By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 December 2014 at 12:00 am
World Life Institute runs program serving 400-plus
Photos by Tom Rivers – Ibrahim Shakoor helps sorts food that would be given away this morning by the World Life Institute, which is based in Waterport.
MEDINA – Medina area residents, many of them senior citizens on fixed incomes, started lining up at 8:30 this morning outside the Old Mill Run Restaurant on Route 63. Some of them would stand for more than 2 hours, waiting for the food from Foodlink to be set up on tables by volunteers and given away.
Many of the people walked from nearby Ricky Place, pushing small carts. Others carried bags and boxes.
For more than a year, the World Life Institute has worked with Foodlink on the food giveaway. About 200 people come for the food the first and third Saturdays of the month. A Foodlink truck arrives with the food, and about 15 to 20 volunteers then break the boxes of food into smaller containers.
A crowd gathers in the parking lot at the Old Mill Run Restaurant in Medina in this photo looking under a Foodlink truck.
Another 200 to 400 people who aren’t in the line also usually receive some of the food. Family and friends in line will take it to them, or some of the WLI volunteers will deliver it.
The effort started in November 2013. Bilal Huzair, owner of the Old Mill Run and a WLI member, was willing to use his restaurant and parking lot as a distribution point.
“We didn’t have an expectation,” Huzair said this morning. “We just knew there was a need.”
Bilal Huzair stacks up some frozen pizzas.
Some of the people in line were younger adults, struggling to get a job. Others had jobs that didn’t pay enough to cover all of their bills. The first people in line were senior citizens.
Several said they are on fixed incomes and have seen their medical costs rise with healthcare and prescriptions. One woman has a husband with cancer. She sought assistance through social services but was denied.
“They said I make $2 too much,” she said.
Harris Lieberman, left, and Jacob Zimmerman help set up a table with fruits and vegetables.
One man stood in the parking lot for more than two hours, with the outside temperature in the mid 20s.
“When you’re a senior and on Social Security, you either eat or take your medicine,” he said. “I’m here because every little bit helps.”
An anonymous donor has been paying Foodlink for the food that is given out with help from the World Life Institute.
“These are people who genuinely need things,” Huzair said.
Ali Carter from the World Life Institute helps unpack the food this morning.
Marie Scott also volunteers helping to get the food ready.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Firefighters delivered boxes of toys, food and clothes to about 100 Medina families and senior citizens this morning. The delivery was the last step in annual toy and gift effort coordinated by the Medina Area Association of Churches.
In the top photo, Medina firefighters, including Guy Scribner (center), load a truck with boxes that would then be distributed in the community.
Don Marchner, lower left, has been helping deliver the boxes of toys the past 45 years. Marchner, a member of the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, said firefighters look forward to the delivery each year.
“We’re helping people that need it,” he said. “It’s just giving back to the community.”
Mike Kelly (with box in center) is president of the Ridgeway Fire Company. Firefighters from Ridgeway, Shelby, East Shelby and Medina all helped deliver the boxes to families and senior citizens this morning.
“For us, we’re usually going to house fires or EMS calls,” Kelly said. “Today we get to bring joy to the families.”
Paul Wengrzycki, a Medina firefighter, carries a box with toys and food to a truck this morning. He has helped deliver the holiday boxes the past 11 years. He works as a school bus driver and he said he sees the need in the community.
“It’s tough for a lot of families,” Wengrzycki said. “They don’t have money to go out and buy stuff for Christmas.”
The MAAC includes 16 local churches. They put out 29 barrels and residents filled them with toys, food, clothing and other donations. Volunteers spent much of the week sorting the donations and putting them in boxes for the families and senior citizens.
Ridgeway firefighter Rick Tuohey, in back, follows a line of fireifghters in loading up a truck with holiday boxes. The Medina United Methodist Church at the former Apple Grove Inn served as the staging area for the MAAC holiday initiative.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – George Bidleman, owner of Orleans Ford, donated a Ford Expedition for the K-9 unit at the Medina Police Department. Bidleman, left, is pictured with Kye the K-9, Sgt. Todd Draper and Medina Police Chief Jose Avila.
MEDINA – Sgt. Todd Draper and K-9 Kye today are moving from a Crown Victoria police car with 181,000 miles to a Ford Expedition with less than half that mileage.
The dog will have more room in the Ford Expedition, a donation made possible by George Bidleman, owner of Orleans Ford. Bidleman spent about $15,000 buying the vehicle, having it repainted from white to black and white, decaled and upgraded with new tires and brakes.
It may be the biggest donation in the police department’s history. Bidleman has worked in Medina for 27 years. He said police have always been responsive for his business. Orleans Ford has little vandalism or other problems, and Bidleman credited the police presence for helping the car dealership.
“They do a great job and they’re somewhat underappreciated in Orleans County,” Bidleman said about the Medina Police Department.
Bidleman said he spent about $15,000 to purchase the vehicle, have it repainted, decaled, and upgraded with new brake and tires.
The police department has had a K-9 team since the fall of 2012 when Kye, a Belgian Malinois, joined the department, working with handler Sgt. Todd Draper. The Medina Business Association paid for the dog, and Tops and Tractor Supply pay for the dog’s food.
“It wouldn’t be possible without the Business Association,” Medina Police Chief Jose Avila said.
He praised Bidleman for the generous donation.
“He realizes money is tight and he wants to help us provide a valuable tool like Kye,” Avila said.
The dog has proven valuable to the department for narcotics detection, tracking and patrol, Draper said.
Kye is very social and easily connects with children and others in the community. Draper brings the dog to preschools, basketball games, senior centers, churches and other community events.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kye, the Medina Police K-9 dog, makes some new friends at a Medina boys basketball game last January at Medina High School. Kye is a Belgian Malinois that works each day with his partner/handler Sgt. Todd Draper.
“The dog helps us bridge the gap, especially with children,” Avila said. “We’re not just here to arrest people, but to help people.”
Draper brings the dog home with him and spends a lot of hours off the clock working with the dog, Avila said.
Draper sees how the dog draws in people while he’s out in the community. Kye also calms down situations where there could be fighting or other tension.
Draper hands out cards with Kye’s photo and some information about the dog’s background and skills. He jokes that he is “just the guy on the end of the leash.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – There will soon be about 250 signs out in Medina, urging village residents not to support dissolving the village government on Jan. 20. This sign is on East Center Street.
MEDINA – Dissolution opponents are stepping up their efforts to sway village residents not to support a dissolution vote on Jan. 20, saying the village will lose critical services and won’t see promised tax savings.
About 20 people, many of them village employees, met to distribute yard signs and talk strategy on Tuesday night at the Knights of Columbus. The group said they expect to soon have 250 signs out against dissolution.
They will be going door to door, and may put out a mass mailer.
Cindy Troy, president of the CSEA union for Orleans County employees, was at the meeting in Medina. She wants to see the village government stay intact.
“You can lose the things that make you identifiable as a community,” she said. “The Village of Medina could lose control over things they hold dear. They have a density of population. They have needs the people in the country do not.”
She worries if the dissolution goes through, other local villages will follow.
“We as a whole community need to be concerned about this,” she said about the dissolution vote. “Medina won’t be the last to look at it.”
A second anti-dissolution sign also has been put out.
A dissolution plan put together by a committee with help of a consultant suggested many of the village services be taken over the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway. The committee also proposed a new debt district, two lighting districts, a water/sewer local development corporation, and a new fire district. Ridgeway would take over a town police force that would be contracted to include Shelby, according to the committee’s report.
Mike Maak, a Medina firefighter, said there is no guarantee the town officials would put that plan in place. He is among the dissolution opponents.
The dissolution plan sees $277,000 in cost savings and $541,000 in additional state aid for $818,000 in overall benefit. But with combined budgets of more than $10 million, the $277,000 is seen as a small amount in operational savings.
Village Trustees Mike Sidari and Marguerite Sherman both oppose the dissolution. Sidari is running a Facebook page – “Medina, This Village Matters.” Sidari also is helping to get anti-dissolution signs to residents. He said some of the signs have been stolen or damaged.
Sidari and Maak both would like to see the village push for other revenue without disrupting the village government and services. They want to see Medina press for more state aid and county sales tax dollars. Maak said the village should work to become a city, which would significantly boost its state aid and also spare village residents from paying town taxes.
The state hasn’t allowed a new city since the 1950s. Medina Mayor Andrew Meier sees little chance in the state approving Medina as a city, and the county has shown no openness to giving more local sales tax to villages.
Dissolution is one way to secure more state aid, and also run a more efficient local government, said Meier, who is part of the “One Medina” group that would ultimately like to see the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway merge into one town – “Medina.”
“One Medina” has had many signs out for months. The group also has a Facebook page with Dean Bellack and Meier fielding questions from the community, and trying to provide them with answers.
Meier sees dissolution as a way for village residents to shape their destination, without pleading for aid from the county and state, assistance that Meier thinks is unlikely to materialize if the village government remains. The state is providing incentives for dissolution, but gives very little to villages for “Aid and Incentives to Municipalities.” Most villages get less than $10 per person in AIM funding, while the state gives most cities at least $100 per person.
Maak thinks the county and state could be swayed to share revenue with the village.
“We haven’t tried,” he said about that effort. “With dissolution, we’re cutting our nose off to spite our face.”
Owen Toale, a former village trustee, believes the village and towns of Shelby and Ridgeway could reach sizable tax savings by sharing services and consolidating services. He faulted the village for setting a dissolution vote while there was still the prospect of shared services for the trio of municipalities.
“One Medina pushed for the vote while they were still in the middle of the (shared services) process,” Toale said. “That to me is poor.”
He is helping to get out the anti-dissolution signs.
“I’m interested in helping my village,” said Toale, a retired newspaper publisher.
Many village residents have been called in the past two weeks by PAF Opinion Research in Albany. The firm asks a series of questions about dissolution, seeking residents’ opinions.
Meier and “One Medina” say PAF makes many misleading statements. The firm, in a taped phone call to a local resident, says it was hired by “one of the larger unions in the state.” CSEA has denied hiring the firm. Orleans Hub hasn’t been able to verify who hired the firm.
In phone calls to village residents, PAF tells villagers that they will lose their local police. The service might be picked up by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, but response times will more than double. PAF attributes that claim to Meier.
The mayor said he never said that. He was on the Dissolution Committee that recommends a town-wide police force.
PAF makes a number of claims about the future of the village in a dissolution goes forward. The firm tells villagers there won’t be any tax savings if the village government dissolves.
“In villages that voted to dissolve themselves, the promised property tax savings never happened,” a survey worker told a village resident in a phone call. “Does hearing this make you lean against dissolving Medina or for dissolving Medina?”
A CSEA representative said the union didn’t put out the phone messages. However, the union said it knows about the phone calls and sees them as a way to gauge public opinion, and not influence village residents with their vote.
Meier has decried the calls as “push polling,” an attempt to intimidate and confuse residents into voting against dissolution.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Orchard Manor, a 160-bed nursing home and rehabilitation site on Bates Road, celebrated an expanded rehab site on Tuesday.
Orchard Manor knocked out walls from next-door office rooms and enlarged the area for rehabilitation services. The expanded space also has new equipment for physical therapy and exercise.
Joining in for the ribbon-cutting include, from left: Kathy Blackburn, executive director of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce; Greg Forsey, chief operating officer for Global Health Care (owner of Orchard Manor); Randi Scholes, clinical liaison; David Denny, Orchard Manor administrator; Medina Mayor Andrew Meier; Jamal Hussain, rehab director; Benjamin Addura, regional director of rehab; and Heidi Smith, director of nursing.
Orchard Manor has about 40 of its 160 beds in a dedicated rehab unit where people usually stay for a short time and receive services to come back from a broken hip, stroke or other injury.
“The main reason we did this is to help people get better so they can go home,” said Heidi Smith, the director of nursing.
David Denny, Orchard Manor administrator, thanked the staff and community for embracing the recent changes at Orchard Manor.
Orchard Manor about two years ago was sold by Medina Memorial Hospital to Global Health Care.
Besides the expanded rehab unit, Global has switched the site to electronic health records, added touch-screen kiosks for staff to report care provided and the status of residents, redone the lobby and hallways, and added new equipment.
Medina Mayor Andrew Meier addressed a crowd of more than 100 people at the celebration on Tuesday. He praised Global and the Orchard Manor leadership for the many improvements at the site.
“This is indeed a community asset providing services to the elderly and people who need services,” Meier told the crowd. “This institution has become a greater asset since you’ve taken over.”
Meier told the group Orchard Manor has a special place for his family. His father and grandmother both received care at Orchard Manor.
Santa Claus stopped in for the celebration at Orchard Manor. He is pictured with Macenzie Sword of Medina. Her mother Corina Sword works as a certified nursing assistant in training at Orchard Manor.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Volunteers will be busy this week sorting presents for families and senior citizens in the Medina Central School District.
In the top photo, Sue Metzo (left) and Sylvia Riviere are pictured inside the Medina United Methodist Church at the former Apple Grove Inn, which has become the headquarters for the annual present sorting. The two are members of the Medina Area Association of Churches.
Metzo is president of MAAC and Riviere is serving as chairwoman of the toy and gift initiative. MAAC for at least 30 years has coordinated gift donations from the community, matching those gifts with local families and senior citizens.
MAAC and Medina firefighters placed 29 barrels in the community at churches, businesses, schools and the library. On Monday, firefighters collected the barrels – some overflowing with gifts – and delivered hem to the church where the gifts were sorted by age group.
The number of families that signed up is down this year, from 149 in 2013 to 82 this year. Metzo said there will be extra gifts and then will be shared with Community Action, which manages a gift-giving program for central and eastern Orleans County.
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.
“A lot of the people are who we call the ‘Working Wounded,'” said Metzo, a member of the First Presbyterian Church. “They’re working they just aren’t making enough.”
Metzo said many of the recipients of the presents have their extra cash drained with unexpected medical bills, or furnace and car repairs.
The community comes through with the donations. Metzo said the generosity inspires the 30 core volunteers who will work this week sorting the gifts and preparing them for Saturday’s delivery. Firefighters from East Shelby, Medina, Ridgeway and Shelby will deliver the toys and gifts on Saturday morning.
“It’s overwhelming to see the contributions and the peoples’ giving,” said Gerry Grimes, the retired pastor at Faith Covenant Fellowship, one of 16 churches in the MAAC.
Chad Wirth, pastor at Faith Covenant Fellowship, arranges coloring and activity books.
Grimes was volunteering today in organizing the presents by age group. Faith Covenant filled a barrel and then some with presents.
Chad Wirth, the church’s new pastor, challenged the congregation to be generous with the MAAC toy campaign.
“Jesus Christ took care of the orphans and the widows, meeting their physical needs first,” Wirth said. “God is love, and one of the greatest ways to show love is to help people.”
In addition to the gifts for families, about 50 senior shut-ins will receive poinsettias and fruit baskets.
Metzo and Riviere thanked the community for contributing to the effort again this year.
“The people of Medina have supported this ministry for years,” Metzo said. “The people are awesome. We can’t thank them enough.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Judith Villavisanis takes a break from painting to pose with a new entrance leading to the children’s section. The library is having the entrance resemble a giant book.The portals in the book cover are spots for people to place books. The pig is Wilbur from Charlotte’s Web.
MEDINA – Winnie the Pooh, Wilbur from Charlotte’s Web, fairies, elves and other characters are all taking shape in a new entrance leading to the children’s section at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.
Artist Judith Villavisanis has been working on the project for about three weeks. She is painting book sides of a book-shaped entrance. The cover faces the children’s section. The front or the pages in the book includes illustrations and famous characters from children’s literature, including Winnie the Pooh.
Some details from the front of the entrance, which resemble illustrations on a page.
Villavisanis, a former Albion resident who now lives in Florida, also wrote a poem and those words will be painted on the book pages. She submitted her proposal after reading an artilce in August on the Orleans Hub, where the library sought artist submissions.
The project has sparked lots of questions and interest from library patrons. Many stop and chat with the artist, and each passing day more details emerge. Villavisanis is hoping to have the project completed by this Sunday.
Villavisanis needs to add the text from a poem she wrote. She is doing the illustrations first and will then add the words from this poem:
All you wishers and dreamers,
pretenders and schemers,
Come in!
Pass through this portal
to enchanted forests
With fairies and
elves aplenty.
Or musical waters
where mermaids play
and treasures are
so many
Please do come in!
Walk through this book
and sail to worlds you have never been.
Come in!
This door will transport
you to towers of learning,
bending space and time.
Discover the moon and
stars and how they
all align.
Come in!
Magic awaits you
The Adventures are
Many, not costing a penny.
It can only begin
When you
Come in!
Villavisanis works on an illustration for the art project. Library Director Catherine Cooper is pleased with project and the public’s reaction.
“It’s a public piece of art,” Cooper said. “Everyone walks over and makes a comment. The creation of this will be part of people’s memory.”
Cooper said the project is part of interior renovations at the library, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016.
Photos by Peggy Barringer – Robert Guzik, center, fills a Red Kettle with an estimated $200 donation this afternoon. He is joined by Tim Brigham, Tops store manager, and Dar Bowman, the Tops customer service manager.
By Peggy Barringer
MEDINA – Robert (Bobby) Guzik has been saving his change all year to donate to the Red Kettle at Tops in Medina. Guzik, 24, of Medina has been blind since birth. He has made a big donation to the Red Kettle in annual tradition for about five years.
“I want to help people,” Bobby said this afternoon. “I’ve seen people having trouble, and I want to help make some people’s lives easier.”
Bobby came in to make the donation with his sister Lois and his grandmother, Gracie, who is a frequent shopper and well known at Tops. They did not exactly how much was in the small backpack and quart jar filled with coins. Customer service manager, Dar Bowman, estimated there was “about $200.”
Gracie said she was happy her grandson was putting the money in the Red Kettle. She won’t have to count the pennies and put them in sleeves. She said Bobby learned from his grandfather to be kind.
Bobby Guzik gets ready to fill the Red Kettle with some asisstance from Tops store officials.
“I’m glad to be helping people,” Bobby said. “I live the life that I do even though I’m blind.”
Ronnie Barhite is coordinator for the Red Kettle in Medina. Proceeds from the drive go to Community Action programs in Orleans County.
“The money stays in Orleans County and goes to various organizations used to help keep people in their homes, and with food, medicine, and utilities,” Barhite said.
Bobby has lived in Medina all his life and went to public school. He graduated from Medina High School with honors. He went on to graduate from Genesee Community College in 2012, earning two degrees in Computer Support & Operations and Computer Systems and Network Technology. He volunteers at GCC’s radio station, WGCC, helping with “technical stuff.”
He said the radio station received all new equipment last week and he has been helping to set everything up. He also fixes computers. He is currently looking for employment.
Orleans Hub and The Daily News of Batavia were both there when Bobby made his donation today.
“My friends will be happy to see me in the paper,” Bobby said.
A generous Secret Santa sweetened the pot with a $100 bill.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Medina National Honor Society members Aaron Feltz, left, and Jason Hellwig raised money for the annual Red Kettle Drive this evening at the Tops store in Medina.
The National Honor Society makes big commitment to the Red Kettle, volunteering in shifts from 3 to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays. They started on Monday and will commit to 2 ½ weeks at the Red Kettle, with their final day on Dec. 23.
“They do a great job,” said Ronnie Barhite, the Red Kettle coordinator for Medina. “The kids are nice and friendly.”
Medina National Honor Society students Jenna Kickbush, left, and Amanda McCauley were joined in ringing the bell for the Salvation Army kettle this evening by student Shane Freeman, center. Shane was there to work towards a 10-hour community service requirement to graduate. All Medina students need to fulfill at least 10 hours of community service to graduate.
Having those 5 ½ hours covered each weekday also gives Barhite peace of mind knowing the kettle is being run by energetic bell ringers.
Feltz, NHS treasurer, said he has more success getting donations by making eye contact and greeting the shoppers.
Hellwig, the NHS president, tries to engage people in conversation.
“We’ve got to know a lot of people out in the community,” he said.
The Red Kettle Drive in Orleans County benefits Community Action. The agency hopes to raise about $25,000 through the drive.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2014 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – The Village Board has set Jan. 12 for two public hearings, one to establish a 15-minute parking space by Napa Auto Parts and the other to establish regulations for temporary storage shelters.
Napa owner Craig Lacy requested two 15-minute spots by the business at 345 North Main St. The Village Board wants to try one first and see if that eases the parking problem for Napa.
The village has a 2-hour parking limit on Main Street, but village officials agree many motorists overstay that limit.
Police Chief Jose Avila said the police department asks people to move if there are complaints and they stay in one spot beyond two hours. Police officers will give tickets if motorists complain and don’t move.
The Napa spot is different than most on Main Street because the business is at the corner of Main Street and a one-lane road leading into the Canal Basin parking lot, Village Trustee Marguerite Sherman said.
She doesn’t want to create 15-minute spots all along Main Street, but she said Napa is in an unusual position at the corner of the one-lane road. The Napa spots also get used by tenants in some of the upper floor apartments.
“I support the one spot but I don’t want to open up a can of worms,” she said.
Chief Avila supports the one 15-minute spot and he said the village could always add another if needed.
Medina will have the hearing on the 15-minute spot at 5 p.m. on Jan. 12 at the Shelby Town Hall. The 15-minute spot would apply from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The village also set at 5:05 p.m. hearing on Jan. 12 for temporary storage shelters. Code Enforcement Officer Martin Busch said the temporary storage containers – Pods and shipping containers – are becoming increasingly popular.
Some of these containers stay on sites for months, resulting in deteriorating appearance in property and in complaints, Planning Board Chairman Chris Busch wrote in a letter to the Village Board.
The Planning Board has proposed regulations for temporary storage containers that establish them as portable storage units without a permanent foundation. They may include cargo containers, truck trailers, construction trailers and bulk solid waste containers.
The village is proposing a maximum of two cargo containers per site for no more than 60 days per calendar year. If homeowners suffer a fire or flood and need the container longer, they can seek a demolition or building permit with the cargo container to be removed a week after the demo or building permit expires.
The regulation proposes similar standards for portable storage containers and establishes setback requirements.
Semi-truck trailers are limited to commercial or residential sites. Construction trailers are allowed in commercial, residential and industrial sites but must be removed a week after a building permit expires or certificate of occupancy is issued.
Bulk solid waste containers are allowed for up to 45 days in a year. They must be kept at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines and at least 10 feet from front property lines, according to the proposed regulation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2014 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – The former Starlite Dry Cleaners has been vacant on Main Street in Medina since a fire damaged the building a decade ago. Environmental concerns have been a holdup in the site’s redevelopment.
MEDINA – The village is taking another step in trying to remove obstacles for redeveloping two vacant storefronts on Main Street.
The former Starlite Dry Cleaners at 331 North Main St. has been empty since a fire in the building a decade ago. Its neighbor at 333 North Main also is vacant.
Before a redevelopment can move forward, the village will need to assess the extent of any contamination at the two buildings.
Great Lakes Environmental in Buffalo said remediating the side-by-side sites, with a partial takedown, would cost $177,000.
Addressing the environmental issues is critical for the two sites to be contributing locations to Medina’s Main Street and community, said Mayor Andrew Meier. The village plans to seek state Superfund asisstance to help with the redevelopment.
Before it can get to that step, the village needs to make the buildings safe to enter for closer inspection. The Village Board on Monday hired Marks Engineering in Palmyra at a cost not to exceed $1,495 to help with that task.
“There has been interest in both parcels, but the environmental issues have been a real buzz-kill,” Meier said at Monday’s Village Board meeting.
Marks will work as consultant with the village on the project, helping to determine demolition and removal of unstable, burned-out portions of the building. The company will evaluate demolition options, evaluate subcontractors, prepare estimated contractor fees and correspond with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
“We need to determine if and what extent the contamination,” Meier said. “This will allow for the next steps.”
A previous owner stopped paying taxes at Starlite. Normally the property would then be owned by Orleans County, but the county hasn’t accepted the property due to the potential environmental liabilities.
Meier and the Village Board want to get the sites back as contributing assets for the community.
Marks will also work with the village as it deals with the DEC with potential costs for cleanup of hazardous substances and wastes at the Medina MGP site, located in the footprint of the Canal Basin parking lot west of Starlite.
The DEC has notified the village it will be expected to reimburse the state for any costs by the DEC to clean up that site. Marks will work with the village in responding with the DEC.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2014 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – The Medina sewer plant is in line for $1.2 million in upgrades whether the village government dissolves or not.
The Village Board voted on Monday to borrow $1.2 million in interest-free money from the state Environmental Facilities Corporation. The money will be paid back over 30 years from sewer users. The sewer project isn’t funded by property taxes or through the village’s general fund.
“We wouldn’t be assessing tax to support this,” Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said at Monday’s board meeting.
The sewer plant is one of the village’s economic assets, Meier said. The plant is currently underutilized. The village treats about 1 to 2 million gallons of sewage each day at the plant, which has a permitted capacity for 4.5 million gallons. The plant could handle even more, about 8 million gallons a day, he said.
The village will upgrade infrastructure and components at the site and also will boost the capacity to 10 or 11 million gallons with the $1.2 million project, Meier said.
That excess capacity could be used to attract big users in the village or the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway, he said. Village officials also are discussing providing sewer services to the Town of Alabama in Genesee County for the proposed STAMP project.
Meier sees Medina and the Route 63 corridor as ideally situated for STAMP-related businesses. Besides a close proximity to high-tech companies at STAMP – Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park – the Route 63 area is within a 30-mile radius for low-cost hydropower from the Niagara Power Project.
“This is very much a pro-economic development project,” Meier said about the upcoming sewer work. “It shows Medina is open for business.”
The village will be seeking bids for the project, which is expected to be complete in 2015.
Provided photo – Medina FFA students include, kneeling, from left: Amber Castrechino, Victoria Grimes, Lindsay Fulwell and Lillian Duffield. Standing: Devin Cleveland, Devin Eick (his eye and nose), Joe Mangiola, Deja Carter, Katie Young, Tyrellis Atkins, Kyle Allport, Olivia Jones, Keara Pitt.
Press Release
Medina Central School
MEDINA – The FFA is drawing all sorts of Medina students who are interested in agricultural science. The FFA was formerly known as the Future Farmers of America and even though a large number of the 120 students enrolled in the program did not grow up on a farm, they are interested in farming, livestock and food.
Medina High School Agriculture Education teacher Todd Eick has been in charge of the school’s FFA for the past four years.
“Thanks to a Monsanto grant for $25,000 it allowed us to build a miniature working farm, purchase a hydroponics unit, and will allow us the opportunity to install a couple community gardens,” Eick said. “We have also had a number of generous donations of livestock and machinery which has allowed the students to learn all sorts of aspects of farming. A former student has invented a seed starting machine that we have incorporated into the program. We are testing it out for him and giving him feedback. That has been pretty neat for the students and great for him since this is the age group of the farmer who will be using this in agriculture.”
The farm consists of a barn, a pasture, a rabbitry and there are hopes, thanks to the annual citrus sale fundraiser and other fundraisers, of adding chicken coops and a small medical center within the barn.
“The model farm doesn’t cost the district a cent,” Eick said. “Our intent is that it won’t and we will run this all with grants, donations and fundraising.”
The livestock consists of a calf, a goat, two sheep, two llamas and 21 Black Copper Maran chickens that are year-round residents at the farm.
Eick, his family and volunteers take care of them when school is closed and the students divide up chores during the school year.
“They are responsible for the animals, everything from feeding them, giving them their vaccinations and repairing their habitat,” Eick said. “We were recently gifted with the Black Copper Marans. They were donated earlier than expected, so the students also had to figure out how to house them and feed them. It was a great learning experience for them.”
The chickens are gourmet birds that produce chocolate brown eggs which are highly prized by chefs, so the students have been learning about breeding and selling the eggs and the chickens.
Eick says he does a survey at the beginning of the school year and asks the students what they want to focus on.
“We have a very heavy veterinarian science curriculum,” he said. “Obviously it is very hands-on with the students literally getting their hands dirty with the soil, building and animals. What is nice is that the curriculum, although relatively set, is student driven, not state driven. The students love it here and have really stepped up to the plate to get the farm in shape.”
Freshman Jack Hill says the organization is a lot of fun. “One of the reasons I like coming here is you are not just sitting at a desk. You are going outside and you are doing all sorts of cool projects.”
Charlie Ricci has been with the FFA since the 6th grade. “Everything here is agriculture based and I love that it is hands-on and not a lot of text. I am looking forward to using the hydroponics in our greenhouse to grow feed for the animals.”
When it comes to mechanics, Mr. Eick encourages the students to take either the Diesel/Agricultural Mechanics or Welding programs at Orleans/Niagara BOCES to give them other skills that will benefit them if they decide to own or work on a farm.
“Obviously I can’t teach everything, so this is a good way for them to enhance their education and save money doing their own repairs,” he said.
Many people think that the FFA is about tractors and cows, Eick said, but the Medina programfocuses on the science of agriculture and growing crops to either feed people or livestock.
“Because we are really interactive I think it is more valuable to students and they see why it is important to keep the barn clean and how to handle animals correctly,” he said. “We are fortunate to have it all right here for them,” as he points to the picturesque farm across the school parking lot.
“Even though it is small scale, it is good learning environment for them,” Eick said. “They have to think about where are the animals going to sleep, how are we going to feed them, where do you get the money to make repairs or add to the farm. It is teaching them to be self-sufficient and creative. These are skills that will translate into whatever career they decide upon.”
MEDINA – A secret group is conducting “push polling” about Medina’s village government dissolution, trying to intimidate residents to oppose dissolution, Mayor Andrew Meier said.
He issued this statement today:
“Numerous constituents have been in contact with my office about intimidating, high-pressure telemarketing calls they have been receiving. Pollsters ask leading questions about village dissolution, and refuse to say for whom the “poll” is being conducted or who is paying for it. The Village of Medina is not responsible for these calls. Residents are urged to exercise caution with respect to any and all coercive campaign tactics.”
Meier labeled the tactic a “push poll” where an individual or organization attempts to influence or alter the view of voters under the guise of conducting a poll.
The dissolution of the village government goes before village voters on Jan. 20.
Press Release, U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul’s Office
BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Rico J. Vendetti, 44, of Rochester pleaded guilty to Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) Conspiracy, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
“Similar to the storyline of a well known Charles Dickens novel, this defendant operated a sophisticated theft ring which utilized a gang of thieves to steal from numerous stores in Western New York,” Hochul said. “Unlike the fictional version, however, Vendetti relied upon adults to commit innumerable instances of shoplifting, and then turned to the internet to dispose of the merchandise. The defendant’s operation also led to the death of an elderly man who owned a comic book collection targeted for theft by Vendetti. As this prosecution demonstrates, the Office will use the full extent of federal law to bring all organized crime rings to justice.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony M. Bruce and Scott S. Allen, who are handling the case, stated that beginning in 2004 or 2005, the defendant began dealing with a number of shoplifters or “boosters” who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise from stores such as Walmart, Sears, Home Depot, JoAnn Fabrics, Tops and Wegmans.
The merchandise was sold to Vendetti for 25¢ on the dollar. The defendant then sold the merchandise on eBay for about half of its retail value, primarily to out-of-state customers.
Prior to July 5, 2010, the defendant learned of 78-year-old Homer Marciniak’s comic book collection, with an estimated value of $30,000, and began to plan and carry out a home invasion robbery. On July 5, 2010, Albert Parsons, Donald Griffin, and a third individual entered Marciniak’s Medina home.
During the robbery, Marciniak’s valuable collection of collectible comic books was stolen and Marciniak was beaten. Several hours after being treated for bruises and lacerations suffered during the robbery and released from the hospital, Marciniak was readmitted to the hospital where he died of a heart attack.
Charges are pending against defendants Parsons, Griffin and Arlene Combs. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Terry Stewart was convicted of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy in connection with the case and is awaiting sentencing. Brandon Meade was convicted of conspiring to transport and transfer stolen property with an aggregate value of $5,000 in interstate commerce and is also awaiting sentencing.
The plea is the result of an investigation on the part of Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Troopers from the Troop A Major Crimes Unit of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Batavia, under the direction of Captain George Brown, Detectives from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Scott Hess, Detectives from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn, Officers from the Medina Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jose Avila and Officers from the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.
U.S. Attorney Hochul also praised the work of Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone who brought this case to the attention of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 6, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
