Assemblyman Hawley to serve as parade grand marshal

Photo by Ginny Kropf: The Parade of Lights Committee is meeting regularly to finalize plans for this year’s spectacular event, scheduled Nov. 29 at the conclusion of Medina’s day-long Olde Tyme Christmas Celebration. Clockwise, from left are Kevin DeHollander (Santa Claus), Dave and Gail Miller, Kathie Valley, chair Jim Hancock and his wife Barb, Nikki and Todd Bensley, Cindy Robinson and Sue DeHollander (Mrs. Claus). The group was meeting at the home of Reinhard Rogowski, standing at rear.

MEDINA – For the 17th year, Medina will host a spectacular Parade of Lights at the conclusion of the village’s Olde Tyme Christmas Celebration Nov. 29.

Parade committee members who are meeting regularly to plan the event include chair Jim Hancock and his wife Barb, Dave and Gail Miller, Kathie Valley, Todd and Nikki Bensley, Cindy Robinson, Kevin and Sue DeHollander (Santa and Mrs. Claus) and Reinhard Rogowski, who hosts the meetings at his home.

Hancock has announced they have chosen Assemblyman Steve Hawley of Batavia as this year’s parade grand marshal.

“The vote for Steve was unanimous,” Hancock said. “Steve has been with us for the past 10 to 12 years. He has served as our announcer out of the goodness of his heart. “

Entries are slowly being received, Hancock said. He is thrilled to see several first-time entrants, but also looks forward to the old favorites returning. Last year, 23 of the more than 40 floats entered registered during November, and Hancock hopes there will be an influx of entries before the Nov. 25 deadline this year.

The event will welcome a new musical group this year – the Hit Men, who will perform in Rotary Park at 5 p.m.

Other musical groups who will march in the parade include Medina’s Mustang Marching Band, Pembroke High School Marching Band and the Mark Time Marchers.

Parade floats can be entered in six different classes, which are listed on www.christmasinmedina.com,  along with entry blanks. Prize money of $4,000 will be awarded, including a Grand Prize winner.

Corporations are also encouraged to sign up for five different levels of sponsorship – diamond, platinum, gold, silver or bronze. Sponsorship forms can also be found on the Christmas in Medina website.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Heveron Electric put a lot of effort into its float in last year’s Parade of Lights on Nov. 30, 2024. Parade organizers urge businesses, organizations and residents to enter a float in the Nov. 29 parade.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Craig Royal, left, and his partner Tom Bradley sit on the steps of 512 West Ave., the historic home purchased by Andew Meier, who then contracted with Royal and Bradley to paint it. (Right) This is the newly restored front of 512 West Ave. with age-appropriate paint, a gold starburst and new steps.

MEDINA – Andrew Meier, a Medina native and local attorney, has always admired the house at 512 West Ave.

Ed Grinnell’s “Medina – Here’s to Our Heritage,” says Samuel Rice Jr., a native of England, took two deeds on the west side of what was then called “West Street.” The Tribune of Aug. 13, 1885 states “S. Rice Jr. is drawing stone preparatory to the erection of a house to be completed within a year.”

Rice died in 1907 and the house passed to a daughter, Mrs. Harry (Grace) Bickle. Grace was Samuel Rice’s daughter. The Bickles are reported to have lived in the house for many years. After Harry’s death, Grace lived in the home until around 1960, when she moved to Woodland Avenue. The next reported owners were Jim and Pat Anderson.

Meier said the house is basically original, but underwent significant interior remodeling by Harry Bickle in the summer of 1927. At that time, according to Meier, the kitchens and bathrooms were modernized and, he believes, the tin ceilings were installed throughout.

“Almost the entire first floor and much of the second floor have tin ceilings,” Meier said. “It is quite amazing.”

More recently, former village trustee Tim Elliott owned the home and turned it into a ceramics’ studio. When Meier learned Elliott had moved his studio two years ago, he decided to go talk to him.

“The rest is history,” Meier said.

Meier did not have any definite plans for the house when he purchased it, he said.

“But I decided to make it back into a home after working inside it,” Meier said. “We have not done too much work inside, but on the outside, lots of rotten wood has been replaced and the entire porch was rebuilt. We were able to salvage the original porch posts, but all of the railing had to be turned on a lathe to match the original, as it was beyond repair.”

Craig Royal looks at the 1961 issue of Lipton’s Magazine, in which his father Zeke Royal and Zeke’s business partner John Bradley take a break for a glass of tea while painting the Orleans County Courthouse. Bradley’s son Tom currently works with Craig on painting projects.

Meier also knew who he wanted to paint the house, and he contacted Craig Royal, who took over his father Zeke Royal’s painting business and now lives in Mooresville, N.C. Craig’s partner in the business was Tom Bradley, son of Zeke’s partner John Bradley. Tom now lives and Naples, Fla., but agreed to come north and work with Craig on several projects, including the house at 512 West Ave. They also painted Creekside Floral during their time here.

Their dads and Craig and Tom have painted everything and anything, including water towers, schools and churches.

“Dad used to drive up West Center Street and pointing he would say, ‘I painted that house and this house,’” Craig said.

Craig is a Medina native and 1977 graduate of Medina High School. Tom was born in Albion, but his family moved to Naples when he was 14, he said.

Craig said they come up north in the summer to paint, because it’s cooler here then. When Meier called him last year about the house at 512 West Ave., he recruited Scott Grimm, a retired teacher, and current teachers John McCarthy, Christian Held and Shawn Ragonese to help.

He also had to resurrect his father’s old paint truck, which he had sold to Jim Lawson. It was sitting in a field and needed a lot of work, Craig said.

It took more than a month to apply 20 gallons of primer to the house. They completed the job around Sept. 1.

Craig Royal and Tom Bradley stand by their paint truck parked in the front yard of 512 West Ave., after completing a several month-long painting and restoration job on the home, recently purchased by Andrew Meier.

MAAC urges donations that will be shared with children and senior citizens

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Medina firefighters gather around the MAAC Christmas barrels on Wednesday morning, prior to loading them in their ambulances to be delivered to local shops, schools, churches, etc. to be filled with gifts for children and families in the Medina community. From left are firefighter Joe Kyle, Lt. Steve Miller, Lt. Adam Fisher, Lt. Jacob Crooks, chief Steve Cooley, Lt. Tim Miller, trainee Zyere Wade from Iroquois Job Corps, firefighter Frank Golojuch and Red Barrel chair Sherry Tuohey-Sipple.

MEDINA – When they are not busy putting out a fire or responding to an emergency call, Medina firefighters may be found supporting their community in other ways, such as delivering barrels throughout town for MAAC’s annual Christmas Present Program (otherwise known as the Red Barrel Program).

Delivering toys to children at Christmas time was started by the Medina firefighters decades ago. The Medina Area Association of Churches now runs the program. Sherry Tuohey-Sipple has been organizer of the program for going on eight years.

Every year, up to 42 barrels are delivered to targeted locations throughout Medina and nearby. The public is encouraged to fill the barrels with a new toy or gift suitable for youth up to 18 years of age and senior citizens.

Lt. Adam Fisher carries two barrels to his emergency vehicle at the Grove Methodist Church. Medina firefighters delivered 42 red barrels Wednesday morning.

Last year, more than 110 families were provided with Christmas gifts and a holiday meal. Tuohey-Sipple anticipates the need will be greater this year because of the state of the economy.

While Tuohey-Sipple heads the committee, she has lots of help. Norma Jean Foster has been in charge of the food baskets for the past four years. She shops for hams, potatoes, canned fruits and vegetables, stuffing and cereal.

Barb Vreeland, a member of MAAC, said this is a blessed ministry, for sure. Vreeland said they are grateful to the churches and community, all of which are so good to them.

Tuohey-Sipple added her thanks to the businesses, churches, banks, libraries and anyone else who accepts a red barrel in their establishment.

Provided photos: (Left) Norma Jean Foster carries boxes of canned goods into the Grove United Methodist Church where they will be used to fill food boxes for the Christmas Present (Red Barrel) Program. (Right) Katie Oakes poses with a MAAC red barrel at Lynoaken Farms on Ridge Road. Customers who donate a gift suitable for a teen will receive a bag like the ones she is holding filled with apples. This is the final weekend Lynoaken will be open.

Two new board members for MAAC have volunteered to take an active role in encouraging donations.

Katie Oakes, who heads LynOaken Farms U-pick apple orchard, and Meghan Fuller, whose mother owns Ellen J. Goods, have both come up with promotions for the public. Oakes said MAAC is an organization that is near and dear to her heart.

“Every year they run a Christmas Present program for local families in need – providing gifts for children up to 18, hats and gloves for all family members, hygiene kits for every adult in the household and a full holiday meal,” Oakes said. “I think it’s such an amazing program and this year I’m so honored to be a part of the committee that has been running it for years.”

Oakes went on to explain that while gifts for babies and young children are plentiful, teens are often the ones most overlooked when it comes to holiday donations.

In an effort to boost donations for this age group, Oakes has placed a red barrel in the U-pick pavilion for their final weekend this week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Anyone who brings a new gift for a pre-teen or teen (ages 9-18) will receive a free half peck bag to fill with any of their remaining apples. (One bag per person – not per gift).

Medina firefighter/EMT Frank Golojuch and others at Medina FD finish loading the 42 barrels they would deliver to various locations in Medina and the surrounding area.

Some ideas for gifts are Legos, earbuds, portable chargers, reusable water bottles, cozy blankets, art kits/supplies and Bluetooth speakers.

Fuller works with her mom Lynne, owner of Ellen J. Goods store on Main Street. It is a vintage and antique furniture and home décor shop, offering painting and décor workshops. They sponsor retreats and welcome EJG campers at various times throughout the year.

Fuller said she is thrilled to have joined the MAAC committee and to be able to collect gifts for teens this holiday season.

“Teens deserve to feel the love, too,” she said. “I will put together an awesome Pentart/Decoupage Queen gift basket in our store. If you bring in a gift for a teen, you will be entered to win. Your help would mean the world to me and make the holidays a little brighter for local teens.”

To qualify for a holiday basket, families must live in the 14103 (Medina) or 14479 (Knowlesville) zip codes. They must sign up during the second and third weeks of November at either St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 1355 West Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon or 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 11 or 18; or at the Vine at 11031 Maple Ridge Rd., from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 13 or 20. They must provide proof of household, residence and income. Income guidelines will apply.

The barrels will be picked up on Dec. 3 and gift boxes delivered on Dec. 13.

Anyone with questions may contact Tuohey-Sipple at (585) 356-8346 or call (585) 798-5698 and leave a message.

Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley helps load red barrels in his department’s emergency vehicles to kick off the 2025 Christmas Present (Red Barrel) drive.