Photo by Tom Rivers – The Masonic Hall on West Center Street in Medina, a former church, will become the international headquarters for the World Life Institute, which runs several programs in Orleans County and beyond.

MEDINA – The World Life Institute is buying the Masonic Hall in Medina on West Center Street, with plans to make the site the international headquarters for WLI.

“It’s a beautiful historic building,” said Chris Wilson, a member of WLI. “We’re trying to be a force for good in the community and in our own small way internationally.”

The World Life Institute is mostly volunteer run. It built an education center on Stillwater Road in the mid-1990s. That school is used for ESL and other adult educational programs, mainly for farmworkers.

World Life Institute also has been hosting war orphans the past two decades through Project LIFE. WLI has hosted about 110 children from war-torn Bosnia, Afghanistan and Russia. Some children also came one summer from Sri Lanka following a devastating tsunami. All of the children have lost at least one parent to war or tragedy.

Wilson is international director for Project LIFE, making the contacts in the foreign countries for the children to come to Orleans County each summer.

The children are treated to peace in the countryside of Orleans County, good nutrition, art and music therapy, and English as a second language. They receive medical and dental care, and then return home after about two or three months.

Wilson said WLI plans to use the Masonic Hall for offices, educational programs and a lecture hall for community programs. WLI would like to host “TED talks” and engage the community in discussion of ideas and current events. WLI and the Masonic Lodge will close on the sale on Monday, Wilson said.

WLI will have a community reception beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Masonic Hall, 223 West Center St. Dinner will follow at 4 p.m. The event is a fund-raiser for WLI and will feature awards to local supporters, a silent auction of art and jewelry, and entertainment by a surprise local celebrity.

“This exciting event is our way to say thanks to the local community while we raise funds to support our charitable work here and around the world,” said WLI Vice President Jacob Zimmerman. “Strong local support has been the key to our success over the years, so we want to celebrate that.”

Most of WLI’s work is done by dedicated volunteers, Wilson said, with support from local congregations, businesses and individuals.

“Our work has benefitted greatly from support in the community,” Wilson said.

In Orleans County, WLI provides language training through its Medina Language Center and adult education, medical services and food programs to local people in need. WLI also operates a publishing house and provides advanced educational programs internationally through its online division, World Life College.

Tickets for the event on Sunday cost $25 for adults and $15 for children. They are available for purchase online at https://www.paypal.me/worldlifeinstituteHQ. For questions, call (585) 205-4545.

WLI is also happy to receive donations and sponsorships. For more information, please contact World Life Institute by email at wliheadquarters2016@gmail.com or phone at (585) 205-4545.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Medina Business Association held its annual Holly Jolly Christmas Window Decorating Contest. ATB Staffing Services was named the first-place winner.

Here are the other winners:

Second: Woodroe Realty

Third: Creekside Floral & Design

Fourth: Meggie Moo’s

Fifth: Herbalty Cottage

Photo courtesy of Orleans Community Health

MEDINA – The Maintenance, Couriers, and Security Departments all contributed to purchase a 50-inch TV for residents at the North Wing, a skilled nursing facility at Medina Memorial Hospital. This was in addition to the fireplace that was gifted from them last year.

Pictured, front row, from left: Laurinda Punch and Clifford Johnson.

Back Row: Jim Luckman, David Rhim, Tim Bisher, Guy Scribner, Joe Barnes, Bill Merritt, Tyler Fuller, Larry Szatkowski and Doug Fuller.

File photo by Tom Rivers – Medina Memorial Hospital would take a big hit financially if the state passes legislation requiring mandated staffing levels in hospitals, according the Medina Memorial’s CEO.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is opposing proposed state legislation that would require minimum staffing levels for hospitals and nursing homes.

“One size does not fit all,” said Legislator Lynne Johnson, who is also on the board of directors for Orleans Community Health, the parent organization of Medina Memorial Hospital.

County legislators said the legislation (click here), takes staffing decisions away from hospitals and would add $3 billion in the cost of care across the state.

“This one could close us down and bankrupt all of us,” Johnson said.

Wendy Jacobson, CEO and president of the hospital, addressed the County Legislature last week. She thanked the county officials for opposing government-mandated staffing levels.

If the state proposal goes through, Jacobson said she expects hospitals would turn to more agency staff and employees would face more overtime.

“It would be financially devastating to our organization,” Jacobson said.

The legislation would also pose increased staffing costs and demands on nursing homes.

“I can’t emphasis enough how important it is that Orleans County has its one hospital and two nursing homes,” Legislature Chairman David Callard said.

The New York State Nurses Association favors the state legislation. For more on the Nurses Association and why it backs the law, click here.

Provided photos, Orleans Community Health Foundation

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health Foundation’s Annual Memorial Tree is proudly standing in the lobby at Medina Memorial Hospital. The 12-foot tree is filling up quickly with nearly 100 gold angel wing ornaments already purchased.

Ornaments orders are available in the hospital’s lobby. Pictured from left to right: Jeanne Crane and Jean Wetherbee, both of the MMH Association of TWIGS, along with Angela DiRosa, executive director of the Orleans Community Health Foundation.

The Orleans Community Health Foundation took a little time to help with holiday decorations in the dining room at the Long Term Care Residential Facility at Orleans Community Health/Medina Memorial Hospital, known as the North Wing.

Angela DiRosa, executive director of OCHF, distributed centerpieces during lunch with the residents. She was assisted by Bill Carroll, administrator of the unit; Mary Luckman, department manager; and Adrienne Belson, activities director. They are pictured with resident Joan Henel.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Volunteers with the Medina Area Association of Churches have toys, gifts and food boxed up and ready to given to local families on Saturday. Gregg Boose, a member of the Glad Tidings Baptist Church, spent Wednesday helping Sue Metzo, left, and Joanne Arnett with the effort. Metzo, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Arnett, a member of the Medina United Methodist Church, are co-leaders of the annual toy drive.

MEDINA – The toys are boxed up and ready to go to 106 families on Saturday when local firefighters will make the deliveries.

For about four decades, the Medina Area Association of Churches has run the annual toy drive. This year the group of 16 churches will be giving toys to 151 children, plus 39 senior citizens will be given poinsettias and fruit baskets.

The toys are all donated by community members, who fill about 30 red barrels that are placed in businesses and other locations in the community.

“Medina is a very giving community,” said Joanne Arnett, a co-leader of this year’s effort along with Sue Metzo.

The barrels of toys were picked up on Monday and the items were taken to the Medina United Methodist Church to be sorted by age group. Volunteers then organized the toys for the 151 children on the list. They try to match the gifts with requests from the kids.

The boxes of toys will be delivered on Saturday morning by local firefighters.

“So many people go through hard times and fall through the cracks,” said Metzo, who has volunteered the past decade with the effort.

Toys are organized to go to 106 families on Saturday.

Last year, the MAAC drive served 82 families. The number is up to 106 this year. Metzo said many of the families are the “Working Wounded,” where parents have jobs but don’t make enough money to cover all of their expenses.

MAAC starts signing up families in September for the toy drive. Families will receive gifts for each child at their age level, as well as a book, board game, puzzle and stuffed animal. Each family also receives a ham dinner, and socks, mittens, scarves and hats.

Gregg Boose is a new volunteer in the annual effort. He was needed on Wednesday to move many of the heavy boxes full of gifts.

“They needed help and it’s for a good cause,” said Boose, a member of the Glad Tidings Baptist Church.

The Medina Area Association of Churches also runs the Clothing Depot in the Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God at the old high school, 324 Catherine St.

The depot is open eight hours each week and is staffed by church volunteers. The clothing sales generate about $35,000 annually and that money is donated back to community causes and organizations, including the Care Net Family Center in Albion, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, Medina Police Department, Orleans County Christian School, Hospice of Orleans, and missions programs through local churches.

File photo by Tom Rivers – Jose Avila has led the Medina Police Department for 18 ½ years. He is retiring in 11 days.

MEDINA – Jose Avila attended his final Village Board as police chief on Monday. He has been going to the board meetings, at least two a month, for the past 18 ½ years.

He will be retiring in 11 days, ending a 32-year career in law enforcement. He has served as Medina’s police chief the past 18 years with another six months before that as assistant chief.

Avila told the board on Monday that he is grateful for the opportunity to lead the Medina Police Department. Chad Kenward, a Medina police officer, has been appointed to succeed Avila as chief.

“You should feel very proud of your service to the village,” Mayor Andrew Meier told Avila during Monday’s meeting. “A lot of people hold you in high regard.”

Village Board members all expressed appreciation for Avila’s service and conduct on the job.

“It’s not easy being the police chief in a small town,” said Trustee Owen Toale. “You’re a target.”

Toale said Avila put in extra time and effort as police chief. He also managed the department well with some budget constraints, Trustee Mike Sidari said.

Trustee Todd Bensley said Avila has been a good communicator with board members.

“I appreciate your open communication,” Bensley said. “I wish you a well-deserved retirement.”

Avila also has been functioning as Medina’s animal control officer, looking after dogs picked up and kept in the dog pound at the Police Department.

Village officials are trying to work out a deal with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department to pick up loose dogs in Medina. Sidari doesn’t think there should be a charge because village residents pay for the service through their town taxes, but Avila said the county will want additional money.

He suggested the village consider hiring a part-time person for the job.

The Medina Police Department will continue to handle the job in early 2016 until a longer-term solution can be worked out.

File photo by Tom Rivers – The 3-million gallon water tank on Route 31A was drained on Sept. 28, 2015 so inspectors could check the tank for structural deficiencies.

MEDINA – The Village Board approved borrowing $1.25 million to take care of serious deficiencies in a 3-million-gallon water tank on Maple Ridge Road.

The Orleans County Health Department is pushing the upgrades. The village drained the tank and made emergency, temporary repairs in late September.

The tank is currently about a third full, at a water height up to 11 feet. It is currently passing Health Department standards at the low water level in the tank, said Brian Sibiga, an engineer with Wendel.

The firm will be paid $80,079 to oversee the renovations to the concrete tank. Wendel will do design work and prepare bid specifications for a project that is expected to go out to contractors in March with the work done before the peak summer water demand.

The proposed upgrades/improvements include concrete patching, crack coating, and upgrades to the tank exterior with crack sealing and coating. There will also be upgrades to the tank’s interior and improvements to the existing pump station.

“There is quite a bit of work needed on the tank,” Sibiga told the Village Board this evening.

The upgrades should give the tank another 20 years of useful life, Sibiga said.

The village also is looking to replace about 2,000 water meters for village customers. That project will improve village efficiencies and water operations. The Village Board declared the project would not have a negative environmental impact.

That project is separate from the $1.25 million being borrowed for the water tank project.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Trinity Lutheran Church will celebrate its new organ with a 7 p.m. concert on Friday at the church, 1212 West Ave.

The organ actually isn’t new. The 28-rank organ was in Christ Episcopal Cathedral of Cincinnati. That church donated the Holtkamp pipe organ to Trinity in 2014. Chesapeake Organ Service was hired to clean, rewire, and reinstall the organ at Trinity.

The organ replaces one from 1925 with eight ranks or eight sets of pipes and two manuals or keyboards. Trinity’s new organ has three keyboards.

The organ, located in the balcony, debuted for the church on Easter Sunday on April 5, but only became near fully functional in the past three to four months.

“It’s had a marked change in the energy of the service,” said Andrew Meier, the church organist.

Friday’s concert will feature Tim Smith, founder and executive director of the Portageville Chapel in Wyoming County. That site offers retreats for organ musicians and has been booked every weekend from April through November.

Smith also owns Chesapeake Organ Service, the company that took out Trinity’s old organ and put in the much-improved instrument, which is distinguished by its exposed pipes, limited casework, and bright, assertive voicing.

Admission to the concert on Friday is no charge with a free-will offering.

Andrew Meier, organist for Trinity Lutheran, plays the instrument last week.

Meier said Medina has several high-quality organs. St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Medina also is putting in a new one.

The organs could add to Medina as a destination, said Meier, who is also Medina’s mayor. More importantly, the instruments add to the worship expeirence at local churches.

He said some churches shifted to electronic instruments, but now the organs are becoming more desired by some congregations.

“In the ’60s and ’70s, the trend was toward electronic organ technology,” he said. “But the pendulum is going the other way. It’s a bonus now when you have a pipe organ.”

Trinity’s organ has about three times as many pipes as the previous one that had about 500.

“There is a real presence a pipe organ has during a service that you don’t get with an electronic instrument,” Meier said. “Electronic is one-dimensional, but a pipe organ hits you from many levels.”

The concert on Friday includes a mix of traditional and classical Christmas music and carols.

Provided photo – Pictured include from left: Clifford Wise Middle School Vice Principal Chris Hughes, Corrections Officer Kenny Gold, Dean of Students Eileen Regan, Social Worker Elaine Ryan, Counselor Kelly Linnan, Guidance Counselor Lindsay Fassel, Corrections Officer Matt Lamar, NYSCOPBA Business Agent Dave Tessmer, NYSCOPBA Regional Vice President Joe Miano and NYSCOPBA Business Agent Al Mothershed.

Press Release
Medina Central School

MEDINA – Santa arrived early to the Medina Central School District to make the holidays a wonderful time for many families in the district.

For the past three years, employees from the Orleans Correctional Facility have looked to adopt a family from the area for the holidays. When Corrections Officer Matt Lamar reached out to some counselors at the school district he was saddened to hear there were so many needy families, it was hard for them to just pick one to single out for their generosity.

“The Western New York NYSCOPBA (New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc.) adopts five families each year,” Lamar said.

Guidance Counselor Elaine Ryan says the staff at the district usually takes up a collection of clothes, toys and money for their Angel Tree, to make the holidays a little brighter for some of their families, but they were about $500 short of being able to take care of all of them.

“We had more less fortunate children than we usually have,” Ryan said. “There are a lot of families that are struggling right now.”

When Lamar shared the news with the NYSCOPBA Regional Vice President Joe Miano, he approved enough money to make sure that the district had everything that it needed.

Mrs. Ryan said the district is very grateful to NYSCOPBA representatives and what they are doing for their students.

“Our kids are going to have a better Christmas and that is what we all care about,” she said. “We are so pleased that they helped us out with this. They are wonderful.”

Provided photo – Medina High School students are pictured with Paul Fulcomer, a representative for the American Legion, during the recent oratorical contest. Medina students include, from left: John Kelly, Tristan Sanders, Amanda Lunden and Kyla Leno.

Press Release
Medina Central School

MEDINA – Four students from Medina High School showed off their knowledge and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution at a contest at the American Legion.

The students gave eight- to 10-minute speeches on the topic, “What the Constitution Means to Me.”

Amanda Lunden won first place at the annual event and John Kelly took second place. Both advance to the Orleans County competition Dec. 12 at Clifford Wise Middle School in Medina.

“It is a great way for the students to get public speaking experience while teaching them leadership qualities and the history of our nation’s laws,” said Social Studies teacher Todd Bensley.

Judges were teachers Todd Eick, PJ Bell and Dawn Morse, American Legion representative Paul Fulcomer, attorney Ed Grabowski and Lubna Zaidi, Academic Director of the Medina Language Center and Gavel Club Advisor.

Provided photo – Medina Choral Director Lisa Roeseler practices with the A’Cappella Choir.

Press Release
Medina Central School

MEDINA – The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir, under the direction of Lisa Roeseler, has been diligently practicing for one of their biggest concerts of the year.

The annual Christmas concert for the community will be 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on the corner of West Avenue and Eagle Street.

“It is an amazing event that attracts people from all over WNY,” says Mrs. Roeseler.

The tradition began decades ago with the former Choir Director Robert Connor.

“I remember attending in 1975, when my brother was in the choir, at the Presbyterian Church in Medina,” says Mrs. Roeseler. “It was amazing and such a wonderful thing to do for the community. When I became the choral director in 1986, I knew it was a tradition that I wanted to continue. It has become a beloved event in our community. It became so popular, that we eventually outgrew the Presbyterian Church and moved the performance to St. Mary’s.”

Every concert has been something special, but a highlight was when Mr. Connor returned to Medina to see the concert last December.

“It meant so much to me, the choir and the community,” Roeseler said. “Everyone gave him a standing ovation. Unfortunately, Mr. Connor passed away soon after that concert. A scholarship has been established to honor his memory and what he has brought musically to Medina. Since we do not charge admission for the concert, we are asking for a goodwill offering to support the Robert Connor Memorial Scholarship Fund at Medina High School. We would love to assist a student to continue to pursue a college education, while honoring a man who has done so much for Medina.”

The concert will be an hour-long and contain many sacred and secular pieces by the acclaimed choir. Mrs. Roeseler does recommend that anyone attending arrives at the church early to secure a seat.

“We always have great support from the community and it is going to be a fantastic concert,” she said. “The students have really put their hearts into it. I am sure it will put everyone in the holiday spirit.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – We have a lot of photos from the Parade of Lights and already posted some of the winning floats.

Several other groups also put a lot of effort into their displays but didn’t win awards in what must have been a tough decision for the judges on Saturday. The top photo shows the float created by the Orleans County YMCA.

Here are some additional photos from the parade.

Head Start

Medina Fire Department

Girls Scouts

Daughters of the American Revolution

Orleans Community Health Rehab Unit

Mark Time Marchers

Grace Baptist Church

Case-Nic Cookies

Medina FFA advisor Todd Eick

Hartland Carriages

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A new Christmas tree went up in Lee-Whedon Memorial Library on Saturday, a tree that was months in the making and will find a new use after the holidays.

Library patrons and some staff spent several months knitting or crocheting 10-inch squares for the tree. The finished tree has 175 of the squares. After New Year’s, the squares will be used to create blankets for cancer patients at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

Joy Cameron, a library staff member and five-year breast cancer survivor, is pictured with Library Director Catherine Cooper (right) by the tree.

Cameron and library staff member Lisa Pritchard were big cheerleaders for the project, promoting it to patrons. About 30 people made squares for the tree.

Cooper heard about a similar effort from a friend who was visiting from Ireland. That friend shared with Cooper how a library in Navan, Ireland, made a Christmas tree with squares that were then turned into blankets for cancer patients.

The Lee-Whedon tree also includes hand-made ornaments. Cameron said it takes about 10 of the squares to make a blanket.

She said she hopes the hand-made gifts will provide comfort to people battling cancer.