Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Josiah Morton, 12, of Medina hoses down targets with help from Medina firefighter Bailey Schubmehl during the fifth annual Family Fun Day on Saturday at Butts Park.

The event was attended by about 500 people, who enjoyed free food, live music, bounce houses and the chance to meet local agencies. There were also giveaways of back-to-school supplies.

Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ A.G. took the lead the organizing the event, with assistance from the Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God and Alabama Full Gospel Fellowship.

Firefighters were busy letting kids try to aim the hose at the targets. The Medina Police Department also did a K-9 demonstration.

These kids enjoy one of the bounce houses at the park.

There was a long line for cotton candy.

Jovannie Canales, senior pastor at Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ A.G., addresses the crowd in a message entitled, “Not ready but willing.” Canales said people often don’t feel prepared when they are going through hard times or transitions. He urged people to trust God in the process.

Two people were baptized and three made public commitments to God during the event on Saturday.

Jovannie Canales addresses the group near the end of the three-hour fun day at Butts Park.

“We’re so blessed to serve the people in the community,” Canales said. “It’s bringing the church outside the four walls.”

Russ Peters, pastor of Alabama Full Gospel, sings during the event. This song is entitled, “I Need You.” Peters performed the song previously when he was part of the band, PS 100.

Vince Iorio, recently retired pastor at Calvary Tabernacle, serves bags of popcorn.

Jack Burris of the Hands 4 Hope ministry had many options for free clothing.

Back-to-school supplies and other giveaways will be available

Photos courtesy of Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ A.G.

MEDINA – A Medina church will be hosting its fifth annual Family Fun Day Community Outreach on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. at Butts Park.

Last year more than 300 people attended the event, which is free to the public.

The event is organized by the Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ, which is located on 11031 Maple Ridge Rd.

Family Fun Day will include K-9 demonstrations, fire trucks, face painting, a caricaturist, food, bounce houses, music, displays by local agencies for the community, backpacks with back-to-school supplies for the children, giveaways and other activities.

“We want to provide a free event that enhances relationships in the community, unites families through activities, helps those in need, and brings a message hope in difficult times,” said Jovannie Canales, the church’s senior pastor.

Local first responders will meet with the public as part of the event on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

MEDINA – The Medina Police Department is offering a program where decals can be put on homes or vehicles to alert emergency responders that there may be a person there with autism or special needs.

“The decals enable responding units to draw on their training and understand that a person in the home or vehicle may not speak, respond to, or comply with verbal commands; may hide, or wander off, or may have no awareness of danger,” the Police Department stated in a notice to the community.

This decal may be helpful for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, auditory processing disorder, intellectual/developmental disability, Down Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease or other disabilities that prevent the individual from reacting appropriately in emergency situations, the department said.

The Medina PD is providing these decals free of charge to village residents once an attached application is completed (click here to see the application).

The decals should be placed near the front door of their home and/or the rear window of a vehicle so law enforcement officers can easily see them.

After registration for the program, the Medina PD will request that the Orleans County Dispatch note the address in the county system with a brief description of the special needs or diagnosis. Residents who wish to register for the program but do not wish to display a decal, may do so by filling out the application and requesting zero decals. The decals should be removed if the individual with special needs/autism no longer resides in the home or rides in the vehicle.

For questions regarding the Medina Police Department Decal program, email the Medina PD at medinapolice@villagemedina.org.

Applications for the decals also will be available at the Medina PD tent next Tuesday (Aug. 2) at National Night Out. That will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. outside the Wise Intermediate School.

MEDINA – The Village Board is seeking a grant for about $300,000 to cover the full costs of installing four fast electric charging stations in the Canal Basin.

The Village Board voted on Monday evening to submit an application for up to 100 percent of the costs through the 2022 Municipal Zero-emission Vehicle (ZEV) Infrastructure Grant Program, which is offered through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Protection Fund Climate Smart Communities.

The village was encouraged to seek the funding because its high poverty statistics make the village a strong candidate for the funding, Deputy Mayor Owen Toale said.

The village authorized the Barton & Loguidice firm to complete and submit the application. The firm will be paid $1,250 for its work on the application.

If Medina receives the grant and moves forward with the project, Toale said he expects the village will be charging people for the electricity. They would likely pay through a credit card on the stations.

The village is opting to go with the more expensive charging stations with a faster charge. Toale said the Barton & Loguidice recommended the faster charging stations, because Medina’s poverty statistics make the community eligible for a larger grant for the project.

Medina was finalist last year, missing out to Rochester and Newark in Finger Lakes Region; Smaller villages eligible for up to $4.5 million with $10 million for metro areas

Photo from Governor’s Office: Gov. Kathy Hochul announces the state will make $200 million available for downtown revitalization. She spoke on July 13 in Jamaica, Queens.

The Village of Medina, which has been a finalist for a $10 million downtown revitalization grant, will get another shot at millions from the state.

However, Medina would now be eligible in a new program – NY Forward, where the grants are targeted for downtowns in hamlets and villages. Instead of $10 million, the grants would be for up to $4.5 million, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

She 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 is in the Finger Lakes Region. Last year it 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 was one of five finalists for the grant in 2019 and in 2021.

Medina had a committee that identified residential, commercial and tourism projects that would build on recent successes and investments in the downtown and canal area.

“Yes, this is disappointing for the village,” Mayor Mike Sidari said when Medina missed out last year. “However, we need to look at where we were 10 years ago and where we are now. Our village has been transformed, from our downtown to our recreation areas. We have a lot of hard-working dedicated residents and business owners working to continue to improve our village. Let’s be proud of what we have and continue to make Medina one of the most outstanding communities in WNY and the Finger Lakes.”

Medina’s application in 2021 sought funding for streetscape Improvements, 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, 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.

Gov. Hochul announced the downtown revitalization availability last week in Jamaica, Queens, a past winner for the $10 million.

The governor announced that the $100 million for smaller and rural communities would be through the NY Forward program, while the metro areas would be through the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

“New York’s downtowns are the heart and soul of our communities and regions, and today we’re taking comprehensive action to support them,” Hochul said last week. “The Downtown Revitalization Initiative has ignited a renaissance in these spaces, which are critical to the continued growth of businesses and local economies, and I am proud to support this vital program. As we grow our downtowns, we are proud to launch a new program — NY Forward — that will provide crucial support to New York’s smaller and rural communities to help bring them back to the bustling towns and villages they once were.”

Hochul announced NY Forward to build on DRI’s momentum. She said NY Forward will support a more equitable downtown recovery for New York’s smaller and rural communities with a focus on hamlets and villages. NY Forward is meant serve smaller communities and support local economies that often have a feel and charm that is distinct from larger, metropolitan urban centers funded through DRI, she said in a news release.

The state us assigning a consultant to work with NY Forward communities through a planning and technical assistance process to develop a slate of readily implementable projects, with each regional economic development council nominating the winners.

NY Forward differs, however, by providing capacity-building workshops and technical assistance from consultants to assist communities in developing their full applications and throughout the implementation process, Hochul’s office said in the news release.

NY Forward also offers two funding options for each region—two $4.5 million awards or one $4.5 million grant and two $2.25 million grants.

Applications for NY Forward will launch later this month and winners are expected to be selected later this year.

For more information, click here.

MEDINA – The Medina Area Partnership has compiled a 20-question scavenger hunt where participants will develop a deeper understanding of the community and also have a chance to win prizes.

Tim Elliott of MAP put together the scavenger hunt where people earn tickets for prizes for every correct answer. Three of the 20 questions are particularly challenging and those ones are worth 10 tickets for the right answers.

Each correct answer gets a ticket with a name put in a hat where the family prizes include items from Case-Nic Cookies and Della’s Chocolates. The adult prize is a night on the town, Elliott said.

An example of a regular question: “Who is buried to right of one of Medina’s most famous residents who survived the Titanic at age 27?” Clue: May Howard is buried in the Kenyon family plot at Boxwood.

“It’s not something you can Google,” Elliott said about the questions.

His goal is to get people out exploring and learning about the community.

“You don’t have to do all in one sitting,” he said. “It’s not meant to be super easy. The concept is to get people out of the house and see more of Medina.”

Elliott is the former owner of the Into the Enigma escape room. He currently runs the axe range at 810 Meadworks and is a village trustee.

Elliott and Scott Robinson, MAP president, want to make the scavenger hunt an annual summer challenge in Medina.

With the challenge, when people locate the area of the clue, they will be asked an additional question to confirm it’s the correct place. For every question answered correctly, participants earn a ticket towards the grand prize. The three bonus questions are worth 10 tickets each.

“Tim has been working on this event for years and I’m thrilled to see it coming to fruition,” Robinson said. “Whether you’re approaching this as a family event, an afternoon date, or just something to do, we think you’ll have a great time. It’s a great opportunity to couple an activity with visiting our shops and other establishments.”

The clue sheet is available for $10. The hunt can be attempted in a couple of hours, or it can completed over multiple days during July and August.

Completed scavenger hunt forms must be submitted by Sept. 1 to be entered into a drawing for either a family prize pack or an adult night out. Each prize is valued at $150.

For more information or to purchase the clue sheet, click here.

MEDINA – The Medina school district announced it has been approved for a federal grant to continue providing free breakfast and lunch to all students.

Medina has been offering free breakfast and lunch to all students the past four years through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Breakfast/Lunch Program.

“This program has been a tremendous help to our students,” said Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent. “It’s harder to learn when you’re hungry. We know that all of our kids will have a breakfast and lunch each day.”

The CEP program provides the opportunity for schools in high poverty areas to provide two nutritious meals every school day, while eliminating the stigma for those students previously identified as “low income.”

The CEP began in 2011 with three states piloting the program and then became a nationwide program in 2014. To be eligible for CEP at least 40 percent of students must be identified as “directly certified” for free meals without a meal application through programs such as SNAP, TANF and Medicaid. Medina school district has met this eligibility guideline.

For additional information about the program, contact the following:

• Medina Jr.-Sr. High School, Principal Michael Cavanagh, at (585) 798-2700 ext. 1
• Clifford Wise Intermediate School, Co-Principal Daniel Doctor, at (585) 798-2700 ext. 2
• Oak Orchard Primary School, Principal Jennifer Stearns, at (585) 798-2700 ext. 3

Provided photo and information from John Dieter, Scout Master for Troop 35

MEDINA – Troop 35 spent a week at Camp Mountain Run in Pennfield, Pa. There were 20 Scouts and three leaders from the troop there from July 10 through July 16.

During that time the scouts worked on merit badges and scout skills towards rank advancement. Nine first-year scouts were involved in the “Trailblazer Program” designed to learn skills in order to become a First Class scout.

The remaining members of the troop worked on merit badges towards there next rank advancement several working towards Eagle Scout.

The Medina scouts worked on a variety of badges from welding, swimming, astronomy, pioneering, wilderness survival, climbing, rifle, archery, first aid and others. Troop 35 scouts completed 81 merit badges during the week.

MEDINA – Four Medina firefighters were among the 36 graduates of a 15-week fire training program at the fire academy in Montour Falls.

Andrew Cheverie, Nicolas Lee, Bailey Schubmehl and Andrew Steel of the Medina Fire Department graduated on Friday in a class of 36 from the State’s Recruit Firefighter Training program. The graduates come from 13 fire departments across the state.

Dalton Major of Clarendon also completed the program for the City of Batavia Fire Department.

The residential program provides extensive fire service training in an environment similar to a full-time fire department. Upon graduation, all the recruits will become career firefighters when they return home to their career departments.

“I am incredibly proud of these graduates’ achievements. They are well-prepared to protect New Yorkers from fires and the emergencies they will respond to during their careers,” said Jackie Bray, commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “They now embark on a path of public service to keep their communities safe. On behalf of my colleagues from the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, we look forward to supporting New York’s newest firefighters as they carry out their future missions.”

The Office of Fire Prevention and Control’s Recruit Firefighter Training Program provides basic training for recently hired career firefighters, as well as volunteer firefighters. During the 15-week program, recruits participate in more than 600 hours of training in both classroom and practical settings.

Classes focus on areas such as structural, vehicle and flammable liquid firefighting, emergency vehicle operations, hazardous material emergency incident and basic rescue technician operations. Recruits also participate in daily physical fitness training in preparation for the Candidate Physical Ability Test.

Upon completion, graduates will have received national certification from the National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications in Firefighter I, Firefighter II and Hazardous Materials Operations.

This is the first class to graduate from the extended training program, which previously ran 11-weeks. Today’s graduates received expanded training in areas such as operating aerial devices; traffic incident management to keep firefighters safe on roadways; health and safety; firefighter rescue; hazardous materials response, and technical rescue.

To support the new curriculum, iPads were issued to students to provide them with greater access and flexibility to testing, as well as study materials available through the use of technology.

Last year there were only 12 participants; Program was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Park counselor Corey Saj and 11-year-old Todd Fairbanks rest on a climbing ladder at the playground at Oak Orchard Elementary School.

MEDINA – The Medina Joint Recreation Park and Swim program is underway with a large enrollment of students ages 5 to 12.

Heading the summer event this year is Michelle Capstick, a special education teacher at Oak Orchard Elementary School.

Capstick said she received an e-mail in May from the Joint Recreation Park and Swim committee saying they were looking for a director, and if one couldn’t be found, the program would be canceled.

“I called and they hired me,” Capstick said.

The Medina Joint Recreation Park and Swim committee consists of Village Clerk Jada Burgess, village trustees Jess Marciano and Marguerite Sherman; Mary Woodruff and Jeff Toussaint, representing town of Ridgeway; and John Pratt and Ed Zelazny, representing town of Shelby.

The summer program has been going since Capstick was a kid, she said, originally taking place in the village’s individual neighborhood parks.

The program was canceled during the summer of 2020, then resumed last year with a registration of only 12 participants.

This year, however, 58 children are registered. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays from July 5 through Aug. 12.

It not only includes the opportunity to sign up for swimming at Wise Intermediate School, activities at the playground and crafts adjacent to Oak Orchard School, but field trips within walking distance throughout the village.

They have already been to Mark’s Pizzeria, the fire hall and library and are planning a trip to Case-Nic Cookies and possibly the Medina Railroad Museum.

When the weather is inclement, the program moves into Oak Orchard School.

Capstick writes a weekly report on the program, and the first report describes the children playing tennis on the schools’ tennis courts, playing baseball and a game of Uno. They also walked to Pine Street Park and cooled off in the splash pad.

Assisting with the daily program are supervisor Hayden Woodroe and counselors Corey Saj, Danielle Schmidt and Sophia Goyette.

Students enjoying crafts at the Medina Joint Recreation Park and Swim program are, clockwise from left, Harlow Rhim, Vivian Neroni, counselor Sophia Goyette and Olivia Ellis. Partially hidden at left is Lyric Chinn.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has announced the selection of three new members to the board of directors.

Hector Fuentes, Aaron Knights and Jenifer Maynard were all named to terms for 2022-23 during the board’s June 27 meeting.

“Hector, Aaron and Jenifer are all great additions to our already strong board,” said Shannon Blount, who was also elected chairman of the board. “Orleans Community Health means a lot to so many in the community, and that number is only growing as the services being provided increase. It’s an exciting time to be part of this incredible team.”

Aaron Knights was born and raised in Medina and currently an attorney practicing civil litigation at the Buffalo-based law firm of Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham. Prior to becoming a partner with the firm, he practiced law in Washington, D.C. for almost 20 years.  He moved back to Western New York with his wife and two daughters late last summer, settling in East Amherst. He is very excited to be back home and is ready to serve his hometown any way he can.

Knights’ parents are Sue and the late Dick Knights, who were also born and raised in Medina and were local business owners.

“After my dad’s premature death in 1984, as I like to tell people, Medina raised me,” Aaron said. “My family, friends, teachers and people who were strangers to me but knew my dad looked after me and touched my life in more way than I can begin to explain. The notion that I could give back to my hometown, even just a little, is exciting for me.”

Knights has been involved in many civic organizations over the years and has handled cases pro bono for indigent clients needed help enforcing their legal rights in the court system. Lastly, his family members are the co-founders of the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund which assists Orleans County residents diagnosed with cancer with needs such as paying for prescriptions, medical supplies, transportation to medical appointment, medical bills, etc.

Jenifer Maynard has worked in healthcare for more than 20 years. Currently, she is administrator for an 82-bed skilled nursing home based in Niagara County. She also serves on the executive board as secretary of the New York State Health Facilities Association.

A resident of Lyndonville, she is a lifelong resident of Orleans County and feels Medina Memorial Hospital is vital to the community.

Hector Fuentes is an Air Force veteran and past auxiliary police officer who has worked in the behavioral health field for nearly 20 years. He currently works with the Central New York Forensic Psychiatric Center, which is a maximum security facility housing incarcerated individuals and pre-sentence detainees who have accepted a plea of insanity due to mental disease or defect. He’s responsible for supervising 80 security hospital treatment assistants and 10 security hospital senior assistants, along with assisting with all aspects of budgeting, policy and procedures and quality of care.

Fuentes has lived in Orleans County for most of his life and currently resides in Medina with his wife and daughter. He feels Orleans Community Health is vital to its residents and is proud of how they handled and served the residents during the recent pandemic. He’s excited to serve on the board and give back to the community he loves.

The three new board members join chair Shannon Blount, vice-chair Kevin Foley, secretary Cindy Hewitt, treasurer April McGaffick and members Richard Elman, MD, Lynne Johnson, Dawn Meland (past chairperson), Joseph Misiti, MD and Dale Sponaugle, MD.

“For starters, I want to thank Lance Mark, Dr. David Monti and Jeff Klotzbach, who have all served Orleans Community Health admirably,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health. “Exciting times are ahead for OCH and this board is well-positioned to help get us there. This list includes medical and healthcare professionals, community leaders, legal minds, business leaders and individuals who have an unyielding commitment to the community.”