By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 October 2023 at 8:28 pm
Provided photos from Mrs. Kasha Davis Crew
ALBION – A sold-out show brought 175 people to The Lockstone today for “Drag Me to Brunch.” The event prompted some controversy in Albion when a group of about two dozen pastors asked that it be cancelled in a Sept. 15 Letter to the Editor posted on the Orleans Hub. That letter drew more than 1,600 comments on the Orleans Hub Facebook page with most of the comments in support of the drag show and LGBTQ+ community.
The pastors said they didn’t want to normalize drag queen events and have them become a precursor to drag queen story hours with children.
The letter to the editor and the response resulted in news coverage from Rochester and Buffalo new stations, and fueled ticket sales to the event.
The show today featured music, dancing and comedy by the performers Mrs. Kasha Davis, Darienne Lake, Aggy Dune and Ambrosia Salad, said Dr. Rebekah Greene, an Albion native who attended the show and now lives in Irondequoit.
She said there were attendees from as far away as Hamilton, Ontario, and many in the audience wore apparel signaled their welcoming acceptance and support of members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Attendees enjoyed a cash bar, photo stations, a tasty buffet catered by Chap’s of Elba, and a prize drawing,” Greene said. “Multiple attendees noted that they were excited to visit Albion for the first time, observing that the event and the surrounding controversy had drawn their attention to the town and its potential as a future tourism destination.”
Photo and information courtesy of Medina Marching Band Boosters
OSWEGO – On Saturday, the Oswego school district hosted a marching band competition and Medina competed there for the band’s third competition this season.
A total of nine bands performed and the weather was beautiful and a full moon graced the sky.
In SS1 New Hartford earned 1st place with a score of 84.55 followed by Central Square in 2nd at 80.75 and Medina in 3rd with 77.25.
In other classifications Auburn was the only competitor in SS3 with 66.85.
In LS3 the Rome Free Academy took 1st place with 73.5 followed by Indian River in 2nd at 68.7.
SS2 had three competitors and Phoenix earned 1st place with 81.90 followed by East Syracuse Minoa in 2nd with 78.1 and Oswego in 3rd, 74.80.
Medina’s schedule of upcoming competitions is Oct. 7 in Webster, Oct. 14 in Victor, Oct. 21 at Central Square and Oct. 29 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 1 October 2023 at 12:08 pm
MEDINA – To say Medina’s annual Ale in Autumn was a resounding success would be putting it mildly.
Medina Area Partnership, who sponsor the event, had intended to cap the tickets sold at 600, but sales were brisk right from the start, according to MAP’s event coordinator Ann Fisher-Bale, so they upped the number to 700 and sold out.
The second annual Busker Festival accompanied Ale in Autumn, and that, too, was very successful, according to Rob Robinson, who came up with the idea. The number of buskers was up from last year’s 17 and included a variety of performers, including musicians, jugglers and magicians.
(Left) Kathleen Schumacher pours Shipyard’s Pumpkin Head ale for Lindsey Snyder of Medina at the Medina Railroad Museum. (Right) Lindsey Snyder and Olivia Hill of Medina enjoy friendship and ale at Medina Railroad Museum during Ale in Autumn on Saturday.
Participants at Ale in Autumn arrived at staggered start times at Medina Senior Center, where their ID was checked, they received a wrist band and bag of goodies and bought raffle tickets for baskets provided by each participating business. There were 23 sites offering a tase of beer.
Kristian Poehlmann and Pam Montague were among the first to line up at the Senior Center before 12:30 p.m.
“This event is fun, and it’s a day hanging out with my bestie,” Poehlmann said. “Pam and I have been best friends for more than 50 years. We like going in all the stores, and I like the beers.”
Poehlmann said she grew up just a block away and remembers hearing the train derailment on Christmas Eve, 1968.
Stacey Sage of Batavia has attended Wine About Winter, but this was her first Ale in Autumn, with Ian Mania of Medina.
“I like being able to sample all the ales and going in the stores looking at everything,” Sage said. “I will also do Wine About Winter again. It may be cold, but it’s always fun.”
(Left) Medina High School seniors Logan Gray, left, and Scott Schultz earned volunteer hours for helping at Medina Railroad Museum during Ale in Autumn Saturday. They pose here with Georgia Thomas in the military room, Gray with a World War I helmet and Schultz wearing a World War II hat. (Right) Georgia Thomas, left, pours a Buergerbrau lager at Medina Historical Society for Abbigail Davis and Mallory Albone of Medina.
Poehlmann and Montague were encountered later in the day at Medina Railroad Museum, where they shared their favorite drinks. Poehlmann said her favorite was the Liquid Sunshine poured at Canalside Tattoo. Snyder liked the North Ridge cider at Tapped on Main. Both drinks were one-ounce pours, because of a higher alcohol content.
The girls also commented on Schoeferhofer grapefruit poured at the English Rose Tea Shop.
No two stops had the same ale.
Larry and Gabriella Albanese of Albion were enjoying the day. Larry said they had been to all participating stores, some twice.
Kathleen Schumacher at Medina Railroad Museum explained they blocked off the entrance to the train layout, but let visitors get close enough to see what was there. Schumacher said people were picking up brochures in the museum and it was hoped they would go home and think about it and come back or order tickets to an upcoming event.
The Shewan family couldn’t resist when they saw the antique organ at Medina Historical Society. Scott, left, and Ruth sang along as Steve played an old favorite, before heading to the dining room for their taste of ale.
At Medina Historical Society, Georgia Thomas was pouring Buergerbrau lager, an ale she felt would be perfect with fish and chips. She had set a table with a variety of snacks and cake, which created a lot of interest.
In the main exhibit room Craig and Sarah Lacey welcomed visitors and explained interesting artifacts. Mid-afternoon Scott Shewan, Steve Shewan and his wife Ruth came in and spotted the antique organ. Steve and Ruth are both music teachers and he sat down and proceeded to play an old favorite, while Ruth sang along in her soprano voice.
In the military room, two high school seniors were fulfilling their required volunteer hours to graduate. Logan Gray and Scott Schultz both said they chose the Museum because they liked history and wanted to learn more.
In addition to the baskets provided at each stop, there will be one grand prize awarded of an overnight stay at the Hart House Hotel, a cocktail package at the Shirt Factory and a gift certificate to Ashlee’s Place.
Ann Fisher Bale, events coordinator for MAP said profit from these events goes back to the community in the form of beautification projects and promoting local business. They are also a sponsor of Leadership Orleans.
Photos by Tom Rivers: At the Knights of Columbus, Jennifer Szalay serves a Jamaican Lager beer “Red Stripe” to Victoria Taber of Albion and Marcus Watts of Medina.
Evan Anstey performs as one of the buskers providing entertainment during Ale in Autumn while a passerby drops in some money. Anstey of Middleport sang outside the Dance Theater on Main Street. He was joined by Peter Sarchia of Middleport. They performed many bluegrass and folk songs.
Dave Sevenski serves “Berry Sneaky” to Donna Ferry of Darien at the Downtown Browsery. Berry Sneaky is a sour beer. “It’s the hot thing in craft beer,” Sevenski said about the sour beers.
Wesley Rosentreter, right, serves Chai Pumpkin beer from the Ithaca Brewing company at The Coffee Pot, which is co-owned by his son, Hans Rosentreter. Ann Coon of Lyndonville, second from left, and Linda Mirand of Medina were among the 700 people sampling beer for Ale in Autumn.
Coon said her favorites were a blood orange beer, a forbidden apple and a pumpkin beer.
Mirand said she enjoyed the different beers and visiting with so many people.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 September 2023 at 10:35 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Julie Berry, center, owner of Author’s Note Bookstore, poses with staff Erica Caldwell, left, and Olivia Marchese with a display in honor of the store’s second anniversary on Saturday.
MEDINA – Author’s Note, a bookstore at 519 Main St., reached the two-year milestone on Saturday, and owner and New York Times Best-Selling author Julie Berry decided to throw a big party.
The store was a beehive of activity from the time the doors opened, with cake and cupcakes for customers, new tee shirts, music and therapy ponies out back for children to color and dress up with bows.
One of the early customers was Rachel Frasier of Medina with her daughter Leona, 3.
“My husband is golfing so we are having a girls’ day out,” Frasier said. “We’ve been to the farmers’ market and now we’re just walking on Main Street.”
Frasier didn’t know about the ponies, but took Leona out back as soon as Berry told her about them.
The ponies belong to Lisa Smith of Wilson and are very gentle and receptive to children being in the pen with them. Children were given colored chalk, which washes right off, and had fun coloring their backs, braiding their manes or pinning ribbons and bows on them. Children were also encouraged to read the ponies a story.
Author’s Note also welcomed a local author during the day, Renee Lama, a Medina native and classmate of Berry’s. Lama’s book Last Call: Hotels, Restaurants and Bars, is a history of the service industry in the Medina area, and copies are flying off the shelf.
(Left) Julie Berry invites Rachel Frasier and daughter Leona, 2, to have a cupcake before going behind the store to interact with miniature therapy ponies. (Right) Therapy ponies from Lisa Smith of Wilson were part of Author’s Note second birthday celebration Saturday. Here, Bailey Seimar, 6, rear, colors a pony blue, while Xander Crockett, 9, tries to pin a bow on another pony.
Berry is thrilled with the success of her bookstore and can’t thank the community enough for its support.
“There’s a reason so many businesses fail in their first or second year,” Berry said. “I understand them better now than I ever did before. A small-town indie bookstore is an audacious experiment in a world where behemoth corporations maintain fleets of trucks and billions in state-of-the-art technology. We’re in this together and we feel your care for us and our survival daily. Every friend you send to Author’s Note allows us to remain here. If that’s not worth a party, what is?”
It was in April 2020 when Berry, living in California with husband Phil, learned the book shop in her home town was on the market.
She had previously told the Orleans Hub she couldn’t bear to think of her home town not having a book store.
So she started thinking about returning home.
“By late October we had a deal,” Berry said.
She and her family returned to Medina and began months of renovation to store. They had it ready for a soft opening in the spring, then celebrated with a full opening in the fall.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Berry said. “The thing that moves me most is the incredible dedication of my team, which make Author’s Note a magical place.”
Salespeople and book buyers are Erica Caldwell and Olivia Marchese, who have been there since the store opened.
“I am also amazed at the response from the community and the love people feel for the book store,” Berry said. “They love our book clubs, they love our events and they love being here to celebrate these events with us.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2023 at 9:46 pm
Congress today approved a stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government going for another 45 days. It averts a government shutdown until mid-November.
Congressman Joe Morelle, D-Rochester, issued this statement:
“Today, common sense and bipartisanship prevailed. At the 11th hour House Republican leadership finally came to their senses and removed all the extreme right-wing policies and funding cuts from a short-term government funding bill. This is a reprieve for the economic stability of America’s families and the safety and security of our nation.
“It is important to keep in mind that this is only a 45-day government funding bill, and there remains extremist Republicans in the House who are still demanding billions in cuts to law enforcement, veterans’ services, healthcare, childcare, education, and housing programs.
“In the days ahead, I pledge to oppose extremist efforts to harm our nation, and I will continue to work alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common ground and achieve our shared goals.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer tweeted this statement:
“This CR (continuing resolution) is good news for the American people.
“Today, MAGA extremists have failed, bipartisanship has prevailed, and both parties have come together to avert a shutdown.
“As I’ve said from day one, this is a bridge CR, a temporary solution. We won’t stop fighting for more economic and security assistance for Ukraine.
Majorities in both parties support Ukraine aid, and doing more is vital for America’s security and for democracy around the world
“After trying to take our government hostage, MAGA Republicans won nothing.
We funded the government and avoided all of the extreme, nasty, harmful cuts MAGA Republicans wanted. No 30% cuts to things like health care. No cuts to Social Security Administration. No cuts to nutrition programs for kids. Scores of poison pill, MAGA-inspired riders were removed.
“Democrats said from the start the only solution to avoid a shutdown was bipartisanship.
“Speaker McCarthy finally heeded our message. He could have made this decision weeks ago. Our bipartisan work in the Senate made this possible.”
Let’s go on an adventure together….on a New England and Canada Cruise!
I LOVE AUTUMN!!! I get so excited when the leaves start to change and everything around me comes alive with brilliant color! We tend to take it for granted around here….but, we’re so lucky because there are places that don’t get to enjoy it the way we do! While I was born and raised here and am spending my retirement years here, I also lived in central North Carolina for a number of years in between. Yes, the leaves did change and it was nice, but it was no comparison to the vibrant colors we get here. In fact, we had to drive a few hours to the Blue Ridge Mountains to see the real beauty of autumn. But here? We get it! I remember suggesting to my mother that we might want to go “somewhere” to see the fall colors. She would always respond with “Why? I can see autumn at its best right from my own back yard or on a short drive through the country side.” She was right, but there is something about seeing it in the mountains or with different views.
St. John, New Brunswick, Canada had the best sightings of fall foliage on our cruise. It wasn’t full peak season, but still quite nice.
So, in October 2015, a friend and I went on a New England and Canada Cruise with the hopes of seeing the beautiful fall foliage that the New England and Canada coastal views had to offer. While it was a WONDERFUL cruise, it didn’t provide the colorful views we expected…..we missed hitting the peak foliage season by about a week! UGH!!!
The cruise began in Boston and our first port stop was Portland, Maine. We didn’t purchase an excursion package for this port. We just wanted to wander around and eat lobster. It was the perfect port to do that – the ship was docked just a block from the downtown area. We walked around the fishing docks, visited a fish market, rode a Pedicab (a bicycle pulling a two seat cart) along a few of the streets, ate lobster at The Portland Lobster Company, and took lots of photos! It was a gorgeous day for walking and we really enjoyed this port a lot!
Our second port was Bar Harbor, Maine. Unfortunately, heavy fog prevented us from going ashore – it is a tender port, meaning passengers get transferred from ship to shore by small tender boats. The fog was so thick that the boats couldn’t operate safely. So, the captain pulled up the anchor and we headed on to the next port.
Fishing boats in Portland, Maine back from a morning of work gathering lobsters and other fish for the markets.
The next port was St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. We took a double decker hop-on-hop-off bus tour. The bus was “Pepto-Bismol” pink and quite fun to tool around the city in. We enjoyed a beautiful park and a police museum and several other cool things to see and do. It was another gorgeous day, but very little fall colors!
Our final port was Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. We, again, took a “Pepto-Bismol” pink hop-on-hop off bus tour to see the sights. One of my favorite parts of Halifax was a dahlia exhibit in a public park we stopped at – lots and lots of different dahlias growing in beautiful displays to walk through. It was another stunning fall day and we enjoyed this port very much.
When we returned to Boston, we took a city bus tour before going to the airport to head home.
The Queen Elizabeth Bandstand in the public park in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The cruise we took was with Royal Caribbean. Most of the major cruise lines have similar cruises that stop at these and other ports along the New England and Canadian coast. They are awesome cruises and well worth the time and expense to do. Find one that fits your budget and go…..just don’t go solely for the purpose of seeing fall foliage! Peak season is usually only a couple of weeks and is a moving target – difficult to plan ahead to be there at the exact right time. But, go with the goal of seeing these amazing ports and “hope” for some fall colors and you won’t be disappointed at all. We weren’t….well, maybe a little, but it was such a great cruise that we didn’t mind the absence of fall colors all that much.
Visit my blog post at https://thoughtsbykim.com/2015/10/23/fall-cruise-adventure/ for more photos from this wonderful adventure.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2023 at 8:50 am
Total currently more than $4 million above limit that will be funded by state
Photos by Tom Rivers: The north end of Main Street in Medina is pictured earlier this month.
MEDINA – A committee in Medina faces a difficult challenge of trying to narrow $8.7 million from 22 potential projects for Medina’s NY Forward grant of $4.5 million.
The state will ultimately decide which projects are awarded funding. The Medina committee could just send the $8.7 million in projects to the state, and let state officials decide. But the local group, which met on Tuesday evening, wants to try to get the number down to $6 to $6.5 million. The state would then make the final cuts. (There is also a chance some projects may pull out of the process after the list is submitted to the state. That is why Medina is willing to send a list over $4.5 million.)
“We’re not doing our job if we don’t whittle it down,” said Medina Mayor Mike Sidari, a member of the local planning committee.
The group is working to finalize a list and prepare detailed project descriptions to send to the state. The draft of the plan should be complete by mid-November with the final document sent to the state by mid-December. The state is then expected to announce which projects are approved for funding and at what amount possibly by February or perhaps in the spring.
The committee and the state will give greater priority to projects that are transformative to the downtown, that can catalyze other investments and benefit other businesses. They will also determine if the property owner is “ready” and can make the project a reality, said Kimberly Baptiste of the Bergmann engineering, architecture and planning firm. She is assisting the Medina committee in putting together the plan to submit to the state.
The committee said all of the projects submitted are very worthwhile and meet the goal of the NY Forward program of making the downtown more live-able and attractive.
The committee put out a survey to the community and the responses tended to put public projects as higher priority than privately owned initiatives.
A $500,000 request from Lee-Whedon Library to help with an addition was the top choice in the community survey.
A request from the owners of Avanti Pizza for $600,000 to help develop the second and third floors of their building received the least support among the community.
But that doesn’t mean the Avanti project should be dismissed from consideration. That building is on the main corner in downtown Medina. Avanti’s has been a key part of the downtown for nearly 20 years.
Avanti’s is among several projects that would add residential and office space on the upper floors in the downtown, spaces that are currently underutilized.
The committee agreed on Tuesday it should be the one to help narrow the projects, rather than sending all 22 at projects at $8.7 million in requested funding for the state. The committee debated whether some projects should be considered higher priority if they are on Main Street, rather than a block or two away. And should projects be ranked higher if they are facing the Erie Canal waterfront?
The group will try to determine a rationale for eliminating some projects to get the total down in the $6 million to $6.5 million range.
“I’d like to see us trim it down, rather than the state trim it down,” said committee member Tim Elliott, who is also a member of the Medina Village Board.
These are the 22 projects with their requested funding from NY Forward in parentheses.
Canal Basin Parking Lot (Multiple Options)
ALTERNATIVE A ($2 million) – This alternative is the most transformative, with significantly expanded green space, pedestrian pathways, and gathering areas. This alternative includes 53 parking spaces.
ALTERNATIVE B ($1.5 million) – This alternative expands the green space area along the canal and enhances pedestrian connections to the waterfront. This alternative includes 71 parking spaces.
ALTERNATIVE C ($1 million) – This creates a multi-functional pedestrian promenade space at the rear of the Main Street buildings that can be used for seating, outdoor dining, and temporary events. This space can also accommodate loading and deliveries. This alternative includes 45 parking spaces.
ALTERNATIVE D ($500,000) – This alternative creates a small pedestrian plaza area at the north end of the East Center Street alleyway which can accommodate gathering and outdoor dining. The rest of the basin is kept as is. This alternative includes 83 parking spaces.
Canal Village Farmers Market at 127 West Center St. ($300,000) – This project will renovate the existing building at 127 West Center Street to create a year-round space for the Canal Village Farmers Market. Expanded vendor space, public restrooms, a visitor center, and green space will also be included on the site.
Canal View Bar/Tasting Area at 135 East Center St. ($100,000) – This project will create a bar/serving area with an exterior patio overlooking the Canal Basin in the rear of the Modern Mercantile building.
409-413 Main St. ($200,000) – This project will renovate the second floor of the building at 409-413 Main Street into 3 new one-bedroom apartments and 1 new two-bedroom apartment.
Knights of Columbus Building Accessible Community Space ($150,000) – This project will make facade improvements to the Knights of Columbus building and install a lift at the rear entrance to make the 200-person community event space on the second floor ADA accessible for public use.
424 Main Street ($250,000) – This project will create 4 new apartments on the upper floors of the building at 424 Main Street. The commercial units on the ground floor will also be renovated.
433 Main Street ($300,000) – This project will create a new two-bedroom apartment on the upper floors of the building at 433 Main Street.
Community Arts Workshop and Gift Store at 509 Main St. ($150,000) – This project will renovate the second floor of the building at 509 Main St. to create a community arts and crafts workshop and gift store.
Bunkhaus Apartments at 511 West Ave. ($100,000) – This project will renovate the Bunkhaus Hostel to create 4 one-bedroom apartments targeted for short- and long-term rental housing for professionals, snowboards, and/or tourists.
Author’s Note Bookstore at 519 Main St. ($200,000) – This project will create a two-bedroom apartment unit on the second floor for short- or medium-term rental, targeted at artists. The basement of the building will also be renovated to create an event space to be used for book clubs, workshops, etc., or by other community groups.
521 Main Street ($150,000) – This project will renovate the second floor of the building at 521 Main Street into a new one-bedroom apartment and two Airbnb units.
Walsh Hotel Redevelopment at 525 West Ave. ($550,000) – This project will complete renovations to the upper floors of the Walsh Hotel as part of a larger project to create 22 studio and one-bedroom apartments.
Arenite Brewing Company at 339 Main St. ($400,000) – This project will create a microbrewery and tasting room with outdoor seating overlooking the canal at 339 Main Street.
Avanti Pizza Upper Floors Renovation at 500 Main St. ($600,000) – This project will renovate the upper floors of the Avanti Pizza building into a mix of residential and office space.
Hart House Hotel Renovations at 113 West Center St. ($500,000) – This project is the last phase of a larger project to upgrade the Hart House Hotel with a formal lobby, café, spa, outdoor event space and gastropub.
Lee-Whedon Memorial Library at 620 West Ave. ($500,000) – This project will create an addition on the library with new tutoring rooms, meeting rooms, and quiet rooms for community use. The existing library building will also be renovated to create an expanded children’s area and new entry.
Medina Theatre Renovations at 601-611 Main St. ($150,000) – This project is the first phase of a larger project to upgrade the Medina Theatre. This project will renovate the existing marquee and facade, make cosmetic improvements to the theatre, and prep the building for a future restaurant and conference space.
Downtown Wayfinding Signage ($250,000) – This project will install a system of directional, informational, and interpretive signage at key locations and destinations to guide visitors throughout downtown.
Public Lot Connectivity Improvements Description ($1 million) – This project will improve the public parking lot at the southeast corner of Main and Center Streets with better circulation, shade trees, and improved connectivity to the Canal Basin and Main Street businesses.
East Center Street Alleyway Improvements ($400,000) –This project will enhance the alleyway that connects the Canal Basin across East Center Street to the public parking lot. The alley will have landscaping, lighting, seating and signage.
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.
Small Project Grant Fund ($300,000) – The Small Project Grant Fund would provide support to downtown business and property owners to implement smaller-scale projects like façade improvements, window replacement and other repairs.
The committee met Tuesday at the Medina district office boardroom and reviewed the survey findings from the community. About 200 people took the survey in-person or online, giving their opinion on how to prioritize the funding. Kimberly Baptiste of the Bergmann engineering, architecture and planning firm led the committee in reviewing the results.
With the survey from community members (taken by 180 online and 35 in person), high priority was given, in descending order, to the library, farmer’s market, Knights of Columbus, small grants for multiple businesses, East Center Street alley, public parking lot, Canal basin signage, arts workshop at 509 Main and Medina Theatre.
Projects given medium priority from the survey respondents (in descending order) include way finding, Author’s Note, Arenite Brewing, Canal View Bar, Hart House Hotel, Canal Basin lot ($1.5 million option), Canal Basin lot ($2 million option), 521 Main and 409 Main.
The projects ranked as low priority in the community survey (in descending order) include the Walsh Hotel, 424 Main, Basin lot ($500,000 option), Bunkhaus, Basin lot ($1 million option), 433 Main and Avanti Pizza.
The two parking lots – at Canal Basin and behind Main Street on East Center, would total $3 million of the $4.5 million grant if pursued at the full proposal, Baptiste, the planning consultant, said scaling those plans back to just repaving the lots likely wouldn’t get funding from the state. The NY Forward program wants to add beautification and other elements to make the parking lots better.
During last Tuesday’s meeting, Joe Cardone attended and make a pitch for the Medina Theatre, one of the first buildings seen on Main Street when people enter from the south. He wants to add a modern digital marquee with LED lighting. He said it would be a vast improvement at a gateway into the business district. However, the current village code doesn’t allow digital signage in the historic district. Mayor Sidari said the village is looking to modify the code for signage.
Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, the top vote getter in the community survey, also isn’t currently in the target area for the NY Forward grant. It is adjacent to the area. The boundaries can be changed to include the library, Baptiste advised the committee.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 September 2023 at 7:26 am
Event includes big basket raffle at East Shelby Fire Hall
Photo by Ginny Kropf: From left behind table, Laura Marek, Stacey Knights Pellicano and May Zelazny talk to a volunteer, Christine Griffin, during the 2022 Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run. The fundraiser is scheduled this year on Oct. 7.
MEDINA – The Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run will celebrate its 35th year on Oct. 7 when the annual event takes place at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Hall.
The fund was formed when the families of Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli, who both died from cancer, decided to combine their individual fundraisers into one.
Since then, the Knights-Kaderli Fund has assisted local families battling cancer with transportation costs, prescription drugs, nutritional supplements, medical supplies and household bills, to the tune of $40,000 to $50,000 a year, according to Mary Zelazny, Kaderli’s daughter. That adds up to almost $1.5 million.
This year the walk/run will resemble the more casual family atmosphere of the earlier years, said Knights’ daughter, Stacey Knights Pellicano.
“This is our favorite time of year,” Zelazny said. “We look forward to being with all of our supporters. If you have ever participated in our event, you understand the energy of that day. It gives us hope and unites participants. We know the community will show up to support their neighbors who are living with cancer. Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli were known for their spirit of community and we are honored to remember them in this way.”
Registration is at 10 a.m. and the walk will begin at 11 a.m. at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Hall. The event will continue as an untimed walk/run so registrants can participate in a leisurely walk with family and friends or set their watches for a 5K run.
As always, participants and the community are invited to support the basket raffle. Lunch will be served immediately after the race and guests may eat outside under the pavilion. Participants are also reminded to take photographs and post on Facebook and Instagram for some fun prizes. Tag #KnightsKaderli5K.
For more information or financial assistance, contact Mary Zelazny at (585) 746-8455, Melissa Knights Bertrand at (716) 983-7932 or Stacey Knights Pellicano at (716) 998-0977.
Online registration for the event may be made by clicking here.
Direct donations may be made through PayPal and a credit card (click here for more information) or through Venmo @knightskaderli.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 September 2023 at 4:50 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
BARRE – A barn from the early 1900s burned this afternoon in Barre. The barn is owned by Frank and Cynthia Stumer at 4715 Oak Orchard Rd.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 3:38 p.m. The property is next to the Barre fire hall on Route 98.
The fire also damaged a garage next to the barn. No one was injured in the blaze.
“I just loved that barn,” said Mrs. Stumer, who is deputy commissioner of the Department of Social Services for Orleans County. “I’m just devastated. We had plans of renovating it.”
Several local fire departments responded to the scene. The cause is under investigation.
Firefighters use a saw to cut open the garage door.
The fire spread from the barn to a garage, causing extensive damage.
Albion firefighter John Papponetti, left, and Steve Miller of the Medina Fire Department get water on the back of the barn.
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
BATAVIA – Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Health have identified Genesee County as having a high average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter).
Radon can build up to dangerous levels in your home, which can occur in new homes or older homes.
“Radon can enter your home through cracks in the foundation, cracks in basement walls, holes, joints, dirt floors, sump pump holes, suspended floors and in the well-water supply,” stated Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Any house that has contact to the ground has the potential for radon to enter the home. That is why training contractors and code enforcement officers about the risk of radon is important.”
On Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m., the Genesee County Health Department will be hosting George Schambach, the Vice President of the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologies, Inc., and President/Owner of Professional Home Inspection Service to implement a training for all contractors and code enforcement officers. This training will be held at the Genesee County Emergency Management Office on 7690 State Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020.
Topics will include:
Radon Measurement
Radon Mitigation
Radon Abatement and
Health Risks of Radon to Construction Personnel
This training is free of charge and open to Genesee County and those outside the county as well. Any contractor or code enforcement officer interested in attending can contact Allysa Pascoe at 585-344-2580 x5508 to register. For more information on radon or other GO Health programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org.
Contributed by Katie Oakes, Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Coordinator
KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County CCE Master Gardeners will host the first-ever PumpkinPalooza pumpkin contest at this year’s Medina Lions Club Scarecrow Fest on Oct. 14.
The contest welcomes entries from the public in three categories – Biggest Pumpkin (by circumference), Best Decorated Pumpkin, and Best Carved Pumpkin. Master Gardener volunteers will be on site to judge the entries, and there will be prizes for each category winner.
Pumpkins can be dropped off at the side door of the Lartz building (close to the pie plate) between 9 and 11 a.m. Judging will be immediately after drop-off closes, and winners will be announced at 2 p.m. All participants must collect their pumpkins at the close of the Scarecrow Fest at 3 p.m.
The Highway Department decorated a pumpkin for the annual Family Game Night.
The idea for the contest came to Master Gardeners Lisa Lancaster and Erica Joan Wanecski while they were sitting at the Master Gardener table at the Canal Village Farmer’s Market over the summer.
They were handing out gardening information and free seeds when a customer came up to share his experience growing a giant pumpkin the previous season. Erica and Lisa wondered how many other gardeners or creative decorators might want to showcase their own masterpieces in the community.
They decided a friendly pumpkin competition was the perfect way to allow the public to display their works of art or gardening prowess. This will be the first pumpkin-themed event for the Master Gardeners, and if it goes well, they’d love to see it continue as an annual tradition.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing people’s creativity, in decorating and also in carving, ” said Lisa Lancaster, chairperson of the event for the Master Gardener program. “Pumpkins are such a universal symbol of autumn that this is a way to celebrate the season even more!”
It seemed a natural fit to host the Pumpkinpalooza event in conjunction with the Medina Lions Club Scarecrow Festival on the second Saturday of October. The Scarecrow Fest is hugely popular, with hundreds of local families showing up to make their own scarecrow.
When Katie Oakes, coordinator of the Master Gardener volunteers in Orleans County, reached out to Jim Hancock, co-chair of the event for the Lions Club, to ask if they would allow the Pumpkinpalooza as an add-on to their traditional festival, the answer was an emphatic “yes!” from the board.
“We’re hoping to draw some new people and reach a wider audience,” explained Erica Joan Wanecski, chairperson of the Master Gardener program. “The more activities that are present at the Scarecrow Fest, the longer people will stay and the more fun they will have! We’re hoping the Pumpkinpalooza can benefit everyone.”
Anyone entering a pumpkin in the category of “Biggest Pumpkin” must be able to transport the pumpkin themselves – there will be no equipment available to move large pumpkins. One prize will be given to the winner of each category – winner need not be present to win. Please contact Katie Oakes at 585-798-4265 ext 125 or klo54@cornell.edu with any questions on Pumpkinpalooza or the Master Gardener program.
ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday charged Angel L. Marrero, 46, of Rochester following a 3-month investigation into multiple burglaries on Orleans County’s eastside.
Between June 28 and July 5, Marrero is alleged to have entered and stole property from three homes within the towns of Murray and Clarendon.
Marrero has been charged with 3 counts of Burglary 2nd Degree, class C felonies; 3 counts of Grand Larceny 4th, class E felonies; 2 counts of Criminal Mischief 4th, and 1 count of petit larceny, class A misdemeanors.
Marrero is also allegedly facing additional charges in Monroe County for drug and weapon possessions. Marrero this morning was arraigned in Orleans County CAP court in the county jail, where he is being held on $40,000 bail.
The investigation was conducted by Investigators Brian Marsceill, Kevin Colonna and Devon Pahuta with the assistance of the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office and Rochester Police Department.
BATAVIA – Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Health have identified Genesee County as having a high average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter).
