MEDINA – Cassidy Oliver sees how low she can go at the limbo competition, one of the events at the Orchard Manor Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina during National Nursing Home Week.
This year’s theme for the event from May 10-16 at Orchard Manor was “Bring on the Fiesta!”
Leonel and Lola Rosario, co-owners of Mariachi De Oro, a Mexican restaurant in Medina, performed Mexican dances with audience participation. The Rosarios also brought refried beans for sampling.
Other events included music, a book fair, ice cream social and a line dancing performance by the Hot Country Liners
Service awards were also presented to staff members for years of service. Dave Denny, administrator, presented the awards. The following are pictured, front row, from left: Vicki Boyd and Roxanne Rhodes. Middle row: Carolyn Dix, Lynn Goodrich, LuAnn Thompson, Jackie Wheatley, Sarah Drier and Laura Bruton. Back row: Administrator Dave Denny and Jim Young.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Mike Dreyfus, a Medina Mustang Band booster for nearly 20 years, leads the band while it plays patriotic songs on Memorial Day at State Street Park. Dreyfus also led the band on the parade route from the Olde Pickle Factory on Park Avenue to the park on East Center Street.
He won a contest to be guest conductor for the parade. People paid $1 to vote for one of five guest conductors and Dreyfus was the winner.
“They march real fast,” Dreyfus said after the parade.
Dreyfus joined drum major Chris Keller (pictured at right) in keeping the band on pace.
“He did a good job,” sophomore Kristian Snyder said about Dreyfus. “He kept in time very well and he made his commands very clear.”
Snyder said Dreyfus is popular among the 130-plus kids in the band. He is a vocal supporter at their many parades and events, and works hard to raise money for the Mustangs.
“He’s been one of the biggest boosters,” Snyder said. “He’s a very nice man.”
Chris Keller, left, and Mike Dreyfus lead the band while it plays the National Anthem and other patriotic songs at State Street Park.
Dreyfus became active with the band when his son Kip, Class of 2003, joined as an eighth-grader. Dreyfus has been impressed by the band members’ dedication and accomplishment, and the pride they bring to the community.
He worked 20 years in probation and then 20 years as a substance abuse counselor. He said the band is a great prevention program, helping the kids to connect to the community, learn discipline and resist temptations with drugs and alcohol.
Dreyfus, 68, said he doesn’t have too much musical ability. But it was a thrill to join the band on Memorial Day, with an enthusiastic crowd along the way.
“This is something I can cross off my bucket list,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Rick Forder, a member of the VFW in Medina, carries the American flag down Main Street during the parade today.
Gary Hill hands an American flag to Torry Dames, 4, of Medina. Hill and other members of the Sons of the American Legion handed out hundreds of flags today some people were in a patriotic mood for the parade.
Boy Scouts joined veterans and other service organizations and community groups in the parade today.
Abbigail Smith, 1, of Middleport watches the parade with her father, Johnathan Smith of Middleport.
The color guard performs with the Medina Mustang Marching Band on Main Street today.
The band makes its way down Main Street on a parade route that ended at State Street Park.
The band has about 130 members.
The band stays in position during today’s Memorial Day parade.
A long lineup of community participants joined in the parade, shown here on East Center Street.
A Medina Little Leaguer tosses candy to a spectator along the parade route.
Jack Hill and other members of the Medina FFA were part of the parade today.
Stan Thurber addresses the group at State Street Park. He gives a special shout out to all the Marines in attendance before leading the group in an opening prayer.
Thomas J. Walders, a member of the Medina VFW, plays “Taps” with the Honor Guard at the conclusion of today’s Memorial Day service at the park.
County Legislator Lynne Johnson and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley both spoke at the service. Tristan Sanders, a Boys State representative from Medina, also addressed the crowd.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – John Butts and his family treasure the dog tag and diary from John E. Butts, the only Medal of Honor recipient in Medina’s history.
However, the Butts family didn’t want to just store the diary and dog tag in a drawer or in a display at one of the relative’s. The family decided to give the identification and diary to the Medina community.
The top photo shows the dog tag with the name Anna Butts, the mother of the soldier. The dog tag was covered in blood, and that blood corroded the metal, causing it to split in half, Butts family members said today.
John Butts, nephew to Medina’s famed soldier from World War II, presented the dog tag and diary to Steve Johnson, commander of the American Legion, during a Memorial Day service today at State Street Park.
Steve Johnson, right, accepts the dog tag and diary from John Butts, nephew of the Medal of Honor recipient from Medina.
Johnson then presented the dog tag and diary to Catherine Cooper, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, which already has a display about Butts with his medals, Medal of Honor citation and photographs.
“They are better served here than being locked in a closet or drawer,” said John Butts, who travelled to Medina from Portland, Maine. “It is more proper here. Medina is the origin.”
Butts and 10 other family members have been in Medina the past few days, learning more about John E. Butts.
The village named a park for Butts and the American Legion post also bears his name. He died in World War II in Normandy. Butts had already been wounded when he led a charge to distract the enemy. He was fatally wounded, but his battalion was able to advance.
Butts had five brothers serve in the war. The family is now spread around the country. They met for a reunion in Medina the past few days with Butts family members traveling from Portland, Maine; San Diego, Calif; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Rock Hill, South Carolina; and Virginia.
The Butts family is pictured with Catherine Cooper, back right, following the Memorial Day service today at State Street Park.
The family came together to give the treasured items from John E. Butts to Medina.
“I’m very appreciative and proud of Medina,” John Butts told a crowd gathered at State Street Park. “I’m very proud of the town of Medina and the kindness and generosity of the people.”
Butts said the big crowds of people that turned out for Memorial Day is unusual in America today. He said his uncle was like many from the community who heeded the call to serve the country.
The family started talking more in the past year when Tim Butts was contacted by a documentary filmmaker about John E. Butts. The family worked to assemble information. They discussed the diary and the dog tag and where those artifacts should go. They decided they wanted back in the community where Butts grew up.
This diary, held by Catherine Cooper, details the boot camp experiences by John E. Butts.
Catherine Cooper, the library director and also Ridgeway town historian, thanked the family for their generosity. She said the diary, with the family’s blessing, would be reproduced for the public.
Doug Butts, a family member from Grand Rapids, Mich., thanked the community for keeping up the park, Legion Post and grave for John E. Butts. Doug Butts said the family is impressed by the small-town charm in Medina.
“It’s a beautiful town with a Rockwellian Main Street,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 May 2015 at 12:00 am
John E. Butts’ family will present his dog tags to community
John E. Butts
MEDINA – John E. Butts remains a source of pride in the Medina community more than 70 years after his death. Butts is the lone Medal of Honor recipient from Medina.
He sacrificed himself in Normandy in World War II, advancing on the enemy to distract them so his battalion could advance. Butts had already been wounded, but pressed on, leading a platoon.
“Once more he was struck, but by grim determination and sheer courage continued to crawl ahead,” his Medal of Honor citation reads. “When within 10 yards of his objective, he was killed by direct fire. By his superb courage, unflinching valor and inspiring actions, 2LT BUTTS enabled his platoon to take a formidable strong point and contributed greatly to the success of his battalion’s mission.”
Butts was one of five brothers to serve in World War II. He died in Normandy on June 23, 1944. His body came home in 1948 and he is buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Medina.
The American Legion Post and a village park bear his name. There is a display of his medals at the local library. On Monday, following the Memorial Day parade, some of Butts’ family members will present his dog tags to the community during a service at State Street Park.
Several of Butts’ nieces and nephews are getting together for a reunion in Medina this weekend before they present his dog tags on Monday. The relatives are from South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan and California.
They are coming together for the first time since they were kids. The reunion came about after a Dutch television journalist/historian sought more information on Butts for a TV documentary following the 9th Infantry’s campaign from D-Day to WWII’s conclusion. Butts was featured in a segment in the series.
The parade in Medina starts at 11 a.m. at the Olde Pickle Factory on Park Avenue and ends at State Street Park with the ceremony at the park starting at about noon.
Provided photos – Firefighters work to put out a fire in Washboard Willy’s on Starr Street in Medina early this morning.
MEDINA – A fire early this morning at the Washboard Willy’s laundromat caused an estimated $50,000 damage to the building and $25,000 to equipment, Medina Fire Department officials said.
Firefighters were called to the scene at 2:22 a.m. The building at the corner of Starr Street and Main Street was filled with smoke with fire coming out of the roof, said Steve Cooley, Fire Department public information officer.
Chief Todd Zinkievich requested mutual aid from the Ridgeway Fire Department to the scene along with an engine from East Shelby to stand by at the Medina firehouse.
While interior crews completed primary searches and fire attack, additional crews laddered the roof to perform ventilation operations, Cooley said.
The fire was knocked down and under control within 30 minutes from time of dispatch.
The cause of the fire appears to be nonintentional at this time but remains under investigation by department investigators. There were no firefighter injuries reported, Cooley said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Mike Dreyfus, a substance abuse counselor, says band teaches commitment and discipline
Mike Dreyfus
MEDINA Mike Dreyfus has watched the Medina Mustangs perform hundreds of times. He still gets caught up in the emotion of the music and choreography of seeing 100-plus kids performing in unison.
“I still feel smitten by it all,” Dreyfus said. “I still get goose bumps when they hit on impact.”
Dreyfus has been an active band booster for nearly two decades. He won a guest conductor contest and will lead the marching band on Monday’s parade that begins at 11 a.m. The band will go from the former Fisher-Price on Park Avenue to Main Street and then to State Street Park. It’s about a 2-mile route.
Community members paid $1 to vote for one of five guest conductors. Dreyfus emerged the winner. He has been an active fund-raiser and vocal cheerleader for the band.
His son Kip joined as an eighth grader and graduated in 2003. Mike and his wife Kathy have stayed band enthusiasts even after their son graduated.
“In band there is a sense of family,” Dreyfus said. “It’s a giant trust exercise.”
File photo – The Medina Mustang Band is pictured in last year’s Memorial Day parade.
No one sits the bench in band, Dreyfus said, and boys and girls share leadership roles.
“These guys and gals are friends,” Dreyfus said. “Everybody is equal. It’s positive competition and it’s gender neutral.”
Dreyfus sees other benefits with a demanding program such as the band. He has worked 40 years with people who struggle to be law-abiding citizens in his roles as probation officer for 20 years and then as a substance abuse counselor for two decades.
The band connects students to the community, teaching them discipline and drawing them away from temptations with drugs and alcohol.
“It is the best prevention program there is,” Dreyfus said. “I’ve seen the value of this whole program for the kids involved. The band program screws the kids’ heads on straight. It teaches them commitment. It teaches discipline and focus.”
Dreyfus played football in high school and college. He admitted he’s a little nervous about leading the band on Memorial Day.
“I know nothing about this,” he said about conducting. “The only thing I play is the stereo.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 May 2015 at 4:26 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers – Main Street in Medina is pictured this afternoon with a banner, American flag and hanging basket. Medina is ranked No. 18 in a report of best towns to raise a family in New York.
The Medina and Albion communities both are in the top 20 of best towns to raise a family in New York, according to a report from Niche.
Niche has an on-line database that determines the ranking, using public education, safety, housing, community involvement and access to family necessities including grocery stores and libraries. Those factors measure how good an area is for families, Niche states.
Medina was ranked 18th overall of the best towns, which doesn’t include suburbs and cities with more than 100,000 people. Albion was ranked 20th.
Mount Hope Town in Orange County was the top ranked community in New York. East Aurora, at No. 3, was the highest ranked in Western New York with Geneseo at No. 5, Fredonia at No. 8 and Batavia at No. 17.
To see the report and the data on Medina and Albion, click here.
File photo by Peggy Barringer – Peggy Barringer took this photo on Jan. 15, 2014, of the moon looming over the Orleans County Courthouse and the County Clerks Building in Albion. Courthouse Square is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
MEDINA – How do you remember an incredible person, friend and teacher such as Barbara Barnes?
That is the question the staff and students have been pondering since her tragic passing on Sept. 29 on the way to a job that she loved. Barnes was killed in a car accident on Lake Road in the Town of Newfane.
Her colleagues, students and loved ones gathered on May 14 at Clifford Wise Middle School as Barbara’s two sons unveiled the new sign above the school’s library. The site will now be officially known as the Barbara Barnes Memorial Library.
Barnes taught special education at the Clifford Wise Middle School for 18 years.
The plaque with Barbara’s photo that read in part, “Her contagious smile, her caring eyes and her amazing sense of humor; no one who knew Barbara Jean Barnes will forget her beautiful spirit. Barbara Barnes cherished being part of the Medina School Community, and she thought of Wise as her second home and its faculty, staff, and students as her second family. We are blessed to have known her, as a teacher and a friend.”
Contributed photos – The library at Clifford Wise Middle School was rededicated as the Barbara Barnes Library last week in honor of a teacher killed in a Sept. 29 car accident. Pictured, from left, include: Joe Byrne, Medina Teacher Association President; Troy Barnes, Barbara’s son; Bruce Barnes, Barbara’s husband; Braidy Barnes, Barbara’s son; and Bridget Barnes, Braidy’s wife.
Joe Byrne, Medina Teacher Association president, said that Barnes was cherished by everyone who had the pleasure of interacting with her.
“She loved being a teacher and being part of the students’ lives,” Byrne said. “It seemed very fitting to her memory and her legacy to name the library after her so that for years to come that everyone walking through the door here will know how much she was loved and admired and how much of an impact she has made on us all.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2015 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – Residents gave overwhelmingly support today for a proposed $34,802,870 budget that increases spending by 0.94 percent but keeps taxes the same.
The budget passed 376-46. That’s an 89.1 percent approval rate.
The budget maintains existing programming and will increase enrichment offerings in the elementary and middle school.
The budget includes vehicles purchases, which used to be a separate proposition. Taking those out of the regular budget would show a $25,124 decrease compared to the 2014-15 budget, Medina school officials said.
The district will have a new member on the Board of Election. Brian Koch had the second-most votes with 264 of the five candidates seeking three-year terms on the board.
There were three open positions. Two incumbents were re-elected with Ann Bunch getting 305 votes and Renee Paser-Paull receiving 246.
Two other candidates were not elected. Former board member Virginia Nicholson received 209 votes and Danielle Class, 147.
Provided photos – The Medina Mustang Marching Band performs in Saturday’s parade at Seneca Falls.
SENECA FALLS – The Albion and Medina marching bands both competed in the Seneca Falls Pageant of Bands on Friday and Saturday with Medina taking the top prize as grand champion champion.
Albion won first place in the marching band category.
There were 16 bands from western and central New York competing in jazz, concert band, color guard, twirling, percussion and parade. The schools are placed in classifications based on the size of their enrollment.
Medina’s Color Guard took first place.
In Jazz, Medina took first place in the Senior High B class, with Solvay coming in second and Albion in third. In Senior High Concert Band, Medina took first against Akron. Medina also was awarded first place in Twirling, Color Guard, Percussion and Parade.
The Medina band leaves for Ohio on May 21 and will be back to perform in the Memorial Day parade on May 25.
Logan London, right, and the Color Guard from Albion lead the marching band in the parade.
Albion was first in Marching Band with an 89 score and third in Jazz Ensemble with a 96.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos courtesy of Chris Busch – The former Baughn’s Shoe Store is getting a makeover as “a lily and a sparrow.”
MEDINA – A storefront that was a shoe store since 1960 on Main Street in Medina is getting a new look. The former Baughn’s Shoe Store is getting a new façade.
Baughn’s closed last year after being a downtown mainstay for more than a half century.
Laura Gardner bought the building at 438 Main St. and moved her shop there. Gardner is owner of “a lily and a sparrow,” a women’s clothing, jewelry and fragrance store.
Gardner opened the store in 2010 at 510 Main St. The former shoe store gives her more room for the business.
Chris Busch, chairman of Medina’s Planning Board, said the new look will give the downtown a boost.
“That whole job will be transformative for the building,” Busch said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 May 2015 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – The proposed STAMP site across the Orleans County line in Alabama could become the Village of Medina’s largest sewer customer, using up to 3 million gallons a day at the village treatment plant.
The Village Board agreed on Monday to a memorandum of understanding with the Genesee County Economic Development Corporation. The village would provide sewer for the Science Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park, with GCEDC paying for running sewer lines to the 1,250-acre STAMP site.
GCEDC would pay the current village rates, although a deal could be made for a break in sewer charges in exchange for a host community agreement with money going to the village’s general fund.
“This will help stabilize the sewer fund for years to come,” said Medina Mayor Andrew Meier.
There isn’t an immediate impact because a tenant hasn’t committed to the STAMP site yet. GCEDC is lining up service providers for infrastructure.
The Medina sewer plant is currently permitted for 4.5 million gallons a day. Medina typically treats 1 to 2 million gallons a day, depending on the weather. If there is a big storm or snow melt, the plant sees more use.
Although the plant has a 4.5 million gallon permit capacity, it could treat least 7 million gallons a day, Meier said. The village is tackling some improvements at the plant to increase the capacity to about 10 million gallons.
Even with the agreement for STAMP, Medina still has plenty of excess capacity to serve development projects in the village and Medina area, Meier said. The final agreement still needs to be approved with GCEDC, and Meier said the deal will allow reserve capacities for Medina to serve businesses in the Medina community.
The final agreement could also include a provision for money for the village’s general fund through a host community agreement. That would generate money for the village’s general fund, and ease some pressure on Medina taxpayers.
If the host community agreement is in place, GCEDC could get a break in the sewer rate.
“We’re still working on the details,” Meier said.
The Village Board wants to support the STAMP project, which could bring an estimated 10,000 jobs to the site in full build out over an estimated 15 years or more, GCEDC officials said. They anticipate another 50,000 jobs from STAMP in the region. Meier said Medina is ideally situated for “feeder industries” that would work with companies at STAMP.
The sewer plant with all of its unused capacity is a major asset for Medina, Meier said.
“It’s a huge economic development resource we have in Medina,” he said.
The route from Medina to Alabama for the sewer lies hasn’t been determined yet. That is being studied by engineers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2015 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – The Medina Fire Department heads down East Center Street on an ambulance call in January, a call that was outside the village.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina could do better boosting revenue for its ambulance service by getting more uncollected money from patients, and also by insisting other municipalities help pay for the service, according to the State Comptroller’s Office.
The Comptroller’s Office reviewed ambulance service billing records from Jan.1, 2011 to Sept. 10, 2014. It found Medina is due $1,012,326 in outstanding bills from patients, a number that rose each year from $186,125 in 2011, $194,194 in 2012, $241,832 in 2013, and $390,175 in about eight months of 2014.
The Medina Fire Department has been the primary ambulance provider for the towns of Yates, Shelby and Ridgeway since 2007. As part of that contract, the towns were supposed to reimburse the village on a quarterly basis for any uncollected bills for ambulance calls to the three towns. The three towns also agreed to an administrative fee incurred by a third-party billing agent for each bill prepared. That fee is currently $38.25 per bill.
The village never sent the towns an invoice for these bills, the Comptroller’s Office said.
Comptroller staff reviewed the bills and found the three towns owe the village $53,036 for uncollected bills in the three municipalities, plus $21,573 to the billing agent. That $74,609 breaks out to $33,809 for the Town of Yates, $13,935 for the Town of Shelby and $26,865 for the Town of Ridgeway.
The comptroller said the towns need to be billed regularly, and their bills reviewed by village officials. Medina needs to work to ensure “that village taxpayers are not subsidizing the cost of providing ambulance service to the towns,” according to the comptroller report.
Medina Mayor Andrew Meier responded to the Comptroller Office in an April 10 letter that the village works diligently to collect unpaid bills. However, Meier said the village doesn’t want to take residents, including many senior citizens on fixed incomes, to small claims court or subject residents to “significant harassment” from bill collectors, he said.
Medina has an 86.8 percent pay rate, which rates slightly better than average for the 18 municipal clients served by Medina’s ambulance billing provider, Meier said. Medina also receives an average of $434.20 per bill, which is about $20 higher than the municipal average, the mayor said.
The Village Board welcomes contributions from the three towns for the ambulance service, Meier said. However, he said there would be “extreme difficulty” in calculating each town’s share based on the original formula.
“Indeed, the current agreement seems fair in theory, but is unworkable in practice,” Meier said. “The Village has brought this to the attention of Shelby and Ridgeway officials at joint meetings, yet both have indicated an unwillingness to modify the agreement. The Village will continue to address this matter with the towns.”
Genesee Community College campus centers in Albion and Medina want to know what you think about how the centers are serving the higher education needs of the community.
The staff has created a survey using the Survey Monkey online utility seeking input from community members. The survey is available by clicking here. (Editor’s note: This link has been removed. The survey is completed.) It should take 3 to 5 minutes to complete. Those who answer the ten questions are entered to win a prize package that includes a Kindle Fire HD. The survey closes June 12.
“In our efforts to continuously improve our services to the community, we hope to garner the public’s interest and input on what they would like to see at the Albion and Medina Campus Centers,” Jim Simon, associate dean of GCC’s of the 2 campus centers in Orleans County. “From new courses to the hours our doors are open to innovative new career programs – we really want to hear what we can do better.”
The survey points out that GCC currently offers more than 70 degree and certificate programs at seven different locations as well as online. These include the main campus in Batavia and six campus centers. Besides Albion and Medina, there are campus centers in Arcade, Dansville, Lima and Warsaw.
Among the survey questions:
If you could invent a new class or program at the Albion or Medina Campus Center, what would it be?
If you were to enroll at GCC’s Albion or Medina Campus, what class times would you choose?
“We exist to meet the needs of the communities we serve,” said Michele Bokman, director of operations at the Albion and Medina campus centers. “The more honest respondents are, the better. We want a true picture of how we’re doing and how we can improve.”
The Albion Campus Center was GCC’s first, opening in 1990. More than 50 courses are typically offered each semester with an enrollment of more than 450 students.
Albion’s facilities include six high-tech classrooms, two computer labs, an art room, a quiet study lab, student lounge and outdoor patio. The center has served as a satellite art gallery for GO Art! (Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council) with a variety of art exhibited throughout the year.
GCC Medina opened in 2007 and includes five classrooms, one with video link capabilities, a science lab and a computer lab. The Medina center has historically served more than 300 students each semester with more than 40 courses, and has also hosted the Civil War Encampment for the past three years.
“We’re grateful to those who participate in our survey and help us continue to provide quality education in Orleans County,” Simon said.
