File photo by Tom Rivers: The concrete wall on the northside of the Canal Basin in Medina has crumbled in many spots in recent years. This photo from early November shows the wall that is eyed for improvements by the NYS Canal Corp.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2024 at 10:30 am
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has gone on the record in support of an estimated $10 million in improvements to the canal in Medina, including work on the towpath trail and the concrete wall on the north side of the canal in the basin.
The State Canal Corp. is working on the design for improvements to the towpath from Bates Road to the lift bridge.
The Canal Corp. and New York Power Authority requested a letter of support for the improvement project. That letter of support from the board would be “invaluable” as the Power Authority works to get approval from the State Historic Preservation Office, according to a letter to Mayor Marguerite Sherman from Joana Pacheco, Capital Planning manager of Canals for the Power Authority.
“The Medina Waterfront Project is a transformative effort aimed at rebuilding the canal structure of the high wall and repairing the canal system trails,” Pacheco wrote in a letter to Mayor Marguerite Sherman. “It includes enhancements to existing trailheads and the creation of new public spaces that will provide much needed amenities, fostering increased accessibility, connection and quality of life for the community.”
The Medina Village Board on Dec. 16 said it strongly supports the project and will send a letter backing the effort.
The Power Authority and Canal Corp. also are looking to “reactivate” an industrial area where safety concerns have been reported, transforming it into a vibrant, welcoming space, Pacheco said.
“Vital to this initiative is the development of a recognizable central gateway adjacent to the Sydney Gross Memorial and the Apple – a site that will become the primary stopping point on the northside of the Canal Loop,” she wrote in her letter to the board. “This new arrival will support recreational activities, including kayaking, boating, while offering vital amenities such as parking, water fountains, seating, bathrooms and storage.”
The initiative from the Canal Corp. and Power Authority aligns with other big projects in Medina, including a $4.5 million Forward NY grant and an international art event to launch in 2026, Pacheco said.
“I am incredibly excited about the potential of this project to enrich the lives of Medina’s residents and visitors, and believe your support will underscore its importance to the wider community,” Pacheco said.
Photo by Tom Rivers: One of the stops during the Oct. 5 Boxwood at Night event included a display with a list of the 107 people buried in a potter’s field at the cemetery. Of those 107, only 28 have head stones. The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery would like to install a plaque in the cemetery listing all 107 people. The Medina Sandstone Society is contributing to that effort.
Press Release, Medina Sandstone Trust
MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Trust, a community endowment that disburses small grants to local programs, projects, and organizations has released its 2024 grant awards.
The following programs and organizations were funded a total of $5,600 for 2024’s round of grant funding.
Hands for Hope Street Ministry to provide Purex and laundry detergent to clients.
The Canalside Radio to assist with the purchase of 100-watt FM radio transmitter and related equipment, antenna, etc.
The Medina Historical Society for funds to cover historical speakers and publicity costs for future programming.
ORG – Friends of Boxwood Cemetery for assistance with the cost of installing a memorial in Potters Field, listing the names of the 107 people who are buried there. Currently there are only 28 headstones.
GO Art! for assistance with purchasing a wagon, stage, tires, sound and projection equipment to be used first in August 2025 for the Erie Canal Artisan Festival and other future festivals and events.
This is the Medina Sandstone Trust’s 13th round of awards with over $65,000 in small grants and $10,000 in scholarships awarded so far.
The Medina Sandstone Trust encourages local non-profit agencies to apply for the 2025 round of grant funding. Instructions on how to apply will be released in October 2025.
Donations to help support the Medina Sandstone Trust can be made at any time to the Sandstone Society, Post Office Box 25, Medina, NY 14103 or donate online (click here). Gifts to this 501(c)(3) are tax deductible.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2024 at 7:13 pm
Provided photos
Volunteers helped set 250 wreaths at Hillside Cemetery in Holley/Clarendon on Dec. 14 as part of Wreaths Across America. The wreaths were set at the graves of veterans.
The Holley Rotary Club led the effort for the second year. The Rotary Club joined Wreaths in 2023 and hoped to do 100 wreaths. It doubled that goal in 2023. The wreaths are $17 each.
The Holley Rotary Club organized Wreaths Across America at Hillside Cemetery. Some of the volunteers are shown at a veterans’ memorial at the cemetery. The memorial includes five granite etched stones for the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. The memorial has a pentagon-shaped concrete base and a 25-foot flagpole.
Wreaths Across America has grown in Orleans County since Medina was the first to do it at Boxwood Cemetery in 2013.
Medina started with seven wreaths in 2013 at Boxwood. On Dec. 14, the community placed 1,260 wreaths at five Medina cemeteries. That includes 573 at Boxwood, 455 at St. Mary’s Cemetery, about 200 at Sacred Heart Cemetery and the remainder to Bates Road Cemetery and Tanner Cemetery on Telegraph Road.
Photos courtesy of Jacob Hebdon: Lance Corporal Nick Fitzak carries one of the wreaths during a ceremony at Wreaths Across America on Dec. 14. Medina has participated in the event each year since 2013.
“The community of Medina was very generous in their donations to the Wreaths Across America organization,” said Gloria Brent, chairwoman of the event in Medina. “Next year we hope to expand our reach to include all of Bates Road and Tanner Cemeteries with plans to cover all of our local cemeteries as awareness grows in the coming years.”
Veterans were part of a ceremony at Boxwood at noon on Dec. 14. After that a big group of volunteers placed wreaths at five cemeteries in Medina.
The following participated in the Wreath Laying Ceremony: The Color Guard and Honor Guard from the VFW and American Legion in Medina; Master Sergeant Michael Owczarczak – Master of Ceremonies; Sergeant David Kusmierczak, Chaplain for VFW & American Legion; Technical Sergeant Patrick Little; Sergeant Major Jonathan Little; Sergeant First Class George Pogel; Lance Corporal Nick Fitzak; Merchant Mariner Diana Anderson; Second Class Petty Officer W. Thomas Snyder and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
“We were very fortunate to have Technical Sergeant Patrick Little and Technical Sergeant Scott Little perform Echo Taps during the ceremony,” Brent said. “Madelyn Elliott from the Medina High School Acapella Choir flawlessly performed the National Anthem.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley was part of the wreath-laying ceremony at Boxwood.
Brent thanked to the following organizations that participated in this year’s event:
The Boxwood Cemetery Commission led by Jacob Hebdon. (Members include Gloria Brent, Jeff Pasnik, Mary Lewis, Nicki Fredericks and Janet Husung.)
The Medina Village Department of Public Works led by Jason Watts, superintendent.
The Medina Village Clerk’s Office led by Jada Burgess, the clerk/treasurer.
The Carpenters Local Union 276 with Jeff Pasnik brought 36 members and family from Orleans and Niagara Counties.
The Girl Scouts of America – Troop 70183 out of Lockport led by Kelly Stahl.
The Boy Scouts of America – Troop 18 out of Gasport.
The Boy Scouts of America – Troop 35 out of Medina led by John Dieter.
The Friends of Boxwood – Offered free hot chocolate to the participants at the event.
The Lyndonville community placed 445 wreaths at veterans’ graves. The effort is funded through an endowment by Anna Stelianou. She funded the wreaths in honor of her five brothers who served in WWII and the Korean War.
Stelianou is shown in front of this group photo outside the Webber Café on Main Street, where there was a brunch for volunteers before they headed out to lay the wreaths on Dec. 14.
The 445 wreaths will be placed at veterans’ graves for six cemeteries in Lyndonville: Lynhaven, Yates Baptist Cemetery, Angling Road, Marshall Road and Greenman Road as well as the Robin Hill Estate.
The American Legion Houseman-Tanner Post 1603 is organizing the Wreaths Across America program in Lyndonville.
State Sen. Rob Ortt attended the brunch before going to Mount Albion cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony there. Mount Albion participated in Wreaths Across America for the first time on Dec. 14.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jenn Thom carries a wreath to be laid down at a grave of a veteran at the Veterans’ Section at Mount Albion Cemetery.
Thom is a leader of Operation Honor, which led the effort to have Mount Albion Cemetery included in Wreaths for the first time. There were 225 wreaths placed at the cemetery on Dec. 14.
Operation Honor purchased 100 of the wreaths with other contributors purchasing 125.
Thom urged volunteers to say the veteran’s name when setting the wreath.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2024 at 9:08 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jess Marciano, Medina village trustee, speaks during last week’s Village Board meeting.
MEDINA – A Medina village trustee has made the “nice” list of elected officials in the state for her efforts to educate the public about the Open Meetings Law.
The New York Coalition For Open Government, Inc. highlighted Jess Marciano, a member of the Medina Village Board, for her letter to the editor posted on the Orleans Hub on Sept. 20.
Marciano details the Open Meetings Law and what meetings should be public, how the sessions should be posted ahead of time and what documents made available to the public.
She details reasons for going into executive session when the board can discuss matters behind closed doors – litigation, contract negotiations, and employment history of a person, including appointment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation.
The Coalition For Open Government is a non-profit organization “advocating for timely access to information and meaningful citizen participation.”
The group faulted Gov. Kathy Hochul for not delivering on her promise of a “new era of transparency.” The governor for the second year in a row vetoed legislation requiring the posting of emergency contracts online.
Hochul only signed one legislation about Freedom of Information and that new law requires government agencies to notify employees when their records are requested. This bill was opposed by open government groups, the Coalition said.
Some others on the “naughty” list:
New York City Mayor Eric Adams for releasing his schedule which didn’t disclose his meetings with lobbyists or phone calls with elected officials.
Jim Perry, the Niagara Falls City Council president, for preventing a member of the community from speaking during the public comment portion of meeting because he didn’t want to hear her concerns about the city’s animal shelter contract.
City of Amsterdam for blocking public access to City Hall by requiring people to have an appointment in order to enter, and also for restricting the right to record or take pictures in public places.
Nassau County Police Department for spending four years and at least $100,000 in attorney fees fighting a FOIL request for a phone directory.
Syracuse School Board for sending a cease-and-desist letter to a news station asking them to stop contacting board members with questions.
Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson for not allowing public comments at a village meeting due to his being annoyed by people speaking about a lawsuit filed against the Village.
Christopher Scanlon, Buffalo Common Council President – After many years of people being able to show up at Buffalo Common Council meetings and speak regarding their concerns, Scanlon sent an email to his Council colleagues establishing a new rule that requires people to obtain permission from the Committee Chair prior to the meeting in order to speak.
Phil Skowfoe, Fulton Supervisor in Schoharie County – Eliminated the right of the public to speak at town board meetings. He now requires the public to fill out a form one week prior to the meeting disclosing what you plan to say and are only allowed a 2-minute max at the end of a meeting.
To see the full report from New York Coalition For Open Government, click here.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Village Trustee Debbie Padoleski opposes having up to six backyard chickens for residents in the village. She said people who want chickens should live outside the village in a country setting. Village Trustee Jess Marciano, left, wanted to refer the issue to the Village Planning Board for their input.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 December 2024 at 8:28 am
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has again declined to task the Village Planning Board with taking up the issue of drafting zoning to allow backyard chickens.
The Village Board on Oct. 28 voted 3-1 to not refer the issue to the Village Planning Board. Diana Baker cast the lone vote in support of having the Planning Board look at the matter. Trustee Jess Marciano was late to that meeting due to jury duty in Buffalo.
At Monday’s Village Board meeting, Marciano went on the record stating her support for having the Planning Board review the issue and consider a possible recommendation on zoning to allow chickens.
Marciano said she posed the issue on Facebook to gauge some public input. Of her 54 repsondents, 20 or 37 percent were “absolutely no” while 11 or 20 percent were in favor with no restrictions, while 23 others or 43 percent favored with some restrictions.
“I believe a compromise could be reached,” Marciano said in making a motion to send the issue to the Planning Board.
Kate Hardner of Lyndonville and a Medina resident again asked the board to allow up to six chickens – with no roosters.
Hardner and supporters of “For Cluck’s Sake” have attended parades and had a booth at the Orleans County 4-H Fair, trying to build support for the cause. Hardner said a small group of chickens are not livestock, and they provide nutritional and mental health benefits for families.
In Lyndonville, the Planning Board sent a proposed ordinance to allow chickens, but the Village Board last month decided to take no action on the issue.
Village Trustee Debbie Padoleski said in her discussions with village residents most people overwhelmingly view chickens as farm animals that shouldn’t be permitted in the village.
“If people want them they can go outside the village,” Padoleski said.
She said the Planning Board is very busy “with a lot of things on their plate.” She would prefer the board of volunteers be focused on business development in Medina, and not be tasked with a chicken ordinance.
Trustee Diana Baker said the Planning Board should have an opportunity to weigh in on the issue.
“Let’s see what works and doesn’t work for our community,” she said.
Mayor Marguerite Sherman said she also took an informal poll while going to grocery store and talking to about 50 people. She said 31 were a “hard no” while 6 were in favor with restrictions and 6 were a yes with no restrictions. Others didn’t have an opinion, she said.
When the issue was brought to vote – whether to send to the Planning Board – it was opposed by Sherman, Padoleski and Mark Prawel. So no action will be taken.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 December 2024 at 8:33 am
Village officials say lower pay in Medina makes it difficult to keep and recruit officers
Photos by Tom Rivers: Christian Navas takes the oath of office during a swearing-in ceremony on Monday evening during the Medina Village Board meeting. Navas was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant. He is holding his daughter Layla while his other daughter Mackenzie smiles. Navas’ wife Stephanie holds the Bible during the oath.
MEDINA – The Medina Police Department has promoted two officers within the department.
Christian Navas and Jake Reeves both started with Medina in 2016. Navas has been promoted to lieutenant and Reeves to sergeant. Both were sworn to their new positions on Monday during the Village Board meeting.
Navas fills the lieutenant position that has been vacant since Todd Draper moved from that position, the department’s second-in-command, to police chief in June 2023. Navas has been a sergeant with Medina PD since 2021.
Reeves has been Medina’s K9 handler since 2020. He will continue in that role with Phoenix, a Belgian Malinois.
New Medina Police Department Sgt. Jake Reeves gets helps with his collar brass insignia from Lt. Christian Navas and Police Chief Todd Draper. Reeves’ wife Dana watches after Reeves took the oath of office for his promotion.
The two officers were praised for their long-term commitment to the Medina PD, especially during a time of frequent turnover at smaller police departments.
“Both are great people in our department and they live locally,” said Mayor Marguerite Sherman.
The board accepted the resignation of Kyle Daly, who has left to join the Ogden Police Department. Alexandra Reigle of the Albion PD also has joined the Ogden PD. They were both sworn in at Ogden on Monday. They both live in Monroe County.
Police Chief Todd Draper said of the department’s 10 officers right now, seven have less than five years of experience at Medina. He said the pay in Medina is significantly less than at many of the Monroe County departments.
Many of the new officers for Medina live out of county, Draper said. They ultimately want to work closer to where they live, he said, when asked about the turnover in Medina.
Medina Police Chief Todd Draper administers the oath of office to Jake Reeves on Monday. Reeves was promoted to sergeant. He has been with the Medina PD since 2016 and will continue as the K9 handler, which he started in 2020.
The starting pay in Medina is $50,430, while some of the Monroe County departments are offering more than $100,000 for officers with at least three years of experience.
“The pay is definitely an issue we just can’t compete with,” Draper said in responding to a question from a community member at the board meeting. “The pay is a substantial difference.”
Draper said having more local candidates for the positions would help, but he said only 11 people took the recent Civil Service test to be a police officer and only one was a local resident.
Village Trustee Jess Marciano said the Village Board faces “intense pressure” to try to keep taxes as low as possible, while facing intense pressure to offer services, including police protection.
She praised Navas and Reeves for their long-term commitment to Medina, especially when they could earn more elsewhere.
Lt. Christian Navas holds his daughter Layla while being sworn in as lieutenant for the Medina PD. He joined Medina PD in 2016 and was promoted to sergeant in 2021. His daughter holds up her hand while watching her father take the oath.
Mayor Sherman said Medina started offering a better retirement system recently to police officers, hoping that would be an incentive for officers to make it a career with the department. But Sherman said many of the younger officers would prefer to be bigger paychecks while working.
“The younger people want their money now,” she said.
She said the board continues to seek a balance on what the community can afford and what it needs to be competitive with other municipalities and businesses.
“We’re doing the best we can to pay them what we can,” Sherman said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 December 2024 at 6:18 pm
MEDINA – Two families are being assisted by the Red Cross and other family members after a late-night fire on Bates Road.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene of a house fire at 1:30 a.m. The Medina Fire Department responded with mutual aid by Ridgeway, Shelby and Albion.
Medina police officers were the first at the scene and all occupants were outside, while smokes and flames were coming from the structure, the Medina Fire Department stated in a news release.
Two cats were rescued, but one perished in the fire, which was brought under control about 30 minutes after the dispatch call.
The cause of the fire is undetermined currently and under investigation by members of the Village of Medina Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit/Medina Police Department with assistance from the Orleans County Fire Investigators, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Investigators and Erie County Sheriff’s K9 Unit, the Medina FD stated in a press release.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Bent’s Opera House is shown on Monday evening with many decorations up for the holidays. Bent’s has 10 hotel rooms on the second floor. The top floor is an events center while a restaurant is on the first floor.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 December 2024 at 12:29 pm
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board will have a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Jan. 27 at the Ridgeway Town Hall to hear feedback about a new 2 percent bed tax for hotels, motels, short-term rentals and other lodging establishments in the village.
Village officials sought for years to have the new tax, which will be on top of the 8 percent sales tax and the county’s 4 percent occupancy tax.
The tax was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Nov. 22, following approval by the State Assembly and State Senate.
Medina officials say they pushed for the new tax as a way to generate some additional money to work on infrastructure projects at the Medina Business Park and in the village to promote economic development.
However, a draft proposal of the new law for the tax says it will go in the village’s general fund to be “allocated at the discretion of the Medina Village Board for any Village purpose.”
Bent’s Opera House has 10 hotel rooms in addition to the Harvest restaurant and events venue. The site has many new holiday decorations up this year to enhance the downtown experience for local residents and visitors.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2024 at 4:07 pm
Company, acquired by Hendrickson last year, looking to fill 60 positions locally
Photos by Tom Rivers: Brian Peyatt, plant manager for Brunner in medina, led tours of the factory on bates Road on Saturday. It was the first tour open to the community in more than a decade. The company makes brakes for tractor-trailers, buses and dump trucks.
MEDINA – Brunner International opened the doors to its factory on Bates Road to the community on Saturday and attendance was brisk.
Employees were happy to show off the workplace to friends and family, and Medina community members welcomed the chance to see the manufacturer which has robots doing some of repetitive tasks, forges heating steel to 2,200 degrees, and about 220 other workers.
Brunner has about 60 positions open right now, from entry level to skilled trades as machine operators, fabricators, electricians and in maintenance. People can apply in person at Brunner or through the Brunner website.
Brunner has had a presence in medina since 1992, moving into the former Abex Corporation site that had been shut down and vacant for seven years before Brunner moved in.
Brunner had a manufacturing site in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It has kept that site in Canada while growing in Medina, making brakes and components for heavy-duty trucks and trailers.
Jermy Zingo of Holley, a 14-year employee at Brunner, shows his daughter Evelyn the finished product at Brunner. The truck brake weighs about 250 pounds.
The company last year was sold to Hendrickson, a long-time customer. Hendrickson is based in Illinois. It sees strong potential in Medina with a dedicated core of employees and access to lower-cost hydropower, said Brian Peyatt, the plant manager.
Peyatt has worked at Brunner for 12 years. He said Saturday’s community open house was a first in his tenure at Brunner.
“We want to introduce ourselves to the community and show them what we do,” he said.
Hendrickson has factories in several countries, and US sites in Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Indiana and New York (Medina).
In announcing the acquisition of Brunner on Oct. 1, 2023, Hendrickson said Brunner’s primary product lines of brake shoes and s-cams complement Hendrickson’s primary business of designing and manufacturing suspension systems for the medium- and heavy-duty truck and trailer markets.
The Brunner product brand will be kept and used going forward, Hendrickson officials said.
“We are excited about this acquisition, as it will provide a platform for Hendrickson to expand our core competency in braking and provide additional components that will enhance our existing product portfolio,” said Matt Joy, president and chief executive officer of Hendrickson. “We look forward to working with our new associates and strengthening our business serving the Commercial Truck and Trailer industry.”
Saamir Rahman, materials manager and director of continuous improvement for Brunner, shows some of the brake components made by Brunner. About 60 people were on the tour for the first three hours on Saturday.
Brunner has recently added a few of the laid off workers from the Sumitomo Rubber in the Town of Tonawanda. The factory abruptly closed last month, putting 1,550 people out of work.
Brunner went to a job fair for those displaced workers. Peyatt urges people to give Brunner a try. The company offers competitive wages, a 401K retirement plan, and health care, vision and dental benefits.
Peyatt said employees also can feel pride in making the brakes for trucks and buses.
“Ninety percent of the time you’re out on a drive you’re probably near something we built,” he said about the company’s brake products.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 11 December 2024 at 11:32 am
Provided photo: Aaron Grabowski, organist at St. Mary’s Church in Medina, is music director for the first Christmas concert Dec. 21 with Holy Family in Albion and St. Mary’s in Holley.
MEDINA – Three Catholic churches in the Orleans-Niagara East Catholic community known as ONE Catholic are combining their musical talents to present the first Christmas concert together.
Aaron Grabowski, organist at St. Mary’s Church in Medina, is music director for the concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at St. Mary’s in Medina, where they will be joined by the choirs, soloists and instrumentalists from St. Joseph’s in Albion and St. Mary’s in Holley.
“This is a first for all three churches,” Grabowski said. “We hope to make it an annual event, as the feedback we’ve received from all three communities has been very positive.”
The concept for a combined concert began in Medina with Grabowski and his cantor Abigail Campbell. Several solos will be performed by people who are learning voice, he said.
“But the standout will be when we bring all the voices together to sing,” Grabowski said.
Instruments featured will be the organ, flute and a harpsichord which he built.
There is no admission charge, but a free-will offering will be taken. A reception will follow the approximately one-hour long concert.
Passero Associates created this rendering of the front of the building, which includes an overhang near the entrance. This is part of a $5.2 million capital project at the library, which includes a 4,785-square-foot addition.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2024 at 10:02 pm
MEDINA – The community, in a close vote, approved a bond resolution today allowing the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library to borrow up to $5.2 million for an expansion of the building at 620 West Ave.
The resolution passed, 223-214. The library should be able to break ground on the construction project in mid-2025, said director Kristine Mostyn.
Lee-Whedon will work to complete the engineering drawings and go through the bidding process.
A 4,785-square-foot expansion would go on the back of the current library, which is 11,100 square feet.
The addition will create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, a teen room and 14 parking spots.
There would also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.
The library already has $795,320 in grants secured and $175,000 in reserves, leaving a $4,229,680 to be financed over 20 years. That would result in a $48 a year increase in taxes for homes valued at $100,000, said Christine Crowley, president and municipal advisor with Fiscal Advisors and Marketing.
That represents the “worst-case scenario,” she said during a meeting last week, because the library is likely to get additional grants and raise money in a capital campaign.
The library is seeking an additional $789,520 grant from the state for library construction. If that is secured, the amount to be financed would be $3,4410,160, lowering the tax impact to an average of $39 for houses at $100,000 in assessed value, Crowley said.
The library also expects it could raise $500,000 in a fundraising or capital campaign. If that is successful, the amount to finance would be $2,940,160 or a $34 impact for property assessed at $100,000.
Lee-Whedon has already acquired and razed two buildings behind the library for the addition. That property and building demolition has already been paid for.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Erica Wanecski, center, is given a pair of tickets for the Polar Express by Medina Railroad Museum director Jeff Lewis, in appreciation of her hours of volunteering at the museum and throughout her community. Looking on, from left are board member Dave Murphy; Lew Capwell, event consultant with Rail Events; and Joe Kujawa, also a board member.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 10 December 2024 at 9:31 am
MEDINA – A local woman who thrives on volunteering was rewarded for her efforts by the Medina Railroad Museum on Monday.
To show their appreciation for all she does, Museum director Jeff Lewis presented Erica Wanecski with two tickets to ride the Polar Express. There to share in her honor were board members Dave Murphy and Joe Kujawa and Lew Capwell, event coordinator from Rail Events, who own the rights to Polar Express.
Lewis acknowledges that events like Polar Express require a lot of volunteers to make them happen.
“Since all our trains were sold out and we added an extra day, we thought, ‘Why not recognize the volunteers, without whom we couldn’t do this,” Lewis said. “So we picked someone who goes above and beyond and has been here the longest – Erica.”
“She is truly a distinguished volunteer,” Capwell said. “She shows exemplary leadership.”
He said this is his second year of representing Rail Events at Medina’s Polar event, and he loves the town.
“This event has grown over last year,” Capwell said. “This Museum is a real asset. Kids love the layout.”
Wanecski loves helping others, learning new things and sharing them with her community. She is especially fond of volunteering at the Medina Railroad Museum.
“I knew founder Marty Phelps, even before he started this museum,” Wanecski said. “I have been here from the beginning.”
Erica Wanecski, left, was at the Master Gardeners’ booth at the Orleans County 4-H Fair in July with nancy Walker, another Master Gardener. Volunteering as a Master Gardener is one of Wanecski’s favorite pastimes.
Wanecski, 74, loves history and her community. Telling people about them is the joy of her life. She is a member and/or volunteer of Medina Historical Society, Cobblestone Society, Attica, Warsaw, Oakfield, Clarence and Hartland Historical societies, Master Gardeners and the Steel Plant Museum in Buffalo. She maintains flower beds at Medina Memorial Hospital and helps many of the museums with their landscaping, weeding, collections and setting up exhibits.
“I was inspired by Marty and his passion,” Wanecski said. “If I can add to other people’s experience, then they walk away happy, and I’m happy. The message I want to share is for everyone to find their passion and consider volunteering and sharing their time with others. You’ll find it a very positive and rewarding experience.”
Photos and information courtesy of Medina Central School
MEDINA – The Medina Junior-Senior High School’s Student Association recently collected over 1,600 non-perishable food items for St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church Food Pantry.
The church is located at 1355 West Ave. in Medina and provides emergency food once per month to residents of Medina in need.
Student Association co-advisor Sara Cinquino said she is thrilled what the 35 students and staff were able to achieve this year.
“We doubled what we collected last year and we have to thank the Medina Teacher’s Union for swapping drives with us,” Cinquino said. “They are collecting essential items, which we normally do, to make it more affordable for the students to participate in this event. I have to also thank fellow teacher Joe Byrne who helped me to oversee the food drive while my co-advisor is out on maternity leave.”
The Student Association collected, counted and sorted the food every day the week of Nov. 18-22. Lieutenant Steve Cooley and other members of the Medina Fire Department volunteered on their day off to come to the school and collected the boxes from the students who carried them out to their vehicles.
“Every year, we as a club are so thankful that we can do something at the Junior-Senior High School and give back to the community,” Cinquino said. “It takes just a small effort on our end, but we can make a difference and impact for so many people in this community.”
Medina students brought the boxes of food to Medina firefighters, who transported it to St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church Food Pantry.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Mike Wright, left, a deacon and 40-year member of the First Baptist Church of Medina, and new pastor Randy LeBaron stand by the sign announcing the church’s new name, New Hope Community Church.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 6 December 2024 at 5:48 pm
MEDINA – After serving the people for nearly two centuries, the First Baptist Church of Medina is going forth with a new name.
The Rev. Randy LeBaron, former pastor of the Albion Free Methodist Church, assumed pastoral duties at First Baptist Church in September 2023.
He recently announced a name change for the church – New Hope Community Church.
The First Baptist Society was formed in Medina 195 years ago. The historic sandstone building was erected 151 years ago, having been dedicated Jan. 8, 1873, according to Mike Wright, a deacon and member of the church with his wife Joyce for more than 40 years.
Like many mainstream churches, attendance at the First Baptist Church had been declining.
“When I first started here, there was a core group who were casting a vision for the church,” LeBaron said.
“We wondered what we were going to do,” Wright said.
LeBaron grew up in Chautauqua County, attended Central Christian College in Kansas, then transferred to Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester. His first assignment was as assistant pastor in Warsaw, then lead pastor in Niagara Falls.
“When they asked me to come to Albion Free Methodist Church, I didn’t know where Albion was,” he said.
It was 2004 when he moved there with his wife Sheryl and children Ashlyn and Brendan. Two more daughters, Madison and Jillian, were born later.
(Left) The church has collected toys in the annual Red Barrel Drive. (Right) Randy LeBaron holds a cake celebrating the name change from Frist Baptist to New Hope Community Church.
In 2019, LeBaron shifted his ministry to become a Free Methodist Conference evangelist. During that time, he founded and became president of Go Scatter Ministries, with the goal to equip Christians for everyday evangelism. He traveled and spoke to more than 100 churches in 22 denominations. He preached, presented workshops and started posting Refill with Randy videos on his blog. That led to a bi-weekly column. One received more than 18,000 shares in more than 32 countries.
“I still felt very much connected to ministry in our county,” LeBaron said.
While running Go Scatter Ministries, LeBaron became involved with other agencies, such as a volunteer with Hands 4 Hope, a counselor at Care Net and chaplain for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department. He went every other week to different churches, preaching messages on evangelism. In January 2022, he joined Hospice.
“I was just going to be there five hours a week,” LeBaron said. “But three others left for various reasons and I became spiritual care and bereavement counselor for all the grief support groups in Orleans County.”
About that time, he was asked to help as interim at North Point Chapel, at the former United Methodist Church in Albion, then other Free Methodist churches and the Albion First Baptist Church. He actually helped to bring the pastor, Marsha Rivers, to the Baptist church Jan. 1, 2023.
“Then one day Mike Wright gave me a call and asked if I could fill the pulpit of the First Baptist Church in Medina, and help them with their pastoral search after the Rev. Michael Stephenson left,” LeBaron said. “They had quite a few candidates apply, but the more I saw the heart of the people here, I felt called to put my name in.”
The Covid pandemic hit in March 2020 and churches weren’t able to do in-person services for about three months. Full attendance didn’t come back immediately when the churches reopened.
“Covid really hurt our attendance,” Wright said. “It was demoralizing – a very dark time for us, and we didn’t have the resources we needed. A lot of pastors who came to fill the pulpit had some really good messages. Buffalo pastor Rebecca Allis asked if we were not here, would people miss us. She said if the answer is ‘No,’ then you’re done. But if the answer is ‘yes,’ then you need to get involved in the community.’ And we hired Randy. He had so many contacts.”
Randy LeBaron sits at the altar of New Hope Community Church, where he preaches his sermons since becoming pastor of the church.
LeBaron started as interim Feb. 20, 2023, and was hired as lead pastor that September.
“I didn’t know if I’d fit in theologically,” LeBaron said. “A decade ago, the American Baptist denomination switched to North American Baptist Association, which now serves us more regionally and are much more mission-oriented.”
They picked three things they wanted to become involved in: Hands 4 Hope, Care Net and Campus One-80. The Campus One-80 became so popular, two young students joined and are now leading campus ministries in their college.
“When I first started here, there was a core group who were casting a vision for the church,” LeBaron said.
“But we didn’t know what to do,” Wright said.
LeBaron said when he first filled in, attendance was down and the atmosphere was dire.
“Then, suddenly there was new hope,” Wright said.
Changing the name of the church is meant to reflect that hope and give new hope to others, LeBaron said.
They had a long meeting with the congregation about changing the name. Some looked at it as “breaking my heart,” but the majority favored the change.
“We are still a Baptist Church,” LeBaron said.
“The Lord continues to bring people he wants here and people continue to come,” Wright said. “One or two at a time, and they don’t just attend, they want to join.”
When LeBaron first came to the church, attendance averaged eight to 10 people. Now they are happy to share attendance has increased to 50 to 60, and they have performed a dozen or more baptisms.
“We are a very casual, contemporary Christ-centered church,” LeBaron said.
They meet every Sunday after church for coffee and conversation. There were a number of attendees who didn’t believe in anything, and now they want to be involved in everything, LeBaron said. Even a former atheist who now leads the new men’s group and helped carry the cross at Easter.
Their community involvement includes sponsoring a free garage sale every June, where the church basement is filled with merchandise, which people can just walk in and take. They give away hot chocolate during the Parade of Lights and coats during the winter.
A sunrise service every Christmas at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast is a tradition more than 100 years old.
Sunday worship is at 10 a.m., and this week begins a new sermon series, “Advent 2 Christmas,” to which everyone is invited.
Provided photos: Medina High School’s A'Cappella Choir will present its annual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Mary’s Church in Medina.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 6 December 2024 at 9:05 am
MEDINA – Two esteemed musical groups from the Medina Central School System will join once again this year to present their annual Community Christmas Concert.
The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir and Oak Orchard Elementary School Glee Club Community Christmas Concert is scheduled at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Mary’s Church.
Rachel Trillizio directs the A’Cappella Choir, while Andrea Busch leads the Oak Orchard Glee Club. They will be joined by Kyla Leno and Matt Jaeger, who will direct offerings by several instrumentalists.
The tradition of the A’Cappella Choir Christmas Concert began decades ago at the First Presbyterian Church of Medina, with former choir director Robert Connor.
The much-beloved event became so popular, it eventually outgrew the Presbyterian Church and moved to St. Mary’s, according to Chris Busch, an alumnus of Medina High School and member of St. Mary’s Church.
The event attracts a capacity crowd and is free and open to the public, Busch said.
The Oak Orchard Elementary School Glee Club will join the High School A’Cappella Choir for a Christmas concert Dec. 15 at St. Mary’s Church.
