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.

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.”

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 – 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.”

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.”

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.

Press release, Medina High School

MEDINA – For many years, students across Orleans County and New York State have completed community service as part of their Participation in Government class. Each school approaches community service differently, based on local needs.

The Medina High School Participation in Government teachers, Mike Pickreign and Todd Bensley, are making plans for the first annual Community Service Fair.

“The Community Service Fair is a way for the students to learn about the opportunities available to them,” Bensley said. “It also gives the organizations a chance to showcase all that they do for the community.”

The idea came out of discussions the two teachers had about making the experience more meaningful for the students and more beneficial for the organizations.

In the past, students needed to complete 20 hours of community service and they could spread it out over several organizations. What the teachers found was that many students would simply do whatever they needed to do to complete the requirement. This often meant taking anything that came along, whether or not the student was really interested in what the organization did.

The students of Medina High School will now be required to complete 10 hours of community service with one organization and do a presentation on their experience.

According to Bensley, the new requirements are meant to accomplish two goals: “First, the students will need to become more vested in the experience because they will need to do a presentation on the organization they work with and their experiences as a volunteer. Second, by giving presentations to their fellow students, they may pique the other students’ interest in offering their services to an organization other than the one they already served.”

The fair will be held at Medina High School on Thursday from 2 to 2:50 p.m. Any non-profit organizations wishing to take part in this opportunity should contact Bensley by the end of today. He can be reached by e-mail at tbensley@medinacsd.org, or by calling 798-2700.

Press release, Medina Marching Band

MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Band opened its fall season on Sept. 7 with a first place showing in East Irondequoit. The Mustangs scored 75.95, followed by East Irondequoit at 74.40 and Le Roy in third at 69.65.

This past Saturday, Medina traveled to Jamestown High School and the Mustangs scored an 81.20, winning their class. They were the only band in that division.

This Saturday Medina is home, hosting 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.

This is a great evening of family entertainment including homemade concessions. It’s also an opportunity for our community to see Medina’s show, “The Pursuit of Gold” as they celebrate America’s most famous Olympic moments.

Company is working to clear FDA hurdles

MEDINA – One of Orleans County’s largest employers announced on Thursday it was laying off 91 employees.

Baxter International, owner of the former Sigma International on Park Avenue, will continue to employ 370 full-time employees and 70 contractual workers in Medina.

The company is working to clear regulatory hurdles through the Food and Drug Administration. Once it gains FDA approval, Baxter expects it will be able to bring back some of the workers, but the company declined to say how many could be rehired in the future.

“Three hundred seventy employees will continue to work for the company in Medina, which remains critical to Baxter’s ability to continue supporting customers who rely on the SIGMA Spectrum Infusion pump to provide life-saving and life-sustaining care,” said John O’Malley, company spokesman. “We have notified employees directly and rolled out transition services to assist them at this time.”

Baxter became a part-owner of the SIGMA Spectrum Infusion pump in 2009. Last year became the full owner of the product. Baxter expects it will meet the FDA regulations, but the government agency may insist on a change to the product. If that happens, it doesn’t make sense for the company to manufacture a product that could be obsolete, company officials said.

“Baxter anticipates resuming manufacturing of the SIGMA Spectrum infusion pump in Medina based on the clearance of our 510(k) (regulatory) submission with the FDA,” O’Malley said. “We will not speculate on future employment plans, but will continue to assess facility and staffing needs in the future.”

When Baxter first partnered with SIGMA in 2009, there were 225 employees working on the smart infusion pump in Medina. Even with the cuts, Baxter has been able to help boost the workforce by nearly 150 people at the site.

“Our overall story has been one of growth in Medina,” O’Malley said.

The company is respected in the community. On Sept. 14 it accepted the “Business of the Year” award from the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.