MEDINA – The Medina Historical Society will hold its annual “Show and Tell” meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 29 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

Historical Society members and non-members are invited to bring along their treasures from the past to share at this popular program.

There are no rigid criteria, but items pertaining to Medina history are of special interest. Items shared at the 2017 meeting included: a unique mouse-trap, an early hair dryer and curling iron, a glass medicine bottle from the Opera House Pharmacy dated 1898, a H. Burton hand-made plate, a Dye Cold Storage poster, a slipper chair for rocking a baby, glass negatives of the Erie Canal, postcards, a Civil War pin, World War I military items and a diphtheria quarantine sign.

“This is such a fun evening,” said Reinhard Rogowski, president of the Historical Society. “There are surprises every year and always a few mystery items. Between us, we can even solve some of those mysteries. We look forward to welcoming some new members.”

The library is located at 620 West Ave., Medina.

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, in partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation, is offering a limited number sponsorships up to $500 for events or festivals taking place in the National Heritage Corridor from May through November 2018.

Qualifying events must promote or celebrate the distinctive historic, cultural, scenic, or recreational assets of the canal corridor.

Eligible applicants include municipalities and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. Applications are due by February 16.

The bicentennial period (1817-1825) of the canal system continues in 2018, which also marks the centennial of the currently operating NYS Canal System (Barge Canal). Events that mark these anniversaries will be given priority consideration for funding.

“We  are also placing increasing emphasis on recreational experiences that help people explore and enjoy the waterway, Canalway Trail, and surrounding communities and heritage assets,” the Heritage Corridor said in a news release. “Cycling, paddling, adaptive sports, hiking/walking events will be given priority consideration.”

For more information on the grants, including an application, click here.

Provided photo

LYNDONVILLE – The school district and the public library are partnering on a storytelling workshop series. Rick Merritt, the workshop instructor, is pictured with fourth-graders when the series kicked off on Jan. 2 at Yates Community Library. Merritt combines science and activities in the workshops. His other workshops will be at classrooms at the school.

He has been a frequent presenter at the library as part of a summer reading challenge.

‘We’re trying to prevent kids from using the drugs that are killing people.’

Two school districts have increased the presence of prevention educators from the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Lyndonville and Medina both have GCASA staff in school buildings at least a day a week this school year. Diana Fulcomer has been working out of Lyndonville and Tracy Zakes has been connecting with Medina students.

“It’s been a great program,” said Jason Smith, superintendent of Lyndonville Central School. “I appreciate the partnership with GCASA.”

Fulcomer and Zakes have age-specific programs, as well as workshops for parents.

The educators teach students about the dangers of addictive substances. Fulcomer in some of her presentations focuses on making healthy choices, which includes getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods and not spending too much time on social media.

Smith said he supports the expanded message – coping skills and making good choices.

“If the students are having issues with anxiety, we don’t want them turning to substances,” he said.

Lyndonville and Medina are both paying GCASA $3,500 this school year to have a prevention educator work out of the district.

Mark Kruzynski, Medina superintendent, said Zakes spends at least a day a week at the district. She meets with at-risk high schoolers and other students. She starts with students as young as third grade, teaching communication skills to those elementary students and urging them not to express their anger and frustration through violence.

“It’s going very well,” Kruzynski said about the partnership with GCASA. “Not only do we have the opioid epidemic, but kids today are exposed to so many things.”

Zakes some days spends a solid workday in the district, and other days might only be there a short time. Zakes has been a big asset in helping the district educate students about the dangers of drugs, he said.

“We’re trying to prevent kids from using the drugs that are killing people,” Kruzynski said.

LYNDONVILLE – The Leo Club at Lyndonville Central School welcomes the community to drop off pet supplies at the main office of the school from Jan. 16-31. The school is located at 25 Housel Ave.

The supplies will be delivered to the Orleans County Animal Shelter, where students will also spend time with some of the cats and dogs at the shelter, 4125 Oak Orchard Rd., Albion.

The Leo Club welcomes used and new supplies. For more information, contact Aimee Chaffee at (585)765-2251 ext. 3143 or achaffee@lcsdk12.org.

Positions include mayors in Albion and Medina

Three villages in Orleans County will have elections on March 20. The positions on the ballot include the mayoral posts in Albion and Medina.

Albion has three positions up for election. Mayor Dean London has said he doesn’t intend to seek re-election. Trustees Eileen Banker and Stan Farone also have their trustee spots on the ballot. The Republican and Democratic parties will hold caucuses to nominate candidates. The mayor and trustees are all four-year terms.

In Medina, Mayor Mike Sidari and Trustees Marguerite Sherman and Tim Elliott have their positions on the ballot. The terms are for two years. Residents need to have petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters in the village to be on the ballot. The deadline for submitting petitions to the Village Office’s is Feb. 13.

Lyndonville only has one position up for election. It’s to fill a one-year term as trustee on the Village Board.

Holley is the other village in Orleans County. Holley holds its elections in June.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Icicles hang off a building on Main Street in Elba this morning when the temperature was about 10 degrees.

The cold temperatures will persist this week with most days not getting above freezing, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

Today is forecast for a high of 16, followed by highs of 22 on Monday (Martin Luther King Day), 26 on Tuesday, 21 on Wednesday, 26 on Thursday, 33 on Friday and 40 on Saturday.

The snow storm from Friday through Saturday dropped 9 inches on Holley and 8.2 inches on Medina, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo. Penfield had the most snow, 16 inches, among the neighboring counties.

BARRE – The retirement party Mark Chamberlain is now set for Saturday, Jan. 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Barre Town Hall.

The celebration was planned for last Saturday but was cancelled due to the temperatures at about 0 degrees.

Chamberlain, a retired chemistry teacher at Albion Central School, served as Barre town supervisor following his career as a teacher.

He was influential in expanding and modernizing the town hall, creating new water districts, and developing a new town park on Route 98.

Chamberlain didn’t seek re-election in November. Sean Pogue won a three-way race for town supervisor and took office on Jan. 1.

RIDGEWAY – Firefighters have been dispatched to 3694 Fruit Ave. for a chimney fire. The call went out at 8:36 a.m.

UPDATE at 11:15 a.m.: Dispatch said the fire was limited to the chimney and firefighters are cleared from the scene.

KENDALL – The school district will host an “Evening of Healing” on Tuesday at the Kendall Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria. The event will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and is not limited to those in the Kendall School District.

An Evening of Healing is a collaborative effort between state, local leaders and the Kendall Central School District to promote safety and wellness. It is appropriate for ages 12 to adult. Childcare will be available on site.

The Evening of Healing will provide an opportunity for area residents to come together in conversation and support in an effort to learn positive ways to cope with sudden traumatic loss and foster resiliency and mental wellness.

The event includes a table discussion enabling participants to gain knowledge of local resources and support and how to support oneself or others who may be struggling with the challenges associated with sudden loss of a loved one or mental health issues.

Topics discussed will include loss from suicide and unexpected loss, such as from accidents and unforeseen health issues, as well as mental health.

Julie Christensen, the school district superintendent, said the goal of the evening is to promote healing and resiliency. An opportunity will exist before and after the panel presentation for people to visit and familiarize themselves with available resources.

Pre-registration is preferred but not required. Refreshments will be served.

To pre-register call the Kendall Central School District Office at 659-2741, or email your intent to webmaster@kendallschools.org.

MEDINA – The Orleans Economic Development Agency on Friday approved about $300,000 in incentives to help facilitate an expansion at Takeform Architectural Graphics.

The EDA board of directors also agreed to sell ¾ of an acre of vacant land to Takeform for $7,500. That land is needed for the 15,500-square-foot expansion and for a parking lot with 40 spaces.

Takeform is doing the expansion behind its current building at 11601 Maple Ridge Rd. The company expects to add 50 full-time jobs over the next three years.

The company currently has 150 employees. That is a significant increase from the nine workers when Takeform started in 2003.

The company will add full-time employees in engineering, graphic design, sales, customer service, project management, machining, fabrication, engraving and assembly. Jim Whipple, the EDA chief executive officer, said the positions will pay an average of $43,000 annually.

Takeform designs and manufactures custom signage and graphics. The expansion will provide manufacturing and design space to accommodate a new business line – the design and printing of products such as custom wall coverings and window films.

Takeform is doing a $2.5 million expansion with a new building, equipment and furnishings. It won’t have to pay taxes on the addition the first year, with 10 percent of the taxes added each following year.

That 10-year PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) will save the company $222,735 in taxes over 10 years. Takeform will be paying $182,238 in taxes on the addition over the 10 years, which represents new tax revenues on land that is currently vacant.

The company also was approved for a $68,844 sales tax abatement. Takeform won’t have to pay the 8 percent sales tax on $860,552 in taxable purchases.

It also won’t have to pay the 1 percent mortgage tax on a $2.5 million mortgage, which will save the company $25,000.

Altogether, the EDA incentives add up to $316,579.

The company’s total investment with the expansion, salaries and benefits for the new employees over three years, and new taxes totals $20.2 million. Dividing that by the $316,579 in incentives shows a benefit/cost ratio of 63.7 to 1. That is more than three times the EDA’s target of 20 to 1 in a benefit/cost ratio, Whipple said.

The EDA board on Friday also approved a $120,000 loan to Takeform/Quorum Group from the EDA’s revolving loan fund account. That is to be paid back over five years at 75 percent of the prime interest rate, which would be 3.19 percent based on a 4.25 percent prime rate.

Provided photos

MEDINA – The Medina Lions Club recently held its Peace Poster contest. Elaina Huntington had the winning design. She is pictured with Lions Club members Jim Hancock (project chairman), left, and Vice President Billy Roman.

Each year for the past 15 years the Lions Club has partnered with the Wise Middle School in Medina to offer this program. Special recognition was given to art teacher Judy Light, who coordinates the contest for the Lions Club. Each winner was awarded a nice certificate and a cash prize.

Katelyn Hilobuk was runner-up in the contest. Katelyn and Elaina were recognized during Tuesday’s Lions Club meeting.

One of church’s early issues: opposition to pew rental system

“Overlooked Orleans” – Volume 4, Issue 2

ALBION – Nearly thirty years ago, an historic marker was installed on the corner of East State and Platt Streets in Albion to mark the location of the first Free Methodist Church. Installed in 1990 by the County Department of History to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the establishment of the church, the marker reads:

“The first Free Methodist Church in the denomination. Rev. Loren Stiles founded the congregation in 1859, Norman Revival in style it was dedicated May 18, 1860.”

The history of this particular congregation dates back to the pastorate of Rev. Benjamin Titus Roberts, who was appointed to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Albion in 1855. Upon his arrival, the congregation was the second-largest in the Genesee Conference with a membership of 285. After the completion of his second year at the pulpit, the numerical growth of the congregation was stagnant.

In August of 1857, a two-part article written by Roberts entitled “New School Methodism” appeared in the pages of the newly established Northern Independent. It was in this work that Roberts attacked the pew rental system of the church, a clear departure from “Old School Methodism.” He also placed emphasis on two theological errors in New School Methodism; placing good works in place of faith in Christ and equating justification with sanctification. This publication would ultimately lead to the expulsion of Roberts from the Genesee Conference.

Upon the removal of Roberts from the pulpit at Albion, Rev. Loren Stiles was sent to assume leadership of the congregation; Stiles remained at the pulpit until his expulsion from the Genesee Conference in 1859. F. W. Conable claimed that Rev. Stiles made the following statement, “There is a secession already from the church; the regency party are the secessionists. Of this class there are only a few in Albion, and those shall be read out…they have placed a false interpretation on the Bible and on the Discipline, and this is why I and others are out of the Conference and the Church.” To Stiles, he and his followers were members of the true Methodist Episcopal Church.

Gilbert DeLaMatyr, a future U.S. Congressman from Indiana, was sent to replace Rev. Stiles at the pulpit of the Methodist Church in Albion, much to the disliking of the congregation. It is recorded that 185 members of the Methodist congregation agreed to pay Stiles $600 to return to Albion and assume the pulpit of a newly established congregational church. Accepting this role, Stiles and his congregants formed the Congregational Free Methodist Church, holding services in the “Old Academy” until the basement of the new church was finished. The dedication of the $11,000 building was held on May 18, 1860 in the presence of a full church (approx. 1,300 people). On November 8, 1860, Stiles and his congregation joined the newly established Free Methodist denomination.

In 1861, Stiles was elected to the position of Evangelist Missionary Secretary and Chairman, which forced him to leave Albion. He remained in that position until his untimely death in 1863 from typhoid fever. Upon his expulsion from the Genesee Conference in 1859, a former presiding elder remarked that the Conference lost its scholar and orator; B.T. Roberts was the scholar and Stiles the orator.

This photograph shows the Free Methodist Church at Albion as it appeared before a series of alterations occurred in 1899. In the spring of that year, the floor of the church was lowered six feet and a tower was added to the northwest corner of the building, effectively relocating the central doorway as seen in this image. A chapel on that corner was relocated to the south end, additional entrances added, and eighteen feet worth of space on the south side removed.

Facebook: Lorne Adrain of Rhode Island is pictured on Nov. 8 at Shay’s Shamrock in Albion, when he met many of the people who paint rocks with inspirational messages that placed around the community. Adrain rode his bike from Providence to Seattle.

ALBION – The Albion NY Rocks group, which has placed thousands of painted rocks with inspirational messages around the community, was notified on Thursday it won $1,000 for Albion’s Canal Concert series.

Lori Laine, leader of Albion NY Rocks, posted a video on the Community Across America Facebook page on Nov. 28. That video was included in Community Across America’s “Video Clip Competition,” which offered $5,000 in prizes, with $2,000 the top award. Albion NY Rocks won the $1,000 second place prize. (There were also three $500 prizes and five for $100 each.)

Lorne Adrain started the competition. He launched the Community Across America as part of a bike ride from Seattle to Providence. Adrain was riding along the canal towpath when he stopped in Albion on Nov. 8 and met Laine and other volunteers who were painting rocks inside Shay’s Shamrock.

Adrain’s goal with the bike trip was to meet people who are making their communities better.

Laine said the $1,000 will give the village some additional funds for the concert series. She is hoping to have rock-painting parties during the concert series.

“Let’s rock the downtown,” she said.

ALBION – The Albion Village Board has been asked to approve two tax exemptions for veterans that would reduce property taxes for veterans.

If the exemptions were passed by the Village Board, other residents would see their taxes increase by 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed property, or $18 for a house assessed at $60,000.

Earl Schmidt, director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County, presented the data to the Village Board on Wednesday. Schmidt said all other villages and towns in the county provide tax exemptions for veterans. The Village of Albion is the only one that doesn’t Schmidt said.

He asked that the village pass a veterans’ exemption that would provide about 15 percent off village taxes. Schmidt said there are 179 veterans in the village that would be eligible for the exemption.

He also asked that the village pass an exemption for Cold War era veterans that provides about 10 percent off taxes. There are 13 veterans in the village that would be eligible for that benefit.

With both exemptions, municipalities have the option of deciding maximum exemption levels so the amount of the exemptions can vary.

Schmidt said the exemptions are a way of showing appreciation to veterans for their service and also could be used in marketing the community to attract more veterans as residents.

The village’s $17.76 tax rate is currently the highest in the county. Approving the exemptions would add another 30 cents to the tax rate.

Schmidt said another 30 cents for a $60,000 house is $18. “That’s the price of a large pizza,” he said.

The Village Board didn’t comment publicly on the request.