Photo by Tom Rivers: The inside of the Gallagher is pictured last summer for a wedding reception.

MEDINA – With a chance for rain on Thursday evening, organizers of the second annual Farm to Table dinner have decided to move the event from a closed off section of Main Street to the historic Gallagher barn on North Gravel Road.

The Orleans Renaissance Group organizes the event as a fundraiser for the Canal Village Farmers’ Market.

“The weather for Thursday is too risky – 60 percent chance of thunderstorms,” said Chris Busch, the ORG president.

The group had considered Aug. 10 as a rain date, but the Lois McClure schooner will be stopping of in Medina that evening as part of the 200th anniversary celebration of the Erie Canal.

As organizers discussed the logistics of a rain date, they took into account not only potential weather problems but the impact of the McClure event, issues with rescheduling equipment rentals and the difficulty in notifying dinner attendees on short notice.

All things considered, they arrived at the conclusion the most ideal solution would be to have an alternative site… but where?

“As we pondered the problem, someone suggested The Gallagher” said Cindy Robinson of the ORG. “It seemed like the perfect solution so we enquired and they have generously consented to serve as the dinner’s rain site.”

The Gallagher barn, pictured on July 2, 2016 when it hosted its first wedding, is an iconic landmark on North Gravel Road.

Martin and Jenna Bruning opened the Gallagher as an events center last year, hosting several weddings and receptions.

“The Gallagher is a stunning historic farm in Medina,” said Kara Zambito of Zambistro, which is catering the meal. “You couldn’t ask for a better alternative location than that for a farm to table event. We’re grateful to Martin and Jenna Brunning for this wonderful kindness.”

Martin and Jenna Brunning purchased the historic William J. Gallagher barn on North Gravel Road in 2015. Built in 1882, it is a well-known local historic landmark, 40’ x 110’, with a pasture ringed by iconic cobblestone fence posts. The Brunnings have spent the last two years restoring and transforming the site into an event facility.

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MEDINA – Today’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market will include a special guest today who will take ideas from the public on how to design a better market for the future.

The market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 127 West Center St., across from the Post Office.

The Orleans Renaissance Group, which operates the market, is looking to upgrade the site to better serve vendors and customers.

Carl Schoenthal, an architect, is expected to spend several hours at the market, taking ideas from the public.

In addition, the market will be drawing two winning tickets for the chance to have dinner at the Farm-To-Table dinner on Aug. 3. That includes a five-course meal on a blocked-off section of Main Street. (In case of rain, the dinner will be at The Gallagher barn on North Gravel Road.)

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MEDINA – The tractor trailers rumble down Park Avenue early in the morning through the evening. They are beating up the village streets and bothering neighbors, village officials said on Monday.

Medina wants them to stay off village streets, and instead take Maple Ridge Road to Salt Works Road to then go to Associated Brands and companies in the Olde Pickle Factory.

Many of the truckers who are stopped by police for violating the 5-ton weight limit say their GPS leads them through the village streets, Police Chief Chad Kenward told board members.

“We need to do something to protect village property and the residents,” said Mayor Mike Sidari.

Trustee Owen Toale said the heavy truck traffic forces the village to mill and pave sections of Park Avenue every year “because it gets beat up so bad.”

Toale said he often gets emails from residents on Park Avenue before 8 in the morning, informing him that “four tractor trailers have gone by my house.”

Toale suggested raising the fine to $1,000 and impounding trucks that use the village streets.

None of the other village officials supported that. Sidari and Trustee Marguerite Sherman said more signage should be posted for trucks, directing them to Maple Ridge and Salt Works. The signs should also note fines for using village streets at perhaps $500 per infraction, Sidari said.

Resident Michael Maak suggested the village talk with the companies that have tractor trailers stop for deliveries. Those businesses could work with the trucks’ dispatchers to inform them to stay off the village streets.

Sidari liked the idea of reaching out to businesses for help with directing the trucks to the right roads that can better handle the weight.

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MEDINA – The Village Board held a public hearing on proposed regulations for a dog park on Monday, and heard some resistance to setting aside space in a public park for dogs.

Village officials said they were eyeing Gulf Street Park, north of the canal, for the dog park. The whole park wouldn’t be used for dogs. There would be a section with a fence that would be 4 to 6 feet high. The park would be open dawn to dusk, according to the proposed ordinance.

The enclosed area would allow dogs to be off-leash, with the area exclusive to dogs and their handlers.

Three residents near that park said it should be used for children and their families only – not dogs.

“I don’t want to listen to dogs barking,” said resident Art Washak. “I don’t want to look at it or smell it.”

A Stork Street resident said the park, the only one on the north side of the canal, shouldn’t have space set aside for animals.

“We’re taking away a park for kids and giving it to dogs,” the resident said. “That’s wrong.”

Village Trustee Owen Toale said the board has no intention of giving up an entire park for dogs. Trustee Tim Elliott said the village proposed the ordinance to have some rules and keep up with a community need.

“Medina has many rental places and dogs need a place to go,” Elliott said.

Alaina Wilson suggested the village create a dog park in February. She offered to lead a fundraising effort, and a committee of volunteers to help care for the site.

Cindy Davis runs a business, walking dogs. She does it some days for 15 hours.

“I can’t keep up,” she told the board during Monday’s public hearing.

The demand for her business shows people value their pets and want them to have exercise and social interactions, she said.

The dog park would help build a stronger community, helping people to make friends. The dogs would also become better behaved and friendlier with exercise and social outings at the park, Davis told the Village Board.

“We are animal lovers,” she said. “We want to do things with our dogs.”

Village resident Mike Maak suggested the board consider Butts Park for the dog park. That park has more parking. A spot at the park near the creek also has a buffer away from residences, Maak said.

Mayor Mike Sidari said the village isn’t focused on any site right now. It wants to hear form the community about regulations for the park.

Some requirements in the proposed ordiance from the village include requiring dogs to have a current dog license, vaccinations and must have tag on the dog collar.

Handlers also need to insure dogs demonstrate safe behavior and social interaction at all times toward people and other dogs. (Dogs displaying aggressive behavior need to be immediately leashed and removed from park.)

Handlers must also pick up dog’s fecal matter and dispose in trash receptacle. Handlers also can’t leave a dog unattended.

The proposed ordinance urges handlers to be considerate of neighbors and try to keep the park a “bark-free zone.”

The village has no responsibility or liability for injuries at dog park, according to the proposed ordinance.

The proposal also bans puppies under 4 months old, female dogs in heat, and unattended dogs.

Children under age 12 aren’t allowed in the area set aside for the dog park. Children 13 to 18 are allowed if accompanied by an adult.

Sidari said the board will continue to discuss the issue and consider spots for the dog park.

“It may not be at Gulf Street Park or even if we have it,” he said.

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Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – The Medina Central School District is accepting nominations for their prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award.

This award was created to honor alumni, promote school spirit, foster pride in our school, and to serve as an incentive for current students.

Any former member of the school community can nominate alumni who graduated at least 10 years ago. We are looking for nominees who have achieved one or more of the following: Excellence in their chosen career, outstanding contributions to their community or profession or made outstanding contributions to humanity.

Nominations must be submitted by July 31 to Michael Cavanagh at Medina High School. The application can be found on the district’s website at www.medinacsd.org under the Community section, and then click on the Alumni link.

All nominees will be reviewed by a committee comprised of present and former teachers, administrators and alumni. Nomination forms will remain on file for a period of three years.

The induction ceremony will be held on Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. in front of the student body and guests.

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Provided photos

MEDINA – Carpentry students from the Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby created a memorial bench in honor of the late Jeff Evoy, who served as Medina Central School superintendent for five years.

Evoy passed away at age 50 on June 22, 2016 after battling a serious illness.

The bench was presented on Tuesday during the Medina Board of Education meeting. The bench is in front of the district office next to the high school.

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Provided photo

State Sen. Robert Ortt is pictured with Catherine Cooper, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, with a new automated external defibrillator (AED).

Ortt helped to fund the life-saving device by securing $5,000 for the library as part of the 2016-17 State Budget.

A defibrillator aims to prevent death from a cardiac arrest. Defibrillators shock the heart to restore a normal rhythm in individuals suffering from a heart attack or other heart irregularities.

Lee-Whedon Memorial’s defibrillator is located behind the circulation desk at the library’s front entrance. The library purchased the defibrillator to ensure public safety.

Cooper said there is an increase in the number of people visiting the library during the summer months.

Last year’s state funding was also used to implement a computer coding class and a Music for Tots program this summer.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

 MEDINA – Pedal and Paddle Medina opened at noon today in Medina, renting out Hydrobikes and kayaks.

This trio was among the first customers to use the Hydrobikes.

Victor and Heather DiGiacomo of Middleport (pictured) own the new business. They said Medina is ideal for the Hydrobikes and kayaks because of the big Canal Basin, the available docks and energy in the downtown business district.

“We think Medina has a growing social vibe,” Mr. DiGiacomo said. “We think our business complements the other activities on Main Street.”

Mrs. DiGiacomo is the former Heather Schlegel, who grew up in Medina.

The Hydrobikes and kayaks drew many onlookers to the docks in the Canal Basin.

Pedal and Paddle Medina plans to stay open until the canal closes for the boating season in mid-October. There are currently four kayaks and four Hydrobikes for rent.

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