MEDINA – Artist Judith Villavisanis has been working on a book-shaped entrance to the children’s library at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library this week. She is expected to be on site for about two more weeks, creating an entrance with words and illustrations.
“It is an invitation to enter the area and the world of imagination,” said Catherine Cooper, library director. “It will have rich and vivid colors.”
Villavisanis lives in a Florida and is a muralist. She has many Albion connections and submitted a proposal for the project.
The “Storybook Entrance” project is part of the interior renovations in the library. Lee-Whedon leaders expect the entrance will become an iconic part of every child’s experience at Lee-Whedon.
Here is how the entrance looked before Villavisanis went to work.
MEDINA – Medina Mayor Andrew Meier will host a series of office hours to provide constituents an opportunity to ask questions about the village government dissolution plan and the upcoming dissolution vote scheduled for Jan. 20.
Office hours will be at Village Clerk’s Office, 119 Park Ave. in Medina. The first set of office hours will be as follows:
Wednesday, Dec. 3 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 9 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Residents seeking clarification or who have general or specific questions regarding the dissolution of village government are welcomed and encouraged to attend. The format will be informal and conversational, and no appointment is necessary.
The dissolution referendum will be Jan. 20, 2014 with polls open from noon to 9 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Center on West Avenue in Medina.
File photo by Tom Rivers – Some of the floats, including one by Habitat for Humanity, work their way down Main Street during last year’s Parade of Lights. The sixth annual parade with be at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
MEDINA – The 6th annual Parade of Lights will return Saturday at 6 p.m. in downtown Medina. The event for the first time will include fireworks at 5:45 p.m.
The parade committee also has picked a grand marshal for the parade. Randy Bushover will serve in the role.
“Randy is a local guy who promotes his beloved community of Medina,” said Jim Hancock, parade chairman. “He is an ambassador for Medina and is well liked and known to most of Medinans.”
Bushover will lead a tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at Rotary Park in the downtown.
“This is a honorary position and we are happy to acknowledge Randy and for all that he has done to support our community,” Hancock said about the grand marshal.
For more on the parade and the schedule of events on Saturday, click here.
MEDINA – After a several-month investigation into the possession, sale and distribution of marijuana in the Village of Medina, two people were arrested and jailed on Tuesday, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported.
The Task Force, along with the Medina Police Department and the Orleans County Multi-Agency Swat Team, executed a search warrant on Tuesday at 915 South Main St.
Police seized approximately 6 ounces of marijuana, cash, scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia. Police also encountered three young children in the presence of marijuana.
The following were arrested:
Marcus S. Warren, 31, of 915 South Main St., Medina. He was charged with one count of criminal possession of marijuana in the fourth degree, and three counts of unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree.
Ashlee Waters
He was arraigned by Town of Yates Judge Donald Grabowski and committed to Orleans County Jail on $2,500 bail. He is to appear in Shelby Town Court on Dec. 11 at 9 a.m.
Additional charges for sale of marijuana are pending against Warren, the Task Force reported.
Ashlee J.P. Waters, 25, of 915 South Main St., Medina, was charged with one count of criminal possession of marijuana in the fourth degree, and three counts of unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree.
She was arraigned by Judge Grabowski and remanded to Orleans County Jail on $1,000 bail. She is to appear in Shelby Town Court on Dec. 11 at 9 a.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2014 at 1:56 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers – Property owners in the village of Medina pay one of the highest combined tax rates – village, town, county and school taxes – of any community in the state.
MEDINA – A new report from the Empire Center lists the combined tax rates of 3,663 jurisdictions across the state. Medina is near the top for the highest tax rates.
Village residents in the Town of Shelby paid a $54.13 tax rate per $1,000 of assessed property in 2012. That was the 13th highest in the state. Village residents in the Town of Ridgeway paid a $53.82 rate, the 16th highest in the state.
Several jurisdictions in Orleans County were in the top 100 for highest tax rates, but none were higher than the Village of Medina.
The Village of Wellsville in Allegany County was the highest overall with a combined rate of $67.78. Several Allegany communities – Alfred, Friendship, Andover and Bolivar-Richberg – topped Medina.
The high tax rates have a negative impact on real estate values, depressing prices. Allegany is the only county with lower real estate values than Orleans. The median value in Allegany was $73,000 in 2012, with Orleans at $77,000.
Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said the real estate prices are more devalued in the villages, where property owners pay far more in taxes than residents outside the village borders.
That is one reason why he is pushing for a dissolution of the village government in Medina, to try to reduce the gap between the tax rates for village and outside-village property owners. Village residents will vote on that issue on Jan. 20.
Medina’s rate is the highest in the Finger Lakes region. Meier looked at the state-wide numbers and concluded 99.64 percent of jurisdictions have lower rates than Medina.
“That is wretched,” he said. “It doesn’t help draw people and investment to our community.”
To achieve such a high tax rate in 2012, Medina did it with a $25.63 rate for the school district, $15.52 for the village, $9.63 for county and either $3.35 for Town of Shelby or $3.01 for Town of Ridgeway.
The average village rate in Upstate NY is $34.28, according to the Empire Center report that came out on Monday. That’s nearly $20 less than in Medina.
Other Orleans County jurisdictions aren’t too far behind Medina.
• The Village of Holley is 50th at $49.98 – $24.94 for school, $12.99 for village, $9.65 for county and $2.40 for town of Murray.
• The Village of Albion in Gaines is 77th at $47.77 – $18.06 for school, $15.92 for village, $9.60 for county and $4.19 for town.
• The Town of Barre in Medina school district is 95th at $46.81 – $25.63 for school, $9.61 for county, $9.34 for town and $2.23 for special districts.
• The Village of Albion in the town of Albion is 101st at $46.43 – $18.06 for school, $15.92 for village, $9.60 for county and $2.85 for town.
• The Town of Barre in the Holley school district is 108th at $46.12 – $24.94 for school, $9.61 for county, $9.34 for town and $2.23 for special districts.
Even without the village rate, Shelby and Ridgeway show up in the top 200 overall in the state. The Town of Shelby came in at $43.67 for 154th, with the Town of Ridgeway at 161st with a combined rate of $43.52.
The lowest overall rate in state goes to Sagaponack on Suffolk County at $1.19.
Provided photo – Four Medina students participated in the American Legion Oratorical Contest, including from left: Dylan Metz, John Kelly, Chris Keller, Jon Calo Gonzalez. They are pictured with Steve Johnson and Frederick Heschke from the Legion.
Press Release
Medina Central School
MEDINA – Medina students participated in the American Legion Oratorical Contest last Thursday, speaking about “What the Constitution Means to Me.”
Chris Keller won first place for his speech and Jon Carlo Gonzalez came in second. Both students will compete in the Orleans County competition on Dec. 13 at Albion Middle School along with their Medina classmates John Kelly and Dylan Metz.
“I was very impressed,” said Todd Bensley, social studies teacher at Medina High School. “All the students did an excellent job expressing their passion for the Constitution.”
MEDINA – The Medina Rotary Club provided a family with a basket of fresh vegetables, a gift card for the turkey and pies, bags full of canned goods, along with fresh rolls and butter – all the fixins for a Thanksgiving dinner.
The Rotary Club of Medina traditionally adopts a family and provides Thanksgiving dinner. It is a practice long in tradition and full of great feelings for all. Rotarians personally contribute items for this food basket.
The club is also raising money for its youth programs. This year The Medina Rotary Club is sponsoring a Medina High School student to study in Mexico while also hosting a student from France who is attending Medina High School for this 2014-15 school year.
Rotarians are particularly thankful at this time of year for the opportunity to give back to our community.
Provided photos – Medina High School teachers are pictured with food collected at the school for a local food pantry. The group includes, from left: Julie Webber, Kim Zakes, Jon Sherman, Gianna Sargent and Tom Robinson.
Press Release, Medina Central School
MEDINA – The Medina Teachers’ Association at the High School, Clifford Wise Intermediate/Middle School and Oak Orchard Elementary pulled together to help out the Calvary Tabernacle Assembly’s Food Pantry for the upcoming holidays.
Medina High School French teacher Julie Webber says this is the fourth year the staff has rallied together for the church’s “Helpful Harvest.”
Oak Orchard Elementary teachers collected many bags of food for Calvary Tabernacle’s food pantry.
“We asked everyone over the course of two weeks to bring in nonperishable food items,” Webber said. “The church does so much for our community and everyone was happy to lend a hand. We even had teachers volunteer to go shopping for their colleagues who didn’t have time to go to the store.”
Mrs. Webber says they are very grateful to Tops for donating the brown bags for the staff where they attached their wish list: cereal, boxed potatoes, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, kid friendly snacks, can fruit and vegetables, stuffing, jelly and can pasta and ravioli.
Clifford Wise Intermediate/Middle School teachers are pictured with food to be donated.
“We ended up with about 30 to 40 bags at each of our schools and it was a great feeling to be able to pull up to their building and help them carry it inside,” Webber said. “They were very grateful.”
Provided photo – Medina students hold items that will go towards Christmas baskets. From left: Madison Holland, Hallie Seaman, Coby Albone, Kody Leno and Allison Bensley.
Press Release
Medina Central School
MEDINA – Students from Medina High School have turned helping out the needy into a competition at their school.
Every year the students collect canned and boxed food items for the Medina Area Association of Churches (MAAC). Many of the students raid their home pantries or go shopping for the charity to make someone’s holiday brighter, but having a stiff competition has helped to generate even more donations.
Julie Webber, a French teacher and a Student Association advisor, says students are playing to award their favorite teacher the Canley Cup, a cherished trophy made out of cans that goes to the teacher who inspires the students to bring in the most items.
“Each item is worth a point and some foods are considered bonus items and are worth two points,” she explains. “We ask the students to give their donation to a teacher and the teacher who collects the most by Dec. 5 gets possession of the Canley Cup and has bragging rights until the next year.”
The competition is in full swing and staff and students are hoping for a record-breaking donation so that MAAC can fill Christmas baskets for people in the community.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Tim Smith from Chesapeake Organ Service in Red Lion, Pa., drills screws out of the top of the organ at Trinity Lutheran Church in Medina. The organ is being taken apart with a bigger one headed to the church.
MEDINA – For nearly a century the organ at Trinity Lutheran Church in Medina filled the sanctuary with sounds of beloved church hymns.
But in recent days, the organ has been torn apart, with sounds of drills, hammers and bursting wood.
The organ should be gone in a few days. By Easter, a bigger, better organ will be in its place.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the church,” said Andrew Meier, the church organist.
Tim Smith works on removing the church organ at Trinity Lutheran.
Meier helped orchestrate the change. Trinity is removing an organ from 1925 with eight ranks or eight sets of pipes and two manuals or keyboards. It will be replaced with one from 1968 that has 29 sets of pipes and three keyboards. Christ Episcopal Cathedral in Cincinnati, Ohio donated the 1968 Holtkamp pipe organ to Trinity Lutheran.
The church in Cincinnati is being renovated and is putting in a more compact organ. Trinity has the space for the organ to be spread out in all of its glory.
Smith’s company will clean and rebuild the organ. The church has raised most of the money for the project, but donations are welcome. (Checks for “Organ Fund” can be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 1212 West Ave., Medina NY 14103.)
Trinity has the space in the balcony to accommodate a large organ. Tim Smith is standing on top of the instrument.
Meier said there are many fine organs in Orleans County as well as in Rochester.
“We could make our area an organ destination,” he said. “I think we really have something here.”
Smith has seen a resurgence in the instruments, with Gen X’ers leading a push to more traditional church music with organs. He also is executive director of The Portageville Chapel in Wyoming County. That includes a church from 1841 with a chapel that serves as a retreat for organists. Smith said the chapel has been booked for 50 weeks this year for organists looking to hone their craft.
He connected with Meier at The Portageville Chapel. Smith said Trinity will be receiving an organ “in very fine condition.” He will bring the organ to Medina in stages, likely in beginning in January. The goal is to have the organ ready for April 5, Easter Sunday.
Tim Smith is working on the task of taking apart an organ from 1925.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 November 2014 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – Ashton Lang is a new full-time firefighter for the Medina Fire Department, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Jerry Lewis.
Lang has been working as a temporary firefighter for Medina FD. He also is a volunteer for the Lyndonville Fire Department. He is pictured in the photo at Lyndonville as part of a fire prevention program at the school on Oct. 7.
The Fire Department is now back up to 13 full-time firefighters following the Village Board’s appointment on Monday. The Fire Department now has two vacancies in temporary positions that Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich would like to fill.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Edgar Rosario has his face painted for today’s Dia de Los Muertos/Todos Los Santos celebration at Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill, a restaurant where his father Francisco Rosario is co-owner. Edgar is pictured near murals inside the restaurant near the bar.
MEDINA – It was a huge smorgasbord of food – chocolate, candy, bread, fruit and much more. The display included flowers and gifts, and it gave off a rich and sweet smell.
The Rosario family believes some of their late relatives came to visit for the annual Day of the Dead/All Saints Day, a 30-day tradition in the Mexican culture where families honor their dead. Their souls are believed to come home and take in the aromas during the celebration.
For the first time, the Rosario family, owners of Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill in Medina, welcomed the community to be a part of an important cultural tradition in Mexico.
“Having this restaurant we’re able to share traditional foods,” said Leonel Rosario, co-owner of Mariachi de Oro. “We wanted to share more of our culture with the community.”
Leonel Rosario and his wife Dolores Alvarado perform The Hat Dance, a traditional Mexican folk dance tonight at The Day of the Dead festivities.
Three years ago Leonel Rosario and his family opened Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill on Maple Ridge Road in Medina. The Rosarios are thankful the community has supported the business.
The Rosarios created an altar of food and flowers at the restaurant today. Rosario told about 50 people at Mariachi de Oro about the popular tradition in Mexico. When he grew up in Oaxaca, he would visit a cemetery with his family, and spend much of the night with candles, flowers and tending to relatives’ graves.
The waitresses at Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill have their faces painted and they are wearing traditional blouses and dresses from Oaxaca in Mexico, where the Rosario family is from. The waitresses include, from left: Ashley Vandegenachte, Amber Perez, Dolores Alvarado, Elysa Rodriguez and Yasmin Gutierrez.
In the morning, families would gather at their homes for a tradition that is bigger than Christmas for many Mexicans.
“We believe in old traditions, old cultures from the State of Oaxaca,” Rosario told a group tonight at the restaurant. “We want to keep the tradition going. Some day I will come visit my kids’ houses (after I die).”
The Rosarios served cooked grasshoppers, soup, chicken mole, tamales and dessert. They also shared traditional dances and music with the crowd.
Francisco Rosario, right, plays the accordion and Pablo Rosario plays the guitar during The Day of the Dead celebration at Mariachi de Oro.
“It’s good to see young people keeping their culture alive,” said Scott Galliford of Clarendon. He attended the celebration with his wife, Christine Hunt.
They have visited Mexico for The Day of Dead in Oaxaca. Galliford said it is a fun time to be in the country, partaking in the food and music. He said he is grateful the Rosarios opened up the celebration to the community.
An altar of flowers and food was prepared for the Day of the Dead/All Saints Day.
ID on collar pinpointed owner of Sam, an orange tabby
Photo by Howard Balaban – Jeff Stahl and Rachael Goldstein, left, of Harrisburg, Pa., meet with Adam and Nikki Hefner, of Watertown, Saturday morning in Batavia to return Sam, the Hefners’ cat. Sam jumped out of a moving truck unbeknownst to the couple during their move from Georgia. Stahl and Goldstein were in New York to visit his family in Medina.
By Howard Balaban
Special to the Orleans Hub
BATAVIA – For Adam and Nikki Hefner, moving from Georgia to their new home in Watertown was going to be difficult enough. The 1,100-mile trek saw both of them driving, as Adam drove a moving truck and followed behind Nikki, who was riding with her dad.
Adam is a specialist in the Army and will be stationed at Fort Drum. He has already served a tour of duty in Iraq. Several days ago, during the move, Nikki got into a small accident on Interstate 81 near Harrisburg, Pa.
“I got out to make sure they were OK,” Adam recalled, mentioning that their small convoy pulled off on an exit to gather themselves.
The Hefners’ cat, Sam, was riding in the cab of the truck with Adam. About 20 miles back into their journey to Watertown, Adam realized that Sam must have left the truck during the commotion.
“I thought he had stayed under the seat,” he said. “I told Nikki, ‘I can’t find the cat.'”
Thankfully, the couple had put a collar with contact information on a tag on Sam. And Sam, an orange tabby, made his way to the front porch of a Harrisburg couple.
“He was on our front porch when I got home at night,” Rachael Goldstein said. “First I brought him over to the neighbor’s house because she has a lot of cats, but it wasn’t hers. Then I figured just to be safe, I’d call the number on the tag.”
The call came as a bit of shock to the Hefners.
“I was glad to hear he was okay and that we could arrange something,” said a relieved Nikki. “I thought he had been hit on 81.”
Indeed, Goldstein and her boyfriend, Jeff Stahl, had made prior plans to visit his family in Medina this weekend. She chuckled as she recalled how easily the situation unfolded, as it led to a meeting Saturday morning in Batavia, where Sam was reunited with his owners.
“It was closer for them, but it’s still a long drive,” Goldstein said. Adam said he probably would have driven to Pennsylvania for the family pet, but said he was thankful the drive was essentially cut in half.
Adam added that he was thankful to have tags on Sam, because it definitely worked. Nikki noted that Sam used to be allowed to roam wherever he wanted, but thanks to this recent adventure he will now remain an indoor cat.
As the couples parted ways, an attempt was made to compensate both Stahl and Goldstein, but neither one accepted anything.
“We just took care of him the past couple days,” Goldstein said. “He’s such a friendly cat, and we just wanted him to get back to his home. It was worth bringing him up and meeting up with his owners so we could do that.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Medina Central School on Friday welcomed five graduates as distinguished alumni, including from left: Dr. James Ingram, Maureen Blackburn and the Honorable James Punch. The district also inducted the late John McElwain and Dr. Susan Hagood.
MEDINA – The school district added five more graduates to its wall of “Distinguished Alumni” on Friday. The new inductees include graduates who stayed in Medina for long careers of community service. Others excelled far away from their hometown.
The honorees were recognized during a school assembly on Friday afternoon in front of 600 students in grades 8 through 12.
“They remind students of what they can do in their lives if they make good choices,” said Mark Kruzynski, high school principal. “We wanted to highlight that community service is also just as important.”
The honorees include:
James Punch, Class of 1973
After graduating from Medina, Punch earned his bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo and then earned a law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law in 1980.
He returned to Orleans County in 1985. Two years later he was the youngest district attorney ever in the state. In 1990, he was elected as county judge. He continues in that role, leading County Court, Surrogate Court, Family Court and State Supreme Court. He has started the Crime Victims’ Unit, Youth Court, a Sex Abuse Task Force, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court, and Domestic Violence Court.
He is active in the community, serving as legal advisor to Medina High School’s mock trial team. He also has been active with the Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, YMCA Board, Boy Scout Executive Committee, and the Holy Trinity Parish. He is president of the Parish Council and a Eucharistic minister.
Punch addressed the students are encouraged them to always move forward. They shouldn’t sit back and dwell on either success or failure.
“Don’t define yourself as ‘having succeeded’ and decide nothing more needs to be done – ‘I’m perfect,'” Punch said. “Equally, don’t define yourself by your failure and decide nothing more can be done – ‘I’m hopeless.'”
Punch said he is grateful for a career in Medina and Orleans County. He told the students he hopes many of them will be able to stay in the Medina area and contribute to the community.
Dr. James Ingram, Class of 1965
After Medina, Ingram earned degrees at SUNY Geneseo and the University of Alabama School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree and became a certified surgeon. He also served in Vietnam with the Navy.
In his career he pushed for innovation in electronic health records and his company developed patient management software tools for physicians. Ingram’s company went public in 2012 and was acquired by Vista Equity for $644 million.
Ingram lives in Carrollton, Ga. He said Medina provided a foundation for his career.
“Find a passion in life, find a direction,” Ingram advised students. “You’ll have challenges and misdirection, but keep up the course and you’ll be successful.”
Maureen Blackburn, Class of 1963
When she was a student at Medina, Blackburn had three lung surgeries. Doctors said she’d be lucky to live 20 years. She spent a lot of time in the hospital as a kid.
“It’s everyone’s choice on how you meet challenges,” she told the students.
She took on an attitude to embrace each day, to give of her talents and look for ways to encourage others.
Maureen Blackburn addresses Medina students on Friday when she was presented with a Distinguished Alumni Award. She is joined on stage by Dr. James Ingram and the Honorable James Punch, right.
Blackburn earned degrees from GCC, RIT and then her master’s in social work from the University of Buffalo. She worked for Medina Central School as a social worker. When she retired, she served on the Board of Education, including as its president.
She has been active as St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Red Cross, Medina Area Association of Churches and the Medina Sandstone Society.
“Each day is a gift, each day is a blessing,” Blackburn said. “Make it count.”
John McElwain, Class of 1959
After high school, McElwain served four years in the Navy. He returned to Medina and was active in numerous community causes. For 20 years, the electrician by trade designed and installed the lights for the Christmas displays at State Street Park, creating the nativity scene and electric candle advent wreath.
McElwain was 70 when he died on March 8, 2012.
He was very active with the Lion’s Club, served as past president and promoted a Lions Vision Screening Program at Medina schools and other districts in Orleans County.
He volunteered as a “Big Brother” in the Special Friends program through the Orleans-Genesee Minsitry of Concern, was recognized as a “Best Friend” by The Arc of Orleans County for his service at Camp Rainbow, and was a Boy Scout leader for many years.
“He was very active with kids,” his cousin Russ Martino said. “He was very down-to-earth and lovable.”
Dr. Susan Hagood, Class of 1975
Hagood completed her undergraduate studies at Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., and did graduate work at Louisiana State University. She received her Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Maryland at College Park in 2009. She dedicated the last 20 years of her professional career to the Humane Society of the United States.
During her career with the Humane Society, she worked with predatory control, wild horses and animal preservation funding efforts. She researched the effects of human-wildlife conflict, particularly with development and transportation.
Hagood was 54 when she died of cancer Nov. 8, 2011, at her home in Hanover, Pa. with her husband of 28 years, Jerry Boxman, at her side.
Each honoree will have a plaque in their honor on the “Alumni Hall” by the cafeteria.
“What they have in common is that they all began their paths to success at Medina High School,” Kruzynski said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – These Little People were part of a feature on Fisher-Price toys during a discussion and display by the Medina Historical Society last month at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.
The Little People were finalists for the Toy Hall of Fame at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester. But the locally made toys didn’t make the final cut. The new inductees include Bubbles, little green army men and Rubik’s Cube.
Little People were among 12 finalists for the Hall of Fame. Fisher-Price operated in Medina from 1970 to the late 1990s. I think the Little People are the first Fisher-Price toys to be in the running for the Toy Hall of Fame.
