Solving a murder mystery proves popular event for MAP in Medina

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Ed Grabowski and his wife Lori of Medina chat with Officer Branden Brown at Medina Senior Center, where they signed in for Murder on the Orleans Express on Saturday. The Medina police officer was on the scene to provide photo opportunities for potential crime solvers.

MEDINA – Medina Area Partnership’s third annual murder mystery event went off without a hitch, (unless you count a murder) in spite of rain and a dreary day.

The event has grown in popularity every year, said Ann Fisher-Bale, event coordinator for MAP.

One couple who took part was Ed and Lori Grabowski of Medina.

Ed said they have done it before and it was a lot of fun. They enjoyed visiting all the shops, he said.

The first year’s mystery was set in the 1920s, last year’s in the early 1900s and this year’s in the 1940s. Mystery solvers were encouraged to dress in the era.

Participants in the event signed in at Medina Senior Center, where they received a goodie bag with a detective’s notebook filled with coupons, a map of 13 participating businesses and the character located there. They also got a pen, a piece of Bazooka gum and a tube of Smarties, both of which originated in the 1940s, a train cookie, small bottle of water, tea bag and a chocolate-covered Oreo cookie from Della’s Chocolates.

“We thought they needed some ‘smarties’ to solve the crime,” Fisher-Bale said.

Fisher-Bale explained they tried to incorporate some of Medina’s history in the events of the day, such as Heinz Pickle Factory, which was the scene of the murder. Ten characters were located among the businesses and participants had to visit all 13 stores to get all the clues they needed to solve the murder.

When they thought they had the answer, “detectives” had until 11:59 p.m. Saturday to e-mail their guess to MAP. The correct guesses were then put in a drawing, where one name was picked to win a giant basket of prizes.

When all was said and done, Bale announced almost one-third of the attendees correctly guessed the murderer was Wanda Land, the waitress, who intended to poison Mona Lott. Events took a new twist when Mona passed her wine glass off to Mary because she didn’t like red wine.

The winner whose name was drawn from the collection of correct answers was Joshua Lacombe of Silver Springs. He won a prize basket valued at more than $200, containing gift certificates from participating businesses, a canvas tote bag from Canal Village Farmers’ Market, the novel Murder on the Orient Express and a gift basket from Della’s Chocolates.