Photos by Tom Rivers – The Medina United Methodist Church had its final service this morning at 222 West Center St. The church will continue to own the property and use it for a childcare site. A Spanish-speaking congregation, River of Living Waters, also will continue to use the building.

MEDINA – Many of the members of Medina United Methodist Church were married at 222 West Center St. Their children were baptized there.

Today, the church said good-bye to the building. The congregation held its final church service at the site.

“I’m going to miss this building,” member Bill Dunn told the church during the farewell service this morning. “It’s meant a lot to me. But the people mean more.”

Pastor Tony Hipes leads the church in a farewell service at the Medina United Methodist Church today. The church is leaving the structure which is in deteriorating condition.

The church has spent the past three years and $875,000 to transform the former Apple Grove Inn into a modern church home. After today’s service, church members walked or drove a mile down the road to the former Apple Grove, where they celebrated their new home.

Tony Hipes, the church pastor, wanted members to give the old church, built in 1876, a fond farewell. The church moved to acquire and renovate the former Apple Grove, wanting a modern one-story building that would be more accessible for the community.

The church was built in 1876 and originally had a steeple. It toppled after a wind storm in 1889.

The site, which includes a large reception area and commercial kitchen, also will allow the church to host receptions and community events.

“It’s a church for everyone,” Hipes said during today’s service. “Hopefully many people in the community will join us.”

The older church building needed lots of repairs, particularly with the masonry on the brick structure. The building wasn’t energy efficient.

Church members carried Bibles, crosses and other treasured church artifacts up to the congregation’s new home following a service today.

However, it’s not in danger of collapse. The church will continue to run a childcare site from 222 West Center St. The building will also be available for a Spanish-speaking church, the River of Living Waters.

Hipes told the congregation to treasure their memories from the older building, and to look forward to the new memories awaiting them in the former Apple Grove.

After the service today at 222 West Center St., members of the Medina United Methodist Church walked a mile on West Center Street to their new church home at the former Apple Grove Inn.

United Methodists worked three years to transform site

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Medina United Methodist Church celebrated its first service in the former Apple Grove Inn this morning. The church extended the west wall to accommodate the sanctuary.

MEDINA – A three-year journey ended today for the United Methodist Church when celebrated their first service inside the former Apple Grove Inn.

The church bought the landmark building for $100,000 at an auction. Most of the building was gutted, walls were taken out in some spots and new ones put in. The west end of the building was extended to accommodate the sanctuary.

Tony Hipes, the church pastor, leads the group in prayer before they go inside to dedicate the building.

It was a lot of work, and church members did the bulk of the construction, painting and carpeting themselves. Today, the congregation of about 50 people had a final service at their building at 222 West Center St. Then they walked or drove a mile down the road to the former Apple Grove.

The revamped site has cushioned chairs and much more modern look. It’s all on one floor and includes a commercial kitchen and reception area that the church wants to make available to the community for wedding receptions and other parties.

“A lot of the Grove is still here,” said Matt Brueckner, a church member who spearheaded the construction project. “We just made it better.”

Pastor Tony Hipes and church members, including flag holder Dan Wilson, walked about a mile today from their old church building to the newly remodelled former Apple Grove Inn.

The church paid contractors for plumbing, heating, electrical and air-conditioning. But members took on most of the rest of the work.

“We just broke the building into sections,” said Brueckner, who became the building project chairman and construction manager, often putting in 50 to 60 hours a week on the project.

The church spent about $875,000 total for the project. If it had hired out all of the work, it would have cost about $2 million.

The reception area will be open to the public for parties and other events.

At the conclusion of today’s final service at the church at 222 West Center St., the church’s home since 1876, members carried Bibles, a cross, offering plates, banners and other sacred elements from the church to the former Apple Grove.

“I think what we’ve done here is have one foot in the past and the other in the present and future by having a modern-looking church,” Brueckner said.

The church choir leads the congregation in singing “Spirit of the Living God, Fall Afresh on Me.”

Orleans Hub will have coverage later of the final United Methodist church service at 222 West Center St.

MEDINA – A plan for a new Dunkin’ Donuts store in Medina at the southeast corner of Route 31A and 63 cleared another hurdle on Thursday with a vote of support from the Orleans County Planning Board.

JFJ Holdings of North Andover, Mass., is the developer for the project.The company wants to build a 2,000-square-foot store on vacant land owned by Gregory Housel. The project includes 27 parking spaces with most on the west side of the building.

The drive-through includes space for about seven vehicles. The County Planning Board recommended the Town of Shelby Planning Board approve a front setback variance. The town code requires a 75-foot setback. JFJ has proposed a 47-foot setback.

The store will be at a busy intersection with nearby sites that include a gas station hair salon/health food store, an auto parts store, a motel and the Oak Orchard River.

JFJ is also working to build a Dunkin’ Donuts in Albion, right next to the Tim Hortons on Main Street. Both stores are expected to open in early 2014.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Pictured today at a ground-breaking for Medina Memorial Hospital’s new helipad include, from left: Randy Neiswonger, MMH chief operating officer and chief nursing officer; Dolores Horvath, MMH interim CEO; Ruth Bane, a member of the Orleans Community Health Foundation board; Jill Bakeman, Foundation executive director; Medina firefighter Jonathan Higgins; and Jennifer Hill and Art Hill of Art Hill Excavation.

MEDINA – It was about two months ago when Jonathan Higgins went to introduce himself to Dolores Horvath, the newly hired interim CEO for Medina Memorial Hospital.

Higgins, a Medina firefighter, wanted to meet the new CEO and also pitch a plan about a new paved helipad.

Higgins and Medina firefighters often help transport critically injured patients from an ambulance to a Mercy Flight helicopter that lands in a field next to the intersection of Ohio and North Academy streets. The grass field often has been muddy, or firefighters might have to lift the stretcher over a snow bank.

Higgins and the Fire Department told Horvath they could line up donations to reduce the cost of a paved pad for helicopters. Horvath gave the $25,000 project her blessing. None of costs will come out of the hospital’s budget.

Higgins and the fire department lined up about $15,000 worth of donations or discounted services and materials. The Orleans Community Health Foundation contributed the other $10,000.

“This will just be wonderful for the patients of Orleans County,” Horvath said today following a ground-breaking ceremony for the helipad.

The new helipad includes a driveway so ambulances can pull off the street to move patients.

Art Hill Excavation of Medina is building the 40-by-40-foot helipad, which includes a curb cut and 80-foot-long driveway. The company donated an interwoven geo-technical fabric that went above the soil. Then about 8 inches of a stone base has been applied. Art Hill Excavation expects to add the binder and the black top this week to complete the project.

Shelby Stone and Keeler Construction also contributed materials for the project.

Art Hill Excavation was eager to help with the project, said company owner Jennifer Hill.

“These are the most critical patients,” she said about the patients that use Mercy Flight. “You want to help them out.”

Higgins said a helicopter transports patients about 50 times a year from the spot. Not only is the field sometimes muddy or covered in snow, but firefighters had to stop their ambulance on Ohio Street to then move patients to the helicopter. Now the ambulance can pull off the street and on the driveway leading to the helipad.

“It’s been fairly unsafe,” Higgins said. “This is a busy street and people would get distracted looking at the helicopter.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Contractors arrived in Medina this morning to begin the task of replacing rotted structural support beams on the Bent’s Opera House.

The 150-year-old timbers will be removed and replaced with 7-foot-long steel beams in the next two to three weeks if the project goes to plan, contractors said this morning.

Matthews House Movers in Rochester has been hired to replace the beams. Matthews workers were rigging or installing “cribbing” that will serve as a temporary support so the rotted beams can be removed and the new supports installed.

The Orleans Renaissance Group, owner of the Bent’s Opera House, secured a $100,000 emergency loan from the Preservation League of New York State. The funds will be used immediately to address the main structural support timber on the building’s southeast corner.

The removal of the faux stone and facia last year revealed a critical concern: the condition of the main support timber on what was the former Armstrong’s Drug Store has rotted to the point where the structural integrity of the building could be compromised, said Chris Busch, ORG vice chairman.

The rotted timbers caused “dramatic settling” in the corner of the building with some cracks visible in the wall.

“It’s a miracle the masonry wall on that corner had not suffered a much greater and more calamitous compromise,” Busch said.

The horizontal wooden beams in the lower corner of the Bent’s building will be removed and replaced with steel supports.

Provided photo – This photo shows the deteriorated main structural beam on the southwest corner of Bent’s Opera House in Medina.

Press release
Orleans Renaissance Group

MEDINA – The Orleans Renaissance Group, owner of the former Bent’s Opera House, announced today that they have received $100,000 emergency loan from the Preservation League of New York State. The funds will be used immediately to address the main structural support timber on the building’s southeast corner.

Chris Busch, vice president of ORG, said the organization is “extremely grateful” for the support of the Preservation League.

“They recognize the regional importance and viability of this project, and we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for their advocacy,” he said.

The removal of the faux stone and facia last year revealed a critical concern: the condition of the main support timber on what was the former Armstrong’s Drug Store has rotted to the point where the structural integrity of the building could be compromised.

“This huge wooden timber is nearly 150 years old,” Busch said.“Prior to removing the faux stone, we were only guessing as to what caused the dramatic settling around the southeast corner of the building. Once the stone was removed, we saw that we needed to act quickly in professionally assessing the deterioration.”

The deterioration has been an issue for decades.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The Bent’s Opera House opened in the Civil War. The building was built with Medina sandstone.

“It’s a miracle the masonry wall on that corner had not suffered a much greater and more calamitous compromise,” Busch said.

ORG engaged engineer Don Jensen of Jensen Engineering in Rochester who determined that the vast majority of the old beam was fine and in remarkable condition. The entire southeast section, however, requires immediate replacement with steel using a specialized process called “needling.”

“The most pressing concern right now is addressing the beam,” Busch said. “No further work on the façade can take place until that has been corrected.”

ORG has engaged Peter Matthews of Matthews House Movers in Rochester to replace the beam. Matthews will be in Medina today to begin installing rigging or “cribbing” to stabilize the building prior to repairs.

“We hope to have this phase of façade work completed soon and to possibly effect some additional façade restoration as well,” Busch said. “ORG wants folks to know that important progress is being made everyday in bringing Bent’s back to life.”

The Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council last month included the Bent’s restoration as a recommended project for state funding. ORG is seeking state assistance for a major roof repair for the building. An announcement from the state is expected in December.

Photos by Tom Rivers – The fire at 108 Starr St. displaced 14 people who lived at the house. The Red Cross is working to locate temporary shelter for the residents.

MEDINA – A fire this afternoon on Starr Street has left 14 village residents, including seven children, homeless.

A fire call was reported at 4:53 p.m. when smoke was observed pouring out of four sides of the house. Firefighters were quickly on scene and had the fire under control in about a half hour. They doused flames in an upstairs bedroom and removed windows and vented the roof to let out trapped gases.

The house at 108 Starr St. is split into four apartments. It owned by Rosie Taylor of Lockport. She has three tenants, with one family renting two of the four apartments. Taylor has insurance and she said she will work to repair the house so it can be lived in again.

“I’m sorry about it but I won’t let it get me down,” Taylor said.

It took about a half hour for firefighters to have a fire under control at his four-unit apartment house at 108 Starr St.

Power has been out in the house since yesterday when tenants suspected the circuit was overloaded.

“It’s an old house with old electric,” said Robin Cheatham, one of the residents.

Her husband bought a new fuse today, but the house was on fire before it could be installed.

Medina firefighters and Orleans County fire investigators are looking at many possible causes of the fire, and didn’t want to speculate about the cause this evening.

Firefighter Steve Cooley said the blaze could have spread and caused more extensive damage. The house was built with a balloon frame style, which makes it easier for fire and smoke to spread between floors, he said.

“There are no fire stops,” Cooley said. “You could have a small fire and it travels between the walls.”

Orleans County Fire Investigator Walter Batt holds a charred electrical box that was retrieved from a house in Medina. Josh Wolck, a Medina firefighter, is next to Batt.

The fire was contained to one room, but there was extensive smoke damage throughout the house. Medina Code Enforcement Officer Martin Busch tagged the building after the fire and said it cannot be occupied until a new certificate of occupancy is secured.

The Red Cross is assisting the 14 residents with temporary shelter.

Medina Fire Department was assisted at the scene by firefighters from Shelby, Lyndonville and Ridgeway fire companies. In addition, Middleport, East Shelby, Albion and COVA were on standby at the Medina firehall.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Howard and Clara Lake last month opened a liquor store with wine and spirits at the corner of Park Avenue and Salt Works Road. The store has a grand opening celebration on Saturday with a wine tasting from 1 to 3 p.m.

MEDINA – Howard and Clara Lake see a business district growing on the west side of Medina, in the Park Avenue and Salt Works Road area. The couple is right in the heart of that area that includes several big manufacturing companies and other businesses.

In May 2012, the Lakes moved their computer business, C & H PC, from a building behind their house on Laurel Street to a bigger building at the corner of Park Avenue and Salt Works Road.

This spring they opened The Park Grille, a concessions stand that serves Sahlen’s hot dogs, black angus hamburgers, French fries and ice cream. That will be a seasonal operation from mid-May to Labor Day. It’s located right next to C & H PC.

The Lakes have added another business venture to the site. Last month they opened Lakes Wines-N-Spirits. The business includes wines, including many from the Finger Lakes and Niagara regions. There will be a grand opening this Saturday for the new store with wine tastings from 1 to 3 p.m.

“We’re right in the middle of a business district with a lot of businesses around us,” Mr. Lake said today at 11089 Park Ave.

Before the Lakes moved their computer business to the site, the building had been vacant for about a decade. They are now using two of the suites, with one still available. Mr. Lake, a former Medina mayor, wants to fill the other suite with another possible business venture in the future.

Lake, who is retired from the power plant in Somerset, said he likes putting the business projects together, and working with the public.

The liquor store is open seven days a week. The Lakes have added two part-time employees for the store.

Provided photo – “Andy” was the focus of attention during Cow Plop Bingo, a fund-raiser on Friday for the Medina Mustang Band.

Press release, Medina Mustang Band

MEDINA – The 4^th annual Cow Plop Bingo raised about $2,500 for the Medina Mustang Band on Friday during Homecoming.

Andy, a 14-month-old Hereford owned by Ray Wendling, arrived at the high school at 3 p.m. Andy then grazed around a grassy grid for nearly three hours before making his “deposit” on square No. 130.

Dick Fry, who has had several grandchildren in the band, was the winner. Fry graciously donated $200 of his winnings back to the band.

Photo courtesy of Pamela Brower

MEDINA – In August, Buddy started to drag his back right leg. Pamela Brower thought her cat had pulled a muscle.

But then both back legs stopped working. The cat had to drag itself with its front legs.

A trip to the vet revealed the cat had a bulging disc and would need surgery in the thousands of dollars just to have a 50-50 chance to regain use of the back legs.

Brower, an aide at Medina Central School for the past 24 years, pitched an idea to some of the students in Michael Lepkyj’s technology class. Would they try to make a walker/wheelchair for the cat?

The students in the class came up with a contraption that is helping Buddy move inside and outside of the house.

“It is helping him to go out and get around,” Brower said.

The students are now working to make the wheelchair a little wider and higher to better fit Buddy.

Brower is impressed by the students for their ingenuity and their compassion.

“Kids don’t get enough credit these days,” she said.

Click here to watch the video on Facebook of Buddy using the new walker that was created by Medina High School students in their technology class.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Buffalo Touch, a polka band, performs on Saturday during the annual Accordion Fest, which moved from Hickory Ridge Country Club in Holley to the parking lot next to the Medina Senior Center and the Medina Railroad Museum.

Four groups performed during the festival, which was organized by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. In addition to the Buffalo Touch, C’est Bon Cajon Band, Accordions ’Round the World and Roland Demos performed.

The event was part of a busy day in Medina, which also hosted Ale in Autumn, the dedication of a firefighters’ memorial, and the YMCA’s Mud Run.

Photos by Tom Rivers – J.T. Thomas was among the 750 people who bought tickets to sample beer throughout downtown Medina on Saturday.

MEDINA – When the Medina Business Association first started Ale in Autumn in 2009, the organization hoped an event with beer tastings would bring in a few outsiders and get more locals to visit Medina merchants.

Ale and Autumn has done far more than that. It quickly sells its 750 tickets, and creates a buzz on Main Street.

“It’s about people coming together and spending the day together,” said J.T. Thomas, a local DJ who helps promote the event. He was an eager participant on Saturday, sampling 30 different beers at locations mostly in the downtown business district.

“This shows off our town and gets people going into all of our historic spots and our businesses,” Thomas said. “We’re trying to keep more things in the village, which is a special place.”

Ale in Autumn attracted many participants from outside Medima on Saturday, including this group, from left: Bob Slocum from Syracuse, Bill and Rosemary Rausch of Middleport, Joe Moll of Barker and Dottie Barr of Middleport. They are pictured inside The Bread Basket.

The event is a fund-raiser for the Medina Business Association. It uses proceeds to help pay for banners, the downtown sound system, bike racks, flower barrels and other projects.

Rollie Phillipps, co-owner of The Book Shoppe, poured beer and mingled with customers on Saturday. He was surprised how many from outside Medina were in town for the event.

“It’s good for the merchants because it gets people in the store,” he said. “A lot of the people say Medina has a lot going for it.”

Dottie Barr of Middleport joined several friends in sampling the beers. She has been to Ale in Autumn three times, and also comes to Medina for Wine about Winter, which features wine tastings.

“They’re both fun,” she said about the events. “You see people you don’t normally see and you see businesses you don’t normally see.”

Each participant in Ale in Autumn received a souvenir glass.