Decorate Medina Committee works its magic at Rotary Park

Photos courtesy of Mary Woodruff: Cal Tuohey and his son Jackson hang the letters for Christmas greetings on the railing around Rotary Park.

MEDINA – Decorating Medina has become a holiday tradition with dependable volunteers as reliable as the Thanksgiving turkey and arrival of Santa Claus.

The first organized effort to decorate the village was the result of an idea brought back by the late Rev. Burt Entrekin from a trip he took out of state. He had visited a town elaborately decorated for Christmas, and he thought, “Why don’t we do that in Medina?”

That was more than 45 years ago, said Mary Woodruff, a member of the committee.

Year after year, donations poured in and more decorations were added.

Sue DeHollander, Mike Carey (behind the reindeer’s antlers) and Paul Woodruff set up reindeer in Rotary Park. All are members of the Decorate Medina Committee.

It has become a tradition for the Decorate Medina Committee to transform Rotary Park the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The Medina Lions have already put up the decorations in State Street Park, done as a volunteer project for the community.

The Decorate Medina Committee conducts fundraising, accepts and funds donations for the decorations in Rotary Park, State Street Park and the wreaths and garlands which Medina’s DPW hangs over Main Street.

Takeform donated a new sign of a photo booth for families to take pictures together.

Jaye Sullivan co-chairs the Decorate Medina Committee with Eric Watson. Among its members are secretary Barb Gorham, treasurer Maureen Sanderson, Paul and Mary Woodruff, Dave Sevenski, Kevin and Sue DeHollander, Cal Tuohey, Mary Lewis and Mike Carey.

As donations are the key to updating the decorations and adding new ones, the committee annually sends out mailers seeking contributions. This year, Sullivan said they are going to put flyers in the North Pole in Rotary Park for visitors to pick up.

Donations of any amount can be sent to Decorate Medina, P.O. Box 880, Medina, 14103.

Jaye Sullivan, co-chair of the Decorate Medina Committee with Eric Watson, stands by the clock in Rotary Park as she contemplates the decorating on Sunday morning.

The most wonderful time of the year has always been possible, thanks to all the dedicated volunteers and organizations who support Decorate Medina, according to Sullivan.

“As we continue to improve, add and refurbish our many decorations, we give a heartfelt thank you to all of our many supporters,” reads a flyer being circulated by the committee. “Please help us ensure the holiday Christmas spirit continues for generations to come by including the Decorate Medina Committee on your Christmas list.”

Rotary Park is ready for the holiday season, beginning with lighting the giant Christmas tree just before the  start the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m. Saturday.