File photos by Tom Rivers – Firefighters respond to a fire on Nov. 12 at a former carriage barn on the Walsh Alley off Prospect Street.

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department responded to a record number of calls in 2013 – 370 fire and 2,385 EMS calls. That is about four times the call volume as in 2006, the last year before Medina took over the ambulance service in western Orleans from Rural Metro.

In 2006, prior to taking over EMS transport services, the Fire Department answered about 700 calls for service. At that time, department had seven career firefighters and 20 call firefighters. Currently, the Fire Department operates with 13 career firefighters and 25 call firefighters.

The Village of Medina Board of Trustees commissioned Emergency Services Consulting Inc. to conduct a Fire Based EMS Feasibility Study in 2006, said firefighter Steve Cooley, the department’s public information officer. The study estimated that there would be approximately 1,500 annual calls for service. That is far below the 2,755 calls in 2013. The department is seeking a federal grant to cover the costs of adding two paid firefighters.

Medina firefighters Josh Wolck, left, and Matt Jackson serve as the honor guard for a new firefighters’ memorial in front of City Hall. The memorial was dedicated on Sept. 28.

The ambulance service revenue received to date for 2013 is $913,000, making the average monthly revenue about $76,000. The department’s budget for 2013 was approximately $1.2 million. Village of Medina taxpayers made up the difference for the fire and EMS services.

The department is on pace to top the 2013 numbers. As of Jan. 21, the Fire Department responded to 208 calls for service, which is up from the 135 calls for service during the same time frame in 2013.

Photo courtesy of Tim Jaccard – The Medina Fire Department in June was honored with “Torch of Life Awards” for the department’s role in accepting a surrendered baby on May 25. Pictured, form left: Medina Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich; Tim Jaccard, president and director of the AMT Children of Hope Foundation – Baby Safe Haven; and Medina firefighter Dennis Pollock. Pollock accepted a newborn baby from a mother in crisis. The baby was then transported to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman

Kye, the Medina Police K-9 dog makes some new friends at the Medina CSAT boys basketball game tonight at Medina High School. Kye is a Belgian Malinois that works each day with his partner/handler Sgt. Todd Draper.

“Kye loves meeting new people especially children” Sgt. Draper said.  “It is also amazing how he draws the attention of the high school age kids who may not normally want to interact with just a police officer.  They all like petting him and want to be around him.”

While Kye’s main duties are tracking, drug detection, building searches and criminal apprehension, the time he spends going to sporting events helps in his training of just being around other people.

Chris Keller fills top spot after Heiligenthaler resigns

MEDINA – The Board of Education has a new leader after Carol Heiligenthaler resigned last month. The board last week voted to support Chris Keller as the new president.

He will be sworn in this evening at 6:30 during the BOE meeting at the district office. Keller had been vice president. He works as a teacher at Albion Central School.

Heiligenthaler led the board since July 2012. Although she resigned as BOE president, she has agreed to stay on as a board member.

Heiligenthaler has recently been hired as the business administrator for Barker Central School. She resigned as Medina BOE president due to the demands of her new job.

The BOE is expected to soon name a new vice president after Keller vacated the spot to become president.

Press release, Medina Historical Society

MEDINA – The Medina Historical Society will hold its annual “Show and Tell” meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 27 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, 620 West Ave.

Members and non-members are invited to bring along their treasures from the past to share at this popular program.

There are no rigid criteria. Items pertaining to Medina history are of special interest, but all older items will be welcome. Items shared at the 2013 meeting included matchbooks from local businesses, an ornate pocket watch from Hurd’s Jewelers, a metal pin curler for hair, an ash tray made at Tucker’s, and a rock proof fender protector, to name but a few.

“This is such a fun evening,” said Reinhard Rogowski, board president. “There are surprises every year and always a few mystery items.”

Provided photo – There are 23 dancers, ages 7 to 17, from the Dance Theater in medina that will perform at Disney in Florida. Some of the grup members include, front row, from left: Marli Thrash, Tessa Davis, Carly Voelker,Izabella Murphy and Justine Laverty. Middle row: Madeline Bilicki, Lexi Hare, Trevor Hare and Kylie Bielak. Back row: Olivia Eaton, Melanie Hibbard, Dominique Hughes,Cody Crane, Abby Jones, Danielle Metz and Paige Dix.

MEDINA – A group of dancers from Medina will spend a week at Disney in July, performing with Disney’s Performing Arts Program.

The group from the Dance Theater in Medina includes 23 dancers, ages 7 to 17. They are led by Dance Theater owner Brandon Johnson and his staff.

He sent an audition tape of the group to Disney. They were accepted and invited to perform on the Main Stage at Disney on July 3. They will be there for five days as part of Disney’s Performing Arts Program.

“It’s a really big honor,” said Johnson, who has owned the Dance Theater for 11 years. “It will be great exposure for them. They will be seen by thousands of people.”

Some of his dancers have competed at national events at Atlantic City; Hershey, Pa; and Wildwood, NJ. They have brought home national titles through StarQuest and DanceXplosion.

The Dance Theater group will perform in three age levels: minis are 7 to 9 years old, while juniors are 9 to 12, and seniors, 13 to 17.

Johnson said the dancers all bring dedication and a work ethic to the program. Many are also Honor Roll students who participate in sports, marching band, chorus and numerous other activities.

The group will be doing many fundraisers in the community to help pay for the trip to Disney. They have set up a page through the Go Fund Me site for people to give online.

“We’re all definitely looking forward to it,” Johnson said. “It’s going to a be a great opportunity for my dancers.”

MEDINA – Seven people were arrested on drug charges following a six-month investigation into the sale and distribution of prescription narcotics and marijuana in the village of Medina, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force is reporting today.

The Task Force and the Medina Police Department on Friday executed search warrants at 124 Erin Rd. and 135 State St.

The following were arrested:

Albone

Mathew J. Albone, 32, of 124 Erin Rd. He was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Bryan

Stacy D. Bryan, 23, of 525 West Ave., Apartment 3. He was charged with three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and one count of welfare fraud in the third degree.

Dillon

Kimberly C. Dillon, 57, of 135 State St., Medina. He was charged with three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and one count of welfare fraud in the third degree.

Winters

Serina Winters, 37, of 909 Church Street, Apartment 1. She faces charges of two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and one count of welfare fraud in the third degree.

Martinez

Lori S. Martinez, 47, of 325 Park Ave. Apartment 1. She was charged with one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and one count of welfare fraud in the third degree.

Albone, Bryan, Dillon, Winters and Martinez were arraigned in Ridgeway Town Court by Justice Lawrence Sanderson. They were committed to Orleans County Jail on $10,000 bail. They were scheduled to return to Ridgeway Town Court today at 9 a.m.

Kayla Rowling, 22, of 803 South Main St. She was charged with two counts of criminal sale of marijuana in the third degree. Rowling was issued an appearance ticket for Shelby Town Court on March 6 at 9 a.m.

Bradley W. Albone, 63, of 124 Erin Rd. He was charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana. He is to appear in Ridgeway Town Court on Feb. 10 at 9 a.m.

The Task Force Supervising Investigator Joe Sacco says the investigation is still ongoing and more charges and arrests are pending.

The welfare fraud charges stem from the individuals being on public assistance and obtaining their prescription drugs through Medicaid. The Orleans County Department of Social Services Welfare Fraud Investigations Unit assisted in the investigation.

MEDINA – Several hundred people in Medina, including parishioners at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, were without power for about an hour and a half this morning.

The power went out at 10 a.m. on Gwinn Street, North Avenue and the north end of the village to about Route 104. The Medina Fire Department was dispatched to investigate if there were arcing wires, but none were discovered. National Grid reset the system and power was restored at about 11:30 a.m.

About 400 parishioners at Holy Trinity Parish (St. Mary’s) entered a darkened sanctuary, beginning the 11 a.m. Mass. The church was lightly illumined with candle lights on the altar.

“It was actually quite nice to worship in these circumstances,” said Chris Busch, who was lector at the Mass. “There was just enough daylight to read, there were no microphones and the pipe organ was replaced with a harpsichord giving a bit of a Renaissance feel to the choir and service. It was quite beautiful and a very contemplative setting.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The band Pocket Change performed tonight during the Finally Fridays concert series at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.

Harry Fickelman is playing the sax while Dave Stockton is on the guitar. Gary Deiboldt is playing the keyboards. Jim Linsner, not pictured, is the band’s drummer.

About 150 people attended tonight’s concert at the library for the Finally Fridays series. The concerts started on Jan. 3 and run every Friday until March 7. The music starts at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

The library, Friends of the Library and the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council all provide funding for the series. The library has been hosting Finally Fridays for 13 years.

“People need to do something on a Friday night in the winter,” said Catherine Cooper, library director. “We like to make the rafters roar.”

For a schedule of concerts, visit leewhedon.org/programs-events/.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia wants to tear down the former Pizza Hut in Medina to make way for a women’s health facility.

MEDINA – Less than a month after withdrawing its plans to turn a former gas station into a women’s health center in Medina, a Batavia hospital has identified a different site for the project: the former Pizza Hut at 11225 Maple Ridge Rd.

The United Memorial Medical Center will be a tenant at the site. Developer Chad LaCivita is working to acquire the property. The Pizza Hut building will be torn down and a new 4,000-square-foot site will be erected.

Courtesy of smartDESIGN architecture PLLC

Courtesy of smartDESIGN architecture PLLC

UMMC is working with smartDESIGN architecture in Batavia for the the design of the new building and the landscaping for the site. The building will look nearly the same as the project pitched for a former gas station down the road. UMMC withdrew from that project due to some environmental concerns with the site.

The Batavia hospital has been providing women’s health services at 100 Ohio St., space owned by Medina Memorial Hospital. Medina closed its birthing wing in July 2011. UMMC now delivers more than 100 babies a year to Orleans County women.

The site at 100 Ohio St. is cramped for space, said Colleen Flynn, UMMC’s director of community relations.

The new site will have more space for doctors, patients and staff. UMMC provides obstetrics, gynecological care and other health services.

“We need a better place,” Flynn said. “We have a big commitment to providing quality care and improving the physical plant.”

The Batavia hospital recently spent $2 million improving its maternity wing.

The plan for the project was reviewed by the Medina Planning Board on Tuesday and the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday. It goes before the Orleans County Planning Board on Jan. 24. It goes back to the Village Planning Board for a final vote on Feb. 4.

UMMC was looking to turn a former gas station on Maple Ridge Road into a women’s health center, but backed off that site after environmental auditing at the property, the former K & K at 11360 Maple Ridge Rd.

MEDINA Andrew Meier is seeking re-election to village mayor on March 18, and he hopes to work towards a dissolution of the village which he ultimately said would reduce the costs of local government and ensure a brighter future for Medina.

Today is the first day candidates can pick up petitions for the election. They have until Feb. 11 to submit petitions signed by at least 100 village eligible voters.

Meier was first elected in March 2012, running on the Village Party with David Barhite and Pat Crowley. Their trustee positions are also up for election in March.

Meier, 34, is a local attorney and entrepreneur. He was thrust into the mayor’s position on Sept. 11, 2011 when former mayor Adam Tabelski resigned due to an impending deployment with the U.S. Army.

Meier sees a downtown in the midst of a rebirth. But the neighborhoods need revitalization and more investment is needed.

“There is unfinished work,” he said about his decision to run.

He has been railing against the unfairness in local tax rates and distribution of costs for providing services. He believes the villages bear an unfair burden. The village tax rate of $16.45 per $1,000 of assessed property is far more than outside the village in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway. The village has the added burden of paying town tax rates as well.

Meier may be the only mayor in Orleans County history who has worked for the elimination of his office. That’s what would happen with a village dissolution, if the village government went away and the two towns then provided services in the village.

In that scenario, Meier expects the tax rates would be nearly uniform, which would take away the incentive for people to own property outside the village where the taxes are far cheaper.

A dissolution committee led by Don Colquhoun, the retired director of the Arc of Orleans County, expects to receive a report from a consultant by Jan. 23. The document from the Center for Governmental Research will provide some scenarios for the dissolution and how services could be shifted to the towns.

“We’re working on answering all of the questions in the process,” Meier said.

There will be several public meetings about the dissolution plan as it moves forward. Village residents will have to approve the dissolution in a public referendum for it to proceed. The two towns are not obligated to follow a plan put together by the village and a committee is working on the issue.

Ridgeway and Shelby leaders say if the dissolution is approved, special taxing districts would likely be created for police, fire and other services.

Tabelski

Press release, GCC

MEDINA – Genesee Community College is pleased to announce that former Medina Mayor Adam Tabelski will once again serve as the honorary chairman of the Civil War Encampment for three days in Medina in April.

“I am honored to accept this designation,” said Tabelski, who served as chairman for the 2013 Encampment in Medina, the first time the village has hosted Civil War re-enactors.

The Encampment will include battles next to the GCC campus in Medina, a parade, and several demonstrations and lectures.

Tabelski, a past president of the Medina Historical Society, served as mayor of Medina from 2008-2012. He stepped down when he was deployed to Kuwait with the National Guard. He serves as communications director for State Sen. George Maziarz (R-Newfane). Tabelski and his wife, Rachael live in Medina with their son Adrian.