Ale in Autumn brought nearly 600 to downtown Medina

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Four friends enjoyed camaraderie and sampled ale at The Vintage Cigar on Medina’s Main Street during Ale in Autumn on Saturday. From left are Marie Bell of Akron, Jeannette and Don Geberling of Cheektowaga, and at rear is Marie’s husband Bob Arnold.

MEDINA – Saturday’s Ale in Autumn was about the most perfect day organizers could have hoped for. The day brought beautiful fall weather and a nearly sold-out event, according to Ann Fisher-Bale, coordinator for Medina Area Partnership, sponsor and organizer of the event that brought nearly 600 to the downtown to sample beer.

Tickets were sold for three different start times to participants who checked in at the Medina Senior Center. There, they were first ID’d by Pattrick Weissend and then had their tickets checked by Wendy Wilson and Bale, before getting a wristband from Sarah Fisher or Anne Joynt.

Pat Weissend (in blue Bills shirt) IDs for ticket holders checking in at the Medina Senior Center for Ale in Autumn on Saturday.

After picking up their souvenir glass and a goodie bag filled with snacks, pen, coupons and other items, participants proceeded to the back of the room to buy tickets on baskets which were available at each participating business. Ticket holders were also eligible to win a grand prize basket valued at $500.

John and Melissa Gorham have attended every Ale in Autumn, they said.

“It’s a chance to try different beers, and the snacks are usually very good,” John said.

Wendy Wilson checks tickets for Melissa Bunbrock of Gasport at the Senior Center on Saturday. Behind Wilson is Anne Joynt, Medina native who is running for New York State Supreme Court and volunteered to help. At Wilson’s left is Ann Fisher-Bale, event coordinator for Medina Area Partnership, which sponsors the event.

For Barb Gorham, it is a way to get out and about before the snow comes.

“And you always run into friends you haven’t seen for a while,” she said.

Melissa Bunbrock of Gasport said she has attended the event every year.

“It’s a great way to get together with friends and support local businesses,” she said.

A new business, Katie’s Dipped Delights, was being promoted by Katie’s husband Brian Wiesinger in front of the English Rose Tea Shoppe. Seated at left is Brian’s mom Carole. Katie makes four kinds of gourmet apples, using Honeycrisp they buy from Roberts’, Brian said.

At The Vintage Cigar, Joe Meyer and owner Jim Robinson poured ale for a steady stream of participants.

Robinson, whose wife Cindy runs the English Rose Tea Shoppe, said they participate in Ale and Autumn every year, at one store or the other.

“The weather is always good and people come in who didn’t know there was a cigar store in town,” Robinson said.

One group of friends sipping their ale in the store was Bob Arnold and his wife Marie Bell of Akron with Don and Jeannette Heberling of Cheektowaga.

 “We’ve been coming to this event for years,” Don said. “We’ve come to every one.”

Jeannette said it was a great community building event.

“The shops change and it’s good to see the different shops and what they sell,” Don said.

Entertaining near Main Street TV and Appliances on Saturday were Kathy Vandemoreal of Point Breeze and Laurence Sugarman of Pittsford. Vandemoreal plays fiddle, while Sugarman plays banjo.

Gabriella Albanese of Albion has also attended Ale in Autumn every year.

“I’m not a beer drinker, but my sister and a friend love the opportunity to go together and visit all the stores,” Albanese said.

Local musician Rob Robinson for the last several years has arranged to have buskers on the street entertaining during Ale in Autumn. It is an age-old tradition for musicians to perform on a street corner for money.  Saturday’s buskers included “The Last Call” singer (named Skinny) and his band who performed in front of Main Street TV and Appliance.

“We have been nearly every year,” said Skinny, who was born in Medina.

“I love coming here,” he said. “I love Medina.”

Just down the street Kathy Vandemoreal of Point Breeze and Laurence Sugarman of Pittsford were entertaining – she on fiddle and he on banjo. Vandemoreal has taken part in Ale in Autumn for three years, but this is Sugarman’s first appearance.

Winner of the Grand Prize worth $500 was Melissa Streiff.

Saturday’s buskers included “The Last Call” singer (named Skinny) and his band that performed in front of Main Street TV and Appliance. Standing in the center is Rob Robinson of Medina, also a musician, whose idea it was to have buskers.

Photos by Tom Rivers: This group poses for a fun photo at Alexandra Peracciny Photography, 426 Main St., which was also one of the pouring stations for the Ale in Autumn.

Dave Sevenski, right, pours a sample of an IPA from the Hamburg Brewery for Christopher Hare of Medina. They are at the Downtown Browsery. Hare was happy to be out and seeing so many people.

“It’s better than sitting home and watching college football,” he said.

Lezly Rosario, bartender for Mile 303 Cantina, serves Bells amber ale. The Mile 303 Cantina is run by Gali Rosario and Leonel Rosario Jr.

Daniel Sprague played his electric guitar near Rotary Park as one of the musicians in the downtown.

Rick Zucco of Niagara Falls also performed as a busker.