Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Dave Viterna Group performed for about 800 people this evening in the first concert of a six-week “Blue Thursdays.” (A drone with software to estimate attendance put the crowd size at 788.)

The free summer concerts are the pavilion at State Street Park.

The pavilion was erected in 2019 and has been used for some concerts and events, but not a concert series yet. Chris Busch, chairman of the Orleans Renaissance Group, said the pavilion organizers were envisioning a series at the site when the pavilion was erected but Covid-19 wiped out those plans in 2020 and 2021.

“That’s what we built this for,” Busch said this evening, scanning the large crowd. “To do this.”

He and Ken Daluisio of The Print Shop received many congratulatory text messages during the concert, thanking them for helping to make the event a reality.

The Dave Viterna Group includes lead singer and guitarist Dave Viterna at right, “Scooter” Felice on drums and Marty Hobbs as bass guitar. They are from Medina. They play all over Western New York. Tonight, they had a very close drive for their gig.

The Print Shop and Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc./medinaalive.com, both of Medina, organized the concert series with support from to Gloria Brent, owner of Modern Mercantile and Main Liquor.

The shaded areas near the trees were popular spots for many concert-goers, who brought their own lawn chairs. Some even enjoyed the music with their pet dogs.

Vassilios Bitsas serves a slice of pizza for Cusimano’s Pizzeria in Medina. The business is owned by his father James Bitsas. They were very busy during the concert.

They were among several food vendors at the event, which  also included alcoholic beverages from Leonard Oakes Estate Winery and 810 Meadworks.

These young concert-goers enjoy the playground equipment while listening to the music.

The concerts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The line-up for the remaining events includes:

• July 14 – Frank Grizanti Band
• July 21 – Jeremy Keyes Band
• July 28 – Growlers Blues Band
• August 4 – Dave Constantino Band
• August 11 – Maria Aurigema

MEDINA – The Medina Rotary Club is accepting applications up until Aug. 1 for a scholarship that has been increased from $500 to $2,500. That money could go to one person or be split up among more than one depending on the applications, said Rotary Club President Ben McPherson.

Students who just graduated from Medina in the Class of 2022 are encouraged to apply. This scholarship is not solely based on academic achievement but more community involvement, character and leadership throughout their years in high school, the club said.

The scholarship isn’t limited to those headed to college but for any student looking to go to a post high school, tuition-based educational program – college, trade school, etc.

Outside of filling out the application the only other requirements to be awarded is a presentation to the club on plans after high school, involvements in high school as well as transcript following the student’s first semester.

The application can be found through our Medina Rotary Club Facebook page, the club’s website or through a Rotary Club member.

“This is a great opportunity for any student looking to earn some cash for their future but also develop some real life skills like preparing and delivering a presentation of value,” McPherson said.

Provided photo

MEDINA – A shed in Medina burns on North Avenue on July 4. Firefighters were dispatched to scene at 12:14 a.m.

Crews arrived at 12:16 a.m. and discovered the fire had extended to an automobile with a house and garage in close proximity. Fire damage was contained to the shed, the automobile, fences of the nearby properties and some shrubbery, said Medina Fire Department Lt. Steve Cooley.

“The fire is being ruled accidental at this time,” he said. “It was caused by improper disposal of spent legal fireworks/fountain devices.”

MEDINA – The Medina Joint Recreation Commission summer parks and swim program starts tomorrow but there won’t be swim lessons for at least the first day.

“Due to unsafe chlorine levels in the pool, swim lessons will be canceled tomorrow,” said Michelle Capstick, the program director. “They are unsure when the issue will be resolved. I will post daily updates until the issue is taken care of.  We appreciate your patience and support.  The Park program will start tomorrow. All paperwork must be completed for children to attend.”

The program Tuesday and runs through Aug. 12. It is a free program for children ages 6 to 12 in the Medina school district.

The parks program will be run at the Oak Orchard Elementary School campus with the pool program at the middle school. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and until 3 p.m. on Fridays. Besides games, the program will include bowling, field trips, a carnival and other activities.

The Village of Medina and towns of Ridgeway and Shelby all contribute to funding the program.

Provided photos: The MAAC Thrift Depot at 536 Orient St. has resumed Tuesday evening hours after being closed two years due to Covid-19.

MEDINA – The Thrift Depot at 536 Orient St., operated by the Medina Area Association of Churches, has announced it will resume Tuesday evening hours after being closed for two years due to Covid-19. There is a slight change in the Tuesday evening schedule, however, according to Sue Metzo, who oversees the operation.

“We will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. from April through October,” Metzo said. “Certain concerns and issues have presented us with the need to be closed during the late fall and winter months.”

Metzo said they are occasionally faced with a problem of donations being left outside. Because they are only open 14 hours a week, those items could be outside a day or more, where they can get rained on or vandalized. The public is asked if they cannot put their donations in the chutes provided, please come during regular store hours, which are 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays from April through October.

For those who are not familiar with the MAAC Thrift Depot, it is run with the help of 20 to 30 volunteers. There are no paid employees, Metzo said.

“Our dedicated volunteers work anywhere between two to 20 hours per week,” she said.

The MAAC Thrift Depot is part of the non-profit organization, Medina Area Association of Churches, which was started around 1970. Sixteen churches in the Medina area are members. It consists of a Clergy Fellowship, the Thrift Depot, the MAAC Christmas Box Program and the Medina Area Christian Theater. Throughout the year they have Lenten luncheons, a Good Friday Cross Walk, Easter morning sunrise service, Thanksgiving ecumenical service and Advent in the Park.

MAAC started when several church groups combined efforts to provide clothing for students the school nurses were concerned about, Metzo said. So many people wanted to contribute there was an abundance of good used clothing that was, at first, given away.

But when more and more clothing kept coming in, it was decided to treat it like a rummage sale. The money earned was used to buy new underwear for the children in need. From there, it just grew and grew. It became the MAAC Clothing Depot and operated for years at the back of the former Medina High School on Catherine Street. When the old high school was sold, the Depot moved to its new location on Orient Street in 2018 and was renamed the Thrift Depot.

After paying for their expenses, the rest of the money earned is gifted back into the community, Metzo said. In 2021, MAAC gifted $41,703 to more than 20 agencies or churches in the area.

The Thrift Depot mainly accepts good, clean clothing, linens, toys, books, DVDs, CDs and small household/kitchen items. Unfortunately, they do not have space for furniture or large baby items. There is a list on their Facebook page (MAAC Thrift Depot) of items they cannot accept.

Anyone who has questions may message the Thrift Depot on Facebook or call and leave a message at (585) 798-6657. A volunteer will return the call within 24 hours.

People are being asked not to leave donations for the MAAC Thrift Depot outside, as seen here, where they can be stolen or rained on.

Village will update regs to allow the signs in light industrial/industrial areas

MEDINA – The Village Board voted on Monday to allow BMP to use a temporary sign for three months to try to fill job openings at the manufacturing site on Maple Ridge Road.

BMP twice had temporary signs out but was told to remove them because they were in violation of the village code.

Pride Pak also had a temporary sign out, trying to get job applicants, and was told to remove it.

A BMP representative was at Monday’s meeting to urge the use of the sign. The company saw an uptick in applications when the sign was by the road.

Now that it is gone, people may think the company isn’t hiring, which isn’t the case. BMP needs more workers, the board was told.

“We’re just hoping for some leniency,” the BMP official told the board. “We’re trying to provide jobs right to people here in Medina.”

The village code currently only allows temporary signs for new businesses or a business in a new location that is awaiting installation of a permanent sign. In those cases, the maximum use of a portable or temporary sign is 60 days.

Trustee Owen Toale urged the board not to stand in the way of a business that is trying to grow and fill jobs in Medina.

The Village Planning Board was asked to look at regulations for temporary signs, but decided to not take action on the issue.

However, the Village Board sets policy and Trustee Tim Elliott said the temporary sign regulations should be updated at a time when businesses are hiring.

“The times are changing,” he said. “We need to adjust accordingly.”

Mayor Mike Sidari said he doesn’t want to see “help wanted” signs all over, especially sandwich signs in the downtown with businesses seeking employees.

The board decided to have village attorney Matthew Brooks draft a proposal for allowing temporary signs in the industrial and light industrial zoned areas. That would include part of Park Avenue and the Medina Business Park on Maple Ridge and Bates roads, the areas that include most of Medina’s manufacturing plants.

It can take two to three months for a law to be changed with public hearings, meetings and a filing and approval from the state Department of State.

In the meantime, BMP was given up to 90 days permission to have a temporary sign. If Pride Pak wants to have a sign it will need to make a request to the board.

The temporary signs can be a maximum of 30 square feet. BMP said it’s sign is about 4 by 6 feet.

“I don’t want to slow down business,” Elliott said. “Hopefully the Planning Board sees we’re trying to be progressive and not step on their toes.”

(One Medina manufacturing business has a temporary sign outside seeking employees. Brunner is on Route 31 near Bates Road. Its sign is just outside the village line in Ridgeway so it doesn’t fall under the village ordinance.)

MEDINA – The Medina Police Department is warning that fake bills labelled “motion picture use only” are being passed in the community.

Medina Police chief Chad Kenward urged cashiers and businesses and cashiers to visually check all bills.

The photos are examples of fake $20 bills.

“It is out there being utilized as currency,” Kenward told the Village Board this evening. “It is counterfeit money.”

MEDINA – I have a new poster out of Medina Doors. It arrived from the printer on Tuesday. I’ve been working on this, on and off, for a few years.

The poster features 22 doors in the Medina community. Many of them are on prominent structures and are exceptional entrances. Others are a bit more whimsical and don’t really have architectural power. But they are well known on the Medina landscape.

I’ve seen these type of posters before for Buffalo, Rochester and other cities. They typically list the city in italics type. I wanted to take letters or shapes from the community to spell out M-E-D-I-N-A and D-O-O-R-S to add even more of Medina to this project. I challenged people in an article on Wednesday to identify where I found those letters.

Whoever could correctly identify the most letters would win a poster. Robin Wehling was correct on five out of 10. She is the winner. (I gave everyone the letter N. It comes from a grave at St. Mary’s Cemetery.)

Here is the back story on the other letters:

M – This is from the sign at the Millville Cemetery.

E – This comes from the Heinz pickle which is located inside the Medina Railroad Museum.

D – I turned the Canal Culvert on its side and it made a distinctive letter D.

I – This is a stained-glass window at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

N – In case you missed it above, it’s from a gravestone at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

A – This A comes from the sign at the West Ridgeway Cemetery at the corner of Marshall Road and Route 104.

D – The second D is from the top of the Bent’s Opera House. The D is turned sideways.

O – The first O is from the clock inside at Rudy’s, a diner on West Center Street.

O – The second O is the clock at Rotary Park in downtown Medina.

R – This letter comes from the sign on the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

S – This one is from the sign for Lions Park along the Erie Canal, between the lift bridge and the Glenwood Avenue bridge. The sign has letters that are mounted on the ground.

The posters are available at Author’s Note, the bookstore on Main Street in Medina and also the office in Albion for the Orleans Hub and Lake Country Pennysaver at 170 North Main St.

I’ll be signing posters and giving a presentation at 7 p.m. on June 30 at Author’s Note. That store also is able to mail these for people out of the area.