By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 December 2016 at 3:46 pm
MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital will close its 4-bed Intensive Care Unit and eliminate 10 full-time equivalent positions on Jan. 31, 2017.
The ICU is no longer a six-figure deficit, but it continued to operate at a loss this year, Wendy M. Jacobson, President/CEO of Medina Memorial Hospital/Orleans Community Health, said in a statement this afternoon.
The staff in the positions being eliminated will be able to apply for other jobs with Orleans Community Health.
Here is the full statement from Jacobson:
“Related to the change in designation in 2015 to a Critical Access Hospital and the decrease in patient volume that the majority of hospitals saw in 2016, Orleans Community Health is conducting some reductions and re-assignment of staff.
“In 2016, staffing was modified in the ICU to make up for a six-figure loss in 2015. Unfortunately, though not as high as in 2015, the losses continued for 2016. The 4 bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will therefore close due to consistent low patient volume and patients not meeting required acuity levels for reimbursement. There are eighteen CAHs in NYS and only three have the patient volume and acuity level to support an ICU. The NYS Department of health has been notified and a Limited Review CON submitted.
“Approximately 2% (approximately 10 FTEs) of the employees including staff from Nursing and Rehabilitation are affected by the necessary reductions system wide. OCH expects to minimize the actual number of reductions by offering impacted associates the opportunity to apply for other vacant positions within the health system. The layoffs will take effect 1/31/17.
“Additionally, Outpatient Rehabilitation services will be consolidated and all outpatient rehabilitation services will be located in Albion at the Health Center on Rt 31 and Butts Road.
“The reductions and reassignments also come at a time when area health providers are facing increasing pressure to find operational efficiencies amid continued state and federal cutbacks in healthcare reimbursement and an overall weak economy. Operational efficiencies are imperative for designated Critical Access Hospitals and those efficiencies are closely monitored by State and Federal regulatory bodies.
“OCH will continue to meet your needs as a community hospital and we will continue to offer Medical Surgical, Surgical, and Emergency Department Services, as well as Imaging, Cardiac, and Laboratory services, Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation onsite.
“We still offer Renal Dialysis in Batavia and Medina and Primary, Urgent, Laboratory, Imaging and Rehabilitation Services in Albion. We also hope to be adding new outpatient and long term services to better meet the community’s needs in 2017 and 2018 as a result of grant funding.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2016 at 10:05 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Sherri Parker of Akron sits at a dialysis station on Wednesday in Medina. Lake Plains Dialysis reopened on Monday at 11020 W. Center Street after 8 months of renovations.
MEDINA – Sherri Parker of Akron is thankful the Lake Plains Dialysis site in Medina reopened this week after eight months of renovations.
Parker has been on dialysis for eight years. The Medina location at 11020 W. Center St. has been close by for her. When it closed for repairs, shifting most patients to a site in Batavia, it meant a much earlier start in the day and a longer commute for Parker and other patients.
Monday the site in Medina, which opened about 20 years ago, was back in business. Parker was there just before 6 in the morning.
“I love it,” Parker said. “It’s nicer and much warmer.”
The dialysis site was closed in April after water damage to the building. The nine dialysis stations were relocated to Lake Plains’ other site in Batavia at 587 East Main St. (Orleans Community Health provides the service for about 100 people at the two locations.)
The Medina site will be adding another station in early 2017. That will allow Lake Plains to serve four more patients who need dialysis. Medina currently has 37 patients and there is a waiting list for 30 patients at the two sites, said Laurie Joslyn, manager of Lake Plains Dialysis.
Laurie Joslyn is manager of the Lake Plains Dialysis Centers in Medina and Batavia. Both sites will be able to add patients in early 2017 after a grant paid for one more station in Medina and two in Batavia.
A Rural Access Grant is allowing Lake Plains to add another station in Medina and two in Batavia.
When Medina was closed for eight months, Joslyn said 35 of the 37 patients took dialysis in Batavia while two others found other dialysis sites.
Parker and other Medina patients are thankful the site reopened in medina.
“This is a convenience for me,” Parker said on Wednesday, nearing the end of a four-hour dialysis session.
Parker and other patients receive dialysis three times a week. In Medina, there are two shifts while Batavia provides the service at three different times for people with failing kidneys.
With dialysis, blood is pumped through machines that remove extra water, wastes and chemicals from the blood stream.
Medina has a team of certified technicians, registered nurses and LPNs working with patients. There is also a social worker and dietician on staff to help patients.
Parker said she prefers the Medina site, which is less hectic than many other dialysis centers that typically have 20 to 30 stations.
“It’s quieter here with less interruptions,” she said.
The Medina site was once a roller-skating rink and then a manufacturing site. With the recent renovations the site has new flooring (a non-skid laminate replaced carpet), new drywall and wallboard, fresh paint and renovated lobby, as well as other improvements.
The Medina site is located in a former roller-skating rink on West Center Street.
Joslyn, the dialysis manager, has worked for Lake Plains for 15 years, starting as a nurse. She said the dialysis sites are their own communities, with patients and staff getting to know each other.
The reopening of the Medina site will make the traveling easier for many of the patients, Joslyn said.
Parker said she was thrilled when Joslyn announced it would reopen on Monday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 December 2016 at 8:41 pm
MEDINA – School district voters gave strong support for two propositions today that total $34 million in school improvements.
Proposition 1 passed, 372-43, and includes $32,588,000 for a slew of improvements at all three school buildings, the bus garage, and Vet’s Park. There would also be a new access road between Oak Orchard Elementary School and Clifford Wise Middle School.
Proposition 2 passed, 367-45, and includes $1,425,000 to allow for an expansion at Vet’s Park by acquiring 1.6 acres of land south of the park, adding permanent bleachers, more lighting, a new press box in the bleacher system, new fencing and additional synthetic turf in the current press box location.
The project won’t increase local taxes because Medina already has $2,323,182 set aside in reserve funds for its share of the $34 million project, Tom Cox, interim school district superintendent, said at a public hearing last week.
“We feel we have been able to address the compelling needs,” Cox said at the public hearing. “It’s pretty much nuts and bolts but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some pretty nice stuff that will happen.”
Some work at Vet’s Park may be able to be completed this spring through fall, while the school building work is eyed for 2018, depending on State Education Department approvals.
Here is how they break down of Proposition 1:
Health, Safety and Code Compliance – $7,691,000
The district will replace aging bus lifts, upgrade the fire alarm systems, door hardware and toilets.
The roof, ceiling panels and wall panels will all be upgraded at the swimming pool.
Windows and a generator will be replaced at Oak Orchard Elementary School. Those windows are more than a half century old.
The project expenses are broken out to $3,637,300 at the elementary school, $2,562,400 at the middle school, $892,800 at high school, $561,500 at bus garage and $7,000 at concession stand.
HVAC – $13,596,300
All three school buildings, as well as the bus garage, will have HVAC totally overhauled with $4,728,200 planned for the high school, $4,115,200 at the middle school, $4,103,000 at the elementary school and $649,900 for the bus garage.
The district also will add air-conditioning for the high, middle and elementary schools at $285,600 per building or $856,800 total.
The HVAC and air conditioning projects will be funded 98 percent by the state, school officials said.
The boilers are all about 25 years old and are nearing the end of the their useful lives. If the district tried to fix a boiler or install air-conditioning outside of a capital project, Medina would have to pay 100 percent of the costs.
Information Technology – $380,000
The district wants to move the network operations center from the basement of the district office to Oak Orchard Elementary School.
The project will also add fiber optics to handle future needs as Medina moves to more electronic devices and on-line testing.
Academics/Programs at High School – $2,408,900
The project will include upgraded science rooms, renovations in library (by knocking out a wall and expanding to a next-door computer lab), replacing windows and renovating toilet facilities.
A pole barn will also be built for storage for marching band equipment (so no longer have to rent at Olde Pickle Factory).
The gym bleachers will be renovated, and JV softball and baseball fields will be upgraded. There also will be renovations in Ag Classroom and greenhouse.
The high school opened about 25 years ago and needs some work, especially with HVAC and to meet new state codes and technology needs, Kruzynski said.
Academics/Programs at Middle School – $1,028,000
The project includes renovations to the auditorium with stage floor, carpet, houselighting, some lighting and sound, and also some toilet renovations.
Academics/Programs at Elementary School – $2,085,600
The project includes auditorium renovations – carpet, seating, general, and improvements to toilets, new drinking fountains, classroom storage units with sinks, upgrades to the playground, and provisions to abate hazardous materials if any are found inside walls during the construction project.
Vet’s Park Site Work – $2,200,000 (part of $32.6 million Proposition 1)
Remove and replace turf that is 15 years old. The district also wants to improve drainage, complete sub-base reconstruction, replace fencing as needed, install a new scoreboard and sound system, add a new back stop and movable mounds for baseball and softball, reconfigure and expand the bleacher system and add new walkways.
Site work for track – $896,000
The track has already been resurfaced six times and the state won’t pay for another resurfacing but will aid a reconstruction of the site. The rebuilt track will have six lanes, event area, a scoreboard, and fencing and paving.
Site work for road from elementary to middle school – $3,012,700
A campus road will be constructed between Oak Orchard Elementary and Wise Middle School for bus traffic. The road will be heavy duty for buses.
The project includes demolition, removal and grading, as well as new sidewalks, stormwater management, parking and road lighting, removal of playground and construction of a new one for younger elementary-age students, and restored landscaping.
A new parking lot with room for 70-75 vehicles also will be added.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 December 2016 at 1:54 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Catherine Cooper, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, stands next to a tree created with 300 quilt squares.
MEDINA – A year ago Lee-Whedon Memorial Library debuted a Christmas tree made of 175 quilt squares. That tree was so popular with library patrons that a new one was created this holiday season – with 300 quilt squares.
After New Year’s the tree will be taken down and the 10-inch squares will be used to make lap quilts for residents at local nursing homes and also at Hospice.
“There are many people in the community who are very crafty,” said Catherine Cooper, the library director. “This is a good way for them to use their talents and be generous.”
About 20 quilters created the 300 blocks for the “Giving” Christmas Tree. The tree was assembled by staff member Joy Cameron.
Lee-Whedon introduced a “Giving” Christmas Tree last year after being inspired by a similar project at a public library in Navan, Ireland. Last year’s tree featured knit and crochet squares that were donated to Roswell Park.
“Our library patrons are very generous and creative,” Cooper said. “These projects have had a great response. In addition, our Mitten Tree was overflowing this year with 184 items including 77 hand knit scarves.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 December 2016 at 7:59 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: A Medina Mustang banner hangs outside on the district campus.
MEDINA – School district residents will decide today whether the school campus will receive $34 million in improvements.
Voting is from noon to 8 p.m. today at the District Office Board Room next to high school.
One proposition calls for $32,588,000 for a slew of improvements at all three school buildings, the bus garage, and Vet’s Park. There would also be a new access road between Oak Orchard Elementary School and Clifford Wise Middle School.
The other proposition for $1,425,000 would allow for an expansion at Vet’s Park by acquiring 1.6 acres of land south of the park, adding permanent bleachers, more lighting, a new press box in the bleacher system, new fencing and additional synthetic turf in the current press box location.
The project won’t increase local taxes because Medina already has $2,323,182 set aside in reserve funds for its share of the $34 million project, Tom Cox, interim school district superintendent, said at a public hearing last week.
“We feel we have been able to address the compelling needs,” Cox said at the public hearing. “It’s pretty much nuts and bolts but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some pretty nice stuff that will happen.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 December 2016 at 10:46 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – Medina participated in Wreaths Across America for the fourth time on Saturday when 56 wreaths were placed at veterans’ graves in Boxwood Cemetery.
The Honor Guard with representatives from local veterans’ organizations attended the ceremony at noon, and each veteran’s name was called out when a wreath was set at their grave.
“It’s a very moving ceremony when you listen,” said Kathy Blackburn, chairwoman of the Boxwood Cemetery Commission and local organizer of the Wreaths Across America. “Freedom is not free.”
Wreaths Across America has grown to 1,100 cemeteries in the country. Blackburn would like to reach 100 wreaths for Boxwood, and then expand the effort to include other local cemeteries. The wreaths cost $15 each.
Blackburn said the wreaths will remain at Boxwood after the New Year, and possibly until spring.
Boxwood has been part of Wreaths since 2013, when there were seven wreaths that first year. It grew to 20 in 2014 and 60 last year.
The wreaths can be purchased online at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/sponsor-a-wreath, or through Blackburn or the Village Clerk’s Office.
MEDINA – The Medina Rotary Club last week welcomed guest speaker Nancy Fallon, Director of Rehabilitation Services for Orleans Community Health. Fallon is pictured with Bill Bixler, president of the Medina Rotary Club.
Fallon explained that Orleans Community Health has two facilities in Orleans County, one at Lake Plains in Medina for all services and one in Albion for physical and occupational therapy.
Orleans Community Health’s Rehab Department is a CARF facility. CARF is the gold standard in the industry and stands for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. This national recognition states that Orleans Community Health has made a commitment to meet nationally recognized standards for quality and to continually seek excellence in its services and programs to create a foundation for the high level of patient satisfaction.
Fallon further explained that the Orleans facilities have a team approach to providing this care involving the physician, occupational and physical therapies, dietary and respiratory as indicated for each individual. While Acute Rehab may mean 3 hours of rehab per day, Sub-Acute with specific debilities may need an hour and a half per day. Both in-patient and out-patient services are available.
Medina Rotary member Jenn Hill reported that Thanksgiving supplies were delivered to a Medina family.
Bill Bixler reported on the success of the Parade of Lights, with Medina Rotarians selling out with food and beverages. The Rotary Club will begin participating and supporting a local food pantry. Other projects are being planned.
The club meets the first Wednesday each month at noon at the United Methodist Church (the former Apple Grove Inn).
For further information on Medina Rotary, contact any member.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mark Kruzynski, director of finance for Medina Central School, goes over $34 million in work to the school district as part of two propositions that go before voters from noon to 8 p.m. on Dec. 21. Voting is at the District Office.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2016 at 10:27 am
MEDINA – District residents next Wednesday (Dec. 21) will vote on whether the district can move forward with two propositions totaling $34 million.
One proposition calls for $32,588,000 for a slew of improvements at all three school buildings, the bus garage, and Vet’s Park. There would also be a new access road between Oak Orchard Elementary School and Clifford Wise Middle School.
The other proposition for $1,425,000 would allow for an expansion at Vet’s Park by acquiring 1.6 acres of land south of the park, adding permanent bleachers, more lighting, a new press box in the bleacher system, new fencing and additional synthetic turf in the current press box location.
The district has the local share of the project in its reserves, so there won’t be a hike in local taxes for the project, Tom Cox, interim school district superintendent, said at a public hearing on Tuesday.
“We feel we have been able to address the compelling needs,” Cox told about a dozen people at a public hearing. “It’s pretty much nuts and bolts but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some pretty nice stuff that will happen.”
Cox and Mark Kruzynski, the district’s director of finance, said Medina worked with staff, the Board of Education, community members and an architect and construction firm to narrow the capital project from an initial list that topped $50 million.
Cox and Kruzynski detailed the project in a power point presentation on Tuesday.
Here is how they break down the project:
• Health, Safety and Code Compliance – $7,691,000
The district would replace aging bus lifts, upgrade the fire alarm systems, door hardware and toilets.
The roof, ceiling panels and wall panels would all be upgraded at the swimming pool.
Windows and a generator would be replaced at Oak Orchard Elementary School. Those windows are more than a half century old.
The project expenses are broken out to $3,637,300 at the elementary school, $2,562,400 at the middle school, $892,800 at high school, $561,500 at bus garage and $7,000 at concession stand.
• HVAC – $13,596,300
All three school buildings, as well as the bus garage, will have HVAC totally overhauled with $4,728,200 planned for the high school, $4,115,200 at the middle school, $4,103,000 at the elementary school and $649,900 for the bus garage.
The district also wants to add air-conditioning for the high, middle and elementary schools at $285,600 per building or $856,800 total.
The HVAC and air conditioning projects would be funded 98 percent by the state.
The boilers are all about 25 years old and are nearing the end of the their useful lives, Kruzynski said.
If the district tried to fix a boiler or install air-conditioning outside of a capital project, Medina would have to pay 100 percent of the costs.
• Information Technology – $380,000
The district wants to move the network operations center from the basement of the district office to Oak Orchard Elementary School.
The project would also add fiber optics to handle future needs as Medina moves to more electronic devices and on-line testing.
Tom Cox, Medina interim school superintendent, discusses the capital project on Tuesday evening during a public hearing in the high school auditorium. Only about a dozen people attended the forum.
• Academics/Programs at High School – $2,408,900
The project would include upgraded science rooms, renovations in library (by knocking out a wall and expanding to a next-door computer lab), replacing windows and renovating toilet facilities.
A pole barn would also be built for storage for marching band equipment (so no longer have to rent at Olde Pickle Factory).
The gym bleachers would be renovated, and JV softball and baseball fields would be upgraded. There would also be renovations in Ag Classroom and greenhouse.
The high school opened about 25 years ago and needs some work, especially with HVAC and to meet new state codes and technology needs, Kruzynski said.
• Academics/Programs at Middle School – $1,028,000
The project includes renovations to the auditorium with stage floor, carpet, houselighting, some lighting and sound, and also some toilet renovations.
• Academics/Programs at Elementary School – $2,085,600
The project includes auditorium renovations – carpet, seating, general, and improvements to toilets, new drinking fountains, classroom storage units with sinks, upgrades to the playground, and provisions to abate hazardous materials if any are found inside walls during the construction project.
• Vet’s Park Site Work – $2,200,000 (part of $32.6 million Proposition 1)
Remove and replace turf that is 15 years old. The district also wants to improve drainage, complete sub-base reconstruction, replace fencing as needed, install a new scoreboard and sound system, add a new back stop and movable mounds for baseball and softball, reconfigure and expand the bleacher system and add new walkways.
• Site work for track – $896,000
The track has already been resurfaced six times and the state won’t pay for another resurfacing but will aid a reconstruction of the site, Kruzynski said. The rebuilt track will have six lanes, event area, a scoreboard, and fencing and paving.
• Site work for road from elementary to middle school – $3,012,700
A campus road will be constructed between Oak Orchard Elementary and Wise Middle School for bus traffic. The road will be heavy duty for buses.
The project includes demolition, removal and grading, as well as new sidewalks, stormwater management, parking and road lighting, removal of playground and construction of a new one for younger elementary-age students, and restored landscaping.
A new parking lot with room for 70-75 vehicles also would be added.
• Proposition 2 for site work at Vet’s Park – $1,425,000
This is a separate proposition with its own vote. The district wants to acquire 1.6 acres south of current facility, which will allow bleachers and the press box to me pushed back farther from the field so there would be more room for permanent bleachers.
The district is negotiating to buy the land and the price is far less than $1,425,000, Kruzynski said.
Most of the proposition costs are for demolition, drainage, base work, as well as additional fencing, more permanent bleachers, a new press box, additional lighting and electrical needs, and landscape restoration.
The district already has $2,323,182 set aside in reserve funds for its share of the $34 million project.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 December 2016 at 4:44 pm
MEDINA – Peggy Murphy, a member of Holy Trinity Parish, sorts out toys for children this morning at Medina United Methodist Church, where many volunteers from the Medina Area Association of Churches are once again doing the annual holiday toy and food drive.
Community members filled 32 red barrels with toys, clothes and food.
The barrels were delivered this morning by Medina firefighters to the United Methodist Church, where volunteers are organizing the items.
Sylvia Riviere, a member of the Oak Orchard Assembly of God Church, is lead organizer of the toy and food drive.
“I like to see the kids have a Christmas,” she said. “It’s exciting to go through the barrels to see that the kids will be taken care of.”
MAAC will try to have two larger presents and two stocking stuffers for each child, as well as socks, mittens and a hat. Each family will also receive a Christmas dinner, including a ham.
There are 107 families signed up for the food and toy drive, and 48 senior citizens. The total number includes 149 kids and 161 adults. The number of children is down slightly from 151 last year, but the number of senior citizens has increased from 39 to 48.
Sue Metzo of the Presbyterian Church also has been an active volunteer with the food and toy drive for the past decade. She thanked community members for donating to the annual effort.
Donna Joslyn and Sue DeHollander, both members of the Presbyterian Church, sort socks, mittens and hats. If there are any extras, some will be given to the nurses offices at Medina Central School.
“It’s our way of giving back to the community,” Joslyn said.
The items are spread out on tables at the church, organized by age groups for children. Riviere, the leader of the drive, said there often aren’t enough gifts for pre-teens and teen-agers so MAAC will do some last-minute shopping for those kids.
John Curtin of the Community Fellowship Church at Johnson Creek (left) and Gerald Grimes of the Faith Covenant Fellowship move food inside the church so it can be divvied up among families and senior citizens.
The items will be delivered this Saturday by local firefighters.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2016 at 11:48 am
MEDINA – Contractors have started work on renovations to the lobby at Medina Memorial Hospital, the first changes to the lobby since the early 1990s.
The $272,000 project is expected to take about 12 weeks. A grant will cover the costs of the work.
The project will also lead to a streamlined registration process, and will add a separate entrance for the Emergency Department, creating a “calming experience” in the Emergency Department, hospital officials said.
Paul Lamparelli of Cheektowaga is contractor for the job, and Takeform Architectural Graphics in Medina will be adding graphics and signage as part of the project.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2016 at 7:58 am
Provided photos
MEDINA – The Medina Teachers Association recently had its third annual Helpful Harvest food drive and doubled the giving from last year. This picture with some middle school students shows the collection at Wise Middle School.
The drive ran from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15. Teachers, with shopping lists of needs, filled grocery bags donated by Tops Friendly Markets in Medina. More than 100 bags of food are being donated to the local food pantry.
This picture shows teachers at Oak Orchard Elementary School.
High School teachers are pictured with food donated in the annual Helpful Harvest.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 December 2016 at 8:25 am
MEDINA – The school district has the results back from lead testing at 346 water outlets on the campus. There were 32 outlets that exceeded the state threshold of 15 parts per billion.
“Please be assured that the water supply in Medina Central Schools is safe for drinking,” Thomas Cox, interim district superintendent, said ina letter posted on the district website. “None of the sources showing elevated levels were sources commonly used for drinking or cooking.”
A summary of Medina’s lead testing results include:
• In the high school, there were 11 outlets that were above the threshold – all were sinks in science rooms.
• In the middle school, there were 13 spots with elevated levels of lead – 12 were sinks (mostly in science/technology rooms), and one was a rarely used drinking fountain in a technology room, said Mark Kruzynski, Medina’s business administrator. That fountain is no longer needed at the school and has been taken out of service because there are several filtered chilled water fountains in the area.
• At Oak Orchard Elementary School, there are eight water outlets above the threshold with 6 classroom sinks and 2 seldomly used drinking fountains, Kruzynski said. Those drinking fountains have been taken out of service. There are other filtered chilled water fountains close by, he said.
The district has posted “non-potable water – do not drink” signs at water outlets with elevated lead levels.
“Those signs will remain in place until we have remediated the problem and have re-tested the water source and found the lead levels below the permissible NYS levels,” Cox said in his letter.
Medina and other school districts in the state are now required by NY to test for lead in any water sources. NY is requiring action for any water source with lead at 15 parts per billion or more.
For more information on Medina’s results, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 December 2016 at 3:22 pm
Provided photos
MEDINA – Contractors hired by the state Department of Environmental Conservation are tearing down the Starlite Cleaners building at 331 North Main St. The top photo shows the demolition that started on Monday.
“The whole thing coming down by this week,” said Mayor Michael Sidari.
The DEC had a firm study the site for contaminants and also to see if the building was structurally sound. The DEC deemed the site unsafe, and is taking it down after the asbestos and other contaminants were removed.
Once the building is down, Sidari said the site will be covered for three to six months until there is another environmental study. If there are remaining contaminants, they will likely also be removed and the site redeveloped, perhaps as a municipal parking lot or Sidari said another developer may have interest in building on the site.
This photo shows the site earlier today when most of the building had been knocked down.
“Everything is up in the air right now,” Sidari said about the future of the site. “There are many ideas.”
The Village of Medina has been working on an fix for the site for years, including paying for an environmental audit of the site.
The former Starlite has been empty since a fire in the building about a decade ago.
Contractors work on removing the structure in this photo from Monday.
The Starlite site has been in limbo for several years. Matt Mosher of 331 Main Street Incorporated is the owner of the property, but the taxes haven’t been paid in several years.
Normally a property with unpaid taxes over several years would then be turned over to Orleans County, but the county hasn’t accepted the property due to the environmental liabilities.
Sidari said he expects the village will become owner of the property.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 December 2016 at 11:50 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Otis, a toy dog owned by Garrison Foote, gets bandaged by registered nurse Mary Dunham at Medina Memorial Hospital this morning. The hospital welcomed kindergartners from Albion on Wednesday and this morning. They were all urged to bring in a stuffed animal that could be bandaged with pretend injuries.
The children and their toy animals also went in the X-Ray room.
Mary Dunham gives a Teddy Bear some medical attention as part of today’s Teddy Bear clinic. Medina Memorial brought back the clinic last year after it had stopped for a few years. The hospital hopes the Teddy Bear Clinic helps children to feel more comfortable if they ever need to go to the hospital.
Sasi, the official “spokesbear” for the Orleans County Health Department, tells students about the importance of washing their hands with soap and water for about 20 seconds. Sasi’s handler is Nola Goodrich-Kresse, public health educator for the Orleans County Health Department. Sasi has been the Health Department’s ambassador for about 20 years.
Brenna Podesta (next to Goodrich-Kresse) is an intern with the Health Department. She read a story, “Leo the Little Lion learns how to get ahead of lead.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 December 2016 at 5:15 pm
Albion and Kendall are at bronze level, among top high schools in country
Photo by Tom Rivers: Some members of the Class of 2016 smile during commencement last June.
MEDINA – An annual report on the top high schools in the country includes three out of five high schools in Orleans County.
Albion and Kendall both earned bronze recognition, while Medina is at the silver level.
There were nearly 20,000 high schools ranked in the report by the U.S. News & World Report. (Altogether, there 28,561 public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, but more than 8,000 were eliminated from consideration because they were too small to be analyzed, U.S. News said.)
U.S. News looked at graduation rates (based on the 2014 cohort), math and reading scores on state proficiency tests, and college readiness programs, such as Advanced Placement participation and passing rates from students.
U.S. News also looked at how disadvantaged students – black, Hispanic and low-income – were outperforming disadvantaged students in the state.
The 6,218 highest-scoring schools, just over 30 percent that were large enough to be ranked, earned gold, silver or bronze awards.
The gold medals went to the top 500 schools, while schools ranked 501 to 2,673 earned silvers.
Medina earned a silver based on its 2,424 ranking. (It is ranked 207th out of New York high schools.) The district’s scorecard includes a College Readiness Index of 23.0 with 39 percent of high schoolers taking AP classes. The mathematics proficiency is at 88 percent with 90 percent meeting English proficiency.
Albion and Kendall were among 3,545 high schools to earn bronze rankings among the top high schools. (Bronze schools have a college readiness less than 20.17.)
Albion’s college readiness index was 11.9 with 22 percent of students taking AP classes. The math and English proficiency levels were both at 84 percent.
Kendall didn’t have a college readiness index but its math proficiency is listed at 78 percent while 94 percent meet English proficiency.
To learn more about the rankings, visit http://www.usnews.com.
MEDINA – School district voters gave strong support for two propositions today that total $34 million in school improvements.
