats up for election on May 18. Candidates for the positions need to submit petitions signed by at least 25 registered voters in the school district by 5 p.m. April 19 to be eligible to be on the ballot.

The following Board of Education seats are open this year:

• Two 3-year terms for seats currently held by Dr. Ann Webster-Bunch and Lori Draper
• One 1-year term for the seat currently held by Brian Koch. (The winner of this seat will begin immediately after the election on May 18.)

For information about a petition, please call Julie Kuhn, District Clerk, at 798-2700, option 6, 1.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: George Bidleman, an owner of Orleans Ford and Hartway Motors in Medina and Bidleman Chevrolet in Albion, stands amid a row of new vehicles at Orleans Ford after wrapping up a month-long promotion at his dealerships to benefit United Way of Orleans County.

MEDINA – United Way of Orleans County got a boost in its fundraising efforts with the announcement from George Bidleman that a fundraiser he conducted in March has resulted in a donation of $9,200.

Bidleman, a long-time supporter of United Way and president of United Way of Orleans County, pledged to donate $25 for every vehicle sold at his dealerships during the month of March and to give each buyer an opportunity to match the donation.

Bidleman has been in the automotive business for 38 years, with 34 of them in Orleans County, where he has continued to grow and expand his holdings. His first dealership was Molye Chevrolet in Honeoye Falls. He next opened Orleans Ford in Medina. In 2018, he became co-owner of Bidleman Chevrolet Buick GMC in Albion, and last year acquired an ownership stake in Hartway Motors in Medina. He just recently purchased Bidleman Ford in Auburn.

United Way director Dean Bellack thanked Bidleman for his leadership and generosity.

“George lives up to his belief of ‘Give Back, Get Back,’” Bellack said. “George has set a path for us to follow with his personal and business investments to make Orleans County better for us all.”

Bidleman said he was happy for the opportunity to give to United Way and thanked the customers who participated in the fundraiser for their generosity.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Members of the John E. Butts Memorial Fund pose around the monument in Butts Park paying tribute to the Medina native who was killed in World War II. From left are Jim Freas, Peter Huth, Dave Barhite, Dave Kusmierczak and Steve Johnson. The fund awards a $500 scholarship in Butts’ name to a senior at Medina High School each year.

MEDINA – The John E. Butts Memorial Fund is seeking donations to support the organization and its efforts to award scholarships to graduating Medina seniors.

The fund in honor of the Medina native who was killed during World War II was started in 1981 by a group of Medina citizens who wanted to build a memorial to Butts. After a monument honoring the soldier was built in Butts Park, there was money left over and a scholarship was started.

John Butts was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of valor in the Normandy invasion in June 1944.

John Edward Butts was a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army and a rifle platoon leader who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions above and beyond the call of duty during the Normandy Campaign in World War II. Butts was one of five brothers who served in the war and the only one to be killed in action. He was born Aug. 4, 1922 in Medina and died in action June 23, 1944.

The fund, which also maintains the monument in Butts Park, awards a $500 scholarship each year to a senior at Medina High School. The organization relies on donations from the community to keep the fund going, said Dave Kusmierczak, secretary-treasurer of the John E. Butts Memorial Fund.

Other members of the organization which manages the fund are Peter Huth, president; Dave Barhite, vice president; and Steve Johnson, Jim Freas, Dave Morien and John Pera, board members. Jacquelyn Organisciak from Key Bank oversees the finances.

Kusmierczak said Huth goes to the school every year with applications for students to fill out, indicating life and career goals, their school activities, student income, a summary of the college they’d like to attend and what they want to study.

The scholarship isn’t awarded until the student enters college. In the event a scholarship isn’t awarded, leftover money is used for flowers around the monument in Butts Park.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in honor of Butts can send a check to the John E. Butts Memorial Fund in care of David Kusmierczak, 413 East Oak Orchard St., Medina, 14103.

Village’s urban forest has suffered from emerald ash borer

Photos courtesy of Kathy Blackburn: Members of Medina’s Releaf Medina Society stand around a diseased ash tree in State Street Park. The Society is trying to raise money to purchase trees to replace the hundreds which have been attacked by the emerald ash borer. From left are Lisa Tombari, Kathy Blackburn, Releaf Medina Society chair Robert Sanderson and Jake Hebdon.

(Editor’s Note: The Releaf Medina Society is a separate group from the Medina Tree Board. An article on Sunday said the group was part of the Tree Board.)

MEDINA – A group recently organized to address the enormous task of replacing Medina’s diseased ash trees is on a mission – to “Releaf Medina.”

The Releaf Medina Society includes chairman Robert Sanderson and members Kathy Blackburn, Jake Hebdon and Lisa Tombari. They are in the middle of a fundraiser through April 30th to help replace diseased trees, especially the ash destroyed by the emerald ash borer.

Sanderson has put together a brochure which the Society is distributing throughout Medina, telling the advantage of trees and how people can donate to the annual fund drive to purchase new trees.

Medina has more than 10 trees for every resident, one of the reasons Medina is designated by the Arbor Day Foundation as a “Tree City,” Blackburn said.

The village Department of Public Works plants, waters and maintains the village’s trees. Blackburn explained that, while the village budget provides for the planting of 25 new trees annually, more than 100 are being lost every year due to their age. The emerald ash borer is taking its toll on the village’s many ash trees, all of which will eventually have to be cut down.

Hebdon said this is a huge issue because there are so many ash trees in the village. The DPW is marking those which have to come down.

Blackburn said one tree can cost between $175 and $210, depending on the variety.

Releaf Medina Society members Jake Hebdon, Lisa Tombari, Kathy Blackburn and Robert Sanderson look at the stump of an ash tree in State Street Park which was diseased by the emerald ash borer and had to be cut down.

Many of Medina’s trees may look all right on the outside, but inside they are full of disease, she said. The village has been focusing on different varieties that will thrive the best, those with tolerance to road salt. The village makes sure the tree size is appropriate for the space where they will be planted.

There had been a plan in place to replace trees on Gwinn Street, but 21 still need to be planted from Park Avenue to Oak Orchard Street, including Gwinn Street Park.

Residents are being asked to consider a donation to the Releaf Medina Society as a legacy gift which will last 60 to 100 years. Donations of any size are tax deductible and can be made by sending a check payable to ORG/Medina Releaf Fund to P.O. Box 543, Medina, 14103. Orleans Renaissance Group is accepting donations for the Releaf Medina Society.

Donors will be invited to an Arbor Day celebration at Gwinn Street Park at 10 a.m.  April 30 with 85 third-grade students from Oak Orchard School.

“Every new tree we allow to take root and flourish is a positive step to help our planet by fighting the accelerating threats of climate change and air pollution, give wildlife shelter and food, and also provide breathtaking beauty we can all enjoy,” Blackburn said.

Special donations may be made in three different ways.

• A general donation will be used to replace trees between streets and sidewalks. Donors will be recognized on Medina’s website and on a tree foundation sign at City Hall.
• Donations of $300 in memory of someone will pay for trees planted in one of the village’s six parks. The tree will be identified with a plaque honoring the loved one or in recognition of a family member or organization. The donor will be contacted for wording on the plaque.
• “On Your Street” donations are for those whose street is in need of trees and the donor has requested a specific location. Recognition will appear on Medina’s website and at City Hall. All donations go for cost of trees only. Minimum donation is $250.
• All donations are appreciated. Levels of giving are $25 to $199 for a “Good Citizen” donor; $200 to $299 for a “Silver” donor; $300 to $499 for a “Gold” donor; and $500 and for a “Platinum” donor.

The Releaf Medina Society praised DPW Superintendent Jason Watts and the DPW crew for their support and work toward “releafing” Medina.

Volunteers are also being sought to work with the Society, especially in fundraising. Anyone interested may call Sanderson at (716) 628-1810.

Easter egg hunt will be at museum on Saturday

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Grace Stewart, assistant to the director of the Medina Railroad Museum, holds a T-shirt paying tribute to the museum’s founder Marty Phelps, which they are selling as a fundraiser. They are also planning a chicken barbecue to bring in some income during the pandemic.

MEDINA – Doing business during a pandemic hasn’t been easy for the Medina Railroad Museum, which has been shut down for most of the past year.

With Covid-19 restrictions being eased, the Medina Railroad Museum is planning several events to bring in some revenue during this difficult time. The museum’s major fundraisers, Polar Express and Day Out with Thomas were both canceled last year, and are still on hold for this year, although staff is hopeful they can hold events this year, even on a smaller scale.

One positive thing is that visitation to the museum has been steady during this time, with masks and social distancing required.

Grace Stewart, assistant to the director Janine Klotzbach, said they are now approved for crowds up to 200 people.

She has announced they are planning an Easter egg hunt on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children and adults must wear a mask. There will be a special prize for the children who find the golden egg. The Easter Bunny will also be on site.

For the first time in its history, the Medina Railroad Museum will have a chicken barbecue, again to raise some much-needed revenue. Chicken barbecues have become almost a weekend staple, as a safe way for organizations to raise money. All are taking place as drive-thru, which means social contact is minimal.

The Railroad Museum’s barbecue will be done by local entrepreneurs Carl Dilcher II and Rose Campbell of Oakfield. It is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. May 16 at the museum. Cars will enter from West Avenue and exit onto Gwinn Street, again, with people not having to get out of their cars. Tickets will be sold until May 1 by visiting or calling the museum at (585) 798-6106. Payment may be made over the phone by credit card.

In addition, the museum is having a raffle for a bucket full of wine and liquor. Information and tickets are also available at the museum.

Julie Berry busy renovating Book Shoppe, will call revamped store, Author’s Note

Photo by Tom Rivers: Julie Berry, a Medina native, returned to her hometown on Nov. 2, 2017 to discuss her children’s book, “The Emperor’s Ostrich.” She is shown reading an excerpt of the book at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.

MEDINA – A best-selling author and Medina native is embarking on a new venture. She is opening a book store in her hometown.

Julie Berry has purchased The Book Shoppe on Main Street from Fred and Gloria Fierch and is in the process of reinventing the store as Author’s Note.

While she’s renovating the physical store, Author’s Note is open for business online at www.authorsnote.com.

“This is a dream come true for me,” Berry said.

Berry and her family were living in Los Angeles when she learned last year from her sister, who lives in Medina, that the Book Shoppe was for sale.

“With Covid happening, we saw the purchase of the Book Shoppe and moving to Medina as a chance for our youngest to have a more normal life,” Julie said. “We moved back in November.”

“This town taught me to read and write,” she said. “I couldn’t bear to think of Medina without a book store.”

Berry has big plans for the book store, which will be managed by her cousin Erica Caldwell. Caldwell is no stranger to the book business, as she had worked there for Sue Phillips and also worked at the Lift Bridge Books in Brockport and owned Present Tense Books in Batavia.

Berry is in the process of completely renovating the book store and hopes to double the inventory.

“We plan to have a bursting collection of authors, new releases, classics, children’s books, best sellers, new voices and debut authors,” she said. “There will also be a large selection of children’s fiction and non-fiction.”

In this photo from December 2019, Susan Phillips, left, welcomes the new owner of The Book Shoppe, Gloria Fierch. Gloria and her husband Fred Fierch became owners of the store. They operated for about a year before selling it to Julie Berry. Phillips owned the store for 21 years.

Once Covid restrictions are further lifted and it’s safe to do so, Julie plans to offer a lot of new programs, such as cookbook clubs, mystery clubs and fiction clubs. The store will be stocked with puzzles, games stationary, coffee and a lot of new brands.

“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.”

Online ordering is available at www.authorsnote.com for shipping nationwide or free local delivery. Customers may pay online or in-store. Berry offers free home delivery within the Medina zip code. As they grow, she will extend that service to other communities.

Julie hopes people will help her dream become a reality by buying gift certificates, books and merchandise; following her on social media on Twitter at authorsnoteshop and on Facebook and Instagram at authorsnotebookstore.

Berry, a daughter of John and Shirley Gardner of Medina, graduated in 1991 in the last class from the old Medina High School on Catherine Street. She attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she studied technical communications and met her husband Phil, an actor, writer and producer with a background in entrepreneurship and software engineering.

She and her family were living in Boston, where she worked in technical sales and marketing, when she decided to pursue her love of writing.

“I had always wanted to write and I decided to try writing a humor column for The Metro West Daily News, a suburban Boston newspaper,” she said. “It was really fun and it helped me develop my voice as a writer.”

Favorable comments from readers were very encouraging and fueled her desire to keep writing. She went back to school at Vermont College of the Fine Arts to earn a master of fine arts in creative writing for children and young adults. She received her degree in January 2008 and her first book, a fairy tale fantasy titled The Amaranth Enchantment  was released in March 2009.

The mother of four children, one of whom is a student at Medina High School, Julie has published 25 books since her first one, some under a pen name and some under her real name.

New York Times bestselling author Julie Berry has two new books coming out. Cranky Right Now is a companion book to Happy Right Now, and will be released May 11. The book is illustrated by No. 1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Holly Hatam. Berry hopes to have a launch celebration at Author’s Note, whether in person or virtually. Crime and Carpetbags, a sequel to Berry’s middle grade fantasy adventure Wishes and Wellingtons. It will be released in October from Sourcebooks.

Her books have been published all around the world.  She is a New York Times Bestselling Author and recipient of the American Library Association of Printz Honor for The Passion of Dolssa, a book which was short-listed for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. All the Truth That’s in Me was also short-listed for the Edgar Award and for the Carnegie Medal in the United Kingdom. She has won other awards in Europe and the Silver Inky Award in Australia.

Her latest novel for young adults, Lovely War, is a love story set during World War I. It won the Amelia Walden prize from the National Council of Teachers of English and the Golden Kite award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Berry said she reads as much as she can and she is always learning. Her interests include mythology, history, philosophy and religion, and her books cover a wide range of subjects.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board and Police Chief Chad Kenward agreed to send a letter to the State Legislature opposing the push to legalize recreational marijuana.

Kenward and the board discussed the issue last week. The State Legislature is expected to vote today to legalize recreational marijuana use.

The police chief is concerned there will be more serious traffic accidents and fatal overdoses because sometimes marijuana can have lethal fentanyl mixed in, Kenward said.

Even if recreational marijuana is legalized, Kenward expects people will still buy it on the street where it would be cheaper because it wouldn’t be taxed by the state. The marijuana on the street isn’t regulated and sometimes has fentanyl mixed in.

Medina village trustee Tim Elliott cast the lone opposing vote against sending the letter to the state. Elliott said today that regulating marijuana in other states has reduced government debt through sales tax and also funded additional important programs that help the community.

“Funds go toward public health, public safety,” he said. “It also create much-needed jobs. It allows a safe place to purchase a recreational drug, where it can be controlled. You won’t find laced marijuana at a dispensary as they are regulated, versus on the street where you don’t know what you’re getting.”

Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone also has shared his concerns that legalizing recreational marijuana will make the roadways less safe, with drivers under the influence causing more accidents and fatalities on the local roadways.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said legalization is projected to create 30,000 to 60,000 new jobs, spur $3.5 billion in economic activity while generating an estimated $350 million in tax revenue once fully implemented.

The legislation to be voted on the Legislature includes additional funding for drug recognition experts and law enforcement to ensure safe roadways. The use of cannabis by drivers will remain prohibited.

(Editor’s Note: This article was updated from the original version to include comments from Tim Elliott.)