Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A member of the color guard at Lancaster performs during Saturday’s “Fall Festival of the Bands” competition at Vets Park in Medina.

There were seven field bands at the competition including the Pride of Rochester, Marcus Whitman, Hilton, West Seneca, Medina, Lancaster and Jamestown.

About 1,000 people attended the event, which returned last year after being cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lancaster performed a show with the theme of “Eyes of Surprise.” Lancaster utilizes both traditional folk songs and original music to explore the many moods expressed by eyes.

Lancaster was second in National Class on Saturday with a score of 78.90.

The West Seneca Marching Band performed a show called “Lux Solaris.” It was based on the beauty of the sun and takes the crowd through a full day of sunshine, a luminous sunrise, through the bright and energetic morning, a gorgeous afternoon and a glorious sunset.

West Seneca earned first in Large School 2 at 75.95 points.

The West Seneca band walks off the field at Vets Park after their performance on Saturday.

Jamestown performed “Lunar Odyssey.” The show imagined what the dark side of the moon would look, feel and sound like. The band tried to make the crowd imagine what it what be like to explore this mysterious side of the moon.

Jamestown earned first in National Class at 79.0 points.

Jamestown’s Drum Major Juliana Yanik acknowledges the crowd and judges.

Medina posted the top score of the evening at 81.05. That was also first place in the Small School 1 division, and also higher than the larger schools in the competition.

The Medina show is “Take to the Skies.” It is a voyage amongst the clouds that are experienced when traveling through the air on a flight to and from a dream destination during the Jet Age of aviation.

There are four movements in the Medina show – Taking Off, Amongst the Clouds, Arriving at Your Destination, and Returning Home.

Three other field bands also performed Saturday in Medina. Hilton was first in Large School 1 at 71.40; Marcus Whitman was first in Small School 3 at 69.35; and The Pride of Rochester was in exhibition and wasn’t scored.

The Pride of Rochester did a show based on “Motown Melodies,” featuring iconic Motown performances including by the Jackson Five, and “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvellettes.

Marcus Whitman’s show was based on the music of West Side Story while Hilton presented a baseball-themed show called “Batter Up!”

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Melissa Valley, left, president of the Mustang Sports Boosters, and secretary Mollie Mark hold a poster promoting a unique new look for Homecoming the Week of Oct. 3 to 7.

MEDINA – Homecoming is always a highlight at every school, but at Medina High School next week, the Mustang Sports Boosters want to share the excitement with the whole community.

The Mustangs will celebrate homecoming from Oct. 3 to Oct. 7, including when the Medina Mustang football team faces Springville-Griffith Institute next Friday at Veterans Memorial Park.

“To us, homecoming is a community event, a time to celebrate not just Mustang athletics, but who we are as a community,” said Melissa Valley, president of the Mustang Boosters. “Businesses are so supportive of us and we want to support them.”

The Boosters’ goal for homecoming week is to have the whole community involved in the Mustang Spirit, Valley said. They hope to get businesses involved in two ways.

To support the local businesses, the Boosters will advertise their business on their website and on social media. They will create a “Mustang menu,” where businesses can promote a “Mustang special” for the week of homecoming. Businesses who wish to participate are asked to come up with a special offer for that week.

“We expect nothing in return,” Valley said. “We want to support you by enticing the community to support your business, while encouraging Mustang spirit.”

The second way is with a window contest. Businesses are asked to decorate their store windows to show Mustang spirit. The public will then be invited to vote for the best decorated window via the Mustang Boosters Twitter and Facebook pages. The winner will be announced at halftime during the homecoming game.

“We are all Mustangs, not just the sports teams,” Valley said. “When people come into Medina, we want them to feel the Mustang spirit.”

The Boosters have ordered a banner which will be draped across Main Street during the week. They will further support local businesses by selling cookies from Case-Nic Cookies, chocolates from Della’s and carnations from Creekside Florist at the high school. Mike Lepkyj, tech teacher, and his classes are making Mustang molds for Della’s to make the Mustang chocolates.

“We hope people will shop and buy Mustang specials,” Valley said. “I’m excited everyone is on board with us.”

Applications for businesses who want to participate can be found on the Booster’s website at https://sites.com/mustangboosters.org/msb. That is also the site on which to vote for the best-decorated store.

Also assisting Valley, who teaches sixth grade and coaches field hockey and track, is Mollie Mark, fourth-grade teacher who coaches modified cross country and is secretary of the Mustang Sports Boosters.

Homecoming Week will also feature the first ever Powder Puff flag football game on Wednesday at Vets Park. The junior girls will play the seniors and the boys will be cheerleaders. The game will start at 6:30 p.m. and admission is $2 to benefit the Student Association. Concessions will be available.

This was an idea kids in the Student Association came up with, said Student Association adviser Kayla Rosenbeck.

Friday will also feature food trucks in the Oak Orchard School bus loop from 4 to 7 p.m.

“We hope to make this an annual event,” Valley said. “We need more things that bring us together and make us happy.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Medina Mustangs compete at home on Saturday during the “Fall Festival of Bands.”

Medina posted the top score on the evening at 81.05. That was first place in the Small School 1 division, and also higher than the larger schools in the competition.

The results included Jamestown, first in National Class at 79.0; Lancaster, second in National Class at 78.90; West Seneca, first in Large School 2 at 75.95; Hilton, first in Large School 1 at 71.40; Marcus Whitman, first in Small School 3 at 69.35; and The Pride of Rochester, in exhibition (no score).

The Medina band will next compete on Oct. 1 in Oswego.

Here are some more photos of the Medina band. About 1,000 people attended the competition at Vets Park.

The Medina show is “Take to the Skies.” It is a voyage amongst the clouds that are experienced when traveling through the air on a flight to and from a dream destination during the Jet Age of aviation.

There are four movements in the show – Taking Off, Amongst the Clouds, Arriving at Your Destination, and Returning Home.

This year’s band consists of 91 students of which 27 are seniors and 23 rookies. The band is directed this year for the first time by Matthew Jaeger.

The Marching Band Booster Club sold buttons and other merchandise. They also ran food concessions and sold 50/50 tickets.

Mia Hobbs leads the band as drum major. She is shown above the front ensemble.

Medina site has only confirmed grand prize winner in US for ‘Roll Up The Rim To Win’ promotion

MEDINA – A Tim Hortons customer in Medina is the only confirmed winner in the United States of a new Ford Bronco.

The customer won the grand prize as part of the Tim Hortons’ “Roll Up The Rim To Win” promotion, which was back in March 7 to April 3.

“She is a great customer,” said Jennifer Karbowski, chief operating office and managing owner of the Medina site. “She comes through the drive-through and is a very frequent customer.”

The customer will drive the new Bronco to Tim Hortons for a celebration on Oct. 5.

“That chance is very slim, and to happen in Medina is a beautiful deal,” Karbowski said. “I’m so happy for her.”

The promotion at Tim Hortons usually results in prizes for a free beverage or baked good. The customer who won the grand prize played through an app. Every time a coffee or hot beverage is purchased the app is scanned.

There were only two potential winners out of 650 locations in the United States. So far the Medina customer is the only confirmed winner.

“This is a long-standing promotion and we’re very excited for Orleans County,” Karbowski said.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Nancy Walker was one of several members of the Orleans County Retired Teachers’ Association who were presented certificates of appreciation by outgoing president Frank Berger at their annual meeting Thursday. Seated in the foreground are Al Buell of Albion and Grace Kent of Albion.

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County Chapter of Retired Teachers Association had their annual meeting Thursday at the Abundant Harvest Fellowship Hall.

The 13 educators collectively amassed nearly 400 years of teaching in basically every school subject, from industrial arts to physical education.

Those in attendance included Frank Berger of Medina, Al Buell of Albion, Gary and Grace Kent of Albion, Gail Johnson of Albion, Nancy Walker of Holley, Georgia Thomas of Medina, Barb Filipiak of Medina, Kay VanNostrand of Medina, Jill Klotzbach of Basom, Charlene Smith of Medina, Ann Czajkowski of Barker and Kathy Punch of Medina. Also attending was Mary Beth Tyndall, president of the Central Western Zone RTA.

Berger, who has served 10 terms as president, presided at the meeting, during which a new slate of officers was elected. They are Georgia Thomas of Medina, president; Gary Kent of Albion, vice president; Nancy Walker of Holley, recording secretary; Gail Johnson of Albion, corresponding secretary; and Charlene Smith of Medina, treasurer.

New officers elected at the Orleans County Retired Teachers’ annual meeting Tuesday are, from left, Georgia Thomas of Medina, president; Gary Kent of Albion, vice president; Nancy Walker of Holley, recording secretary; Gail Johnson of Albion, corresponding secretary; and Charlene Smith of Medina, treasurer.

Berger issued a plea for someone to volunteer as a historian for the organization. He said it was important to have their history documented.

Berger presented certificates of appreciation to several members, including Nancy Walker and Gary Kent. Two recipients, Jeffrey Annable of Gasport and Eileen Wuethrich of Kendall, were not in attendance. The awards were actually announced by the New York State Retired Teachers’ Association at the Central Western Zone meeting a week ago.

Treasurer Ann Czajkowski reported the RTA would donate $100 to Camp Rainbow for the 22nd consecutive year. Jenn Batt from Camp Rainbow was guest speaker at the meeting.

Another $100 was donated last year to the Cobblestone Museum and $50 to the autism trail at Letchworth State Park.

Part of the money for donations is earned from raffles at each meeting, conducted by Barb Filipiak. On Thursday, Filipiak sold tickets for a 50/50 drawing and chances to win a Buffalo Bills banner which had been donated.

Mary Beth Tyndall, president of the Central West Zone of Retired Teachers’ Association, addresses those in attendance at the annual meeting Thursday at Abundant Harvest Fellowship Hall in Knowlesville.

Kathy Punch of Medina, a retired teacher, shared information about OCALS (Orleans County Accredited Learning Services) and explained the need for tutors.

Thomas shared she has volunteered as a tutor for OCALS and it was very rewarding.

“When you see a child all of a sudden ‘get it,’ it’s a wonderful thing,” she said.

Czajkowski stressed the importance of members attending meetings, after declining membership caused the Orleans County RTA to consider disbanding before Covid.

“We are in a time when all groups are wondering how they can keep going,” she said. “But people don’t realize how much fun it is to be with other colleagues.”

Grace Kent reported on the Membership Committee, saying she sends letters to all school administrators requesting names of newly retired teachers. They have one honorary life member, Joanne Loughlin of Medina.

The Orleans chapter, which used to meet in the spring and fall, has decided to have just one meeting a year. It will be in the fall to welcome new retirees.

Retirees were reminded anyone who worked in a school system in any capacity in Orleans County is eligible to join the Retired Teachers Association.

(Editor’s Note: An earlier version of the article said the village would move its meeting locations to the Shelby Town Hall, but an agreement hasn’t been finalized yet.)

MEDINA – The Village of Medina is looking to make the Shelby Town Hall its official meeting place location after a complaint was filed that City Hall isn’t handicapped accessible.

Medina Mayor Mike Sidari said village officials initially discussed having the meetings at the Ridgeway Town Hall, which is in the village. But many of the official Ridgeway meetings are scheduled at the same time as Medina’s.

The Shelby Town Hall is just outside the village. Medina has used the building before for Village Board meetings until the sessions were moved to the Senior Center on West Avenue.

The village also has a meeting room in the village office on Park Avenue but that is a smaller room used for work sessions.

The village has commissioned a study to have the village office expanded for a bigger meeting space. If the meeting room is enlarged, Sidari said that will likely become the main meeting room for the Village Board, Planning Board, Boxwood Cemetery Commission, Tourism Committee, Waterfront Development Committee, Parks Committee, Police Advisory Committee, Visioning Committee, and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Medina hasn’t finalized an agreement with Shelby. Sidari said he will work with Shelby officials on times for the Medina meetings so that aren’t in conflict with Shelby’s meetings.

He said he appreciated Shelby offering use of the Town Hall while the village works towards a long-term solution.

In other action during last week’s Village Board meeting:

• The board heard from resident Jason Irwin of Frank Street who has declined to cut down some of the wild flowers on his property. He has been cited by the village code officer for having grass that is too high. Code officer Dan Gardner also sees the wildflowers as “unsightly” and a “detriment to the surrounding properties.”

Irwin said he has kept the grass below the 10-inch threshold, but he has been experimenting with the wildflowers on his property.

Mayor Sidari urged Irwin to put stones and landscaping around the wildflowers. He said it looks to be a hodge-podge approach.

Irwin said he has learned a lot this year and will work to have landscaped spots on the property for the wildflowers, while pulling out weeds and obnoxious plants.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Julie Berry, right, New York Times Best Selling Author and owner of Author’s Note book store in Medina, and her buyer and cousin Erica Caldwell are planning for the store’s one-year anniversary on Saturday.

MEDINA – Saturday will mark the one-year anniversary of Author’s Note book store, and owner Julie Berry, a New York Times Best Selling Author, is planning a big celebration.

Julie and her husband Phil were living in Los Angeles when she learned the book store in her home town was for sale. She couldn’t take a chance there would not be a book store here, so she and Phil made the decision to move back to Medina and purchase the store.

A year later, she can’t believe a year has gone by and how successful their venture has been.

“Come and celebrate our birthday with us,” Julie said. “We couldn’t have done it without you,” she said of the public’s support of her store. “We’ve felt so much love from the community. No business can exist without that love. We are really celebrating the Author’s Note family and all the community who supports us. We are so grateful.”

She also couldn’t have done it without her buyer and cousin Erica Caldwell.

Julie is especially thankful that local schools and libraries are buying some books from her.

Author’s Note will celebrate on Saturday, with music in the store, popcorn and small gifts for children. Julie anticipates completion of new book shelves and is hoping to unveil new lines of merchandise.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from additionally from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Author’s Note is located at 519 Main St.

Bills alumni were in town to raise money for prostate cancer research, awareness

Photos by Tom Rivers: Six former Buffalo Bills spoke recently during a fundraiser at Medina Theatre as part of a benefit of Prostate Cancer Awareness. From left include Marlon Kerner, Booker Edgerson, Ed Rutkowski, Lou Piccone, Ken Jones and Paul Maguire. Randy Bushover at right served as emcee.

MEDINA – Six former Buffalo Bills at a recent fundraising event in Medina are very excited about the team’s prospects this season, but the Bills alumni didn’t want to jinx the team by predicting a first Super Bowl victory.

But the players were impressed after the Bills dismantling the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams 31-10 on the road Sept. 8. The Bills are back on the filed tonight at home versus the Tennessee Titans.

“They have all the tools,” said Ken Jones, an offensive lineman with Buffalo from 1976 to 1986. “They can take this all the way, but it’s one game at a time.”

Jones was joined by five other Bills alumni – Booker Edgerson, Marlon Kerner, Paul Maguire, Lou Piccone and Ed Rutkowski – during an event at the Medina Theatre on Sept. 10. They were raising money for “Cure the Blue.” That effort seeks more funding for prostate cancer awareness and research. The Medina event raised $2,900 for the cause.

Booker Edgerson, center, urges men to get checked annually for prostate cancer. Marlon Kerner is at left and Ed Rutkowski is at right.

Jones said the Bills will be a powerhouse as long as Josh Allen stays on the filed. Allen has a rocket arm and also runs often, barreling into linebackers and lineman. He is the first player in NFL history with at least 100 touchdowns throwing and 25 running in his forist four seasons.

Jones would like fewer running plays for the quarterback.

Ed Rutkowski was a wide receiver and backup quarterback on the Bills from 1963 to 1968. He may be best known for serving eight years as Erie County executive from 1979 to 1987. He remains a diehard Bills fan.

“They’re talented, they’re deep, they’re well coached,” Rutkowski said. “But don’t run Josh so much.”

Paul Maguire, who may be best known as television sportscaster, was a punter and linebacker. He first played for the San Diego Chargers in 1960 and then joined the Bills, playing with Buffalo from 1964 to 1970. He was a member of three AFL Champion teams, two with Buffalo and one with the Chargers.

“We’re the only champions they’ve ever had,” Maguire said about the 1964 and ’65 Bills.

The former Bills included top, from left: Booker Edgerson, Ken Jones and Marlon Kerner. Bottom left: Paul Maguire, Lou Piccone and Ed Rutkowski.

Maguire said he cringes when Allen takes off with the ball and seldom slides, preferring to be wrestled down by a defender.

“We don’t want to see the quarterback running the damn football,” Maguire said.

Rutkowski said injuries and weather are unknowns in the season.

“It’s not easy getting to the Super Bowl,” he said. “You have to win your division and then get through the playoffs. Everyone is going to be out to get the Buffalo Bills.”

Even the top teams can have a bad game. Rutkowski recalled being on the 1968 team that won only one game. It was a huge upset, 37-35 over the New York Jets that were led by Joe Namath and would go on to win the Super Bowl that year. But in a game against the Bills, Namath threw five interceptions with one returned for a touchdown by Edgerson. The Bills had the worst record that year and used their first round pick in 1969 on O.J. Simpson.

One of the items up for bid was a poster of former Bills who have been inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Maguire thanked Edgerson for leading the former Bills into another cause, “Cure the Blue.”

“I can’t tell you how important it is to be part of something you’ve never had,” Maguire told the group at Medina Theatre. “Booker has worked so hard for years to educate on this issue.”

Edgerson, an all-star defensive back for the Bills in the 1960s, was first treated for prostate cancer 26 years ago.

Edgerson is a member of the AFL championship teams in ’64 and ’65. He is on the Bills Wall of Fame. He is the president of the Buffalo Chapter of the NFLPA Retired Players Association.

Edgerson said men avoid talking about prostate cancer but he wants it to be discussed, much like breast cancer.

As part of the “Cure the Blue” initiative, men who are minorities are urged to be regularly screened for prostate cancer beginning at age 40 while white males should do annual screenings beginning at 45.

“It should be treated just like mammograms,” Edgerson said.

Randy Bushover, right, served as emcee for the event and interviewed the former players. The event was a fundraiser for “Cure the Blue,” with proceeds going to prostate cancer awareness and research.

Other Bills at the event included Lou Piccone and Marlon Kerner.

Piccone was an undersized wide receiver and kick returner who played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Jets from 1974 to 1976, and then the following seven years with the Bills retiring in 1982.

He overcome obstacles to make an NFL team, and then was able to stay on a roster for a decade, despite weighing only 168 pounds. He caught 100 passes in his career, gaining 1,380 yards. He led the NFL with 39 kickoff returns and 961 kickoff return yards with the Jets as a rookie.

Marlon Kerner played for the Bills from 1995 to 1998. He shared that he met his wife in Buffalo and they have been married now for 22 years. Booker Edgerson, right, was a star defensive back for the Bills in the 1960s.

Piccone said punting and kickoffs are important, if they don’t get the limelight. Those special teams can pin an opponent deep for a long field, or the receiving team can run one back, shortening the field.

“Special teams is where you get your start,” he said. “You throw yourself through a wedge.”

The Bills team today is deep and skilled at all positions.

“They’re firing on all cylinders,” Piccone said.

Marlon Kerner, a Buffalo Bill form 1995 to 1998, shared how he met his future wife at a 7-11 and the two have now been married for 22 years with three children.

Kerner was a third-round draft pick who suffered two torn ACLs. He has worked with many current Bills in player engagement with the community.

The Bills aren’t just looking for the strongest, fastest and most skilled players, Kerner said.

“The Bills want players with the right culture,” he said. “If not in the right culture, when adversity hits it can go the wrong way.”