ROCHESTER – ESL Federal Credit Union will be acquiring the assets of Generations Bank, which operates a branch in Medina, the two organizations announced today.

Generations merged with the former Medina Savings & Loan in 2018. Generations is based at Seneca Falls and has nine locations including a site in Medina on Maple Ridge Road.

ESL said the acquisition allows the banking institution to significantly grow its presence throughout the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region, bringing personal banking, business banking, mortgage services, wealth management and its superior customer experience to customers throughout Seneca, Cayuga, and Orleans counties, while expanding its footprint in Ontario County.

Upon completion of the transaction with generations, ESL is expected to have total assets of approximately $9.6 billion and will increase its footprint to more than 30 full-service branches throughout the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region.

“This deal is a strong fit for ESL and Generations because both organizations are committed and dedicated to serving their employees, customers and their communities.  We look forward to our future as a stronger, growing financial institution, and bringing the superior experiences we are known for to employees and customers in new communities,” said Faheem Masood, President and Chief Executive Officer of ESL Federal Credit Union.

As part of the agreement, ESL will pay Generations $26.2 million in cash and Generations Bank will retain its equity at the effective time of the purchase and assumption transaction, less certain reductions and additions, according to a press release from ESL and generations.

The deal is expected to close late in the second quarter or in the third quarter of 2025, subject to receiving all regulatory approvals, approval by Generations Bancorp’s shareholders and other customary closing conditions.

Following the completion of the transactions and after all of the respective obligations of Generations Bancorp and Generations Bank are settled, Generations Bank will liquidate and Generation Bancorp will distribute its assets to its shareholders, likely in two separate payments.

Generations Bancorp’s shareholders are currently estimated to receive an aggregate of between $18.00 and $20.00 in cash in exchange for each share of Generations Bancorp common stock owned. Currently, Generations Bancorp has 2,241,801 outstanding shares of common stock.

“We are very excited about our new partnership with ESL Federal Credit Union,” said Angela Krezmer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Generations Bank. “The synergy created by combining these two companies coupled with the financial strength of the combined institution will assure that our customers, our employees and our communities have expanded financial services and membership benefits going forward. We also believe it reflects our commitment to enhance the value to our shareholders.”

Photos courtesy of Medina Central School: Raquel Russell, Bella Fischer, Justine Fitzsimmons, Cole Callard and Trenton Morley chat with Samantha Covis, assistant library director at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – Participation in Government classes at Medina Junior-Senior High School present an interesting assignment to students each year.  Teachers Jennifer Ossont and Todd Bensley invite several non-profits to the high school cafeteria for a Community Service Fair.

The students are required to do ten hours of community service with at least three organizations so they can develop civic responsibility, learn new skills and gain a sense of their strength and talents. Once their internship is done, students prepare a presentation of their experiences for class.

“Many of the organizations are long-time participants,” Mr. Bensley said. “It is nice to know that they recognize the value of our Community Service Fair in connecting them to the next generation of volunteers in the community.”

Georgia Thomas of the Medina Historical Society talks with with students Lukas Grimes and Trenton Morley. Rob Klino of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery is in back.

Bella Fischer, Justine Fitzsimmons and Raquel Russell meet with Karen Canning from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!).

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Medina Marching Band performs “Reflections” on Saturday during its home show at Vets Park for the Fall Festival of Bands.

There were nine marching bands at Medina for the two-hour competition.

The scores include:

• Small School 1: East Irondequoit, 80.45; Medina, 75.70.
• Small School 2: Northwestern, 71.65.
• Small School 3: Pioneer, 68.45; and Falconer-Frewsburg, 66.25.
• Large School 2: Webster, 77.60; Orchard Park, 76.30; Greece, 76.10; and West Seneca, 73.50.

The season for the New York State Field Band Conference concludes on Oct. 27 with the championships in Syracuse.

The Blue and Gold Vanguard marching band from Falconer and Frewsburg performed a show called, “Catch Me If You Can,” based on the life of con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr., who once evaded capture by posing as a pilot and later as a doctor.

The Pioneer Marching Panthers from Yorkshire presented a show, “Concert Blue.” About 1,000 people attended the festival.

The Northwestern Marching Band presented, “The Power of Imagination.”

Richard Schack, drum major for the West Seneca Marching Band, gets the band ready to perform.

The West Seneca Marching Band performed, “Greetings from Alaska.”

 The Webster Marching Band presented a show, “Death of a Star,” showing the life cycle of a star from the brilliant beginnings to its transformations to a black hole.

The Greece Marching Band used colorful props in its show, “What is Light?”

Orchard Park presented, “Fire in the Hole: A Coal Miner’s Story.” Zoe Curtis, the drum major, directs the Orchard Park band.

The Eastridge Lancer Marching Band from Irondequoit presented, “Paint It Black,” where the drama of the color black takes center stage.

Medina’s drum major Makenzie McGrath acknowledges the judges and crowd before the band’s performance.

Medina’s show is called, “Reflections.”

The program states: “The world is a mirror … forever reflecting what you are doing, within yourself.”

Mary Lou Tuohey has used the business to support many causes in community

File photo by Ginny Kropf: Mary Lou Tuohey started Case-Nic Cookies in 1995 and has supported many local fundraisers with the business.

MEDINA – A business that has served up delectable cookies, cakes and baked goods for 29 years will be closing at 439 Main St. in Medina on Dec. 31.

Mary Lou Tuohey, owner of Case-Nic Cookies, made the announcement on Facebook this morning. Within an hour, more than 100 people commented, thanking her for running the business for so long and giving back to many community causes..

“It is with a heavy, but happy heart that I have made a very difficult decision for myself,” Tuohey posted on Facebook and announced her impending retirement. “This has been a very, very difficult decision for me to make, but I think it is time.  Don’t get me wrong….I love my job and what I do, but I have worked for over 50 years of my life and it is time to do something other than work 12-15 hours a day.”

Before opening Case-Nic Cookies, Tuohey worked as a registered nurse.

She named the store after her two children, Casey and Nicole.

“I have been blessed with having a job that I was able to come and go and never missed one of Casey’s school activities or sports games that he played in growing up,” Tuohey said. “I never missed one of Nicole’s school activities while growing up or all of the activities she does now.  I now have 3 grandchildren and don’t want to miss them growing up.”

Nicole was born with Triple X Syndrome and has received tremendous support from The Arc of Orleans County, whoich has merged into a four-county organization, Arc GLOW. That organization has been one of the causes Tuohey has supported for years. (She made over-sized cookies on Saturday for age group winners in a 5K in Elba to benefit Arc GLOW.)

Both of Mary Lou’s parents died of Alzheimer’s, so that also has become a favorite charity. Every year, Nicole makes links out of construction paper and Tuohey sells them in the cookie shop, with all the money going to the Alzheimer’s Association. She typically sells 1,500 to 2,000 links for $1 each.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Mary Lou Tuohey, right, receives the Community Service Award from the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 19, 2023. The award is presented by Tara Thom, owner of the Town and Country Quilt Shop in Albion and a board member for the Chamber of Commerce.

Tuohey has also allowed other groups to use her front store windows for raffles and fundraisers.

“I will miss all of my customers, some of you from day one, February 11, 1995,” she said. “You have been so supportive to a small business and I am truly thankful. I will miss and am so grateful for all my employees over the years who have rolled millions of cookies and frosted millions of cookies. They have stuck by me through thick and thin and I know they have ‘rolled’ their at eyes at me hundreds of times when I asked them to do ‘just one more thing.’”

The Case-Nic Facebook page includes numerous comments, praising her for her many years of community service and running the business.

Diane Stamp: “Thank you for your generosity over the years and your wonderfully delicious cutout cookies! You will be missed, but congratulations on retiring!”

Marlene Hill: “Congratulations you deserve to retire! Thank you for all you have done for us and I hope you have a great time in the next chapter of your life.”

Shawn Ramsey: “An amazing accomplishment to be celebrated!”

Brody Hoffmeister: “Congratulations, Mary Lou. Thank you for your dedication, sacrifices and commitment to serving our community for so many years.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – This group checks out some of the baskets up for raffle during a benefit on Saturday at the Sacred Heart Club for Eli Howard. There were more than 200 baskets and gift cards in the raffle, as well as other items in a silent auction and 50/50 drawings.

Howard, 50, is battling stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer.

Eli Howard, left, is shown with his family and other loved ones in the kitchen at Sacred Heart Club. He is next to his daughters Jelia and Kylee, and Eli’s wife Jana.

The 500 chicken barbecue dinners sold out and there was a line on North Gravel Road from the lift bridge to The Gallagher for the dinners.

“I’m never at a loss for words, but I am today,” Howard said. “It takes a community to help and that’s what we have today.”

His wife Jana said the family is very grateful for the turnout.

“This has been unbelievable,” she said.

Howard has been active in the community as a youth football coach, a deejay, and performing as a comedian. He is friendly and gregarious with nearly 3,000 friends on Facebook.

He started working at age 19 in the laundry department at the former Orleans County Nursing Home and served there for 28 years. Many of his former co-workers attended the benefit. In 2021, he began at Wende Correctional Facility, also working in the laundry department.

“He’s done a lot of things in the community,” his wife said.

George Hammonds, left, greets Eli Howard at the benefit. Hammonds graduated from Medina in 1991, and Howard is in the Class of 1992.

Howard said it was overwhelming to see so many of his friends on Saturday, including other classmates who travelled from Wisconsin and Texas.

Howard gave out about 300 of these “Eli Strong – One Love” bracelets as a thank you for the support while he fights cancer.

Howard said his cancer isn’t curable but is manageable. He takes two chemo pills each morning, and is feeling better.

Geno Allport of Albion was one of the helpers at the benefit. Many people form Albion volunteered and donated at the benefit.

“We may be rivals on the field but we work together,” Allport in the kitchen, where he and others served on the chicken barbecue dinners. “

Allport said he wasn’t surprised to see a big response for Howard.

“He has been giving back for years so it’s nice to see the community give back to him,” Allport said.

Mike McCauley sings at Sacred Heart Club during the benefit for Eli Howard and his family.

Provided photo and information from Medina’s Class of 1974

MEDINA – The 1974 Class of Medina High School held their 50-year reunion at the Medina Lanes on Aug. 17. Classmates from as far away as California attended this 6-plus hour event.

Friday night on Aug. 16 was a casual get-together.  This was followed by a tour of the old high school on Catherine Street on Saturday morning, and capped off by the reunion Saturday afternoon/evening.

Medina Lanes provided food and drink while The Stanton Band provided the entertainment.

Sixty-five of the class’s 185 members attended the festivities over the weekend.

The Reunion Committee was comprised of Carol Benson, Barb Daluisio, Cynthia Hewitt, Joanne Lewandowski, Pat Marchner, Sharlene Pratt, Elizabeth Seitz, Darlene Sharping, Greg Stanton, Lynne Stewart and Carl Tuohey.

The class decided to plan on a 70th birthday celebration in 2026.

Class members may help keep their contact information current by sending an email to medinanyclassof1974@gmail.com or join the class Facebook group (click here).

Press Release, Friends of Boxwood Cemetery

Provided photo: The L’Hommedieu gravestone is shown during Boxwood at Night in 2023.

MEDINA – The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery, in Medina, are excited to announce the third annual, “Boxwood at Night: See the Cemetery in a New Light.”

This year’s event will be on Oct. 5. Tickets cost $15 and there will be two time slots – 7 to 8 p.m. or 8 to 9 p.m. The time slots are when you can enter. Once you are checked in, you are welcome to stay until the event ends at 9:30 p.m. Guests will stroll through the cemetery at their own pace in a relaxing, family-friendly atmosphere.

Robby Klino, the president of the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery, stated “Our overall goal for ‘Bigger, Better, and Brighter’ Boxwood at Night 2024 is to continue our fundraising efforts to complete the chapel renovations and to raise funds for a marker to honor those buried in the Potter’s Field.” He also announced, “We are adding an educational element this year by partnering with the Medina Historical Society to feature an exhibit of Victorian funerary art in the chapel.”

Tickets are limited to the first 300 people so you will want to get your tickets before they sell out.

Event co-chair, Nicole Bensley, “New and returning guests will enjoy a stroll through a ‘Bigger, Better, Brighter’ Boxwood at Night. It will feature several local visual, musical, and performing artists.” She added, “We are excited to partner once again with GO Art! to make this a special event for the community.”

Tickets are available during business hours at the English Rose Tea Shoppe and Thistle Ridge Décor and Gifts – both places are on Main Street in Medina. Tickets will also be available at the Canal Village Farmers Market in Medina on Sept. 28. As an added convenience, you may also purchase tickets online using a credit card. Click here for more information.

Raffle tickets will also be available to purchase at the Farmers Market booth and again at the event. Light concessions and glow-in-the-dark accessories will be available for purchase at the event to enhance your enjoyment.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO Art! (the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council).

Howard is battling stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer

Provided photos: Eli Howard, left, is shown before taking the stage as a stand-up comedian. At right he is queuing a song as a deejay.

MEDINA – There will be a benefit on Saturday for a Medina man who is well known in the community, from years of volunteering in youth sports, serving as a deejay at events and performing as a stand-up comedian.

Eli Howard, 50, is battling stage 4 metastatic cancer. He said the cancer isn’t curable but is manageable and he feels optimistic about the future.

Eli Howard is shown with his wife, Jana, and their daughters, Kylee (left) and Jelia.

Howard and his wife, Jana, have two daughters, Jelia, age 21; and Kylee, age 17. Mrs. Howard is owner of A Kut Above on Main Street in Medina.

The benefit on Saturday starts at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Club on North Gravel Rad. The 500 chicken barbecue dinners have already sold out.

There are at least 120 baskets up for raffle and the raffle drawing begins at 6 p.m. Winners don’t have to be present at the drawing. There will also be 50/50s and a silent auction.

Howard said he deeply appreciates the community rallying on his behalf.

He started working at age 19 in the laundry department at the former Orleans County Nursing Home and served there for 28 years. In 2021, he began at Wende Correctional Facility, also working in the laundry department.

Howard was stricken in March with gout, and was unable to walk. He also has suffered from congestive heart failure and diabetes. He was able to leave the hospital on June 24 after 14 weeks of care. While hospitalized, doctors found cancer and began treatment.

Howard takes two chemo pills each morning, and will have a shot every three months to fight the cancer. He can feel himself on the mend.

File photo by Ginny Kropf: This banner hung over downtown Medina to promote homecoming last week. The Medina Mustang Sports Boosters urges stores to decorate their windows.

MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Sports Boosters are excited to announce they will again be celebrating Homecoming 2024 by inviting local businesses to get involved in Homecoming Week in a variety of ways.

“Homecoming is a community event – a time to celebrate, not just Mustang athletics, but who we are as a community,” said Melissa Valley, head of the Mustang Sports Boosters. “Mustang Sports Boosters are always incredibly appreciative of the support the Medina business community provides us, and now we want to celebrate you.”

Their goal for Homecoming the week of Sept. 23 is to get the whole community involved and into the Mustang spirit. Homecoming will feature activities and games throughout the week, including the Homecoming game Sept. 27, when the Medina Mustangs football team hosts Newfane.

“We hope to get businesses involved in two ways,” Valley said. “First, we would love for downtown to show its Mustang spirit with our third annual window decorating contest. Secondly, we want to promote their business by adding their homecoming special of the week to our Mustang Menu.”

If businesses don’t want to enter the contest, Valley said the Mustang Boosters will welcome any form of Mustang spirit that works for them.

A giant banner proclaiming Homecoming Week will be hung over Main Street in honor of the week.

“The banner was made by our very own Print Shop and it will be on display over Main Street next week,” Valley said. “We also have banners that will be up at Vets Park. We will promote any business who wants to join in on the run or any Mustang specials for the week.”

The Mustang Boosters encourage everyone downtown and in Medina to show as much Mustang pride and spirit as they can during Homecoming Week.

“It is something that unites the community in a positive way,” Valley said.

Anyone wishing more information can contact Valley at mvalley@medinacsd.org or by calling (716)-531-3055.

Students in grades Pre-K to 8 must be accompanied by adult to enter Vets Park

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – The Medina Central School District is looking forward to an outstanding fall season. The district’s goal is to provide a positive and welcoming experience to our athletes, students, parents, fans, visitors and officials.

Please help us achieve this goal by following our expectations and contributing to a positive environment.

As a reminder, all students in grades Pre-K to 8 must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or responsible adult when attending a game. This parent or responsible adult must supervise their children at all times. Students in grades Pre-K to 8 will not be allowed into Vets Park without a parent or responsible adult.

Also, as a reminder, there should be no use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or any controlled or banned substance on the Medina Central School District premises. Additionally, vapes, “dab” pens, and e-cigarettes are not allowed on District premises.

We also want to remind fans to refrain from using profanity and making negative comments toward coaches, athletes, or officials. Game supervisors and administrators will address inappropriate behavior. The District and the New York State High School Athletic Association may prohibit unruly spectators from attending games.

Thank you for helping us maintain a positive, supportive atmosphere for all our student-athletes! Go Mustangs!

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jesse Cudzillo (left), director of the YMCA in Orleans County, and Tim Elliott hold the new Medina-opoly game that is being sold as a fundraiser to upgrade the women’s locker room at the Y.

MEDINA – The Monopoly game has been given a facelift in Medina, with local businesses taking the place of the prime real estate featured in the economics-based board game.

Players buy and trade properties in the game, and seek to develop them with houses and hotels.

The Medina-opoly game starts in a corner featuring the Medina Area Partnership. About 70 Median businesses and organizations are featured on the board.

Tim Elliott, a former Medina village trustee, worked with Jesse Cudzillo, director of the YMCA in Orleans County, to sell the spots on the board. They were a quick sell out.

“Medina is lucky to have businesses to fill it up and to have a waiting list,” Elliott said.

The board highlights Medina’s historic downtown business district.

There are 350 copies of the game that arrived in early September. The sponsorships paid to have the game produced in a Medina theme.

The games are being sold for $35 each, and the proceeds will go to the Y to update the women’s locker room. If the games sell out, the Y should receive about $12,000 towards the locker room improvements.

“It’s a Medina keepsake,” Cudzillo said. “It takes a snapshot of where Medina is in 2024.”

The Y director said he appreciates the support from the community in buying spots on the board, and also in purchasing the games. So far about 75 have sold. The came be purchased at the front desk of the Y. They will be there for the upcoming Ale in Autumn event on Sept. 28. They are also available online through the Canalside Tattoo website.

Medina was featured in the Monopoly game before, back in 1995 and 2000. The Medina Rotary Club led the effort to sell the spaces on the board and to make the games available to the community.

Elliott said the game could be updated again in the future.

“This shows how Medina has changed,” he said about the new board, compared to the Medina businesses from 1995 and 2000. “In 10 years there will be more changes.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Steven Long, a firefighter in the Medina Fire Department, collects money this morning during a boot drive to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation in Western New York, which grants wishes to children battling critical illnesses.

Firefighters were at three intersections – Route 63 and Maple Ridge Road, Route 104 and South Lyndonville Road, and Main Street and Center Street – and collected $6,500 for Make-A-Wish.

Medina firefighters were at the Main and Center Street intersection, while Shelby and East Shelby firefighters were at Route 63 and Maple Ridge Road. Ridgeway and Lyndonville firefighters collected funds at Route 104 and South Lyndonville Road.

The boot drive was planned for Saturday but was pushed back a day to the rainy morning yesterday.

Traffic was a little slower today than on a Saturday, but firefighters said many people were generous, giving 10- and 20-dollar bills.

Caleb Fisher, 11, is the son of Medina firefighter Adam Fisher. Caleb is on East Center Street leading up to the Main Street intersection.

From left include Medina firefighters Adam Fisher and Dylan Schrader and Fisher’s son Caleb.

The west battalion firefighters have teamed on the boot drive in recent years. Firefighters said at least two children in the community have benefitted from Make-A-Wish recently.

Captain Mike Young of the Medina FD collects money in the boot drive today on Main Street.

Contractors rebuilt roads, tackled other projects

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The main campus road at Medina Central School was closed off to traffic on Aug. 2 in front of Clifford H. Wise Intermediate School. The road was rebuilt and repaved this summer.

It’s part of a $34.3 million project that was approved by school district voters on Feb. 14, 2023. State aid is covering $29.9 million.

The project includes $17.3 million at Junior-Senior High School, $9.8 million at Clifford H. Wise Intermediate, $6.2 million at Oak Orchard Primary School, and $1.1 million at the bus garage.

Work will continue on the project, including next summer.

Here is the repaved road in front of the district office on Saturday morning.

The road is freshly paved here in front of the junior/senior high school.

“We’ve had a real busy summer in terms of construction,” said Dr. Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.

He listed the main projects at the district this summer:

• The main roads were completely rebuilt, and the parking lots at the Junior-Senior High School were milled and repaved.
• A new dehumidification system is in the process of being installed in the pool, which will be ready for swim season. Next summer, the pool itself will be completely rebuilt.
• Foundation work for our new band, tech and ag rooms has been ongoing all summer, and construction will continue throughout the year.
• New bathrooms are being added to the second floor of the junior/senior high school and near the cafeteria at Oak Orchard. Those will be completed by November.
• Work on the new library at Oak Orchard started this summer and will also be completed by November. (Once the library is completed, the old library at Oak will be converted to district offices. Once those new offices are finished, the current district offices will be converted to classrooms.)

“Next summer, all of the entrances and main offices will be reconstructed with enhanced security for all entrances,” Kruzynski said.

The parking lot by the Junior-Senior High School has construction equipment and materials on Saturday.