MEDINA – Four Medina firefighters were among the 36 graduates of a 15-week fire training program at the fire academy in Montour Falls.

Andrew Cheverie, Nicolas Lee, Bailey Schubmehl and Andrew Steel of the Medina Fire Department graduated on Friday in a class of 36 from the State’s Recruit Firefighter Training program. The graduates come from 13 fire departments across the state.

Dalton Major of Clarendon also completed the program for the City of Batavia Fire Department.

The residential program provides extensive fire service training in an environment similar to a full-time fire department. Upon graduation, all the recruits will become career firefighters when they return home to their career departments.

“I am incredibly proud of these graduates’ achievements. They are well-prepared to protect New Yorkers from fires and the emergencies they will respond to during their careers,” said Jackie Bray, commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “They now embark on a path of public service to keep their communities safe. On behalf of my colleagues from the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, we look forward to supporting New York’s newest firefighters as they carry out their future missions.”

The Office of Fire Prevention and Control’s Recruit Firefighter Training Program provides basic training for recently hired career firefighters, as well as volunteer firefighters. During the 15-week program, recruits participate in more than 600 hours of training in both classroom and practical settings.

Classes focus on areas such as structural, vehicle and flammable liquid firefighting, emergency vehicle operations, hazardous material emergency incident and basic rescue technician operations. Recruits also participate in daily physical fitness training in preparation for the Candidate Physical Ability Test.

Upon completion, graduates will have received national certification from the National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications in Firefighter I, Firefighter II and Hazardous Materials Operations.

This is the first class to graduate from the extended training program, which previously ran 11-weeks. Today’s graduates received expanded training in areas such as operating aerial devices; traffic incident management to keep firefighters safe on roadways; health and safety; firefighter rescue; hazardous materials response, and technical rescue.

To support the new curriculum, iPads were issued to students to provide them with greater access and flexibility to testing, as well as study materials available through the use of technology.

Last year there were only 12 participants; Program was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Park counselor Corey Saj and 11-year-old Todd Fairbanks rest on a climbing ladder at the playground at Oak Orchard Elementary School.

MEDINA – The Medina Joint Recreation Park and Swim program is underway with a large enrollment of students ages 5 to 12.

Heading the summer event this year is Michelle Capstick, a special education teacher at Oak Orchard Elementary School.

Capstick said she received an e-mail in May from the Joint Recreation Park and Swim committee saying they were looking for a director, and if one couldn’t be found, the program would be canceled.

“I called and they hired me,” Capstick said.

The Medina Joint Recreation Park and Swim committee consists of Village Clerk Jada Burgess, village trustees Jess Marciano and Marguerite Sherman; Mary Woodruff and Jeff Toussaint, representing town of Ridgeway; and John Pratt and Ed Zelazny, representing town of Shelby.

The summer program has been going since Capstick was a kid, she said, originally taking place in the village’s individual neighborhood parks.

The program was canceled during the summer of 2020, then resumed last year with a registration of only 12 participants.

This year, however, 58 children are registered. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays from July 5 through Aug. 12.

It not only includes the opportunity to sign up for swimming at Wise Intermediate School, activities at the playground and crafts adjacent to Oak Orchard School, but field trips within walking distance throughout the village.

They have already been to Mark’s Pizzeria, the fire hall and library and are planning a trip to Case-Nic Cookies and possibly the Medina Railroad Museum.

When the weather is inclement, the program moves into Oak Orchard School.

Capstick writes a weekly report on the program, and the first report describes the children playing tennis on the schools’ tennis courts, playing baseball and a game of Uno. They also walked to Pine Street Park and cooled off in the splash pad.

Assisting with the daily program are supervisor Hayden Woodroe and counselors Corey Saj, Danielle Schmidt and Sophia Goyette.

Students enjoying crafts at the Medina Joint Recreation Park and Swim program are, clockwise from left, Harlow Rhim, Vivian Neroni, counselor Sophia Goyette and Olivia Ellis. Partially hidden at left is Lyric Chinn.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has announced the selection of three new members to the board of directors.

Hector Fuentes, Aaron Knights and Jenifer Maynard were all named to terms for 2022-23 during the board’s June 27 meeting.

“Hector, Aaron and Jenifer are all great additions to our already strong board,” said Shannon Blount, who was also elected chairman of the board. “Orleans Community Health means a lot to so many in the community, and that number is only growing as the services being provided increase. It’s an exciting time to be part of this incredible team.”

Aaron Knights was born and raised in Medina and currently an attorney practicing civil litigation at the Buffalo-based law firm of Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham. Prior to becoming a partner with the firm, he practiced law in Washington, D.C. for almost 20 years.  He moved back to Western New York with his wife and two daughters late last summer, settling in East Amherst. He is very excited to be back home and is ready to serve his hometown any way he can.

Knights’ parents are Sue and the late Dick Knights, who were also born and raised in Medina and were local business owners.

“After my dad’s premature death in 1984, as I like to tell people, Medina raised me,” Aaron said. “My family, friends, teachers and people who were strangers to me but knew my dad looked after me and touched my life in more way than I can begin to explain. The notion that I could give back to my hometown, even just a little, is exciting for me.”

Knights has been involved in many civic organizations over the years and has handled cases pro bono for indigent clients needed help enforcing their legal rights in the court system. Lastly, his family members are the co-founders of the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund which assists Orleans County residents diagnosed with cancer with needs such as paying for prescriptions, medical supplies, transportation to medical appointment, medical bills, etc.

Jenifer Maynard has worked in healthcare for more than 20 years. Currently, she is administrator for an 82-bed skilled nursing home based in Niagara County. She also serves on the executive board as secretary of the New York State Health Facilities Association.

A resident of Lyndonville, she is a lifelong resident of Orleans County and feels Medina Memorial Hospital is vital to the community.

Hector Fuentes is an Air Force veteran and past auxiliary police officer who has worked in the behavioral health field for nearly 20 years. He currently works with the Central New York Forensic Psychiatric Center, which is a maximum security facility housing incarcerated individuals and pre-sentence detainees who have accepted a plea of insanity due to mental disease or defect. He’s responsible for supervising 80 security hospital treatment assistants and 10 security hospital senior assistants, along with assisting with all aspects of budgeting, policy and procedures and quality of care.

Fuentes has lived in Orleans County for most of his life and currently resides in Medina with his wife and daughter. He feels Orleans Community Health is vital to its residents and is proud of how they handled and served the residents during the recent pandemic. He’s excited to serve on the board and give back to the community he loves.

The three new board members join chair Shannon Blount, vice-chair Kevin Foley, secretary Cindy Hewitt, treasurer April McGaffick and members Richard Elman, MD, Lynne Johnson, Dawn Meland (past chairperson), Joseph Misiti, MD and Dale Sponaugle, MD.

“For starters, I want to thank Lance Mark, Dr. David Monti and Jeff Klotzbach, who have all served Orleans Community Health admirably,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health. “Exciting times are ahead for OCH and this board is well-positioned to help get us there. This list includes medical and healthcare professionals, community leaders, legal minds, business leaders and individuals who have an unyielding commitment to the community.”

Provided photos show before and after pictures of a recently cleaned headstone.

Press Release, Friends of Boxwood Cemetery

MEDINA – The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery will be conducting a headstone cleaning seminar at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, at Boxwood Cemetery on North Gravel Road in Medina. Participants are asked to park near the office, which is the white building on the north side of the cemetery.

“Headstone cleaning is a popular activity in many cemeteries,” said Todd Bensley, who will be leading the seminar. “However, it must be done using proper techniques. Well-intended people can do more harm than good.”

Those interested may simply observe the seminar, or be active participants in cleaning headstones. If you plan to observe you can bring a lawn chair. The demonstration should last about 30 minutes.

If you are going to actively participate, it is requested that you bring a pair of rubber gloves, protective eyewear, a clean bucket and new, soft-bristled brush, if possible.

There is no fee for the seminar, but donations are always gratefully accepted. In addition, those signing up to be members of the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery on that day, will receive a spray bottle of the proper cleaner used in the seminar. Individual memberships are $20.

It is requested that you pre-register by July 20, by sending an email to: friendsofboxwoodcemetery@gmail.com.

MEDINA – The Village Board and Planning Board have both given the OK for a mural under the Glenwood Avenue high bridge.

Brandi Zavitz, a retired Holley art teacher, submitted the lone proposal for the project, which is being facilitated by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. GO Art! approved a $3,460 grant for the project under the bridge..

Medina would like to have the project be done by Sept. 30.

The project area is approximately 528 square feet on previously painted concrete.

Zavitz previously painted the front steps at the Orleans County YMCA in an aquatic and solar theme.

With the mural under the bridge she submitted a sketch that showed a boy playing baseball, strawberries and corn stalks, a marching band member, a cow, heron taking flight, the former Journal-Register and a kid with wagon full of newspapers, geese, Canal Culvert, girl on a swing, girl running by canal, the waterfalls in the background, two kids fishing in canal, St John’s Episcopal Church, a man walking a golden retriever on the canal, and apples.

“It does represent Medina and the Medina area,” said Village Trustee Owen Toale. “These things all mean something to us.”

The Village Board also set a public hearing for 7 p.m. today to pursue a grant to study the conditions of waterlines in the village.

Group of 750 come from 40 states for annual Cycle the Erie Canal

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Several local residents are taking part in the 24th annual Parks and Trails New York’s annual Cycle the Erie Canal Tour. Here, Chris Leavitt,  a student at Medina High School; Tom Stanowski of Warwick; Dean Bellack of Medina; and Jeff and Bronwyn Green of East Shelby posed on the grounds of Wise Intermediate School, where they camped Sunday night.

MEDINA – Cyclists, totaling 750 from 40 states, arrived in Medina on Sunday enroute to Albany on the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour.

The Medina Tourism Committee arranged an afternoon and evening of events to entertain the bikers, who began arriving about 1 p.m., said Tourism Chairman Jim Hancock.

The riders, who were accompanied by a shower truck and other escort vehicles, set up a tent city on the grounds of the Wise Intermediate School.

Kim Mann of Schaghticoke, left, chats with David Chintry of Castleton-on-Hudson in the tent city set up on the grounds of Wise Intermediate School.

Kim Mann from Schaghticoke said while some of the riders had their own tents, others chose to use a tent service, which follows the tour, provides a tent and sets it up. The tents came with a chair, air mattress and towel. This is his first time riding the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour, but he has biked in the Finger Lakes, Bike Maine and Bike Virginia.

There was a snag in plans, however, Mann said, when some the school and college students hired to set up tents didn’t show up. Eventually, all the tents were set up, he said.

Riders came from across the state and beyond to do the ride, including several Medina residents.

Chris Leavitt, who will be a senior at Medina High School, was encouraged by Dean Bellack of Medina, an avid biker, to make the ride. Leavitt’s mother is acquainted with Bellack and he has been encouraging Chris to get out and ride.

Bellack said he did the ride for the first time four years ago, and is doing it this year to get Chris involved in riding bikes

Jeff and Bronwyn Green of East Shelby recently bought new bikes and have been practicing to make the Erie Canal ride, Bronwyn said.

“We have been riding locally (to Spencerport, for example) and in June just did the Black Fly Challenge from Inlet to Old Forge in the Adirondacks,” she said. “That was 38.4 miles. Many summers we used to come to Medina and walked by the bikers camped here, and now we are one of them.”

Next summer, the Greens plan to go to Glacier National Park and do the “Going to the Sun Road” bike tour.

David Chintry from Castleton-on-Hudson did the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour in 2006 and 2008. He was relaxing in front of his tent and listening to the band Pocket Change playing on the Wise School grounds.

“All these little towns are wonderful,” Chintry said.

A sea of tents blankets the lawn at Wise Intermediate School, where on Sunday night the band Pocket Change planed on a stage in the background.

The Cycle the Erie Canal Tour is a 400-mile ride, which began Sunday morning in Buffalo. Sunday they got to go through the locks in Lockport and view the caves before continuing their ride along the towpath to Medina. After leaving Medina Monday morning, the cyclists will spend Monday night in Pittsford, Tuesday in Waterloo/Seneca Falls area, Wednesday in Syracuse, Thursday in Rome, Friday in Canajoharie and Saturday in Schenectady, ending on Sunday in Albany.

The riders will cover between 31 and 64 miles each day.

In Medina, the Medina Tourism Committee arranged for a shuttle from Ridge Road Express to run continuously from the camp area to downtown and back. Several businesses, including Medina Railroad Museum and Medina Tourism Booth, stayed open later to allow the riders to visit.

From 4 to 6 p.m., David Viterna and his band entertained in State Street Park, and from 7 to 9 p.m., the band Pocket Change played on a stage on the school grounds.

Supper was provided in the Wise School cafeteria by Zambistro’s, who will also cook breakfast.

Hancock said this is the 24th year Medina has been the first overnight stop on the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Sparky a fire dog gets help getting ready to meet kids on Saturday. He is assisted by Medina firefighters Steven Lang, left, and Dustin Pahura.

Adam Fisher, a Medina firefighter, dressed up as the dalmatian. Medina firefighters were at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market in Medina for the day, offering tours of a fire truck and sharing fire prevention tips.

Sparky meets Isaiah Powlowski, 4, of Medina at the farmers’ market.

Katie Klotzbach and her daughter Karalyn, 10, made their debut at the market on Saturday selling flowers through Klotzbach’s business, Flower Fields Forever, which is based in Lyndonville.

The market welcomed about 15 different vendors on Saturday. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays through Oct. 29 at 127 West Center St.

Adeline Castricone, a member of the Medina FFA, knits a blue hat at the market. The Medina FFA is pushing to knit 500 of the hats that will be given to Medina middle schoolers in October as part of an anti-bullying initiative.

Medina FFA advisor Todd Eick is joined by students Adeline Castricone and Iyla Lilleby in promoting the #HatsNotHate effort.