Provided photo: Staff from the Emergency Department at Medina Memorial Hospital pose with Christine Nenni (the costumed character) and Michelle Wiseman from Best of Tymes Party Rentals, who donated buckets full of toys for children at the emergency department.

MEDINA – Children who are brought to the Emergency Department of Medina Memorial Hospital will find the experience a little less frightening, thanks to the generosity of two local women.

Christine Nenni and Michelle Wiseman, co-owners of Best of Tymes Party Rentals in Albion, have donated numerous buckets of small toys and activities to the Emergency Department, so that children who are brought in will have something to entertain them during a stressful situation, said Heather Smith, director of the Orleans Community Health Foundation.

Nenni and Wiseman founded their business in spite of the pandemic, because they wanted to provide a safe, fun environment where families could get together and spend quality time.

“People couldn’t go out and have fun during Covid, so we decided to bring fun safely to their homes, where they could party with family and friends they knew were safe to be around,” Nenni said. “We had two nieces who turned 13 and their parties were shot down due to the pandemic. We have developed a way to bring safe and affordable fun to everyone.”

Nenni said their party rentals,  which include a bounce house, popcorn machine, nacho station, outdoor games, snow cone machine, and more, cost one-fourth of what similar businesses in the city charge.

This spring, the women decided they wanted to help children in the area, so they contacted the Department of Social Services, Medina Central School, which has a backpack program, and the Medina hospital, and they began donating buckets of small toys.

Smith and Angela Moriarty, Emergency Department manager, couldn’t be more appreciative of the donations.

“Our ER at Medina Memorial Hospital sees around 850 children under the age of 12 in a year, so these types of donations are wonderful to bring joy to kids during a difficult time,” Smith said.

Moriarty hopes Best of Tymes Party Rentals’ gesture will prompt the community to pitch in and donate similar items. In the past, staff of the ED have been purchasing items for children out of their own pockets.

“We typically buy dollar store or Oriental Trading Company-type items, like stuffed animals, books, puzzle games, activity books, toy cars and dolls,” Moriarty said. “Sometimes families don’t want their children to bring home things they’ve played with while there were here, because of fear of infection, so it gets thrown away.”

Any items may be dropped off at the hospital’s front reception desk.

Nenni and Wiseman have developed ways to entertain children, while maintaining Covid safety precautions. At Christmas, they set up an event at their home where Santa sat on a bench on one side of the area and the children were on the other side.

At Easter, the women went to Burger King, McDonalds and Case-Nic Cookies and got items donated from each, which they included in the buckets handed out to children. The Easter Bunny (wearing one of their party rental costumes) rode in the back of their pickup truck while they drove around, mostly in the rural areas, handing out goodies.

Nenni said the idea to help children evolved from the fact Wiseman is a single mom and knows how hard it is for some families to buy even the smallest treats for their children. The women plan to continue their “bucket program” in the future and intend to contact Medina Police and Fire Department and COVA to see how Best of Tymes Party Rentals can work with them to help children.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul rows in a kayak in Medina on June 15 to promote a free kayaking program in the Erie Canal. She was joined in kayaks by Brian Stratton, state canal director; Greg Reed, director of the Orleans County YMCA; and Mike Sidari, Medina mayor.

MEDINA – The appointments have been filling up to use kayaks and hydro-bikes for free this summer in Medina. However, there are still many open slots.

The State Canal Corp. announced the 8-week program on June 15, in an event that included Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and State Canal Commissioner Brian Stratton, who both were in Medina for the announcement. They both tried kayaking in the canal that day, and Stratton even rode a hydro-bike.

Medina is one of five canal communities offering free “On the Canals” outdoor excursions this summer as part of the state’s Reimagine the Canals initiative. The other communities in the program include Macedon, Waterloo, Savannah and Amsterdam.

Stratton said the state is pushing to make the canal a bigger impact in the canal towns. Hochul on June 15 said the state is making a big tourism push to get New Yorkers and out-of-staters to vacation and experience sites all over the Empire State. She believes Medina will appeal to many people, especially with a historic downtown filled with local businesses.

In the new program offering kayaks and hydro-bikes, the New York Power Authority (which oversees the canal) will partner with the Orleans County YMCA. The hydro-bikes and kayaks are available to rent with appointments made online. The YMCA will lead excursions at Glenwood Lake and the Canal.

Click here to make an appointment.

Brian Stratton, state canal director, is on the hydro-bike and Greg Reed, Orleans County YMCA, is in the kayak in this photo on June 15 at Medina’s Canal Basin.

Photos courtesy of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library

MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library had a petting zoo outside the library today to kick off a summer reading challenge, “Tails & Tales.”

The library held the petting zoo at a vacant lot it owns on North Avenue. About 500 people welcomed the chance to meet the animals and kick off a summer reading challenge.

The activities today also included tie-dye bags and eating pizza from Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza. There will be ab outdoor family movie, Madagascar, shown later tonight at 9:30 p.m.

Spirit Wind Farm of Sanborn brought kangaroos for the event. Kristine Mostyn (center) is the Lee-Whedon director and Samantha Covis, right, is the assistant director. They meet some of the kangaroos.

Last year’s summer reading challenge didn’t include in-person activities. This summer there will be many in-person programs, both inside and outside the library.

Some of the bigger events planned this summer include:

• Outdoor Movies: July 16 & 30, Aug. 13 & 27 at 9 p.m.
• Wolcottsville Wildlife Rescue on July 28 at 11 a.m.
• Hawk Creek Wildlife on July 29 at 1 p.m.
• Cris Johnson presenting “Horror in the Library” on August 3rd at 1 p.m.

There are online reading challenges on Beanstack. Click here for more information.

MEDINA – The Village Board on Monday voted to extend an agreement with the school district where a Medina police officer will work out of the district during the school year.

The village approved a contract with the district to reimburse the Medina Police Department $72,500 during the 2021-22 school and $75,000 during 2022-23. That is up from the $70,000 this past school year and $65,000 the previous year. The contract goes to the Medina Board of Education for its approval.

In Albion, the school district pays the village $81,250 to have an officer committed at the district from Sept. 1 to June 30.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has an officer at Lyndonville and Kendall school districts with those districts paying $95,070 to have a deputy assigned as a school resource officer.

In other action during Monday’s Village Board meeting:

• Jada Burgess was appointed the village clerk/treasurer, replacing the retiring Debbie Padoleski. Burgess has worked 12 years in the Village Office, including eight years as Padoleski’s deputy clerk.

The board also appointed Miranda Herbert to be the new deputy clerk. She has been working as an account clerk for the village. The board approved a $55,000 annual salary for Burgess and $36,000 for Herbert.

• The board will be seeking new bids for a kayak launch with the site to be handicapped accessible. The board sought cost estimates for the project but is going through the bidding process with the launch needing to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A grant and other state funding is expected to cover the costs of the project.

• The board approved a contract with O-AT-KA Milk Products in Batavia with Medina accepting up to 150,000 gallons from the plant weekly for two weeks. The village be paid 4 cents a gallon with 2 cents going to the sewer fund and 2 cents to the village general fund.

• Resident Roz Lind asked when gas stations aren’t allowed to post larger signs with the gas prices. They are limited to having the prices posted only at the pumps.

Mayor Mike Sidari said the Planning Board implemented that in the zoning code several years ago. He said we would pass the request to the Planning Board and seek an answer why the gas stations can’t have signs near the road with the gas prices.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Medina Mayor Mike Sidari presents a key to the Village of Medina to Debbie Padoleski in appreciation for her 41 years of work in the village clerk’s office, including the past eight years as village clerk/treasurer.

Padoleski retires on June 30. She has worked for Medina since she was 19.

Many current and former village employees and trustees attended a retirement party for Padoleski this afternoon. She joins them for a group photo outside the village clerk’s office at 119 Park Ave.

“I’ve met a lot of wonderful people,” Padoleski told the group. “This has not been a job to me. I hate to leave it but I know it’s time.”

Mayor Mike Sidari presents Padoleski with a proclamation declaring June 30, 2021 as “Debbie Padoleski Day” in Medina. That will be her last day at work.

Sidari has been the Medina mayor for five years. He praised her for provided guidance in his role as mayor.

Padoleski functions as the village’s chief financial officer. “She takes care of all the financials,” he said.

She also is a calming presence in the office, and will patiently explain tax bills and local laws to local residents.

The proclamation for Padoleski states:

“Debbie’s thorough knowledge of the day-to-day operations of the Village, including records and fiscal management, has made the Village of Medina a better place to live, work and visit. “With her dedication to the Village of Medina, Debbie has provided the Village with equitable and efficient operations that will have a long-lasting, positive influence on the Village,” states the proclamation, which is signed by Mayor Sidari and Village Trustees Owen Toale, Tim Elliott, Marguerite Sherman and Jessica Marciano.

Abundant Harvest UMC will lead activities at Knowlesville fellowship hall, while giving caregivers a rest

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Church of the Abundant Harvest in Millville in September will begin offering a monthly respite program at the church’s fellowship hall in Knowlesville. Pictured from left include Cheryl Babcock, Pastor Garry McCaffery, Jeanette Carlin (care consultant with the Alzheimer’s Association of WNY) and Ruth Higgins.

KNOWLESVILLE – A local church in September will begin offering a monthly respite program, offering four hours of activities for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

The program is intended to give caregivers a break while also providing socialization and fun for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

The Church of the Abundant Harvest needs volunteers for the program, which will provide 1-on-1 supervision for the activities. Volunteers would be needed for four hours, with the 1-on-1 supervision, or they could help in shorter stints with preparing and serving lunch, playing the piano, leading an art program or another activity. The church would also like a licensed therapy dog to be available.

Cheryl Babcock and Ruth Higgins are leading the program for the church.

“This is a need in our county,” said Babcock, who is a retired nurse. “We want to give the caregivers a rest. They are doing it 24-7, 365 days a year.”

Babcock said the church also wants to show love for people who with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child,” she said. “Well it takes a village to care for those who have gone ahead of us.”

The respite program will be based out the Abundant Harvest’s fellowship hall in Knowlesville. It will be offered the second Wednesday each month, beginning Sept. 8.

The Abundant Harvest is seeking volunteers ahead of the start of the program. There will be a four-training offered by the Alzheimer’s Association of WNY.

Other churches and organizations in WNY offer a similar respite program, including nearby in Indian Falls and Batavia, but this is the first in Orleans County that is affiliated with Alzheimer’s Association of WNY.

Jeanette Carlin, a care consultant with the Alzheimer’s Association of WNY, said the respite programs are needed for many families. There is currently a shortage of home health aides, and those that are available can cost $25 per hour which is too costly for many families.

The program at the Knowlesville fellowship hall will be free.

Volunteers and participants in the program are welcome from all backgrounds. Those interesting in volunteering can call the Church of the Abundant Harvest at (585) 798-1290 or (585) 798-3173 and leave a message with an ideal time to return the call. Or they can email the church at abundantharvestumc@gmail.com.

Photos courtesy of Kathy Blackburn: This lass poses in her faery costume during one of Medina’s Faery Festivals. Participants this year are urged to dress in their most enchanting costume.

MEDINA – Downtown Medina will witness a little bit of magic on Saturday, when the Fourth Annual Enchanted Faery Festival takes place.

Although the pandemic forced sponsors to cancel most of last year’s event, the Medina Area Partnership did hold a scavenger hunt.

This year, however, the Faery Festival will return in full force from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Information on the Faery Festival was handed out to elementary school students earlier this week.

The festival, sponsored by MAP, is open to any age, from small children to adults, all of whom are invited to dress up in their most enchanting costume.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. in Rotary Park, where pictures will be taken and a craft will be provided. Then entrants will walk through downtown, looking for 12 hidden faeries in store windows.

Six businesses – Lizzie and Lyric’s Boutique, Mandeo’s Candy Shoppe, Downtown Browsery, Della’s Chocolates and English Rose Tea Shoppe and Author’s Note book shop – will each have a craft project for entrants, in addition to Rotary Park.

A king, queen, prince and princess will be chosen. Creekside Floral and Blissett’s have agreed to provide crowns for the winners. Della’s Chocolates will provide scavenger hunt prizes.

“There is no cost to anybody – just fun,” Blackburn said.

At 1:30, the event will feature a faery dance and parade in Rotary Park.

Blackburn started the Faery Festival after hearing about one in another town, and brought the idea to Medina.

MAP’s event committee, who planned the event includes Blackburn, Ann Fisher Bale, Cindy Robinson, Wendy Wilson, Tim Elliott and Sue Fuller.

A group of costumed faeries of all ages searches for hidden faeries in store windows during a Faery Festival before last year’s pandemic.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Brenda Sills and her daughter Laura are presented with an “Honor and Remember” flag on Saturday during a ceremony at Alabama Full Gospel Church in Shelby. The flag is in honor of Steven Sills, who passed away at age 50 on March 23, 2020. Sills served with the U.S Army, 82nd Airborne Division and served a tour of duty in Iraq during Desert Storm.

The flag on Saturday was presented by Kristi Mangine, assistant director of the Honor and Remember chapter in New York State. Dan Criswell of Lockport, left, is holding the flag. His late son Daniel Criswell served as Army Ranger and also was friends with Sills. The Honor and Remember organization previously presented the Criswell family with a flag. Dan Criswell made the Sills’ family aware of the organization that seeks to honor soldiers who died in the line of duty or whose death is a result of their military service.

Steven Sills is honored in one of the hometown heroes banners in Medina. His portrait is shown on a banner on South Main Street, near Butts Park.

Sills is a 1987 Lyndonville graduate. After the Army, he earned two degrees at Fordham University in NYC.

Sills was known for a good heart and inquisitive mind. He was actively involved with WNY Mobile Overdose Prevention Services and Orleans Recovery Hope Begins Here.

Kristi Mangine discusses the symbols on the “Honor and Remember” flag, which is held by Dan Criswell and Mangine’s daughter, Cayna.

“This is our national symbol that reminds us that freedom comes at a high price and this flag is also a comfort to the families,” Mangine said.

• The Red Field represents the blood spilled by brave men and women in America’s military throughout our history, who willingly gave their lives so that we all would remain free.

• The Blue Star represents active service in military conflict. This symbol originated with World War I, but on this flag it signifies service through all generations from the American Revolution to present day.

• The White Border beneath and surrounding the gold star recognizes the purity of sacrifice. The Gold Star signifies the ultimate sacrifice of a solider in active service who will not return home. Gold reflects the value of the life that was given.

• The Folded Flag signifies the final tribute to an individual life that a family sacrificed and gave to the nation.

• The Flame is an eternal reminder of the spirit that has departed this life yet burns on in the memory of all who knew and loved the fallen hero.

Mangine has been active in the Honor and Remember organization the past five years. She said there are 1,026 soldiers and veterans in the state who are eligible for the “Honor and Remember” flags. Those soldiers either died in the War on Terror or as a result of their service, she said.

Mangine has been a part of about 300 ceremonies where the “Honor and Remember” flags were presented to families.

She also was part of a 150-mile run over three days on June 11-13. That Honor and Remember run went from Syracuse to Albany. At different stops along the way, the 1,026 names were read, including Sills’ name for the first time as part of that event.

Dave Kusmierczak attended the service with other members of the Honor Guard from Medina. They did a three-volley salute and played Taps in honor of Sills.

Brenda Sills thanked the community for its support since her son’s death. She is joined at the ceremony on Saturday by Sills’ aunt Nancy Horth and cousin Katie Smith.

Sills wants more families to be aware of the “Honor and Remember” flags.

“We want this honor to be made aware of for their fallen hero,” she said. “So many die on the battlefield, others shortly after and others live with 100 percent disability but eventually pass because of it. It is a life-changing event for any family.”

Sills said her son treasured his time in the military. But his service took a toll on his mental health.

“The greatest honor for him was to serve his country,” she said.

MEDINA – A workshop on headstone cleaning and resetting has been rescheduled. The workshop was set for this Saturday but has been moved to June 26 due to unpredictable weather on Saturday.

The workshop will start at 10 a.m. on June 26 at the cemetery on North Gravel Road. Kurt Riegel of Riegel Restoration in Sidney, NY is a historical preservationist specializing in gravestone restoration and historical window restoration. He will be giving a hands-on workshop and discussion on the dos and don’ts of cleaning, maintenance and resetting of historical headstones that have fallen into disrepair.

The workshop is open to all who are interested in the community. There will be a $10 admission fee at arrival. Additional donations are appreciated and will go towards headstone repair in Boxwood. No reservation is required.

Attendants are asked to bring along a clean bucket, a soft plastic brush, lawn chair, and a lunch if desired. The stone cleaning tutorial will start first at 10 a.m. and the stone resetting will follow. All are welcome to attend one or both workshops (approximately 3 to 4 hours total).

The Friends of Boxwood gratefully accepts any donation made by community members to help with these efforts. Donations may be mailed to ORG/ Friends of Boxwood, P.O. Box 543, Medina, NY 14103. Please visit the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery Facebook page.

Provided photos: Lions Region and Zone chair Peter Kaiser presented the Robert J. Uplinger Award for dedicated service to Medina Lions’ outgoing president Billy Roman at their annual banquet at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.

MEDINA – The Medina Lions Club held its year-end celebration June 8 at White Birth Golf Course in Lyndonville. The dinner recognized and thanked outgoing officers and board members who led the club through a very successful year, despite the many challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, said Lion Don Colquhoun.

Among those honored were outgoing president Billy Roman who was presented with the prestigious Robert J. Uplinger Award for dedicated service to the community. Roman also received several club recognition awards.

Medina Lion Dean Bellack, right, was honored by the Lions Clubs International Foundation with presentation of the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. Presenting the award is Lions Region and Zone chair Peter Kaiser.

Lion Dean Bellack was honored by the Lions Club International Foundation with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, the highest recognition a Lion can receive. Bellack has more than 15 years of service to his community.

John Oakes and Cindy Winters were inducted as new members into the Medina Lions at their annual June banquet at White Birch Golf Course.

The Lions’ region and zone chair Peter Kaiser inducted two new club members, John Oakes and Cindy Winters. He also inducted the club officers and board members for 2021-22. They included incoming president Tim Moriarty; vice presidents Jim Punch, Tom Robinson and James Gardner; treasurer, Ken Dunham; and secretary, Carol Bellack.

The evening concluded with a discussion of planned club activities for the next year, including the eighth annual Community Garage Sale, the fall Scarecrow Fest and all the other regular club community activities and events.

Ken Dunham, left, receives a plaque for dedicated service by the Medina Lions Club outgoing president Billy Roman.

Jacob Velesko touts Medina Waterfalls as ‘historical gem’

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Medina senior Jacob Velesko is presented with a check for $1,000 from Rob Klino on behalf of the Medina Sandstone Society’s John Ryan Scholarship Fund.

MEDINA – A scholarship from the Medina Sandstone Society will go a long way toward books and slides for college, recipient Jacob Velesko said Wednesday prior to receiving a $1,000 check from the Sandstone Society’s John Ryan Scholarship Fund.

“I’m happy and honored to be chosen,” Jacob said.

In front, Jacob Velesko, center, and his parents Jerry and Rose Ann of Middleport meet with two teachers from the History Department at Medina High School and members of the Sandstone Society prior to Jacob being presented with the John Ryan Scholarship. Second row, from left, are Mary Zangerle, Peggy Schreck, Craig Lacy and Barbara Waters. At rear, from left, are Jim Hancock, history teacher Todd Bensley, Rob Klino, Craig Tuohey, history teacher Margaret Martin and Sue Holland. The group is shown on the steps at City Hall.

Jacob and his parents, Jerry and Rose Ann Velesko of Middleport, were invited to the Sandstone Hall of Fame in Medina’s city hall on Wednesday afternoon to meet with members of the Sandstone Society and two Medina High School history teachers, Todd Bensley and Margaret Martin.

Jacob, who plans to attend the University of Buffalo to study mechanical engineering, won the scholarship by writing an essay on the topic, “Tell us About Your Favorite Medina Historical Gem.”

Jacob’s choice was what he called the “Mighty Medina Falls.”

His mother said Jacob first saw the Medina Falls, located on the north side of the canal off Horan Road, when she took him on an Alzheimer’s walk when he was 7 or 8.

“The path by the falls was part of the walk, and Jacob never forgot it,” Rose Ann said.

He said he chose to write about the falls because it is something which makes Medina unique.

“Look how they promote Niagara Falls,” Jacob said. “We kind of have our own Niagara Falls right here. It’s a pretty unique site for a small town.”

Sandstone Society member Jim Hancock welcomed guests who gathered in the Sandstone Hall of Fame. He explained the Hall of Fame was started in 2013 to showcase all the beautiful sandstone buildings throughout Western New York, the state of New York and even Canada and England.

“Sandstone has been here millions and millions of years, but it was just discovered when they dug the Erie Canal,” Hancock said.

Every year since 2013, a committee traveled to visit historic sandstone buildings and a handful were inducted into the Hall of Fame, every year but last year.

“We will be having an induction ceremony this year,” Hancock said. “Some of these buildings are more than a hundred years old.”

Members of the John Ryan Scholarship committee are Rob Klino, Craig Tuohey and Mary Zangerle.

Margaret Martin, Jacob’s history teacher, said he was an excellent student.

“He is very deserving of this scholarship,” she said.

Provided photo

MEDINA – The Fillipelli family, which owns Tim Hortons in Medina, is shown with members of the Szatkowski family, who are raising money for ALS research and services. Medina native Jimmer Szatkowski in April was diagnosed with ALS.

Pictured from left include: Jennifer Fillippelli, Joey Fillipelli, Giuseppe Fillipelli, Betty Szatkowski (Jimmer’s Wife), Jimmer Szatkowski, Andrew Szatkowski, Sara, Lukin, and Wyatt Szatkowski

The Szatkowski family sold ‘Team Jimmer’ bracelets at Tim Hortons on May 25. The Fillippelli family agreed to donate $1 for every Team Jimmer bracelet that was sold that day. The Fillippellis donated $716 toward the cause. Altogether, the fundraising effort totaled $8,545.50 on May 25.

“It was an awesome day,” said Andrew Szatkowski. “Medina really showed up, and the Tim Hortons crew really shined! I really cannot thank the Fillipelli family enough, they have been incredibly generous, and we are blessed to call them friends.”

Jimmer Szatkowski is Andrew’s brother. Jimmer, 48, is a Medina native. He now lives in the Syracuse area and owns two Chick-fil-A restaurants, with sites in Cicero and Clay.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

“We have hope that there will be a cure; however ALS research is underfunded,” the “Team Jimmer” cards stated that were included with the bracelets. “We need funds to make this Cure possible!”