Participants enjoy run through obstacles in debut Y event

Lisa Cox of Medina makes a “mud angel” near the end of today’s Mud Run. Her son Austin also completed the course.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Jenny McKenna descends a muddy slope near the canal as part of today’s Mud Run. Jenny completed the course with her sister Kerri and their mother Iva.

MEDINA – Skyler Smith turned 14 today. She told her father her wish: for the two of them to finish the Mud Run together.

So that’s what they did, running and crawling through mud pits, climbing over fallen trees, navigating through a field of tires and conquering a host of other obstacles.

“It was definitely fun,” Mr. Smith said. “It’s a really good family obstacle course.”

The Orleans County YMCA organized the event for 75 participants. It was the Y’s first Mud Run, events that are gaining popularity for their daring feats.

Skyler Smith of Albion leads her father Steve through the file obstacle course in a mud pit in today’s Mud Run to benefit the Orleans County YMCA. Skyler asked for the adventure on her 14th birthday.

Participants climb over logs, one of the many obstacles on the course.

Organizers were happy with the 75 participants, by Y leaders are already considering a shift to the spring, when they think more participants will be eager to conquer the course after being holed up during the winter.

Lisa Cox and her son Austin both completed the run, which took participants through fields, the towpath and trails in the woods. Cox, 34, made a “mud angel” in the volleyball court at Sacred Heart Club, where the race ended.

She didn’t mind all of the obstacles, including a slope off the towpath that was hosed down by firefighters to make extra muddy.

“It was pretty fun,” Cox said. “I just wish there was more mud. I hope we get to do it again.”

Runners head down a slick slope on today’s 3.1-mile trail of challenges.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman

MEDINA – Austin Cox of Medina splashes through the last mud pit to complete his “Mud Run” today, when about 75 people took part of the first-time event for the Orleans County YMCA.

Orleans Hub will have more on this later.

‘Firefighters are the lifeblood and the backbone of our community.’ – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley

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

Photos by Tom Rivers – A crowd gathered at 11 a.m. today for the dedication service for a new memorial to Medina firefighters.

MEDINA – A stone memorial in honor of Medina firefighters was dedicated today in front of City Hall, a monument that includes the names of two firefighters who died in the line of duty.

Chief James Schooly died in 1934 and Lt. Darwin Ehrenreich perished in 1954 while on calls for the department. The Fire Department also has started a memorial brick walkway that includes the names of deceased firefighters who were either full-time paid firefighters or who were callmen with at least 20 years of service. Their names are inscribed in bricks.

Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich said the names of the honored firefighters “won’t be slid in a drawer and never heard from again.” Current firefighters often share stories about their predecessors, and speak with affection of the past generation of firemen.

“Please remember your family members will live in our hearts each and every day and will never be forgotten,” Zinkievich said at the dedication, which was attended by many friends and relatives of the honored firefighters.

Medina Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich addresses about 50 people during a dedication service for a new firefighters’ memorial.

Firefighter Jonathan Higgins helped plan the memorial. He said the current firefighters are grateful to have careers where they can serve the community. Medina has 13 paid firefighters who run an ambulance service that is the primary responder for those calls in western Orleans.

Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said the memorial is a reminder of the dedication of village personnel. The department dates back to 1832.

“All of us are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us,” Meier said. “This is a legacy we have inherited from our grandfathers and fathers.”

He called on current residents of the community to keep working in service, establishing a legacy that will keep Medina moving forward.

“We need to lay a foundation for future generations just like our predecessors did for us,” Meier said.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley was one of the speakers at today’s dedication. He praised the Medina Fire Department for protecting residents’ lives and property.

“Firefighters are the lifeblood and backbone of our community,” he said.

Don Marchner, a Medina firefighter, speaks at the podium during today’s dedication ceremony. Marchner said the names of deceased Medina firefighters who were callmen for at least 20 years. They each have their names memorial bricks in front of the firefighters’ memorial.

The fire department’s Benevolent Association paid for the monument, which includes an inscription of “The Firefighter’s Prayer.”

The memorial brick walkway includes the names of the following past career firefighters:

Assistant Chief Joseph Stillwell, who served from 1923-1947; Edward Pahura, 1941-1953; Louis Button Sr., 1941-1960; Fred Board, 1941-1961; Chief Ralph Whiting, 1941-1969; Lt. Edward Ehrenreich, 1942-1968; William Board Sr., 1944-1965; Lt. Frank Eppolito, 1947-1969; Donald Cook, 1953-1976; Lt. Richard Clark, 1960-1986; Assistant Chief Alex Hewitt Jr., 1964-1988; Lt. Jason Drought, 1965-1987; Douglas Maynard, 1968-1995; Brian Kwiatkowski, 1985-2008; and Kenneth Dunn, 1994-2007.

The following past callmen were honored:

Lous Metz, Robert Fox, Trever Reynolds, Anthony Santillo, Carl Furness, Charlie Dutcher, Shane Ackerson, Floyd Harris, Raymond Riches, Percy Renouf, Harold Miller, Walter Dillon, Steve Champlin, Robert Foss and Berard Feltz.

Brian Kwiatkowski, a Medina fireifghter from 1985 to 2008, is among those honored with a memorial brick.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Kim Lockwood, owner of Fast Fitness in Medina, cuts the ribbon for the new location of her business, a site which more than doubles the space and allows her to add more equipment and amenities. State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, left, was among Lockwood’s supporters to join in today’s grand opening.

MEDINA – Kim Lockwood led tours of a sauna, an aqua massage machine, an indoor walking and jogging trail, and she showed off numerous pieces of exercise equipment.

“It’s a dream come true,” said the owner of Fast Fitness in Medina.

Today she cut the ribbon for her new location, and welcomed a stream of guests inside the gym, which on most days is off-limits to any men.

Lockwood opened the business in Albion in 2004. She sold that location and opened a gym in Medina in 2010. Fast Fitness is a women-only gym. It has grown to about 300 members. Lockwood said the close-knit group is like a second family.

Kim Lockwood is pictured inside her Fast Fitness gym at the former Hahn Hardware in Medina.

Kim Lockwood was surrounded by many friends and family, including her daughter Alicia Thiel at right, during a ribbon-cutting celebration earlier today at the new location for Fast Fitness.

On Sept. 1 she moved from a cramped site on Main Street to the former Hahn Hardware location at 627 West Ave. The gym has more than doubled in size, allowing for more equipment and amenities.

“This gives the ladies a great place to go where they are comfortable,” Lockwood said.

Roger Andrews, owner of the building, redid the bathrooms and added showers and a locker room, while also creating space for a massage table. The building has new heating and air-conditioning, windows and siding. He plans to replace the roof next spring.

He praised Lockwood for her passion for the business, and for pushing for excellence.

Amanda Groves is one of three personal trainers working at Fast Fitness. She’s also the assistant manager.

“Our gym used to be very small with less equipment,” she said. “The women really love it here. We’re 300-plus members and we’re growing.”

Lockwood’s decision to have the gym for women only is a big attraction for the members, Groves said.

“If women are working out and trying to lose weight, they can be self-conscious,” Groves said. “We’ve created a loving, kind and nonjudgmental atmosphere.”

Press release, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library
Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Today is the last day the public will see the inside of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina before the West Avenue site receives a $272,000 makeover.

Library staff have been busy boxing up the collection, which will be moved to six storage pods in the parking lot. The library will be closed beginning tomorrow for about five weeks.

In 1966, Medina opened a new public library. The inside of the 11,000-square-foot building hasn’t been altered much since then. But that will change over the next five weeks.

Lee-Whedon is paying Sicoli Construction Services of Niagara Falls $272,000 for a number of improvements, including the following:

A complete makeover of the interior including ceiling tiles, paint and carpeting. New colors, fabrics and textures will provide a pleasant and welcoming environment. Lighting fixtures will also be upgraded.

The Children’s area will be reconfigured to provide improved space for group activities. A new Teen Center will include a study area and improved technology access.

Computer capable study areas are planned. High-speed Internet access points with upgraded computer technology will assure improved speed, ease of use, and security.

The shelves and display areas will be reconfigured for increased accessibility and efficiency. All public sections of the building will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act.

Several mechanical issues will be addressed including improved exterior lighting, electronic controls for the heating and ventilation systems and upgrades to the electrical services.

Boxes are stacked on the shelves as part of the impending relocation to storage pods in the parking lot.

MEDINA – When a Mercy Flight helicopter needs to transport a patient from Medina, the helicopter lands in a grass field on Ohio Street near West Center Street.

The patient has to be pushed by stretcher over the grass, which can be a difficult trip if it’s muddy or if there’s snow on the ground. Sometimes, after it has rained, the helicopter will land and get stuck in the field.

Medina Memorial Hospital wants to rectify these problems by constructing a 40-by-40-foot helipad. The site would have a curb cut and 80-foot-long driveway so ambulance crews could drive close to the helicopter and avoid unloading patients on a busy street.

“It will be a lot better situation, a much safer situation all around,” Marty Busch, Medina’s code enforcement officer, told members of the Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday.

The board backed the new landing zone. Most of the property will remain grass. The field is often used by children for youth sports. They will only see a small area of the field paved.

The Medina Fire Department also supports the new paved helipad. The current grass field, which requires patients to be unloaded from an ambulance in the street, puts firefighters and patients at risk, according to a letter from Jonathan Higgins, a Medina firefighter. Ambulance crews then have to push patients by stretcher to the current grass landing zone.

“The emergency providers have to carry patients over snow banks and wheel the stretcher through the mud with the current situation,” Higgins said. “This makes it difficult in providing good and safe patient care.”

The new helipad will cost about $10,000. Shelby Stone, Keeler Construction and Art Hill Excavation are all either donating services and materials or offering them at a discount.

The Planning Board also supported Rick Stacey’s proposal to build a detached 64-foot by 100-foot storage building in the town of Albion at 4015 Oak Orchard Rd. The building in the Light Industrial District will be next to RS Automation.

MEDINA – The community is invited to a memorial service for Medina firefighters on Saturday, when a memorial stone will also be unveiled in front of City Hall, 600 Main St.

Firefighters intend to make the memorial service an annual event. The fire department’s benevolent association paid for the memorial.

“We want to honor the past firefighters,” said Jonathan Higgins, a current firefighter.

Photo courtesy of Marlene Seielstad

GASPORT – A group of 13 riders from the Fuller & Company stable in Medina raised $2,868 during Saturday’s “Saddle Up for Roswell” at the Chestnut Ridge Equestrian Center in Gasport.

Fuller & Company raised the most money of any stable, and rider Emma Ambrose of Medina earned top honors for raising $1,105 individually for the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

The Fuller riders include, from left: Kelsie Johnstone, Emily DelSignore, Kelsey Evoy, Lyndsay Nadeau, Linda Fuller, Meghan Fuller, Lisa Kenny, Emma Ambrose, Elisabeth Oliver, Kaitlin Zwifka, Andrea Toussaint, Makaila Cardone, Clara Stillwell, Sean Evoy and Riley Seielstad.

Ashley Webb, a drum major for Le Roy, leads the band in its performance of “Ashes to Ashes” at Vets Park tonight in Medina.

Bands performed for three hours at Vets Park before judges stopped the Fall Festival of Bands

Photos by Tom Rivers

Madeline Bilicki, a member of the Medina Color Guard, is dressed as a gymnast for the band’s performance of “The Pursuit of Gold,” a tribute to Americans in the Olympics.

Cameron Morgan, Medina’s drum major, directs the 130-member band in the pouring rain. Medina was the last band to perform before judges stopped the Fall Festival of Bands due to the weather.

Melissa Oosterling, a five-year member of the Color Guard in Medina, didn’t let the rain slow her down.

Members of the pit for the Medina Mustangs keep playing despite an onslaught of rain.

A good-size crowd turned out to watch the Fall Festival of Bands. The event was scheduled to include 12 bands over about four hours, but the final hour was cut as the rain became more intense.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman

MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Band performs during half-time of last night’s football game at Medina.

Vets Park in Medina today will host the Fall Festival of Bands. Twelve bands will compete and UB will perform in exhibition. The gates open at 4:30 and the show starts at 5:30 with the National Anthem and introductions. Medina performs at 8:15. Medina’s show is called “The Pursuit of Gold,” with the band celebrating some of the most famous Olympic moments for the U.S.

MEDINA – Employees at Orchard Manor, a nursing home on Bates Road, voted to join the CSEA union on Thursday.

Employees approved the vote “by a comfortable margin,” said Jill Ascencio, spokeswoman for CSEA.

“It wasn’t even close,” she said this morning. “The workers definitely chose what they wanted to do.”

Orchard Manor was owned by Medina Memorial Hospital until it was sold to 600 Bates Road LLC for $4.1 million. The new owner took over Jan. 1 and hired Global Health Care to manage the 160-bed residential healthcare facility.

Chris Penna, an LPN at Orchard Manor, said changes were quickly noticed by the staff, as the new owner and management cut back on staff and basic supplies.

Staff tried to voice their concerns to management about quality of patient care, but Penna said employees didn’t feel their concerns were appreciated or addressed.

Orchard Manor staff started talking about forming a union, which led to seven staff being suspended and at least two terminated, Penna said. She was suspended the day after she spoke with The Journal-Register about the unionizing push.

“It’s a common union-busting tactic,” Ascencio said about employees losing jobs or facing suspensions. “They put on the pressure, they intimidated and they coerced. They tried to get people to back down out of fear.”

Penna said the employees banded together. She noticed that camaraderie when she started at Orchard Manor 19 months ago. She drives about 20 miles from Holley to work in Medina because she enjoys the residents and her co-workers.

“From the first day my feet hit the floor it was like family,” she said. “That why I wanted to work there because Orchard Manor had such a good reputation.”

She is hopeful the union will give the workers a stronger voice to ensure staffing levels and supplies for a high level of patient care.

“We want to make the residents the number one priority,” Penna said.

There are 114 employees eligible to be in the union, but that could change if some job titles are added or removed. Right now, the union will likely be open to CNAs, LPNs, maintenance, transportation, activities and kitchen staff.

They will need to form a negotiating team that will try to meet with management and the owner to discuss an employee contract and quality of care for residents.

Penna said employees have been under a lot of pressure in recent weeks, especially when co-workers were suspended or fired.

“We fought the good fight, that’s for sure,” she said. “We’re a family and we stuck it out. But we know the hard part isn’t over.”

MEDINA – In 1966, Medina opened a new public library on West Avenue, the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

The inside of the 11,000-square-foot building hasn’t changed much since then. But the place will be radically changed with a five-week construction project from Sept. 28 to Nov. 1.

Lee-Whedon is paying Sicoli Construction Services of Niagara Falls $272,000 for a number of improvements. The library will be closed for five weeks while it is remodeled and receives upgraded lighting and heating.

“We’ll have a rejuvenated facility,” said Catherine Cooper, library director. “It will bring us into the 21^st Century.”

The following improvements are planned:

A complete makeover of the interior including ceiling tiles, paint and carpeting. New colors, fabrics and textures will provide a pleasant and welcoming environment. Lighting fixtures will also be upgraded.

The Children’s area will be reconfigured to provide improved space for group activities. A new Teen Center will include a study area and improved technology access.

Computer capable study areas are planned. High-speed Internet access points with upgraded computer technology will assure improved speed, ease of use, and security.

The shelves and display areas will be reconfigured for increased accessibility and efficiency. All public sections of the building will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act.

Several mechanical issues will be addressed including improved exterior lighting, electronic controls for the heating and ventilation systems and upgrades to the electrical services.

The library’s collection will be moved into storage pods in the parking lot during the construction project. Lee-Whedon users are urged to visit any of the NIOGA libraries during the five weeks, including libraries in Albion, Middleport, Lyndonville and Holley.

Lee-Whedon recently put on a new roof on the building, a $224,000 project. The state paid half of those costs. Cooper said Lee-Whedon is applying to the state’s library construction fund to cover half of the interior project.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman

MEDINA – Before tonight’s Medina Mustang football game at home versus Akron, both teams and their fans observed a moment of silence for Damon Janes, a Westfield-Brocton football player who died Monday following a hit in last Friday’s high school football game against Portville. Teams from throughout Section 6 are pausing before each game tonight and Saturday to remember Janes.

Before each game, the following statement will be read: “On behalf of the entire Section 6 of New York State Public High School Athletic Association, we offer our deepest condolences and support to family, friends, classmates of Damon Janes, including school communities of Brocton, Westfield and Portville. Please know you’re in the hearts of the entire Western New York Athletic Community.”

Provided photo – The Medina Memorial Association of Twigs presents a $20,000 check to the hospital, the Twigs final payment on a $170,000 pledge for hospital lobby and ER renovations. Pictured, from left, include: Donna Poore, past president; Acting Interim Hospital CEO Dolores Horvath; and Carolyn Wisniewski, Twigs president.

MEDINA – The Medina Memorial Association of Twigs made its final $20,000 payment towards a $170,000 pledge to help the hospital remodel its lobby and emergency room.

The Twigs made a $50,000 initial payment and then followed with $20,000 checks annually over six years.

Twigs President Carolyn Wisniewski presented the final check on Sept. 9 to Acting Interim CEO Dolores Horvath, fulfilling the group’s pledge.

Most of the money was raised through the Twig Gift Shop located across from the switchboard at the hospital. The remaining funds were raised by the different Twig groups over the years.

The lobby received new carpeting and chairs in 2011. More work to the lobby as well as upgrades to the ER are expected to start at the end of 2013 or early 2014.

The Twigs have assisted with several projects at the hospital through the years.

“We are proud of our hospital and look forward to doing more projects with them in the future,” said Twigs President Carolyn Wisniewski.