By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2023 at 4:59 pm
MEDINA – The Village Board voted this week to increase the costs at Boxwood Cemetery by 2 percent, effective June 1. This follows the typical schedule from the village of boosting the prices 2 percent annually.
One change this time is the village will charging an additional $300 fee for burials or services after 3 p.m. That is because village employees have to stay past a typical work day.
The new rates include:
grave purchase – $746 for village residents and $870 for non-village residents
grave opening/closing – $621 for village residents, $746 for non-village residents
cremains – $372 for residents, $496 for non-village residents (add $200 if two cremations to be placed in same opening)
Photos by Tom Rivers: Kimberly Baptiste and Jeanette Petti, planners with Bergmann in Rochester, go over the NY Forward process for Medina to pick projects for $4.5 million in state funding. Those projects will be submitted to the state in November, with the projects to then be reviewed by the state with the final selections to be announced by the governor’s office next spring.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2023 at 12:47 pm
MEDINA – The group that will identify projects to submit to the state for the $4.5 million awarded to Medina in NY Forward program wants to spread the money around, including many smaller projects as well as larger transformative efforts.
The 15-member local planning committee met for the first time on Wednesday evening and expects to have monthly sessions the next six months to pick the projects to submit to the state for its approval. The governor’s office is expected to announce which projects and the funding levels for each about a year from now.
Mayor Mike Sidari said he is grateful Medina was picked for the funding after being a finalist several times and missing out on a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The state modified the DRI to include smaller NY Forward grants for villages. The DRIs typically were going to cities with the villages not getting anything.
Medina is one of 24 NY Forward winners around the state and the grants range from $2.75 million to $4.5 million.
“It’s New York Forward but this will be Medina Forward,” Sidari said at the beginning of the two-hour meeting on Wednesday.
Sidari is co-chairman of the committee with Steve Mowers, the president of CRFS in Albion and a member of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council.
The other committee members include Lauren Backlas, Gabrielle Barone, Kathy Blackburn, Gloria Brent, Chris Busch, Jesse Cudzillo, Tim Elliott, David Flynn, Rollin Hellner, Mark Kruzynski, Andrew Meier, Patrick Weissend and Mark Zambito.
Kimberly Baptiste of the Bergmann engineering, architecture and planning firm led the committee through the first meeting on Wednesday evening at the Medina Central School board room.
The committee members have all signed a code of conduct and must recuse themselves from any discussion or voting if they seek grant funding for their property or if they are part of an organization applying for NY Forward money.
The committee will work closely with planners from the Bergmann engineering, architectural and planning firm in Rochester. Other firms also will be assisting Medina in reviewing projects. Samantha Aldrich, a project manager and revitalization specialist with the state Department of State, also will be working closely with Medina through the process of submitting the final proposal to the state.
Kimberly Baptiste, a certified planner with Bergmann, went over the NY Forward program with the committee and the expected timeline in the coming months. The projects submitted in Medina’s application won’t necessarily receive funding and at the amounts identified in the application.
There also will be an opportunity for others to submit projects that weren’t identified in the application. Baptiste said projects need to be more than ideas. The business owners or organization need to be able to bring the project to a reality within two years of being awarded a grant, “ideally sooner,” Baptiste said.
The projects “need to enhance the downtown and the quality of life,” Baptiste said.
The state is pushing the NY Forward and DRI grants “to create an active downtown with a mix of uses,” she said.
Medina already boasts a vibrant downtown, but the committee will be looking to add even more vitality to the area, including housing options on some of the upper levels of the historic buildings.
Some of the $4.5 million will likely go to larger projects, perhaps $1 million or more of the grant. Committee members said they want smaller amounts available too to spread the funds around and help smaller business owners.
The $4.5 million will include up to $300,000 in a small grant fund where businesses can seek funds to help with painting, awnings, signs, window repair, roof work and other smaller projects.
Mayor Sidari said renovating the upper floors, including putting in elevators, will be much more costly and will take bigger chunks of the grant.
The committee will decide how much of a match will be needed for the projects, whether it’s a 50/50 split or more or less of a share from the property owner.
Mayor Mike Sidari gets a display ready that shows Medina’s winning application for the $4.5 million in funding. Projects identified in the application still need to be submitted and go through the review process. Those projects won’t necessarily be funded as part of a more stringent review or may be funded at a different amount that was listed in the application from last year. Steve Mowers (left) is the CRFS president in Albion and a member of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council. He is co-chairman with Sidari of Medina’s local planning committee for the NY Forward grant.
Medina’s winning application sought the grant for the following:
Small Project Grant Fund at $500,000 on Main Street and West Avenue to support façade improvements to commercial and mixed-use properties in downtown Medina that benefit both the businesses occupying those buildings and the community as a whole. “Improvements to the street-facing exteriors of the buildings in need are meant to preserve the unique small-town charm in our community while spurring economic growth,” the application stated.
Renovation and activation of upper stories for $400,000 on Main Street and West Avenue. These funds would boost use of the upper floors in the downtown which are currently often vacant and underutilized. Funds would help with structural, electrical, plumbing and HVAC work as well as sprinklers and new windows.
Wayfinding signage throughout the downtown at $100,000 to direct people to the Erie Caal and other attractions and sites. Potential signage types for downtown may include gateway signs, directional signs (vehicular and pedestrian), kiosks and interpretive signs, identification signs (destinations and parking areas) and light pole banners.
Municipal parking lot upgrades at Canal Basin and the lot behind Main and East Center streets for $300,000. The latter larger lot needs paving, directional signs, green space and trees to provide shade, safe pedestrian connections and additional lighting.
State Street Park with $300,000 in improvements including a small ice rink, upgraded playground equipment, bicycle amenities, seating benches and additional lighting.
Mustang City, an adaptive reuse of the old high school on Catherine Street, at $3 million in grant request. This would create about 40 apartments, transforming a 90,000-square foot building and provide much-needed housing options.
Medina Railroad Museum Campus at 530 West Ave. is in the application for $1.5 million towards several upgrades, including a courtyard that would connect the train station to the existing museum building. Site improvements at the museum would include visitor experience enhancements, roof upgrades, parking lot paving, as well as landscape beautification. On the southern side of the tracks, the campus plan calls for the creation of a park-like courtyard space adjacent to the library. This courtyard will include the installation of two, permanent dining cars to be rented out for weddings and other events as well as an enclosed pole barn building to store and repair cars.
None of the projects identified in the application are final for Medina’s submission to the state for funding. The dollar amounts in the application also exceed the $4.5 million in the NY Forward grant.
Baptiste, the planner working with Medina, urged the committee to top the $4.5 million with the proposal to the state. Officials with the state will narrow the numbers on some of the proposals to get to $4.5 million.
Some of the plans may also have changed in the application that was submitted in October.
The owners of those projects, if they still want a chance at the NY Forward grant monies, will need to submit the projects for review by the committee. Other projects that weren’t in the initial application also can be proposed for consideration by the committee.
The target area for the NY Forward grant is in the downtown area from Ann Street to State Street and also includes much of the waterfront.
There will be an open call for projects next month. A web site will soon go live at www.MedinaNYF.com and that will include the 12-page application to submit a project for consideration. A hard copy of the application also will be available at the village office.
The committee expects projects can be submitted beginning June 10 with a cutoff on July 10.
There will be a public information session at 7 p.m. on June 13 to walk prospective application through the process of applying for funds and to answer their questions.
Applicants will need to identify the project, state where it is located, who is sponsor if a municipality or organization, explain how will it be financed and offer a timeline for completion.
“We are looking for projects that aren’t just ideas but have financing behind them,” Baptiste said.
Projects for the grant funding should be in the target area but the committee could make an exception, especially if a site is contiguous to the area and has “catalytic” potential to spur other investment.
The committee will next meet from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on June 27 at the Medina Central School board room. The first public workshop with community input will follow that day from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The committee members participated in a visioning exercise on Wednesday evening. They were asked, in one word, to describe downtown Medina’s greatest asset.
Responses included the canal, waterfront, shops, architecture, people, businesses, downtown, historic buildings, history and support.
Lauren Backlas, a committee member, said she is impressed how the community turns out in big numbers for local festivals, events and when new businesses open. She sees that as a big strength of the downtown.
The group was asked the greatest challenge facing downtown Medina today. Money was listed several times. People also said parking, apathy, transportation, negativity, space, competition, modernization, gateways and space (not enough first floor spots available).
Chris Busch said more businesses would like to be in downtown Medina but there is a very high occupancy rate.
Gabrielle Barone, vice president of business development for the Orleans Economic Development Agency, said the gateways leading to the downtown need to be improved.
“No matter what gateway you’re coming through it is not inviting and does not speak to what Main Street is about,” she said. “I don’t think we’re paying enough attention to the gateways.”
The group also was asked how it would like to describe downtown in five years. Their responses included destination, complex, wonderful, vibrant, amazing, historic, balanced, perfect and thriving.
“I’d like to see Medina be the western gateway to the Finger Lakes region on the canal,” Mayor Sidari said.
Village Trustee Tim Elliott said the village needs to balance the historic charm with modern features and expectations. He noted the push from the village to install fast-charging stations for electric vehicles.
Baptiste said she looks forward to ongoing discussions about Medina and its future.
“Is everyone excited?” she asked at the end of the meeting. “It will be a lot of work over the next six months but it will also be a lot of fun.”
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Bobby Guzik, left, dines at Rudy’s with fellow Lions members, Billy Roman, Ann McElwee and Julie Roman. Bobby is using a braille menu. A friend and fellow member of Medina Lions, Billy Roman, urges all local restaurants to supply a menu in braille.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 24 May 2023 at 4:15 pm
MEDINA – A young Medina man, who was been blind since birth, can now order a meal at several restaurants in the area, with the addition of braille menus.
Bobby Guzik, 33, son of Laura Guzik of Medina, is also a member of Medina Lions, as is Billy Roman. Recently, Roman had the idea to encourage restaurants to have braille menus for blind customers. He mentioned it to Bobby, who said it would be so helpful if menus could be provided for the blind. Roman then approached Lion member Ann McElwee, who was a special education teacher and has been using braille for 25 years. She loved the idea.
“I had some blind kids in my class, so I got certified to teach blind kids,” McElwee said.
She also became a member of the Buffalo Braille Group, which translates menus sent to them in braille.
Previously, Bobby had to order his food through an app on his phone and have it delivered or rely on someone to read him the menu.
“I’m very happy about being able to go in a restaurant and read the menu,” Bobby said Tuesday night, while dining at Rudy’s in Medina with Billy and Julie Roman and McElwee. “I feel more independent. Now I can eat out more.”
Currently, Rudy’s and Captain Kidz have put braille menus in their restaurants, and McElwee just received the one for Darrell’s in Middleport and is working on the menu for the Country Club on Main Street in Medina.
McElwee takes the menus and, through an app on her computer, translates them into braille and sends them to the Buffalo Braille Group. They have an embosser who then prints the menu in braille.
Buffalo Braille Group also does books in braille for schools and colleges, McElwee said.
Roman is very excited about seeing this service for the blind implemented in local restaurants.
“Our district superintendent in the Lions is going to take the idea to the state level and propose they adopt the idea throughout the state,” Roman said.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Jan McCloy, left, and Peggy Pearce admire the cake celebrating the volunteers to run St. Peter’s Food Pantry. They are among the more than 20 who keep the food pantry running. (Right) The Rev. Akhtor Sokheil shares a story about feeding the hungry and a prayer to start the appreciation luncheon for volunteers at the food pantry.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 May 2023 at 10:18 pm
MEDINA – More than 20 volunteers who donate their time to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Food Pantry were recognized at a luncheon today at the church.
“Without volunteers we couldn’t do what we do,” said Jim Hancock, who last year was recognized for his involvement all 40 years of the Food Pantry’s existence.
The Food Pantry serves about 30 families a month. Before Tuesday’s luncheon, 10 families came for food, said Robin Dubai, who has been involved with the Food Pantry for more than 30 years, most of them as organizer.
The Rev. Akhtor Sokeil shared a story about helping the hungry and said ministries like the food pantry are gospel.
“They are sharing God’s love,” he said.
Food Pantry staff acknowledged support from St. Peter’s Church, food donations from the the local library and Scouts.
The pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Thursday.
Grimm said they were blessed with volunteers, as she read their names – Janet Husung, Robin Dubai, Marian Fry, Michelle Capstick, Bill Bixler, Denny Dubai, Barb Filipiak, Gloria Gruber, Bob Hoffman, Edee Hoffmeister, Kathy Iorio, Jan McCloy, Ann McElwee, Peggy Pearce, Diane Mazur, Mary Keppler, Cindy Hewitt, Marilyn Hiwiller and three new volunteers, Sharee Canham, Lois Donovan and Marie Socha.
(Left) Robin Dubai, who has headed St. Peter’s Food Pantry for most of its 41 years, applauds volunteers and shares their accomplishments in providing meals. (Right) Jim Hancock, treasurer for St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Food Pantry, welcomes volunteers to a luncheon today.
Dubai also praised The Grove Methodist Church for all their donations, and the cooperation with Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God’s Food Pantry, headed by Donna Poore. She said they help each other out if one of the other’s supplies get low.
Dubai thanked Kathy Iorio and Diane Mazur for their efforts in putting double bags together and filling bags with food items. Each bag holds nine to 12 pounds of food and each family gets two bags.
She also thanked Sally Grimm for scheduling volunteers and keeping monthly reports, and her husband Denny Dubai for restocking. She paid a special tribute to Bob Hoffman, who meets the trucks delivering food every week and unloads the boxes. Last year, he lifted 4,022 pounds, Dubai said.
“We can’t do this job without him,” she said.
Ray Lavesque was mentioned for going out of his way to deliver food to a client who moved to Middleport.
Dubai concluded by dedicating the luncheon to Grimm’s mother, who was a volunteer in the Food Pantry’s early years and kept in touch with how it was during throughout her life. She passed away recently at 100.
Lunch was provided by St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and cookies were donated by Mary Lou Tuohey from Case-Nic Cookies.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 May 2023 at 1:01 pm
Village urged to address $12.5 million in ‘priority one’ replacements
Photo by Tom Rivers: Matt Zarbo, a managing engineer with Barton & Loguidice, said 21 miles of waterlines in the village need to be replaced in the next 10 to 15 years. He urged the Village Board to work on putting in new infrastructure to replace waterlines that are at least 75 years old.
MEDINA – The village’s water distribution system has more than 20 miles of waterlines that are soon in need of replacement, and the upgrades wouldn’t come cheap, the Village Board was told on Monday by an engineer with Barton & Loguidice.
The estimate to replace 21 miles of waterlines would be in the $30 million to $35 million range, said Matt Zarbo, a managing engineer with Barton & Loguidice.
The village’s water distribution system was studied by the engineering firm, and Zarbo said many of the waterlines are at least 75 years old, with some dating pre-1900s.
“You can’t do all at once,” Zarbo told the board on Monday. “It’s not fiscally feasible but you need to plan for now. Your system is definitely antiquated.”
He grouped the waterlines in need of replacement into three priority groups. He based that ranking partly on whether there is low water pressure in the lines and a history of leaks.
Priority one includes 40,118 linear feet, nearly 8 miles, and would cost an estimated $12,338,550.
Priority two covers 38,487 linear feet, about 7.3 miles, and would cost an estimated $11,345,250, while priority three is 31,716 linear feet, about 6 miles, at an estimated $9,699,080.
“You have 21 miles of watermain that need to be replaced soon,” Zarbo said. “You’re in $30-$35 million range to replace all of it. Those are huge numbers.”
He urged the board to plan over the next 10 to 15 years to replace all areas. Priority one should be addressed very soon, and Zarbo believes the village has a very good chance of securing state and federal aid for a big project.
There are grants to cover up to $5 million or 60 percent of a project. The village could maximize that $5 million grant if it pursued a project for at least $8.5 million, Zarbo said.
The village currently has low water rates – about half what most municipalities charge in the region, Zarbo said. The water system has about 2,200 users and could take on debt to pay for new waterlines, and still have low water rates, he said.
He presented some financial scenarios and the impact on water costumers:
A $12.5 million project with a $5 million grant would increase the average annual cost of water by $113 from the current $280 to $393. That’s at a 0 percent rate over 30 years for financing.
A $3 million grant and financing at 2.5 percent over 38 years would increase the water cost by $176 a year to $456.
Medina could finance a $12.5 million project without a grant. That cost over 38 years at a 2.5 percent rate would be an average of $231 per water user, putting the annual cost at $511.
Zarbo said there is more money available this coming year for water projects due to a federal infrastucture bill and also a state bond act. Normally, he said municipalities have about a 20 to 25 percent chance for the grants, but he said this time the likelihood is closer to 50 percent.
Medina’s low-to-moderate household income increases the village’s chances for funding. One factor that hurts the application is the project is necessitated to address a public health issue, he said.
The current water quality is good, but the system is showing its age, Zarbo said.
The village could break the priority areas into smaller projects and do many projects until all the work is done. But Zarbo said there is an economy of scale of doing larger projects with financing for the construction and mobilizing contractors.
The village needs to decide soon whether to pursue a WIIA grant (Water Infrastructure Improvement) for priority one areas. Those applications are due July 28 but a lot of work needs to be done before that to prepare the application, Zarbo said.
The Village Board voted on Monday to be the lead agency for the SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) which is an early step needed as part of the application.
Mayor Mike Sidari said the board will continue to discuss the issue, and whether it will pursue a grant and the size of a project. Doing some of the initial work, such as the SEQR, doesn’t obligate the village to follow through with a project.
If the village replaces waterlines, Zarbo said new sidewalks may also need to go in because waterline construction would unearth some of those sidewalks.
He also recommended the village do a study of its sewer system, and perhaps consider replacing sewer lines in conjunction with the waterlines. That would save some money to do both while the ground is torn up.
Zarbo did share some good news. The 3-million-gallon concrete water tank on Maple Ridge Road is in good shape. An internal inspection didn’t show any rust from any rebar. Zarbo said the tank should be good for at least another 10 to 15 years.
Provided photos: Scott Wengewicz, his daughter Cassandra Boring and son-in-law, Steven J. Boring Jr. stand by the gun case in their new store, Patriot Guns, on North Main Street in Medina.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 May 2023 at 10:20 am
MEDINA – A gun shop in Medina is a business for which Scott Wengewicz saw a need.
Patriot Guns was recently opened by Wengewicz, his wife Kathy and their daughter Cassandra Boring at 339 North Main St.
Their background explains their interest in weapons.
Patriot Guns has opened next to Mystic Dragon’s Lair at 339 North Main St.
Wengewicz, the Shelby town supervisor, spent 20 years as a Federal agent for the U.S. Border Patrol; Kathy was a U.S. Customs officer; and along with Cassandra’s husband Steve Boring, they are disabled veterans. In addition, Scott spent 10 years in the Air Force, Kathy served 14 years in the Air Force as an investigator and Steve was in the Army for six years.
Scott has been mining his whole life and Cassandra has always been interested in minerals. A business they started in their basement got so big, Scott said he had to rent a storefront. Their businesses, Mystic Dragon’s Lair and Patriot Guns are located in the building on North Main Street owned by Rita Zambito.
In addition to rifles, shot guns and pistols, Patriot Guns sells knives, camp stoves, gun cleaning supplies, multi-hand crank flashlights (to charge cell phones), first-aid kits, flashlights, freeze-dried foods which last 25 to 30 years, water filtration, Bug Out Bag, survival bags, ammunition, backpacks and more. They hope to expand into hiking, fishing and camping equipment, Steve said. New inventory is posted on the business’s Facebook page.
Patriot Guns also will be offering a New York state pistol permit course in the near future.
Patriot Guns is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cassandra performs Reiki healing classes and Shamanic healing services and sells crystals at Mystic Dragon’s Lair, next door to the gun shop.
A highlight at Mystic Dragon’s Lair is a life-size replica of Ildrys, a blue dragon known as “Guardian of the Forest.” Scott commissioned an artist to create the dragon, and each scale was individually cut, he said. It is the only one like it in the world.
The date for upcoming “Dungeons and Dragons” will be posted on the Mystic Dragon’s Lair Facebook page.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 May 2023 at 9:16 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Kathy Blackburn, chairwoman of the Medina Municipal Tree Board, presents a “Friends of our Urban Forest Award” to Jason Watts, superintendent of the Medina Department of Public Works.
She presented the recognition during Monday’s Village Board meeting. Watts and the DPW were honored for their efforts planting about 50 trees annually in the village. The DPW also sets up for the annual Arbor Day festivities in Medina.
Blackburn said Watts and the DPW put in a lot of work to get all the trees planted.
“Every time we call they are so wonderful,” Blackburn said. “They are a great group.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 May 2023 at 10:01 pm
Backboards will cost another $10K; Medina seeks funding help from Town of Shelby
MEDINA – The Village Board accepted a construction bid this evening for two full-size basketball courts at Butts Park.
The village approved paying Super Seal Sealcoating of Penfield $122,319 for the project.
The village will use $110,000 in money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The board also has been informed the Medina Sports Boosters will contribute $13,200 towards the project, Mayor Mike Sidari said.
The $122,319 for the two new courts doesn’t include four backboards, two for each court. That is another $9,846, putting the total cost at about $132,000.
The Village Board voted this evening to approve the court construction. The board is hopeful the Town of Shelby will contribute towards the project.
Trustee Marguerite Sherman attended a recent Shelby Town Board and asked the town to pay for at least the backboards. The Town Board hasn’t voted on the matter.
“We don’t know what Shelby will do. We have no idea,” Sidari said at the meeting.
About $3,000 could also be saved if the village and other municipalities haul the stone for the courts.
Melissa Valley from the Medina Mustang Boosters has been leading the effort to get new courts at Butts Park on South Main Street. Currently there aren’t outdoor courts in Medina.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 May 2023 at 1:26 pm
Provided photos by Jamie Murphy
MEDINA – Entertainer Tony Pedulla serenades Sally Standish at Orchard Manor Rehab and Nursing Center during a week of special events to celebrate Mother’s Day and National Skilled Nursing Care Week.
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari signs a proclamation at Orchard Manor Rehab and Nursing Center with Resident Council president Bob Hale.
Sidari read the proclamation proclaiming May 14-20 as National Skilled Nursing Care Week. This year’s theme was “Cultivating Kindness,” according to activities director Jamie Murphy.
Staff of Orchard Manor and Rehab enjoy a taco bar during the week’s celebration of National Skilled Nursing Care Week.
There also was a tea party for residents, staff appreciation boards in the hallways for staff to write notes of appreciation for their co-workers, drawings for prizes for staff from local vendors and notes of kindness written by residents and shared with staff.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2023 at 1:34 pm
MEDINA – The local committee tasked with identifying projects for a $4.5 million state grant will meet for the first time on Wednesday.
Medina was awarded $4.5 million from the state on Feb. 13 in a “NY Forward” grant. The village has formed a local planning committee to guide Medina through the planning process and to identify transformative projects to submit to the state.
Mayor Mike Sidari said the group is pushing to have the process complete in November. The plan will be submitted to the state and Sidari said he expects the state will green light the projects next spring, with the funding becoming available to the village and business owners.
The meeting on Wednesday is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Medina Central School district office boardroom. This will be a work meeting without public comments. Sidari said there will be public hearings at future sessions.
Members of the local planning committee include Mayor Mike Sidari, Lauren Backlas, Gabrielle Barone, Kathy Blackburn, Gloria Brent, Chris Busch, Jesse Cudzillo, Tim Elliott, David Flynn, Rollin Hellner, Mark Kruzynski, Andrew Meier, Patrick Weissend and Mark Zambito.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2023 at 6:21 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Hart Hotel includes five rooms and two lofts on the third floor of 113 West Center St.
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board is again trying to go through the proper channels in the State Legislature to allow the village to impose a 2-percent occupancy tax on rooms and lodging.
The board today voted to ask the State Assembly and State Senate to allow Medina to have a 2-percent occupancy tax in the village. Medina first tried to have the tax imposed in 2018 but it has stalled in the State Legislature.
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari said the revenue would be used to promote tourism in the village and also to help cover some of the village’s overtime costs with events. The Police Department and Department of Public Works often work extra hours for the many community events in the village, Sidari said today.
The board in an official resolution today said the village wants to be a bigger tourist destination by promoting the Erie Canal, its historic downtown, agri-tourism and other attractions.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley has introduced Bill No., A.6671, to authorize Medina to collect the occupancy tax. Previous efforts to gain full support in both houses of the Legislature haven’t been successful.
Orleans County currently currently imposes a 4-percent “bed tax” that topped $100,000 for the first time in 2022. The $111,013 in 2022 passed the previous record high of $79,102 in 2021. The third most was collected in 2020: $58,438.
The county is seeing more short-term vacation rentals such as Airbnbs. A 58-room Comfort Inn & Suites opened on March 18, 2022 in Medina, giving the county its first branded hotel. Bent’s Opera House also opened 10 hotel rooms in 2021.
The county’s bed tax is used to promote attractions in the county. Medina’s tax would focus on efforts in the village.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 May 2023 at 3:39 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: The committee promoting Medina’s annual Community Garage Sale and Chicken Barbecue on June 3 are, from left, Jim Hancock, Tim Moriarty, and Julie and Chris Keller.
MEDINA – Medina Lions annual Community Yard Sale and Chicken Barbecue have been a tradition on the first Saturday in June for more than 20 years, according to event chairman Jim Hancock.
The event is scheduled for June 3, featuring yard sales throughout the village, a vendor fair at the Olde Pickle Factory and a chicken barbecue.
The day will also feature the usual “Weinermobile” traveling the village to offer hot dogs to those shoppers who don’t won’t to miss a sale. Pete Kaiser, Chris Leavitt and Matt Kreutz will be the hot dog crew.
Hancock said 30 vendors have already reserved a spot at the Olde Pickle Factory, featuring a wide variety of merchandise.
Lions Chris and Julie Keller will be running the hotdog and hamburger stand for the Lions at the vendor location.
“We have the best hamburgers in town,” Chris said.
Lions will also be on the four corners of Main Street from 9 a.m. to noon handing out maps of the village indicating the location of yard sales. The maps are free, but a donation is appreciated, to help the Lions with their projects for the community.
The deadline for residents to register their address at Lake Country Pennysaver to be included on the map is noon May 24.
Chiavetta’s will be cooking the chicken, for which pre-sale tickets are available for $14 from any Lions member, or by calling (716) 417-0079. Tickets the day of the event will be $15. Serving will begin at 11:30 until sold out.
New this year will be music by Rob Robinson. Also, this year, the Lions will be able to accept credit cards.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Thomas the Tank Engine sits in the station while passengers board during a previous year’s Day Out With Thomas at Medina Railroad Museum. The legendary engine will be at Medina Railroad Museum for a four-day run this Saturday and Sunday, and then the following weekend, May 26-27.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 May 2023 at 8:21 am
MEDINA – After an absence of two years due to Covid and a shortened run last year, Thomas the Tank Engine will be back at Medina Railroad Museum, beginning this weekend.
This year’s theme, Let’s Get Colorful, will be evident in Thomas’ new paint job and the activities on the grounds of the Medina Railroad Museum.
Thomas first thrilled youngsters and their families at the Medina Railroad Museum in 2005. Annually passengers came from across the United States to ride the train of storybook fame.
Tickets to ride the train also include admission to the Medina Railroad Museum, and give riders the opportunity to earn a Color Badge, say hello to Sir Topham Hat and explore the Color Corner, formerly known as Imagination Station.
Activities this year will include carnival games, two holes of miniature golf, a color corner, play pod, corn hole hopscotch, the game of Sodor 4 (a take on Connect 4), face painting, coloring, play tables and power wheels.
The day will also feature live entertainment, a gift tent and food court across the street at the Senior Citizens Center with food trucks, kettle corn, cotton candy and more. Also in the Senior Center will be a baby changing station, nursing area, Thomas books to read and coffee for sale.
Train rides depart every 45 minutes from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some times are sold out, but tickets still remain for other times. Tickets can be purchased by logging on to medinarailroadmuseum.org.
Grounds will open at 8 a.m. and remain open until 5 p.m. each day of the event.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2023 at 12:02 pm
For 34 years the church was known as Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ
Provided photo: From left include Spanish Eastern Assembly of God District Superintendent Manny Álvarez joins Senior Pastors Jovannie & Melisa Canales this past Sunday when the church celebrated a new name. The Canales couple have served as the church pastors since 2017.
MEDINA – A church with a 34-year history announced it has a new name.
The Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ on Sunday announced it officially has a new name, Oasis Church.
The church has 45 members and they were unanimous in approving the name change at an annual meeting about three months ago.
“I would say that ‘Oasis’ is how we identify in our community – ‘A fertile place of nourishment, rest, peace, renewal, and life sustained by springs of water.’ It is similar to where the Israelites camped on their journey through the wilderness [Exod. 15:27],” church pastors Jovannie and Melisa Canales wrote in a letter to the community. “It makes the perfect location and environment for transformation. This name change makes so much sense as it effectively represents our vision, mission, and who we are as a church.”
The church holds services at 2 p.m. on Sundays. It shares a building with the Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God at 11031 Maple Ridge Rd. The two churches are independent of each other.
Jovannie Canales said the congregation at Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ was often known as the “Hispanic/Spanish Church.”
At Oasis, he said the church is bilingual, speaking and writing in Spanish and English. He wants everyone to feel welcome. The church attendees come from many backgrounds – Mexican, Honduran, Puerto Rican, Panamanian, Jamaican, white and Black.
“We’re a great representation of the body of Christ,” Canales said.
The church in the coming months will make changes to its signage, logo, website and social media accounts. Oasis remains affiliated with the General Council of the Assemblies of God through The Spanish Eastern District AG. Canales said the congregation isn’t changing any doctrines or practices as a church.
“Getting used to calling ourselves Oasis Church will take a while, but this is who we are,” Jovannie and Melisa Canales wrote in their letter.
The church runs an annual family fun day at Butts Parks, providing entertainment and food to several hundred people. That event will continue and is planned for Aug. 5.
Photo courtesy of Luke Kantor/Iroquois Job Corps: The Lincoln VFW Post in Medina recognized the Iroquois Job Corps on Monday with its Service Award for their support of veterans. From left are student Melody Goodwin, VFW vice president and historian Dave Berry, Job Corps operations director John Thomas and students Kee’Andra Creque and Joshua Espinal.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 May 2023 at 6:32 am
MEDINA – The VFW Auxiliary in Medina’s historian and vice president Dave Berry visited the Iroquois Job Corps on Monday to present the center with an award for its support of veterans.
The National Office of the Veterans of Foreign War Auxiliary’s annual Service Award was given to the Job Corps in recognition of students who volunteered to assist the Medina VFW Auxiliary serving lunch to veterans on Veterans Day. The students also made Veterans Day cards and handed them out to all the veterans, according to John Thomas, operations director at Iroquois Job Corps.
Also participating in the award ceremony were the three students who assisted with the Veterans Day lunch, Melody Goodwin, Kee’Andra Creque and Joshua Espnal.
“I had some blind kids in my class, so I got certified to teach blind kids,” McElwee said.
