Provided photos show before and after pictures of a recently cleaned headstone.
Press Release, Friends of Boxwood Cemetery
MEDINA – The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery will be conducting a headstone cleaning seminar at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, at Boxwood Cemetery on North Gravel Road in Medina. Participants are asked to park near the office, which is the white building on the north side of the cemetery.
“Headstone cleaning is a popular activity in many cemeteries,” said Todd Bensley, who will be leading the seminar. “However, it must be done using proper techniques. Well-intended people can do more harm than good.”
Those interested may simply observe the seminar, or be active participants in cleaning headstones. If you plan to observe you can bring a lawn chair. The demonstration should last about 30 minutes.
If you are going to actively participate, it is requested that you bring a pair of rubber gloves, protective eyewear, a clean bucket and new, soft-bristled brush, if possible.
There is no fee for the seminar, but donations are always gratefully accepted. In addition, those signing up to be members of the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery on that day, will receive a spray bottle of the proper cleaner used in the seminar. Individual memberships are $20.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 July 2022 at 3:40 pm
MEDINA – The Village Board and Planning Board have both given the OK for a mural under the Glenwood Avenue high bridge.
Brandi Zavitz, a retired Holley art teacher, submitted the lone proposal for the project, which is being facilitated by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. GO Art! approved a $3,460 grant for the project under the bridge..
Medina would like to have the project be done by Sept. 30.
The project area is approximately 528 square feet on previously painted concrete.
Zavitz previously painted the front steps at the Orleans County YMCA in an aquatic and solar theme.
With the mural under the bridge she submitted a sketch that showed a boy playing baseball, strawberries and corn stalks, a marching band member, a cow, heron taking flight, the former Journal-Register and a kid with wagon full of newspapers, geese, Canal Culvert, girl on a swing, girl running by canal, the waterfalls in the background, two kids fishing in canal, St John’s Episcopal Church, a man walking a golden retriever on the canal, and apples.
“It does represent Medina and the Medina area,” said Village Trustee Owen Toale. “These things all mean something to us.”
The Village Board also set a public hearing for 7 p.m. today to pursue a grant to study the conditions of waterlines in the village.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 10 July 2022 at 10:14 pm
Group of 750 come from 40 states for annual Cycle the Erie Canal
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Several local residents are taking part in the 24th annual Parks and Trails New York’s annual Cycle the Erie Canal Tour. Here, Chris Leavitt, a student at Medina High School; Tom Stanowski of Warwick; Dean Bellack of Medina; and Jeff and Bronwyn Green of East Shelby posed on the grounds of Wise Intermediate School, where they camped Sunday night.
MEDINA – Cyclists, totaling 750 from 40 states, arrived in Medina on Sunday enroute to Albany on the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour.
The Medina Tourism Committee arranged an afternoon and evening of events to entertain the bikers, who began arriving about 1 p.m., said Tourism Chairman Jim Hancock.
The riders, who were accompanied by a shower truck and other escort vehicles, set up a tent city on the grounds of the Wise Intermediate School.
Kim Mann of Schaghticoke, left, chats with David Chintry of Castleton-on-Hudson in the tent city set up on the grounds of Wise Intermediate School.
Kim Mann from Schaghticoke said while some of the riders had their own tents, others chose to use a tent service, which follows the tour, provides a tent and sets it up. The tents came with a chair, air mattress and towel. This is his first time riding the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour, but he has biked in the Finger Lakes, Bike Maine and Bike Virginia.
There was a snag in plans, however, Mann said, when some the school and college students hired to set up tents didn’t show up. Eventually, all the tents were set up, he said.
Riders came from across the state and beyond to do the ride, including several Medina residents.
Chris Leavitt, who will be a senior at Medina High School, was encouraged by Dean Bellack of Medina, an avid biker, to make the ride. Leavitt’s mother is acquainted with Bellack and he has been encouraging Chris to get out and ride.
Bellack said he did the ride for the first time four years ago, and is doing it this year to get Chris involved in riding bikes
Jeff and Bronwyn Green of East Shelby recently bought new bikes and have been practicing to make the Erie Canal ride, Bronwyn said.
“We have been riding locally (to Spencerport, for example) and in June just did the Black Fly Challenge from Inlet to Old Forge in the Adirondacks,” she said. “That was 38.4 miles. Many summers we used to come to Medina and walked by the bikers camped here, and now we are one of them.”
Next summer, the Greens plan to go to Glacier National Park and do the “Going to the Sun Road” bike tour.
David Chintry from Castleton-on-Hudson did the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour in 2006 and 2008. He was relaxing in front of his tent and listening to the band Pocket Change playing on the Wise School grounds.
“All these little towns are wonderful,” Chintry said.
A sea of tents blankets the lawn at Wise Intermediate School, where on Sunday night the band Pocket Change planed on a stage in the background.
The Cycle the Erie Canal Tour is a 400-mile ride, which began Sunday morning in Buffalo. Sunday they got to go through the locks in Lockport and view the caves before continuing their ride along the towpath to Medina. After leaving Medina Monday morning, the cyclists will spend Monday night in Pittsford, Tuesday in Waterloo/Seneca Falls area, Wednesday in Syracuse, Thursday in Rome, Friday in Canajoharie and Saturday in Schenectady, ending on Sunday in Albany.
The riders will cover between 31 and 64 miles each day.
In Medina, the Medina Tourism Committee arranged for a shuttle from Ridge Road Express to run continuously from the camp area to downtown and back. Several businesses, including Medina Railroad Museum and Medina Tourism Booth, stayed open later to allow the riders to visit.
From 4 to 6 p.m., David Viterna and his band entertained in State Street Park, and from 7 to 9 p.m., the band Pocket Change played on a stage on the school grounds.
Supper was provided in the Wise School cafeteria by Zambistro’s, who will also cook breakfast.
Hancock said this is the 24th year Medina has been the first overnight stop on the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Cat by Cat Inc. local leaders are shown at a basket raffle outside Canalside Tattoo in Medina on Saturday. Pictured from left include Ellen Blanc, Shannon Blount and Blount’s mother Janice Strianese.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 July 2022 at 4:58 pm
MEDINA – The organization Cat by Cat Inc. raised $10,000 on Saturday with a fundraiser at Canalside Tattoo.
There were about 80 baskets and gift certificates donated and up for raffle. Canalside Tattoo artists also donated their expertise for 60 tattoos or body piercings at a $100 suggested donation.
Cat by Cat will use the money for medications, vaccinations, food and cat litter, and other supplies.
Ellen Blanc, Shannon Blount and Blount’s mother Janice Strianese head up the local effort. They work with residents to trap feral or community cats and have them spayed or neutered. The cats are also vaccinated and many get flea medications.
Blount said she is thankful for the donations by local businesses, residents and the tattoo artists for the benefit on Saturday.
Provided photos: These are some of the cat-themed tattoos done by Canalside on Saturday as part of the fundraiser.
Cat by Cat Inc. now has more resources to help contain the number of community cats.
“The stray cat population is a huge issue not only in this county but everywhere,” said Shannon Blount. “It can quickly get out of control.”
Cat by Cat focuses on a TNVR model – Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return. Cat by Cat was able to TNVR about 50 cats on Glenwood Avenue since last October, and is currently focused on Prospect Avenue and has trapped, neutered, vaccinated and returned seven cats with more to do.
Blount said Cat by Cat works with residents in an area to trap the cats and return them to the area. If they are spayed and neutered they won’t reproduce.
Cat by Cat also works to have foster families to take in some of the cats over 2 pounds. Blount said the group’s focus is on improving the lives for the outdoor cats in the community.
Photo by Varuka Blue Photography: Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo, creates a cat tattoo for a customer. Canalside artists did 60 tattoos or body piercings with proceeds donated to Cat by Cat.
She said there are more stray cats since the eviction moratorium has been lifted. For about two years landlords couldn’t evict tenants during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of those residents, who were largely homebound in the early days of the pandemic, brought cats into their homes.
But once the residents were evicted, they couldn’t take cats in their new apartments. Blount said many residents have just left the cats outside and moved on, adding to the community cat problem.
“We have a massive amount of strays,” she said.
Blount is appreciative of the community for their donations to help confront the problem.
“People love animals and they don’t want to see them suffer,” she said.
For more information on Cat by Cat Inc., click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 July 2022 at 10:07 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Medina Rotary Club is hosting its second annual pickleball tournament this weekend at the Medina High School tennis courts.
The participants nearly doubled from a year ago, going from 47 to 84.
There are five events in the tournament: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Each event is broken into three categories based on skill level.
Scott Read competes in Saturday in the doubles division. He finished with the silver medal with partner Michele Mas.
Medina Rotary Club member Carl Tuohey is one of the organizers of the event for the Rotary Club. Tuohey is regular pickleball player in the courts at the Knights of Columbus on Main Street, where the basketball court on the third floor is used for pickleball.
Many local service clubs do golf tournaments. Medina Rotary wanted to embrace a growing sport with pickleball and also put on a unique local tournament.
Will Soos of Buffalo is in action during the tournament on Saturday. He won silver in the men’s advanced singles and bronze in mixed doubles.
In pickleball, the courts are smaller than in tennis. The pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long.
The tournament continues today with men’s and women’s doubles competition.
Results from the first day include:
Men’s Singles Advanced – JJ Hughes (Bronze), David McGinnis (Gold) and Will Soos (Silver)
Women’s Singles – Hannah Munley (Silver), Lana Ivy (Gold) and Robyn Owens (Bronze)
Men’s Singles Beginner – Aaron Schreiber (Silver), Anthony Brophy (Gold) and Jeffrey Schwertfeger (Bronze)
Mixed Doubles Advanced – Brandon Carey and Renee Abbot (Silver), David McGinnis and Lana Ivy (Gold), and Hannah Munley and Will Soos (Bronze)
Mixed Doubles Intermediate – JJ Hughes and Kim Cuskey (Bronze), Jeanne Whipple and Eric Palmer (Gold), and Michele Mas and Scott Read (Silver)
Mixed Doubles Beginner – Russ Hameister and Karen Redding (Bronze), Karen Betz and Travis Lodyga (Gold), and Kevin Ormsby and Doris Mo (Silver)
These players compete in mixed doubles.
JJ Hughes and Kim Cuskey won bronze in the mixed doubles intermediate division.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 July 2022 at 9:16 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Sparky a fire dog gets help getting ready to meet kids on Saturday. He is assisted by Medina firefighters Steven Lang, left, and Dustin Pahura.
Adam Fisher, a Medina firefighter, dressed up as the dalmatian. Medina firefighters were at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market in Medina for the day, offering tours of a fire truck and sharing fire prevention tips.
Sparky meets Isaiah Powlowski, 4, of Medina at the farmers’ market.
Katie Klotzbach and her daughter Karalyn, 10, made their debut at the market on Saturday selling flowers through Klotzbach’s business, Flower Fields Forever, which is based in Lyndonville.
The market welcomed about 15 different vendors on Saturday. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays through Oct. 29 at 127 West Center St.
Adeline Castricone, a member of the Medina FFA, knits a blue hat at the market. The Medina FFA is pushing to knit 500 of the hats that will be given to Medina middle schoolers in October as part of an anti-bullying initiative.
Medina FFA advisor Todd Eick is joined by students Adeline Castricone and Iyla Lilleby in promoting the #HatsNotHate effort.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Cyclists put up their tents on the grounds of Wise Middle School on July 8, 2018 when 650 cyclists and 90 volunteers with Cycle the Erie Canal were in town, making their way along the canal to Albany.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 July 2022 at 8:38 am
MEDINA – Wise Intermediate School will be a beehive of activity on Sunday when the return of the annual Erie Canal cyclists.
The ride, sponsored by the New York State Department of Parks and Recreation, begins Sunday morning at Nichols School in Buffalo.
Jim Hancock, head of Medina’s Tourism Committee, said the 630 cyclists expected in Medina is the largest number since the pandemic. With volunteers, 700 visitors will be in Medina Sunday and Monday morning.
The Tourism Committee has arranged a full schedule of things to welcome and entertain the cyclists, including a shuttle service by Ridge Road Express from Wise Intermediate School to attractions downtown and back, and setting up an information booth for the riders.
File photo by Tom Rivers: These cyclists ride along the towpath towards Medina in July 2015.
Cyclists are expected to begin arriving about 1 p.m., Hancock said. They will set up a tent city on the lawn of the school, where they will spend the night. Zambistro will cater Sunday night dinner and breakfast on Monday morning in the school cafeteria.
Several downtown locations have agreed to stay open past regular hours, including the Medina Railroad Museum (7 p.m.), Sandstone Hall of Fame and Visitors’ Center (6 p.m.)
Other attractions on the shuttle loop include the canal basin and State Street Park, where the Dave Viterna Group will entertain from 4 to 6 p.m. The band Pocket Change with Dave Stockton will play at the school from 7 to 9 p.m.
As an added perk for the cyclists, Ledge Rock Farms and Guinn Panek, will provide a tote of sweet cherries, and Twisted Treats ice cream truck and a coffee vendor will be on the grounds. The Tourism Committee has also arranged for a masseuse to be available.
Julie Berry from Author’s Note will be at Wise Intermediate School selling historic books about the area. She also offers to mail them so the riders don’t have to contend with them on their bikes.
After staying in Medina overnight on Sunday, the cyclists head east on Monday and will be greeted in Albion and Holley on their way to Fairport.
The eight-day trip includes the following:
July 10 (Day 1): Buffalo to Medina (48 miles)
July 11 (Day 2): Medina to Fairport (62 miles)
July 12 (Day 3): Fairport to Seneca Falls (50 miles)
July 13 (Day 4): Seneca Falls to Syracuse (40 miles)
July 14 (Day 5): Syracuse to Rome (48 miles)
July 15 (Day 6): Rome to Canajoharie (61 miles)
July 16 (Day 7): Canajoharie to Niskayuna (46 miles)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 July 2022 at 10:11 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Dave Viterna Group performed for about 800 people this evening in the first concert of a six-week “Blue Thursdays.” (A drone with software to estimate attendance put the crowd size at 788.)
The free summer concerts are the pavilion at State Street Park.
The pavilion was erected in 2019 and has been used for some concerts and events, but not a concert series yet. Chris Busch, chairman of the Orleans Renaissance Group, said the pavilion organizers were envisioning a series at the site when the pavilion was erected but Covid-19 wiped out those plans in 2020 and 2021.
“That’s what we built this for,” Busch said this evening, scanning the large crowd. “To do this.”
He and Ken Daluisio of The Print Shop received many congratulatory text messages during the concert, thanking them for helping to make the event a reality.
The Dave Viterna Group includes lead singer and guitarist Dave Viterna at right, “Scooter” Felice on drums and Marty Hobbs as bass guitar. They are from Medina. They play all over Western New York. Tonight, they had a very close drive for their gig.
The Print Shop and Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc./medinaalive.com, both of Medina, organized the concert series with support from to Gloria Brent, owner of Modern Mercantile and Main Liquor.
The shaded areas near the trees were popular spots for many concert-goers, who brought their own lawn chairs. Some even enjoyed the music with their pet dogs.
Vassilios Bitsas serves a slice of pizza for Cusimano’s Pizzeria in Medina. The business is owned by his father James Bitsas. They were very busy during the concert.
They were among several food vendors at the event, which also included alcoholic beverages from Leonard Oakes Estate Winery and 810 Meadworks.
These young concert-goers enjoy the playground equipment while listening to the music.
The concerts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The line-up for the remaining events includes:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 July 2022 at 9:31 am
MEDINA – The Medina Rotary Club is accepting applications up until Aug. 1 for a scholarship that has been increased from $500 to $2,500. That money could go to one person or be split up among more than one depending on the applications, said Rotary Club President Ben McPherson.
Students who just graduated from Medina in the Class of 2022 are encouraged to apply. This scholarship is not solely based on academic achievement but more community involvement, character and leadership throughout their years in high school, the club said.
The scholarship isn’t limited to those headed to college but for any student looking to go to a post high school, tuition-based educational program – college, trade school, etc.
Outside of filling out the application the only other requirements to be awarded is a presentation to the club on plans after high school, involvements in high school as well as transcript following the student’s first semester.
The application can be found through our Medina Rotary Club Facebook page, the club’s website or through a Rotary Club member.
“This is a great opportunity for any student looking to earn some cash for their future but also develop some real life skills like preparing and delivering a presentation of value,” McPherson said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 July 2022 at 11:58 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – A shed in Medina burns on North Avenue on July 4. Firefighters were dispatched to scene at 12:14 a.m.
Crews arrived at 12:16 a.m. and discovered the fire had extended to an automobile with a house and garage in close proximity. Fire damage was contained to the shed, the automobile, fences of the nearby properties and some shrubbery, said Medina Fire Department Lt. Steve Cooley.
“The fire is being ruled accidental at this time,” he said. “It was caused by improper disposal of spent legal fireworks/fountain devices.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 July 2022 at 2:30 pm
MEDINA – The Medina Joint Recreation Commission summer parks and swim program starts tomorrow but there won’t be swim lessons for at least the first day.
“Due to unsafe chlorine levels in the pool, swim lessons will be canceled tomorrow,” said Michelle Capstick, the program director. “They are unsure when the issue will be resolved. I will post daily updates until the issue is taken care of. We appreciate your patience and support. The Park program will start tomorrow. All paperwork must be completed for children to attend.”
The program Tuesday and runs through Aug. 12. It is a free program for children ages 6 to 12 in the Medina school district.
The parks program will be run at the Oak Orchard Elementary School campus with the pool program at the middle school. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and until 3 p.m. on Fridays. Besides games, the program will include bowling, field trips, a carnival and other activities.
The Village of Medina and towns of Ridgeway and Shelby all contribute to funding the program.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: From left, Dave Higgins, Greg Smith, Carol Callina, Bradley Nudd, Jim Wells, Jim Freas and Eric Delano, all members of the American Legion, salute Stanley Stack on the occasion of his 100th birthday Sunday, and his brother Ed Stack. Stan is a World War II Navy veteran, and Ed served 20 years in the Air Force.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 July 2022 at 8:13 am
Stanley Stack of Medina, seated, gets a hug from his brother Ed during a party Sunday at Sacred Heart Club to celebrate Stan’s 100th birthday.
MEDINA – Things have changed a lot in the last 100 years, but Stanley Stack says nothing has surprised him, except maybe the fact he has lived to be this ripe old age.
On Sunday afternoon, he was honored at a party at Sacred Heart Club, which began with a salute and singing “Happy Birthday” by members of the Butts-Clark American Legion Post.
Stanley was born in Medina July 3, 1922, the oldest of Joseph and Julia Stack’s 10 children. Only he and his youngest sibling, brother Ed, 83, of Massachusetts are still living.
Ed made the trip from Cape Cod to celebrate Stan’s milestone. It is the first time in 15 years they have seen each other.
“God bless him,” Ed said. “He used to let me take his car to go see my girlfriend in Buffalo.”
Stanley quit school to go to work, then enlisted in the Navy in 1942. He was sent to New London, Conn. submarine base and then to Pearl Harbor after the attack, where he spent a year and a half. He returned home after the war, got his high school diploma and went to work at Harrison Radiator, retiring from there in 1976, after 31 years.
He met and married Medina native Mary Hibbard, with whom he celebrated 73 years of marriage. They had a daughter Lisa and one granddaughter, Allison. Mary died in October 2020.
Stan said he always liked to keep active and he has always liked to play cards. He was an avid bowler, a member of Sacred Heart Club, the American Legion and Senior Citizens of Western New York, where he played pinochle two days a week for many years.
An 82-year member of Sacred Heart, he is their oldest surviving member.
Stanley Stack gets in a game of euchre during his 100th birthday party Sunday. Looking on are his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Chris Joseph.
He never thought he’d live to be 100 and doesn’t know what he did to achieve that goal.
“I never drank water, but I liked BV and ginger,” he said. “I ate a good diet and was outside all the time.”
He has broken his leg twice and last December moved to The Willows when his legs began to give out.
Although his mind is sharp as ever, he gets around in a wheelchair. His card-playing partners visit him once a week to play an afternoon of pinochle, and he doesn’t miss a trick.
Daughter Lisa and son-in-law Chris Joseph came from Missouri, along with their daughter Allison from North Carolina to plan Stan’s party. Other guests came from Florida, Massachusetts and Georgia.
One guest was Chris Hare, who picked Stan up and took him to euchre at Sacred Heart every Monday night for at least seven years, Hare said.
“He was playing euchre before I was born,” he said.
When Chris brought out a deck of cards Sunday, Stan was ready for a game of euchre.
Lisa said Stan has been an awesome dad.
“Rarely did I get punished, but when I did, I knew I had done something wrong,” she said.
Allison said her grandpa is her hero and his name is tattooed on her arm.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 3 July 2022 at 8:35 am
Provided photos: The MAAC Thrift Depot at 536 Orient St. has resumed Tuesday evening hours after being closed two years due to Covid-19.
MEDINA – The Thrift Depot at 536 Orient St., operated by the Medina Area Association of Churches, has announced it will resume Tuesday evening hours after being closed for two years due to Covid-19. There is a slight change in the Tuesday evening schedule, however, according to Sue Metzo, who oversees the operation.
“We will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. from April through October,” Metzo said. “Certain concerns and issues have presented us with the need to be closed during the late fall and winter months.”
Metzo said they are occasionally faced with a problem of donations being left outside. Because they are only open 14 hours a week, those items could be outside a day or more, where they can get rained on or vandalized. The public is asked if they cannot put their donations in the chutes provided, please come during regular store hours, which are 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays from April through October.
For those who are not familiar with the MAAC Thrift Depot, it is run with the help of 20 to 30 volunteers. There are no paid employees, Metzo said.
“Our dedicated volunteers work anywhere between two to 20 hours per week,” she said.
The MAAC Thrift Depot is part of the non-profit organization, Medina Area Association of Churches, which was started around 1970. Sixteen churches in the Medina area are members. It consists of a Clergy Fellowship, the Thrift Depot, the MAAC Christmas Box Program and the Medina Area Christian Theater. Throughout the year they have Lenten luncheons, a Good Friday Cross Walk, Easter morning sunrise service, Thanksgiving ecumenical service and Advent in the Park.
MAAC started when several church groups combined efforts to provide clothing for students the school nurses were concerned about, Metzo said. So many people wanted to contribute there was an abundance of good used clothing that was, at first, given away.
But when more and more clothing kept coming in, it was decided to treat it like a rummage sale. The money earned was used to buy new underwear for the children in need. From there, it just grew and grew. It became the MAAC Clothing Depot and operated for years at the back of the former Medina High School on Catherine Street. When the old high school was sold, the Depot moved to its new location on Orient Street in 2018 and was renamed the Thrift Depot.
After paying for their expenses, the rest of the money earned is gifted back into the community, Metzo said. In 2021, MAAC gifted $41,703 to more than 20 agencies or churches in the area.
The Thrift Depot mainly accepts good, clean clothing, linens, toys, books, DVDs, CDs and small household/kitchen items. Unfortunately, they do not have space for furniture or large baby items. There is a list on their Facebook page (MAAC Thrift Depot) of items they cannot accept.
Anyone who has questions may message the Thrift Depot on Facebook or call and leave a message at (585) 798-6657. A volunteer will return the call within 24 hours.
People are being asked not to leave donations for the MAAC Thrift Depot outside, as seen here, where they can be stolen or rained on.
Photo by Tom Rivers: This kiosk in Medina’s canal basin will be removed for a more modern display. The new sign may be located away from the canal bank where the former gazebo was, next to the parking area.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 June 2022 at 12:38 pm
MEDINA – The village will be replacing a deteriorating wooden kiosk display by the Canal Basin with a new sign. The new one will have multiple panels and will have a more modern look.
The Orleans County YMCA is using a $10,000 grant to pay for most of the cost.
The Village Board on Monday approved spending $9,308 for the cost of two displays cabinets and LED lighting, as well as the freight to have it delivered. The board approved that so it can utilize a grant that needed to be spent by the end of June.
The board hasn’t decided yet on the design. There is one option with four panels and another with eight panels.
The village’s Tourism Committee is working with Takeform in Medina on the project. The sign will have an aluminum body and aluminum filler panels. The display will have a urethane paint finish.
This concept would cost $18,500 total and would have four interchangeable panels as well as a map of Medina. It would have a header sign and be illuminated.
This option includes eight display areas with multiple flanking panels. It would be $16,000.
Jim Hancock, chairman of the Tourism Committee, said the money over the $10,000 could be raised with fundraising. Mayor Mike Sidari said the village cannot accept donations directly for the project. An outside entity would need to collect any donations to pay for the costs over the $10,000. That would be $6,000 to $8,500, depending on which option is selected.
Hancock asked that the sign touting Medina attractions be in the spot for the former gazebo. That is up higher from the canal bank and next to the parking area. Hancock thinks it would be seen by more people and be more accessible.
The main sign display would be 4 feet in height by 7 feet wide.
The cost doesn’t include a concrete pad to set the sign on. Hancock asked the village DPW help with that part of the project.
The board members said they will continue to discuss the issue. The board approved part of the sign on Monday so it could utilize the $10,000 grant.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 June 2022 at 8:54 am
Village will update regs to allow the signs in light industrial/industrial areas
MEDINA – The Village Board voted on Monday to allow BMP to use a temporary sign for three months to try to fill job openings at the manufacturing site on Maple Ridge Road.
BMP twice had temporary signs out but was told to remove them because they were in violation of the village code.
Pride Pak also had a temporary sign out, trying to get job applicants, and was told to remove it.
A BMP representative was at Monday’s meeting to urge the use of the sign. The company saw an uptick in applications when the sign was by the road.
Now that it is gone, people may think the company isn’t hiring, which isn’t the case. BMP needs more workers, the board was told.
“We’re just hoping for some leniency,” the BMP official told the board. “We’re trying to provide jobs right to people here in Medina.”
The village code currently only allows temporary signs for new businesses or a business in a new location that is awaiting installation of a permanent sign. In those cases, the maximum use of a portable or temporary sign is 60 days.
Trustee Owen Toale urged the board not to stand in the way of a business that is trying to grow and fill jobs in Medina.
The Village Planning Board was asked to look at regulations for temporary signs, but decided to not take action on the issue.
However, the Village Board sets policy and Trustee Tim Elliott said the temporary sign regulations should be updated at a time when businesses are hiring.
“The times are changing,” he said. “We need to adjust accordingly.”
Mayor Mike Sidari said he doesn’t want to see “help wanted” signs all over, especially sandwich signs in the downtown with businesses seeking employees.
The board decided to have village attorney Matthew Brooks draft a proposal for allowing temporary signs in the industrial and light industrial zoned areas. That would include part of Park Avenue and the Medina Business Park on Maple Ridge and Bates roads, the areas that include most of Medina’s manufacturing plants.
It can take two to three months for a law to be changed with public hearings, meetings and a filing and approval from the state Department of State.
In the meantime, BMP was given up to 90 days permission to have a temporary sign. If Pride Pak wants to have a sign it will need to make a request to the board.
The temporary signs can be a maximum of 30 square feet. BMP said it’s sign is about 4 by 6 feet.
“I don’t want to slow down business,” Elliott said. “Hopefully the Planning Board sees we’re trying to be progressive and not step on their toes.”
(One Medina manufacturing business has a temporary sign outside seeking employees. Brunner is on Route 31 near Bates Road. Its sign is just outside the village line in Ridgeway so it doesn’t fall under the village ordinance.)
