MEDINA – Medina car dealers who pay local property taxes are complaining about an out-of-town outfit that sets up for 10 days outside the Medina bowling alley.

The village requires a license fee for the transient business, but it pales in comparison to the taxes the local dealers pay.

“They should be regulated so we can level the playing field,” said Mark Kuhmann, the used car manager for Hartway Motors.

Kuhmann asked the Village Board to pass an ordinance for “transient retail merchants” that would increase their costs to sell in Medina. That would make the operations on par with the local merchants paying property taxes. It would also bring in tax revenue for the community, Kuhmann said.

The proposal would require a local tax on retail sales. That tax would be the same as other merchants pay in the village, which is about $50 per $1,000 of assessed property for village, county, town and school taxes.

That could be significant for the auto dealer, Transitowne, which has now had several “tent sales” in Medina. The company is rumored to have sold 80 vehicles in its latest 10-day sales event in Medina earlier this month. If those used vehicles sold for an average of $10,000 that would be $800,000 in total gross. At a $50 tax rate, the local governments would be due $40,000, according to the proposal submitted by Kuhmann on behalf of Hartway and Orleans Ford.

Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said the village would consider the proposal, which doesn’t impact non-profits.

“We’ll discuss it,” Meier told Kuhmann on Tuesday. “We want to make sure we don’t over-legislate.”

The proposal would also establish a minimum 1,000-foot buffer from the transient business and one that is selling similar merchandise in the village.

Kuhmann said other communities have approved similar legislation for “gypsy dealers.” Village officials asked their attorney, Matt Brooks, to look over the proposal.

“We all support our local businesses, but we have to operate within the law,” said Trustee Mark Irwin.

Provided photo

Press release
Orleans Community Health

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health recently celebrated the renovations to the Mammography Department at Medina Memorial Hospital.

Community members stepped up to raise money for the project. The annual Pink Crystal Ball, in particular, played a major role in upgrades.

Hospital officials gathered May 14 for a dedication ceremony. Pictured include, from left: Bruce Krenning, OCH Board President; Sue Knutson, Lead Mammographer; Victor Vicknair from the Pink Crystal Ball; Jeanne Crane, OCH Foundation Board President; Renee Lama of the Pink Crystal Ball; Kathy Vicknair, Founder of Pink Crystal Ball; and Randy Nieswonger, vice president of patient care.

MEDINA – A day-old baby surrendered to the Medina Fire Department on Saturday is currently in foster care and in good health, said a spokeswoman for the United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

Medina firefighters took the baby to UMMC after the mother surrendered the child. The baby has been discharged and the case has been turned over to the Orleans County Department of Social Services, said Colleen Flynn, director of community relations for UMMC.

Tom Kuryla, the Orleans DSS commissioner, said confidentiality laws prevent him from discussing the case. He would neither confirm nor deny the Orleans DSS is involved.

Flynn would not disclose the baby’s sex or weight.

“We want to protect the mom, and we want people to feel comfortable to surrender the child if they don’t think they can care for the baby,” Flynn said.

She said other babies have been surrendered at the hospital.

“It’s not common, but this isn’t the first time,” she said.

The state’s Safe Haven Law allows a parent to leave a baby, up to 30 days old, “with any responsible person at a suitable location in New York.” A suitable location is typically a hospital, fire hall or police station. The parent needs to locate a person at the site before the child is surrendered.

“We hope that more people would choose to do this as opposed to something that’s not safe,” Flynn said.

She contrasted the Medina baby with an incident in China, where a 22-year-old woman gave birth to a baby in a bathroom. The baby boy was then found stuck in a sewer pipe. The baby is recovering in a hospital in a case that has become an international story.

Flynn said she is confident there will be good outcome for the baby from Medina.

“We believe the baby is in a safe environment and will be in a safe, loving home,” Flynn said. “There are many parents who are willing to adopt a baby.”

‘Dry Bones’ expected to be released this fall

Photos by Tom Rivers – The cast for ‘Dry Bones’ includes Debbie Rochon, center, who has appeared in about 200 films. The crew is shooting a scene inside the Medina Theatre this afternoon.

MEDINA – She seems nice enough. Debbie Rochon smiles, nods her head affirmatively, and listens.

But it’s all a mirage. Rochon will transform into a demon, her true identity in a horror film that includes footage inside the Medina Theatre.

The cast and crew of about 20 filmed for several hours today inside the theater at 607 Main St. The theater has a spacious room and balcony that will allow for great camera angles, said director Greg Lamberson.

He expects to complete shooting for the film, “Dry Bones,” next week. The

Cheektowaga director will work to have the film ready by late summer, in time for horror film festivals.

He shot most of the film from his house. The Medina Theatre was added after he screened one of his films, “Slim City Massacre,” at the location in December. Lamberson immediately liked the Medina Theatre for its historical features and big open room.

Orleans County residents Richard Ferris, left, and Michael O’Keefe, center, are extras in an upcoming horror film that includes the Medina Theatre as one of three locations for the film. Filmmakers like the theater for its spacious room and balcony.

“I’m always looking for places with potential,” said Lamberson, who has directed five films and produced six others.

Today was the second day of shooting at the theater, which will include three scenes in the upcoming film.

The theater’s bar and dining area will be used to set the stage when Rochon’s character reconnects with a childhood friend played by Michael O’Hear of Niagara Falls.

O’Hear’s character was traumatized as a boy when he watched his father be eaten by a monster hiding in his home. No one believed O’Hear. That demon is a succubus that can appear human. O’Hear’s character will discover that Rochon’s character actually is the demon.

“I like movies with a little scare in them,” O’Hear said.

Rochon starred in Slime City Massacre. She lives in Novia Scotia. She has worked as an actress for nearly three decades.

“With the horror film genre, you can play very extreme characters,” she said. “You can do a lot more emotionally. With horror movies, they’re a lot more fun.”

Director Greg Lamberson is ready to announce, “Action!” About 20 actors were inside Medina Theatre today while Lamberson captured footage of bar scenes for his upcoming film, ‘Dry Bones.’

Rochon on Saturday needed six hours to be turned into the demon character. That’s how long it took to apply her makeup and prosthetics.

Rochon said horror films are gaining in popularity and going mainstream, with horror series now even on network television.

Medina attorney Michael O’Keefe is an extra in the movie. He has been in 14 films since August. O’Keefe helped line up many of the extras for the Medina footage.

O’Keefe would like to get into directing or producing. He also is interested in entertainment law.

He wants to bring more of the film business to Orleans County. Besides using local locations for films, O’Keefe would like to see more films screened at the Medina Theatre. He worked to start the Canal Town Film Festival in December at Medina Theatre. Besides screening Slim City Massacre, “Snow Shark” was also shown. Sam Qualiana, director of photography for the film, is heading that effort for Dry Bones.

Lamberson said he would like to return to Medina Theatre to screen the new film later this year.

I was driving through Medina at about 4:45 this morning and stopped to take a picture of a very bright full moon.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, at 200 East Center St., is in the foreground. The church was built from Medina sandstone in 1832, making it one of the oldest churches in the county.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – “Mr. Conrad” of Buffalo performed a jazz concert tonight in Medina at the Shirt Factory Café. Jim Beishline joined him on the keyboards.

Next Saturday, June 1, the site’s Boiler 54, an outdoor performance venue, kicks off the season at 115 West Center St.

There will be concerts at the Boiler 54 most Fridays and Saturdays through the end of the summer. For more information, visit www.boiler54.com for Boiler 54’s list of upcoming concerts.

Photo courtesy of Darlene Rich, Shelby town clerk

SHELBY – The Shelby Town Board presented Medina Savings and Loan President Tim Moriarty a proclamation on May 11 in honor of the bank’s 125^th anniversary. Moriarty, left, is congratulated by Town Supervisor Skip Draper for the bank’s longevity.

Medina Savings and Loan was the only Orleans County bank to survive the Great Depression. The bank will celebrate its 125^th anniversary during customer appreciation day on June 8 at its location by Tops on Maple Ridge Road.

The Medina Sandstone Society will present a sandstone plaque commemorating the S and L on its 125^th anniversary. That unveiling is planned for 1 p.m.

Provided photo – Press release, Medina Mustang Band

MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Band traveled to New Jersey from May 16-19 and competed in the Music in the Parks Festival, taking first place in parade with a score of 98, first in concert band with a score of 98 and also won the overall concert band award (highest scoring High School Concert Band).The Mustangs also won first in jazz with a score of 96.25 and took the overall jazz award. Student Cameron Morgan was named best soloist for the High School Jazz competition.

Band Directors Jim Steele and Cheri Pritchard stated the students represented their school and community very well with outstanding performances.Many great comments came from the judges and other competing band directors and staffs.

The band directors want to publicly thank 28 chaperones and staff that made this trip a success.Without the chaperones, the support of the Mustang Band Boosters, school administrators and staff, the directors and band would not have been able to pull off this monumental trip.

The band looks forward to showing off their street show, “Ol’ Blue Eyes” to the Medina community on Monday at the Memorial Day Parade. The next and last competition for the band will be at the Gorham Pageant of Bands held May 31 and June 1.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The Medina school district activated this new school sign last Friday. The sign on Route 31A is made of Medina sandstone.

MEDINA – A new sign advertising Medina school events recognizes the community’s sandstone heritage, while utilizing new wireless technology.

“It’s a neat combination linking our past, present and future,” said Jeff Evoy, the district superintendent.

Medina used leftover state funds from a capital project to cover nearly all the costs of the new sign on Route 31A by Mustang Drive.

The sign replaces one that was only about 10 years old. That stopped working years ago. Residents and school officials wanted it to be repaired. The company that installed the sign went bankrupt and is no longer in business, school officials said.

Evoy is a member of the Medina Sandstone Society. He wanted some of the area’s famous stone incorporated in the new sign.

The new sign was functional last Friday, just in time to welcome the Medina Mustang Band back from a trip to New Jersey and wish Medina sports teams good luck in the playoffs. The sign was changed Wednesday to thank the community for supporting the district’s school budget.

Press Release, Medina Tree Board

MEDINA – Ten years ago, when downtown Medina was ripped up for a road reconstruction project, old mature trees were removed and replaced with new trees in tree pits in downtown sidewalks.

Those new trees have never developed as expected, said Chris Busch, the Tree Board chairman.

“The existing trees included a couple varieties of crab apple, flowering pear, and a few other miscellaneous species, none of which were growing as would normally be expected and none of which were providing the desired impact in the streetscape,” he said.

So those trees will be taken out and replaced beginning Wednesday morning with several larger shade trees which would provide the desired canopy effect. The larger trees will eventually require selective pruning and shaping, but the overall effect will be stunning, Busch said.

The village worked with Tree Board consultant Andy Pleninger of Urban Forestry LLC of Palmyra to study the tree pits and make recommendations for the bigger trees.

The crabapples and other trees being removed from the Main Street site will be replanted in one of the local village parks.

Busch said the benefits of having a healthy green canopy in a business district are both multiple and tangible, and an underdeveloped canopy is literally robbing a business district of potential profits. Many studies have shown that the greening of business districts increases community pride and positive perception of an area, drawing customers to the businesses.

Pleninger made several species recommendations, with the Tree Board eventually settling on two- ‘Prairie Pride’ Hackberry and Skyline Honeylocust – both of which are trees that can thrive under tough urban conditions.

“In a relatively short number of years,” said Pleninger, “the shade trees will begin providing more environmental benefits such as shading the sidewalks, moderating temperatures and wind speeds.”

Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said a healthy, green canopy is important in a successful business district.

“These new trees will soften and compliment our historic streetscape,” Meier said. “They will dramatically enhance the walkability of the district.Whether the realize it or not, people tend to enjoy being in a well-landscaped business district.”

The Village of Medina is a Tree City USA and a multiple Tree City Growth Award recipient.

‘Unfortunately it’s going to be painful, very painful.’- Medina Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich

MEDINA – Mayor Andrew Meier and the Village Board put out the directive for the fire and police departments: They each need to cut $40,000 from their budgets for the 2013-14 year. And that’s after board members had already chopped from the spending plans.

“This will be my hardest budget by far,” said Todd Zinkievich, the Medina fire chief since 2003. “Unfortunately it’s going to be painful, very painful.”

Meier said the additional $40,000 in cuts from each department were needed to prevent a tax increase of nearly 10 percent for a fiscal year that starts June 1. With the $80,000 from the two departments, plus $10,000 from the Department of Public Works and $5,000 from the code enforcement officer, Medina was able to pass a budget April 29 that raises taxes 4 percent.

Meier left it to the department heads to identify the cuts. He would like cost-savings pinpointed by the end of the month.

Zinkievich said he doesn’t want to skimp on preventive maintenance and equipment upgrades that are recommended by the National Fire Protection Agency. Medina has been working hard in recent years to maintain aging equipment, trying to put off new replacements, he said. He doesn’t want to pull back on maintenance, fearing a bigger repair or replacement.

“We have our budget tight right now,” he said. “I’ll do my best to not jeopardize the safety of my men.”

Police Chief Jose Avila said his department has reduced staff over the years and is already running lean. But he said he will make the $40,000 in cuts.

“It will certainly make things tougher, but my job is to make it happen,” Avila said.

He is working to identify the cuts. He has about two weeks to make those decisions.

“My job is to serve and protect Medina with what I’m given,” Avila said.

Medina is in a difficult predicament, Meier said, because the village’s tax base has been shrinking, putting more tax pressure on property owners. Meier fears if the tax rate continues to rise, more residents will flee the village, causing assessments to drop even more, putting the village in a vicious cycle.

MEDINA – The village hasn’t increased its water and sewer rates in a decade. That will soon change.

The Village Board will meet 7 p.m. May 28 to schedule a public hearing for an increase. First, the board needs to determine how much the rates will go up for village users and out-of-village customers in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway.

“We have 10 years of increases to catch up on,” said Mayor Andrew Meier.

Medina has been working with a consultant, Paul Bringewatt of Canandaigua, to determine how much the rates should increase. The village also has been looking at how personnel and other budgeted expenses are credited to either the water or general fund.

Some of the village fund expenses, which are paid solely by the village-only property owners, may be shifted to the water budget, which includes both village and outside-village users. That would ease some pressure on the general fund, and village property owners.

Meier said the issues will be discussed May 28 and during the public hearing, which has yet to be set.

Medina buys its water from the Niagara County Water District. Village residents pay a retail rate to the village, while the towns receive a wholesale rate from Medina. The towns of Shelby and Ridgeway then sell then water to residents in their water districts.