Medina

Lyndonville and Medina schools team up to present ‘Into the Woods’

Posted 27 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Sue Cook – The Witch (Heather Mufford) places a curse on The Baker (Cameron Morgan) and his wife (Rebekah Hoffee) so that they can’t have children.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

LYNDONVILLE – The story of a fractured fairy tale comes to the Lyndonville auditorium stage as Lyndonville and Medina schools join efforts for the third year to give students a chance to perform and shine.

Medina cut its musical program due to budget constraints after the 2010-11 school year. That left no opportunity for the student performers in drama. However, administration from the two schools agreed that coordinating efforts would be a great opportunity for students from Lyndonville and Medina.

“I work with the music teachers at Medina, primarily Lisa Roeseler, and principal Mark Kruzynski,” said Jennifer Trupo of Lyndonville. She is both the overall director and the vocal director. “They help send messages and make announcements to their students.”

Cinderella (Hannah Albone) pleads to go to the festival, but her stepsisters, Florinda (Madison Boyle) and Lucinda (Madison Holland) and her stepmother (Briana Bellan) stop her. Seated on the steps during the practice was the narrator, seventh-grader Roy John Follman.

Kristina Best, Lyndonville band director for 7th to 12th grade, is the pit conductor for the second year in a row. She said the musicians practice as much as the cast and crew do. In the background Jack (Thomas Follman) is singing.

The schools also found that declining student enrollment meant a two-school production would have a bigger and better cast, crew and orchestra. The musical for this year is “Into the Woods.”

“There’s a spin to it,” Trupo said. “It’s several fairy tales combined into one.”

A baker and his wife want to have a baby, but a witch placed a curse on them, causing them to be barren. They must lift the curse in order to have a family. The witch requires four items to be collected on the third midnight from that day. The couple must find a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold.

The items are found throughout the story with the appearance from the fairy tale characters of Jack of the tale Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Cinderella. Together, the baker and his wife attempt to get the items which are reluctant to be surrendered.

After the audition process, there would normally be call-backs to narrow down the roles for the students, but Trupo said that this year call-backs weren’t necessary and that each ended up cast in a part that was declared perfect based on individual strengths.

“The kids speak for themselves,” Trupo said. “They are very well suited for their roles.”

Cinderella’s Prince (Nate Pace) and Rapunzel’s Prince (Joseph Mangiola) sing about each of their chosen princesses and how magnificent the two women are.

The Wolf (Christian Hahn) is attempting to lure Little Red Riding Hood (Regan Stacey) into being eaten in the woods. The two perform an energetic dance number together as Red tries to escape his clutches.

Anyone who wants to participate is welcome. There was so much interest in the musical that an ensemble song was arranged to accommodate a large number of characters. Many characters that are not normally a part of this production were pulled from other “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” stories such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

The cast includes 41 students, with 14 in the crew 14, and eight students in the pit orchestra joined by music teachers. Trupo said the whole group is a good mix of Medina and Lyndonville students from seventh grade through the seniors.

The Medina students all carpooled together to rehearsal performances, as no alternative transportation is provided by the school. The rehearsals are also scheduled by Trupo as best as she can manage around the schools’ sports schedules.

Medina senior Deanna Mangiola plays Jack’s Mother. She is overbearing and insists that Jack (Thomas Follman) sell his cow Milky White (Devon Allen), his best friend in the whole world. “I had laryngitis during auditions,” Mangiola said. “Luckily, the week before we had a workshop and I got the nerves out.” She performed at the auditions anyway and was much more prepared and had a sense of confidence with her.

Senior Heather Mufford is a Lyndonville student cast in the role of The Witch. Mufford has been in theater since she was 11, and has been performing in any high school musical she possibly could, but still felt nervous when she went in for her audition.

“I went in with confidence after practicing the voice and scream of the witch,” said Mufford. She is looking to minor in theater in college. “I think I will always be doing community theater.”

Rapunzel (Jenna Brien) sings in her tower which alerts a prince to her presence.

As for the two schools working together, Mufford commented,” There is no school rivalry. I have some closer friends from Medina than Lyndonville.” She says that many of the students from both schools will meet to hang out outside of the performance season because they have bonded so well together.

The stage crew is also enthusiastic to be part of the performance. Lyndonville ninth-grader and first-time crew member Michael Busch is one of the students responsible for moving props between scenes. “I’m excited,” he said. “I was going to audition, but I was too busy the two days of auditions. I wanted to be on crew then because then I know I can still sort of be on the stage.”

Trupo is also excited that the school will have adjudicators from the Rochester Broadway Theatre League in the audience rating students on their acting, singing and dancing.

The students with the highest scores will receive Tony-style awards. The schools with the highest scores are given the opportunity to perform at the Rochester Auditorium Theatre, which is used for professional Broadway performances.

There will be three performances of “Into the Woods” this coming weekend in the Lyndonville school auditorium. On Friday and Saturday, the show will be at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, the performance will be at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available at the door. The school is located at 25 Housel Ave. in Lyndonville.

Brunner, EDA make Medina expansion official

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Company says it will create up to 35 jobs

Photo by Tom Rivers – Brunner International is planning a 48,000-square-foot addition to its complex at the corner of Route 31 and Bates Road in Medina.

(Editor’s Note: Orleans Hub previously reported on this expansion project. Today the Orleans Economic Development Agency issued a press release about the expansion.)

Press release
Orleans Economic Development Agency

MEDINA – The Orleans Economic Development Agency announced today, in conjunction with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, that they are working on a local incentives package and permitting to meet the rapid expansion needs of Brunner International.

The $10 million expansion project will add up to 35 new jobs, retain 363 local positions and include construction of a new 48,000-square foot building at Brunner’s Bates Road site.

The new structure will be connected by a breezeway to one of the company’s existing buildings. Brunner currently produces components for heavy-duty trucks and trailers. Fast-tracking the expanded operations plan is critical for Brunner to begin building and shipping products by early 2015 to meet their contractual obligations.

Brunner qualified for up to $750,000 in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits from the state in return for its proposed investment and additional job creation commitments.

“As a premier employer in Orleans County, Brunner International is a significant contributor to the local economy and it is a reflection on the region that this company has chosen to remain in Medina,” Cuomo said. “Creating jobs and growing the Upstate economy continues to be one of our administration’s top priorities. This investment strengthens the manufacturing industry in Western New York, while also securing hundreds of jobs in the region.”

The Orleans County EDA mounted an aggressive campaign to secure the expansion project for Orleans County, amidst strong interest from economic development agencies in other states. Ultimately, Brunner determined that the project would happen at the Medina facility after evaluating multiple sites out of state that would also accommodate Brunner’s strategic partners.

“We were successful in securing the Brunner International expansion in Medina due to outstanding collaboration with Empire State Development, the New York Power Authority and the Department of Environmental Conservation,” said Jim Whipple, Orleans County EDA chief executive officer.

Brunner enjoys an exceptional reputation globally, which Brunner Vice President Brad MacDonald attributes to “the talent and work ethic of Brunner’s employees and the integrity they bring to the operation.”

Provided photo – Brunner International uses automated technology for some of the manufacturing work in Medina.

He added, “We had more confidence in the strength of the talent base in Western New York, so the expansion of our Medina operations is the right choice for Brunner. Local and state officials additionally reinforced that the full scope of the expansion could be more effectively achieved in Orleans County versus other parts of the country.”

While there are still ongoing permitting matters being worked through, Whipple added, “The Town of Ridgeway and The Army Corp of Engineers have also been invaluable partners with the shared goal of working to move the permitting process forward. They understand the need to move expeditiously and made a strong commitment to accommodate Brunner’s enterprising site development time line.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, “A strong partnership between government and private industry is what led to the expansion of Brunner International in Medina. New York State’s record of successful manufacturing and technical innovation are two reasons why Brunner, as well as many other thriving businesses, are making the decision to expand their footprint in our state.”

“I salute Brunner’s leadership for making the decision to invest, expand, and create jobs at their current facility,” said State Sen. George Maziarz. “This is a great example of how low-cost, locally produced hydropower can spur investment and strengthen our local economy.”

Assemblyman Stephen Hawley stated, “The expansion of the Brunner facility is great news for the Medina community. This means more jobs in the area for families who have been struggling through the recession. This plant has already been a positive for Medina and Orleans County, and now it will be an even greater asset. I look forward to seeing this expansion through to completion.”

“Brunner International is a long-admired corporate citizen,” Ridgeway Town Supervisor Brian Napoli said. “They understand one of our greatest assets is the work ethic of the people in Orleans County and we appreciate their on-going commitment to this region.”

Hey Ridgeway and Shelby – What is your plan for the Village of Medina?

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Editorial

Town officials from Ridgeway and Shelby have come out strong in the past two weeks, blaming the village of Medina for doing a poor job of keeping residents apprised of a possible village dissolution.

The two towns have used taxpayer dollars to send out a mailer offering “facts” about the dissolution. This mailer went out right before the village election and helped elect two write-in candidates over incumbents who favored looking into dissolution.

The two towns have an ad on Orleans Hub, promoting “Cares and Concerns” hotline. Residents are encouraged to “record your questions and concerns about the proposed dissolution of the Village of Medina.”

They have two Facebook pages – “Medina Dissolution Facts”and “Dissolution Facts” – devoted to dissolution, offering to take all questions and provide answers that are not forthcoming from the village.

The towns have criticized the village for not being more public about the dissolution meetings and documents, but yet the hotline is a private line and the questions can only be seen by the towns. The Facebook pages only seem to allow public posts from the towns’ point of view. Medina Andrew Meier posted on the page but his comments were taken down. So was a story from Medina Journal-Register reporter Howard Balaban. He checked with the state, which said promised state aid for a dissolution was a sure thing, forever. That is about $650,000 in extra state aid annually to the community. The towns took down the link to Balaban’s article.

The towns owe it to the community to say who is running this page. Are the five members from each Town Board united in every comment? Or is one town official managing the site? Or is someone being paid to run the pages?

And why aren’t comments allowed to stay on the page, especially from the village mayor who is seeking to offer the village’s side of the story? The towns proclaim these sites are a forum, but they seem very one-sided, with the towns trying to control the information.

That is no way for a democracy to function, especially when people – according to the towns – are hungry for “facts” about the dissolution.

Better yet, the towns should put out their plan for what would happen with a village dissolution. Town officials have been dismissive of the entire dissolution process, saying studies are a waste of money because the two towns don’t have to follow the Dissolution Committee’s recommended plan. Well, Shelby and Ridgeway Town Boards, what exactly is your plan?

Village residents very well could vote later this year to dissolve the village, and then it will be up to the towns to plow village streets and provide some services. The Dissolution Committee has tried to come up with an orderly dissolution plan for fire, police, water, sewer and other services. Ridgeway and Shelby have only said they don’t have to follow this plan.

The towns claim the public has been left in the dark about dissolution, but the meetings have been heavily covered in local media. The Center for Governmental Research has a trove of documents on its web site about the dissolution process so far.

The village and the Dissolution Committee are planning public hearings after a dissolution plan is voted on the Dissolution Committee. The towns are blaming the committee and village for not presenting a plan that has not yet fully taken shape.

The towns are trying to undermine the village’s elected leaders, to make them appear they are running a clandestine operation.

The towns for years have paid little attention to the village, despite village residents accounting for about half the population in the two towns.

Village residents pay a $16.45 village tax rate. If you have a $70,000 house, that is a crushing tax bill for about $1,150 in June. The village residents also get hit with a town tax bill in January. The Ridgeway rate is $3.10 per $1,000 and Shelby taxes village residents at a $3.42 rate.

Village residents also pay a $23.85 rate to the school district, a $10.11 rate to the county and a $1.30 rate to the library. The combined tax burden for village of Medina residents is the highest in the Finger Lakes region.

The Village Board is trying to do something about a tax burden that overwhelms many residents, the senior citizens on fixed incomes and families trying to live in Medina.

The Town Boards owe it to the community to weigh in with solutions and ideas for reducing that tax burden. That would make for a lively Facebook page.

Medina home decorating store offers one-of-a-kind vintage options

Posted 23 March 2014 at 12:00 am

‘This is a departure from the mall culture’ – Lynne Brundage

Photos by Sue Cook – Lynne Brundage stands among the items in her shop. She said it would be impossible to describe all the items for sale in the store since there is a huge amount of variety.

By Sue Cook

MEDINA – A store that opened in August quickly outgrew that space in downtown Medina and expanded to its own store front last month.

ellen j goods was originally set up from August until December inside Rock Paper Salon, but Lynne Brundage knew the business needed to expand. Lynne and her husband JR rented a first-floor space at 433 Main Street in Medina. The store opened there on Feb. 1, the same day as Wine About Winter. ellen j goods celebrated its grand opening March 14-16.

The Brundage couple both buys and restores old, vintage items for the shop. They take items that are generally pre-1970 and repair and often repaint them.

“We have always had a passion for repurposing and redecorating. We love to give new life to something that people would normally discard,” Lynne said. “We select pieces that there’s a comfort in them. They’re not high-end antiques, but more like vintage-modern and remade items.

“We love your grandmother’s furniture,” joked JR.

The store interior was left purposely unfinished to create an urban style that complements the vintage pieces. “It feels right to let those layers of history show through,” Lynne said.

The couple chose to open their business in Medina with all the good reception they received during their initial opening inside Rock Paper.

“This area is having a renaissance,” said Lynne. “We’ve raised families here. I think it’s coming back full circle, too, back to small, hometown, independent, little businesses. We’ve had customers from Buffalo, Lancaster, Brockport, and more. We think this is an example for other communities.”

Lynne still works full time in Compliance and Incidence Management at a local agency. JR is an independent contractor. The couple hopes that their business will lead them into a sort-of retirement where they will be doing what the have always dreamed of in operating their own business.

Lynne stated that her husband has been a huge support in the process of opening her own business. “He’s brilliant,” she said. “He can do anything, and he gets it. He gets my vision. He also settles me down a lot since I have a lot of impulsiveness and creativity. He also makes my coffee every morning.”

ellen j goods is located at 433 Main Street in Medina. The sign out front was approved with its protruding element of a single white chair.

“With manufacturing and home dÃ©cor, so much of it is being done away from the U.S.” She says that especially with personal touches, the items display a unique personality and would never be found anywhere else unlike mass-produced modern furniture. “This is a departure from the mall culture.”

Lynne and JR both repurpose items, but despite their styles being similar, they are also very different. JR makes items that are more masculine and simple. Lynne is much more of a free creative. “I’m not afraid to decoupage an entire table,” she said.

JR has always been very impressed with his wife’s fearless style. “Our house always tends to be ahead of the publications. She knows what trends are before or as they are happening.”

The store name is even a play on words. It is a combination of the couple’s first initials. L and J, when said in a quick flow, turns into ellen j. Lynne put the word “goods” on the end and the store name was born. She opted to keep the name lowercase to add uniqueness and felt that it was adorable that way.

The shop space is full of antiques that have been left untouched, while other pieces have been given a modern facelift or have been paired with stylish accessories.

Lynne is currently working with Kelsie Withey and Michael Gaughn who are opening a new marketing company in the Newell building above the Shirt Factory. Lynne will provide interior decorating for the space using pieces from her store.

“We each want to do something different,” said Gaughn. “She has what we’re looking for in both directions.”

Gaughn will be setting his office up in a way that is reminiscent of a late 1920s to 1940s detective noir.

“I want something bohemian and lofty. I want it cozier, like Greenwich Village,” Withey said.

“It’s going to be fun and interesting,” Lynne said of the project, as she showed them pieces that would appropriate for each office space.

Lynne said the store also provides custom work besides just premade items available in the shop. She also plans to hold classes once her space is fully prepared for it. The classes will offer opportunities for people to learn easy things that Lynne insists anyone can do. She would like to start with a basic furniture makeover.

The store is currently open four days a week. The hours are Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. To learn more, visit their Facebook page by clicking here.

Big turnout for Lisa Husung Scholarship benefit

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – Janet Husung greets people at a scholarship benefit today in honor of her daughter Lisa. The community contributed 120 baskets of gifts that were auctioned off to raise money for a scholarship that will be given out annually at the Medina, Albion and Roy-Hart school districts.

MEDINA – A big crowd from Medina, Albion and the Roy-Hart communities turned out today for a benefit to establish a memorial scholarship for Lisa Husung.

Lisa’s family and friends worked to raise $12,000 for the scholarship, with $200 awarded annually to a graduating senior at Medina, Albion and Roy-Hart school districts. Lisa’s mother Janet believes they met their goal.

Lisa, 23, was close to earning a master’s degree at the University of Buffalo to become certified to teach reading and English as a Second Language. Her life was cut short on Jan. 2 when she died from complications from Lupus.

Lisa’s parents, Janet and Carl, thanked the community for the turnout and support for the scholarship.

“It’s phenomenal to see everyone having a good time, celebrating her life,” said Mr. Husung, a high school reading teacher at Roy-Hart. Growing up, Lisa helped her father with the AYSO soccer program both in Medina and Roy-Hart.

Lisa Husung’s brother Greg, center, joins a group on the dance floor at Medina Theatre.

Businesses and other community members donated 120 baskets that were raffled off at Medina Theatre, which was also available rent-free for the benefit. Mrs. Husung is a kindergarten teacher at Albion. Fellow teacher Patrick Holman performed a magic show and another teacher Jeff Radder volunteered to be the DJ for the benefit.

Another family friend, Dave Viterna, rocked on the stage. About 200 T-shirts were sold that said “Love for Lisa.” The shirts were designed by Lisa’s sister Sharon. The shirts were the color purple for Lupus and included the symbol for Lupus, a butterfly.

“She was so sweet and very loving,” said JoAnn Gerbig of Cazenovia. She made a 160-mile trip to be at the benefit with her husband Ben. Mrs. Gerbig was Lisa’s babysitter about two decades ago.

“When we heard about this event there was no question we’d be here,” Mrs. Gerbig said at the Medina Theatre, where more than 300 people gathered to dance, bid on baskets and celebrate Lisa’s life.

Lisa attended school at Albion until the fourth grade. She graduated eighth in her class at Medina in 2008. She was an honor student despite early struggles learning to read.

The scholarship at Albion and Medina will go to a graduating senior who needed academic intervention services, or who is an ESL speaker or a refugee. In Roy-Hart the scholarship will go to a student pursuing the teaching profession.

Albion teacher Jeff Radder volunteered as DJ at the benefit today. He had Lisa as a student in 1999-2000, his first year as a fourth-grade teacher in Albion.

Medina hosts regional Odyssey of the Mind Tourney

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – There were 23 teams at Medina today, showcasing their creativity and problem solving during a regional Odyssey of the Mind Tournament.

In the photo above, students on the Roy-Hart Middle School Team are interviewed by judges and asked to explain different pieces in their presentation about “The Not So Haunted House.” The students needed to have four special effects and a surprise ending as part of the 8-minute presentation.

The Roy-Hart team members shown include from left: Jenna Klino (with the green hair), Aaron Bacon, Jeffrey Lovewell and Will Rickard.

This was the 33^rd annual Odyssey of the Mind regional competition. Medina has hosted the event the past six years.

Teams participated at elementary, middle and high school levels. The following schools sent teams: Medina, DeSales Catholic in Lockport, Niagara Wheatfield, Lockport, Roy-Hart, West Seneca and Lancaster.

The winning teams advance to the state competition on April 12 in Binghamton.

Medina High School’s team gets ready to compete in the “The Not So Haunted House,” one of five problems teams attempted to solve on the day. Medina’s team includes, from left: Aeddon Cayea, Sarah Granchelli, Madeline Winters, Nick Bogan, Kristian Snyder and Martha Gardner.

Brunner expansion plan goes before county board next week

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2014 at 12:00 am

MEDINA – Before a Medina company can begin work on a $15 million expansion project, it will need approval for the project from the Orleans County Planning Board.

That board will meet 7 p.m. Thursday at the County Administration Building, Conference Room C, 14016 Route 31 West.

The board will review the company’s plan for a 48,125-square-foot addition that will be connected to the southeast side of the company’s current facility on Bates Road. Brunner also plans to expand its parking lot and add an access road.

The company wants to start construction soon so the addition to have the project ready for production of truck axles by Jan. 1, 2015.

Brunner International already employs 360 people in Medina and expects it will add 35 to 40 jobs as part of the expansion. The new building will go next to a 41,250-square-foot expansion about five years ago that added 50 jobs in Medina.

Brunner looked at Kentucky for the latest expansion, but picked Medina for the project. New York Power Authority in December announced it approved 2.4 megawatts of low-cost electricity for the project. The state also said it would provide a $750,000 incentive package under Empire State Development’s Excelsior Jobs Program.

Brunner is based in Canada. The company is expanding the production of machined axle forgings that are sold to large, heavy-duty truck and trailer suppliers. It will utilize automation and add jobs as part of the expansion.

Write-in candidates win in Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2014 at 12:00 am

MEDINA – Two write-in candidates, who announced their candidacies last week, pulled off an upset and beat the incumbent trustees for the Village Board.

Marguerite Sherman received 229 votes and Michael Sidari, 207. That topped David Barhite, 175; and Patricia Crowley, 171.

Barhite and Crowley ran under the Village Party with Mayor Andrew Meier, who was re-elected with 227 votes. There wasn’t a write-in candidate to challenge Meier. However, he did not receive the vote from 180 of the 407 voters in the election.

The terms for the elected officials are for two years and begin on April 1.

Orleans Hub will have more on the election.

Victorious write-in candidates say public was feeling left out

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Medina voters on Tuesday elected the following, from left: Marguerite Sherman for village trustee, Andrew Meier for mayor, and Michael Sidari for trustee.

MEDINA – Two candidates who last week announced a write-in bid for Village Board pulled off the upset victory, saying their campaign struck a chord with village residents who have wanted more information about a possible village dissolution.

“We want some transparency in village government,” said Marguerite Sherman, who won a trustee position along with Michael Sidari.

Sherman was the top vote-getter on the day with 229 votes followed by 207 for Sidari. They won two-year terms to the Village Board, outpolling incumbents David Barhite, 175; and Patricia Crowley, 171.

Barhite said a mailer to village residents from the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby on Friday played a factor in the victory for the write-in candidates. Town officials offered their opinions on scenarios should the village dissolve, saying Medina would see a reduction in services.

The taxpayer-funded letter, and its timing right before the village election, infuriated the Village Board, which fired off its own news release on Saturday.

The letter from the towns created some fear in residents, village officials said, and the voters responded at the polls. Barhite said a dissolution plan isn’t finished yet. He didn’t think the village should have commented on the plan until it was complete.

Once the document is accepted by a Dissolution Committee, public hearings will be set and residents can weigh in on the proposal, Barhite said.

Sherman and Sidari said the village should have shared more about possible dissolution scenarios, and looked at the pros and cons of dissolving the village, rather than focusing on possible tax savings. Sherman, a special education teacher at Medina and member of the Village Planning Board, worries dissolution will result in a reduction in services to village residents.

“I want to preserve our village and the services,” she said tonight after the election results were announced. “But we have to keep an open mind.”

Sherman said the write-in campaign quickly picked up momentum after last week.

“It raised an awareness with the public,” she said. “I feel like they’ve only been presented with one side of the issue.”

Sidari is an active member of the Medina Fire Department. He works as the food service administrator for the Orleans Correctional Facility. He will retire from that job next week.

Sidari said he is leaning against dissolution, but he wants to see the final plan and hear from the public about the issue.

“I want to make sure the facts being put forward are true,” he said.

The Dissolution Committee has identified about $1 million in tax savings to the Medina community through a dissolution. The village services would be folded into the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway, with special districts or other entities as possibilities for fire protection, debt, water, sewer and lighting.

Meier was re-elected to another two-year term as mayor. He sees dissolution as a way to reduce the village’s “crushing tax burden” while maintaining current services.

Officials from the two towns see the village dissolution as a cost shift to Shelby and Ridgeway. Meier said there is a great disparity in tax rates between the village and towns, and that difference is unfair to the village and is a disincentive to investment in Medina.

The village’s assessments have been shrinking in recent years while the tax rate goes up. That is a big problem to solve, he said.

The community has assets: a vibrant downtown business district and a community of wonderful people, Meier said.

“I look forward to working with them,” he said about Sherman and Sidari. “I think they are fair-minded people.”

It’s Election Day at 3 Orleans villages

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Residents at three villages in Orleans County will go to the polls today from noon to 9 p.m. to elect members to the Village Board. Two villages have mayor positions on the ballot and in both cases the top elected official is unopposed.

In Albion, Dean London has both the Republican and Democratic Party endorsements for mayor. London, Albion’s retired police chief, has been campaigning with a Republican team that includes Eileen Banker and Stan Farone for four-year trustee positions, and Gary Katsanis for a two-year term.

Democrats are running Terry Wilbert and Patricia Cammarata for four-year trustee positions, and Sandra Walter for the two-year term.

Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Hall on East Bank Street.

In Medina, three incumbents appeared to be unopposed. Andrew Meier is running for mayor with David Barhite and Patricia Crowley seeking re-election as village trustees. They are seeking two-year terms under the Village Party.

Michael Sidari and Marguerite Sherman are mounting a write-in campaign for village trustees.

Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. at the senior center, 615 West Ave.

In Lyndonville, Charles Covell is seeking a one-year as village trustee. Covell, the owner of Creekside Laundromat in Lyndonville, was appointed to the Village Board on Oct. 14, filling a vacancy created when Jim Whipple resigned after moving outside the village. Covell was appointed by Mayor Stephen McAvoy.

Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. at Village Hall, 2 South Main St.

Holley, the other village in Orleans County, has its election in June.

Medina VFW is helping to bring ‘Moving Wall’ to area

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Pembroke will host the memorial from June 11-15

Photo by Tom Rivers – Members of the Medina VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary are helping to bring “The Moving Wall” to Pembroke on June 11 – 15. Several veterans’ organizations in Western New York are helping with the project, giving donations and manpower. Pictured outside the Medina VFW on East Center Street include, from left: VFW member Kim Lockwood, VFW Ladies Auxiliary President Cindy Harris, Ladies Auxiliary Secretary Donna Little and Mike Little, VFW senior vice commander.

MEDINA – When the call went out in the veterans’ community about bringing “The Moving Wall” to Pembroke, the Medina VFW was quick to answer.

The VFW gave $1,000 to the effort and the Ladies Auxiliary also agreed to give $1,000. The wall, a memorial to 58,000 Americans killed in the Vietnam War, will be at the Pembroke Town Park from June 11 to 15.

“We want people to pay their respects to the guys,” said Mike Little, the senior vice commander for the VFW in Medina.

Local veterans will provide an honor guard for the memorial, which stretches about 200 feet. The Moving Wall has been in Genesee County before, in 1996 and 2010. The memorial typically spends about a week at each location and moves around the country.

Little has seen it before, and he wanted it to return to the area. The Oakfield-Alabama American Legion is taking the lead on bringing the wall back to Western New York.

To help raise money for the project, the Medina VFW Ladies Auxiliary this Saturday will host a “Spring Fling Vendor Faire” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The VFW at 216 East Center St. will have about 20 vendors inside and the Ladies Auxiliary will be serving food.

Cindy Harris, the Ladies Auxiliary president, said this is the latest fundraiser planned by the group to meet its $1,000 goal for The Wall.

“It won’t be that far away,” she said about the memorial. “Pembroke is right down the road.”

VFW member Kim Lockwood has connected with many of the vendors and lined up donations for a Chinese auction on Saturday. She has seen The Wall in Washington, D.C. She wants other people to experience the memorial, and pay their respects to the veterans.

“It’s so long,” she said about The Wall. “It goes on forever.”

Medina Village Board cries foul over mailer from 2 towns

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Ridgeway supervisor says town is gauging public sentiment

MEDINA – Town officials from Shelby and Ridgeway on Friday sent a mailer to residents in the village of Medina and the two towns, offering to set the record straight about the village’s dissolution.

The letter matched one from December, which was published on the Orleans Hub and in other local media. (Click here to see it.)

Village Board members question why the two towns would send the letter a few days before the village election, especially when the letter was first published nearly three months ago.

“The timing is overtly political, which is troubling for a taxpayer-funded mailer,” said Andrew Meier, the village mayor.

Brian Napoli, the Ridgeway town supervisor, said Ridgeway and Shelby officials “wanted to get some facts out” about the dissolution, which he said is a concern of many residents in the community.

The timing of the letter wasn’t intended to influence the village election, which is on Tuesday, Napoli said.

“It’s when we were able to put it together,” he said getting the mailer to residents.

The two towns also took out an ad on Orleans Hub, advertising a hotline for people to share their concerns and questions about the dissolution. Napoli faulted the Village Board for not putting out more information about the dissolution.

“We’re gauging public sentiment,” he said.

Three incumbents – Meier for mayor, and trustees Patricia Crowley and David Barhite – appeared to be unopposed for two-year terms until Mike Sidari and Marguerite Sherman announced a write-in campaign for trustees last week.

The two write-in candidates sent out a flyer on Friday with instructions about filling out a write-in ballot.

The five-member Village Board – Meier, Barhite, Crowley, Mark Kruzynski and Mark Irwin – put out a press release on Saturday in response to the mailer from the towns.

“The letter contains many inaccuracies and omissions, and we wish to clarify,” the board said.

Here is the full news release from the Village Board:

First, some background: “Dissolution” is a legal process by which village government is wound up and its functions transferred to the towns or other entities. Dissolution does not impact our Post Office addresses, which would remain “Medina, New York, 14103,” nor the school, which would remain the Medina Central School District. “Medina” would remain a community with a place on the map due to its population concentration.

The Village began investigating the possibility of Dissolution after the Towns declined the Village’s numerous requests to pursue a 3-way municipal consolidation. Last summer, the Village Board appointed an independent committee to prepare a Dissolution Plan. Members are Don Colquhoun, Charlie Slack, Andrew Meier, Cindy Robinson, Mark Irwin and Thurston Dale.

The committee is working with the Center for Governmental Research (CGR), project consultant, to gather the data and propose a plan so the Village Board and residents can make an informed decision on how to proceed. Meetings have been open to the public and well attended.

Although the committee has already made many decisions, this process is not yet complete, nor is the tax impact known. The draft plan should be ready for public dissemination next month. Once the draft is complete, several public hearings will be held on the plan before it is presented to the Village Board. Then, the Village Board would determine whether or not to put the plan to a public referendum.

In preparing the plan, the committee decided that the final plan should:

1. Keep as many services in place as possible – such as fire, ambulance service, and police;

2. Minimize the impact of a dissolution on village employees;

3. Be implemented to the maximum extent possible by the Village Board, not the Town Boards; and

4. Require as few approvals of the State Legislature as possible.

As has been reported widely in local media, the committee has already recommend the retention of a paid police department, retention of a paid professional fire department and ambulance service, retention of local control over water and sewer infrastructure, and pay-down of village debt. Most other functions transfer to the Towns by law. While the cost and tax impacts of these recommendations will be fully known next month, CGR has projected that the plan would benefit our municipal budgets by about $1 million annually.

The Town’s letter contains several inaccurate and/or incomplete statements, as follows:

1. Police Department – An option not contemplated by the letter, and endorsed by the committee, is the creation of a town-wide police force, which would maintain local control over policing. Village police personnel would transfer to the new department, and the Towns would be responsible to create it. A special district for police was not recommended.

2. Fire and Ambulance Service – The committee recommends the creation of a Fire District to continue this service. Formation of the District and appointment of initial fire commissioners would be undertaken prior to dissolution by the Village Board, not the Town Boards. The Fire District would then carry on the paid fire and ambulance service, much as it works today.

3. Water/Sewer Service – The option selected by the committee was not mentioned in the Town’s letter: continuation of the service through a Local Development Corporation. The Village Board would form the corporation and transfer its water and sewer assets into the corporation prior to dissolution, which would continue to operate the water and sewer system after dissolution seamlessly. No action from the Town Boards or the State Legislature would be required.

4. Timing – the letter states that there would be only 18 months after a dissolution vote, if approved, before the village dissolves. This is not set in stone. The dissolution committee and Village Board can select any time frame for dissolution, which could be several years. Our Board would opt for a longer window that provides the Towns sufficient lead time to complete an orderly transition.

As the plan is finally released, we urge all residents to consider the entire plan, not just unrelated pieces. We also invite all Town and Village residents to attend the upcoming public hearings to learn about all options considered, which options were recommended, and what the impact would be on taxpayers and employees. Only then can any of us make an informed decision about our community’s future.

Medina Dissolution Committee moves meeting to Friday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2014 at 12:00 am

MEDINA – A committee that was scheduled to meet on Wednesday morning is pushing back the session until Friday to avoid a snowstorm that is forecast to hit tomorrow.

The Medina Dissolution Committee was to meet at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. It will now meet on Friday at 8 a.m. The committee expects to have projected tax impacts for the village and the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway in a number of scenarios for the dissolution of the village and how the current services could be provided.

The meeting will be at City Hall. The committee is close to accepting a final report on the dissolution. It has been working with a consultant, the Center for Governmental Research in Rochester. The committee on Friday may schedule a public hearing for the residents to comment on the proposal.

The Village Board also is expected to have its own public meetings and hearings on a dissolution plan, which ultimately will be decided in a public referendum by village residents.

Medina’s Winterguard earns 2nd

Posted 9 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Contributed photo – Medina Winterguard performs Saturday at Marcus Whitman High School. Medina took second place at the event.

Press release
Medina Marching Band

Medina’s Winterguard competed Saturday at Marcus Whitman High School, the Mustangs’ fifth competitive performance this season.

There were four guard units in the Scholastic A Class and Medina took second place with a score of 80.22. Victor was first with 81.81, while Lancaster came in third with 78.69 and Hinsdale was fourth with 71.60.

Guard Instructor Diana Baker thought the performance was very good for this time of the season. She said the schools were appropriately placed in the Scholastic A class and the students were receptive to trying new things.

The Winterguard’s next performance is March 22 in Holley. The Championships are March 29 at Brockport State College.

When you turn clocks ahead, check smoke detectors

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Medina FD has 50 smoke detectors available

Photo by Tom Rivers – This photo shows the clock at Rotary Park in Medina on Tuesday night.

It might not feel like it today, after more snow fell on Orleans County and temperatures remain below freezing, but spring is around the corner. One annual rite will be early Sunday morning when the clocks spring forward an hour.

That officially happens at 2 a.m. on Sunday. The Medina Fire Department urges people to use this time to also inspect, test and clean their smoke detectors.

About 3,000 people die in fires each year, and nearly two-thirds die in homes without smoke alarms or without working smoke detectors, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

The Medina firefighters union, IAFF Local Union 2161, has teamed with Evans Ace Hardware to purchase 50 smoke detectors at a discounted price. Those smoke detectors are available to village of Medina residents.

Firefighters are willing to install them. Any village resident can stop in or call the firehouse at 798-1661 during business hours to inquire about a smoke detector install.