By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 April 2019 at 9:28 pm
District expanding Chromebook computers for more students
MEDINA – The Medina Board of Education has approved a $40,284,425 budget for the 2019-20 school year which won’t increase taxes for the 8th straight year.
The budget will go before residents on May 21, with the vote from noon to 8 p.m. The district will go over the budget during a public hearing at the annual meeting, 6:30 p.m. on May 14 at the district office.
The overall spending is up about $2.7 million from the $37,565,842, with a capital project driving some of the increase.
The district’s overall instruction costs are up about $1 million with more money for teacher salaries, special education programs, and computer-based instruction programs based on the 1:1 rollout of Chromebooks for about 900 students.
The district currently provides the Chromebook computers to about 500 students in grades 4 to 7. That will expand to grades 3 through 8, and 11th grade next school year. The following school year, 2020-2021, Medina wants to have the computers available to students in grades 3 through 12, about 1,150 total. The computers, with a warranty and software, cost about $330 to $340 each. The district’s BOCES aid through the state is covering about 80 percent of those costs, said Mark Kruzynski, district superintendent.
The district will maintain all current programs and staff in the proposed budget, and is restoring foreign language at Wise Middle School, adding a full-time music choral teacher at Wise, and combining the .5 ELA with a .5 reading teacher at the high school.
The tax levy will remain the same at $8,641,861. This is the eighth consecutive year Medina has either reduced taxes or held them in check, and the 11th out of the past 12 years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 April 2019 at 5:45 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Meadow Snyder, 6, of Wilson leads a pack of kids up the hill at The Gallagher on North Gravel Road during an Easter egg hunt this afternoon.
More than 100 children came out for the egg hunt, despite the rain.
Jenna Uderitz, 2, of Albion fills her basket with Easter eggs.
Jenna and Martin Bruning, owner of The Gallagher, have hosted an egg hunt the previous two years for friends and family. This year they opened it up to the community. They had 540 kids signed up for the event, although the turnout was less due to the rain.
The Brunings were pleased to see so many come out for the event despite a steady downpour.
The Gallagher is now an events center, and hosts many weddings each year. The Brunings have a new pavilion in back, and are expanding the use of the property for dances and other special events.
The Brunings hid 3,000 eggs on the property, including this one on the stone wall in front of the barn.
Samuel Conde, 1, of Albion is a little apprehensive around the Easter Bunny.
Sophie Kozody, 7, of Medina paints a turtle from Brushstrokes Studio. After the egg hunt, some other activities moved inside the barn.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 10 April 2019 at 1:27 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: The top of St. Louis Catholic Church in Buffalo is an open work lattice spire that reaches 245 feet high. It is the tallest open-work spire ever built completely of stone in the United States, and it is also believed to be the only remaining open-work or pierced spire in the U.S.
MEDINA – The 2019 Medina Sandstone Society’s bus tour is headed to Buffalo to see some of the city’s landmark structures that are made of local sandstone.
The Sandstone Tourism Committee – consisting of chair Sue Holland, Gabrielle Barone, Peggy Schreck and Rob Klino – have put together an exciting day on May 8, which will include several structures previously inducted into the Sandstone Hall of Fame and lunch at the historic Hotel Henry’s 100 Acres Restaurant.
The first tour sponsored by the Medina Sandstone Society took place in 2008 and was an idea of the late Bob Waters, who came up with the idea of a walking tour of Medina’s Main Street. Forty-five people took part in the tour, led by then County Historian Bill Lattin.
The next year, Lattin led another tour of Medina’s downtown, ending at the Medina Historical Society, in which 61 participated.
The year 2010 saw 68 people take part in the tour of three Medina churches – St. Mary’s, First Baptist and St. John’s, each made of different colors of Medina sandstone.
In 2011, Lattin included Todd Bensley of the Medina Historical Society in a canal walk to Medina Falls, in which 60 people participated.
The following year, 71 people signed up for a tour of Boxwood Cemetery, led by Lattin and Bensley.
After a tour of Main Street which focused on the newly installed historical panels, the Sandstone Society took a four-year break.
St. Paul’s Cathedral was built by the Episcopal Church from 1849-1851. The church used stone from a quarry in Hulberton. This church was Buffalo’s first major architectural landmark. It was designed by Richard Upjohn after he earned a national reputation for his design of the Trinity Episcopal Church in New York City.
Last year, Holland came up with the idea of an Orleans County Hall of Fame bus tour, which Lattin agreed to narrate. It included sites in Orleans County that are in the Medina sandstone Hall of Fame. In Medina the stops included Holy Trinity Parish (St. Mary’s Catholic Church), the former Armory (now the Orleans County YMCA) and then St. John’s Episcopal Church. The tour went to Albion and included the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, First Presbyterian Church and Mount Albion Cemetery. The group then went to Holley to see St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Hillside Cemetery, where the chapel has the only flying buttress in the county.
“That was so successful, we decided to branch out,” Holland said.
For the first time, this year’s tour will take participants on a bus tour to Buffalo , to view and tour interiors of historic Medina sandstone structures.
After gathering at 8:30 a.m. at Medina City Hall and viewing the Sandstone Hall of Fame on the second floor, the bus will depart for Buffalo .
One of the most anticipated stops will be the Hotel Henry, an elegant hotel in the Richardson Olmsted Complex. Construction on the 147-year-old Richardson Olmsted Campus began in 1872 and opened in 1880 as the state-of-the-art Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane.
It closed a century later, to reopen after a $100 million renovation as the new Hotel Henry. The hotel is named after its designer, Henry Hobson Richardson, who worked alongside landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also laid out nearby Delaware Park .
After the Richardson Complex fell into disrepair, a group of local preservationists in the early 2000s sued the state, forcing them to fix it up. The extensive renovation took 15 years and millions of taxpayer dollars.
The Hotel Henry has become one of Buffalo’s premier destinations for weddings and special occasions. The second floor houses the 100 Acres Restaurant, which was named for the 100 acres set aside for patient farmland when the hospital first opened. Eighty-eight guestrooms and suites are located in the two buildings flanking the towers.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Sue Holland, a director with the Medina Sandstone Society and chair of the Tourism Committee, stands before the Sandstone Wall of Fame in Medina ’s City Hall. On May 8, the Medina Sandstone Society will sponsor a day-long bus tour to several sandstone structures in Buffalo, including lunch at the historic Hotel Henry at the Richardson Olmsted Complex, which is in the Medina Sandstone Society’s Hall of Fame.
The bus will drive by Lafayette Lofts, a luxurious residential complex created by the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church; Buffalo Connecticut Street Armory; First Presbyterian Church, across from Kleinhans Music Hall; and Ashbury Hall/Babeville. All have been inducted into the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.
Participants will disembark and tour St. Louis Church and St. Paul’s Cathedral, both of which are also in the Sandstone Hall of Fame.
On the bus ride to Buffalo, two videos by Channel 2 will be shown – the first when Bob Waters and Todd Bensley were interviewed and the second where Lattin discussed the origin of sandstone quarries.
“The chance to see these videos is a real plus,” Holland said.
Holland also said the Sandstone Society is having booklets made of all the sites, and these will be given to riders.
“They will definitely get their money’s worth,” she said.
Anyone wishing more information may contact Holland at shollan2@rochester.rr.com, by calling (585) 721-3809 or by clicking here for the Sandstone Society website.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Rich Lovelace is Peter in the Easter cantata “Come Walk With Me,” being presented Saturday and Sunday by MACT and PACT.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 April 2019 at 1:54 pm
Medina Area Christian Theater taking show to 2 schools, instead of a church building
Diane Thurber, theatrical director for the Easter cantata “Come Walk With Me” works with the cast during a rehearsal at the Medina United Methodist Church.
MEDINA – The Medina Area Christian Theater ’s annual Easter cantata has a lot of “firsts” this year.
Joining them for the first time will be members of Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation, a group of five pastors started 20 years ago by Pastor Dan Thurber to pray for members of the community.
Also, for the first time, the cantata will be presented at a school, instead of a church. And, having a performance in Albion is also a first.
“Come Walk With Me” features a cast of 56 and will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Albion Middle School Auditorium and at 3 p.m. Sunday at Medina High School Auditorium.
Cast members this year represent 13 churches in Orleans County and the Hartland Baptist Church in Gasport.
The cast this year is one of the largest in the history of the cantata, directors said.
Lead cast members are Randall Bane as the grandfather, Rick Boyle as Luke, Cody Taylor as Jesus, Rich Lovelace as Peter, Mike Wright as Pontius Pilate, and Bill Parker as John.
The cast of 56 is the largest ever in the Easter cantata being presented this year on Saturday and Sunday by the Medina Area Christian Theater. Joining them for the first time are members of Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation. They are rehearsing here at the Medina Methodist Church at the Grove.
Elaine Lovelace is musical director and Diane Thurber is theatrical director.
The collaboration between MACT and PACT came as a result of PACT contacting MACT and asking if they could be involved.
“This is wonderful for our family, which is steeped in music,” said Diane Thurber, whose husband Dan is pastor of Assembly of God on Ridge Road . “It is a wonderful opportunity for us to do a theatrical production which expands on our faith.”
MACT was created out of the original social musical theater started more than two decades ago by Jan Cramer and the Rev. Dan McDowell of Medina First Baptist Church. After McDowell left, Elaine Lovelace took over directing.
Elaine Lovelace is musical director of the annual Medina Area Christian Theater’s Easter cantata.
The cantata really grew in prominence 12 years ago when the Rev. Larry Eastlack came to town and wanted to put on a big Christmas musical, Lovelace said. The new group became the Medina Area Christian Theater and Lovelace has directed it ever since.
MACT traditionally puts on two presentations a year – at Christmas and Easter.
A committee consisting of Elaine Lovelace, Robin Watts and Nicole Bacon usually meet to choose the production.
“We have done this cantata twice before, but Rich and I suggested doing it again because it would be new for the Thurbers and PACT,” Elaine said. “Besides, the music is fun and Diane has expanded the drama.”
Watts also makes all the costumes for the group.
The cantata is free and directors hope the new venues will result in larger crowds.
Randall Bane is the grandfather in the Easter cantata. Here, he reads to children about his travels with Jesus.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2019 at 10:40 am
Medina welcomes more Lyndonville students in Mustang band
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Mustang Band performs Sept. 22 during its home show at the Fall Festival of Bands.
LYNDONVILLE – Medina and Lyndonville have set June 17 for an open house on the shared sports programs, given students and parents from both school districts a chance to meet coaches, athletic directors and other school leaders from both districts.
Lyndonville will host the open house in the evening on June 17. The time hasn’t been set yet.
The two districts starting sharing some programs six years ago, first with boys varsity soccer.
That has expanded to eight shared programs. Lyndonville hosts the boys volleyball, girls varsity soccer and the musical program.
Medina hosts a merged boys varsity soccer, varsity football, cross country, the marching band and swimming.
Both school districts in February approved new four-year agreements for the shared programs.
District leaders met last week to discuss an increased outreach for the shared programs. They decided to have an open house on June 17. Besides coaches and athletic directors, the open house will include the district superintendents, leaders of the Board of Education, and the Sports Boosters from both districts, said Jason Smith, Lyndonville district superintendent.
He would like there to be an annual open house, with the districts rotating as the host site.
Smith discussed the shared sports open house during Monday’s Board of Education meeting in Lyndonville.
He also said Jim Steele, leader of the Medina marching band, would be meeting with Lyndonville students this week to welcome them to be part of the band this fall. Lyndonville usually has had two to five students in the Medina band. Steele would be happy to welcome more Lyndonville students in the program, Smith said.
Medina band leaders also will have a parent meeting in May in Lyndonville.
Lyndonville has a marching band that performs in the Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades. Medina’s band performs in many competitions during the fall and spring.
MEDINA – Takeform, the national experiential graphics and way-finding firm, has acquired PrintLeader, a Buffalo-based, full-service, large-format digital printing and installation company.
Following a year of successful collaboration on national accounts, this transaction enhances Takeform’s custom commercial wallcovering and window film line.
“We’re focused on helping our clients transform architectural spaces into visual experiences that inspire and connect with people,” explains Takeform’s President, Bill Hungerford. “Every day, more organizations are realizing the value of branded space. PrintLeader brings a focused range of skill sets and technology that we’ll leverage and grow to optimize our existing experiential graphics offering.”
Additionally, the two organizations share an attitude of innovation. Like Takeform, PrintLeader continuously focuses on the growing needs of its clients to differentiate and enhance customer relationships through graphic-rich environments.
“We’re continually innovating,” said Bill Paulot, president of PrintLeader. “We find new ways to apply our core strengths and provide greater ROI for our clients. I look forward to even greater innovation with the backing of Takeform’s award-winning design and engineering teams.”
PrintLeader will become part of the Takeform organization, and its capabilities will supplement the company’s extensive services and products for the built environment, which include way-finding, graphic design, project management, installation, recognition systems, plus a wide range of industry-leading products.
About Takeform
Takeform is a nationally-recognized, award-winning experiential graphics and way-finding firm.
The company focuses on building long-term relationships by providing its clients with a full service, end-to-end solution that simplifies processes and maximizes value. Clients include many of the leading architecture firms, Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems, and higher education organizations in North America.
(Editor’s Note: PrintLeader will continue to operate out of Buffalo and will be known as Takeform Buffalo.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2019 at 7:53 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Arlowe Price, a self-described fourth-generation “circus freak performer” from Buffalo, blows fire from a flame held by Riley Schilacci. Price also chewed broken glass, set a mouse trap on his ear and tongue, and performed other outrageous stunts during the Steampunk Festival on Aug. 31, 2013 at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery.
MEDINA – Some big news in the Orleans County cultural life calendar: the Steampunk Festival at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery is moving the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. And the PLAY/GROUND art show that debuted at the former Medina High School last year will be back.
Leonard Oakes started hosting Steampunk in 2011. The winery bills the event “as a festival of bizarre proportions.” It draws more than 1,000 people to the winery on Ridge Road.
Most of the attendees at Steampunk wear futuristic costumes with a Victorian theme.
The Steampunk Festival draws people in outlandish costumes, with top hats, goggles and robotic arms as accessories. These attendees at a recent Steampunk Festival in Medina include, from left: Angela Loveland of Niagara Falls, and siblings Adam Cordell and Katie Cordell of Mercersburg, Pa.
The festival features fire artists, belly dancers, bands, hoop dancers, crooners and food trucks. The event also celebrates the winery’s steampunk hard cider.
Moving it to the fairgrounds on Aug. 31 this year will allow the winery to better accommodate the large crowds.
“Some of you guessed right,” Leonard Oakes Estate Winery posted on Facebook. “We’re so excited for the new venue! More details will come in the following weeks. For now we’re just thrilled to share the news with everyone. Can’t wait to see you, Steampunk fans!”
Kyla Kegler of Buffalo created “Thin Space” during the PLAY/GROUND art show last October. She welcomed people to get in the space with the balloons.
Last October also was the debut of a big art show at the old Medina High School. About 1,000 people were in the school over three days to see 29 different art exhibits that were part of PLAY/GROUND.
Organizers announced PLAY/GROUND will be back this fall with the school hosting artists again from Sept. 27-29.
Artists can display their work in classrooms, two bathrooms, stairwells and an auditorium at the school building, 324 Catherine St.
Applications from artists will be accepted from April 12 through May 19, with late applications taken until May 26. Artists will be notified in mid-June if their proposal is selected.
Elizabeth Cooper of Medina was a featured artist at last year’s show. She created angels doing acrobatic moves in one of the stairwells. Todd Belfield of Jeddo Mill Antiques assisted with the installation. “It’s fabulous,” Cooper said then about the art show. “I feel like this is a spark for something very interesting happening in Medina.”
Michael Hungerford, regional director for Takeform in Medina, helped spearhead the project last year. Hungerford read about a similar project as PLAY/GROUND in a vacant warehouse in New York City.
Hungerford knew the old Medina school would be vacant. His uncle Roger Hungerford acquired it from Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God Church and has plans to create apartments out of the school. First, Hungerford is working to renovate the former Bent’s Opera House on Main Street.
Michael pitched the idea of the art installations in the school and the Roger backed the project.
“It is so far beyond my expectations,” Michael Hungerford said at last year’s show. “The work is amazing.”
The school remains available this year while crews work on the Bent’s building.
For more on PLAY/GROUND, including an artist application, click here.
Colleen Toledano made this piece with pink foam, which proved popular for photos.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 April 2019 at 9:07 pm
MEDINA – The Village Planning Board this evening approved the site plan for the proposed conversion of 511 West Ave. into a hostel.
The board’s OK followed last Thursday’s vote of support for the project by the Orleans County Planning Board.
Andrew Meier, owner of the Hart House Hotel on West Center Street, wants to open the hostel with six rooms. The new business would be called Bunkhaus and would offer a clean and more affordable rest stop on the western end of the Erie Canal between Buffalo and Rochester.
“The proposed hostel in Central Business District will be an excellent addition to Medina’s hospitality industry,” said Chris Busch, Planning Board chairman in Medina. “It will be a great option for bicyclists who are among the more frequent users of the Erie Canal Trail.”
The first floor would have six rooms for the hostel. The two upper apartments would remain. WiFi would be available.
The six former examination rooms would be outfitted with a bunk bed, lounge chair, clothing storage, sink and mirror, and area to store up to two bicycle. An existing bathroom would be shared by all of the patrons.
• The Planning Board this evening also was updated on the construction of the former Bent’s Opera House which is being renovated to become a restaurant, boutique hotel and event space
“We’re extremely pleased to hear of and see the progress made at the Bent’s site,” Busch said. “It is an absolutely massive undertaking that will both preserve and transform the structure for generations to come.”
• The board also was updated on the addition at Zambisto’s on Main Street, which will add room inside for dining and for parties and an option for rooftop dining. There is a target date of May 1 for completion.
“We’re very pleased to see the Zambistro project nearing completion,” Busch said. “This project is unique in that it is the first new building construction in the Historic District in a very long time. The addition of rooftop dining is also a first for Medina. Such rooftop venues are generally seen in metropolitan areas like Buffalo where they have become very popular, attracting patrons from a wide area. We have no doubt that it will do the same here and will be a tremendous addition to Medina’s burgeoning culinary scene.”
• Construction of the new Cobblestone Inn and Suites, a 58-room hotel, also is expected to get started in May on Maple Ridge Road.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Kathy Blackburn (right), president of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce and vice president of Medina Business Association, assists owners and employees of Express Pool and Spa in the ribbon cutting Monday morning to celebrate the store’s opening. In front are owners Joshua and Sarah Ferguson (with ribbon and scissors). From left rear are Zach Cogar, service technician; Ethan Creig, seasonal technician; Laurie Seager (Sarah’s mother); Christianne Morreale, sales manager; and Mike Romano, service technician.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 2 April 2019 at 7:18 am
MEDINA – It has always been Joshua Ferguson’s dream to own his own business by the time he was 30.
Two years ago his wife Sarah got the ball rolling when she formed his LLC for his birthday.
Joshua turned 30 on Feb. 11 this year, and plans were already well along for the opening of his and Sarah’s new business, Express Pool and Spa.
On Monday morning the Fergusons cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of their business, located at 3930 Salt Works Rd., near the corner of West Center Street.
Express Pool and Spa offers a full line of pool supplies, covers, chemicals and parts, heaters, filters and pumps, as well as in-ground and above-ground pools. Joshua also operates JKF Services, for which he performs handyman services.
“So we are able to install and repair decks, as well as install pools,” Sarah said.
They also do liner inspections and repairs, and offer weekly pool servicing, as well as seasonal opening and closing of pools.
Express Pool and Spa employs Christianne Morreale of Lyndonville as sales manager, service technicians Mike Romano and Zach Cogar, and seasonal technician Ethan Creig.
Express Pool and Spa is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
For information call (585) 318-4769.
At left, Christianne Morreale, sales manager for Express Pool and Spa, and owner Sarah Ferguson hold Ferguson’s twins, 3-year-old Serenita and Joycelyn in the Ferguson’s new pool and spa store which officially opened Monday morning at 3930 Salt Works Rd.
MEDINA – The Orleans County YMCA on Friday evening welcomed 125 children to the Y on Pearl Street in Medina for Healthy Kids Day.
The annual Healthy Kids Day event at the Orleans County YMCA was popular among families and partnering agencies. The event grew this year in providing more activities and expanding the event outside of the gymnasium into the upper level of the facility where the Rock Wall was open, along with showcasing the new Fitness On Demand room and instructional boxing demonstrations with Theo Irwin, said Greg Reed, the Y executive director.
The gymnasium was packed with activities and explorative information for youth and parents to participate in as they filled in their HKD Bingo Card.
Many of the activities were orchestrated and facilitated by these organizations: Orleans United DFC Coalition, Orleans Community Health, Fidelis Care, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments, GO Art!, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee/CCR&R, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County, NY State of Health, Hoag Library, Farm Credit East, Medina LOYALS Football Club, and Medina Lions Club.
To top it all off, kids turned in their bingo card at the end of the night for a healthy snack to enjoy on the way home. The Orleans County YMCA can’t wait to host this event again next year as it continues to grow, so be ready next March to bring your family to Healthy Kids Day 2020, Red said.
Theo Irwin provides some boxing tips to youngsters.
Photos courtesy of Wendi Pencille: Medina’s varsity guard consists of 13 students in grades 7-12. This year their show is “I Can Only Imagine.” Many people experience the loss of a loved one and this show takes you on a journey that can bring back fond memories of that special person. The students performed with photographs of loved ones who have passed away.
GATES – Medina’s Winterguard units competed at the North East Color Guard Circuit championships on Saturday, with Medina’s varsity coming in second just behind Corning-Painted Post.
Medina earned a score of 82.91, with CPP at 83.48 during the championships at Gates-Chili High School.
There were 33 guard units from western NY and Canada competing in 9 different classes. In addition, the ARC of Yates and the Heritage Hurricanes performed in exhibition and tied for Grand Champions.
The Novice class consisted of 3 guard units and Medina earned 1st place followed by Legacy and the Hinsdale Starliners.
The RA class had 7 guards in total and Medina earned 2nd place with a score of 82.91, bested by Lancaster with a score of 84.08.
Winners in the other classes are Victor in the Cadet class with a score of 77.21; Batavia in the A1 class with 79.23; Magic of Scout House in the SR class with 78.24; Gates-Chili in the 1A class with 88.34; Victor in the SO class with 85.40; in the IO class the Lancaster Independent with 84.40.
While Winterguard comes to a close for many of these students their skills and talents will now be channeled to spring street band, where practice began March 26. The band will travel to Boston, Mass. on April 25 for competition in parade as well as concert and jazz performances. They will also perform in the Seneca Fall Pageant May 17 and the Sherburne-Earlville Pageant on May 31. The band will perform for Medina during the Memorial Day parade on May 27.
This photo shows all of the Medina’s Winterguard units.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2019 at 3:36 pm
MEDINA – The Village of Medina is accepting applications for code enforcement officer to replace Marty Busch, who is retiring in July after 24 years in the position.
The village will take applications until April 3, and has received two so far, Mayor Mike Sidari said.
The village would like to have the new codes officer work with Busch for a little while before his retirement.
• The Village Board on Monday also accepted the low bid from K.D. Flooring of Medina to replace the carpeting in the Village Office on Park Avenue.
KD Flooring will do the job for $5,222, using a square-tiled carpet. The space that will get new carpet includes the village clerk’s office, mayor’s office and the meeting room.
Sidari said the village office will likely close on a Friday afternoon to give KD Flooring time to do the work before the office reopens on a Monday.
• The Village Board also approved having classic car shows on Friday evenings in the Canal Basin, beginning June 7 and continuing until Aug. 23. The super cruise, when one end of Main Street is blocked off, is scheduled for Aug. 28.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2019 at 11:05 am
MEDINA – The Village Board approved a skate jam at Butts Park and a fund-raising sign that will look like a giant skateboard at Butts Park.
The Medina Skate Society is working to raise money for a new skate park at Butts. The group is up to $22,000 so far. It needs to raise at least $50,000 in the next year to be receive a matching grant from the Tony Hawk & Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. Those organizations have committed to a minimum $50,000 if the community can raise that money by March 2020. The grant goes up to $250,000 in matching funds.
The Medina Skate Society will have a skate jam on June 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. That event was approved by the Village Board earlier this week. The Skate Society also is planning a second skate jam on Sept. 14 from noon to 3 p.m.
Both events will be free to attend and will include demonstrations by local skaters. Food, shirts and stickers will be available and the Skate Society will be accepting donations for the new Skate Park, said Alex Feig, Skate Society president.
He also is working to have a thermometer sign at Butts to let the community know the fund-raising progress. Feig said that sign will resemble a large skateboard. The board gave him permission to put the sign on a fence at Butts Park.
The Skate Society also is accepting donations on-line through a GoFundMe.
File photo: This photo on November 30, 2012 is from the opening day of the Bank of Castile’s branch in Medina at 1410 South Main Street. Patrick Weissend has been the branch manager since day 1. Amanda Pollard is the assistant branch manager. The Bank of Castile used some Medina sandstone in the building’s construction.
BATAVIA – Tompkins Bank of Castile will be celebrating its 150th anniversary this spring. Together with our partners at Tompkins Insurance Agencies, and Tompkins Financial Advisors, we plan to acknowledge this important milestone in a number of ways and at several key events throughout the year.
The anniversary celebrations will kick off at the original Tompkins Bank of Castile branch on May 1 and continue at the bank’s annual WNY informational shareholders meeting on May 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Genesee Country Village and Museum.
150 years is certainly a long time, but it’s even more impressive when you consider that fewer than 5 percent of the banks currently operating today in the United States have been around as long as Tompkins Bank of Castile. What’s even more impressive is that Tompkins’ mission and values have remained the same, allowing us to consistently perform at a level ranking among the best in the industry.
“For years, we’ve taken great pride in supporting the communities where we operate,” says John McKenna, President and CEO of Tompkins Bank of Castile. “We look forward to serving our customers for the next 150 years.”
Tompkins Financial Corporation is committed to creating long-term value for its clients, communities, and shareholders. Based in Batavia, Tompkins Bank of Castile serves the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties and beyond), Rochester, and recently expanded into Buffalo with the opening of the new Amherst location.
“We believe in the power of the local people working together to help our communities grow and thrive,” McKenna continued. Since 1869, Tompkins has valued its employees and invested in the communities they serve by volunteering and donating to charities, nonprofits, and civic organizations.
The Bank is a subsidiary of Tompkins Financial Corporation, which is also parent company to Tompkins Trust Company, Tompkins Mahopac Bank, Tompkins Insurance Agencies and Tompkins Financial Advisors. Together, Tompkins operates a total of 65 banking offices serving throughout New York and Pennsylvania.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 March 2019 at 8:02 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board voted in favor of the site plan for turning a former dentist office into a hostel in Medina.
Andrew Meier, owner of the Hart House Hotel on West Center Street, wants to open the hostel with six rooms at 511 West Ave. The new business would be called Bunkhaus and would offer a clean and more affordable rest stop on the western end of the Erie Canal between Buffalo and Rochester.
The first floor would have six rooms for the hostel. The two upper apartments would remain.
The six former examination rooms would be outfitted with a bunk bed, lounge chair, clothing storage, sink and mirror, and area to store up to two bicycle. An existing bathroom would be shared by all of the patrons.
“I think this will be a real positive addition,” Meier told the Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday evening.
Meier said the existing layout of the first floor wouldn’t be changed. He wants to make some cosmetic improvements from the current 1970s look of the space.
Meier said the business would operate in tandem with the Hart House, sharing a phone line and cleaning crew. There is a large parking lot and secondary lots across from the Post Office, although many of the guests will be cyclists and won’t have a car.
Meier said he expects many of the customers will be hikers or cyclists exploring the Erie Canal.
“The Village of Medina certainly needs this,” said Marty Busch, the Medina code enforcement officer and a member of the County Planning Board. “We’ve had a tremendous influx of people hiking, cycling and visiting the community.”
Busch said the hostel offers another option for people to stay overnight in Medina.
“It is more spartan accommodations than a typical hotel,” he said.
