One trustee says board not consistent in weighing in on resolutions that could be deemed ‘political’

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board approved a resolution in support of the “Energy Choice Act,” which would prohibit New York and other governments from banning natural gas in new construction.

Congressman Nick Langworthy has proposed the bill in Congress. The Orleans County Legislature on Sept. 23 voted in support of the Langworthy bill. The County Legislature is asking other local governments to back the proposal.

The Medina Village Board agreed, in a 4-1 vote, on Monday evening. Trustee Jess Marciano cast the lone opposing vote.

She referred to a meeting in June when the Village Board declined to vote on a resolution in support of keeping Job Corps centers open. Some board members said then they didn’t want to weigh in on resolutions of support on an issue, saying it could be construed as political.

Marciano said she was surprised the board wouldn’t take up a resolution in support of Job Corps but instead would rally behind the legislation proposed by Langworthy, a Republican from Erie County and former chairman of the Republican Party in New York State.

New York’s law against natural gas for new construction is set to start in 2026 and be phased in by 2028. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the majority of the State Legislature say limiting natural gas will help reduce carbon emissions.

Village Trustee Scott Bieliski was one of the votes in support of the Langworthy legislation.

“It would be detrimental to the Village of Medina,” Bieliski said about prohibiting natural gas on new construction. “It would hurt housing growth in Medina.”

Langworthy said the state’s stance against natural gas limits energy choices and will increase costs for consumers.

This photo posted by the Firematic Supply Company shows a new ladder truck being built for the Medina Fire Department. The photos, which were posted Oct. 17, offered a weekly progress report on the truck. Firematic, a dealer for Pierce Manufacturing, reported that the torque box was merged on the chassis followed by body installation at the start of initial apparatus assembly. The next report may show completed initial assembly and the beginning of the final assembly.

MEDINA – A new concern has emerged with the village’s quest to acquire a new ladder truck: Will the federal government be functioning to approve the loan to pay for the truck?

Medina is getting close to receiving a new ladder truck from Pierce Manufacturing in Wisconsin. The truck was scheduled to be delivered to the Medina in December, but it looks more likely for January, said Fire Chief Steve Cooley. Village officials were aiming to have a new addition on the fire hall to accommodate the new truck, which won’t fit in the existing building. The truck is taller and will need more clearance.

Medina is now looking at keeping it in the DPW building in the short-term while the board mulls how to handle housing the truck long-term.

The payment for the truck is a new worry for the Village Board.  The federal government shutdown, now in its third week, could hold up financing for the new truck. Medina in June 2023 agreed to pay Pierce Manufacturing $1.7 million for the ladder truck.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved financing at a 4 percent interest rate for a loan for the truck. The USDA payment would be made when the truck is delivered.

However, the village would need a functioning federal government to access and get approval for the money to be paid to Pierce.

“We’re depending on the federal government to be open because that is who our loan is through,” Mayor Marguerite Sherman said during this evening’s Village Board meeting.

Village Clerk-Treasurer Jada Burgess told the Village Board that the Medina’s financial consultant advised the village to begin the process of seeking a loan from a private bank for the truck. The village could put the financing out to bid to see what lenders would be willing to charge Medina with an annual interest rate. Right now, that rate is unknown, Burgess said.

Switching to a private lender could be a $15,000 to $20,000 charge by hiring a bond counsel, and that doesn’t include interest rates that are expected to be higher than the 4 percent from USDA, she said.

Medina could initially use a loan from a bank and then pay off that loan with the one from the USDA if the federal loan can’t be accessed on time. But the village would still incur some expenses for bond counsel and the initial elevated payment(s) if the loan is at a higher rate than what is offered by USDA.

The slight delay on the truck’s delivery gives the Village Board more time to consider the matter, especially if the federal government shutdown continues. Burgess said it could be a six-week process to access the loan once the government reopens.

Board members said there is still more time for the shutdown to end and the government to have the funding in place before Medina would have to pursue alternative financing.

Photo and information courtesy of Medina Mustang Band Boosters

Orchard Park – The Medina Mustang Marching Band traveled to Orchard Park on Saturday for their sixth competition this season. The weather was lovely and the crowd was enthusiastic as five bands performed.

Medina was the only SS1 band and they scored 79.45. Pioneer was the only SS3 band and they scored 75.25. LS2 had three competitors and Lancaster scored 85.05, Orchard Park 83.70 and West Seneca 81.275. The UB Marching Band performed in exhibition.

The 2025 NYS Field Band Conference Championships are scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 26, at the JMB Wireless Dome (formerly the Carrier Dome) located at Syracuse University, 900 Irving Ave., where a total of 56 bands will perform in competition.

The bands are broken up into six divisions and the first  group, SS3 starts at 8 a.m. The performances continue throughout the day ending around 9:40 pm. SS1, the class Medina is in, starts at 5:40 p.m. and Medina performs at 7:11 pm. More details can be found on nysfbc.org.

Ambulance crew delivers baby boy by roadside this morning

Press Release, Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley

MEDINA – The Village of Medina Fire Department Ambulance crew delivered a baby roadside this morning. This is the second baby that crews have delivered since Friday night.

Firefighter/Paramedic Stephen Baxter and Firefighter/EMT Paul Urquhart delivered a 5-pound baby girl Friday night at 7:28 p.m.

This morning at 10:05 while enroute to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, Firefighter/Paramedics Steven Long and Brian Bates delivered a healthy baby boy on the side of the I-390 near the I-490. The baby weighed 6 pounds, 14.9 ounces and is 19 1/4 inch long. After delivering the baby boy, the crew resumed transport and turned over care to the teams at Strong.

This is Long’s second field delivery and the first delivery in the field for the Bates.

Congratulations to both mothers and both crews this weekend for their exceptional work!

As you may remember, we had a crew deliver twins on July 4. That’s four babies delivered in just over 3 months!

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Heather Smith sits in the conference room of Velocitii, the company she purchased three years ago with partners Brian O’Neill and Jeff Brandt. Velocitii has been named Business of the Year by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.

MEDINA – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year is proud of its accomplishments during only 11 years in existence.

Velocitii was founded by Roger Hungerford as a business process outsourcing company which provides customer service, technical support and back office work on behalf of other companies, said Heather Smith of Webster, chief executive officer.

“Roger wanted to create a company that was about job growth in the area,” Smith said.

Smith joined the company in 2020 as chief operating officer and rose to CEO six months later. She purchased the company three years ago with her partners Brian O’Neill and Jeff Brandt. The company has grown from 55 employees when Smith started to 180 now, most of whom work from home.

“We have tapped into the market of people looking for virtual work,” Smith said. “It works for us.”

Velocitii’s customers are from all over the United States, Smith said, one of which is from the local area.

Among their customers are a waste management company in the Northeast and a regional health care company in the Northwest.

The services they provide their clients include customer service, technical support and customer support, such as processing health care claims and accounts payable and receivable.

Velocitii has won a Top Workplaces Award for the last three years, based on a third-party survey of employees’ engagement and satisfaction.

Smith said she is proud to have tripled their size since joining the company. She praised her entire team for their efforts in building a culture where clients want to work with them and employees want to work for them.

“It’s an honor to have built a culture that has been recognized by an external organization,” she said. “Our goal is to keep growing. Our entire team is very excited about this Chamber award. It was a pleasant surprise.”

YMCA starting new programs for cooking, chess and winter rock wall climbing

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Andrew Houseman, new senior program director at the Orleans County YMCA in Medina, stands in the newly-remodeled kitchen, where the Y expects to start cooking classes soon.

MEDINA – Andrew Houseman has been preparing himself to take on the role of leading a YMCA.

“This has been my goal all along,” said Houseman, who began his duties as senior program director of the Orleans County YMCA on Oct. 6. “I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. I’m very happy to be back in my home town.”

Houseman, a Medina native and son of Shawn and Lacy Houseman of Medina, formerly worked as lead trainer at the GLOW YMCA in Batavia and is passionate about revitalizing local programs and expanding opportunities that help strengthen families and promote healthy living. He brings renewed focus on community connection, family engagement and accessible wellness for all ages.

“The YMCA was a big part of my childhood,” said Houseman, a former YMCA youth athlete. “I grew up playing sports here, and it’s incredible to now give back in my leadership role. My goal is to ensure everyone, from kids to seniors, feels welcome, included and excited to be part of what we’re building.”

In Batavia, Houseman helped manage several successful projects, including the rollout of EGYM, which quickly became one of the region’s most successful member engagement initiatives. With a background in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the University of Buffalo, he brings a data-driven and people-first approach to program development.

Under his leadership the Orleans County YMCA is expanding its offerings to serve a wider range of interests and activities. He has several new programs ready to launch, including chess and cooking classes.

The cooking classes will be Bible-based, focusing on foods that were eaten in the Bible.

“Our focus on the Bible is a return to the ‘Christian’ origin of the YMCA,” Houseman said.

Another initiative is a winter program to use the rock wall.

Andrew Houseman stands by the chess tables at the YMCA, where he hopes chess games will become a popular pastime.

An avid chess player, Houseman has already started the YMCA Chess Club and had one evening of chess, and while participation was small, he hopes it will pick up. Play is open to all ages and players may bring their own board and pieces. Games are at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Rec Room. Play is free for members and $5 for non-members.

On Oct. 25, the YMCA will welcome all to an open house to meet Houseman and the staff. The day will feature free popcorn, no-join fees for new members and a chance to register for new programs. The event will run from 9 a.m. to noon.

Starting Oct. 29, a six-week program of hockey drills and skills will begin for ages 6 to 13. Participants will build skills, practice drills and scrimmage every night – from 6 to 6:50 p.m. Cost is $50 for members and $80 for non-members. Players can register at glowymca.org.

Other events include pickleball at 8 a.m. Sundays, starting Nov. 9. Play is free, but members and non-members must register to play.

Other upcoming highlights include new group exercise classes designed for all fitness levels and schedules, and the continuation and growth of the YMCA’s highly praised youth sports programs, including efforts to collaborate with local schools to introduce more kids to the benefits of teamwork and physical activity.

“We want the Y to be a true community hub – a place where families connect, kids develop lifelong habits and friends, and adults feel supported in their health journeys,” Houseman said. “There’s truly something for everyone here.”

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Rita Zambito has been honored with the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

MEDINA – Receiving the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award next week is a surprise and an honor, said Rita Zambito, founder of Zambito Realtors and now co-owner with son Mark of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Zambito Realtors. Their home office is located at 11228 Maple Ridge Rd.

Information on her website states she has built her business by providing consistent, top notch service regardless of sale price. By doing so, she would reach sales volumes previously deemed unobtainable in her market and build long-term relationships that would grow her business exponentially for years to come.

Zambito raised her three children in Elba, and moved to Medina in 1978 to work at Fisher-Price. She started selling real estate for another broker in 1995. At the age of 50, she decided to go into business for herself and started Zambito Realtors.

Her son, Michael Zambito, is the very successful restaurant owner of Zambistro on Main Street in Medina, and daughter Mandy Gotham is manager of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Western New York Properties in Orchard Park.

As her business grew in addition to the Orchard Park location, Zambito opened an office in Lockport in 2019 (the same year they moved their Medina office to Maple Ridge Road), a Batavia office in 2022 and a Monroe County office in 2024.

In 2021, Zambito bought into the nationwide Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

She currently employs close to 89 sales associates and is one of the highest ranking realtors in the region.

 “The secret is to take your eyes of yourself and help other people become successful,” Zambito said. “We are like a family, and I’m successful because of them.”

File photo: Rita Zambito is pictured with her son Mark and her daughter Mandy Gotham. They are shown in 2021 when Zambito Realtors  connected with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

Photo courtesy of Scott Robinson: This photograph of a maple tree in fall colors is the kind of picture Medina Area Partnership is looking for in its new photo contest focusing on the season.

MEDINA – Medina Area Partnership has announced a new photo contest, to begin Monday and focusing on the fall season in Medina.

Scott Robinson, past president of MAP and a member of the Marketing Committee, said they developed the photo contest over the past few months as a way to highlight Medina throughout the year. A new contest will be announced each season.

“With so many community members sharing beautiful photos on Facebook, we wanted to showcase Medina through their eyes,” Robinson said. “The entire committee worked on the details and the board of directors gave their blessing and support to run with the idea.”

This week, MAP’s Facebook page will post a couple of photos showcasing Medina in its fall glory. To participate in the contest, entrants just have to comment with a photo in the thread under the original photo. By posting the photo, they agree to allow MAP to use the photo to showcase Medina, Robinson said.

The contest will run begin on Monday and run until Nov. 7, with winners announced on Nov. 10. Prizes will be awarded by the three major sponsors as follows: Hart House – $50 for Hart House Hotel, Factory Expresso, Newell Lounge or Shirt Factory; $25 for Rosenkrans Pharmacy; and $25 to Creekside Floral and Gift Shop.

As long as there is strong participation, the winter challenge will kick off the week of Thanksgiving to incorporate Olde Tyme Christmas, Small Business Saturday and all of the initial holiday festivities.

“Our plan is to continue this contest each season, helping to keep Medina’s community spirit front and center,” Robinson said.

File photo by Tom Rivers: River Jones, left, and Madelyn Elliott perform with the Medina Mustang Band during their home show on Sept. 20.

Information courtesy of Medina Mustang Band Boosters

VICTOR – The Medina Mustang Marching Band traveled to Victor on Saturday for their fifth competition this season.

The event was held indoors due to weather conditions and therefore, ratings are “excellent,” “outstanding” or “superior” (highest) instead of numerical.

Medina competes in the SSI division and was judged as “outstanding” while East Irondequoit earned a “superior” rating.

In SS3, both Falconer-Frewsburg and Marcus Whitman received “outstanding” ratings.

The LS3 class had 5 competitors: Hilton and Syracuse received “outstanding,” while Indian River, Rochester and Rome Free Academy received “excellent.”

LS2 included Greece & Lancaster with both receiving “superior” ratings.

The National Class included Webster & Victor with both receiving a “superior” rating.

Medina’s next competition is Oct. 18tat Orchard Park followed by the championships on Oct. 26th in Syracuse at the Dome.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Andrew Meier sits on the steps of the Newell Shirt Factory building, which he purchased and restored. His efforts over the past 20 years have earned him the Phoenix Award by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.

MEDINA – Receiving an award from the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is certainly an honor, said Andrew Meier, who will be presented with the Phoenix Award at ceremonies on Oct. 23 at the White Birch Golf Course.

The award recognizes Meier’s efforts over the past 20 years in restoring the former Newell Shirt Factory into three floors of thriving businesses.

A local attorney, Meier purchased the building at 113 West Center St. in 2005 and immediately started remodeling. In 2006, the first business, the Shirt Factory Café, opened. It has since been restructured and is a restaurant and cocktail lounge known as the Shirt Factory.

Several businesses, including 810 Meadworks and a salon opened there, but moved out, creating new opportunities for Meier to try other ventures, he said. The result was creating a coffee and snack shop called Factory Espresso, which opened in the spring of 2024, and a classic cocktail bar called the Newell Lounge which opened this spring.

Total remodeling of the second floor created space for Webster, Schubel and Meier to move their law offices there.

The third floor renovation is home to the Hart Hotel, with 10 boutique rooms.

Factory Espresso serves breakfast and lunch, as well as coffees.

(Left) The portrait of Robert H. Newell is a highlight of the Newell Lounge, located in the Newell Shirt Factory building, owned and restored by local attorney Andrew Meier. (Right) Second floor of Newell Building houses the offices of Webster, Schubel and Meier, where the original safe from Newell Shirt Factory is still a prominent fixture.

The Newell Lounge also serves food and is open Sunday through Wednesday nights.

The Shirt Factory is open the other nights of the week.

Meier said their plan is to eventually have the Lounge open every day. He is expanding the kitchen and adding an outdoor event space in back of the building.

While Meier acknowledged being recognized by the Chamber is, indeed, an honor, he wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren’t for the other businesses in town all pulling in the same direction.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – The Medina Lions Club is holding its annual Scarecrow Fest today at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Jennifer Slack of Medina makes a scarecrow with her children, Emma and Bradley.

There has been a good turnout so far for the festival. Last year there was a record 212 scarecrows made at the event. The Scarecrow Fest goes until 3 p.m.

Patti Parker and her son Zack of Albion make their scarecrow. Cindy Winters of the Medina Lions Club assists with a stapler.

Lions Club members visited the MAAC Thrift Shop to acquire most of the clothing for the scarecrows, including dresses, pants, shirts, blouses, neckties, hats and belts.

T-posts for scarecrow bodies were donated by Barden Homes, and Jen Scott’s art class at Medina High School painted 180 faces for cloth heads.

Straw for the scarecrows’ bodies was donated by Poverty Hill Farms in Albion and Dunham Farms of Knowlesville.

A scarecrow made by the Medina Lions Club greets people at the Fairgrounds.

Piper Glass of Medina, left, gets straw to stuff in a scarecrow she made with her cousins, Harlow and Henry Zacher of Medina.

The Master Gardeners in Orleans County also are having a “Pumpkinpalooza” event, with pumpkin decorating and pumpkin-themed activities. These are some of the entries in the pumpkin-carving and decorating contest.

Marie Phillips decorates pumpkins with her daughters, Mazie and Mallorie.

Debbie Fuller, the grandmother of Mazie and Mallorie, helps another granddaughter, Melanie Phillips, while she decorates a pumpkin. Fuller, a former Medina resident, made a surprise trip up from Florida to see her grandkids.

MEDINA – The National Honor Society at Medina High School will again be serving dinner to veterans and their families.

The annual Veterans’ Day Dinner will be at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, at the high school cafeteria.

The dinner will be catered by Zambistro. Veterans and their families who want to attend are urged to call the high school office at (585) 798-2700 by Oct. 31.

Reservations can also be emailed to NHS advisor Zachary Harris at zwharris@medinacsd.org.

Matt Punch recognized for service with Medina Medical Loan Closet

Photos from Medina Lions Club

MEDINA – The Medina Lions Club in late September installed a new sign for the Lions Park along the Erie Canal. This spot is just east of the lift bridge.

Chris and Julie Keller, left, installed the sign with assistance from Pete Kaiser and Jim Hancock. The Lions Club thanks Takeform for its work on the lettering and design.

The Lions Club also recently honored Matt Punch with the Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Award for his dedication to our community. Punch has been a driving force for the Medina Medical Loan Closet.

Provided photos of David Neth, writing as D. Allen, with the covers of two of his books.

MEDINA – On Saturday, Author’s Note will welcome Batavia author David Neth, who will sign copies of his two latest novels.

Writing as D. Allen, Neth will sign copies of At the Core and Home for the Holidays.

At the Core is a small-town romance set in Medina, featuring rivals-to-lovers, grumpy sunshine charm and the fight to save a family orchard.

Autumn Chapman is the fourth-generation owner of her family’s struggling apple orchard. Her uncles, who are co-owners, want to sell what’s left and walk away while they still can, but Autumn doesn’t want to let the legacy of her family’s business did with her. But, as the man who is trying to convince them to sell learns more and more about the orchard, Autumn and her family’s business, he starts to think maybe he is on the wrong side of the fight.

Home for the Holidays is a Christmas family drama set in Corfu about a mother who tricks her three adult children into coming home for Christmas without them knowing the others are coming. As they all slip into the roles of their former selves, the siblings agree to play nice to make their mother happy for the Christmas season. But as the week goes on. It becomes more and more apparent they all have their secrets, including their mother.

D. Allen is a nom de plume for David Neth, who writes heartfelt small-town romance like the Montana Beach and Small Town Christmas series. He also writes urban fantasy and superhero fiction under his own name. A school librarian with more than a decade in the book world, Neth lives in Batavia with his family.

Neth will sign copies of his books and answer questions during his visit at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Author’s Note is located at 519 Main St., Medina. For those who are unable to attend, signed books can be ordered for pickup or free shipping at authorsnote.com. For more information, contact Author’s Note at (585) 798-3642.

Sandra Nickel will sign copies of her new book, SEVEN: A Most Remarkable Pigeon, during a book discussion on Oct. 15 at Author’s Note in Medina.

MEDINA – Sandra Nickel, a writer from Switzerland, will visit Author’s Note, Medina’s independent book store, to discuss and sign her new picture book, SEVEN: A Most Remarkable Pigeon, at 6 p.m. Oct. 15.

Nickel’s visit to the area will also include visits to Oak Orchard Elementary School and Royalton-Hartland Elementary School to share her story with school children there.

SEVEN: A Most Remarkable Pigeon is a charming tale, paired with Aimee Sicuro’s endearing illustrations, which celebrates the different ways folks of all feathers navigate the world, said Author’s Note owner and New York Times Best-selling author Julie Berry. Booklist calls it a “soaring celebration of individuality,” and Kirkus Reviews calls it “an uplifting tale that celebrates difference.”

Nickel is an award-winning author of picture books and has two new books out in 2025 – SEVEN: A Most Remarkable Pigeon, an uplifting tale that celebrates differences, and Making Light Bloom, Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps, where Nickel continues her mission to celebrate extraordinary individuals who have been nearly forgotten by history.

Nickel holds a master of fine arts in writing for children and young adults. She is the winner of a Christopher Award, the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Crystal Kite Award, a finalist for the Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction for Younger Readers, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection honoree and a Charlotte Huck Award Recommended Author.

Nickel will read her book, sign copies and answer questions during her visit to the bookstore on Oct. 15.

Copies of the picture book are available at Author’s Note, 519 Main St., Medina, or online at www.authorsnote.com/events. For those unable to attend, signed books can be ordered for pickup or free shipping at www.authorsnote.com. Contact Author’s Note at (585) 798-3642 for more information.