By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2020 at 4:02 pm
Photo courtesy of Orleans County 4-H program: Members of the Abundant Harvest 4-H Club made these clothing and other home economics projects. They are on display at Blissett’s Specialty Shop in Medina.
MEDINA – Orleans County 4-H kids won’t be able to display their work at the fair this year after the annual event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Trolley Building at the fairgrounds normally displays clothing and other home economics projects by children in the 4-H program.
With no fair, the 4-H program has connected with businesses in Albion and Medina to display the work by the kids. The exhibits will also be shown at some of the local libraries.
Blissett’s Specialty Shop on Main Street in Medina is the first site to show the 4-H work. More locations will be added the next three weeks, said Kristina Gabalski, the 4-H coordinator.
“This effort gives our 4-H members a chance to share their projects with the community, while still holding onto them for evaluation next year,” Gabalski said. “I think people enjoy seeing the projects at fair, and this allows them to safely view some of the projects this year with the absence of fair.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2020 at 1:49 pm
Planning Board will decide if mural stays, and if 2 more are appropriate
Photos by Tom Rivers: The new mural of the Canalligator has been popular on social media. The large painting is on the back of a building in an alley off Proctor Place, a block from Main Street.
MEDINA – A mural on a cinder block building in a Medina alley is already popular on the Instagram and TikTok social media sites. The “Canalligator” stretches out about 50 feet, and shows an alligator lounging by the canal, holding a “Go Bills” flag.
Tim Meyers, a Buffalo based artist, finished the project about two weeks ago.
“Everybody that has seen it loves it and says it looks amazing,” said Edee Hoffmeister, owner of Celebrity Day Spa.
The mural is partly on the back of her building and also a building owned by the Tom Fenton Trust. The total mural is about 75 feet long, and includes some boarded up windows.
The village code enforcement office said the project was done without a proper permit and notification to the village.
Provided photo: This is how the site looked before the project.
Dan Gardner, the village code enforcement officer, sent a letter on July 10 to the Tom Fenton Trust and the Hoffmeister, saying the mural was out of compliance and failed to get a certificate of appropriateness from the Village of Medina Planning Board. The project shouldn’t have started without an application being submitted to the Code Enforcement Officer, who then submits the application to the Planning Board, according to the letter.
The village code states a certificate of appropriateness is needed for any exterior alterations in the Historic Preservation District when those alterations are visible from a public street or alley, and the project “affects the appearance and cohesiveness of the Historic Preservation District.”
The village Planning Board will consider the matter during its Aug. 4 meeting at 7 p.m.
The Form Foundation, a non profit devoted to public arts projects in Medina, spearheaded the project. The group would like to do two other murals this year in Medina in the area near Proctor Place, a block off Main Street. The group will ask the Planning Board to approve those projects on Aug. 4.
The mural includes several boarded up windows on the back of a building.
One of the proposed new murals would be on cinder blocks on the back of a building owned by Rita Zambito on Proctor Place, close to Pearl Street.
Another mural is planned for a cinder block building at the corner of Pearl Street and West Avenue.
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari said the village current expectations for murals are they should have a historic theme, connecting to Medina’s past.
The Canalligator mural may fit the historic theme, anyway. There is local lore of an alligator in the canal at one time. Tim Meyers, who goes by “Murkedelic” in his social media, was able to create a mural of the canal and the alligator.
“I haven’t heard anything bad about it,” Hoffmeister said. “I love it. It looks way better than they did.”
The mural is in the back parking area for her employees. But she said people from Buffalo have been showing up to look at the mural.
The Form Foundation has raised $38,000 for public murals. The group would like to change them every two to three years with a yearly festival to planned around the painting of the murals.
The group says it wants to clean up blighted, non-historic structures “in a progressive way young families and professionals would be attracted to.”
Tim Meyers, who goes by Murkedelic with his social media, created the mural on the back of Celebrity Day Spa.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2020 at 9:33 pm
Governor shouldn’t punish entire industry based on violators, group says
MEDINA – A group of Medina business owners who serve alcohol have sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, urging him not to follow through with a threat on Monday that would order all bars and restaurants to shut down if there continues to be flagrant violations with social distancing and not wearing masks.
The coalition of Medina business owners said the governor would be “unjustly” punishing many businesses who have worked to follow the rules, and implemented numerous precautions to protect the public from Covid-19.
The letter is signed by Scott Robinson, president of Medina Area Partnership; Michael Zambito, owner of Zambistro; Alexandra Gilman, owner of Shirt Factory; Leonel Rosario, owner of Mariachi De Oro; Bryan & Larissa DeGraw, owners of 810 Meadworks; Brian Christiaansen, owner of Mark’s Pizzeria in Medina; Wendy Wilson and John Oakes of Leonard Oakes Estate Winery; Tim Hungerford and Teresa Misiti, owners of Mile 303, Brody Hoffmeister, owner of Rudy’s Diner; and Katie Misiti and Travis Hartway of Sourced Market & Eatery.
“Our Upstate New York community has been part of a vibrant renaissance in recent years, one we hope to maintain during these challenging times,” the group writes in the letter. “However, we all know it won’t be easy.”
The group said the prospect of restaurants being forced to close would be “unimaginable.”
The governor says many bars and restaurants are putting public health at risk with large social gatherings. Last Thursday he announced a new executive order where bars and restaurants can’t serve alcohol only. Customers also need to order food.
The governor said his goal was to prevent “hobnobbing” where customers don’t stay put at a table but instead move about the crowd.
On Monday, after seeing widespread reports and posts on social media of large crowds at bars and restaurants, Cuomo said the state is close to ordering those establishments close down.
“If you choose closure, it unjustly punishes those of us who are spending everyday to make sure our patrons, staff, and community remain safe. We don’t just think about those within our designated areas, but we’re constantly thinking about those around us.
The group said the Orleans County community and state have worked hard to reduce the number of Covid-19 infections, deaths and hospitalizations.
“COVID-19 is not gone, New York is not in the clear, and we believe concerns of another wave hitting our state,” the Medina business owners write in the letter. “At this moment, we can only do our best to continue using the guidance your administration has provided and act as frontline workers to make sure others follow these safety mitigation measures.”
‘We implore you to continue using a regional approach throughout the state, rather than punishing some of us for the indiscretions of others.’
The Medina businesses have displayed “Wear a Mask” signs, posted frequently on Facebook with guidance for dining, posted Instagram images of staff wearing masks, put down floor markers outlining social distancing, and had nonstop discussions with patrons about staying seated.
The businesses have measured the distance between seats/tables/walkways, and countless other items have been added to the business operations.
“Your recent decision that mandates food accompanying alcoholic beverages was just another item we collectively added to our list,” the letter states. “The majority of us realized this step was to address a real concern that could set all of us back. If you think it’s frustrating that rules are being followed, imagine how those of us who are following them feel.”
The Medina business owners said it will take all establishments and their customers to adhere to the guidance and stop the spread of Covid-19.
“We’re not going to beat the pandemic as individuals, but by coming together as a team,” the business owners wrote to the governor. “While we’ll continue to look out for our neighboring businesses who are abiding by the rules, we need you to look out for us and allow us the opportunity to build ourselves back up.”
The group thanked the governor for his leadership and asked for his consideration during these challenging times.
“There is still a long road ahead and none of us know what the coming months will hold,” they wrote in the letter. “We implore you to continue using a regional approach throughout the state, rather than punishing some of us for the indiscretions of others.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2020 at 12:15 pm
Kristine Mostyn says books remain popular, including with teens
Photos by Tom Rivers: Kristine Mostyn is the new director of the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina. She was the assistant director for 10 years under Catherine Cooper, who retired last month after 33 years at Lee-Whedon.
MEDINA – The new director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library said the site on West Avenue has changed to offer more electronic materials and online programming. But she said books are still very popular, including among teen-agers.
Kristine Mostyn took over as director last month, following the retirement of Catherine Cooper, who worked at the library for 33 years.
Mostyn, 39, was the assistant director the past 10 years. She sat down for an interview on Friday in the “Teen Space” at the library, a spot with chairs and books for teenagers.
Question: Why stay here? It seems you have built up a resume and could go elsewhere?
Answer: I could and over the years there have been some offers from other libraries, asking me to apply there. But I really love the feel of Medina. It is a great community. It is very involved. All the businesses try to help each other. And the library and the people that work here are wonderful.
Question: Over the past 10 years this place has become more snazzy. How would describe these changes, how one big room has been several spots?
Answer: We made little spaces. We tried to do that because when you come in it is a giant room. It is nice to have that small feel, that it feels comfortable like you are at home.
Question: I’m sure people are wondering of the winter concert series, Finally Fridays, will keep happening?
Answer: I hope it will. We have plans to continue it as long as we are able to.
Question: That is an amazing thing that you get 200 people in here for those concerts on a Friday in February.
Is that unusual here at Lee-Whedon in creating the spaces, embracing artwork and having the concerts? It’s not just books and magazines.
Answer: We want to offer games and anything the people in the community want and need a space for. That is what we want to try to offer.
Question: I know you have a smaller meeting room. Is there local history in there?
Answer: There is. Right now it isn’t open. We call it the quiet room.
Question: What is your annual circulation and how has that been affected with e-Books, etc.
Answer: Our circulation is around 86,000. With electronics going up some of our print collections are going down. People are still borrowing materials, it’s just a different format.
Question: What do you see as the library of the future, or even the next five to ten years, if there will be big changes?
Answer: I don’t think there will be because overall electronic use has actually plateaued. The younger generation prefers books. There are times when they want a device when they are traveling for ease of use, but the teen-agers that are coming in are taking books so I don’t know that the print collection will change a whole lot.
Question: Why do you think that is?
Answer: It may have to do with them being on their devices so much that it’s a break from that.
Question: It looks like you still get a lot of new books. Have you had to shift some dollars away from books to electronics?
Answer: Our book budget has stayed fairly consistent. But how we divide it up between electronics and print changes. I know our Hoopla collection, which is online books and audio, with movies and TV shows on there, that used to be paid by the Nioga Library System. But starting in January, because the price has gone up so much, they can no longer do that. So we’re going to be taking on that cost which will be coming out of book budget.
Lee-Whedon has decals on the floor to encourage social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic. This one near the entrance tells people not to proceed if they have flu-like symptoms. The library returned to its regular hours on July 6.
Question: I should ask you about Covid. I see the Plexiglass dividers at the circulation desk. I wonder what other changes you’ve made to be open to the public.
Answer: So we’ve purchased all of the floor stickers for social distancing. We’ve added additional hand sanitizing stations. We’ve provided face masks and face shields to our staff.
Question: Why face shields?
Answer: Some people don’t like having the mask on all day. Having the piece across their forehead is easier for them to tolerate. Also it is clear for people who are hard of hearing. They can at least see your lips to try to hear what you’re saying better.
We of course have to disinfect all the chairs and tables. We have carts in the foyer. We have to leave everything out there for three days before we can bring it in and check it in and put it back on the shelf.
Question: Is the idea that saves you from cleaning it with cleaning products?
Answer: Yes. They’re saying for the paper and plastic with books if you let them sit for 72 hours, anything that is on there should die.
Question: You reopened how recently?
Answer: Curbside started in May, then in beginning of June we started doing by appointment. You could come in for up to half an hour, and browse and leave. The second half hour we would take to sanitize everything.
On July 6, we started to be open for our regular hours and people could come and go.
Question: When I get up from this chair will someone have to come over and sanitize it?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Have you seen a significant drop in people coming in so far?
Answer: There is a significant drop. We’ve been talking about it. Some people aren’t aware that we are open. We have it up on social media, on our web site, and I’ve put an ad in the Pennysaver. We just added another sign outside that we are open, and please come on in.
We think some people are still afraid. They are just not sure. We have a lot of parents coming in without kids because they don’t want to take a chance with their kids being exposed to anything. So I think people are afraid.
Question: I think the interloan library program has resumed.
Answer: It has not resumed. They’re just not ready to start that yet. We are getting deliveries, but it’s just our books being returned to us, and we have to isolate those for 72 hours as well.
Kristine Mostyn is pictured with Samantha Covis, the new assistant director. Covis was a desk clerk the past three years. She has a master’s degree in library science from the University of Illinois.
Question: Are you happy to be in this line of work?
Answer: I love it. I order books, I order the DVDs for the collection. I see the numbers for what people are borrowing. I get to talk to people about what they like and try to make sure our collection reflects the community.
Question: It seems like all the libraries in our county have stepped it up with their facilities and programs. They aren’t just passive sites.
Answer: Correct. We aren’t just stagnating. When we closed on March 16, we had no intention of having online programming for summer because we’ve never had to. We’ve always done in-house. While we were closed we instituted all new software that all the staff had to learn while they were home.
Now we’re offering on-line summer reading, which is actually turning out really well.
Suzanne (McAllister, the children’s librarian) and I were both doing videos on Facebook. Parents could in and pick up a kit for their kids, and bring it home and do it with us through a video. They log their reading online on our beanstalk site.
Question: What else is there to say?
Answer: We have hired a new assistant director, Samantha Covis.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Mark Cye, chief executive officer for Orleans Community Health, is pictured by Medina Memorial Hospital in this photo from April 2018. He has been the CEO of the OCH and Medina memorial Hospital since January 2018.
MEDINA — Mark Cye, CEO/CFO of Orleans Community Health, has resigned effective July 28. Cye joined Orleans Community Health as chief financial officer a little over five years ago and has held the duel title of CEO/CFO for over two years.
Cye, who was trained in finance, was presented with an opportunity to secure the CFO position at Warren General Hospital, which is an $80 million operation in Warren, Pa.
Cye has enjoyed his time and roles at Orleans Community Health and is excited to get back to the finance role. Cye credits the hospital’s movement in the right direction, over the past couple years, to the continuous support of the staff at Orleans Community Health.
In the past two years the hospital has been able to improve financially and has been able to provide new programs and services to the community such as the Wound Care Center, podiatry, and the nursing home achieving a four-star rating with the New York State Department of Health.
Mark Shurtz, the current chief information officer and corporate compliance officer, will be stepping up as the interim CEO. Cye is confident with Shurtz’s ability to fulfill this role as he has been working closely with Cye over the past year.
Shurtz has been with Orleans Community Health as the CIO and corporate compliance officer since 2014. He brings with him 20 years of management experience spanning across military, legal and healthcare backgrounds.
He is looking forward to the continued support of our staff and is excited at the opportunity to work with the community and find ways to keep Orleans Community Health a valuable asset for the community.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2020 at 9:02 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Volunteers are ready to put three boxes of food in either car trunks or on truck beds during a food distribution at Medina High School today.
This was the first time the Foodlink distribution was at Medina High School. Previously, the old Medina High School on Catherine Street hosted the event, with Calvary Tabernacle Church leading the effort.
There were long lines in village side streets during the distribution last month at the former high school.
The boxes were stacked high at the start of the distribution.
Today, people entered the driveway at Oak Orchard Elementary School and followed an on-campus road past the middle to high school. That location kept the cars and trucks from waiting on village streets.
Volunteers were also able to split the line into two at the high school, which kept the process moving quickly.
Volunteers helped today from Calvary Tabernacle, the Orleans County YMCA, Office for the Aging, Medina Lions Club, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Orleans Community Health, Kalos Health in Niagara Falls, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Medina and the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Tom Robinson, a retired Medina school counselor, volunteered with the distribution. Susie Miller, Office for the Aging assistant director, carries one of the 25-pound boxes to a vehicle. Each vehicle received three boxes today – mixed dairy, cooked meat and produce.
The schedule until the end of August for the food distributions includes:
Wednesday, July 22 – at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville (includes one box of produce), 10 a.m. until gone
Friday, July 24 – in Albion at Community Action Main Street Store, 9:30 a.m. until gone
Friday, July 31 – in Holley, location to be announced, 9:30 a.m. until gone
Friday, August 7 – in Albion at Community Action Main Street Store, 9:30 a.m. until gone
Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville (includes one box of produce), 10 a.m. until gone
Friday, Aug. 14 – in Medina at school district, 9:30 a.m. until gone
Friday, Aug. 21 – in Albion at Community Action Main Street Store, 9:30 a.m. until gone
Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville (includes one box of produce), 10 a.m. until gone
Friday, Aug. 29 – in Holley, location to be determined, 9:30 a.m. until gone
Kurt Strickland directs traffic to split into two separate lines.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2020 at 3:45 pm
MEDINA – The school district welcomes applicants for a vacant position of the Boar dof Education following the resignation of Kellie Schrader-Hurrell.
Interested residents need to submit a letter of interest addressed to President Arlene Pawlaczyk, no later than July 31, at her email address: apawlaczyk@medinacsd.org. Or a letter of interest can be mailed to her attention at the District Office, One Mustang Drive, Medina, NY 14103.
Candidates will be interviewed by the Board of Education and could be appointed at the Aug. 10 Board of Education meeting. The individual will fill the vacancy for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.
Candidates for the volunteer position need to be at least 18, a qualified voter in the school district and a legal resident of the district for a continuous and uninterrupted period of at least one year.
For more information on the position and the responsibilities of a Board of Education member, click here.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Cassandra Wengewicz and her father-in-law Scott Wengewicz are pictured inside Mystic Dragon’s Lair at 339 North Main St. They opened the business on Main Street in February.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 July 2020 at 11:34 am
Metaphysical store has products at storefront, and runs popular Facebook Live sales
MEDINA — Scott Wengewicz has enjoyed mining rocks and crystal as a hobby for many years. The retired Border Patrol agent says rocks can be colorful, and they have energy which can have a calming effect on people, and also help them to work through grief or overcome fears.
Wengewicz, 58, is connected with other miners and he decided to sell quartz, gemstones, crystals and other products in a business from his basement.
He started in September and the business, Mystic Dragon’s Lair, quickly took off.
“We like dragons and we were selling from our basement which felt like a lair,” he said about the business’s name.
Cassandra Wengewicz holds a scenic quartz ball that has been cut and polished.
Mystic has nearly 5,000 Facebook followers. It’s Facebook live sale on Saturday had 1,400 comments. It does Facebook live sales on Tuesdays at noon and Saturdays at 10 p.m.
Those Facebook live sales fuel the business with buyers from all over the country, the United Kingdom, Australian and New Zealand.
Wengewicz needed more space for Mystic Dragon’s Lair. In February, he opened a storefront with lots of storage and packing space at 339 North Main Street in Medina.
The metaphysical store draws in-person customers from Western New York. They walk in and there is an aroma of incense, which is available for sale.
“The incense is calming and relaxing,” said Cassandra Wengewicz, Scott’s daughter-in-law who works with him in the business. “And it’s safer than a candle.”
Scott Wengewicz holds Mangano Calcite under ultraviolent light. The rock can help people let go of grief and fear.
Many people like to browse and see the crystals, rocks and other merchandise. Some of the crystals are cut and polished into the shape of crosses or skulls.
Not everything can be shipped. Mystic sells large clusters of quartz that needs to be handled with care.
Mystic sells dragon figurines, gargoyles, Buddha statues, bracelets with different properties, salt lamps, and about 50 types of rocks.
“Every rock has its own energy – whether people can feel it or not,” Scott said.
Mystic Dragon’s Lair sells about 50 different types of rocks.
Those rocks come in many sizes. Many of them are colorful and they look like giant jellybeans.
Those smaller rocks can be carried in a purse or pocket.
“It brings peace of mind,” said Cassandra, 29, a Lyndonville native.
She keeps a Healerite stone in her pocket and she believes it has helped her with her arthritic hips, reducing the pain.
Cassandra Wengewicz is shown with the “singing bowls” in the Reiki Room. The bowls send out pitches that help people think clearly.
Mystic encourages people to go to the doctor and follow medical advice. Scott Wengewicz said natural healing is a growing movement, with people seeking to better understand their bodies and how they can improve their health without totally relying on pharmaceuticals.
Cassandra has two bachelor’s degrees, in criminal justice and biology. The business allows her to be home more with her two children. And she said Mystic makes a difference for their customers.
“We want to help people and bring them happiness,” she said.
Mystic has another employee, Jennifer Storelli, who leads the Reiki Room, promoting natural healing and helping people to slow down, reduce stress and connect to positive energy.
The store also sells raw honey from Scott’s farm, Scokat Farms. He has been a commercial beekeeper for several years. He started working with bees when he was 15, making his own honey.
Mystic is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click here to see its Facebook page.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2020 at 9:23 am
MEDINA – A male suspect is at large after robbing Crosby’s in Medina last night at 1 a.m.
The suspect displayed a knife and demanded cash, said Lt. Todd Draper of the Medina Police Department.
The suspect took an undisclosed amount of money. No employees were injured. Attempts to locate the suspect were unsuccessful and the investigation is ongoing, Draper said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2020 at 8:53 am
MEDINA – The Village Board has declined an officer to have a WiFi hotspot installed for free in the parking lot at the Village Office and City Hall on Park Avenue.
RTO Wireless has offered to install the hotspots and is working to put them in place at nine town halls and two of the village offices – Albion and Holley. Ridgeway is the only town not participating because it is close to the Medina Village Office and the town has a small parking lot.
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari said he didn’t feel comfortable with WiFi access off the village’s network.
“I don’t want a back channel into our system,” Sidari said during a board meeting on Friday. “I don’t feel comfortable having it available for use or access.”
The mayor said ambulances and police cars also use the system and he worries their information would be compromised with public WiFi access.
Sidari said RTO Wireless has tried to assure him the system can’t be compromised, but he remains concerned.
“They say they can’t be hacked but everyday you hear about people being hacked,” he said.
Sidari and the board members also noted there are other public WiFi access spots in the community, including Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, which is a block away from the Village Office. The school district also has WiFi for students to access at the school parking lots.
The board on Friday also hired Jonathan Miller as a firefighter/EMT. He starts on July 27 and will be on a 78-week probationary period.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Visitor’s Center at Rotary Park is pictured last September. The site will reopen on Monday with volunteers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 July 2020 at 1:02 pm
MEDINA – The Medina Visitor’s Center will reopen on Monday with volunteers at Rotary Park available to answer questions about the community and point visitors to local attractions and services.
The site, the Santa house at Rotary Park, is usually staffed with volunteers from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This year the Covid-19 pandemic pushed back the start.
This is the 11th year the Medina Tourism Committee will have the Visitor’s Center. It will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and also has added Saturday morning this year.
Jim Hancock, the Tourism Committee chairman, said the committee plans to staff the site until late September this year.
“Last year we had 230 registered visitors who came from 32 different states and three foreign countries,” he said.
Photos by Tom Rivers: A worker is shown on Friday at the Bates Road canal bridge in Medina. Crane Hogan Structural Systems in Spencerport is the contractor on the project. The bridge has reopened to traffic, but there is some additional work to be done, including installation of sidewalk grating for pedestrian access.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 July 2020 at 8:36 am
Work on bridges includes repainting from green to black
Two more canal bridges have reopened after major repairs. The Bates Road canal bridge in Medina and the Telegraph Road bridge in Murray both reopened to traffic on June 27.
They are part of a $10.7 million contract for seven canal bridges in Orleans County.
The Telegraph Road Bridge had been closed since Aug. 5, 2019 for steel repairs. The Bates Road Bridge was closed on Nov. 8, 2019 for the same reason.
Here is how the Bates Road bridge looked on Nov. 27, 2017, before the construction work.
The work is being completed by Crane Hogan Structural Systems in Spencerport and includes installing galvanized steel to replace steel floor systems, low chords, gusset plates, and truss elements. Bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches also were improved and the bridges were repainted black. They were green but the black matches the original color.
The seven single-lane truss bridges were constructed between 1909 and 1914.
Five of the seven bridges have now reopened after extensive repairs. Those include Bennetts Corners Road in Murray, Telegraph Road in Murray, Transit Road in Murray, Densmore Road in Albion, and Bates Road in Medina.
There are two additional bridges currently closed for construction work: Gaines Basin Road in Gaines and Marshall Road in Ridgeway.
Mark Schwenk took this photo on June 27, the first day of the Telegraph Road bridge being reopened to traffic.
The canal bridge on Telegraph Road in Murray is pictured on March 12, 2018.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 July 2020 at 4:05 pm
MEDINA – The phone system is expected to be down for two more weeks after it was damaged by a lightning strike on June 23.
The lightning hit the City Hall and Fire Department annex, and took out phone lines, computer servers, two computers and damaged the HVAC system. Fifteen phones were “fried” from the lightning.
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari said it may cost about $30,000 to fix or replace the damaged items. The village’s insurance company will cover all of the costs except Medina’s $1,000 deductible.
The Village Board met today to discuss the situation. Sidari said it won’t be a simple fix and could take another two weeks.
The drive-through window remains open at the Village Office on Park Avenue. For all emergency calls for the fire department and police department, dial 911, Sidari said.
For non-emergency calls for fire and police, call (585) 589-5527, which goes to the dispatch center at the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 July 2020 at 7:28 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Nevaeh Moss, 13, of Medina has fun on Medina’s new splash pad that opened for the first time today.
The splash pad is at the Pine Street Park off Park Avenue.
The new splash pad is among $200,000 in upgrades to the neighborhood park. A group of residents raised the money for the park improvements, which also includes new playground equipment and pathway that will include flowers and butterfly gardens.
The committee that raised the money and pushed for the project includes Nicole Goyette, Tom Hungerford, Bob Sanderson and Maureen Sanderson.
Cadence Livingston, 5, of Medina is thrilled with the splash pad. She was there at about 5:30 p.m., when the temperature outside was 90 degrees.
The splash pad is the first to open in Orleans County. The Village of Albion is close to opening a larger splash pad at Bullard Park.
Jaiden Livingston, 8, of Medina enjoys the new water attraction in Medina. She is holding on to the pole with a button. When that button is pushed, the water comes out of five ground spray elements.
