MEDINA – The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that the bridge carrying State Route 63 over the Erie Canal in the Village of Medina will close on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 7 a.m. to accommodate bridge repair activities. The bridge is anticipated to reopen by 4 p.m. later that day.
Construction activities are weather dependent and subject to change based on conditions. Motorists may experience delays during this time and are advised to seek an alternate route.
Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 November 2022 at 8:18 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: The MAAC Thrift Depot is located at 536 Orient St. Volunteers and donations are always needed.
MEDINA – The Medina Area Association of Churches, which runs a thrift store at 536 Orient St., has distributed about $20,000 to the community since May this year.
Sue Metzo, one of the leaders of the MAAC Thrift Depot, provided an update on the donations given by MAAC recently.
The Thrift Depot is run by volunteers, who organize and sell donated items from the community.
MAAC has used some of the thrift store proceeds to donate $10,000 to Community Action of Orleans to assist residents in the Medina area; $5,000 to Growing Orchard Backpack Food Program to supply food for weekends for children in need; $1,500 to His Healing Presence Veterans’ Christmas Program; $500 to each of two families who had fires during the summer; $500 to the Parade of Lights; and $250 for United Way of Orleans County’s gala fundraiser.
In addition MAAC annually gives a $1,000 scholarship to a student at Medina High School, the Orleans Christian School, or a student going into the military or a trade school.
The thrift store is open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday evenings from April through October.
In 2020, during the pandemic, MAAC gave out $20,760. In 2021, donations to various organizations and causes totaled $41,703.
At the October meeting, MAAC leaders approved gifts to help with the increased price of shipping Christmas shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, $750 for BOCES GED program and $1,000 for the veterans’ dinner sponsored by the National Honor Society at Medina High School.
Metzo said it is the generous donations of merchandise from the community and the dedication of their volunteers who make it work.
They accept donations of clean clothing and footwear, outerwear, small household items (including small appliances), linens and bedding, holiday items and games, toys, puzzles, books, CDs and DVDs.
MAAC is made up of representatives from all the Medina area churches, including Alabama Full Gospel Church, Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God, Faith Bible Baptist Church, Faith Covenant Fellowship Church, First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Gateway to Heaven Church, Glad Tidings Baptist Church, the Grove United Methodist Church, Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, New Life Alliance Church, Oak Orchard Assembly of God, OneChurch, St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Church and United Methodist Church of the Abundant Harvest.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 6 November 2022 at 7:09 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Georgia Thomas of Medina has been chosen as the grand marshal of the Parade of Lights in Medina on Nov. 26. She stands here next to a poster at the English Rose Tea Shoppe advertising the parade.
MEDINA – With the first early bird entries signed up for the 2022 Parade of Lights, the committee has announced its grand marshal for the parade on Nov. 26.
Jim Hancock, chair of Medina Tourism Committee, which sponsors the parade, said they have chosen Georgia Thomas to be this year’s grand marshal.
Thomas has done so much for the Medina and Orleans County communities, Hancock said. She has been a board member of the Medina Historical Society, where she has served as a docent many times at their local museum. She is also a board member of the Cobblestone Society and has been a docent for them. In addition, she has found time to serve as a volunteer tutor for the Orleans County Adult Learning Services.
She loves history and loves the village of Medina, promoting it at every opportunity. Most recently, she is involved in a program at the Medina Historical Museum entitled “Winter Wedding Wonderland,” with wedding dresses from as early as 1860 on display.
In addition, she fills in regularly for Cindy Robinson at the English Rose Tea Shoppe, where she loves greeting customers.
“I am totally honored to have been asked to be grand marshal,” Thomas said. “I can think of so many deserving people. I love Medina and I love history. I have visited four continents and lived in North and South America, but I chose to come back home to Medina to live. Medina is the best small town anywhere, and I am honored beyond belief.”
The former Georgia Ramming, she graduated from Medina High School and married Medina native, Terry Thomas, who she followed across the world and the United States as a career Army officer.
“We are thrilled that Georgia will serve as our grand marshal this year, and encourage everyone to come out to the parade,” Hancock said.
Eleven floats have already been entered as a result of an early-bird bonus, and Hancock said many more have expressed an interest. He is hoping for 40 to 45 floats. The record number is 52 floats in the first 13 years of the parade. Entries will be accepted until Nov. 23.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 3 November 2022 at 6:43 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Medina firefighters line up by the MAAC red Christmas barrels before delivering them throughout Medina on Wednesday morning. From left are Lt. Jacob Crooks, Lt. Steve Cooley, firefighters Andrew Cheverie, Paul Urquhart, Fire Chief Matt Jackson, and firefighters Chris Seefeldt and Bailey Schubmehl.
MEDINA – The Medina Area Association of Churches’ annual Christmas Red Barrel drive is underway.
Wednesday morning, the Medina Fire Department showed up at the Grove United Methodist Church with two ambulances and a pickup truck to deliver the 40 barrels to stores, libraries, schools, medical offices, restaurants and churches in the Medina area.
Next, it is up to the community to show their support by filling those barrels with toys and gift items for all ages, including games, puzzles, books, arts and crafts, stuffed animals, hats, scarves, mittens and socks.
Gifts are always needed for teenage boys and girls, and no gift cards are given out.
Medina Fire Chief Matt Jackson loads a barrel into an ambulance for delivery to start the MAAC Christmas Barrel Program. The barrels will in local stores and organizations through Dec. 7.
MAAC asks that no food items be put in the barrels, as food for needy families is supplied by the food pantries.
Sherry Tuohey heads the Christmas Barrel Program, and said without the support of the community, the fire department and volunteers, it wouldn’t be a success.
The cooperation between the Medina Fire Department and MAAC has been ongoing for an estimated 40 years, starting back when the firefighters used to collect toys and distribute them. Then they joined with MAAC and the program continues to grow.
Families must sign up in advance for assistance during the second and third weeks of November. Applications for holiday food boxes and gifts can be made from 10 a.m. to noon and t to 7 p.m. Nov. 8 and 15 at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1355 West Ave., Medina; and from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 10 and 17 at Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God, 11031 Maple Ridge Rd., Medina.
Applicants must show proof of household, proof of residence and proof of income. Income guidelines or more information is available at MAAC’s Thrift Store, 536 Orient St. or by calling Tuohey at (585) 356-8346 or (585) 798-6657 and leaving a message.
In addition to Tuohey and the firefighters, others who help the program be successful are Kathie McMoil, who takes care of personal care donations and puts together personal care bags; Medina High School students (under the leadership of High School Student Association adviser Sara Cinquino) who donate the personal care items; Norma Jean Foster, who takes care of the food for each box; Barb Vreeland, who oversees donations of hats, mittens, scarves and socks; and Marilyn Hiwiller, who delivers mitten trees to local establishments.
For several years now, Lyndonville resident Bob Harrold scours the countryside all year, looking for little red wagons, which he restores and donates to the MAAC Christmas program. The wagons are not only loved by the children, but are appreciated by families who don’t have transportation and use them to give their children a ride to the store or to carry their groceries home.
This year, Harrold donated five like-new wagons to MAAC. Tuohey said she researches the families who might find the wagons most useful, and is careful not to give one to a family who already got one last year.
Tuohey expects an estimated 75 families, representing 200 children, will be applying for help from the Red Barrel Program. In addition to gifts for each child up to 18 years of age, applicants will receive a ham, boxed potatoes, stuffing, vegetable, brownie mix, canned fruit and cereal.
Eligible families must reside in the Medina Central School District with the Medina and Knowlesville zip codes.
To be sure every family had information about the program, Tuohey said she distributed 800 flyers to all the areas schools (through sixth grade), including nursery schools and the Orleans County Christian School.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2022 at 4:10 pm
Photo from Government Deals – The two snail jungle gyms that used to be at Medina parks are up for big on the Government Deals website. The auction ends Nov. 14 at 7:15 p.m.
MEDINA – There was some outcry when the Orleans Hub reported Oct. 25 that the two snail jungle gyms in Medina parks would be sold.
Many in the community said they didn’t want to see the playground pieces go. They have been in the parks for at least 50 years.
Mayor Mike Sidari said the village’s insurance carrier said any claims from people who were injured on the snails would not be covered by insurance. The snails were removed in the summer. The one at Pine Street Park is in better shape and still has its eyes. The other one at Butts Park was in rougher condition and missing its eyes.
The snails are listed for sale through an online auction by Government Deals. Bidding starts at $10 and continues until Nov. 14 at 7:15 p.m. for the Pine Street Park snail and 7:30 p.m. for the Butts Park snail.
The village also is selling a self-propelled paver, a brush chipper, a straight blade snow plow, and a merry-go-round. Click here to see the items up for bid.
Photos and information courtesy of Medina Mustang Band Boosters
The Medina band finished third on Sunday in the SS1 class at the championships for New York State Field Band Conference. Medina’s score of 90.0was bested Mineola in 1st at 93.67 and New Hartford in 2nd at 93.15. There were 9 schools in the SS1 class.
The New York State Field Band Conference celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday with the championships at the JMA Dome (formerly the Syracuse Carrier Dome).
A total of 53 schools participated from around all of NYS including Northwestern from PA. The show in its entirety ran from 8 a.m. and concluded at 10:30 p.m. In addition to the competing bands the UB Thunder of the East and Syracuse’s Pride of the Orange gave exemplary performances to entertain the crowd and show students that their marching band career doesn’t have to end after high school.
Medina band representatives are presenting with the third-place award.
The National Class consisted of 9 competitors with Cicero-North Syracuse earning 1st place with a score of 96.80.
Other winners were Division Ave in SS3 with 88.40; Roslyn in SS2 with 89.07; Sachem in LS3 with 86.15 and Hicksville in LS2 with 89.45.
It was a busy week for the Medina students with lots of practices, a Senior Recognition ceremony at the high school on Wednesday topped off with a Dome breakfast on Sunday morning as a form of pep rally.
Director Matthew Jaeger addressed his students beforehand with words of encouragement reminding them of their accomplishments from the start of band camp in August to their performance at the Dome.
Their success for the season isn’t measured just by their standing at the Dome, but by their overall growth in the season and how they represent the school and the Medina community. They have much to be proud of. That sentiment was expressed by a number of people who were not from Medina but commented how much they’ve enjoyed Medina’s shows over the years.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: The Butts-Clark American Legion Auxiliary presented $1,000 checks to local veterans’ organizations last week at the post in Medina. The checks were presented, from left, to Nancy Traxler from Orleans County Joint Veterans van service and Jenn Thom from Operation Honor by Valerie Wells and Cathy Fox with the American Legion Auxiliary.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 31 October 2022 at 7:50 am
MEDINA – When the Butts-Clark American Legion Post signed up to participate in Medina’s Ale in Autumn Sept. 25, the Auxiliary decided to take advantage of the crowds and hold a fundraiser to benefit local veterans.
Auxiliary members Valerie Wells and Cathy Fox decided to hold a raffle and they began soliciting donations for a “Bucket of Booze.”
Local liquor stores made generous donations, Legion and Auxiliary members started donating, along with other friends.
When the day had ended, the Auxiliary had made more than $2,000.
They chose two local causes which benefit veterans, and on Wednesday morning at the American Legion, $1,000 checks were presented to Nancy Traxler, director of the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council for their Veterans’ Van Service; and to Jenn Thom, co-founder and president of Operation Honor.
“This donation will help when we are ready to replace our next van,” Traxler said. “We have a van with 117,000 on it and it will be the next one we replace.”
Donated money also helps with office supplies, Traxler said.
The Veterans’ Van Service has 26 volunteers, who have clocked 3,054 hours this year to date, driving veterans to medical appointments. They have driven a combined 23,000 this year, Traxler said. Just in September they took 498 trips and drove 595 veterans to Buffalo, Batavia and other approved medical appointments.
She said the Veterans’ Administration pays for insurance, gas and maintenance on the vans, but the Joint Veterans’ Council has to buy the vans.
Donations to the van service can be made by sending a check to the Veterans’ Service Agency, 13996 Rt. 31 West, Albion.
Operation Honor is an organization co-founded by Thom and Sarah Surdel in 2017 to provide an opportunity for veterans to reach out for help with everyday needs.
“It is local and helps with such things as rent, utilities, building a handicap ramp or putting a vehicle on the road when a veteran can’t afford it,” Thom said.
Donations to Operation Honor can be made through their Website, Facebook or by calling Thom at (585) 532-6900.
Operation Honor’s biggest fundraiser of the year is their 5K walk/run, scheduled Nov. 12 at Junior Wilson Club.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 October 2022 at 9:46 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Downtown Medina was busy this evening with hundreds of kids, and many of their parents, in costume for the annual Beggar’s Night, which is the Friday before Halloween.
Elizabeth and James Philipps of Medina joined their daughter Collins, 1, in wearing Care Bears costumes.
“We do everything for her,” said Mr. Philipps.
The couple said they are enjoying being parents to their 14-month-old daughter.
“She’s our first baby,” Mrs. Philipps said. “Why not have fun with it?”
Randy Ruhlman, owner of Fitzgibbons Public House, added some crazy hair while giving out candy to kids, including Mia Fitzsimmons, 4, of Medina who was wearing a Mermaid skeleton costume.
Cory Wispelaere hands out candy at the Mystic Dragon’s Lair and the soon-to-open Patriot Supply outdoors store. Most of the downtown businesses gave away candy for Beggar’s Night.
This youngster gets some help with his costume while hurrying to get in line for Beggar’s Night.
Carrie Ribbeck is dressed as a sloth at Avanti Pizza while giving away treats to sisters Kayla and Alex Verrantti of Medina. Ribbeck has worked for Avanti since it opened in Medina 22 years ago.
Sophia Kleeh, 5, of Lyndonville is happy to collect candy from the businesses, including a chocolate ball from Morgan Woodworth in the dalmatian costume for lily and sparrow.
Kingston Simons, 3, of Lockport has a SWAT costume on while making the rounds in the downtown. Here he receives a treat from Bernie Burger and Trisha Mathison of A Kut Above.
Angela Waldriff, owner of Ashlee’s Place in Medina, gives out candy with help from Brielle Lederhouse.
“It’s fun to see all the kids’ costumes,” Waldriff said.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 27 October 2022 at 5:16 pm
‘Sometimes people forget how much a church can be an asset to a community. I’d love to see this church grow beyond what I could imagine, with ministries, public outreach and community involvement.’ – Kevin Lawson
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God’s new pastor Kevin Lawson checks out a delivery of bread in the church’s food pantry.
MEDINA – When the Rev. Vince Iorio announced his intention to retire from his duties at Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God, the church didn’t have to look far to find a replacement.
Kevin Lawson graduated in 1989 from Royalton-Hartland High School in Middleport, then attended Erie Community College for a year. He joined the Marines, where he was hurt, and after an honorable discharge he went to work for a contracting company out of Buffalo, working there for 25 years and Rochester for seven years.
He started going to church when he was 12 or 13, and said he knew then God had put a calling on his life, but really didn’t understand what that meant.
“Then life got in the way,” he said. “I had married a lady from Middleport, and after 18 years, we divorced and I had to start over. It was very humbling.”
They had a son Troy, now 25.
Kevin had been going back to church sporadically, and then started going regularly again, where he met Krista Scholes from Shelby.
“I believe now God was using the experiences in my life to help me connect with people,” Lawson said. “Calvary had been my childhood church, and Vince was here then and he was here when I came back to the church.”
He and Krista, who then had five girls, were married in 2015. They had both taken on leadership roles in the church as youth leaders. In 2016, Kevin went through the New York School of Ministry.
“I had already known in my heart God was moving me in that direction, and I knew I wasn’t going to be completely happy until I did that.”
He continued on his journey and went through the process of being credentialed as a minister through the Assemblies of God. At the same time, he was serving on the board of Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God when they moved forward with the Rev. Iorio’s vision for a new church, breaking ground in the summer of 2016.
Kevin was a construction manager in his full-time job, while going to ministry school, and became supervising constructor for building the church. They opened their doors in October 2021.
Kevin had already taken a role at Calvary Tabernacle as associate pastor when the Rev. Iorio announced his intention to retire in mid-January.
Pastor Kevin Lawson, left, his wife Krista and mother Brenda Lawson chat with the Rev. Vince Iorio, former pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, who recently retired and has been succeeded by Kevin.
The Rev. Iorio, 68, was pastor of Calvary Tabernacle for 15 years, and said it was time to pass the torch.
“I always had great team leaders, many of whom are still there,” he said.
He is proud of his accomplishment in building the new church.
“What seemed like an impossibility, God made possible,” he said.
Retirement means the Rev. Iorio can spend more time volunteering in the community. He has been volunteering at the Medina’s Tourism Booth in Rotary Park during the summer and he is a volunteer driver for the Orleans Joint Veterans’ Council van service.
Kevin was voted in full time on July 23 by the board and congregation.
“I have a large vision for growth in this church, to help people in the community,” he said. “Sometimes people forget how much a church can be an asset to a community. I’d love to see this church grow beyond what I could imagine, with ministries, public outreach and community involvement.”
His goal for the church moving forward is to stay focused on God’s will.
“I am grateful for the people in this church who have supported me and the transition,” Kevin said.
Calvary Tabernacle begins Sunday activities with coffee hour at 9:30 a.m., to which everyone is welcome, followed by worship at 10:30 a.m.
Prayer meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesdays with the Spanish-speaking church meeting there at 2 p.m. Sundays, led by Jovannie Canales. Family night is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
The pastor said the Spanish-speaking church is a big help to Calvary Tabernacle, supporting them in everything.
Calvary Tabernacle is the location of a food pantry from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Thursday. The pantry provides food for more than 100 families a month in Orleans County. Donna Poore manages the food pantry, and Daniel Tabor picks up donated food, while Michael Jaeger does stocking.
They receive free bread, groceries and meats weekly from Aldi’s, and other foodstuffs from Foodlink. Any non-food donations received are given to MAAC’s Thrift Deport.
At 10:30 on Nov. 13, the church will have a building dedication service and retirement celebration for the Rev. Iorio, and everyone is invited to attend.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Village of Medina has this sign at the Medina Canal Basin to greet visitors to the community.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 October 2022 at 10:40 am
MEDINA – The Village of Medina is again on the short list for receiving a multi-million-dollar grant to bolster the downtown business district.
Medina has been a finalist two other times for a $10 million state Downtown Revitalization Initiative. But the village hasn’t been picked for the money yet.
Last year Medina missed out on the $10 million to the Village of Newark in Wayne County and the City of Rochester. Other previous $10 million grant winners in the Finger Lakes region include the City of Geneva in 2016, the City of Batavia in 2017, the Village of Penn Yan in 2018 and Seneca Falls in 2019.
Medina village officials gave an overview of potential projects on Friday during a Zoom conference call with the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council.
Mayor Mike Sidari said he felt better about the reception to the presentation than in past years based on the comments and questions from Council officials.
Medina presented a plan for $10 million DRI and also for a new $4.5 million NY Forward program, where the grants are targeted for downtowns in hamlets and villages.
Gov. Kathy Hochul in July announced the state is making $200 million available for downtowns – $100 million to invigorate smaller and rural downtowns and $100 million for downtown areas in metropolitan areas.
Medina has a committee that identified residential, commercial and tourism projects that would build on recent successes and investments in the downtown and canal area.
The committee members that presented the plan with Mayor Sidari include Village Trustee Tim Elliott, Trustee Marguerite Sherman, and residents Kathy Blackburn, Chris Busch and David Flynn.
Sidari didn’t want to make the different plans public yet, but he said they build off the 2021 proposal.
Medina’s application in 2021 sought funding for streetscape improvements, a multi-use trail along the Medina Railroad from the museum to Main Street, upgrades to Canal Village Farmer’s Market, improved waterfront access and amenities at the Canal Basin Park, enhanced programming at State Street Park (ice skating rink, enhanced lighting, boat tie-ups, benches and bicycle racks, and a construction of a nature trail), boat tie-ups and docking facilities at the Lions Park, a viewing platform and at Medina waterfalls, wayfinding signage, small grant fund for local businesses, adaptive reuse of the old Medina High School to turn into apartments, and redeveloping the Snappy facility on Commercial Street by the Erie Canal into a mixed-use commercial and residential space.
Village officials during Monday’s Village Board meeting said the funding from the state will build on significant private and public investment in the downtown in the past 20 years.
Sidari said the state funding would set up Medina as a much desired community to live and work for a new generation. He spoke Monday during a meeting attended by many local high school students.
“This board wants to make this village nicer for your generation so you will choose to live and work here,” Sidari told the students.
Trustee Owen Toale said the state funding would make a big difference for a village of about 6,000 residents. “It’s bookoo bucks,” he said. “We could make Medina an even nicer old-fashioned town than it is.”
The state is expected to announce the DRI and NY Forward grant winners in December.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 October 2022 at 2:53 pm
Provided photo: Ron and Lynda Felstead of Medina were among the guests at last year’s Treasure Island event. Ron has been a longtime member of the Orleans Community Health Foundation board.
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health’s top fundraiser Treasure Island is scheduled for Nov. 5 at Shelby Fire Hall.
This is the 28th annual Treasure Island Auction Benefit, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for dozens of causes, projects and equipment throughout the Medina Memorial Hospital system.
This year’s honorary chair is Dr. Richard Elman, Emergency Department director at Medina Memorial Hospital. Starting at the hospital in 2016, Dr. Elman manages the clinical and administrative responsibilities for Orleans Community Health’s critical access emergency department, with a volume of more than 8,000 patients per year.
Proceeds from this year’s Treasure Island event is earmarked for Orleans Community Health Foundation’s IV pump replacement campaign, which is more than half way to its goal.
Treasure Island will help close the gap to replace these IV pumps throughout Orleans Community Health and Medina Memorial Hospital, according to Megan Johnson, executive director of the Orleans Community Health Foundation, which sponsors Treasure Island.
Pumps are used in both dialysis locations for infusion treatments, and in Medina Memorial Hospital’s emergency, operating and recovery rooms, in radiology, long-term care unit and on patient care floors.
Tickets for Treasure Island are $50 per person and can be purchased online at www.charityauction.bid/treasureisland2022. Attendees can look forward to a buffet dinner catered by Zambistro, silent and live auctions, a Lucky Cork wine pull and exclusive onsite games.
The silent auction will be open to the public again this year online. Bidders do not have to purchase a ticket or attend the event to participate. Many items are featured in the silent auction this year, including two trips; a five-night trip for two to the Alaskan Frontier and a three-night Vancouver salmon fishing trip for two. To participate in the silent auction, visit the event website above and “Register to Bid.” Winners will be notified via e-mail after the event closes.
Sponsors of Treasure Island are Independent Health, Lawley Insurance, Takeform, Niagara Veterinary Properties and Jr. Wilson’s Sportsmen’s Club.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2022 at 10:15 am
Village declares snails, old merry-go-round as surplus items and will be sold
File photo by Tom Rivers: The snail at Pine Street Park, and another one at Butts Park, were declared surplus items by the Village Board on Monday and will be sold. The village’s insurance company recommended the snails be removed.
MEDINA – The snail jungle gyms at Pine Street Park and Butts Park will soon to be sold through an online auction site after the Village Board declared them to be surplus items on Monday.
“The insurance company recommended we take them out because don’t meet requirements for modern day safety of playground equipment,” said Jason Watts, the village’s superintendent of the Department of Public Works. “They were more of a nostalgic thing for our parks.”
Mayor Mike Sidari said a safety audit by the village insurance carrier deemed the snails unsafe. The snails were removed in August.
“If there was an injury claim the insurance company would not pay for the claim,” Sidari said today.
The snails will be listed on the Government Deals online auction site. The village kept the snails in recent years, while the playgrounds were upgraded with newer equipment.
Watts said the snail that was at Pine Street Park is in better shape. The eyes fell off the one from Butts Park.
The board also voted to declare the merry-go-round that was at State Street Park as surplus. That was removed this summer because “it was in tough shape,” Watts said.
Other miscellaneous equipment, a Vermeer woodchipper, track paver and snow plow also were declared surplus and will be sold.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2022 at 9:18 am
Village officials frustrated some business owners, employees park too long on Main Street
MEDINA – The Village Board again debated whether it should scrap a two-hour parking limit in the downtown, saying that limit is hard to enforce. The board also doesn’t want to do away with the two-hour signs because some people might park on Main Street for many hours.
Trustee Tim Elliott has raised the issue recently, saying there are a few people, including a business owner, who park for several hours on Main Street.
“I brought up because people complained we’re not enforcing tickets,” Elliott said during Monday’s board meeting.
However, the board doesn’t want strict enforcement where it would chase away some customers who visit multiple shops and go to a restaurant, exceeding the two hours.
Deputy Mayor Owen Toale said doesn’t want to see the village writing parking tickets to downtown customers.
“It would be counterproductive to our Main Street being busy, and our retailers and restaurants being successful,” he said.
The business owners and their employees should be encouraged to park in the municipal lots where there isn’t a time limit. Police Chief Chad Kenward said he has spoken to people with a reputation for overstaying the two-hour limit, but that hasn’t dissuaded them yet.
Village attorney Matt Brooks said the common way of enforcing a parking limit, by chalking tires, has been ruled unconstitutional in court.
Mayor Mike Sidari said the village would need a camera system with internet service to enforce the parking limit.
Sidari said he went into Monday’s meeting thinking it made more sense to eliminate the parking limit in the downtown because the village isn’t enforcing it. However, he agreed with Toale that keeping the two-hour signs posted is a deterrent to more people parking for multiple hour sin the downtown.
Sidari said he doesn’t want to put in parking meters, either.
“If we take the signs down, business owners and employees could take more spots,” he said. “We’re between a rock and a hard place.”
Sidari said the village has several municipal lots near the downtown that are only a short walk away from Main Street.
Trustee Marguerite Sherman said the village is looking at grants to make the municipal lots more inviting. She said she has spoken with several business owners who want to keep the two-hour parking limit.
If the board ends the two-hour Main Street parking, there would be a public hearing. But the board said it won’t be pushing that right now.
Toale said the issue of a downtown often full of vehicles is a good issue to wrestle with..
“The bigger problem is when there are too many spaces available because people aren’t coming to the businesses and restaurants,” he said.
Provided photo: Firefighters used aerial ladder trucks to put out a fire this morning in the former S.A. Cook Furniture Factory at 525 East Ave. in Medina. Firefighters were called to the scene at about 9:30 a.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 October 2022 at 9:15 pm
MEDINA – The village has issued an emergency demolition permit for large manufacturing site on East Avenue that has been vacant and a target of vandals in recent years.
This morning there was another fire at the three-story building at 525 East Avenue. This 70,600-square-foot building was previously used by the S.A. Cook Furniture Factory.
Mayor Mike Sidari praised firefighters for a quick knock down of the fire. Firefighters used aerial ladder trucks from Medina, Albion and Shelby to put out the flames. No firefighters went inside because the building is considered to be too dangerous, said Code Enforcement Officer Dan Gardner.
The property has been sold multiple times through the property tax auction, including in 2016 when it only fetched $100.
A more recent owner – Open the Windows of Heaven, Apostolic Ministry – doesn’t have insurance on the building. The church group also doesn’t have the resources to make extensive repairs or to demo the site, Gardner said.
He issued the church a notice about a year ago that the building was unsafe and not secure. He issued that notice again today.
Mayor Sidari said the village will seek out state and federal assistance to take down the building. Gardner said the third floor caved into the second floor, well before the fire. It seems like every time he goes by the building, more windows are broken.
“It’s absolutely not safe,” Gardner said.
He said the demolition costs would be well into the hundreds of thousands.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 24 October 2022 at 8:00 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Charlene and Jeff Smith, left, are greeted by Norma Jean Foster and MAAC’s new president Barb Vreeland at the October meeting Tuesday night at the First Baptist Church in Medina. A special part of the meeting was welcoming the area’s new pastors.
MEDINA – The Medina Area Association of Churches held its regular meeting Oct. 18 at the First Baptist Church.
The organization, known as MAAC, meets the third Tuesday of September, October, January, February, March or April (excluding the month of Easter) and May.
Amanda Kroening, director of the children’s ministry at OneChurch, talks about the church’s move to West Avenue.
MAAC is made up of representatives from all the Medina area churches, including Alabama Full Gospel Church, Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God, Faith Bible Baptist Church, Faith Covenant Fellowship Church, First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Gateway to Heaven Church, Glad Tidings Baptist Church, the Grove United Methodist Church, Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, New Life Alliance Church, Oak Orchard Assembly of God, OneChurch, St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Church and United Methodist Church of the Abundant Harvest.
MAAC’s ministries are the Medina Clergy Fellowship, MAAC Thrift Depot, Medina Area Christian Theater (MACT) and its biggest program, the MAAC Christmas Barrel Program.
Its outreach ministries include Lenten luncheons, Good Friday Cross Walk, a Thanksgiving service, Advent in the Park, high school scholarships and vacation Bible school.
Newly elected officers are Barbara Vreeland from Holy Trinity Parish, president; Vince Iorio, retired pastor from Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God, vice president; Amanda Pollard, treasurer, from First Presbyterian Church; Pat Payne, secretary, from the Grove United Methodist Church; and Kathleen Samborski, corresponding secretary, from Glad Tidings Baptist Church.
Ministry representatives are Sue Metzo, Thrift Depot; Sherry Tuohey, Christmas Barrel Program; Robyn Watts, MACT; and at-large positions, Norma Jean Foster and Norma Geiger from First Baptist Church and Charlene Smith from United Methodist Church of the Abundant Harvest.
A position is open for a representative to the Clergy Fellowship.
Pat Payne, left, secretary of MAAC, addresses the meeting Tuesday night at First Baptist Church. She is standing behind Pastor Liz Aristy, new pastor of the First Methodist Church of Medina.
Because the area has so many new pastors, MAAC decided at its recent meeting to recognize those pastors, who are: Kevin Lawson at Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God; Rich Damey at Faith Bible Baptist Church; Sam and Sue Hershberger at Faith Covenant Fellowship Church; Elizabeth “Liz” Aristy at the Grove United Methodist Church; Kevin Weigel at OneChurch; and Aktar Sohail at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The new pastors in attendance shared a little of their background.
The Hershbergers are native Ohioans who came to Faith Covenant Fellowship last year. He resigned a 34-year career to pursue the ministry.
Liz Aristy is a native Dominican, who with her husband Sandy is also a chaplain. She is a conference speaker and missionary with a master’s from Northeast Seminary in Rochester. They have three children. Liz has a degree in organizational management from Roberts Wesleyan and a nursing degree from the University of Rochester. She is founder and president of Redemption Tree International, a missionary evangelistic outreach ministry, sharing the Gospel message in English and Spanish. She also is owner of Self/Care Essentials by Liz and is a selfcare registered nurse in health and wellness.
Kevin Lawson is a Middleport native who is married to Medina native Krista Scholes and has been active in Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God since he was a teen.
Amanda Kroening was introduced as representative of MAAC’s newest member, OneChurch, who took over the building formerly occupied by Grace Baptist Church. Kroening grew up in Grace Baptist Church and now serves as children’s ministry director for OneChurch.
Sue Metzo gave an update on the MAAC Thrift Depot, which last Tuesday she said had the busiest day in their history.
