File photo: Clothing Depot volunteers are pictured in 2014 and include, from left: Sharon Breckinridge, Donna Barnum, Alice Zacher and Sue Metzo.

MEDINA – The Clothing Depot, run by the Medina Area Association of Churches, will be heading to a different site, the former Bells Supermarket at the corner of Orient and Starr streets.

The Clothing Depot is current part of the old Medina High School, the Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God on Catherine Street.

But that building has been purchased by Roger Hungerford and Talis Equity and will be renovated into apartments. The MAAC can stay in the building until June 30.

The MAAC said the former Bells site, which is owned by Matt Mundion, will be better location for displaying the used clothing, furniture and other items. The site has one big room. At Calvary, the MAAC uses a larger room and then four smaller rooms, said Sue Metzo, one of the board members and a volunteer with the Clothing Depot since 2006.

“It’s big enough and it has parking,” she said about the former Bells.

The site needs work before the MAAC can move in. The group is seeking community support to help with renovations. If the MAAC can assist Mundion with work on the building, that will result in a much more affordable lease. If Mundion has to do the improvements, Metzo said MAAC will have to pay more for rent.

The group has sent an appeal letter to the community, seeking support with renovations to the building.

The Depot has provided a way for residents to donate quality clothing and housewares, and then be purchased by customers, especially many in lower-income families, Metzo said.

The MAAC raises about $30,000 to $35,000 from the Clothing Depot each year that is donating back to the community, assisting Scouts, church projects, senior citizens, high school scholarships, Hospice of Orleans and other organizations.

Metzo said the MAAC has been looking for a site for the Clothing Depot for about 18 months. Many of the sites required rent that was three or four times what the MAAC has been giving Calvary. Mundion has offered a good deal, she said.

Once renovations are done, Metzo said the MAAC will start moving over many smaller items to the former Bells. The MAAC may need a professional mover to help with larger items, such as racks, counters and tables.

“We would certainly appreciate any donation of materials, money, or talent that anyone could give,” Metzo said.

The MAAC said the former Bells will need a new cage for incoming donations, a wall to separate the store area from the work area, more lighting, a furnace, and a good cleaning before it is painted.

The Clothing Depot goes back to least 2005 at Calvary. There are about 25 volunteers from several churches who run the site, which is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Donations can be sent to the MAAC, PO Box 253, Medina, NY 14103.

For more information, email medinaareaasso.ofchurches@gmail.com.

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Provided photo: Emily Winters greets Medina Lions Club President Dean Bellack during a Lions meeting earlier this month.

MEDINA – Emily Winters, a Medina native who is a registered nurse and professional development specialist at Highland Hospital in Rochester, shared with the Medina Lions Club about her experiences in Puerto Rico.

Winters was part of a group of 11 health care providers from Rochester who went to Puerto Rico to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Winters spoke to the Medina Lions Club on March 5 about her 16-day volunteer effort in Puerto Rico. Winters went with a team out of Highland Hospital that worked to bring medical relief to those in a time of great need, said Dean Bellack, Medina Lions Club president.

Her story included her personal feelings of anticipation and anxiety of making such a trip and how such different experience shapes how you view life when you return.

Her team treated hundreds of people per day from minor issues to major critical needs.

“They saw it all,” Bellack said. “In addition, Emily Winters finds time to raise her family, commute to her position as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist at Highland Hospital in Rochester. The Medina Lions appreciate your commitment to Medina and your profession.”

She is the daughter-in-law of Bob Winters, who is a member of the Medina Lions Club. The club has 52 members and is active with several community events every year.

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Sidari, Sherman and Elliott ran without opposition

MEDINA – The incumbent mayor and two trustees were re-elected today in a low-key election without any opposition.

Mike Sidari was elected mayor with 41 votes, while Marguerite Sherman received 46 for trustee and Tim Elliott was picked on 43 ballots.

The trio ran together two years ago under the “The Village Party” and is back for two more years.

Sidari is an active member of the Medina Fire Department. He is retired as the food service administrator for the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion.

Sherman is a special education teacher at Medina. Elliott is co-owner of Brushstrokes Studios in Medina.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Medina Mayor Mike Sidari is pictured with elementary students during an Arbor Day celebration on April 29, 2016. The village has been planting about 60 to 80 trees each year for more than a decade.

MEDINA – Mike Sidari says it’s a good time to be Medina mayor with the downtown thriving, new businesses opening in the Medina Business Park and many residents committed to volunteering and improving the community.

Sidari is finishing his first two-year term as mayor and is unopposed in today’s election. He said years of groundwork are paying off with the revived downtown and businesses such as Pride Pak opening in the Medina Business Park. Takeform Architectural Graphics also is doing a big expansion and a new hotel, Cobblestone Suites, is expected to start construction this year on a 58-bed hotel.

The Orleans Economic Development Agency is marketing more land in Medina for businesses. The sites have access to infrastructure and the low-cost hydropower from Niagara Falls.

“There are a few projects coming up,” Sidari said. “The village is starting to make a comeback.”

Medina can’t sit idle and wait for the development. Sidari said the village will be doing a study of its sewer plant with assistance from the Orleans EDA.

“We will be looking at what we have now and where we need to be in the future,” Sidari said.

The village should look to increase sewer capacity to meet the demands of an anticipated buildout in the business parks, he said.

Sidari sees the downtown getting stronger with the renovation of the Bent’s Opera House into a restaurant, boutique hotel, and wedding venue with space for a market serving healthy options next door. Talis Equity and Roger Hungerford are driving that project. They are also planning to convert the former Medina High School into apartments.

Medina last year applied for a $10 million downtown grant from the state, but was denied with the funds going to Batavia. Sidari said village stakeholders are working on another application for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. If Medina is approved for those funds, it would speed up more projects in the downtown and by the canal waterfront.

“We’re definitely applying for that again,” Sidari said.

He is retired from the Orleans Correctional Facility, a men’s prison in Albion where he was the food service administrator providing meals to 1,000 inmates. He oversaw 7 employees plus 80 inmate workers.

Sidari has been on the Village Board for four years, with the first two as a trustee and the past two as mayor.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot and I’m still learning. Our goal is to make Medina better.”

Sidari is unopposed today along with Trustees Marguerite Sherman and Tim Elliott. The trio is running under “The Village Party.” Voting is from noon to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center, 615 West Ave.

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Provided photo from Corning Museum of Glass: A barge with mobile glassmaking equipment will be in Medina on Aug. 11-12.

MEDINA – The Corning Museum of Glass announced that the 2018 GlassBarge tour will visit Medina, docking at Medina Canal Basin on August 11-12.

As the 2018 signature event for the statewide celebration of the Erie Canal Bicentennial, GlassBarge will offer free public glassmaking demonstrations at each scheduled stop during its four-month tour.

GlassBarge commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company – now known as Corning Incorporated – relocating to Corning via the New York Waterways by canal barge.

In celebration of this pivotal journey, the Corning Museum is recreating the voyage with GlassBarge – a 30′ x 80′ canal barge equipped with Corning’s patented all-electric glassmaking equipment. In addition to sharing the story of glassmaking in Corning, the GlassBarge tour emphasizes the continued role of New York’s waterways in shaping the state’s industry, culture, and community.

“We are thrilled to visit Medina to bring to life the historic waterway in their community,” said Rob Cassetti, senior director, creative strategy and audience engagement at the Corning Museum. “The Corning Museum of Glass has taken mobile glassmaking around the world, and we can’t wait to share the beauty of this endlessly versatile material with our closest neighbors across New York State.”

GlassBarge begins it tour in Brooklyn on May 17 and will travel north on the Hudson River, then westward along the Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo before making its way to the Finger Lakes. A ceremonial last leg of the trip will take place by land, concluding in Corning with a community-wide celebration on Sept. 22. (Besides stopping in Medina, GlassBarge will also be in Brockport from Aug. 17-19.)

“The Village of Medina is excited to host the Corning GlassBarge along with the Lois McClure as they travel the Historic Erie Canal commemorating not only the bicentennial of the Canal but the 150th anniversary of the glass company move through the waterway from New York City to Corning,” said Mike Sidari, mayor of the Village of Medina. “I encourage area residents to bring their family and friends to historic Medina and enjoy the only port of call for the GlassBarge and the Lois McClure in Orleans County. While visiting please feel free to walk around our beautiful canal side business district and enjoy all the locally owned stores and restaurants.”

A flotilla of historic ships will accompany GlassBarge, including the Lois McClure, a replica of an 1862 canal barge, and the C.L. Churchill, a 1964 tugboat, both part of the permanent collection of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. The museum will share the story of 19th-century canal life and how materials were shipped on New York’s waterways. On the Erie Canal, GlassBarge will be moved by an historic tug from the fleet of the South Street Seaport Museum, connecting upstate and downstate by water.

GlassBarge will provide daily demonstrations from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 11-12 at the Medina Canal Basin. All demos are approximately 30 minutes long, and reservations are strongly encouraged through free timed tickets that will be available at www.cmog.org/GlassBarge. Reservations will open 4-6 weeks prior to each stop. Demos can also be viewed from shore without a reservation.

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Provided photo: Pictured, front row, from left: Payton Denniston, Elise Olsen and Sophie Kroening. Back row: Jackson Reese, Molly DeBottis, Robert Clute and Sarah Klaiber.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – Buffalo author Sarah Klaiber spent some time with students at Medina’s Oak Orchard Elementary School recently. She read her book “Treasures” and talked about the importance of appreciating things that are often taken for granted.

“This is my first book,” says Ms. Klaiber.  “I don’t know if there will be any more in my future, but I plan on expand on the message of Treasures. It was inspired by a mental wellness journey that I started five years ago. I started taking better care of myself and doing something finally that I loved to do, which is writing. I found my children, who always make me happy, and writing, which I love, were the birth of Treasures.

“My message to little ones is that they can look around and see treasures every day and it’s okay to be blue every now and then,” she said. “My heart just turns to mush listening to the little ones talk about what are their treasures. To see them reflecting on what makes them happy is great. I get a lot of thank you letters from parents for such a simple, meaningful and often overlooked message.  I really appreciate the opportunity to be here to share it with the students.”

Molly DeBottis, the librarian at Oak Orchard, was instrumental in getting Ms. Klaiber to come for a visit.

“Someone brought me her flyer when she was speaking at Roy-Hart and I got in contact with her and since she was a local author and priced reasonably it worked out to have her at the school,” DeBottis said. “Her book is very appropriate for grades K-2. It’s a great picture book. I think it is very exciting and a good opportunity to hear firsthand the process of writing a book. It get the kids excited about reading.”

Julie Webber, Oak Orchard principal, added, “I think it is a great opportunity for students to see the full circle of writing; that there is a person behind the book, who writes the book.  She can talk to the students about what her message is, in addition to hearing the author read the book herself.”

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Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A cannon from World War I that has been a fixture at State Street Park for about 80 years is leaving Medina for several months. A group of local veterans gathered at the park this morning to watch it be loaded on a flatbed owned by Automotive Solutions.

The cannon, manufactured in 1916, was fired during World War I. The cannon was moved from the front of State Street Park on Friday by the Medina DPW to back of the park so it could more easily be loaded up for a five-hour trip to Altoona, Pa. That is the location of Seed Artillery Reproduction and Restoration.

“It’s a piece of history,” said Jim Freas, commander of the VFW in Medina.

Steve Johnson is commander of the American Legion in Medina. His grandfather also served in World War I a century ago.

“This cannon is part of our heritage,” Johnson said. “We have to preserve our history.”

George Bidleman, owner of Orleans Ford, is paying $40,000 to have the cannon restored. Bidleman started at Orleans Ford as general manager in 1987. In 2002, he became the owner. He said the cannon is a prominent memorial, a reminder of the sacrifices of veterans.

“They all risked their lives,” he said about veterans.

Bidleman, center, is pictured with local veterans and Eileen Banker, chief of staff for State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

The cannon was manufactured in 1916 and was fired during World War I. Every Memorial Day for about 80 years, the Medina community has gathered by the cannon for the solemn ceremony.

The cannon, however, has become badly deteriorated and will be restored for $40,000. George Bidleman of Orleans Ford is raising the funds for the project.

The cannon will be stripped down. The parts will be repaired and re-manufactured if necessary. The gun will be primed and painted with epoxy primer and finished to match the original WWI paint scheme.

The Orleans Renaissance Group first pushed for saving the cannon about two years ago. The VFW and American Legion both supported the effort. The ORG raised $12,000 that will be used for site improvements for when the cannon comes back, which could be in time for Veterans’ Day in November.

Local veterans including David Kusmiersczak and Glenn Whitmore watched the cannon be pulled to the road in the park, so it could be put on the truck.

The cannon is a British Heavy Field Gun known as a B.L. 60 Pounder, manufactured in 1916 by Elswick Ordnance Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

It weighs 6 tons, is a 5 inch/127mm caliber, 21 feet in length and 6 feet in width. The gun was originally issued to battery in France, April 1917 and fired 2,871 rounds during its first tour. It was returned to England in 1917 for repairs and reissued to battery in France, September 1918, firing an additional 1,471 rounds.

Chris Seefeldt, left, of Automotive Solutions works with owner Shawn Callard, right, to secure the cannon on the truck for the trip to Pennsylvania.

The cannon is strapped down for the trip.

Automotive Solutions heads down State Street with the cannon.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Two veterans’ groups, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, each presented checks this morning for $200 to Lt. Todd Draper of the Medina Police Department. Draper is also the handler/partner for Kye, the department’s K9.

Steve Johnson, left, is commander of the American Legion in Medina and Jim Freas, right, is commander of the VFW post.

Draper said the $400 will go into the department’s K9 account. Draper is hopeful there will soon be a new vehicle for the K9. The current vehicle is from 2008 with more than 120,000 miles.

Kye is a Belgian Malinois that works each day with Lt. Todd Draper. Kye joined the department in 2012.

David Kusmiersczak, a member of the American Legion, joins Freas in greeting Kye this morning.

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Provided photos: The Medina Mustang Cadet Guard includes, front row, from left: Madison Owens, Ava Chambers, Kailey Steele and Raelyn Baker. Middle row: Alayna Smith, Brooke Woodrow, Brooklyn Garrow and Kiana Cleveland. Back row: Phallon Rivera, Kayleigh Wright, Kendra Lonnen, Gabriella Flores-Medina and Bianca Islam.

MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Band hosted its Winterguard show, “Colorburst” on Saturday with 21 guards  from Western NY and Canada performing.

In the Novice class, Medina took 2nd place while the Cadet guard took 1st place with a score of 64.88.

In Regional A, the Gates-Chili JV guard won 1st place with a score of 73.28. In the A1 class, Batavia won 1st with a score of 72.09.

The Magic of Scout House, an adult group from Canada  in the Senior class, won 1st place with a score of 73.42. The Ventures, another guard from Canada in the Independent A class, won 1^st with a score of 76.13.

Medina Varsity Winterguard includes front row: Brianna McMullen, Sabrina Quiros, Erin Dietz, Sarah Goodin and Kaela Grosslinger. Middle row: Talishiona Feitshans, Aries McMurray, Destiny Jones, Avery Vanderwerf and Haily Hurt. Back row: Melanie Poynter, Danielle Schmidt, Laura Washak, McKenna Callard, Paige Martin and Alyssa McMullen.

Medina’s Varsity Guard in the Scholastic A class took 1st place with a score of 76.29. Victor’s Varsity Guard in the Scholastic Open class won 1st place with a score of 76.30.

The event was well attended and the weather cooperated making travel much easier for the guards and spectators. This show is a major fundraiser for the Band Boosters. Medina’s next performance is Saturday, March 24, in Corning before the Championships on April 7.

Medina Pony Cadet Guard includes kneeling, from left: Mila Molina, Kylie Poynter, Analise Warner and Brook Twiss. Standing: Hannah Spark, Elaina Bitsai, Kaylee Twiss, Ki’Mani Poole, Adrianna Brege and Kaiana Garner.

Chuck Baker sent in this photo of his granddaughter, Raelynn Baker, who is in Medina’s Cadet Guard. Her mom, Diana Baker, is an instructor in the program.

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MEDINA – The Medina Area Association of Churches is working with the Student Association to bring back baccalaureate, a religious service for impending high school graduates.

The service is scheduled for June 10 at a site to be determined. The service will be largely student led, said Vince Iorio, pastor of the Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God.

Iorio has been with Calvary for 11 years and Medina hasn’t had baccalaureate during that time. Some communities have the service, which are optional for students and often located in a church or off campus, but sometimes the services are at school auditoriums.

Dan Doctor, Medina Central School’s director of community outreach, is the speaker for baccalaureate.

The MAAC is calling the event a “moving forward” service, Iorio said.

“We want the graduates to know they aren’t going out alone, that God is going with them and God has a plan for their lives,” he said. “We want them to take that with them.”

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Photo courtesy of Medina Police Department

MEDINA – Two people are facing drug charges after a home search on March 1 by the Medina Police Department and NYS Parole.

An initial search by parole officers located a small amount of marijuana, a baggy containing cocaine, and pills field identified as Hydrocodone and Ecstasy. A corresponding K-9 search of the apartment located an additional 13.2 grams of cocaine and 10.1 grams of marijuana, Medina Police said today.

Law enforcement officers also located are a large sum of money in high denominational bills, as well as three counterfeit $100 bills.

As a result of this joint investigation, the Medina Police Department arrested Collen Poole and Rebekah Champlin and charged both with:

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree, more than one half ounce, a Class B Felony.

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree, intent to sell, a Class B Felony.

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th, a Class A Misdemeanor.

• Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, a violation.

Both were arraigned in the Town of Ridgeway Court. Poole was remanded to the Orleans County Jail with no bail. Champlin was remanded to the Orleans County Jail with $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

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Provided photo

MEDINA – A driver rammed through the side of the Dollar General in Medina this afternoon, damaging the west side of the store on Maple Ridge Road.

The incident occurred at 2:54 p.m. Orleans County dispatch said no one was injured. The Medina Police Department, Medina Fire Department and Lyons Collision have been on the scene.

Photo courtesy of Robert Schuck

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Tim Moriarty, president and CEO of Medina Savings & Loan for the past 22 years, is pictured at the bank’s Medina site in this photo from 2013.

MEDINA – A bank with roots in Medina since 1888 announced today it will be merging with another bank.

Medina Savings & Loan Association will merge with Generations Bank with Generations the surviving entity, according to a news release from the two institutions.

Seneca-Cayuga Bancorp is the holding company for Generations Bank. The merger is expected to increase Seneca-Cayuga’s consolidated assets from $291 million at December 31, 2017 to $344 million.

Medina’s existing branch offices – Maple Ridge Road in Medina and inside the Wal-Mart on Route 31 in Albion – will become branch offices of Generations Bank and are expected to operate under the name “MSL, a division of Generations Bank” for at least two years after completion of the merger.

Additionally, two members of Medina’s board of directors will become members of the boards of directors of Generations Bank, Seneca-Cayuga and The Seneca Falls Savings Bank, MHC, the mutual holding company of Generations Bank and the 56.9% majority shareholder of Seneca-Cayuga.

“We’ve always focused on our community and what our banking clients need,” said Tim Moriarty, president and chief executive officer of Medina. “We feel that this merger is an excellent opportunity to enhance the services to and convenience for our customers and the communities we serve. Partnering with Generations will allow us to continue providing our customers with a high level of personalized service and local decision-making while preserving our values of our community bank culture.”

Medina Savings & Loan last year completed a 768-square-foot addition on the western edge of the existing 3,480-square-foot building on Maple Ridge Road. The bank in the past decades experienced growth with commercial loans, commercial checking, various types of consumer loans, home equity lines of credit, growth in the bank’s residential construction program, and expanded depository services.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, depositors of Medina will become depositors of Generations Bank and members of the MHC, and will have the same rights and privileges in the MHC, as if their accounts had been established in Generations Bank on the date established at Medina.

“We are pleased to announce our partnership with Medina Savings and Loan,” said Menzo Case, president and CEO of Generations Bank. “We are very familiar with Medina, its conservative approach to banking and its deep roots in the communities it serves. We are very excited about the future of our combined company.”

As part of the transaction, Seneca-Cayuga will issue shares of its common stock to the MHC in an amount equal to the fair value of Medina as determined by a third-party appraisal. These shares are expected to be issued concurrent with the completion of the merger.

Because the transaction is structured as a merger with a mutual entity, no purchase price is being paid in connection with the transaction. As a result, the transaction is not expected to be dilutive from a capital or earnings perspective to Seneca-Cayuga’s stockholders while increasing its earnings base. In addition, the transaction could be expected to add to Generations’ value should it ever implement another stock offering or a second step stock conversion.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018. The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including the approval by Medina’s depositors and customary regulatory approvals.

Luse Gorman, PC, Washington, D.C., acted as legal counsel to Generations Bank and Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP acted as legal counsel to Medina.

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