By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2023 at 10:47 am
Reassessments in Shelby, Ridgeway dramatically increased tax base
MEDINA – The tax rates for the school district are going down – dramatically – after townwide reassessments in Shelby and Ridgeway increased the school district’s tax base by about 50 percent.
The Board of Education on Aug. 7 approved the tax warrant, which also sets the tax rates for the school district (and also the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library). The Medina district primarily includes property owners in Ridgeway and Shelby, but also includes small portions of Barre, Hartland, Albion and Alabama.
The rates for Ridgeway, Shelby and Alabama, which are at full valuation, are $14.03 per $1,000 of assessed property – down from just over $20.
The $14.03 rate is lowest for the district in at least 25 years. That’s as far back as Dr. Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, could go in the district database.
Overall the school district’s tax base is up by 49.3 percent or $206,391,967. It went from $418,392,371 in 2022-23 to the current $624,784,338.
Not all towns did re-valuations in Orleans County this past year with some wanting to wait to see if a hot real estate market settles down. The towns typically do re-valuations every three years. Ridgeway and Shelby were scheduled to do them in 2022 but held off until this year, when they completed the town-wide reassessments and the values are up by a lot.
The portion of Ridgeway in the Medina school district increased in assessed value by 54.6 percent or by $110,201,809 – from $201,811,373 to $312,013,182. Ridgeway’s school tax rate is dropping by $7.64 from $21.67 per $1,000 of assessed property to $14.03.
Shelby’s assessed value in the district jumped by 46.8 percent or by $96,019,297 – from $205,098,646 to $301,117,943. Shelby’s school tax rate is down by $6.56 from $21.67 to $14.03.
(The Alabama portion changed from $116,220 to $149,916; Albion from $900,084 to $1,007,436; Barre from $6,309,876 to $6,360,923; and Hartland from $4,156,172 to $4,134,938.)
Albion hasn’t done a reassessment in four years and its tax rate, adjusted through equalization by the state, is at $18.96 for those in the Medina school district. Barre did a reassessment in 2022 and is only a year from its last re-val. It’s rate is at $15.59.
The district’s tax levy, what it collects in property taxes, is $8,814,697, the same as the previous year. Medina hasn’t increased the tax levy in 14 of the past 16 years.
The district’s budget for 2023-24 totals $40,095,815, which represents a 0.53 percent spending increase from the $39,884,316 in 2022-23.
Rendering and design by Barton & Loguidice: An addition to the Medina fire hall would have tall enough bays with a building long enough to accommodate a new ladder truck. The current fire hall only gives about 2 inches of clearance in the garage doors. The fire trucks would go to the new addition while the ambulances are moved to space where the fire trucks are currently housed. This design hasn't been finalized by the village.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2023 at 3:10 pm
MEDINA – Now that the village has committed to buying a new ladder truck that is too big for the current fire hall, the Village Board agreed on Monday to start the process of securing financing through a bond to expand the fire hall.
The ladder truck won’t be delivered for at least two more years. That gives Medina time to expand the fire hall on Park Avenue. The board voted on June 26 to spend $1.7 million to buy the new truck from Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisc., with a delivery time expected to take 2 ½ years.
The new truck will have a 100-foot-long ladder, compared to the current truck with a 75-foot ladder. The new truck won’t fit in the current fire hall. The current fire hall only has 2 inches of clearance in the truck bays and today’s fire trucks are made taller.
The Village Board will now move to have an addition on the fire hall to accommodate the larger truck. The project also includes needed repairs to the current building.
The Barton & Loguidice firm has proposed an addition to the fire hall that would be approximately 62 feet, 8 inches by 88 feet, 8 inches. That expansion, plus repairs to the existing fire hall, would be about $4.5 million, according to a report from the Barton & Loguidice from last September.
Construction costs are up about 15 percent since then or another $685,500 to $5,255,500.
The board on Monday voted to begin the process to seek a bond up to $5.6 million for the fire hall construction. That doesn’t mean the village will spend that much, said Mayor Mike Sidari.
The cost could be much less depending on construction bids from contractors and whether the village can secure any grants or other assistance with the project.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina ladder truck from 1996 is shown in March when the fire department had an open house showing the tight quarters at the fire hall.
Medina will be working with its bond counsel, attorney John Alessi from Hodgson Russ LLLP in Buffalo, on the legal steps needed for the bond.
The board will continue to have many discussions as the process moves forward, village officials said.
The addition would be on the current fire hall on the west side in an area that is currently a parking lot.
The new ladder trucks have a clearance of 13 feet. The design for the new hall addition would have bays that allow up to 14 feet.
With a new space for fire trucks, the ambulances could be moved to the current fire house. The space for the ambulances right now could be used for police cars or perhaps as a meeting area, Mayor Mike Sidari has said.
The Barton & Loguidice plan also calls for:
A new public entry, radio room/office, laundry room, EMS room, restrooms, Decon room, gear room, mechanical room, tool room, and apparatus bay with the existing apparatus bay being repurposed to house the village ambulances.
A mezzanine space will be located along the perimeter of the new apparatus bay with file storage and office space accessed from the existing building second floor hallway.
A new air and vapor barrier membrane and new exterior cladding system will be installed over the existing concrete masonry unit wall construction of the existing fire station, and the existing overhead sectional doors will be relocated and replaced allowing for adequate clearances around the ambulance apparatus bay.
The renewal of the building’s existing façade will result in creating a weather tight envelope while simultaneously allowing the cladding system of the addition to carry over creating a cohesive look to the updated facility.
The existing concrete slab in the existing ambulance apparatus bay will be replaced, including the installation of new trench drainage and epoxy floor finish.
The outdated emergency generator located south of the alley will be replaced and upgraded to accommodate the fire station and addition.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Medina police officer Dustin Meredith assists Gabriella Burtwell, 5, of Medina in completing the bike rodeo course during National Night Out on Aug. 2, 2022. Meredith works as a school resource officer for Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2023 at 8:30 am
MEDINA – The Village Board has approved an agreement with the school district to have a second police officer working as a school resource officer this upcoming school year.
Dustin Meredith will continue as one of the school resource officers at the beginning of the school year. The second officer will start in November, said Todd Draper, the Medina police chief.
The position will be posted among the Medina Police Department. Draper said new three police officers will finish their field training in November. He wants to wait until then to assign a second officer to the school district so the department isn’t short-staffed.
The agreement calls for the school district to pay the village $80,000 for each officer to have a full-time presence at the school district, with the contract pro-rated to reflect the one officer starting later in the year.
Meredith will start on Sept. 2.
The contract is up from $75,000 this past school year.
The school district reached out to the village to see if more than one officer could be available at the school district, Draper said.
The Medina Police Department has had a school resource officer at the district for about 15 years. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department has a deputy working as resource officers at Albion, Lyndonville and Kendall while Holley has a private firm providing security.
In another vote on Monday, the Village Board approved a bond resolution for $94,488 to pay for two new Tahoes as police vehicles.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2023 at 10:43 am
Provided photos
MEDINA – Ed Weider, right, and Charles Lind were among the amateur radio operators at State Street Park in Medina the previous weekend for “Parks on the Air.”
For this event, radio operators travel to designated parks, each with a specific identifier, and activate the park for other ham radio operators to make contacts. The activity promotes emergency preparedness with portable and battery powered equipment.
The local amateur radio operators who participated at State Street Park include Ed Weider, K2EDW; Charles Lind, N8CL; David Westbrook, K2DW; Maria Westbrook, K2EO; and Warren Westbrook, 11 years old, KD2ZUA.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 August 2023 at 8:30 am
MEDINA – The tattoo artists and piercers at Canalside Tattoo raised more than $18,000 during a “Caturday” benefit on July 30.
The funds go to Cat by Cat Inc.’s Medina team which seeks to humanely “TNVR” cats through targeted trapping. Cat by Cat focuses on a TNVR model – Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return.
The Medina team cared for about 200 cats last year. Feral or community cats remains in “overwhelming” problem in Medina and Orleans County, said Shannon Blount, leader of the Medina team.
The $18,304 in total dollars at the fundraiser will go towards neutering, medications, vaccinations, food and cat litter, and other supplies.
The tattoo artists at Canalside donated their time and raised more than $10,000 by doing 100 tattoos. The tattoo team includes Tyler VerCruysse, Andrew London, James Christian, Matt Rolfe, CJ Cruickshank, Shawn Ramsey, David Jednat, Markus Puleo and Maer Rose.
Two piercers, Megan Furness and Maisie Griffin, did 41 piercings and raised more than $1,500.
A basket raffle with 93 items were donated by community members and raised nearly $6,000.
MEDINA – The grand finale of Medina’s Blue Thursdays concert on Aug. 10 has been cancelled due to the forecast of rain. Tommy Z Band was scheduled to close out the series at State Street Park. Tommy Z already has agreed to perform in Medina next year.
“We’ve poured over the data, consulted with meteorologists and have decided it would be best to cancel the show,” said Chris Busch, of ORG/medinaalive.com and co-promoter of the event.
“While we may not be able to predict the exact timing of bad weather, but the threat is high during our window of 4 to 8 p.m. – between 50%-70% and we simply can’t chance it.”
Vendors and the band typically start arriving at 4 p.m. That’s when the weather is expected to start turning bad for an outdoor concert.
“There’s a lot of factors to consider in making these decisions and it’s always tough,” Busch said. “However, we were able to do seven of eight gigs this year and that’s pretty good considering the rain we’ve had all summer.”
Despite the finale cancellation, Busch and the other concert promoters are pleased with the series.
“We had a great run this year,” said Ken Daluisio of the Print Shop, co-promoter of the series. “We averaged about 600 a night – some nights less, some more with a peak of 1,000 opening night. That’s a great thing for Medina. Better than half of those people are new to our village and they’re very impressed with what they find here– the village, the venue, the event– everything.”
The bands were sponsored by Modern Mercantile and Main Liquor. ORG coordinated the booking logistics, band arrangements and media. The Pront Shop handled site logistics and sign coverage. Dave Berry ran the 50/50 raffle and Andy Morris was parking coordinator. Karl Bauer of Crossborder Blues also promoted Blue Thursdays .
The food and beverage vendors included Cusimano’s Pizzeria, Parker’s Pit BBQ, WNY Empanadas, Catherine Street Bakery, Greenlief’s On The Go, Flower City Scoops, Blue Groove Coffee, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery and 810 Meadworks.
“We’d also like to express our gratitude to Mayor Mike Sidari, the Village of Medina and especially Jason Watts and the Village of Medina DPW for their incredible support and cooperation in making this series possible,” Busch said.
Blue Thursdays 2024 will run Thursdays from June 20 thru August 8, with the exception of Independence Day.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 August 2023 at 3:18 pm
MEDINA – The Medina school district announced it will continue providing free breakfast and lunch to all students this school year.
Medina has been offering free breakfast and lunch to all students the past five years through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Breakfast/Lunch Program.
“This program has been a tremendous help to our students,” said Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent. “It’s harder to learn when you’re hungry. We know that all of our kids will have a breakfast and lunch each day.”
The CEP program provides the opportunity for schools in high poverty areas to provide two nutritious meals every school day, while eliminating the stigma for those students previously identified as “low income.”
The CEP began in 2011 with three states piloting the program and then became a nationwide program in 2014. To be eligible for CEP at least 40 percent of students must be identified as “directly certified” for free meals without a meal application through programs such as SNAP, TANF and Medicaid. Medina school district has met this eligibility guideline.
For additional information about the program, contact the following:
Medina Jr.-Sr. High School, Principal Michael Cavanagh, at (585) 798-2700 ext. 1
Clifford Wise Intermediate School, Co-Principal Daniel Doctor, at (585) 798-2700 ext. 2
Oak Orchard Primary School, Principal Jennifer Stearns, at (585) 798-2700 ext. 3
Photo and information from John Dieter of Troop 35
Troop 35 from Medina attended BSA Camp Merz on Chautauqua Lake this past week. There were 17 scouts along with three leaders at the week-long camp working on merit badges and rank advancements.
Pictured from left include: Vinny Gray, Ryder Jones, Landan Costich, Maddox Smith, Will Minor, Ryan Frentz, Nicholas Reese, Colton Smith, Jimmy Dieter, Josiah Morton, Briley Allen, Nate Surdel, River Jones, Cole Herman, Kam Kassey, Jake Gidley, and Brayden Lewis. Leaders John Dieter, Michael Reese and Shaun Smith are standing in back row.
The scouts completed 80 merit badges during the week. Scouts were able to utilize some of the activities at the camp, including shooting sports and archery. Also being on Chautauqua Lake the waterfront program was robust allowing many scouts to take motor boating not offered by many scouting camps.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 August 2023 at 8:46 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Mark Strassner does a full backflip on his bike at the Luke Nelson Skate Park in Medina on Saturday as part of Family Fun Day at Butts Park.
Strassner was one of eight BMX bikers and skateboarders in Reanimate who did a demonstration. The group is from Rochester and visits skate parks in the region. They said the new Medina skate park is a top site for skaters and BMX bikers.
“This one of the model parks for its general design and flow,” said Greg Skolaski, one of the group’s leaders. “There is something for everyone.”
Skolaski, a pastor, also spoke to large crowd at Butts Parks for the sixth annual Family Fun Day.
Many churches and community offered information, snacks and other giveaways in the event that was scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. About 50 volunteers teamed to put on the event.
Pastor Jovannie Canales interviews Sherry Tuohey, who heads MAAC’s Red Barrel program at Christmas.
Canales and his wife Melisa, left, are leaders of the Oasis Church in Medina. It used to be known as The Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ until changing its name in May.
The congregation has been doing Family Fun Day for six years. It started from a parking lot at the old Medina High School with 50 people and has grown each year.
Canales said 10 churches from the Medina Area Association of Churches (MAAC) and Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation (PACT) worked together to put on the event.
There were 320 adults and 300 kids at Family Fun Day. The churches prayed for 125 people and 15 people were baptized, Canales said.
“It’s awesome to see the fellowship and unity in the county,” Canales said about the churches working together. “We’re all on the same mission to reach our county.”
Medina police officer and K-9 handler Jacob Reeves and Phoenix did a K-9 demonstration showing Phoenix’s skills at tracking and detection.
Kids had a lot of fun in the bounce houses and also the playground equipment at Butts Park.
The Medina Fire Department offered a up-close look at a fire truck and also gave out red plastic fire hats. Kids could also spray a hose at targets.
A skateboarder from Reanimate demonstrates some skills in the bowl at the Skate Park.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 August 2023 at 8:58 pm
MEDINA – Anyone who likes to shop is advised to keep on eye on businesses in Medina for a sidewalk sale on Saturday.
“If you ever needed an excuse to enjoy a day in Medina, the annual sidewalk sale provides it,” said Scott Robinson, president of Medina Area Partnership. “Many of the businesses will start their sales before Saturday and run through Sunday. Whether it’s clothing, books, small and large or unique gifts, this summer event is worth your time.”
Robinson also reminds shoppers to enjoy the town’s food and drink scene after a day of shopping.
The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in most stores in Medina’s historic downtown. Participating businesses include Lily & Sparrow, American Craftsmen’s Gallery (featuring children’s clothing), Ashlee’s Place, Author’s Note, Canalside Tattoo, Creekside Floral, ellen j goods, Herbalty Cottage, Modern Mercantile, Mystic Dragon’s Lair, Rosenkrans, The Downtown Browsery and The English Rose Tea Shoppe.
MAP also requests shoppers share their special finds with them on Facebook @MedinaAreaPartnership or www.MedinaAP.org.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Staff, friends and local officials met at the Coffee Pot Café on Tuesday to celebrate its one-year anniversary with owners Dan and Hans Rosentreter. From left are Barb Albone (Hans’ grandmother), Daniel Poprawski, rear (Dan’s father); Barry Flansburg (representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley); Charlene Poprawski (Dan’s mother); Dee and Wesley Rosentreter (Hans’ parents); owners Hans and Dan Rosentrater; Lynne Johnson (chair of Orleans County Legislature), Skip Draper and John Fitzak (Orleans County legislators); and Darlene Rich (town of Shelby clerk).
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 2 August 2023 at 3:14 pm
MEDINA – When Hans and Dan Rosentreter decided to open a coffee shop in Medina, they couldn’t have hoped for a bigger success than their first year in business.
On Tuesday, the couple celebrated their first anniversary in business by cutting a ribbon to launch their second year in the Coffee Pot Cafe. Participating were Dan’s parents Daniel and Charlene Poprawski, Han’s parents Wesley and Dee Rosentreter, Hans’ grandmother Barb Albone, Barry Flansburg on behalf of Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Orleans County Legislature chair Lynne Johnson, legislators Skip Draper and John Fitzak and Shelby town clerk Darlene Rich.
Guests then gathered to enjoy cupcakes and pastries and extend good wishes.
Both Dan and Hans describe themselves as “coffee junkies,” and owning a coffee shop is something Dan dreamed of doing. When he discovered the store at 114 East Center St. was vacant, he knew he had to act.
“We both realized real fast we had to be here,” Hans said. “Dan quit his job in insurance and I quit mine at the Creekside Floral Shop and we became full time here.”
Dan had researched brands of coffee to find the very best coffee they could buy, and settled on Joe Bean Roasters out of Rochester, Dan said.
“This has always been a dream of mine to open a coffee shop,” Dan said.
Hans is a baker, so he makes all the pastries, turnovers and bagels.
(Left) Dan Rosentreter, left, and husband Hans greet customers at the Coffee Pot Café, which celebrated its one-year anniversary on Tuesday. (Right) Hans Rosentreter shows off an antique phone he installed at the Coffee Pot Café as a conversation piece. It was patented in 1901.
They opened on Aug. 1, 2022 and couldn’t be more pleased with the response. Reviews on their website are glowing and customers are at the door when they open at 6 a.m.
“We’ve been busy right from the beginning and it hasn’t slowed down,” Dan said.
Johnson shared her pleasure at seeing a thriving business in her county.
“Medina is the most growing village in Orleans County, and it excites me when a business chooses to open here,” she said. “There is no better place than Orleans County.”
The Coffee Pot Café is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturday. They offer a variety of coffee flavors, including seasonal roasts, bubble tea, lemonade and frozen drinks, in addition to pastries, turnovers and bagels. They are expanding their lunch menu, which features chicken salad sandwiches and other choices and plan to add a soup and sandwich special.
“We’ve only gotten busier,” Hans said. “We realized Medina needed a coffee shop that was warm and inviting like your home. We’ve gotten to meet a lot of really nice people.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2023 at 8:13 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Treyden Rhim of Medina throws a ball at the dunk tank target. Mayor Mike Sidari was sent plunging into the water several times during National Night Out on Tuesday evening outside Clifford Wise Intermediate School on Gwinn Street.
At least 500 people attended the event that allowed residents to connect with law enforcement, other first responders, and community organizations.
The event for the first time included a dunk tank. The lineup of people in the dunk tank included Eli Howard, Fire Chief Matt Jackson, Aidyn Jackson, Police Chief Todd Draper, Pastor Russ Peters, Mayor Mike Sidari, Donnell Holloway, Pastor Jovannie Canales, Heather Jackson, Orleans Hub editor Tom Rivers, Villages trustees Jess Marciano and Diana Baker, and Assistant DA Susan Howard.
Corey Frasier of Medina stays close to his daughter, Leona, as she rides around obstacle at the bicycle rodeo set up by the Medina Police Department. The department gave away many bike helmets.
These kids meet The Safety Pup. Medina hosted National Night Out for the second time. The event was initially at Bullard Park in Albion before being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions and concerns.
Nathaniel Staines, an Albion police officer and K-9 handler, and Badger, the APD’s K-9, do a demonstration on Wednesday. Badger is a Belgian Malinois that joined the Albion Police Department in June 2020.
The Medina Police Department’s K-9 team includes Jacob Reeves and Phoenix, a Belgian Malinois.
Both Albion and Medina K-9 units are certified in patrols and narcotics detection.
A law enforcement team competed in the Battle of Belts where the four team members rotate in the four car seats and have to fasten their seatbelts. Pictured include State Trooper Doug Rich, Sheriff’s Deputy James White and Medina police officer Felecia Holtz. Albion police officer Chris Glogowski also was on the team. Todd Draper, Medina police chief, served as the official in back.
The law enforcement team completed the challenge in 1 minute, 14.93 seconds.
Medina firefighter Austin Mosher helps Demetri Gordon hit targets with a water hose in one of the activities at National Night Out.
Paris Gordon, 8, of Medina takes a turn aiming the hose at the targets. Paul Urquhart, a Medina firefighter, is in back.
Emma Slack, 8, throws the ball at the dunk tank bull’s eye. She tried to get Medina Police Chief Todd Draper in the water.
The Medina PD set up the bike rodeo for kids to test their riding skills.
Madaline Bloom, 7, of Albion showed her bike-riding skills on the course.
Scouts and volunteers with Troop 28 in Medina served about 500 hot dogs, chips and bottles of water for free at NNO. Pictured, from front to back, include Brandon Buckner, a Scout; Scoutmaster Tim Miller, and Nate Miller, a Scout. The hot dogs and water were donated by the Albion Walmart.
These members of the National Night Out Committee race to complete the Battle of the Belts. Jovannie Canales is in front with Jacquie Chinn in back. Other team members include Jess Marciano and Diana Baker. They finished in 1:00.25.
A team of Scouts in Troop 28 was the fastest overall in 56.93 seconds.
The Jackson family was the fastest family in 1 minute, 2.87 seconds.
The Orleans County Christian School attended NNO to share about the grades K-12 school. Pictured form left is Jodi Peters, the school’s administrator and principal. Laura Kemler, right, is the school’s art teacher. Peters said there are four students scheduled to graduate in 2024. The school meets at Alabama Full Gospel Fellowship on Route 63 in Medina.
The school was one of 42 community organization at National Night Out.
Tyler Draper reacts in disbelief after hitting the target to send his father into the dunk tank. Except Tyler’s throw wasn’t quite hard enough. Tyler then ran up and pushed the button.
Medina Police Chief Todd Draper falls into the water after his son pushed the target on the dunk tank.
Provided photo: The 2022 Battle of the Belts Champions included Donnell Holloway, Jackie Chinn, Jovannie Canales, and Jess Marciano.
Posted 27 July 2023 at 7:26 am
Press Release, Medina Police Department
MEDINA – The Medina Police Department and the Medina Police Advisory Committee are co-organizing this year’s Orleans County National Night Out.
We are proud to give an update on this year’s event that will take place on Tuesday August 1st from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Medina Clifford Wise Intermediate School, 1016 Gwinn St.
National Night Out started in the 1980s as a way to bring law enforcement and citizens together nationwide on the same night each year. We have expanded on that principle and put together an event that focuses on bringing many agencies and organizations together for the annual National Night Out.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mason Cady, 8, of Kendall rides in a bike rodeo on during National Night Out in Medina, outside Clifford Wise Intermediate School in Medina. The event was free to the community and connected residents with local law enforcement officers and other first responders, as well as agencies.
This year NNO is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Participants in this event will include law enforcement from throughout Orleans County, fire agencies, EMS responders, civic organizations and other groups that will be providing activities and giveaways. Some of the big hits from past events have been the “Battle of the Belts,” K-9 demonstrations and the bike rodeo.
Our mission is simple. We want an event where families can come for a night and be entertained at no cost, eating and having fun in an environment that is free of violence, alcohol, tobacco and drugs. We hope citizens can meet members of our local organizations and get to know the services they provide to our community.
We would like to thank all of our sponsors, participants and volunteers who have helped make this event possible!
Tentative Schedule
Mercy Flight Landing at 6 p.m.
Battle of the Belts at 6:45 p.m.
K-9 Demonstration at 7:15 p.m.
The Safety Pup also attended National Night Out and greeted community members. About 700 people attended the National Night Out last year. National Night Out was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions and concerns.
Tentative Dunk Tank participants and schedule include Fire Chief Matt Jackson, Aidyn Jackson, Police Chief Todd Draper, Pastor Russ Peters, Donnell Holloway, Pastor Jovannie Canales, Heather Jackson – NNO Committee Chair, Village Trustee Jess Marciano, Village Trustee Diana Baker and Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard.
This 1913 photo shows construction of the aqueduct-dam on the north side of the canal basin.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 July 2023 at 12:13 pm
Provided photo: A historic marker has been installed in the canal basin to highlight the Medina Aqueduct, considered an engineering marvel. It is the only true aqueduct remaining on the Erie Canal.
MEDINA – A historic marker recognizing the significance of the Medina Aqueduct has been installed in the canal basin by the Medina DPW.
The Orleans Renaissance Group was the prime mover of the project and facilitated its design and fabrication with Catskill Castings in Bloomville.
The ORG believes recognition of this engineering marvel was way overdue, as the feature is unique on the canal and an often overlooked point of true historic significance, said Chris Busch, chairman of the ORG.
“Few people know that it’s there,” Busch said. “Now they not only know it’s there, but they’ll know how important it is to the history of the canal.”
The Barge Canal System begun in 1907 and completed in 1918, was a result of a report from the Committee on Canals, created by Governor Theodore Roosevelt in 1898. The Canal’s width was extended to 125 feet with a minimum depth of 12 feet.
During this enlargement of the canal, the problem of carrying the canal over the gorge at Oak Orchard River in Medina was the most studied engineering issue of the 1917 rebuild. At one point, engineers had considered removing the loop and moving the canal to a straighter path across the river, using a steel truss system.
The idea was abandoned and the result is what is seen today – a true engineering marvel. The concrete wall which holds back the canal is actually a dam and is longer than the Hoover Dam, with an aqueduct carrying the canal across the Oak Orchard River.
Following is an excerpt from History of the Barge Canal of New York State by NYS State engineer and surveyor Noble E. Whitford, 1922, and provides an assessment and description of the engineering required to create this section of the canal:
“Because of the difficulties involved in the problem of crossing the Oak Orchard in the village of Medina, a short stretch of canal in this vicinity became one of the most interesting portions of the whole line and received a greater amount of study than any other section.
Seven schemes (to cross the Oak Orchard) and their costs, which included simply the length of the canal across the gorge, were as follows:
(1) A steel cantilever structure with a steel trough for the canal, which was estimated to cost $500.
(2) A three-hinged steel arch of 300 feet span, center to center, carrying a steel trough for its length of 300 feet, the approaches of about a hundred feet on either side being concrete troughs supported on short concrete arches. The estimated cost was $405,000.
(3) The same steel arch and trough, but with approaches built all of steel, the cost being $407,000.
(4) A concrete arch in place of the steel arch, the remainder of the structure, both trough and approach supports, being of steel, at an estimated cost of $300,000.
(5) An all-concrete structure, consisting of a plain concrete trough on a concrete arch of 300 feet span, center to center, estimated at $272,000.
(6) The same concrete structure, but with architectural adornment, which would raise the cost to $285,000.
(7) An earth fill over a long culvert, the canal to be carried in a concrete trough, estimated to cost $433,000.
After careful consideration, the sixth scheme was adopted for making detailed plans on which to let a contract. The reasons for this choice were, briefly, this concrete structure was considered to be the safest, most permanent and cheapest to build, cheapest to maintain and the most pleasing in appearance.
This diagram shows the aqueduct-dam and Medina Falls north of Medina’s canal basin.
The canal as it was finally built in this vicinity, embodies several interesting engineering features, the most important being the long stretches of retaining wall, some of it unusually high, and the aqueduct over the creek.
Although the extent of canal under this contract was only 2 1/3 miles long, there was on the north side one continuous stretch of retaining wall nearly 7,000 feet long, while on the south side, two pieces together measured about 4,600 feet.
Between 1,500 and 1,600 feet of the north wall was high, extending in some places well below the canal bottom, to the natural surface as it sloped down toward the gorge.
Here, the bed of the canal is a rock fill and the wall beside the channel sustains hydrostatic pressure for its full height, which reaches a maximum of 45 feet. Thus, in effect, the canal runs behind a high dam for nearly a third of a mile.
As a preventative against leakage at this high wall, a vertical plate of steel was embedded six inches in each of two adjoining sections at the joints formed in construction.”
“This aqueduct feature may not be as glamorous as other sites along the canal, but as you can see it is of vital importance,” Busch said. “It was heavily studied and was a true feat of engineering for its day. ORG is happy to bring this important piece of history to light and its role in the history of the Erie Canal and hopes it is a source of pride for our community.”
Busch further added, “We are incredibly grateful for the generous financial support we received in bringing this important project to fruition. We would like to publicly recognize and thank those who contributed to this effort. It would not have been possible without them.”
In addition to ORG, generous financial support was provided by Medina Sandstone Society, Honorable James Punch and Gabrielle Barone.
“We also thank mayor Mike Sidari and the Medina Village Board for their cooperation in making this a reality,” Busch said. “Also, village historian Todd Bensley for his expert assistance and support, and DPW superintendent Jason Watts, along with the personnel of Medina DPW for executing an excellent installation of the marker.”
The marker is located in Medina’s Canal Basin and joins the numerous historic markers and interpretive signs throughout the village that tell the story of Medina along the village’s Heritage Trail.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 15 July 2023 at 4:55 pm
Provided photo: Leonard Oakes Estate Winery has announced the availability of their Steampunk Cider in four-packs. This is the first time any of the brand’s cider has been available to customers in anything less than a 750 ML bottle.
RIDGEWAY – Leonard Oakes Estate Winery has announced the inaugural launch of its flagship cider brand in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles.
The official launch will take place today at the Steampunk Carnivale. That event will feature live music, burlesque, sideshows, tarot and more. It runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on www.oakeswinerylocal.com.
Until this four-pack bottle release, Steampunk Cider has been primarily available in local breweries, liquor stores and online via shipping by Leonard Oakes Estate Winery. With the launch of 12-ounce four-packs, this will mark the first time the cider will be seen on the shelves of local supermarkets.
Initially the four-packs will be exclusive to the tasting room at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, before its distribution is expanded in the coming months.
“The decision to move Steampunk into this new 12-ounce bottle format is about maintaining the integrity of the product and providing more access to consumers and our partners in the restaurant/bar business,” said Jonathan Oakes, head cider maker and creator of Steampunk Cider. “The terroir in our region is one we’re very proud of. Couple that with our many cider apple varieties and we’ve been able to develop products that truly reflect our area and the craft cider industry. We’re hoping this step is just another way we can promote our region to a larger audience.”
Oakes came up with the idea of Steampunk in 2007, just before the doors of Leonard Oakes Estate Winery opened on Ridge Road in Medina. It took a few years before it was officially named “Steampunk” cider, said Alix Gilman, who does marketing for the winery.
Gilman explained the idea of Steampunk as a concept was forged out of the 1980s – when science fiction writers imagined a world that never found the gasoline engine, staying true to the Victorian era and aesthetic and steam-driven technology.
Steampunk fits with cider because at the time of the industrial revolution and the turn of the century, the cider mills that populated the East coast were steam-powered, Gilman said. Steampunk Cider is a throwback to a time when cider was a key beverage in this country. After nearly a century, cider is seeing its resurgence.
Steampunk as a concept is wildly popular as a subgenre of science fiction, and the marriage of that with the burgeoning cider industry has seen remarkable growth for the brand. In 2010, Steampunk Cider produced about 100 cases, and now Leonard Oakes produces between 6,000 to 8,000 gallons a year, Gilman said.
Prior to Covid, the annual Steampunk Festival would garner more than 1,200 attendees. It is scheduled this year on Sept. 2.
Steampunk Cider is part of the Oakes family brands that also include Leonard Oakes Estate Wintery and LynOaken Farms.
