The Villages of Orleans wishes to extend our deepest gratitude to the kind-hearted individuals with RTS and the Village of Albion DPW for their assistance in getting our residents safely to and from the Strawberry Festival this past Friday.
While the weather may not have been ideal, our residents had an absolutely splendid outing in our community and thoroughly enjoyed speaking with DA candidates Susan Howard and John Sansone as many residents take part in voting.
Residents also went inside Brush Strokes and were able to purchase a take-home pottery kit. They visited vendors and went shopping for themselves and loved ones. Lastly, our residents enjoyed a variety of food, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade and no one could not pass up the delicious desserts being offered by Pretty Sweet Bakery and Wild Flour.
They could not stop talking about how amazing it was to see all of the festivities, shops, and of course the aroma of the cuisine. They all left with smiles and full bellies, and discussion of a return next year.
We are so very blessed, and thankful for our community, and the amazing members of RTS and the DPW! From our residents and staff, Thank You!!
Provided photos: Tommy Z, left, and Frank Grizanti are among the featured performers at blues concerts in Medina, which will be in its third season this year.
Posted 6 June 2024 at 5:43 pm
Press Release, Orleans Renaissance Group President Chris Busch
MEDINA – Blue Thursdays, the popular Medina summer music series, is returning for another run in 2024 with seven of the best blues bands in WNY. The Print Shop, in partnership with the Orleans Renaissance Group/medinaalive.com, will again produce the series.
The free summer blues concerts takes place Thursday evenings, June 20 through Aug. 8, at the State Street Park Pavilion in Medina. There will be no concert on Thursday, July 4.
The Print Shop of Medina is the sole underwriter of the event and is the driving force behind the series. They have partnered with the Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc./medinaalive.com in booking top regional blues talent from the Buffalo area.
Headlining the much-anticipated opening night of the series is the Pat Harrington Trio, featuring Pat Harrington, lead guitarist with Grammy Nominated and Multi-Blues Music Award winning band Victor Wainwright & The Train. That performance is set for June 20 at 6 p.m.
The series, conceived several years ago, is the brainchild of The Print Shop and ORG.
“We decided that it was time we put our expertise and financial backing to work here in Medina to benefit the community,” said Ken Daluisio, owner/operator of The Print Shop. “Blue Thursdays brings an average of 800 people from across WNY to Medina every Thursday night, many of them new to Medina. These past two years, we’ve learned that many of those people have returned on other days to explore what Medina has to offer. The positive effects of this event on the community have been absolutely great in so many ways.”
The Print Shop is a full service, commercial printing, publishing and graphic arts operation in Medina. ORG, a local arts and culture not-for-profit, has been promoting and executing world-class music events locally since the late 1990s.
“The partnership has produced a premier music event featuring outstanding bands and professional promotion,” Daluisio said. “It’s a first-class event all the way and we’re very proud of what we’ve accomplished.”
The artists booked for the event are highly acclaimed, award-winning blues bands from the Buffalo area.
“We’ve booked top-tier spectacular talent that people may not have had a chance to see anywhere locally,” Busch said. “Many of these artists have been playing for years alongside some of the greatest names in the business. They’re hall-of-famers, nationally-renowned and award-winning musicians, songwriters and recording artists. We’re incredibly excited to bring bands of this caliber to Medina.”
The 2024 Blue Thursdays line-up includes:
June 20: The Pat Harrington Trio, featuring Pat Harrington
June 27: Dave Viterna Group
July 11: Nickel City Blues Band
July 18: Maria Aurigema
July 25: Thurman Brothers Band
Aug. 1: Frank Grizanti Band
Aug. 8: Tommy Z Band
“We want to give a big shout out to Dave Viterna who at the outset of this project three years ago, opened the doors to many of these bands for us,” Busch said. “Dave was instrumental in helping us get Blue Thursdays off the ground. He’s a music legend in Medina and WNY, and the series just wouldn’t be right without DVG on stage.”
All the concerts are free and open to the public. Shows run from 6 to 8 p.m. There are no rain dates.
Concert goers will be able to enjoy a wide variety of food by Cusimano’s Pizzeria, Parker’s Pit BBQ and Greenlief’s On The Go. Refreshments will again provided by Leonard Oakes Estate Winery and 810 Meadworks, along with Blue Groove Coffee.
“For gig updates, any cancellations and venue information, people should go primarily to the ‘Blue Thursdays Medina’ Facebook page,” Busch said. “Further information and details can also be found on the web at bluethursdays.com and from weekly ads on The Orleans Hub.”
File photo by Tom Rivers: Maison Albion has ornaments made in the likeness of the building at 13800 County House Rd., formerly known as The Pillars.
ALBION – Maison Albion, the luxurious events venue housed in a historic Victorian mansion, today announced the launch of its first Artist in Residence program.
Beginning Feb. 1 through March 29, 2025, the program will provide an unparalleled creative retreat for professional artists across a variety of disciplines.
The Artist in Residence program welcomes applications from professional and emerging artists within literature, visual arts, music composition, performance art, film, and more. In exchange for the invaluable creative time, artists will be requested to gift one original piece of work inspired by their experience at Maison Albion.
“We are honored to open the exceptional Maison Albion estate as a creative sanctuary for artists from all nations and backgrounds,” said Kerri Glover, Maison Albion’s owner. “This program reflects our deep respect for the arts and our commitment to fostering an environment where creative brilliance can flourish.”
As long-standing patrons of the arts, the owners of Maison Albion are thrilled to support the creative process by offering residencies that provide world-class accommodations, exceptional amenities, and a richly inspiring environment. Selected artists will enjoy a transformative experience with:
1 to 3 week residency options in well-appointed double rooms
Complimentary housekeeping services and grocery provisions
24/7 access to a historic mansion, 7 acres of gardens, an open studio/piano space
Full use of a screening room, billiards room, library and sitting rooms
Courtesy transportation from airports and train stations
Inclusive excellence remains a core value, and Maison Albion encourages applications from underrepresented groups. Prospective artists can find full details and apply online (click here) by Oct. 1, 2024. Questions may be directed to Kerri Glover at bonjour@maisonalbion.com.
About Maison Albion
Maison Albion is a 1878 mansion features a breathtaking ballroom and parklike grounds reminiscent of a late 19th century French estate. Close to Buffalo, Rochester, Toronto, and New York City, but located in the quaintest town of Albion, New York, you will find the most magical wedding and event venue. With elegant interiors and lush gardens, the historic estate provides an exceptional backdrop for life’s most meaningful celebrations and creative pursuits.
BATAVIA – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today appointed Dr. Craig Lamb as president of Genesee Community College. Lamb’s appointment is effective Aug. 1. He succeeds Dr. James Sunser, who is retiring after 13 years as president.
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “After an extensive and thorough search for the president of Genesee Community College, we would like to congratulate Dr. Craig Lamb. He is no stranger to SUNY, serving at GCC since 2013. His incredible career championing higher education will serve him well as he leads the institution into a bright future.”
About Dr. Craig Lamb
Dr. Craig Lamb joined Genesee Community College in 2013 and currently serves as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
“It is a profound privilege to be selected as the next President of Genesee Community College,” Dr. Lamb said. “I am deeply thankful to those who have entrusted me with this role. For the past ten years, I have been honored to be part of the GCC community, and I am excited to lead our campus in our steadfast commitment to student success.”
Having held various leadership and administrative roles, Dr. Lamb is a believer in the transformative power of a high-quality, affordable, and accessible college education, especially for individuals who have been historically underrepresented and underserved. Dr. Lamb’s efforts are driven by his commitment to inclusivity, intellectual and social growth, shared governance, fiscal responsibility, and the development of life-long learners.
Dr. Lamb’s career has been dedicated to the public postsecondary educational sector, including previous positions at SUNY Empire State University, the University of Connecticut, and SUNY Plattsburgh. He has completed several professional development programs specifically focused on executive leadership within an ever-changing educational environment. Along with his professional and administrative roles, Dr. Lamb has taught a variety of college courses in face-to-face, hybrid, and online modalities for more than two decades.
Dr. Lamb earned his Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from the University at Albany, and his Master of Science in College and Agency Counseling from SUNY Plattsburgh.
Jacalyn Whiting, chair of the GCC Board of Trustees, said, “The Genesee Community College trustees are pleased to welcome Dr. Craig Lamb as our next president. Dr. Lamb brings extensive experience and leadership to this role, and we look forward to working closely with him in continuing our commitment to student success above all else.”
“Community colleges offer so much for the areas they serve, from workforce development and microcredentials for individuals seeking to upskill, to providing students with springboards from associate degrees to our bachelor’s degree programs,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “Having presidents who understand each campus and know what the communities need is crucial in fostering student success and upward mobility. I congratulate Dr. Lamb on his appointment and look forward to collaborating for the benefit of our students, faculty, and staff.”
Photos courtesy of Chris Busch: Black Button Distilling of Rochester will be appearing regularly at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market. On opening day at their summer location on West Center Street and West Avenue, the distillery sold out of their Bourbon Cream.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 June 2024 at 9:28 am
MEDINA – The ninth season of Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market’s summer season launched on Saturday with a big crowd at the summer location in downtown Medina.
“Our winter market had a great season, but the summer market season is what everyone looks forward to,” said Chris Busch, president of the Orleans Renaissance Group, which sponsors the market. “Opening day was amazing, with more than 400 visitors who gathered throughout the morning and early afternoon to enjoy the vendors, live music and food trucks. Everyone had a great time.”
The Orleans Renaissance Group or ORG, is a local 501(c)3 arts and culture organization, which operates Canal Village Farmers’ Market on their corner lot at West Center Street and West Avenue. Gail Miller is manager of the market.
“We had a fantastic opening day,” she said. “We have a lot packed into the Saturday market, with regular and rotating vendors, food trucks, kids’ scavenger hunts, crafters and community groups. The vibe was incredible. One of the best ever.”
Regular vendors were joined by new vendors this season, including Confection Connection Bakery and Wild Dahlia Designs selling fresh flowers.
Wineries, mead and spirits will make a return. Scheduled throughout the season are 810 Meadworks, the popular Black Button Distilling from Rochester and other area wineries, to be announced.
Food trucks and vendors will again be at the market.
“We have a great line-up of food trucks and there’s a nice variety for all tastes this year,” Miller said.
TN Smoke House from Middleport had customers lined up at the opening day of Canal Village Farmers’ Market, selling out of their brisket and pulled pork.
TN Smoke House, El Gran Burrito and NOLA Concessions were a huge hit opening day, with TN Smoke House selling out.
TN Smoke House was a much-anticipated new addition, Busch said.
“We’re so excited to welcome pit-master Scott Gypson and TN Smoke House to our lot at 127 West Center St.,” Miller said.
Gypson, a Middleport native, spent a number of years living in Tennessee where he learned and mastered the fine art of smoking meat, Busch said.
“Many told us throughout the day that his brisket and pulled pork were the best they’d ever had,” Busch said. “The line at his truck was non-stop.”
TN Smoke House will appear at numerous times during the season. In addition to weekly anchor food truck, El Gran Burrito, other food trucks will be rotating in and out throughout the season as well, including Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza from Albion and Greenlief’s on the Go from Middleport..
Another new food vendor is NOLA Confections, selling New Orleans style snow cones– a sweet made with a mound of fluffy shaved ice flavored with sweet syrups and topped or stuffed with a number of mix-ins and add-ons.
The ever-popular weekly Kid’s Scavenger Hunt also returned to the summer market. The scavenger hunt has again been generously sponsored by Maureen Hungerford.
Miller said that products available each Saturday are listed every week on the market’s Facebook page – Canal Village Farmers Market. Customers are encouraged to like and follow the page for up-to-date information on vendors, food trucks and general information on activities.
The market will again have multiple options for making sales transactions, including, cash, credit via Square, PayPal and Venmo, as well as also accepting Senior Coupons, WIC, SNAP and Fresh Connect Checks. Double Up Food Bucks to SNAP recipients will soon be available.
The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Miller can be reached at canalvillagemarket@gmail.com or via Facebook Messenger with questions or vendor inquiries.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 May 2024 at 9:50 am
Provided photos: At left are some of prizes for the Kid’s Scavenger Hunt. (Right) Live music will also return to the summer market, sponsored by Medina Lumber and Hardware. Performing here is local favorite Steve Novak.
MEDINA – A sure sign of summer is opening of the Canal Village Farmers’ Market in its original location at West Center Street and West Avenue.
The market will reopen there on Saturday, celebrating its ninth season in Medina, with many of the old favorite vendors and some new ones, as well.
“Our winter market had a great season in the former NAPA building, but we are definitely looking forward to opening day of the summer season,” said Chris Busch, president of Orleans Renaissance Group, which sponsors the market. “The Saturday morning gathering of vendors, musicians, food trucks and friends is a welcome sign of summer.”
“For the past two years, we’ve been immensely fortunate to have our general market operations funded by a generous donation by Takeform,” Busch said. “Bill Hungerford, president of Takeform, has been unhesitatingly generous and supportive of what we do here every summer. We can’t thank him enough for his considerate assistance in keeping Medina’s community farmer’s market a viable, on-going asset to our village.”
Gail Miller has been manager of the market since it opened.
“All of us are looking forward to a great summer season for the Canal Village Farmers’ Market,” Miller said. “We’ll have a lot packed into the Saturday market – regular and rotating vendors, food trucks, kids’ scavenger hunts, crafters and more. We’re also hoping to do some food demos, too. As always, weekly updates will be posted on our Facebook page.”
Returning anchor vendors include Baker Farms, Bower Family Farms, Human Farms, Heartland Organics, LockRidge Apiary, Gardner’s Gardens and Dot’s Pantry (every other week).
Regular featured products are local beef, pork, chicken, garlic, garlic powder, eggs, mushrooms, cheese, numerous fruit and vegetable options, cut flowers, jams, fudge, barbecue sauce, herb blends, honey and many other seasonal items.
Making a return with wine, mead and spirits will be 810 Meadworks, the popular Black Button Distilling and other wineries, to be announced.
A great lineup of food trucks will be at the market this season, Miller said.
“There’s a nice variety for all tastes this year,” she said. “Food trucks will rotate in and out throughout the season. In addition to the weekly anchor El Gran Burrito, the market will welcome two additional regular food trucks.”
Miller said they are incredibly excited to welcome pitmaster Scott Gypson of Gasport with his TN Smoke House and NOLA Confections, who will be selling New Orleans style snow cones.
“A native of Middleport, Scott Gypson spent a number of years living in Tennessee, where he learned and mastered the art of smoking meat,” Miller said. “He uses nothing but the highest quality meats and we are super psyched to have his BBQ with us. His business was recently featured in a Hub article.”
TN Smoke House will be at the market on opening day and will appear numerous times throughout the season.
Organic mushrooms from Heartland Organics are works of art and nutritious to eat, along with farm-fresh produce from Human Farms and Greenhouse. They are among the vendors at Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market.
NOLA Confections’ snow cones are a sweet made with a mound of fluffy shaved ice flavored with sweet syrups and topped or stuffed with a number of mix-ins or add-ons. They will be at the market every Saturday with the same schedule as El Gran Burrito.
Other food trucks scheduled to visit throughout the season are Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza from Albion and Greenlief’s on the Go from Middleport.
Artisans and crafters appearing at the market include Katlyn Koch Crochet, Lucky Violet Color Co., Laurels by the Creek and others still in the planning.
“We’ve been contacted by quite a few artisans and crafters, and some spots are still available,” Miller said. “There will be more to announce soon.”
Live music will again be featured at the market this summer, sponsored by Medina Lumber and Hardware.
“We are thrilled for the music sponsorship from Medina Lumber and Hardware,” Miller said. “The summer market just wouldn’t be complete without it. It’s become a tradition. We are so grateful owner Tom Snyder has stepped up with a generous sponsorship to feature and support local musicians at the market. It really creates a festive atmosphere and our patrons thoroughly enjoy it.”
The ever-popular kids’ scavenger hunt will also return to the summer market. According to Miller, this is a “must do” activity for many kids, and they play every week.
Kids play by answering five market-related scavenger hunt questions to win a prize from a huge box of cool kids’ stuff.
“It’s great fun, and we have as much fun watching the kids enjoy themselves as they do playing,” Miller said.
The scavenger hunt has again been sponsored by Maureen Hungerford.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mrs. Hungerford for her sponsorship,” Miller said. “The scavenger hunt is such a popular attraction and kids absolutely adore the big prize box, which, thanks to Mrs. Hungerford, is always stocked with cool kid stuff.”
Another popular feature is the Community Tent.
“The tent is for community organizations, such as tourism, veterans’ organizations, health and wellness organizations, Master Gardeners, charitable organizations and the like,” Miller said. “It gives these agencies a helpful outlet to share information about services, etc.”
Some appearances to watch for at the tent include the New York State Division of Veteran Services distributing Fresh Connect Checks to veterans on June 8. The Orleans County Veterans’ Association will be at the tent several weeks later to distribute them to veterans who could not make it on the 8th.
“Any community-oriented organizations who feel they might be appropriate for the market should contact us,” Miller said. “It’s a great opportunity to meet and greet the public.”
Miller said products available each Saturday are listed every week on the market’s Facebook page – Canal Village Farmers Market. Customers are encouraged to follow the page for up-to-date information.
The market will again have multiple options for making sales transactions.
“While most market transactions use cash, most all of our vendors now offer additional forms of payment, such as Square, PayPal and Venmo,” Miller said. “Payment options at the market have never been more convenient.”
The market also accepts Senior Coupons, WIC, SNAP and Fresh Connect Checks, and will soon be able to offer Double Up Food Bucks to SNAP recipients. More information will be available at the market manager’s tent.
“For SNAP/EBT users, each transaction makes the user eligible to receive the same amount spent in Fresh Connect Checks,” Miller said. “For example, a $20 SNAP purchase of market tokens means the user will receive $20 in Fresh Connect Checks, effectively doubling their purchase power.”
The market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday. Market manager Gail Miller can be reached at canalvillagemarket@gmail.com or via Facebook Messenger.
MEDINA – GO Art! is offering a free steel drum workshop for families or individuals at the YMCA in Medina at 306 Pearl St.
The workshops are run by Ted Canning, a percussionist and native of Cleveland, Ohio. His experience includes extensive freelance work in the northeast United States performing classical music, theater, big band and jazz.
The workshops will be held at 6 p.m. on May 31 and June 21 and are open to participants age 12 and older. The cost is free, and all materials (drums and mallets) will be provided. Pre-registration is highly encouraged. To register please email jfisher@goart.org.
Canning’s world music studies and performances include Ghanaian, Haitian, Brazilian and Senegalese drumming in a variety of ensembles. From his start as a lead pan player and founding member of the Pandemonium Steelband of Wesleyan University, Cannin now performs with the steel drum here in the US as well as in Europe and Latin America. He performs in numerous styles, from Caribbean dance music to new classical works.
He has performed as well with national champions “Phase II Pan Groove” in Trinidad and Tobago, and with numerous steelbands in Brooklyn, New York. Ted now leads the Panloco Steelband, the “Steel Alchemy” Community Steelband, and the RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) Steel Band.
He performs with the Trinidad and Tobago Steelband, and has performed with “pan” players from Trinidad and around the world. Since 1993, Ted has been devoted to arts in education as a lead teaching artist. He has presented performances, workshops and residencies in schools, colleges, and community settings throughout Western New York and Pennsylvania.
In addition to presentations of steelband and other world musics, Ted has used music to teach fundamental curriculum skills such as math, language skills, social studies, history and science, illuminating concepts to students and opening doors to multiple styles of learning.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Katie Oakes, left, Horticulture educator at Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Robert Batt, director, oversee the filling of container gardens for a new program that has been established to help people grow their own healthy food. (Right) Rahema Quddus, Jason Stearns and Devon Heveron, all employees of Takeform, volunteered on Friday for Orleans County United Way’s Day of Caring. They are shown here filling containers with wood chips for new container gardens at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 May 2024 at 1:09 pm
‘We want people to know growing their own food is possible, no matter where they live.’
KNOWLESVILLE – A new program being developed by Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension on the 4-H Fairgrounds is intended to show people it is simple to grow their own healthy, nutritious fruits and vegetables at home.
Cooperative Extension’s director Robert Batt came up with the idea and got approval for a New York State SNAP Ed Program Community Growers’ grant.
He secured white plastic barrels donated by Mayer Brothers in Barker, which were cut in half to form container gardens for the Horticulture to Health Program, a project of Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Working in conjunction with the Master Gardeners and other volunteers, Batt and Katie Oakes, horticulture educator, have been filling the barrels with wood chips, topsoil and llama manure.
The barrels will be planted with a variety of seeds and plants, including berries, potatoes, asparagus, herbs, garlic, beets, carrots, greens, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, kale and peppers, and more.
“We want to show people in those simple raised gardens they can grow healthy, nutritious food at home,” Batt said.
Peter Beach deposits a load of mulch to the pile, which was used to fill container gardens, which will be used at the fairgrounds and sent home with participants of their nutrition classes.
Thirty barrels will stay at the fairgrounds, where they will be placed on the lawn near the Trolley Building, along with a row of raised garden beds created by the Master Gardeners, called the Veggie Variety Trail. Theme of the trail is “Cultural Roots of Eastern Europe.”
“When we harvest what we are going to grow here, we will weigh it and donate it to a food program, such as the OK Kitchen in Albion, or our Cooperative Extension food distribution,” Batt said.
Batt said 20 more barrels will go to community partners in each of four towns and the Community Action store.
“We are looking for partners in Medina, Lyndonville and Kendall to take a barrel,” Batt said. “Anyone interested can call me at (585) 798-4265, Ext. 130.”
Anyone who participated in nutrition classes led by Marie Gabalski will receive a three-gallon raised container garden.
“We want people to know growing their own food is possible, no matter where they live,” Batt said. “We hope they will continue year after year. The whole point is to show how easy it is and anyone can do it.”
At the fairgrounds, Batt said they are going to plant what is easy to grow and productive.
Oakes has always wanted to plant peanuts and they will try them in one of the gardens.
“If you have a shelf full of canned food and a pandemic comes along or a blizzard when you can’t get to the store, you are not going to starve,” Batt said.
The barrels containing perennials will be moved under the pavilion for the winter and then rolled back out in the spring.
These raised garden beds form Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Veggie Variety Trail along the lawn south of the Trolley Building at the 4-H Fairgrounds. They were created by the Master Gardeners.
Kennan chronicled difficult conditions in Siberia in 1865-’67
Livia Hamel placed flowers on the grave of George Kennan in Boxwood Cemetery.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 4, No. 14
MEDINA – Livia Hamel travelled from Phoenix, Az. to Medina this weekend, specifically to honor the centenary of the death of her favorite author, George Kennan, who died on May 10, 1924.
The 23-year-old, who works at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory in Scottsdale, Az., was suitably dressed for the occasion in a striking Cossack outfit.
A voracious reader and history enthusiast, Livia’s introduction to George Kennan resulted from a reading of the Dostoyevsky novel, Crime and Punishment.
Intrigued by the novel’s references to Siberia, Livia sought out additional reading material on the region and chanced upon George Kennan’s two-volume book, Siberia and the Exile System. Published in 1891, Kennan’s vivid, heartfelt, and unforgettable descriptions of the horrors of the treatment of political exiles and prisoners in Siberia generated a public outcry in this country and established Kennan as the foremost advisor on Russian affairs.
Livia then read Kennan’s Tent Life in Siberia, his lively account of his 1865-67 journey across the wilds of Siberia. He had been hired by the Russian American Telegraph Company as part of a team sent to survey the possibility of connecting North America and Europe by means of an overland cable route.
Livia was captivated by Kennan’s zestful retelling of the team’s many hair-raising adventures. They experienced extreme temperatures (68 degrees below zero), traveled along steep knife-edged precipices during blinding storms, encountered a variety of nomadic tribes, and sampled alcohol made from fermented toadstools.
By then, Livia was well and truly a George Kennan fan. She read and researched as much as she possibly could. She admires the energy of his written work, and the sincerity of his involvement with the Siberian exiles.
Kennan was born in Norwalk, Ohio in 1845, but came to live in Medina in 1871 since he needed employment upon his return from his Russian adventure. His brother, John, was president of the Union Bank in Medina at the time and George was hired as a bank teller there.
Livia was intrigued to walk in Kennan’s footsteps, from the home at 200 West Center St., where Kennan first lived with his brother to the Union Bank (currently Avanti’s). She also visited Bent’s Opera House, where Kennan lectured on many occasions.
“Welkenna” at 127 West Center St., the home of George and Emeline Kennan, was photographed in the late 1930s when the Post Office was being built.
George also met the love of his life on this West Center Street block. Emeline Rathbone Weld lived but a stone’s throw from John Kennan’s home, on the now vacant lot on the southeast corner of West Center and West Avenue. They were married in 1879 and then divided their time between the Weld home in Medina, Washington, DC, where Kennan was employed by the Associated Press, and a summer home in Baddeck, Nova Scotia.
Throughout his career, Kennan maintained a hectic pace of traveling, lecturing, and writing. Ill-health and advancing age forced him to slow down and the couple retired in 1920 to their Medina home “Welkenna.”
George “suffered two strokes of apoplexy” in early May 1924 and died on May 10, aged 79. Reporting on his death, the Buffalo Times described him as a “noted lecturer, traveler and adventurer.” The Medina Tribune published some of the many telegrams of condolence sent to Emeline, including one from the National Institute of Arts and Letters which commended “his glorious and immortal achievements.”
The Kennan gravestone includes an emblem designed by George and Emeline.
Dr. David Fairchild of Washington, DC, a prominent botanist, and son-in-law of Alexander Graham Bell, traveled to Medina for the funeral. He selected a burial site at Boxwood Cemetery for Kennan that peacefully overlooks Glenwood Lake. The grave’s flat marker was all but unreadable in recent years, until it was cleaned in 2023 by Friends of Boxwood organizers, Nikki and Todd Bensley.
It is gratifying to see a continued interest in George Kennan. Additionally, Gregory J. Wallance published a new book on Kennan in 2023, Into Siberia: George Kennan’s Epic Journey Through the Brutal, Frozen Heart of Russia. Wallance is another unabashed admirer of Kennan’s writings and adventures.
Accompanied on this trip by her parents, Robert and Grace, (Kennan devotees-by-proxy), Livia visited the Medina Historical Society and the Medina Railroad Museum.
Livia continues with a visit to New York, where she plans to access the Kennan papers at the New York Public Library and tour the Guggenheim Museum.
Incidentally, George Kennan performed a reading from Crime and Punishment at the home of Mrs. D.A. Acer at 212 Park Ave. in Medina, on November 3, 1922.
*The books referred to in this article are available for loan, free of charge, from your favorite library.
Provided photos: The Royalton-Hartland FFA Chapter was a top performer in many of the competitions held during the state convention in Buffalo.
Posted 9 May 2024 at 9:36 am
Press Release, Royalton-Hartland FFA
MIDDLEPORT – Last week, 40 Royalton-Hartland FFA members and 4 Royalton-Hartland educators traveled to the Buffalo Convention Center for the 99th annual New York State FFA Convention & Expo.
The Roy-Hart group included 28 high school members, 12 middle school members, Matthew Sweeney (HS Agriculture Educator & FFA Advisor) Madeline Keyes (MS Agriculture Educator & Jr. FFA Co-Advisor), Susan McLaughlin (Jr. FFA Co-Advisor), and Shelly Budziszewski (Elementary Green Team Co-Advisor).
Members participated in agriculture industry tours, assisted with day-of-service activities, networked with college and career professionals, earned state degree and proficiency awards, and competed in a variety of Career Development Event (CDE) competitions.
The CDE competitions build on what is learned in agricultural education classes and encourage FFA members to put their knowledge into practice. These events are designed to help a member prepare for a career in agriculture by testing and challenging the student’s technical, leadership, interpersonal, and teamwork skills, as well as their knowledge of the subject matter.
The Milk Quality & Products CDE State Championship Team includes, from left: Phinn Cousins, Mackenzie Diamond, Caleb Verratti and Joshua Kennedy.
All 1st place CDE teams advance to the national level to represent New York State at the National FFA Convention & Expo held in Indianapolis, Indiana in October. Most 2nd place CDE teams advance to the regional level to represent New York State at “The Big E” (Eastern State Exposition) held in West Springfield, Massachusetts in September.
Results from the 2024 NYS FFA Convention:
STATE CHAMPION (1st Place) Milk Quality & Products CDE Team:
Mackenzie Diamond – 1st Place Individual
Joshua Kennedy – 2nd Place Individual
Cayla Burch – 6th Place Individual
Phinn Cousins – 8th Place Individual
Caleb Verratti
They will represent NYS FFA at the 2024 National FFA Convention.
The Farm & Agribusiness Management CDE State Championship Team includes, from left: Sean Labiak, Sophia Santella, Garrett Armenia and Vanessa Grant.
STATE CHAMPION (1st Place) Farm & Agribusiness Management CDE Team:
Vanessa Grant – 3rd Place Individual
Garrett Armenia – 7th Place Individual
Sophia Santella
Sean Labiak
They will represent NYS FFA at the 2024 National FFA Convention.
2nd Place Food Science & Technology CDE Team:
Phinn Cousins – 1st Place Individual
Nicholas Armenia – 4th Place Individual
Caleb Verratti – 6th Place Individual
Scott Clark
They will represent NYS FFA at the 2024 Eastern States Exposition (The Big E).
2nd Place Meats Evaluation & Technology CDE Team:
Sophia Santella – 3rd Place Individual
Nicholas Armenia – 4th Place Individual
Phinn Cousins
Mackenzie Diamond
They will represent NYS FFA at the 2024 Eastern States Exposition (The Big E).
2nd Place Forestry CDE Team:
Adam Yanicki – 4th Place Individual
Joshua Kennedy
Judson Heck
John Konstanty
Nathaniel Wolf
They will represent NYS FFA at the 2024 Eastern States Exposition (The Big E).
2nd Place Sr. People In Agriculture LDE:
Mackenzie Diamond
3rd Place Maple CDE Team:
Nathaniel Wolf
Joshua Kennedy
Judson Heck
John Konstanty
3rd Place Farm & Agribusiness Management CDE Team:
Camden VandenBosch – 10th Place Individual
Anthony Adams
Adam Yanicki
Cayla Burch
3rd Place Agricultural Sales CDE Team:
Garrett Armenia – 6th Place Individual
Caleb Verratti
Calvin Dent
Camden VandenBosch
Aquaculture CDE Team:
Anthony Adams – 4th Place Individual
New York State FFA Empire Degree (Highest FFA Degree in NYS):
Sophia Santella
Proficiency Awards:
Joshua Kennedy – Gold in Forest Management & Products; State winner – Advancing to National Convention
Caleb Verratti – Gold in Diversified Crop Production; State winner – Advancing to National Convention
Vanessa Grant – Silver in Agricultural Services
Cayla Burch – Bronze in Vegetable Production
Mackenzie Diamond – Bronze in Veterinary Science
Nicholas Armenia – Bronze in Agricultural Mechanics & Fabrication
In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, patients are active participants in determining what’s best for their own health. Central to this is the fact that patients have the ability to seek out the care they want, wherever they want it. This message centers around the essence of empowering the patient with information, rather than making the determination for them. With an array of convenient options at their disposal, patients now wield unprecedented control over their healthcare decisions.
There was a time when primary care physicians and the local hospital may have been the only place to receive medical care. Today, there are endless options and informational hubs. Telemedicine, urgent cares, walk-in clinics, and even online searches can provide information that patients previously lacked access to.
However, among the plethora of choices, navigating the healthcare system can be overwhelming for many patients. The abundance of options, coupled with varying levels of quality and affordability, underscores the importance of informed decision-making. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in guiding patients through this decision-making process, offering valuable insights and recommendations tailored to individual needs and preferences. While challenges still exist in our rural communities, efforts are constantly underway to remove those standing barriers. On occasion, these barriers are a product of perceptions versus realities. These barriers can be overcome simply by patients asking additional questions about where treatment might be available closer to home.
Today, patients are empowered to make several decisions about their health with the guidance of others. Specifically, here are some examples of decisions you, the patient, may have to make:
1. Choice of Healthcare Provider: Patients have the freedom to select their healthcare providers based on factors such as reputation, expertise, location, and personal preferences. Whether choosing a primary care physician, specialist, or alternative healthcare practitioner, patients can explore their options and make informed decisions about who will oversee their care.
2. Treatment Options: Patients have the right to participate in decisions about their treatment plans. Healthcare providers should educate patients about available treatment options, empowering them to make choices that align with their health goals.
3. Informed Consent: Before undergoing any medical procedure or intervention, patients have the right to receive comprehensive information about the proposed treatment, including its purpose, potential risks, alternatives, and expected outcomes. Informed consent ensures that patients fully understand the implications of their healthcare decisions and can provide consent voluntarily, based on their understanding and preferences.
4. Healthcare Settings: Patients can choose where they want to receive medical care, whether it’s a traditional hospital, outpatient clinic, urgent care center, or telemedicine platform. The availability of diverse healthcare settings allows patients to access care that is convenient and cost-effective.
5. Lifestyle Choices: Patients play a significant role in promoting their own health and well-being through lifestyle choices. This includes decisions related to diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management. By adopting healthy habits and adhering to recommended preventive measures, patients can proactively reduce their risk of developing chronic conditions and improve their overall quality of life.
At the heart of patient empowerment lies the principle of patient-centered care, which places the individual at the forefront of the healthcare experience. Patient-centered care prioritizes the unique needs, preferences, and values of each patient, recognizing that no two individuals are alike. By embracing diversity, equity, and inclusivity, healthcare providers can create a supportive and inclusive environment where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered to take an active role in their health.
Recognizing that health is influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors, healthcare providers are increasingly adopting a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of illness and promotes overall wellness. This includes initiatives such as preventive care, health education, and community outreach programs aimed at empowering patients to make healthier lifestyle choices and take control of their health.
In the end, you should be able to receive the care you want in a setting that is both comfortable and convenient for you. With several health systems available in Western New York, you have a variety of options where you might want to receive care. Moreover, you don’t need to stick to that system for all of your care. Just because you receive primary care services from one place, doesn’t mean you can’t receive laboratory/blood draws, imaging, or specialty services from another. Where you receive care, is your choice. The results of all of these tests and/or procedures will be available to you and your original physical/provider. By fostering open communication, shared decision-making, and a holistic approach to care, healthcare providers can empower patients to make informed choices that promote their well-being and enhance the overall quality of care.
Photos from Master Gardeners: This and other “NO Mow Grow Zone” signs are posted at the 4-H Fairgrounds in areas where the grounds manager will be mowing less frequently. The signs can be purchased from the Master Gardeners for $30 apiece.
Press Release, Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Sustainability Committee
KNOWLESVILLE – If you generally keep your lawn mowed, “No Mow May” however well intentioned, may not be the best for your lawn or for native pollinators.
The “No Mow May” movement began in the UK where their lawn composition and native pollinators are very different than here in WNY.
Different native pollinators forage at different times of the season and use a variety of flowers from trees, shrubs, garden and native plants, so your lawn of predominantly turf grasses may not be as helpful as we might think in May.
Mown grass thrives best when only 1/3 of its height is cut at a time, so letting it grow really tall and then cutting back to normal mowing height of 3-4 inches will send your lawn into shock!
Leaving your lawn to simply grow tall will not turn it magically into a meadow since turf grass does not automatically become wildflowers.
So instead of just not mowing during May when grass is growing at its fastest, consider mowing less throughout the year to reduce air pollution, increase biodiversity of plants and beneficial insects & pollinators, reducing noxious weeds, slowing rainwater run-off, and saving time & money!
One approach to less mowing is to create “Mow” & “NoMow” zones around your property. At the Orleans County CCE Fairgrounds we have established “area rugs” (versus “wall to wall carpet”) of Mow Zones around buildings and where activities are held regularly. These areas are mown at a height of 4 inches. Areas that are used for special events are only mowed prior to those events. The remaining “NoMow” areas are only cut once a year for hay production.
In your yard, you might be able to identify unused areas that can be planted to flowering native plants, a small meadow, or simply left unmowed and undisturbed (please check with your community’s codes).
The more native plantings areas we can provide, the more pollinators and beneficial insects like fireflies and ladybugs we will have. Less mowing by keeping your lawn at a 4 inch height will also allow any clover, self-heal, or other small lawn flowers to bloom for the very important pollinators!
Contact OCCCE for resources on creating a healthy, pollinator friendly yard & “No Mow Grow Zone” signs.
Renderings courtesy of Governor’s Office: A new visitors center about the Erie Canal is planned for Canalside in Buffalo. “Waterway of Change: A Complex Legacy of the Erie Canal” will share the story of the Erie Canal.
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
BUFFALO – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced plans for “Waterway of Change: A Complex Legacy of the Erie Canal,” a new Erie Canal bicentennial visitors experience at Canalside in Buffalo.
On May 7, after four years of construction in the Longshed, the replica Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will move out to make way for interior construction and installation of the new experience in the building. Work will be completed in time for next year’s Erie Canal Bicentennial.
“Waterway of Change will share the remarkable story of the Erie Canal and the area now known as Canalside with visitors,” Governor Hochul said. “As the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal approaches in 2025, this visitors experience will draw more people to Buffalo’s waterfront and help them connect to its history in a new and participative way.”
The concept for the 2,900-square-foot Longshed, located at Canalside on the historic western terminus of the Erie Canal, is to create a visitors experience that acts as a gathering space and starting point for visitors beginning their Bicentennial Commemoration journey. Plans include visitors’ experiences that will explain and detail how Canalside’s timeline, from its beginnings as traditional homeland of the Haudenosaunee to the development of a rural village at the time the Erie Canal opened in 1825, to a thriving port and shipping hub at the end of the 19th century.
Waterway of Change will include interactive multimedia exhibits for visitors of all ages and abilities, sharing Buffalo’s Erie Canal story in an inclusive and diverse way through the use of short films, touch screens, audio, historical artifacts and dramatic lighting. A series of outdoor interpretive exhibits will also be created at towpaths along and around the canals.
The 2,900-square-foot Longshed will include interactive multimedia exhibits for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Local Projects, a multi-disciplinary exhibition and media design firm based in New York City, has been working with the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation to create the visitor experiences for the Longshed and Canalside. Other partnerships include exhibit fabrication, with Buffalo’s Hadley Exhibits, and project development with the Buffalo History Museum.
The museum is providing interpretive content and historical guidance through all phases of the project. The collaboration includes consulting with a diverse group of community stakeholders and subject matter experts to ensure Buffalo’s Erie Canal story is shared with visitors from multiple perspectives and viewpoints.
Additionally, the content in the visitors’ experience will be utilized by schools to supplement their Erie Canal history curricula during visits to the Longshed. The content will meet New York State Education Department standards to broadly reach and resonate with Grade 4-12 educational experiences.
New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “On the eve of the Erie Canal’s 200-year anniversary milestone, we are thrilled to be working with Governor Hochul and our agency partners to bring to life Waterway of Change at Canalside in Buffalo. The Erie Canal holds a special significance in New York’s history, and this new interactive exhibit will tell the story of the canal and New York’s Queen City to visitors from near and far. Throughout the next two years and culminating with the 2025 World Canals Conference in Buffalo, the Canal Corporation is eager to celebrate the Erie Canal’s Bicentennial as we prepare for the next century of operations and opportunities along the entire New York State Canal System.”
While the anniversary of the bicentennial will likely be marked at events throughout New York State, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is planning a large celebration at Buffalo’s Canalside, which will also host the World Canals Conference in 2025. That event, first announced by Governor Hochul in June 2022, will bring together canal and inland waterway enthusiasts, professionals and scholars from around the world to learn about a variety of canal-related topics.
The event will highlight Buffalo’s transformed waterfront district, which has seen more than $400 million in new investment, including new hotels, a major sports arena, a children’s museum, retail shops and a re-created waterway on the footprint of the original Erie Canal in the Queen City. Today, the Buffalo waterfront attracts more than 1 million annual visitors.
In 2020, a wood frame structure at the northern end of the Central Wharf, now called the Longshed Building, was completed. The structure reflects on the history of the wharf location by incorporating elements from the Joy and Webster Storehouse that was situated on the site in the early 1800s. Work on the building, which incorporates select interior modifications to incorporate a small office, transient boater shower rooms, and public restrooms, is currently being completed.
Provided photo: Senator Rob Ortt and Regional Director of SUNY Brockport SBDC Lindsay Ward speak with local small business owners
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
KENDALL – Today, New York State Senator Rob Ortt hosted a small business roundtable in partnership with SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center Regional Director Lindsay Ward at The Grove 1848 in Kendall.
A variety of businesses and entrepreneurs were represented with backgrounds and interests including, realty, agriculture, retail, food service, healthcare, banking, among others attending the meeting to learn more about the successes and struggles of businesses around Orleans and Monroe counties.
“There is no better way to learn what business owners are dealing with, both good and bad, than hearing directly from them – I’d like to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to join us this morning for a lively discussion on what is and what is not working for Western New York’s Business Climate,” Ortt said. “I’m always thankful to be able to gather with and hear from local businesses and deliver the latest news out of Albany and how legislative changes could or will directly affect their livelihood and bottom line.”
Participants talked about many concerns over running a business that include increased taxes, failure to address issues with unemployment insurance, staffing shortages and utility costs. Strict rules and regulations governing many businesses from the local level up to the state level remain chief among the top concerns of small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Senator Ortt introduced and continues to champion the Red Tape Reduction Act (S869). This legislation would require that when a rule is adopted that imposes a new administrative burden on a business, one or more existing rules must be amended or repealed to offset the cost of the new administrative burden. This would also require the identification of the rule to be repealed whenever a new rule is proposed.
There are many avenues business owners and entrepreneurs must navigate including the laws and regulations of their respective industry, securing loans to fund their business, in addition to hiring qualified and reliable people to help out. It can be an overwhelming task for any person to deal with, especially if this is their first time.
Thankfully, there are well qualified experts to help and offer guidance through many of the processes. The SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center is one such place and Regional Director Lindsay Ward oversees and assists a large portion of Western New York businesses in an area serving Genesee, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, and Wayne counties with confidential business advisement at no charge.
“I would like to thank Senator Ortt for hosting the small business roundtable discussion with small businesses and entrepreneurs within Orleans and Monroe counties, and in partnership with the SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center,” Ward said. “We are proud to share all the resources that our center offers to support entrepreneurs and small businesses across Western New York. I encourage anyone to feel free to reach out to our center anytime for assistance with their small business.”
Press Release, Village of Medina Municipal Tree Board
Provided photos: Students from Oak Orchard School in Medina celebrate Arbor Day Medina in 2023. The students will again help plant Arbor Day trees on Friday.
MEDINA – April in the Village of Medina means it will soon be Arbor Day and once again, Medina will be celebrating in a big way.
Arbor Day, observed nationally on the last Friday of April, falls on April 26 this year.
“Sixty-nine trees in all will be planted this year,” said Chris Busch, Medina’s Forestry Coordinator. “Forty-four trees will be planted on North Avenue, South Avenue, West Avenue, Park Avenue and State St. Park, with 25 hardwood seedlings going in Boxwood Cemetery.”
Medina’s observance will be held on the east end, south side of North Avenue at West Avenue in the village (kitty-corner from Lee-Whedon Memorial Library). The east end of North Avenue will be briefly closed for the occasion.
Barring a rainy day, this year’s celebration will start at 10 a.m. and include the reading of the Arbor Day Proclamation by Mayor Marguerite Sherman, and enthusiastic participation by the 2nd and 3rd graders from Medina Central School. The Oak Orchard Glee Club will also be performing on stage.
“We’d like to give a huge ‘thank you’ to Superintendent Mark Kruzynski for Medina CSD’s continued participation in our annual Arbor Day Celebration and for providing Mrs. Andrea Busch as a school-based resource,” said Mary Lewis, Tree Board chairwoman. “We’re so grateful! The schools have been a colossal part of Medina’s Arbor Day tradition for over fifteen years!”
The Tree Board’s focus has been a three-pronged approach for several years: Main arteries and Central Business District area, parks, and high-need residential areas.
“The need for plantings in all of these areas continues,” said Mary Lewis, Medina’s Tree Board Chair. “Plantings from previous years are maturing and are making a real visual impact in the streetscape. The new trees we’ve been planting in our parks are truly improving those areas, and we’re beginning to make headway on our neighborhoods. There’s still so much to be done and I wish we could do more.”
Volumes of research on the impact of street trees show numerous benefits, including increase property values, slower/ safer traffic patterns, lower urban air temperatures, and absorption of harmful pollution. Recent research also indicates tree-lined streets in neighborhoods result in – among other things – lower blood pressure and improvement to overall emotional and psychological health.
“Tree-lined streets really do have an incredibly huge impact on many levels,” Lewis said. “There are many legitimate studies that bear this out. The benefits from investing in street trees are many and tangible. We hear this constantly from citizens throughout the year about how much they appreciate the beauty of our tree-lined streets. It’s very gratifying.”
Arbor Day 2024 will mark the 17th year Medina’s urban forestry program has been a participant in the Tree City USA program of the National Arbor Day Foundation. The annual Tree City award honors Medina’s commitment to community forestry.
The Tree City USA Program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, and the USDA Forest Service. Tree City USA is awarded annually to those communities who qualify and is a national designation.
Medina’s Municipal Tree Ordinance and Arbor Day Celebration have been a model for several other communities looking to establish a board and planting program. Medina receives many inquiries for assistance and advice every year from municipalities across the state.
“In recent years, approximately 40 to 50 trees are inspected and recommended for removal. Each year we replace approximately the same number of trees in the community,” Busch said. “We’re keeping pace, but there is much more work to be done throughout the village.”
Busch continued, “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Jason Watts, DPW Superintendent and his expert tree crew. They do it all with a high degree of professionalism and care– plant, prune, maintain and remove. They genuinely care about our village trees and we’re incredibly lucky to have them.”
The village maintains a policy of diversity in its urban forest plantings. Species to be planted this year include Honey Locust, Zelkova, Katsura, Crab apple, American Hornbeam, Serviceberry, and varieties of Maple.
(Left) Tilia mongolica “Harvest Gold” linden is of the many varieties being planted in Medina this Arbor Day. 40’ x 30’ at maturity, this tree’s name is inspired by a mantle of bright golden yellow leaves in autumn. (Right) The familiar Arbor Day signs in Medina mark the sites where the celebration will be observed.
Boxwood Cemetery trees will employ an entirely different focus and method of planting.
“Boxwood Cemetery is 175 years old and presents several difficult challenges for maintaining, removing and planting trees,” said Busch. “The old section on the hill in particular is a challenge on many levels. Most of the trees are very old. They were planted when the cemetery was new and space was still available. Now, those trees are at the end of their lives, are quite large, and are situated among numerous old graves and monuments. Their removal requires a great deal of care and specialized skill.”
“Many trees have been removed with more on the list to go, so we had to devise a workable, minimally intrusive plan to install trees for erosion control and soil stability,” said Busch. “After much research and deliberation, we’ve decided to utilize hardwood seedlings and grow tubes. This will allow us to reforest these difficult sections in a way that will result in an appropriate tree placed exactly where we want it in a minimally invasive manner. And, it’s relatively inexpensive by comparison.”
Busch explains the seedlings to be used were sourced from a hardwood nursery in Wisconsin and reflect many of the original species used in the historic cemetery. Further, the grow tubes will not only protect the trees from harsh conditions and deer browse, but will also greatly accelerate the growth, up to 4-5x.
Species include Shagbark hickory, Sugar maple, Red oak, and White oak, all species currently in the historic landmark cemetery.
“For this application, we believe it’s a good solution.”
Mary Lewis emphasized that while the village makes great progress each year, there is still much more work to be done throughout the village and Boxwood. With increasing costs and limited funding, the task is daunting, but they’ll rise to meet the challenge.
“Municipal budgets are tight and getting tighter. The cost of trees from growers has seen double-digit percentage increases in the last nine years and that’s a huge challenge,” said Lewis. “Each year we remove 40+ trees that are dead, dying and hazardous. The good news is we replace those trees with new, more beneficial and desirable cultivars. It’s an investment worth making.”
Busch states that the science of street trees and urban forestry has progressed and developed tremendously in the last 40 years with a greater understanding of new cultivars developed specifically for urban use.
“At the turn of the nineteenth century when most of our village forest was planted, there was little choice for a street tree– elms and oaks were the more expensive option, and Silver maple was the cheaper option,” Busch explained. Municipalities were interested in large, fast-growing trees that created beautiful tree-lined streets. They had little knowledge of any unintended consequences and infrastructure was different.”
Busch further explained that despite looking very nice, those trees caused big problems.
“One hundred years later, these Silver maples are massive at nearly 70-plus feet and create numerous issues with infrastructure, safety and utilities. Today, thanks to extensive research and purpose-driven breeding, there are literally hundreds of cultivars in every shape and size for use in a variety of urban conditions. We take into consideration the limitations and conditions on every site, and select the right tree for the right spot. This insures a much healthier and desirable village forest.”
Lewis states, “Thankfully, the village has been consistently supportive of our efforts to reforest the village utilizing new urban forestry knowledge, and we’re grateful for it. Additional critical funds have come from an extremely generous community in donating money for trees, both as memorials and general plantings. People in Medina have really embraced our efforts and see the importance of trees in the village. They truly enjoy the aesthetic impact they have on our streets and neighborhoods.”
Lewis went on, “We’re incredibly grateful for the on-going financial support we receive through ReLeaf Medina. Without the generosity of the community, citizens and businesses, we wouldn’t be able to do it. It really does take an entire community to accomplish what we do.”
According to Lewis, tax-deductible donations can be made anytime for general tree planting, memorial trees or for “trees on your street”. Additional information can be obtained at the Village Clerk’s Office or by downloading the ReLeaf brochure online at villagemedina.org, or by contacting Lewis at mlewis.villagemedina@gmail.com.
“Financial support in the form of gifts and donations from the public and businesses are critical,” said Lewis. “We’re so appreciative of the support which is vital for the future. We encourage citizens to continue their support and urge corporations to consider becoming an annual corporate sponsor. Our tree-lined streets are definitely a contributing factor in people’s decision to locate their family or business in Medina and their donations play a huge role in making our efforts possible.”
