Photos by Ginny Kropf: Presenting a $2,000 check from the American Legion Auxiliary to the Joint Veterans’ Council toward a new van are, from left, Auxiliary members Valerie Wells, Robin Boyle and Judy Overholt, Joint Veterans’ Council president Dave Kusmierczak, Joint Veterans’ Council secretary Nancy Traxler, van service coordinator Phyllis Schrader, American Legion Auxiliary president Cathy Fox and Post member Carol Callina and Commander Jim Wells.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 14 November 2023 at 6:01 pm
MEDINA – The Orleans County Joint Veterans Council received two generous donations Friday toward the purchase of another van for the Veterans’ Van Service.
The van service has six vans, one of which is currently out of service for much-needed repairs, and needs to replace several more, according to Phyllis Schrader, who coordinates the van service for Orleans County veterans.
The donations were from the Butts-Clark American Legion Auxiliary, who presented a check for $2,000 to Nancy Traxler, secretary of the Joint Veterans Council, which operates the van service, and a $1,000 check from the Butts-Clark American Legion Post.
“This is pretty fantastic,” Traxler said. “Our drivers work so hard to make sure the veterans get to their appointments. Most of our veterans can’t drive any more. We always need donations and we always need more volunteer drivers, as well as volunteers in the office. You can work one day a week or two hours a week – whatever you can do will be helpful.”
“We are not looking to purchase a new van,” Schrader said. “But even used ones are expensive. The last one we bought in good condition with low mileage was $26,000.”
The Orleans County Joint Veterans’ Council received donations toward a new van Friday at the Butts-Clark American Legion Post. Shown here, Dave Kusmierczak, chaplain of the American Legion and Jim Wells, right, Legion commander, present a $1,000 check to Nancy Traxler, Veterans’ Service agent and secretary of the Joint Veterans’ Council and Phyllis Schrader, coordinator of the van service.
Schrader said they are still about $10,000 short of having enough money for another van.
She said, in reality, they need to replace more than one. Two of those in service were purchased in 2010 and one has 120,000 miles on it and the other more than 100,000. All are rusted. There is rarely a day when they don’t have a trip to Buffalo, Rochester or Batavia for a veteran’s medical appointment, and it is not uncommon to have two or three trips in one day.
Donations and more volunteers are welcome. Volunteers are not only needed as drivers, but to help with tasks in the office, such as filing or making calls to confirm appointments. Donations may be made by sending a check to Orleans County Joint Veterans Council, 13996 Route 31 West, Albion, 14411.
Photos courtesy of Douglas Levere: UB architecture students and faculty work on the installation of the Sydney Gross Memorial along the Erie Canal in Medina on Monday.
Posted 14 November 2023 at 12:53 pm
Project will open on Friday afternoon and serve as living memorial to Sydney Gross, a late UB architecture student
By David J. Hill, Director of News Content for University at Buffalo for Public Health, Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, Sustainability
MEDINA – Even now, 14 years later, Joey Swerdlin fondly recalls the brief time he spent with Sydney Gross as classmates together in the bachelor’s degree program in the University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning.
“Sydney was such a happy person. Even in the dark depths of exhausting studio deadlines, Sydney always kept a smile and positive spirit,” Swerdlin said. “Her laugh and smile were infectious and she was always bringing people from different friend groups together.”
Gross was a promising student who completed the first year of the undergraduate architecture program at UB when she died following a car accident in July 2009.
In the years since, Gross’ family and friends established an endowed fund in her memory to support programs that encourage collaboration and community among architecture students, such as the biannual Sydney Gross Memorial Lecture, Alumni Symposium, and the Student Lounge.
The Sydney Gross Memorial consists of 23 precast concrete modules, weighing anywhere from several hundred to several thousand pounds.
Now, Gross’ family is providing support for a design-build project along the Erie Canal in Medina that will serve as a living memorial to Gross, capturing her vibrant artistic spirit while providing a space for public gathering and enjoyment. UB students are putting the finishing touches on it now in preparation for an official opening at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17.
The project has been in the works since 2022, and is being led by Christopher Romano and Joyce Hwang, faculty members in the School of Architecture and Planning who knew Gross well — she was a student in their classes. That connection has only deepened their desire for this to be a truly special project.
“We came to them with a vague and simple idea to create a playful space in Sydney’s name that would bring students and community together,” said Sydney’s sister, Stephanie. “The magnitude of the project is the result of the dedication and creativity of Joyce and Chris.”
Addsed Sydney’s mom, Lori Duckstein: “They never fail to exceed any expectation we might have. During her year at UB, Sydney spoke often about Joyce and Chris, the curriculum and why she was so lucky to be learning from them. I believed her then, but watching them define every stage of this project and their attention to every detail made it clear to me that Sydney could not have had a finer freshman year.”
Capturing Sydney’s fun spirit, love of architecture
“This whole project has been about trying to capture who Sydney was as a person and the energy she had when she was here. Although it emerged out of a tragedy, it has turned into something much more positive and endearing,” said Romano, an assistant professor of architecture at UB who is teaching the fall semester studio that is building the project.
“We’ve had this partnership for almost 15 years now. For me, this has always been something I’ve worked on with Joyce. It’s the biggest project we could have done together in honor of Sydney,” Romano said.
Hwang, an associate professor of architecture at UB, who, with Romano, co-taught the studio in the spring semester that laid the groundwork for the project to be built this fall.
“Our goal in the spring was to design something that would offer a combination of spaces to sit and reflect, as well as areas to play and socialize. Creating a space of wonderment and joy to embody the spirit of Sydney was important to us,” said Madeleine Sophie Sutton, a student in the Master of Architecture program who was part of Hwang’s studio.
The project is getting installed this week by the canal near the Big Apple, between the Glenwood Avenue canal bridge and lift bridge on Route 63.
The spring studio conducted several Zoom calls with Gross’ family and friends to learn more about who she was. “Fun” was the word Gross’ mother used most often. Above all else, Duckstein wanted the students to enjoy the studio experience in the same way her daughter did.
“We made a point to have fun in the studio, as a way to honor Sydney’s optimism, energy and excitement for the studio environment,” Sutton said. “We sought to embody her energy and love for all things playful through the design, and eventual construction of a living memorial. This project captures who Sydney was by the ways it invites people to play and have fun.”
Memorial will be part of larger project in Medina
The Sydney Gross Memorial will be situated on New York State Canal Corporation land along the Erie Canalway Trail in Medina, and will mark the much-anticipated beginning of a larger public art and recreation initiative by the New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation’s Reimagine the Canals program.
The grand opening will be part of a coordinated announcement and is set for 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 17. In addition to Hwang and Romano, attendees will include Gross’ family and friends, UB students who have worked on the project, local high school students, local and state representatives as well as partners from different philanthropic organizations and art institutions involved in the waterfront development and public art planning in Medina.
Given that Gross was from the New York City area, Medina may not at first appear to be a fitting locale for a project so closely tied to her. But the parallels are perfect.
For starters, the village’s master plan seeks to reimagine Medina as a destination for arts and culture along the canal. “Tying this to an art project was important for us because Sydney was a very artistic, free, creative spirit,” Hwang said.
While it is being designed as “a living memorial” to Sydney, the space itself is intended to facilitate a sense of community and public activity. It will be a vibrant recreational space to be enjoyed not only by Medina residents, but anyone who bikes, walks or jogs along the canal while being easily accessible to UB.
“Ultimately, it’s the perfect representation of Sydney,” said Ryan Edwards, a second-year Master of Architecture student who has been a part of both studios. “It’s a project in a community that she has no relation to, but she’s going to be bringing people together in a fun way.”
The pieces are getting set in place.
Rethinking what a memorial is
Hwang challenged her students to rethink the concept of what a memorial is. “When you think of the word ‘memorial,’ it often conveys commemorating something that was lost,” she said. “But Sydney’s family and friends were adamant that this not be a somber place. It’s a place that will promote joy and community.”
The Sydney Gross Memorial consists of 23 precast concrete modules (the “Units”), weighing anywhere from several hundred to several thousand pounds. Students spent several weeks working on the initial molds and steel reinforcing in the School of Architecture and Planning’s SMART Factory and the Fabrication Workshop, under Romano’s direction with assistance from shop directors Steph Cramer, Wade Georgi and Julia Hunt. The molds were then cast in concrete at Southside Precast Products in Buffalo.
The Units — think of them as urban furniture — are arranged primarily in three clusters and stack together like masonry building blocks.
Edwards is excited about how the community will interact with the memorial. “If you want to just go and sit and eat lunch and watch the sunset, it’s perfect for that,” he says. “Or if you’re a 6-year-old, you can jump all over it and have a ball. People can experience it however they want to, but the overarching theme of it is ‘fun.’”
The project has benefited not only from the Gross family funding, but also through numerous in-kind donations, a joining of forces of people working to achieve a goal for the community, including Nicole Sarmiento, an adjunct faculty member and recent UB alumna who worked with Hwang and Romano over the summer to finalize the design drawings.
“It has been an amazing experience to be involved with a project that means so much to so many different groups of people,” says Sutton.
While it is being designed as “a living memorial” to Sydney Gross, the space itself is intended to facilitate a sense of community and public activity.
Swerdlin is astounded by the number of people who have been involved in bringing the project to life. A 2013 UB graduate, Swerdlin has had an active role in the project, from the very early stages of brainstorming, to serving as a juror for the spring studio, and now, as a professor teaching a seminar focused on telling the story of the project.
“One thing that has been sticking with me is recognizing that so many dozens of people are involved in the project’s creation and hundreds and thousands will eventually interact with it once it’s installed, says Swerdlin.
“Through each laugh, smile and interaction, Sydney’s memory is being celebrated, and she continues to make an impact on people’s lives in a positive way. She would be so incredibly happy to see how her professors and students have had so much fun bringing this project to life and knowing it will bring joy and peace to so many people.”
Project Sponsors
The Sydney Gross Memorial Fund provided funding for the project. Materials and labor were donated from corporate partners, and the New York Power Authority supplied summer funding.
Project sponsors include: Southside Precast Products, Alp Steel, Thermal Foams, Buffalo Concrete Accessories, Rigidized Metals, Kistner Concrete, Holcim Concrete, Shelby Stone and the Lions Club of Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 November 2023 at 6:31 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Aeddon Cayea of Medina sprints to finish on Bates Road in Medina today during the 6th annual Operation Honor 5K.
Cayea, 24, won the race in a time of 18:36. His brother Alden is a past winner of the race. There were 51 participants in the event today that started and ended near the Junior Wilson Sportsmen’s Club.
Operation Honor distributes about $5,000 a year to help local veterans in a financial pinch. It may be paying a utility bill, car payment or some other one-time financial stressor.
Jenn Thom, an Operation Honor leader, said veterans don’t tend to seek any help. She encouraged them to reach out to Operation Honor or have a local veterans group (the VFW, American Legion or Veterans Service Agency) send a message to Operation Honor about a veteran who needs a little financial help.
The group also donates to the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council to support a van service that takes veterans to medical appointments.
Sarah Surdel, one of the leaders of Operation Honor, said the organization will be looking to chronicle local veterans’ experiences in the military through an oral history initiative.
She noted the support for Operation Honor of the late Archie Washak, a Vietnam War veteran who passed away at age 76 on Oct. 15.
There have been $3,500 in memorials for Washak donated to Operation Honor.
“ We would like to document the experiences of our elderly veterans in order to conserve those experiences before they are lost,” Operation Honor states on its website. “We also hope to document the more modern experiences of our younger veteran generations, with the hopes they may find the sharing to be a therapeutic process for further healing.”
Surdel and Thom said the group has applications available for those willing to be interviewed, and is seeking volunteers to help with the project.
Alicia and Brad Zacher of Medina both ran the 5K today. They were welcomed at the finish line by their children, Henry and Harlow, who made they a poster.
Olivia Hill and Aeddon Cayea received American flags as their first place prize. Hill, 31, ran the 5K in 24:27.
This trio walked the course together. They include, from left: Laura Belson, Susan Howard (assistant district attorney) and Joe Cardone (the Orleans County DA).
Jenifer Cardone of Medina kept up a brisk pace during the race.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Early this morning the Honor Guard from Medina’s American Legion and VFW began firing three-gun salutes and playing Taps at each of the veterans’ monuments in Medina – the Vietnam Memorial at the American Legion, the Company F Memorial at the former Armory where they served, the Korean Memorial on Park Avenue, the tank at Veterans’ Memorial Park and the Butts-Clark Memorial on South Main Street. Here they are shown outside the former Medina Armory, now the Orleans County YMCA.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 11 November 2023 at 2:34 pm
MEDINA – Veterans in the Medina area received recognition in a number of ways during special events and ceremonies this weekend to commemorate Veterans’ Day.
On Friday, the Butts-Clark American Legion Post served free drinks to veterans, while the Ladies’ Auxiliary provided an array of food and snacks.
A display on one wall featured a large patriotic sign under a row of veterans’ pictures.
Cathy Fox, president of the Orleans County American Legion Auxiliary, handed out patriotic mugs purchased by the Auxiliary to veterans.
Cathy Fox, president of the Orleans County American Legion Auxiliary, presents a patriotic mug to Phyllis Schrader, coordinator of the veterans’ van service in Albion. The Auxiliary handed out the mugs to veterans during a Veterans’ Day celebration Friday at the Butts-Clark American Legion Post.
A solemn ceremony honoring POW/MIA veterans was conducted by Post chaplain Dave Kusmierczak and commander Jim Wells.
The “Empty Table” ceremony features a table set for one, to symbolize the frailty of one prisoner alone against his oppressors.
As Wells rang a bell, Kusmierczak explained the meaning of each item on the table.
A white tablecloth represents the purity of the soldiers intentions in responding to their country’s call to arms.
A single red rose was a reminder of the families and loved ones who keep the faith waiting their return.
Dave Kusmierczak, left, chaplain of the Butts-Clark American Legion Post, and commander Jim Wells conduct a “POW/MIA” empty table ceremony during a veterans’ get-together Friday at the Medina post.
A red ribbon symbolizes the determination of those who demand a proper accounting of the missing.
A candle is lit to symbolize the upward reach of their unconquerable spirit.
A slice of lemon is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter fate.
Salt on the plate is a symbol of the families’ tears as they wait.
The glass is inverted to signify – They cannot toast with us today.
The chair is empty, as they are not here.
Also on Saturday, Tops Friendly Markets gave veterans an 11 percent discount on their grocery bill. At noon today, the VFW served a free beef on weck lunch to all veterans.
On Friday, members of Medina’s American Legion and VFW Honor Guard, fire a three-gun salute during veterans’ ceremonies at Orchard Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina. Members, from left, are Mike Herman, Carol Callina (trumpeter), John Follman, Mike Donahue, Ricci Harper, Dave Kusmierczak, Brad Nudd, Glenn Whitmore and Jim Freas, officer in charge.
The Honor Guard from Medina’s American Legion and VFW posts has been conducting a service in honor of Veterans’ Day at Orchard Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for more than 20 years.
Jim Freas, the Officer in Charge, said he started participating when he moved to Medina 20 years ago, and they had been doing it long before that.
On Friday, all the veteran residents were bundled up and moved outside for the traditional 21-gun salute, playing of Taps, a prayer by chaplain Dave Kusmierczak and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Previous to arriving at Orchard Manor, the Honor Guard participated in ceremonies earlier that morning at the Veterans’ National Cemetery in Pembroke, Freas said.
Two veterans who appreciated the ceremony and being recognized for their service were Doug Herman, an Army veteran and member of the National Guard, and Jack Monell, a 60-year member of the Army National Guard, who served in the Advanced Infantry.
All veterans residing at Orchard Manor received patriotic bracelets and were treated to coffee and donuts donated by Tops Friendly Market.
Following recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, one veteran tearfully shouted, “God Bless America.”
Orchard Manor’s activities director Jamie Murphy each year creates a Wall of Honor in the Activities Room for all the veterans in residence.
Provided photo: A member of the American Legion/VFW Honor Guard shakes hands with veteran Kenny Draper during Veterans’ Day ceremonies at Orchard Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 11 November 2023 at 8:23 am
Amy Dennis Wood and her brother Scot Dennis are shown with one of the buckets they provide residents who sign up for their new composting business. Wood’s dog Luci, a Bernese Mountain dog, is being trained to pull carts of compost as the new composting business grows.
MEDINA – Amy Dennis Wood and her brother Scot Dennis want to make a positive environmental impact with the new business they started in the spring.
Curbside Organic Recycling was launched in June by the siblings on the 1860s farm left to them by their parents at 3031 Culvert Rd. They took over as co-owners in 2013.
The farm has been in the Dennis family since 1940, first owned by Amy and Scot’s grandparents, and then their parents. The last two generations spent their last years there caring for loved ones.
Amy and Scot both have full time jobs, Scot as a senior reimbursement analyst for Rochester Regional Health and Amy an archeologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Scot lives in Rochester, but spends a day a month on the farm, or more often when needed. Scot manages the finances and bookwork, while Amy does the actual farm work.
“We each play to our individual strengths,” Amy said.
The farm has 70 acres, including 10 acres of woods. They rent a large portion to a local farmer, but have plans for the rest. One thing they both wanted to do was grow rare and lesser known fruits, and they have already planted elderberries, saskatoons (similar to Juneberries) and quince trees.
Amy said she found a copy of a 1900s newspaper which had an article on Ransom Hoag, the farmer and original owner, who grew quinces.
“We wanted to bring back things into the market that haven’t been available locally,” Amy said.
Scot Dennis empties a bucket onto the composting pile at the farm he and his sister Amy Dennis Wood own on Culvert Road.
The siblings hope the composting business will grow to the point they will have enough to use on the farm and have some left to sell. Amy said at first most of it will go on their farm, as the land there is clay.
They said composting is not a new thing.
“I’ve spent time in Europe and they have compostable bins there,” Scot said. “All the big cities, including Buffalo and Rochester have it.”
Amy has lived in Brattleboro, Mass., and they require composting, she said.
“Composting is about diverting material from the landfills,” Amy said. “At least 40 percent of what we throw away can be composted. This is something we can offer the community and help the environment.”
The business was relatively inexpensive to start, the siblings said. All they needed was a supply of buckets with lids. The only work involved is collecting the buckets, emptying them and then washing out the buckets. They are looking into compostable bags, which will eliminate the cleaning process.
The government requires they keep track of the amount of compost they collect, to assure they don’t get too big. They have already collected 500 pounds of compost.
They are promoting their business on Facebook and at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market, where they’ve been warmly received. They are currently serving customers in Medina, Albion, Knowlesville and Lyndonville, and want to include Middleport.
A customer who signs up pays a start-up fee, and then $10 a month for one pick-up or $15 for two pick-ups a month. A customer can cancel any time.
Each bucket has instructions on the lid, listing what the best items to compost are (grass clippings, egg shells, vegetables, fruit, newspaper (nothing glossy) and coffee grounds. Among the things not to include are meat and bones.
To sign up, residents just call or text Amy at (585) 560-0711 or e-mail dennisfamilyfarmsllc@proton.me. As she works during the day, Amy said customers can leave a message and she will return their call.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 10 November 2023 at 9:27 pm
MEDINA – The 15th annual Parade of Lights is shaping up to be one of the best to date, with more than 40 floats expected and four marching bands.
Todd Bensley has been named grand marshal of the Parade of Lights on Nov. 25 in Medina.
Parade chairman Jim Hancock and committee member David Stacey have announced the grand marshal for this year’s parade will be Todd Bensley, a Medina native and history teacher at Medina High School.
“Our planning committee was unanimous in our selection of Todd,” Hancock said. “We always try to select a local person who has contributed to our community, and Todd certainly fits the bill.”
Bensley is an active participant in many community events and activities. He has coached T-ball and powder puff, is former president of the Medina Historical Society, former board member of Lee-Whedon Library, former planning board and village board member and author of “Boxwood Cemetery: Where the Past is Present,” with proceeds going to the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery.
Currently, Bensley is village historian, and board member of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery. He co-chairs Boxwood at Night, conducts gravestone cleaning seminars, supervises student volunteers to help clean the cemetery, conducts tours, assists in resetting headstones, helps with chapel renovations, assists with other events in the cemetery and is liaison to the Boxwood Cemetery Commission.
In addition, he volunteers at the Visitors’ Center in downtown Medina, is a member of the steering committee for renovations at Lee-Whedon Library and coordinates an annual Community Service Fair to connect high school students with local non-profit organizations.
“When Jim Hancock asked me to the grand marshal, I was shocked,” Bensley said. “It is such a great honor to be selected. Of course, none of it would be possible without the support of my family, especially my wife Nicole.”
Bensley continued to say he loves the Medina community and is very proud of all they have accomplished in the last couple of decades.
“There are so many other people who are deserving of this honor, and I am humbled to be chosen as this year’s grand marshal,” he said.
As in previous years, the parade will immediately follow fireworks over downtown at 5:45 p.m. by Young Explosives of Rochester.
Hancock said there is still time to enter a float by logging on to their website at www.christmasinmedina.com.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2023 at 4:12 pm
List is $3 million over $4.5 million grant; State officials now will decide which projects get funded
Kimberly Baptiste of the Bergmann engineering, architecture and planning firm led the committee in discussing potential projects for the NY Forward program, including upgrades to the Canal Village Farmers’ Market on West Center Street. The Farmers’ Market project is recommended by the committee for $675,000 of the NY Forward grant.
MEDINA – A local planning committee reviewing projects for Medina’s $4.5 million New York Forward grant has agreed on a list of projects that are about $3 million over the funding limit of the program. State officials will have the ultimate say in picking the projects and the funding amount.
Medina had nearly $9 million in funding requests. It removed five projects with a combined request level of $1.3 million. That brings the total funding requests to $7,525,000.
The projects that were removed from NY Forward consideration are still strong proposals and should be included for other funding initiatives in the near future, Kimberly Baptiste of the Bergmann firm, advised the committee from Medina during a meeting on Oct. 24.
“Those that weren’t included could be pipeline projects in a strategic investment plan for other grants,” Baptiste said.
The Medina committee reviewed the goals set by the state for the NY Forward program, and noted that more housing is a top priority of the program.
The group decided to remove these projects from NY Forward:
Avanti Pizza Upper Floors Renovation at 500 Main St. ($600,000 request) – This project would renovate the upper floors of the Avanti Pizza building into a mix of residential and office space.
Medina Theatre Renovations at 601-611 Main St. ($150,000 request) – This project would be the first phase of a larger effort to upgrade the Medina Theatre. This project would renovate the existing marquee and facade, make cosmetic improvements to the theatre, and prep the building for a future restaurant and conference space.
433 Main Street Apartment Creation ($300,000 request) – This project would create a new two-bedroom apartment on the upper floors of the building at 433 Main Street.
Bunkhaus Renovations at 511 West Ave. ($100,000 request) – This project would renovate the Bunkhaus Hostel to create 4 one-bedroom apartments targeted for short- and long-term rental housing for professionals, snowboards, and/or tourists.
Canal Basin Park Gateway Signage ($150,000) – This project will install two large, gateway signs at the Mill Street entrance to the Canal Basin (off Main Street) and at the East Center Street alleyway entrance to the basin.
There are 17 projects recommended for potential NY Forward funding. Baptiste and Bergmann staff worked with the applicants for precise numbers on the cost of their projects, and the funding requests.
Here are the projects and the funding amounts recommended by the local planning committee:
Renovate and Expand the Canal Village Farmer’s Market ($675,000) – This project will update the existing farmer’s market building at 127 West Center Street, construct a pole barn for additional vendor space, and create a green space on site.
Create the Canal View Bar/Tasting Area Overlooking the Erie Canal ($120,000) – This project will create a bar/serving area with an exterior patio/deck overlooking the Canal Basin in the rear of the Modern Mercantile building at 135 East Center St.
Renovate the Upper Floor Apartments at 409-413 Main Street ($370,000) – This project will renovate the second floor at 409-413 Main Street into 3 one-bedroom apartments and 1 two-bedroom apartment.
Make the Community Space at the Knights of Columbus ADA Accessible ($130,000) – This project will install a lift to make the second floor event space at the Knights of Columbus building ADA accessible and will also improve the front facade.
Create Apartments and Renovate the Commercial Spaces at 424 Main St. ($225,000) – This project will build out 4 market-rate apartments on the second and third floors of 424 Main Street, in addition to updating the ground floor commercial spaces and the front facade.
Create a Community Arts and Crafts Workshop and Gift Store ($175,000) – This project will create an arts and crafts workshop at 509 Main Street that is open to the community with a gift store inside.
Create a Community Space and Apartment at Author’s Note Bookstore ($200,000) – This project will create a two-bedroom apartment at 519 Main Street in addition to a small community meeting space that will be open to the public.
Create an Apartment and Renovate the Commercial Storefront at 521 Main St. ($120,000) –This project will convert the second floor commercial space at 521 Main Street into an apartment unit and will also upgrade the front facade.
Redevelop the Walsh Hotel ($560,000) – This project will complete a larger project to convert the upper floors of the Walsh Hotel into 22 studio and one-bedroom apartments.
Create the Arenite Brewing Company on the Canal ($500,000) – This project will create a microbrewery with tasting room and outdoor seating overlooking the canal at 339 Main Street, complete with a rooftop solar installation.
Upgrade the Hart House Hotel ($500,000) – This project will upgrade the Hart House Hotel with new amenities including a spa, outdoor event space, gourmet gastropub, formal lobby with cafe space, and facade improvements.
Renovate and Expand the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library ($500,000) – This project is part of a larger project to expand the library with new and updated spaces including a children’s area, tutoring rooms, meeting rooms and a quiet room.
Implement Downtown Wayfinding Signage ($250,000) – This project will implement a system of directional, informational, and interpretive signage at key locations and destinations throughout downtown.
Improve Connectivity and Usability of the Downtown Public Parking Lot ($1,000,000) – This project will re-design the public parking lot behind Main Street to improve circulation, add parking spaces, and create safer connections for pedestrians to nearby destinations.
Enhance the East Center Street Alleyway Connection ($400,000) – This project will refresh the alleyway that connects the public parking lot across East Center Street to the Canal Basin with pavement designs, landscaping, lighting and signage.
Transform Canal Basin Park into a Waterfront Gateway ($1,500,000) – This project will transform the parking lot along the canal into a “waterfront gateway” complete with green space, seating areas and boater/cyclist amenities.
Create a Small Project Grant Fund ($300,000) – This project will create a pool of funding to support business and property owners with smaller-scale projects like facade improvements, window replacement, and other repairs.
The list will now be submitted to the state for its review with a funding announcement expected in the spring for $4.5 million total.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2023 at 10:46 am
MEDINA – The school for about a dozen years has had a single bus run in the morning and afternoon, with an expanded walk zone – 2 miles for students in middle and high school, and 1 mile for those in elementary school.
The district made that decision during a budget crisis when the state made steep cuts to school districts in 2010-11.
The district is in a stronger financial position now, and is discussing whether to return to two bus runs in the morning and afternoon, said Dr. Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.
School leaders expect to discuss the financial implications of two bus runs during the budget process for 2024-25. Kruzynski and the district officials want to hear from the community about whether to go back to a bus run that would arrive at school around 7:30, with a second run for elementary students around 8:30 a.m. In the afternoon, the two runs would also be staggered about an hour apart.
“We’re just exploring,” Kruzynski said today.
He has been concerned that about a third of Medina’s students are in the walk zone and need to either get a ride to school or travel by foot (or bike).
“It’s a lot for a 5-year-old to walk almost a mile to school,” he said. “From an equity standpoint, why are we busing some students, but not all?”
Not all of the sidewalks in the village are in great shape or shoveled. That can cause some of the kids to venture into the streets, posing a safety concern, Kruzynski said.
The district also tends to be more cautious in calling snow days because so many students are walking to school. Kruzynski keeps a close watch on the wind chill and will close school if it’s too cold, even if there isn’t any snow in the forecast.
Medina, if it went to two bus runs, would no longer have a walk zone and everyone could ride the bus. The district wouldn’t have to add buses if the change was made.
The online survey (click here) closes at the end of this week. Medina is asking families how their children currently get to school – bus, a ride or by walking – and if they support two bus runs where everyone could be on a bus.
Kruzynski said switching to two bus runs, with an hour gap from older to younger students, could pose a childcare hardship for some households.
“We’ll see where the survey goes,” Kruzynski said. “We’re very interested in talking about this.”
MEDINA – The state Office for Aging has honored a Medina woman as one of 91 senior citizens throughout the state recognized for their volunteer service in their communities.
Barbara Filipiak
Barbara Filipiak is a dedicated volunteer who devotes countless hours to various organizations. When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, she volunteered for the Orleans and Genesee County Public Health Department, providing vital assistance with essential supplies. She worked at every vaccination clinic, and her exceptional efficiency and organizational skills made her the first to step up when help was needed.
Her volunteer work also includes the Medina Area Association of Churches (MAC Thrift Store and Emergency Food Pantry). She also takes on numerous volunteer responsibilities within Medina Holy Trinity Parish and holds several officer roles within the Catholic Daughters organization.
She serves on the Board of Directors for the Medina Historical Society and is an active member of the Cobblestone Society, Sandstone Society, and the Friends of the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. At the local Alpha Theta Chapter of the Woman’s Educator Society, she has held positions such as president, treasurer, and rules committee member over the years, making a significant impact both locally and at the state level.
Born in Eden, New York, she is the oldest of six siblings. She attended Immaculate Academy in Hamburg, followed by D’Youville College in Buffalo, and she completed her education at SUNY Brockport. She embarked on her teaching career in Medina in September 1972, dedicating herself to educating third- and fourth-graders for 33 years before retiring in June 2005.
Filipiak and the other honorees were celebrated during a livestream event on Nov. 3. The award-winners were nominated by New York’s 59 county Offices for the Aging and their partners who identified older adults making substantial contributions in their communities through volunteering and civic engagement.
“It is my distinct honor to recognize this year’s nominees who make the state a better place to live and age for all New Yorkers through their decades of volunteerism, civic engagement, and selflessness,” said Greg Olsen, director of the state Office for the Aging. “We often don’t think of older New Yorkers as an economic and social powerhouse, but that is exactly who they are, and it is our honor to recognize these contributions and showcase their incredible value. I also thank our 59 county offices for the aging and the Association on Aging in New York for their daily efforts serving millions of older New Yorkers.”
Provided photos: Todd Eick, Medina’s agri-science teacher and FFA advisor, attended an agriculture conference in Iowa.
DES MOINES, IOWA – Outstanding educators from 18 states and four countries convened in Iowa last month to participate in a unique professional development experience called the Global Guides program.
Hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation and the Global Teach Ag Network, the Global Guides brought educators together for conversations and innovative learning
opportunities with scientists, policymakers, and hunger fighters from around the world.
Todd Eick, agri-science educator at Medina, was selected to join the elite program that included 40 hours of immersive programming as part of the World Food Prize and the Norman E Borlaug International Dialogue, the premier global agriculture and food security convening.
Eick engaged digitally for two months of preparation before attending the Borlaug Dialogue, and will continue applying concepts in their communities over the next five months through
designing and implementing interdisciplinary global learning projects as an individual or team with other Global Guides.
“Words cannot begin to convey the experience,” Eick said. “It was personally and professionally one of the most powerful and inspiring opportunities I’ve had in my career as an educator. The global network and direct connections I was able to make will bring a new level of global ag education to our program that we have never had.”
During the Borlaug Dialogue, Eick and other Global Guides interacted with experts in food security, including 2023 World Food Prize Laureate Heidi Kühn, author Roger Thurow, Australia’s Action For Agriculture Founder Lynne Strong, 2022 World Food Prize Laureate Dr. Cynthia Rozensweig, and 2018 World Food Prize Laureate Dr. Lawrence Haddad.
The World Food Prize Global Guides program was facilitated by faculty from the Global Teach Ag Network including Daniel Foster, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Pennsylvania State University, Melanie Miller Foster, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the Pennsylvania State University, OP McCubbins, Associate Professor at Mississippi State University, and Tobin Redwine, Ph.D., Learning Strategist at Vivayic, Inc.
Foster, co-founder of the Global Teach Ag Network, explained the impact and importance of the Global Guides program.
“Educators are an invaluable component of fighting global food insecurity,” Foster said. “By situating educators as part of the conversation among scientists and world leaders, we bring global action to local contexts and see direct change.”
Global guides including Todd Eick (fourth from the left). Standing behind Eick in the white suit is Heidi Kuhn, this year’s winning laureate. Ms. Kuhn’s efforts to turn minefields into vineyards through her Roots for Peace non-profit earned her the 2023 World Food Prize Laureate sculpture and $500,000 in prize money.
