By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2025 at 8:52 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on a float created by Takeform in Medina to close out Medina’s 17th annual Parade of Lights on Saturday night. There were 45 floats in the parade that brought several thousand people to the downtown and along a parade route that started at the Olde Pickle Factory and went down Park Avenue to Main Street.
Logan’s Landscaping in Medina created an impressive float that resembled a giant Hot Wheels truck. Logan’s gave away 1,000 Hot Wheels cars while traveling the parade route.
The Miller Hose Fire Company in Newfane made the trip for the parade. Several rows of onlookers weren’t deterred by the 30-degree temperatures for the parade that lasted about 1 hour, 15 minutes.
The Eye of Oden, which provides dog training in Kent, gets its float ready for the parade while in the staging area at the Olde Pickle Factory parking lot.
The Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company was among several departments to participate by decorating fire trucks and other rescue equipment for the parade.
Community Action of Orleans & Genesee celebrated Head Start and other programs of the agency with this float.
The Painted Sky Ranch from Brockport brought horses to the parade.
The Walsh decorated a 1974 fire truck with 5,000 lights and rode in the parade.
The North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital participated in the parade.
Bentley Brothers of Albion and Brockport was in the parade with a float celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
Gilligan’s Galley, a restaurant at Point Breeze, had a boat decorated for the event.
Luddy’s Equipment Rental, which opened this year in Albion, was a newcomer to the Parade of Lights and gave Spiderman a ride on the top of its float.
The Medina Transportation Department at the school district decorated bus no. 212 with a Candy Land theme.
The East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company made a big effort for its display in the parade.
Before the parade, there was a tree-lighting celebration at Rotary Park.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2025 at 1:42 pm
Provided photo
MEDINA – The winners of the Littlest Elf Contest include, from left: Noa Pierce, second place; Crew Overholt, 3rd place; and Isabella Tompkins, 1st place.
The contest urges participants to dress up in a holiday costume. It was part of today’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration in Medina. The three were able to be part of the noon parade.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2025 at 12:55 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A group of runners, including Jacob Keppler as Santa, start off fast in the Canal Basin for today’s Home for the Holidays 5K in Medina.
The race kicked off the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration in Medina. There are many activities throughout the day, including the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m.
Eric Tompkins of Lockport dressed as an elf in today’s Home of the Holidays 5K in Medina.
Jose Miguel Silva Ortiz of Medina won the race in a time of 17:53, followed by Alden Cayea of Medina in a time of 18:02. The first place finisher is shown by the Big Apple along the Erie Canal.
Kim Mills of Oakfield was the first female to finish the race with a time of 21:43.
Orly the Ox, the Orleans County Bicentennial mascot, greeted runners as they turned from the towpath and crossed the lift bridge. Orly wore his favorite ugly Christmas sweater for the race.
This runner paused to take a selfie with Orly.
Many of the runners were buddled up for the race. It was about 30 degrees at the start of the 5K.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2025 at 4:46 pm
After about a month delay to the federal government shutdown, the HEAP is scheduled to open on Monday, Dec. 1, in New York State.
If you are applying for the first time, a phone interview is necessary which can be completed beginning on Dec. 1. Applications will be available at the County Office Building in Albion, PathStone, Community Action, or Ministry of Concern; at the Community Center in Holley; or at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.
You can apply online for HEAP by visiting www.myBenefits.ny.gov. If you received a benefit through a HEAP case last season you may apply through www.myBenefits.ny.gov or submit your completed application along with necessary documentation to the Department of Social Services, 14016 Rt. 31 W. Albion, NY 14411.
If you are currently a Public Assistance or SNAP recipient, you should automatically receive your HEAP benefit through your case. Please be sure your worker has accurate vendor and account information to prevent a delay with your HEAP grant.
For questions or to set up an appointment call (585) 589-3182. If you are aged 60 or older, please call the Office for Aging at 589-3191.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is hosting three town hall events in Orleans County on Saturday, December 6.
Hawley will take the time to meet with constituents and discuss the issues that matter to them the most. These events will give the community the opportunity to let their voices be heard and share their thoughts and concerns about where the state is headed.
“Speaking directly with my constituents is one of the most important parts of my job,” said Hawley. “I hope people show up to share their thoughts and opinions on how we can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.”
• Town of Murray/Village of Holley from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Community Free Library, 86 Public Square, Holley, NY 14470
• Town of Albion/Village of Albion from 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Albion Town Hall, 3665 Clarendon Rd., Albion, NY 14411
• Town of Ridgeway/Town of Shelby/Village of Medina from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, 620 West Ave., Medina, NY 14103
Sam Ramos of East Amherst took this photo of heron that won the $100 first prize in the birds category.
Press Release, Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
MEDINA – The winners of the 2024-25 photo contest held by Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge were announced Saturday at the nonprofit group’s annual meeting at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.
First, second and third place were chosen in three categories: birds, other wildlife, and landscape. Three professional photographers judged the photos: Max Schulte of WXXI in Rochester, Tina MacIntyre-Yee of USA Today Co., and Matt Wittmeyer of Matt Wittmeyer Photography in Rochester.
Tina Wescott of Clarence won first place in the “Other Wildlife” category for her photo of a frog.
Winning first place in the birds category and garnering the most support from the judges in the contest was a photo of a heron by Sam Ramos of East Amherst, who won a $100 prize. Second place and a $50 check went to Derick Dietrich of Newfane for a photo of a Sandhill crane; and third and a $25 check went to Jay Terkel of Corfu for his photo of a heron.
The winning entry in the other wildlife category went to Tina Wescott of Clarence for her photo of a frog, which gained the second-highest level of support among the judges. Second place went to Jessica Waite of Oakfield for her photo of a bee; and third to Sandy Geschwender for her photo of a butterfly.
Rudy Edlund of Lockport won first place in the landscape category for his dramatic photo of storm clouds over the refuge. Second place went to Kathy Robinson of Le Roy for a photo of Oak Orchard River; and third to Gary Robinson of Le Roy for a photo of trees mirrored in water.
Photos for next year’s contest can be taken anywhere from August of this year through Sept. 1 of 2026.
“Thank you to all those who participated in this year’s contest. Photography is one of the many ways people enjoy using the refuge, and there are so many opportunities there,” said Richard Moss of Medina, president of Friends of Iroquois NWR. “If you are a photographer who uses the refuge on a regular basis, please consider participating in the 2025-26 version of the contest.”
FINWR, which works to support and enhance the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, is a 501(3)c corporation and is celebrating its 25th year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2025 at 11:11 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Volunteers at the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen are getting a Thanksgiving feast ready for 500 people today. The “OK Kitchen” will be serving the meals from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Harvest Christian Fellowship, 560 East Ave. Volunteers also will be delivering take-outs.
Mary Delamarter, front, gets the celery and onions ready for the stuffing. In back, at left, are Kris Witkop sauteing the celery and onions and Cinthia Echevarria stirring the gravy for the turkey.
Joyce Fudge marks trays of green bean casserole. The fellowship hall is ready for people to have a Thanksgiving meal.
These volunteers are shown inside the kitchen at about 10:20 a.m. Some of them arrived at 8 a.m. today. The Ok Kitchen and volunteers have been working on the meal throughout the week.
From left include Dana Bolton, Mary Delamarter, Kris Witkop, Cinthia Echevarria, Joyce Fudge, Sandy Shingleton, Cindy Moore and Robin Zaczek.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 27 November 2025 at 9:12 am
Provided photo: Jaye Sullivan, who co-chairs the Decorate Medina Committee with Eric Watson, fetches extension cords on Sunday for the lights, while committee members in back work at putting up the giant festive words donated by Takeform on the railing overlooking East Center Street.
MEDINA – Just in time for the Parade of Lights on Saturday evening, the Decorate Medina Committee, Medina Lions and village DPW have completed putting up the decorations which have made Medina famous.
It was more than 40 years ago when the late Rev. Burt Entrekin visited another village out of state and saw it ornately decorated for the Christmas holiday.
“He came home and said he wanted to see Medina look like that,” said Jaye Sullivan, who has been on the committee for most of those years and now chairs it with Eric Watson.
Entrekin formed a committee and spearheaded fundraising, and Decorate Medina has continued to spread Christmas cheer every year throughout the downtown.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Candy canes and lollipops line the walkways in Rotary Park, while reindeer and Santa’s sleigh are adorned with real evergreens, all thanks to the efforts of the Decorate Medina Committee, headed by Jaye Sullivan and Eric Watson. At left, the giant Christmas tree is ready and waiting for the lighting ceremony Saturday at 5 p.m., to kick off the Parade of Lights.
Over the years, decorations have been improved and added, with the village DPW responsible for installing the garland and lights over Main and Center streets and the lights on two giant trees in State Street Park; the Medina Lions took on setting up the Nativity scene across State Street Park; and the committee headed by Sullivan and Watson decorating Rotary Park.
Rotary Park has become the permanent location for the house which becomes Santa’s headquarters during holiday time. Every year the Decorate Medina Committee sets up a sleigh with reindeer, candy canes and lollipops along the walkways and a photo booth. Takeform provides and donates a sign with the current year each holiday season. They also made and donated giant letters on the railing facing East Center Street, which read “Peace, Joy, Love.”
“This year we put fresh greens on the sleigh and reindeer,” Sullivan said. “They look so nice.”
Other committee members are Mary Woodruff, publicity; David Sevenski, Sue and Kevin DeHollander, Lynn Woodruff, Jen Hill, Peter Kaiser, Jason Watts, Matt Kennedy, Barb Gorham, Mary Lewis and Maureen Sanderson.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2025 at 8:33 am
Debbie Taylor of East Shelby sent in this photo of a snow-covered landscape on Bigford Road.
A few inches of snow fell overnight in Orleans County. A wind advisory remains in effect until 1 a.m. for Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming and Chautauqua counties.
Today is forecast for a high of 39 degrees. It will be mostly sunny with a slight chance of snow showers tonight, according to National Weather Service in Buffalo.
