Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

MEDINA – A Medina teenager who suffers from autism and a bi-polar disorder was located and returned home safely last night after being missing for close to an hour.

Deputies were called by the boy’s family after he wandered off into a wooded area that’s part of a 100-acre parcel of land in the Town of Ridgeway.

Environmental Conservation Law Enforcement joined the search as well as firefighters from Ridgeway, Albion and Lyndonville.

Deputy T.C. Marano and the boy’s father located the youth at around 6:40 p.m. He was uninjured and returned home without further incident.

MEDINA – The handgun recovered behind a corner store wasn’t related to gunshot fired in Medina at about 11 a.m. on Friday, Medina Police Chief Jose Avila said.

The single shot came from rifle. The gunman fired at two people who fled on foot across South Main Street near Oak Orchard Street. Avila said a verbal altercation started on Church Street and moved to near the corner of South Main and Oak Orchard streets.

The two people who fled on foot weren’t hit but the gunshot, but it came within about a foot of a neighbor working in her garden.

While investigating the crime, police found a handgun in a plastic bag hidden in a bush behind MB’s General Store and Deli.

Avila said the investigation continues in Friday’s altercation and gun shot.

Medina woman arrested for drug charges after search

MEDINA – Law enforcement officers are continuing to investigate a shot fired in the village at about 11 a.m. on Friday. No one has been arrested for firing a shot at two people who fled on foot after an altercation near South Main and Oak Orchard streets, Medina police said.

The two people were not hit by the bullet, but it came within about a foot of a neighbor working in her garden.

Police were told the gunman came from Church Street and they executed a search warrant at 746 Church St., the home of Erika Poole, who already faces drug charges with a case pending in county court. (Her husband Brenton Poole was sentenced to five years in state prison on June 30 for a felony drug crime.)

After the search warrant at about 5 p.m. on Friday, Mrs. Poole was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, CPCS in the fifth degree, criminal nuisance in the first degree for knowingly allowing drug activity in her home, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree, Medina police reported.

She was arraigned by Shelby Town Justice Dawn Keppler, who remanded Poole, 34, to jail on $100,000 bail.

Medina police are continuing the investigation with assistance from the State Police and Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Emmeritt Massey sits in a chair in front of her garden on South Main Street this afternoon after a bullet just missed her earlier today while she was tending to her flowers and vegetables.

MEDINA – Two men ran across South Main Street at about 11:30 this morning and then someone fired a shot at them, according to a witness.

Emmeritt Massey was working in her garden and she saw the commotion. Two men, one wearing red shorts and the other jeans, ran across the street and through her garden. A bullet was then fired and punctured a plastic lawn chair, only a foot away from her.

“I’m still shaking,” Massey said at about 3:30 today.

Several of her friends were there to comfort her. Massey has lived in Medina for 20 years and said she has never heard gun shots.

Several police agencies have been in Medina since the incident. A handgun was found behind MB’s General Store and Deli at the corner of South Main and East Oak Orchard streets.

Police officers say a handgun was found behind MB’s General Store and Deli this afternoon.

Residents who live next to the convenience store also heard a “pop.” They assumed it was firecrackers left over from the Fourth of July.

The couple, which requested their names not be used, were surprised to learn it was a gun shot. They said their street on East Oak Orchard has a lot of foot traffic, “but everybody is usually friendly.” They let their grandchildren play on the lawn.

“This is a real quiet place,” the husband said. “Nothing like this ever happens.”

One of the investigators at the scene said police will try to find out if local residents or out-of-towners are involved, and why was the gunman firing at the two.

MEDINA – The downtown business community was pushing to become a “Main Street” program affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation but that effort is now on hold due to the uncertainty with the village of Medina and its relationship with the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby.

“We’re still very interested in the National Trust and being a part of that program, but we want to step back right now,” said Cindy Robinson, president of the Medina Business Association.

Village officials are looking at dissolving the village government. The two towns would assume many of the current services provided by the village, according to a dissolution plan. Some functions could also be managed by local development corporations and special taxing districts. (Robinson was a member of the Dissolution Committee that endorsed a plan should village residents support a dissolution.)

If Medina became a Main Street community, it should have a paid director, according to National Trust recommendations. The village and two towns were asked to help fund that position, with other donations coming from businesses and the community.

Having the designation and affiliation would boost the community’s chances for grants to help with building upgrades and other community initiatives, Robinson said.

However, the MBA can still push for grant funding through Chamber of Commerce. The MBA is under the Chamber’s auspices, and the Chamber is a 501c6 organization, eligible to receive grants, Robinson said.

The Western Erie Canal Alliance had approached Medina about pursuing the Main Street designation, partly because Medina has been successful filling its storefronts with independent merchants, and running many community events and initiatives that draw people to the downtown.

Robinson said those efforts will continue, and the MBA will try to find a way to bring grants and resources to the business community.

The group will meet 8 a.m. on Aug. 19 and will hear from Ed Flynn of Labella Associates about grant opportunities for the business district. That meeting will be at Paper Boys.

“Being part of the Main Street program would be nice and there would be a lot of prestige,” Robinson said, “but right now we’re going to find ways around it and still accomplish some of the program’s goals.”

MEDINA – Village officials could replace street lights with energy-efficient bulbs, swap out aging water meters, and install new HVAC systems in municipal buildings, about $2 million worth of projects that would more than pay for themselves in reduced energy costs.

That was the message from Wendel Energy in Buffalo. Company representatives discussed a series of projects with the Village Board on Monday.

The most costly initiative would be replacing about 2,200 water meters with new automatic read units. The new meters wouldn’t need a dedicated DPW worker to take readings. The meters, because they are new, would also give a much more accurate recording of water being used by residents and businesses, Gerald Summe of Wendel told the Village Board.

Water meters lose their effectiveness with each passing year, tracking less and less water, he said. Wendel is estimating the village would gain $159,000 in annual water revenues through more accurate meters. That revenue could be used to pay for the new meters, which would cost about $1.2 million.

That added revenue doesn’t include the benefit of freeing up the DPW worker who currently reads the meters. That employee could be assigned to other duties, Mayor Andrew Meier said.

Wendel also suggested the village replace high-intensity street lights with LED units that use far less power. Replacing the street lights would cost an estimated $425,000.

The village should also upgrade HVAC units in municipal buildings, Wendel said. The new street lights and HVAC systems would reduce the village’s energy costs by about $65,000 a year, said Keith Krug, a project manager with Wendel.

The village would likely receive NYSERDA grants to help with the energy-savings projects, he said.

Wendel projected the village would gain about $1 million in 15 years through the projects through increased water revenues and reduced energy bills. Over 25 years, Medina would see a $3.8 million net benefit, the company said.

Krug said the village should have an energy audit done of its buildings to identify the most pressing projects and ones that would yield the best return on investment. He estimated it would cost $20,000 to $30,000 for the audit, with NYSERDA helping to cover those costs.

Meier and the Village Board said they want to discuss the project further, and see a final proposal from Wendel.

“It sounds like it makes a lot of sense and holds a lot of promise,” Meier said at Monday’s meeting.

Wendel worked with Orleans County on about $1.5 million of energy-savings projects in 2012 and 2013, including about $1 million in work at the county jail.

Mayor, Village Board may add part-time EMTs

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department once again is pressing the Village Board to add additional full-time staff for the Fire Department, which continues to see an increase in calls.

Those calls are taxing the department’s 13 full-time firefighters who are trained in both fire and ambulance calls, captains Mike Maak and Jonathan Higgins told the board on Monday.

“We’re running bare bones,” Higgins told the board.

The increase in calls also results in higher-than budgeted revenue for the department. Maak and Higgins said that revenue should be used to help add more personnel, which would reduce overtime costs, and could lead to more calls and faster response times.

“The calls are increasing and I don’t see that changing,” Maak told the Village Board.

As of Monday, Medina FD responded to 1,535 calls in 2014, which was up from 1,420 a year ago at the same time, Maak said.

When Medina voted to start the full-time ambulance service in 2007, fire department leaders anticipated anywhere from 1,500 to 1,700 calls for the entire year. The department exceeded that, pushing 1,800 to 1,900 calls in its first year.

In 2012, the Medina FD handled 2,209 ambulance calls and 311 fire calls for 2,520 total, the most ever for the department – until 2013 when it responded to 2,755 calls.

Village Board members want to add staffing for the department to help with the workload, but they aren’t convinced full-time staff is the best choice. Mayor Andrew Meier said the call volumes could drop, and so could the revenue. He doesn’t want village taxpayers to see a jolt in their taxes to help pay for more full-time staff.

He would like the FD to supplement the full-time staff with part-time emergency medical technicians. The EMTs would have regularly scheduled shifts. They wouldn’t respond to fire calls.

“I want as much extra help as you need,” Meier said. “We just need a cost-effective plan.”

Higgins and Maak said it would be difficult to find reliable part-time EMTs. The firefighters’ contract also gives the full-time personnel the first choice for any overtime before the village would turn to part-time staff, Higgins said.

An additional full-time firefighter would cost the village $45,000 to $71,000 a year for salary and benefits. Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich submitted a written report, saying an additional firefighter would reduce overtime by $7,000 to $15,000. Two additional firefighters from the current staff of 13 could cut overtime by $25,000, he said.

The department’s call volume is resulting in revenues that are on pace to exceed the 2014 budget by about $100,000, Higgins and Maak said. The department’s budget could accommodate the added staff without an increase in taxes to the village, they said.

“This would be a wash,” Higgins said.

Meier, however, wants more assurances for the long-term. The board will continue to look at the issue and see if the firefighter contract can accommodate regularly scheduled EMTs.

The department is the primary responder for ambulance calls in western Orleans, and also goes to many calls in Albion and Niagara County. Maak said the village should approach the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates about a contribution for the ambulance service, perhaps $10,000 a year from each town. That would help with the staffing, and help ensure there are enough personnel for calls in western Orleans and also for the many hospital transfers.

Maak said Medina firefighters often have an ambulance tied up for about two hours while they transfer patients from Medina Memorial Hospital to sites in Buffalo and Rochester.

The Fire Department has been asking for added staff for the past three years. When the ambulance service started in 2007, a consultant forecast $600,000 in revenue from the service. The village has budgeted $1 million in revenue for 2014-15, but is on pace to reach $1.1 million.

Higgins was clearly frustrated at Monday’s meeting, saying the 13 firefighters are exceeding expectations.

“You told us before to come up with money and we did,” Higgins said.

Provided photo

MEDINA – The Sons of the American Legion in Medina donated $500 recently towards a replacement van for veterans. The Sons have given about $2,000 towards vans that are used to transport veterans to appointments at VA health care sites.

The latest replacement van was recently put into service by the Joint Veterans Council Medical Transport service. Pictured, from left, include: Greg Stanton of Stanton Signs, who designed and installed the graphics for the van; and Sons of the American Legion members Treasurer Wayne Hale, Commander Chuck Eaton and First Vice Commander Guy Eaton.

The Sons of the American Legion group is associated with the Butts-Clark Post 204 in Medina. The Sons are not Legion members because they have not served in the military. However, they have had a relative that has served in the military and who has been a member of the American Legion.

“We help the Legion anyway we can,” said Sons Commander Chuck Eaton.

That includes helping with the Legion’s fundraisers and donating to the many causes that the Legion embraces.

“This is the third time that we have donated to the Joint Veterans’ Council for the van service,” Eaton said. “We do all we can.”

Provided photos by Walt Disney Company – Students at the Dance Theater in Medina perform July 3 on the Waterside Stage in Downtown Disney in Orlando, Fla.

MEDINA – A group of 20 dancers from Dance Theater in Medina performed before several thousand people on July 3 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

The Medina dancers performed eight upbeat dance numbers including, “Singing in the Rain.” The group performed on a professional stage with professional sound and lighting.

“It was an amazing experience for the kids,” said Brandon Johnson who teaches the students with assistance from Amy Johnson. “It was very exciting and thrilling, not only for me but for my dancers.”

The Medina group spent July 3 in the Disney Performing Arts Program. The next day they watched the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom.

Johnson said Disney performing arts personnel praised the Medina dancers for their choreography, spacing and ability to keep the show moving.

Johnson has watched them do the routines hundreds of times. They were at their best in Florida.

“I’ve never seen them perform so well as they did at Disney,” Johnson said this afternoon. “It was a proud moment for me.”

The Medina dancers travelled about 1,200 miles for the half hour performance. They were able to put on their makeup in Disney’s dressing rooms and were treated like cast members, Johnson said.

Dance Theater has competed at national events at Atlantic City; Hershey, Pa; and Wildwood, NJ. They have brought home national titles through StarQuest and DanceXplosion. This was their first time at Disney.

They performed in three age levels: minis at 7 to 9 years old, juniors at 9 to 12, and seniors at 13 to 17.

MEDINA – In January Chris Keller stepped in as president of the Board of Education after Carol Heiligenthaler resigned from the position due to increasing job responsibilities as the business administrator at Barker Central School.

Keller impressed his colleagues on the board in the past six months. Last week they supported him for a full year as board president in 2014-15.

The board also elected David Sevenski as vice president. Keller, a teacher at Albion, served in that role until he became president of the BOE in January.

The board also welcomed a new member during its organizational meeting last week. Renee Paser-Paull was elected to a one-year position in May. She fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Rosalind Lind.

Provided photo – Habitat for Humanity put new steps on this house on South Main Street in Medina.

MEDINA – An agency that has built 12 houses and done major rehabs on two others in Orleans County is starting a new program that focuses on smaller repairs.

Orleans Habitat for Humanity has launched “A Brush With Kindness” program this week with the construction of a new set of outdoor stairs for a home on South Main Street in the Village of Medina.

“These will be shorter-term projects,” said Barbara Filipak, a board member for Habitat.

The agency started in Orleans in 1992. It could use more volunteers, Filipak said.

The smaller projects, such as repairing windows and steps and painting, can be completed in a few days, making it less onerous for the volunteers.

The agency is still committed to building a new house or doing a major rehab at least once every three years, she said. Habitat typically will select a family first, and then work on building them a home. The family assumes the taxes and insurances, and pays back Habitat an interest-free mortgage.

With the first “Kindness” project on South Main Street, Young Enterprises partnered with Habitat to re-roof the garage and repair fascia on the front porch of the same residence.

The “A Brush With Kindness” program works with financially qualified homeowners in need of minor to moderate exterior repairs to their home or yard. The repairs may then allow the homeowner to meet code, insurance or safety requirements, Filipak said.

Financial responsibilities of the homeowner are reviewed by the Family Selection Committee and approved by the organization’s Board of Directors.

Orleans Habitat may be contacted at 585-798-0953 or by letter at Orleans Habitat for Humanity, Inc., P.O. Box 288, Medina, NY 14103. The agency has an office at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Medina.

MEDINA – The Village Planning Board will review a proposal for the first winery in downtown Medina.

The proposal for 810 Meadworks is actually a meadery, which uses honey in producing wine.

Larissa and Bryan DeGraw and their friend Morris Babcock are working to establish 810 Meadworks at 113 West Center St., Suite 1. That spot was most recently used for barbershop next to the Shirt Factory Café in the R.H. Newell building.

The Village Planning Board accepted the site plan as complete for the project during its meeting last week. Now the plan will go before the Orleans County Planning Board at 7 p.m. on July 24 and will be back before the Village Planning Board for a public hearing at 7:05 p.m. on Aug. 5.

The board will take residents’ comments on the proposal and could vote that night whether to approve the site plan and a certificate of appropriateness for the project in the downtown historic district.

The Village Board last month voted to update the zoning in the downtown and business districts, making it easier for wineries to open in Medina.

The DeGraws and Babcock want to have 810 Meadworks open in late November, in time for Medina’s holiday events.

“We really appreciate a small town that embraces its history,” Mr. DeGraw told Orleans Hub in May. “And from a business standpoint, Medina is in the center of the Niagara Wine Trail. That is an absolutely great place to be.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – A “One Medina” sign is displayed along West Center Street. The campaign seeks to dissolve the village of Medina and merge the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway into one town.

MEDINA – Mayor Andrew Meier is refuting claims from the Ridgeway town supervisor that village tax dollars have been used for the “One Medina” campaign.

Brian Napoli, the town supervisor, criticized Meier in a chain email for not telling the truth about the funding for One Medina “after bragging that it is privately funded without taxpayer money.”

Meier has been critical of Ridgeway and Shelby for hiring a PR consultant and attorney to oppose a dissolution plan being considered by the village. He said the village hasn’t spent money on “One Medina.”

“Absolutely no taxpayer dollars have been spent on One Medina projects,” Meier said in a mass email to village and town officials, as well as to local reporters. “It is a private group that has no affiliation with the village whatsoever.”

Meier sent the first email on Friday to village and town officials, as well as the reporters. He is trying to set up a meeting among the village and two towns to discuss shared services, consolidation and possibly dissolution. Napoli said he wants dissolution off the agenda.

Village Trustee Michael Sidari has asked Meier and the other officials to remove reporters from the emails. But Meier, in an email this morning, wants reporters to stay in the loop.

“This is a very important policy discussion, and the people deserve access to the substance of our communications,” Meier said. “Inclusion of the press promotes transparency and is wholly appropriate.”