By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 November 2021 at 12:02 pm
Provided photos: The Medina Marching Band closes out its first-place finish Sunday at the Carrier Dome.
MEDINA — The Medina Marching Band won the championship on Sunday during the New York State Field Band Championships at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Medina had the highest score, 94.75, among the nine bands in the Small School 1 Division.
The seniors in the band gathered for a group photo.
Medina’s performed a program called “Together Again” in a return to competition after the 2020 season was wiped out due to Covid-19. Medina also won the title in 2019.
Medina’s score on Sunday topped New Hartford at 92.40; Mineola at 92.25; Malvern at 90.60; East Syracuse-Minoa at 89.65; East Irondequoit at 88.45; Central Square at 87.50; Oswego at 87.10; and Mohonasen at 82.70.
Jim Steele, the band director, said he is proud of the band program. He views the band as a huge family. There were 50 bands that performed during the championships and each developed a program. Steele said they are all winners, no matter what their score, especially in these times of Covid and other budget cuts. These schools are to be commended for their persistence and dedication, Steele said.
This was the 15th time that Medina has won the championship in their class with the prior titles in 1982, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2019.
Sunday’s event also included the induction of retired Medina Marching Band director Joseph McKain into the 2021 NYS Field Band Conference Hall of Fame. McKain led the marching band in Medina from 1970 to 1999.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 October 2021 at 9:02 pm
Courtesy of Jeanne Upton: Pouring rain blurred the camera, but it didn’t stop hundreds of children and their parents from lining up at the Medicine Shoppe Friday evening for Beggar’s Night in Medina.
This young creature is one of hundreds who lined up outside the Medicine Shoppe in Medina for Beggar’s Night Friday evening.
MEDINA – Pouring rain Friday night didn’t dampen the spirits of hundreds of children who came out for Beggar’s Night in the village of Medina.
Children started lining up well before 5:30 p.m. for the Medina Area Partnership-sponsored event, according to MAP president Scott Robinson.
Robinson said they feared the bad weather might result in a light turnout, but it turned out to be quite the opposite.
“We typically have between 600 and 800 children who come out for Beggar’s Night, and this year was no exception,” Robinson said.
Some of the business owners also dressed in costume to welcome the little beggars, Robinson said.
“Everyone was in the spirit,” he said. “And everyone was having a blast.”
Sue Phillips was one of the deacons at the First Presbyterian Church who gave out candy.
“It was a good turnout of children in costumes and parents with umbrellas,” Phillips said. “All the deacons who helped went home damp and cold, but it was a lot of fun, seeing all the costumes and handing out candy. We had lots of laughs.”
Courtesy of Sue Phillips: The deacons from the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Medina gave out candy for Beggar’s Night Friday evening. From left are Ginny Roberts, Sue Phillips, Peggy Pearce (seated), Rollie Phillips and Yvette Nevins. Also participating were the Rev. William Wilkinson and his children, Patty and Jeremy.
The Lee Whedon Library participated in Beggar’s Night by giving each child candy, a toy and a book of their choice. Books were donated by Tops, said children’s librarian Kelsey Withey.
Robinson said they were thrilled to be able to have the event this year, as last year they couldn’t, due to Covid. Instead, they held a scaled-down event, where they handed out candy to children in a drive-thru format.
He said this year they adhered to Health Department guidelines for Friday night, and store owners wore masks as suggested.
“Beggar’s Night is not about MAP, it’s a time to give back to the kids,” Robinson said.
He added Beggar’s Night is a perfect introduction to the upcoming holiday events in Medina, beginning with Christmas in Medina and the Parade of Lights the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Albion also hosted Beggar’s Night on Friday.
This was the scene on Main Street in Medina, as hundreds of children braved the rain for Beggar’s Night Friday.
MEDINA – Several young treat-or-treaters got to choose a book, along with candy and a toy at Lee Whedon Memorial Library in Medina on Friday during Beggar’s Night.
Provided photo: Medina Rotary Club President Ben McPherson, right, presents checks to representatives from volunteer fire companies including Debbie Taylor (East Shelby), Jen Thom (Ridgeway) and Jason Watts (Shelby).
Press Release, Medina Rotary Club
MEDINA – On September 11 of this year the Rotary Club of Medina held a Chicken & Ribs Dinner. Part of the proceeds were designated to go to volunteer fire departments in the area.
On October 27 the Rotarians presented representatives from the Ridgeway, Shelby and East Shelby Volunteer Fire Departments with checks for $250 each for their share of the dinner proceeds.
Representing the fire departments were East Shelby Fire Chief Debbie Taylor, Ridgeway Fire Department Accountant Jen Thom and Shelby Fire Department Fire Chief Jason Watts.
Jason Watts informed the club that Shelby has had a record number of ambulance calls this year with over 400.
All three representatives talked about their organizations current and future needs. The biggest being aging buildings, equipment and members.
A lack of volunteers is a major concern. This is due to an increase in the number of hours required for training before becoming certified.
A majority of calls are no longer for fires but for ambulance services. This is due to the fact that people are home more the past year and a half.
The fire departments were proud of how well they work together and cover for not only each other but also assist the Medina Fire Department.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 October 2021 at 2:42 pm
MEDINA – The Village Board isn’t opting out of allowing legal dispensaries for marijuana, a vote that means the village will be opting in.
The board voted 4-1 on Monday evening to take no action on opting out. Medina officials think they are the first municipality in the county that will allow the legal dispensaries.
Mayor Mike Sidari said it may not come to fruition for 12 to 18 months as the village awaits guidelines and regulations from the state, and to see if a business can work through the permitting process from the state.
Sidari said marijuana was decriminalized by the state. He compared it to easing off the Prohibition laws about a century ago.
“I liken this to back in Prohibition time,” Sidari said. “They probably had the same exact meetings that we’re talking about with the marijuana. With marijuana I have a feeling it’s here and now.”
During a public hearing on Sept. 26, several speakers urged the village to not oppose legal dispensaries. Those speakers said they would have access to a safe, regulated product, and the village would stand to gain tax revenue.
Medina will get a 3 percent tax for every dollar spent at the dispensary, part of an overall 13-percent excise tax on marijuana.
“We don’t know what the dollar amount will be,” said Tim Elliott, a trustee on the board. “But we know it will be better than zero.”
The village has struggled in recent years to keep taxes from rising, partly because it’s revenue from the local sales tax has been frozen by the county since 1996. The state also hasn’t increased the share to the village in AIM funding.
“This is a guarantee of tax revenue, we just don’t know the amount,” Elliott said. “But we can definitely use those funds.”
The Village Planning Board is expected to weigh in on the matter, whether the dispensaries should be limited to certain locations in the village.
Elliott said he doesn’t want to see the dispensaries banned from the downtown.
“I have no problem with them being on Main Street,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for someone to open a business. I don’t see why they should be secluded. It will bring people into town and they will spend money at other businesses.”
Marguerite Sherman, a trustee on the board, cast the lone vote against taking no action. Sherman said there are currently too many unanswered questions about the legal dispensaries, especially with no regulations yet from the state.
Medina also set a public hearing for 7:05 p.m. on Nov. 22 on whether to allow on-site marijuana use at smoking lounges in the village.
Provided photo: Christian Navas is officially promoted to sergeant in the Medina Police Department during Monday’s Village Board meeting. Lt. Todd Draper, right, and Chief Chad Kenward pin Navas with his collar brass insignia. Navas’s wife Stephanie held the Bible during the swearing-in ceremony.
Press Release, Medina Police Department
MEDINA – Christian Navas was officially promoted and sworn in as a new sergeant of the Medina Police Department during Monday’s Village Board meeting.
He will be assigned as the afternoon shift sergeant. Sgt. Navas has been a member of the Medina Police Department for 5 ½ years. Through these years he has become certified as a law enforcement instructor, including specialty topics of principled policing and spike strips. Sgt. Navas is a member of the county’s multijurisdictional tactical team, a member of the Medina Police Advisory Committee, and also handles sex offender registry for our department.
Sgt. Navas’ wife Stephanie held the Bible as he was sworn in by Chief Chad Kenward. Chief Kenward and Lt. Draper pinned Navas with his collar brass insignia, and his wife pinned him with his Sergeant’s badge. In attendance at the swearing in was the Medina Village Board, colleagues, and Sgt. Navas’ wife, daughter and parents.
Our sincere congratulations go out to Sgt. Navas on a well-deserved promotion. Sgt. Navas is a respected member of our department and the community and his hard work and dedication are to be commended.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 October 2021 at 8:05 am
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Brockport, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Canandaigua also recognized
Photos courtesy of David Miller: Bent’s Opera House in Medina looks stunning after a three-year restoration effort.
MEDINA – Three new sandstone structures were inducted into the Sandstone Hall of Fame on Thursday, in a ceremony which also included recognition of five sandstone homes built by architect William Jackson between the 1820s and 1860s.
Inductees include the Bent’s Opera House in Medina, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Brockport and St. Mary’s RC Church in Canandaigua.
Jim Hancock, chairman of the Hall of Fame committee, said the first sandstone induction took place in 2013. Since then, including this year’s inductees, 32 buildings and monuments have been named to the Hall of Fame.
“Purpose of the Hall of Fame was to recognize beautiful structures made of our stone,” Hancock said. “Medina Sandstone can be found in buildings and roads across the United States, and from Cuba to Buckingham Palace.”
Hancock explained to be selected to the Sandstone Hall of Fame a nominee must fall into one of several classes – church, private residence, public building or any architecturally unique structure.
Criteria considered include its age, if it is still in use, it’s beauty and architectural uniqueness.
The 2021 class of inductees into the Sandstone Hall of Fame hold their plaques after the ceremony Thursday at City Hall. From left are Anthony DiPrima, director of finance and administration at St. Mary’s Church in Canandaigua, Karen Baase from Luke’s Harvest Kitchen at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Brockport and Justin Bruce, general manager of Bent’s Opera House in Medina.
Bent’s Opera House is one of the oldest surviving theaters in the entire nation, having been built at the height of the Civil War. From 1865 to the early 1920s, it was the cultural center of the Medina area. Its construction is of native Medina Sandstone, laid in a random ashlar pattern with a hammered finish.
The opera house was built by Don Carlos Bent, a wealthy local farmer, who secured the services of local sandstone builder Patrick O’Grady.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Canandaigua
The building was in danger of collapse in the early 21st century when it was donated by Bank of America to the Orleans Renaissance Group. They then sold it to Talis Equity, who took on one of the community’s most ambitious renovation projects in history, working more than three years to fortify the building and redesign it to include a restaurant, hotel and entertainment/lecture hall in the former opera house.
In accepting the plaque for Bent’s, Justin Bruce, general manager, said owners Roger and Heather Hungerford appreciated the honor, although they were unable to attend.
Anthony DiPrima, finance director at St. Mary’s Church, said the Sandstone Hall of Fame committee visited his church two years ago, but the church didn’t make the list for induction. Then the committee returned this year, and viewed extensive renovations which had been done to the interior of the building.
“We felt pretty confident our church would be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year,” DiPrima said. “This is the first honor I’m aware of that our church has received for its architecture, and with all our interior renovations, this is the cherry on the ice cream.”
St. Mary’s RC Church at 59 North Main St., Canandaigua, traces its parish back to 1843, when a small group of Catholic families began meeting. The first St. Mary’s Church was built in 1846, but by 1865 membership had grown, and a new church was needed. The old J. Albert Granger property was purchased in 1873, but construction was delayed to pay off the debt.
Construction of the current church was started in 1903. Architects were Gordon & Madden of Rochester. The building was dedicated Dec. 17, 1905.
The Building Committee was pleased with the use of pink Medina Sandstone and they got good terms for the sandstone and favorable railroad rates for the delivery of this beautiful stone.
In 2007, St. Benedict’s Parish was established when St. Mary’s in Canandaigua and St. Benedict’s in Bloomfield became clustered.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Brockport
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 14 State St., Brockport, has been a dominant, soaring presence on Brockport’s Main Street since 1855.
The congregation paid $6,897 to have the church constructed of Medina Sandstone from 1854 to 1855 in a Gothic Revival style. In 1903, a parish hall was added in Medina sandstone with a Romanesque style. It has been used as a church school, meeting space, gymnasium in the basement, stage on the third floor and was even set up as a hospital at one time for a week-long clinic for tonsillectomies.
St. Luke’s continues to be used for many outreach programs, such as food, clothing, music and ministry. The church has hosted the Brockport Ecumenical Food Shelf since 1972.
The church features several Tiffany windows, including two groupings of three windows. Tiffany created a scene of “The Nativity” at the narthex. St. Luke’s was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 and was declared a “Historic Landmark” by the Brockport Historic Preservation Board in 2000.
Several people attended the ceremony from St. Luke’s in Brockport, including the Rev. Elizabeth Harden and members Bill Henderson and Karen Baase.
The Rev. Harden said she is from Utah, so Medina Sandstone was all new to her.
“This is an honor, for sure,” she said. “St. Luke’s has been so well cared for. The building has been repurposed several times to meet the needs of the community, so this is a fitting tribute.”
“Getting this recognition is amazing considering the number of places to be considered,” Henderson said. “I knew the church was made of Medina Sandstone, but I didn’t know about the Hall of Fame and Sandstone Society.”
Baase, who lives near Barre, said she was part of the group which gave the Hall of Fame committee the grand tour when they visited.
“We are pleased and honored to be recognized, and are so fortunate to learn more about sandstone,” she said.
Dave Miller, president of the Sandstone Society, shared the history of sandstone in the Medina area.
He explained sandstone was first discovered when the canal was dug in 1825.
“If it wasn’t for the canal, Medina wouldn’t be here, and we wouldn’t know so much about Medina Sandstone,” he said.
At least 30 quarries existed at one time, and a few lasted until the 1950s, Miller said. Most of Medina’s sandstone was used for roads.
Homes built by William Jackson are, clockwise from top left, 10598 Ridge Rd., 10923 West Center St. Ext., 11986 Telegraph Rd. and 3531 Fruit Ave. In the center is the original Jackson homestead at 3669 Fruit Ave., which was stuccoed over about 75 years ago.
Following induction of these three structures, Miller explained their reason for including the five sandstone homes designed by Jackson.
“This is a departure from what we’ve done in the past,” Miller said. “It goes back to last year when we couldn’t travel due to the pandemic. We wondered if there wasn’t something we could do to recognize the two dozen sandstone homes in Medina and vicinity. They are simple, but have a beauty of their own.”
Miller explained many farmers came to Medina from Central New York in the
1800s, built log cabins and then brought their families here. William Jackson was one of these settlers, who came to the town of Ridgeway in 1826 and purchased 100 acres of land. One of the earliest settlers in the town, he was also one of the first to build homes from what would later become known as Medina sandstone.
Pioneer History of Orleans County reports that “In a short time, he purchased more land which he fitted and cultivated into one of the finest farms in the area.”
This was before any commercial sandstone quarry had been established, but the Erie Canal construction had revealed readily accessible sandstone in Medina, some of it very close to the ground.
The five homes acknowledged by the Sandstone Hall of Fame include the original Jackson homestead at 3669 Fruit Avenue, which was stuccoed over about 75 years ago; 10598 Ridge Rd., 10923 West Center St., 11986 Telegraph Rd., and 3531 Fruit Ave.
Miller noted the similarity in the homes Jackson built – all have a center door with two windows on each side and five windows in the second story.
The Sandstone Hall of Fame is located at City Hall on the corner of Main Street and Park Avenue.
Photo and information courtesy of Medina Marching Band
GREECE – The Greece school district hosted a field band competition on Saturday, the last performance for Medina before the championships on Oct. 31 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Fourteen bands competed in five classifications at Greece. In SS1, Medina earned 1st place with a score of 92.10 followed by East Irondequoit with 87.50.
In SS3, Marcus Whitman earned 1st place with 80.85 followed by LeRoy with 78.90. In LS3, Greece earned 1st place with 82.65 followed by Hilton in 2nd with 82.0.
Webster was the only contender in LS2 with 87.60. Victor was the only National band and had a score of 90.10. The evening was capped off with a performance by The All In Brass Band.
The championships at the Carrier Dome will include 50 marching bands competing, involving more than 4,000 students. The day’s events are broken down into three shows with bands in different classifications in each show.
Medina is in Show #3 which starts at 5:30 p.m. and includes SS1 and National class bands which start at 7:45 pm. Medina performs at 5:45 pm. Additional info about the championships can be found by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2021 at 9:04 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Erin Allis, 8, of Medina gets her face painted today at the Orleans County YMCA as part of the fourth annual Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration or the Day of the Dead.
The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, Mariachi de Oro Restaurant and the YMCA, organized the event that remembers ancestors, and included free activities with Mexican crafts, face painting, dance and drama performance, sand painting and ofrenda displays, and special food tastings.
The celebration included Mexican dance, music and dramatic performances by Alma de México, a group from Rochester led by Karla Alcalá.
Twin brothers Lucas, right, and Chase Livingston, 3, of Medina make colorful masks. They also had their faces painted. Mexican celebrations of the holiday often include animated skeletons and colorfully decorated skulls (calaveras), which emphasize life’s continuing vibrancy in the midst of mortality.
People dance inside these puppets were more than 10 feet tall. The street puppets were created by artist, Antonio Cruz Zavaleta.
Some helpers make sure the puppets are ready for the dance.
Live music was provided by La Marimba, a marimba band from Buffalo, led by Tiffany Nicely.
The gymnasium at the Y was transformed into a celebration of the Day of the Dead.
Sue Fuller of Della’s Chocolates led a paper flower-making activity.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 October 2021 at 6:10 pm
This case at DeSales Catholic School Nunzio T. Maiorana Art Center holds a painter’s box, top, which belonged to Maiorana in 1956. Medina artist Arthur Barnes bought it at a yard sale years later. When he realized DeSales was dedicating their new Art Center to the Medina educator, Barnes restored and donated it to Mairoana’s former high school.
A much-loved Medina educator and graduate of DeSales High School was honored last Saturday at DeSales Catholic School in Lockport by dedication of their new Art Center in his name.
A large crowd gathered in the school to pay tribute to Nunzio T. Maiorana, who was described by family and school personnel as a man who not only loved DeSales, but every human being. He had been a popular teacher and school administrator in Medina, as well as athletic director.
Kim Knuutila, director of Admissions and Marketing at DeSales described Maiorana as a highly respected leader in both education and athletics throughout Niagara and Orleans counties.
“In addition to his educational talents, he was also an accomplished self-taught artist who specialized in pen and ink drawings of historic lighthouses and buildings from across the world,” Knuutila said in a press release prior to the dedication. “Each of his drawings was hand-drawn using jeweler’s glasses and each art piece contained more than 500,000 lines and dots.”
Some of his works are on display in the Art Center, along with a display case with a painter’s box which belonged to Maiorana in 1956. The box had been purchased many years ago at a yard sale by Medina artist Arthur Barnes, who restored the box and donated it to DeSales. Maiorana’s name and the date are etched in the cover. When Barnes heard about the art center being dedicated to Nunzio, he knew that was where it belonged.
Nunzio T. Maiorana
The dedication began at 1 p.m. with a ribbon cutting by Nunzio’s widow Charlotte, his children David and Ann-Marie, the Rev. Walter Szczesny and Assemblyman Michael Norris.
David, a general contractor in New York City, said Harvey Mack and his men did the shell of the room, while David built the cabinets.
David said his dad loved DeSales, his teachers, his football coach and his teammates.
He described his father as a man who looked deeper into everyone, and didn’t write them off if they were struggling.
“I’ve heard so many times from someone who graduated, got a job or became a teacher because of my dad,” David said. “He knew families of his students, their parents and their lineage. That’s why people respected him.”
Nelda Toussaint of Medina looks at a display of pen and ink drawings by the late Nunzio T. Maiorana, a Medina educator and graduate of DeSales High School, for whom the new Art Center was dedicated on Saturday.
As an example, he related the story of a kid who was ready to expelled by the principal. Nunzio was superintendent at the time and called the kid into his office. According to David, his dad told the boy, “Here’s a pass. Go back to class.”
“And now, that man is a mechanic for Mercedes-Benz,” David said.
Ann-Marie thanked everyone who had anything to do with the event – from her family to friends and school personnel.
“Dad would be so proud,” she said. “Last Thursday night, Dad was inducted into DeSales Distinguished Hall of Fame, and we were here. Our father was a man of God’s own heart.”
She said her father, who died in January 2018, was born in Lockport and graduated from DeSales in 1958. She called him “kind, loving and giving of himself – a naturally talented artist and leader of his students.”
She continued, saying, “He was a block of granite on the (football) field, a rock for his family and a positive role model for all who knew him.”
He joined the faculty of Medina High School in the fall of 1963, where he taught pre-vocational studies, English and history and was assistant high school football coach. He was also superintendent of curriculum and finance.
The family of Nunzio T. Maiorana, a long-time Medina educator and graduate of DeSales High School, cut the ribbon to officially dedicate the Nunzio T. Maiorana Art Studio Saturday afternoon at DeSales Catholic School. From left are Maiorana’s daughter Ann-Marie Maiorana, widow Charlotte, the Rev. Walter Szczesny, Assemblyman Michael Norris and Maiorana’s son David.
Ann Marie said creation of an art center in honor of her dad was the idea of her mom’s friend of 71 years, Brenda Crow.
“She came to Mom and said,” We need to do something to honor Nunzio in some way.”
David said his mom asked him if he could make it happen. He commended everyone from the employee of his company who drew the plans to the men who built it to perfection.
Many people were instrumental in making it happen. David did a lot of the communication, made sure they had an architect and hired a contractor. Takeform in Medina provided signage. Family friends, Christiana and Joseph DeVoe of Lockport were the local contacts and arranged for the catering from Zambistro’s in Medina.
Remarks were also made by art teacher Kristen McCabe, who said this art center will impact students forever. She said DeSales opened as a high school in 1946, and now serves students in kindergarten through Pre-K.
“Projects like this art center will help us attract new students in the future,” she said.
David’s 40th class reunion at Medina High School is tonight and Saturday. He also plans to attend the Homecoming football game tonight in Medina.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 October 2021 at 11:04 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Mitch Kwandrans and his fiancée Johanna Chelton stand in their new store, Hemp House, which has opened at 409 Main Street in Medina.
MEDINA – When Mitch Krandrans and his fiancée Johanna Chelton pitch the benefits of hemp and CBD to their customers, they can back up what they’re talking about.
Kwandrans and Chelton recently opened the Hemp House at 409 Main St., in Medina, where they sell a variety of products made from hemp.
Kwandrans first tried CBD for pain a few years ago for serious neck and back pain.
“It really worked, once I found a brand that was reputable,” he said.
Then Chelton started taking it for severe foot pain caused by plantar fasciitis and a bone spur.
“I have had eczema for 18 years, and four months into taking CBD, I noticed my eczema was completely gone,” Kwandrans said. “I had previously tried creams, steroids and everything doctors could prescribe.”
Today he has no foot pain whatsoever.
Mitch Kwandrans holds his dog Chance in the new Hemp House he and his fiancée Johanna Chelton recently opened in Medina. They also sell hemp products for dogs and cats.
They started to do research on auto immune diseases and decided to develop a brand themselves, which wouldn’t cut any corners.
“We wanted a pure product that actually matches what it says on the bottle,” Kwandrans said.
They contracted with a farm in La Junta, Colo. to grow their hemp. It is then taken to a nearby facility with extraction equipment, where it is purified and packaged in Kwandrans’ containers for shipment to Medina. He stressed the facility is FDA registered and Current Good Manufacturing Practices-certified. Then their product is shipped to a third-party lab to be full-panel tested for purity, potency, pesticides, heavy metals, contaminants and microbials, such as ecoli or salmonella.
Customers can scan a code on the labels with their cell phone and bring up the product’s entire lab report.
Kwandrans created a company, Kraydo Organics, in 2016 and went online selling kratom from Indonesia. That was going really strong, he said.
He owns his brand, Higher Purpose CBD, which he developed in 2019. They began selling their products all over the country, and then people start asking why he didn’t have a store to sell it locally.
“This store was available, and we contacted Tom Snyder (owner of building) and made a deal,” Kwandrans said. “We wanted to bring access to people who wanted to try it or normally wouldn’t have heard about it. Our stuff is all pharmaceutical grade.”
The Hemp House sells CBD oils and creams, gummies made from elderberry extract, sleep aids and CBD for dogs and cats and dog treats. Their dog Chance, a Yorkshire Terrier, is pictured on the packaging for their pet products. Hemp flowers and hemp flower buds are big sellers, Kwandrans said.
Kwandrans explained CBD products work with the endocannabinoid system to decrease inflammation all over the body. With consistent use, its benefits really build up, and relief will increase over time.
Kwandrans said CBD was first put out in the country in California in 2015. It had been a gray area, he said, until President Trump signed the Farm Bill, making growing hemp legal.
The Hemp House has a large following of customers willing to share their personal success stories from using CBD products.
One is Megg Wakefield, who buys CBD treats and tincture oil for dogs.
“We have tried other brands – some that claim to be premium and at a premium cost – and none of them have helped our extremely high-strung and anxious mixed-breed pup as much as High Purpose. Our dog loves the flavor and prefers them over any other treats. Best of all, Hemp House offers their product at a much more affordable price.”
Leah Steverson said she was so happy Kwandrans and Chelton opened the store in Medina, facilitating a convenient way for her to treat her chronic back pain. She loves that it is non-habit forming.
“It just makes sense,” she said. “I’d like to see my friends continue to thrive and provide access to medicinal treatments that work.”
Another satisfied customer is Lee Sullivan who buys CBD products for his cat Marlon and himself.
“Once I decided to visit, I was pleased to find the shop is very bright and organized, and owners are friendly and helpful,” Sullivan said.
He said he has noticed a big improvement in his cat’s attitude and activity level, even at 14 years.
“I also bought hemp for my own personal use for nerve pain and sleep,” Sullivan said. “I couldn’t be more happy with the quality of their flower. The effects were powerful and exactly what I needed.”
Hemp House is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They accept phone orders and deliver on Sundays. Orders may be placed online at medinahemphouse.com.
Kwandrans and Chelton strongly advocate for the village to opt in to cannabis dispensaries. This will eliminate the danger of purchased it on the street where it is unregulated.
If the village opts out, Kwandrans said they have the ability to have a petition signed by residents of Medina requesting a permissive referendum to put it on a ballot and let the residents decide. They will have papers at Hemp House for residents to sign their name, address and phone number, so Kwandrans can develop a roster for those who are willing to sign a petition, if needed.
Crime and Carpetbags will be released with a celebration this evening at Author’s Note in Medina.
MEDINA – Medina native Julie Berry will launch her latest middle grade novel, Crime and Carpetbags, at 7 p.m. tonight at Author’s Note, the newly reopened book store at 519 Main St.
Berry, a New York Times Bestselling author, recently relocated with her family from Los Angeles to buy and renovate the former Book Shoppe.
She will read from, discuss and sign copies of her new novel, which is the second installment in her Wishes and Wellingtons series. Books will be available for purchase in-store and online.
Crime and Carpetbags picks up where Wishes and Wellingtons left off, with spitfire Maeve Merritt, her friends Tommy and Alice, and an irascible djinni named Mermeros getting into magical hijinks in and around late-Victorian London.
Now that Maeve has surrendered Mermeros, she expects her life in London will be dull as dirt. But villains from Maeve’s previous escapades are still searching for the djinni, now in the hands of Mr. Poindexter, Tom’s adoptive father. When Mr. Poindexter and Mermeros go missing, the trio soar off to find Tom’s dad and that rascal, Mermeros, before the djinni’s fabled wishes fall into the wrong hands.
Booklist says of the novel, “Berry unfolds a charming and witty Victorial adventure, marked by a mysterious villain, flying carpet bags and a daring rescue, but it’s the tight friendship among Maeve, Alice and Tom that makes the story soar.” Kirkus Reviews says, “Fans of E. Nesbit and Edward Eager will find much to love. This action-packed sequel posses strong voice and setting.”
The event this evening is free and open to the public.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 October 2021 at 9:18 am
MEDINA – A push to form positive relations with the small businesses in Orleans County has resulted in a substantial donation to United Way of Orleans County.
One of the first things Nyla Gaylord did after she was hired as public relations/fundraiser for United Way was to start visiting small businesses and ask them to consider supporting United Way by selling tickets to their chicken barbecue.
One of the businesses, Mark’s Pizzeria in Medina, stepped up and designated one week in September in which $2 of every pizza sold would go to United Way.
Dean Bellack, executive director of United Way of Orleans County, stands in front of Mark’s Pizzeria on Main Street in Medina. Mark’s recently held a promotion, where $2 of every pizza sold during one week was donated to United Way.
Recently, United Way’s executive director Dean Bellack accepted a check from Mark’s for $2,800.
“We are thrilled one more business has stepped up to support United Way of Orleans County,” Bellack said.
He has also taken the opportunity to announce a new, convenient way to give to United Way.
“We not offer ‘Text to Give” as an easy way to donate,” Bellack said. “Every donation is valued and needed. All donations stay in Orleans County.”
To connect with Text to Give, just text 4224 to 41444. More information is available on United Way’s website.
Bellack has also announced United Way has created a new convenient way to give.
Called Text to Give, donors can text 4224 to 41444 and donate quickly and easily.
“Every donation is valued and needed,” Bellack said. “All donations stay in Orleans County and benefit our local needs.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 October 2021 at 11:50 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Sue and Sam Hershberger share duties at the Faith Covenant Fellowship church at 11945 Million Dollar Highway, Medina. They arrived from Oklahoma after the previous pastor left.
MEDINA – A small church on the edge of town has welcomed a new pastor and his wife.
The Rev. Sam Hershberger and his wife Sue arrived from Oklahoma, where he was in between pastoring jobs. Searching online, they discovered Faith Covenant Fellowship at 11945 Million Dollar Highway was looking for a pastor, after the church’s had left.
Moving from Oklahoma to Western New York wasn’t that big of a change for them as they are formerly from Ohio and still have family there. The couple has five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They had left Ohio in 2006 to attend Rhema Bible College in Broken Arrow, Okla.
The pastor does the preaching and Sue takes care of the administrative duties, the pastor said.
“The congregation has been very welcoming to us,” he said.
His first sermon at the new church was preached via Zoom from their home in Oklahoma. He would like to being offering his sermons here online in 2022.
Faith Covenant Fellowship was founded by Jerry and Pat Grimes of Medina. Their daughter Amy Miller has stayed as worship leader.
The pastor said his sermons are Bible-based, where the spirit is free to move. He uses Bible principles adapted to real life.
“He preaches faith and healing,” Sue said.
The church also has a children’s ministry run by Chad Wirth, and a nursery all set up, ready for growth, Sue said.
Every other month, they have a potluck dinner.
They welcome the community to join them for Sunday worship or prayer meetings and Bible study at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
Currently, the couple is living in the Millville United Methodist Church parsonage, while they search for a home to buy.
Faith Covenant Fellowship just east of Medina has welcomed a new pastor and his wife. They hope to grow the congregation, which meets at 10 a.m. Sundays for worship.
Photo and information courtesy of Medina Marching Band
VICTOR – The Victor Marching Band hosted a competition on Saturday with 14 bands from around Western NY competing. Despite the ominous prediction, the weather held out allowing all of the bands to compete.
In SS1, Medina earned 1st place with a score of 88.85 followed by East Irondequoit in 2nd with 85.75.
There were 4 bands in the SS3 class and Norwich earned 1st place with a score of 76.40 followed by Marcus Whitman in 2nd at 76.35, Leroy in 3rd at 74.90 and Falconer-Frewsburg in 4th with 72.45.
The LS3 class had 2 competitors with Greece earning 1st place at 80.05 followed by Hilton with 78.55.
Webster led the LS2 class with a score of 84.80 followed by West Seneca in 2nd place at 83.50 and Orchard Park in 3rd place with 79.95.
There were 3 National bands performing and Victor earned 1st place with 88.55, Lancaster in 2nd at 88.30 and Jamestown in 3rd with 83.55.
Medina’s next competition is Saturday in Greece.
The NYS Field Band Championships are on Sunday, Oct. 31, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Travel time from Medina is approximately 2 1/2 hours and parking at the Dome is usually $10 a car. Tickets can only be purchased at the Dome and are $19 for adults, $13 for senior citizens 65 and older, and $13 for and students 18 years and younger. This ticket price is for the whole day. Everyone must wear a mask while in the Dome except while eating. This is for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. If you are bringing anything into the Dome it must be in a clear bag and not very big. SS1 class begins at 5:30 p.m. and Medina performs at 5:45 p.m.
