Photo by Tom Rivers – Medina is moving a welcome center from the Chamber of Commerce building to City Hall.

MEDINA – A welcome center offering information about Medina history and attractions is moving from the Chamber of Commerce building to City Hall.

The Chamber has sold its building at 433 Main St. That is prompting the Tourism Committee and Medina Business Association to move the welcome center to the second floor of 600 Main St., the historic City Hall.

Jim Hancock, the Tourism Committee chairman, said the center is looking for volunteers to man the center from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He would people to be at the site from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and 9 to noon on Saturdays.

“We have a loyal crew that volunteers, providing directions and information about Medina,” Hancock told the Village Board on March 25. “But we are in desperate need of volunteers.”

He welcomes people to volunteer for even an hour or two each week.

The Village Department of Public Works will spruce up the second floor space with fresh paint and some historic-looking lights.

Former Mayor Marcia Tuohey urged the village to repair the front stone steps.

“It’s a historic building, the best one we have here in Medina,” she said. “The least we can do is make the steps look good.”

Peter Houseknecht, the DPW superintendent, said he is getting quotes to repair the steps.

Hancock updated the board on other tourism initiatives for 2013. About 550 bike riders are expected in early July for an overnight stay in the village as part of the 400-mile, eight-day “Cycling the Erie Canal” bike tour. Medina will feed the riders dinner and breakfast.

The Tourism Committee also is promoting an Aug. 10 “Blue Grass and the Blues in the Basin,” part of a summer concert series by the canal.

The group also is working with the Business Association for the Old Tyme Christmas celebration and parade of lights on Nov. 30.

Kathleen Holler (Empire Emergency Apparatus), Ryan Leffeler (Survival Armour), Sergeant Todd Draper, teacher aide Sharon Librera and student Luke Burdette.

Press Release: Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Medina Police Officer Sergeant Todd Draper and his K-9 partner hold a special place in the hearts of the Orleans/Niagara BOCES students at the Orleans Learning Center.

Sergeant Draper and his K-9 Kye, a Belgian Malinois, visit the center frequently to see the classes and the students have become very attached to Kye. When the students realized that Kye did not have a bulletproof vest to help protect him when he was on duty, the students made it their mission to raise money to get him one.

“Even though the K-9s are considered police officers, vests are not standard for them,” says teacher Theresa Clause. “The students were very upset about that.”

The students have been busy with Mrs. Clause and classroom aides Sharon Librera and Kathy Scarborough making and selling chocolate suckers to staff and students at their center and also to members of the community. They had managed in three months’ time to make $500, but it wasn’t enough to get the vest which range in price from $1,200 to $2,800. After appealing to the community through newspaper stories and posting on the Channel 2 – WGRZ website the outpouring of support for the students’ quest was remarkable.

“We actually had a few people contact us and say they would cover whatever the students couldn’t come up with so Kye would get his vest,” says Mrs. Clause. “We were very moved by people’s generosity.”

A local company, Empire Emergency Apparatus, decided they had to do something too.

“We had an employee who saw it on WGRZ and called me and said can’t we do anything to help,” explained Operations Manager Kathleen Holler. “I have a sister-in-law who worked for BOCES and I know how heartfelt this gesture was for the students and it really touched me. We supply law enforcement and fire personnel with equipment so I went to my boss and said can we do anything. He said let’s give them a vest. I almost started crying.”

She contacted Ryan Leffler, who works for Survival Armor, a ballistic protection company out of Florida and asked if he would be willing to come and measure Kye for a vest. He didn’t hesitate.

“I thought this is fantastic. These dogs put their lives at risk every day and they deserve to be protected. I am glad to be here and very happy to help these students’ with their goal.”

What was the reaction of the students while they watched their friend get fitted for his vest?

“We are so happy,” says Luke Burdette. “When I heard about that police dog that got killed in Herkimer it made me so sad and now I know that Kye will be safe and that is awesome.”

Sergeant Draper says he is very appreciative. “The students got it started with working so hard to raise the money and what a great added bonus to have this company be so generous in providing a vest for Kye. I can’t thank Empire Emergency Apparatus enough.”

Mrs. Clause says they are beyond thrilled how everything worked out.

“After talking to Sergeant Draper we have decided to donate the money we raised to a fund that will help other K-9’s get vests. This has been a great day for everyone. We want to thank everyone who made this possible. You have done a wonderful thing in protecting those who protect us.”

MEDINA – Two village trustees who were running without opposition on the ballot were re-elected on March 19.

Mark Kruzynski, the Medina High School principal, received 174 votes for another two-year term. Mark Irwin, a retired corrections officer, received 118 votes.

The two ran together on the Village Party line. They have been pushing for consolidation of government services, including a push to study the dissolution of the village.

They weren’t without opposition on election day. Former Village Trustee Owen Toale received 61 write-in votes. He has been critical in recent village meetings about a plan to hire a village manager for $70,000 to $80,000 a year.

Other residents also received write-in votes, including Mike Sidari, 6; Mike Maryjanowski, 2; Marguerite Sherman, 1; and Peter Huth, 1.

The new terms start April 1.

MEDINA – Pressure from the state to raise standards for all students is poisoning the learning atmosphere for students and teachers in Medina’s special education program, the Board of Education was told on March 12.

Jennifer Bansbach, a special education teacher, said two dedicated colleagues have resigned this year due to the unreasonable expectations. The state is requiring many of students classified with learning disabilities to take the same tests as students in regular education. That is setting up the students in special education, who often learn at different rates, for failure, said Bansbach, the special education chairwoman for grades kindergarten through 5.

“I’m philosophically opposed to having special ed kids go on the same path as regular ed kids,” she told the BOE.

Many parents reluctantly agreed to have their students classified for special education, but they did so believing the curriculum could be adapted to meet their children’s needs, Bansbach said.

“Now there are fewer or no options to modify the curriculum,” she said. “The kids are failing. You feel the frustration of the parents and the kids.”

New York this year moved to a new “Common Core” standard, trying to boost classroom achievement. The added rigor is backfiring for many special education students.

“There is really a fine line in breaking the students’ will to try,” she said.

Medina BOE member Chris Keller, an Albion teacher, said state legislators and the governor have done a disservice to spec ed students. He said State Sen. George Maziarz and other state officials should visit special education classrooms, to see the education process for themselves. Bansbach said spec ed students’ needs and abilities should be treated individually, not grouped with all the others.

Jeff Evoy, the district superintendent, told Bansbach she has the support of the BOE and administration. He bemoaned the business approach being taken towards education.

“Kids aren’t widgets,” he said.

Keller said the state should back up the push for more standards with more money, especially for districts like Medina and Albion that have high poverty rates. Albany should fund universal pre-K and kindergarten for poorer districts, Keller said.

“It’s a lot easier to crucify teachers than to address the problem,” he said. “It’s all about poverty, but they would rather beat on teachers.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – Wendi Pencille, owner and handler of Humphrey, poses with the dog at the Medina school administration office. Humphrey has been visiting classrooms for the past 18 months.

MEDINA – When the 125-pound Landseer Newfoundland dog debuted at Medina Central School about 18 months ago, Kelly Linnan admitted he was a skeptic the dog would be a good fit with elementary students.

But Humphrey, a trained therapy dog, has made Linnan, a school counselor, a devoted fan.

“It is amazing what has occurred with this program,” Linnan told the Board of Education on March 12. “He gives unconditional, positive regard.”

Humphrey attended the BOE meeting and seemed happy to lounge on the carpet by his owner and handler Wendi Pencille, a member of the BOE.

Pencille brings the dog to school for about three hours every Thursday. He gets excited when Pencille pulls out his red bandana, which he wears around his neck, signifying he’s a trained therapy dog.

“He’s a trusted friend to the kids,” Pencille said. “There’s an emotional comfort.”

Some of the students will sit down and read a book to Humphrey. Others will snuggle up beside him.

“He loves the attention,” Pencille said. “He thinks he’s at the spa.”

Pencille, a wildlife rehabilitator, took classes with Humphrey at Ebbtide Kennels in Holley to become a trained therapy dog team. She is working to have three other dogs – a Saint Bernard, a German Shepherd, and another Landseer – trained as therapy dogs. Humphrey also is gaining certification for disaster relief.

Pencille volunteers when she brings Humphrey into the school. She sees the impact the dog has on the students.

“It’s very comforting for the kids,” she said. “A lot of kids have high stresses at home and school.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence, addresses about 50 people Saturday at the Shirt Factory Cafe in Medina.

MEDINA – After two months in Congress, Chris Collins said he sees first-hand the frustration and cynicism that reigns in the nation’s capitol. Collins is a member of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. The Senate and the presidency are under Democratic Party control.

“We have a government that is designed for gridlock,” he told about 50 people Saturday during a 90-minute visit at the Shirt Factory Cafe in Medina.

Collins was most critical of President Obama for failing to put a budget on the table by a Feb. 4 deadline, and for spending too much time “politicking” and not enough time leading the country.

“This man is simply not doing his job,” said Collins, the former Erie County executive who was elected to represent an eight-county district in November. “He is the CEO of the country. What are his ideas for defense? What are his ideas for Social Security? What are his ideas to get us on a fiscal path for prosperity?”

The president warned in recent weeks and months about a March 1 deadline to avoid $85 billion in cuts. The president and Congress couldn’t reach a deal to avoid the “sequester” on Friday, and the cuts will hit the military particularly hard. However, Collins said the president’s grossly overstated the sequester’s impact.

“The president’s dire predictions that the sky was falling didn’t happen,” Collins told the Medina crowd, a group mostly of local Republican elected officials. “You have to be careful. If you become known as Chicken Little, people aren’t going to believe much of anything you say.”

Collins said $85 billion in cuts is a small percentage of the federal budget, about 2.4 percent of the $3.6 trillion total. He favors spending reductions, but he supports giving the president more authority to determine which agencies will be cut. Collins co-sponsored a bill in the House last week, seeking to give the president flexibility in making spending cuts.

Collins said the sequester will hit the wrong government personnel, and he blames Obama for the plan, “the nuclear option” that was intended to force a compromise.

“Only this president will try to inflict pain on the public to drive a point,” Collins said about cuts that will hit the military, airport security and meat inspectors. “If you’re really serving the public you’ll lay off the two bureaucrats in the back room that are really doing nonsense work.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – Orleans County Republican Party Chairman Ed Morgan introduces U.S. Rep. Chris Collins to about 50 residents on Saturday at the Shirt Factory Cafe in Medina.

Collins touched on several topics during his talk in Medina.

Continuing resolutions

Rather than adopt a new federal budget, Congress and the president have been relying on “continuing resolutions” to keep the federal government funded. The CRs maintain the status quo, and Collins said they prevent the elimination of underperforming programs and the ability to better fund good ones.The president didn’t present a budget in February. The Senate hasn’t approved a budget in four years. The House Republicans will work on their plan, but Collins said the president, as the country’s CEO, should have gone first, with House and Senate then following with their plans, building off Obama’s ideas.

“Do you know by Feb. 4 he is required by law to submit his budget to the United States?” Collins asked the Medina group. “And again he didn’t do it. He deliberately didn’t do his job as the president of the United States. Do you know why? He doesn’t have a good budget to put forward! He is too busy playing golf with Tiger Woods.”

Collins expects this week that Congress to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government until September, when the new federal fiscal year begins. He is hopeful Congress and the president can agree on a budget for the next fiscal year.

“Let’s see if we can get a budget or else we’re stuck in this never-never land of continuing resolutions,” he said. “It’s just no way to run a country.”

Early clout

Collins was elected to Congress following a 40-year career in private industry that made him a multi-millionaire.

Collins said he is pleased to have been picked for two committees that are important to the 27th District – Agriculture and Small Business. He is chairman of the Small Business subcommittee on health and technology. He will lead a hearing this week on cybersecurity.

“The Chinese are deliberately trying to attack us through our computers, to wreak all kinds of havoc and steal information,” he said.

He also plans to lead hearings on the impact of the Obama health care law on small businesses. This January, companies will be hit with $2,000 penalties for each full-time worker without health insurance. That law will force many companies to reduce their workers’ hours so they are technically classified as part-time, Collins predicted.

He wants to amend the health care law, so people can work up to 36 hours, instead of 30, before they are deemed full-time. That would allow companies, especially fast food restaurants and other franchises, to offer more hours for employees in “starter jobs,” Collins said. Those employees typically are just looking for hours and experience, not health insurance coverage, he said.

The congressman said he is forming an agriculture advisory committee. He said farmers want to see the Farm Bill approved for a full five years, rather than the one-year extension it was given until September.

As a Republican in the majority, he said he has much more influence than a House Democrat.

“If you’re in the majority, you’re in the room where they are making decisions,” he said.

“If you’re in the minority, you’re on the outside looking into the window. You can tap on the window, and they may listen to you, or they might not.”

‘Nonsense’

Collins referred to many federal regulations and taxes as “nonsense.” He cited a new 2.3 percent tax on gross revenue for medical devices. The tax should be on profits, not revenues, he said. Many companies are doing well if they operate at a 5 percent profit rate on their revenue. The medical device tax will make many companies unprofitable or cut their ability to reinvest and grow the company, he said.

The tax would hit companies that provide and clean pillow cases for hospitals, he said.

Obama’s re-election assures that the device tax and Obamacare won’t go away, Collins said. So, he said he is working to minimize the damage. For the medical device tax, he wants to propose it be limited to no more than 10 percent of a company’s profits.

He wants to increase the cap on small business size, from 50 to 100 employees, that would be exempt from some of Obamacare’s requirements.

“We’re playing defense,” Collins said. “We’re going to protect the Constitution. We’re going to stand up for small business.”

Gun control

President Obama’s proposal for gun control “is going nowhere,” Collins said.

Democrats in the Senate are up for election this year and don’t want to alienate voters.

“They are in states where the Second Amendment is alive and well,” he said. “There is no way in the world if those guys who want to be re-elected will support more restrictive gun laws.”

Collins doesn’t support Obama’s proposal. He also is against New York’s state gun law passed in January.

“You can not legislate morality,” Collins said. “If you could we wouldn’t have robberies and murders. This president just wants to take the guns off the street. It’s one of his agenda items.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – Barre Town Supervisor Mark Chamberlain, left, chats with U.S. Rep. Chris Collins before the congressman addressed about 50 people, mostly local elected officials, during a visit to Medina on Saturday.

Immigration reform

Collins called a bi-partisan push towards immigration reform “a bright spot.” Both parties want to make it easier for agriculture and other industries to have easier access to legal foreign workers, and to address the 11 million people in the country already here illegally. Many of the undocumented workers have proven to be hard-working and contributors to the country, Collins said. He wants a way for them to stay, to have a permanent residency and establish steps to work towards citizenship.

If the undocumented residents haven’t been working and if they committed violent crimes, Collins said they will be out of the country.

“There are 11 million here, and many of them are children who were brought here,” Collin said about the illegal immigrants. “We’re the only country they have known. We are a compassionate country.”

Republicans and Democrats both favor more border security “so we don’t have 12 million or 14 million (undocumented),” Collins said.

Local farmers have pushed for more than a decade for immigration reform or a better guest-worker program to bring in workers to milk cows, plant crops and harvest fruits and vegetables. In Orleans County, agriculture tops more than $100 million annually in revenues.

“There is a broad consensus that we have to deal with immigration reform,” Collins said. “We have to provide the workers we need in agriculture and other industries.  We have to secure our borders. Because all of these dots are being connected, I’ve got more optimism than not that we’ll get something done. My fight is for the farmers to make sure we get them access to legal workers.”

Roger Hungerford, former president and CEO of Sigma in Medina, told Collins that Congress should welcome foreign students who earn graduate degrees at U.S. universities. Many of those students are trained in the U.S., and then pushed out of the country, taking their talents back home, Hungerford said.

No new taxes

Collins said he will be a strident voice to reduce government spending, cut the national debt and ease taxes on Americans.

“When the president says he wants more taxes, he is taking that money out of the economy to go to Washington to be wasted by bureaucrats,” Collins said. “How does that help grow the economy? How does that incentivize small business owners to create jobs? All of a sudden you’re not going to take the risk, you’re not going to create the jobs.”

MEDINA – A Medina company will add 43 jobs as part of a $15 million expansion project at its Bates Road manufacturing plant.

Brunner International, which is based in Canada, has committed to a 45,000-square-foot addition to expand the production of machined axle forgings that are sold to large, heavy-duty truck and trailer suppliers. The Orleans Economic Development Agency confirmed this morning the company picked Medina for the expansion, turning down an offer from Kentucky.

New York Power Authority in December announced it approved 2.4 megawatts of low-cost electrcity for the project. The state also said it would provide a $750,000 incentive package under Empire State Development’s Excelsior Jobs Program.

The company, besides adding jobs, will utilize robots in the production of axle shafts, said Jim Whipple, Orleans EDA chief executive officer.

The EDA is working with Brunner to re-establish a new wetland as part of the expansion. The company will add the new building south of its current complex at the corner of Route 31 and Bates Road. Whipple said the company will present the site plan for the project to Ridgeway and Orleans County planning officials later this month.

Brunner completed a 41,250-square-foot expansion about five years ago that added 50 jobs in Medina.