LaQuita Amos, Class of 1998, remembered as ultimate team player for Medina girls basketball team

LaQuita Amos

LaQuita Amos, a Medina graduate and former varsity basketball player for the Mustangs, was killed last Thursday from a gunshot in Greensboro, NC.

Amos, 39, was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting at about 7:30 p.m. at a residence.

She graduated from Medina High School in 1998 and went to Howard University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in business administration. She continued her education at Forsyth Technical College and received a project management technology degree. Amos was employed at Lincoln Financial for several years.

‘LaQuita represented all the best qualities we could ask for in a student, an athlete and a person.’

Eric Hellwig was a teacher and coach for Amos, who graduated in 1998. He wrote the following tribute about Amos:

“Late last week the Medina community suffered another loss of a former student. Most of her former teachers have retired in the two decades since LaQuita Amos, a 1998 graduate, received her diploma.

Current students likely wouldn’t have known her because, after graduation, her connection to the area faded, as so many do. People come and go: from the area, from the school, and from our lives. And, with LaQuita, that is a shame, because she represented all the best qualities we could ask for in a student, an athlete and a person.

LaQuita was a very bright young lady who enjoyed learning and got the most out of her schooling. She could be found at the high school all hours of the day, and even on weekends, as a part of the Upward Bound program. Upward Bound was, and still is, a program aimed at students from lower-income families who would go on to be the first in their household to attend college.

Photo courtesy of Eric Hellwig: In this 1997 team photo of the Medina girls varsity basketball team, LaQuita Amos is in the 2nd row, 3rd player in from the right, #34.

LaQuita relished working with Mrs. Isabella Mark, the Upward Bound counselor at the time, and made the most of her experience. Each summer during high school, LaQuita would join with others in the program to experience college life, living on The College at Brockport campus for a few weeks and taking courses that would help them become more independent and adjust to life after high school.

Through that program, LaQuita gained the self confidence that would be the foundation for her future success, and ultimately resulted in her being accepted to Howard University, in Washington, DC, one of the most prestigious historically black colleges in the country, where she would earn her undergraduate degree.

LaQuita loved Upward Bound, just as she loved and appreciated all aspects of life.  There was never a time you wouldn’t find LaQuita with a big smile on her face, even when she was trying to fake an injury to get out of running sprints in basketball practice!  It is that great big smile that those who knew Laquita will remember about her most. She had a cheerful, positive personality and was the type of person you always wanted to be around.

LaQuita loved sports, basketball in particular. She was never the best player on the team, but she was always one of the most invaluable. Laquita understood and accepted her role with eagerness. She was a top rebounder, would battle on defense in the post, and scrap for loose balls.

‘She would do the hard, unglamorous work so that other teammates could also be successful.’

She was the type of player whose name wouldn’t necessarily stand out in the box score, but if you asked any coach, she was exactly the type of person you need to have to be successful. She would do the hard, unglamorous work so that other teammates could also be successful.

That’s why, when LaQuita had the one moment every basketball player dreams of – the chance to be the hero – everyone on the team was so happy for her. She had committed herself to helping other, and being genuinely happy for their success, and now, here she was, in that starring role.

We had a very successful girls basketball team both LaQuita’s junior and senior years, winning league championships and advancing to the sectional title game each year.

However, her senior year, it was a very near thing. We faced a very strong quarterfinal opponent in Fredonia, a team that featured a future Olympic gold medal winner and a future Division I basketball player. We knew it would be a tough game, and were maybe a little bit intimidated, even though we were the higher seed and were playing a home game.

Whatever the reason, we started the game flat and faced a really big deficit by the start of the fourth quarter. Down 17 points with 3:30 left to play, after taking a timeout to regroup and sending the players back onto the court, I turned to one of my assistants at the time and said, “Well, it looks like it’s over, but we’ve had a really good run.”

And that’s when LaQuita and her teammates gave me the lesson of my lifetime:  IT’S NEVER OVER! A couple of big three-point shots, a couple of steals and quick lay-ups, and a couple of forced turnovers had cut Fredonia’s lead to single digits. With just three seconds to go, Helen King, who had a 22-point fourth quarter, hit a “3” to cut Fredonia’s lead to two points, 62-60. A win was still improbable. All Fredonia needed to do was inbound the ball and that would be the game, and the end of our playoff dominance. But…

Sometimes things don’t go as expected. Sometimes you need to keep your focus. ALL the time, you need to not give up. LaQuita didn’t give up. She quickly found the opponent she was guarding, out near half court.

As the inbound pass came toward her opponent, LaQuita stepped in front, stole the ball, took one dribble passed half court, and heaved a shot toward the basket as time expired and the buzzer sounded. The shot missed.

But… again, things don’t always go as expected. As she released the ball, LaQuita was fouled and awarded three free throws, with no time on the clock. Down 62-60, Laquita had a chance to be the hero and extend our season at least one more game.

I remember thinking at the time, and maybe even saying, “Please, just make two so we can get to overtime!” LaQuita was a decent free throw shooter, but imagine the pressure – being on the court all by yourself, with all eyes in a packed gym on you, both sets of fans screaming.

Fortunately, LaQuita was a lot calmer than I was. She stepped to the line, took the ball from the official, went through her pre-shot routine, and calmly sank the first, and the crowd went wild. Second shot, same routine, same result, same crowd reaction. We are now guaranteed at least four more minutes of overtime basketball, and LaQuita has the chance to do what most players only dream of. And once again, she gets the ball, goes through her routine, and calmly sank the shot to win the game.

The crowd erupted, fans and players ran onto the court and gave LaQuita a proper hero’s congratulation. It was a moment all involved will never forget, and I’m sure LaQuita never forgot it, either. After the game, I asked her what was going through her mind as she went to the line, and she said something to the effect of “I just remember all those sprints we ran for missing free throws in practice, and I wasn’t missing those shots.” It was a moment all players and coaches wish they could freeze in time and share with all their teammates, past and present. Sadly, we can’t.

‘LaQuita did not relish the spotlight. She thrived on being a part of something bigger, a part of a team. And the last memory we will always have of LaQuita was her genuine, unabashed, and unconditional love for her teammates.’

After college she graduated from college, I lost touch with Laquita. Her family moved to Greenville, North Carolina, and LaQuita followed in order to be close to them. I don’t know many things about the time in between then and now, but I imagine LaQuita touching the lives of everyone she came in contact with, just as she had touched ours.  Horribly, last week, LaQuita was the victim of a domestic violence dispute, and was killed at the age of 39, which I do know is all too young.

There are many things I’m sure I do not know about LaQuita Amos, but there are other things frozen in my mind and, I’m sure the minds of everyone who knew her. First was that beautiful smile she always displayed. And I do mean ALWAYS. There was no happier person in the school, regardless of circumstances.

Second was her humility. LaQuita did not relish the spotlight. She thrived on being a part of something bigger, a part of a team. And the last memory we will always have of Laquita was her genuine, unabashed, and unconditional love for her teammates. If someone experienced success, LaQuita was just as happy for them as she was for her own success. And most importantly, I know this about LaQuita: Her team loved her back.”

Eric Hellwig

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Provided photos: Sherry Tuohey, who heads MAAC’s Christmas Red Barrel program, accepts a check from Don Marchner on behalf of Junior Wilson’s Sportsmen’s Club.

MEDINA – Delivering toys and food to children and families in the Medina and Knowlesville area is a tradition started more than 50 years ago by the Medina Fire Department, who collected broken toys, repaired them and delivered them to children just before Christmas.

For the last few decades, the Christmas giveaway program has been run by the Medina Area Association of Churches with help from firefighters from the Medina, Ridgeway, East Shelby and Shelby fire departments.

Sherry Tuohey who has taken over organizing the drive, now known as MAAC’s Red Barrel program, says they couldn’t do it without the firefighters.

Each year in November, the firefighters deliver 34 red barrels to businesses, libraries and churches, where they can be filled with donations of toys and food. Then the first week in December, the firefighters pick up the barrels, which hopefully are filled, and return them to the Medina United Methodist Church. There, volunteers sort the donations and pack holiday boxes for families who have applied for assistance.

Each box contains toys appropriate for the children in the family, in addition to food for a complete Christmas dinner. This includes a ham, potatoes, vegetable, stuffing and dessert. If an appropriate gift hasn’t been donated for a child, MAAC volunteers will buy gifts from money which has been donated.

Tuohey said this year Sara Cinquino, Student Association adviser at Medina High School, collected more than 1,900 food items, which meant families got a lot more food than they usually would have.

Every year it has become a custom for Bob Harrold of Lyndonville to restore children’s wagons and donate them to MAAC’s Christmas Red Barrel program.

All in all, more than 100 volunteers helped to make the program a success, Tuohey said.

“We couldn’t do it without the individuals, businesses and organizations who helped physically and financially,” she said.

One supporter of the giveaway is Bob Harrold of Lyndonville, who for the past few years has restored and donated little red wagons to the MAAC program. Tuohey said one mother commented that the little red wagon was the most wonderful gift her family could have received. Another family who didn’t have a car said the wagon was a blessing when it came to going to the store.

Tuohey added the most important thing about MAAC’s Red Barrel drive is that all the donations stay to help families in the Medina school district who live in the Medina and Knowlesville area.

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Photos courtesy of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library

MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library hosted some very special friends on Friday night.  The Santa Pajama Storytime program celebrated its 37th year as children, along with family and friends, eagerly awaited an evening with Santa.

The children were treated to a movie titled “What is Christmas?” Then, to everyone’s delight, sleigh bells began to ring as Santa arrived to entertain everyone with special songs and activities. Next, over 100 people settled in as Santa read, The Broken Ornament by Tony DiTerlizzi.

Santa reads, The Broken Ornament, to children and families.

The evening culminated with each child visiting with Santa and everyone was encouraged to make crafts, read books and visit with friends and family.

Families also contributed to the local food bank as part of this annual event.

Kendall Oliver Farewell shares her list with Santa.

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MEDINA – The Medina school district invites the community to come in and see the improvements that have been made to the school district as a result of capital improvement project.

Many areas have had improvements, such as windows, auditorium seating, bathrooms, cafeterias, the pool and other parts of the campus.

The district will be hosting tours at each of the buildings on the following dates: (The public is welcome to stay for the event that follows.)

• December 11 – Wise Middle School – 5:30 p.m. (Before Grade 4/5 Holiday Concert)

• December 17 – Oak Orchard Elementary School – 5:30 p.m. (Before Family Fun Night)

• December 18 – High School – 6 p.m. (Before HS Holiday Concert)

A’Cappella Choir concert set for Dec. 15 at St. Mary’s

The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir, under the direction of Rachel Trillizio, also has been diligently practicing for one of the choir’s biggest concerts of the year.

The annual Christmas concert for the community will be held on Sunday, Dec/ 15, at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on the corner of West Avenue and Eagle Street.

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Photos by Ginny Kropf: Liam McGill, 5, sits on Santa’s lap at Breakfast with Santa Saturday morning at Medina Memorial Hospital. He came with his aunt, Caroline Way of Medina. Liam is hoping for an Xbox and a gift card from Walmart.

MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital rolled out the red carpet for Santa Claus this morning during their fifth annual Breakfast with Santa.

The event annually attracts up to 170 children, said Cindy Perry, director of outreach, education and marketing for the hospital’s Community Partners.

“We do this so kids can become familiar with the hospital in a non-threatening way,” Perry said. “It’s like the Teddy Bear Clinic we do several times a year. All the Orleans County schools come, and this year Elba came for the first time. Like that event, this one has a lot of hospital staff and students who volunteer.”

Rebecca Mannella, left, and Christine Walczak pose with Mrs. Claus (Valerie Rush) at Medina Memorial Hospital’s Breakfast with Santa Saturday morning.

Early Saturday morning, Jessica Downey, health educator with Community Partners, laid out stickers on the hallways directing children to Santa Claus, a craft table manned by GCASA volunteers where children made reindeer antler glasses, a cookie decorating station and breakfast in the cafeteria.

After greeting Santa and getting a free gift and candy cane, children were greeting by Mrs. Claus, who handed out Christmas stickers.

The gift this year was a snowman, in honor of 3-year-old Leon Sidari, who loved snowmen and died two years ago on Christmas Day from the flu.

There was also a mail box and table where children could write a letter to Santa.

Tammy Pritchard, left, administrative assistant at Medina Memorial Hospital, and Jessica Downey, health educator, are ready to welcome children to the fifth annual Breakfast with Santa Saturday morning at the hospital.

Parents received a tote bag filled with information on the flu, lead poisoning and hospital services, along with crayons which children could use to color the picture on the front of the tote bag.

Dan Capurso of Albion said this was the third year he had brought his daughter, Esmae, 5.

“We love this event,” he said. “It has become a Christmas tradition.”

April Walls of Albion said this was the first time she had brought her children, Owen Pelzer, 3, and Payton Babcock, 8.

“They just love it,” Walls said. “They are having such a good time.”

Amanda Luckman loved that the event was for children of all ages. She and Tyler Fending of Lyndonville brought their children Madilinn, 6, and Daniel, 3.

“We come every year,” Luckman said. “Daniel hasn’t sat on Santa’s lap yet without crying. We’re hoping it will be different this year.”

Madilinn Fending, 6, of Lyndonville and her brother Daniel, 3, enjoy breakfast during Medina Memorial Hospital’s Breakfast with Santa Saturday morning.

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Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A one-day toy drive on Saturday during Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration filled about a dozen bags with toys and also netted $930 to buy toys and food for families.

The toys were collected at Canalside Tattoo in on Main Street in Medina. The toys will go to the Medina Area Association of Churches for its Christmas Box Program and also to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. People were welcome to drop off toys. For every toy donated or for every $5, people would get a chance to win one of 20 packages donated by local businesses.

Pictured, from left, include: Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo; Andrew Szatkowski, toy drive chairman; Annette Finch, Community Services director for Community Action; Michelle Figueroa, case manager for Community Action; and Sherry Tuohey, coordinator of Christmas Box Program for MAAC.

The MAAC receives 20 percent of the donations which will go towards presents for 150 children in Medina.

Community Action receives 80 percent of the presents and money. That agency is putting together Christmas packages for about 500 families, including more than 1,000 children in Albion, Lyndonville, Holley and Kendall.

Szatkowski, chairman of the third annual toy drive, said this year’s collection will be made in memory of Kelly Duffield, the owner of Rudy’s Diner who died from cancer at age 49 on Oct. 21. Duffield helped collect gifts for the drive at Rudy’s and also was a generous giver to the effort, Szatkowski said.

Duffield’s son, Brodie Hoffmeister, has carried on his mother’s support of the toy drive, allowing customers to leave presents at Rudy’s ahead of Saturday, and also donating to the drive.

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Medina Railroad Museum named Grand Champion

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The winning floats have been announced from Saturday’s Parade of Lights. The Medina Railroad Museum was named grand champion of the 11^th annual parade, which had about 45 participants.

The Railroad Museum is a first-time grand champion.

The top photo shows the museum’s float in the staging area at the Olde Pickle Factory.

This photo shows the float on the parade route on Main Street.

Parade chairman Jim Hancock announced the other winners in the Parade of Lights.

Several Best-in-Class awards were given as follows:

Not-for-profit – Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund

Service Club – Little Bits 4-H Club from Gasport

Religious – Grace Baptist Church in Medina

Other – Holley School’s First Responders Club

Bob Freida, a Clarendon firefighter, leads the Holley School’s First Respnders Club, which includes teens from the Holley school district.

The Holley School’s First Responders Club are dressed in turnout gear whole carrying a ladder down the parade route.

Business – For the first time there were two winners, Zambito Realtors and Velocitii. They tied in this category. This photo shows Zambito’s float.

Velocitii, which is based in Medina, made this float, which included letting out smoke from the chimney.

Fire Company – The Shelby Fire Company’s float included a tribute to the 343 firefighters who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Four special awards were given in the following categories:

Littlest Elf for the float which best incorporated youth and adults – A.J’s Play Date in Medina

Star Award for the float which the judges thought was most creative – Watson Enterprises

Community Spirit Award – Orleans County Christian School

Santa’s Pick – Given to the float which the judges thought Santa would like. Winner was Red Rose Landscaping from Tonawanda.

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Photos by Ginny Kropf: Medina Mayor Mike Sidari, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Parade of Lights grand marshal Jackie DeHollander and parade chairman Jim Hancock pose for a quick picture before Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul gave the command to light the giant Christmas tree in Rotary Park on Saturday evening.

MEDINA – Being asked to be grand marshal in Saturday’s Parade of Lights was an honor, but very emotional, said Jackie DeHollander, as she waited in the Santa house in Rotary Park for the parade to begin.

Jackie spent many hours in the Santa house with her late husband Shelly as Santa and Mrs. Claus. Shelly, who died two years ago of lung cancer, had been Medina’s Santa for 50 years. Jackie was with him for 20 of those years.

“He loved the children,” Jackie said. “He once met a man with brain cancer and he went to his house and took him some books.”

Jackie DeHollander, grand marshal of Medina’s Parade of Lights on Saturday, stands by a figurine of the Kneeling Santa which she donated to Rotary Park in honor of her late husband, Shelly DeHollander, who was Medina’s Santa Claus for 50 years.

Jackie said she was apprehensive the first time Shelly wanted her to put on Mrs. Claus’ dress.

“I knew it wouldn’t fit, but it did fit perfectly,” she said. “Once I started, I loved it, and now I really miss it.”

Shelly was all about the true meaning of Christmas, and after his death Jackie donated a figurine in Rotary Park of Santa kneeling over the Baby Jesus in the Manger. The story is that Santa was sad because people had forgotten about Baby Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas.

“I know Shelly would have wanted me to do it,” Jackie said.

The giant Christmas tree in Rotary Park is aglow after Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul gave the command to light the tree at 5:30 p.m., kicking off the fireworks and Parade of Lights.

At 5:30 p.m., the giant Christmas tree in Rotary Park was lit in a ceremony led by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Click here to see a video of the tree lighting.

Parade chairman Jim Hancock said he received a call from Hochul’s office saying she wanted to come to Medina for the Parade of Lights.

After remarks from Medina Mayor Mike Sidari, Hochul introduced Jackie and then gave the command to light the tree.

Hochul was checking out Creekside Florist as she waited to light the tree. She said she has been to Medina several times before and loves Medina. She arrived early and spent time in Medina, checking out the shops and Christmas specials, Hancock said.

Click here to see a video of the fireworks after the tree lighting.

The band Prime Time Brass from Rochester rehearses Christmas songs behind Rotary Park before playing in the park prior to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

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Photos courtesy of Karen Fortunato

MEDINA – Kenneth Urbanik of Lyndonville and Alecia Fortunato of Medina became engaged last night in Medina while the fireworks were going off.

When the hatch opened in his vehicle, Fortunato was greeted with the message, “Marry Me?”

Urbanik used a Lite-Brite to create this depiction of an engaged couple.

Fortunato happily accepted the wedding proposal.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Fireworks burst in the sky in downtown Medina just before the 11^thannual Parade of Lights.

Young Explosives set off the fireworks beginning at 5:45. It was part of  an action-packed day in Medina, which celebrated its Olde Tyme Christmas.

Samantha Pawlak, 5, of Albion hugs Olaf, a character from Frozen, during the Parade of Lights. There were 45 floats in the 11^thannual parade.

Park Avenue Physical Therapy danced to “Let’s Get Physical” as part of its float during the parade. The cold temperatures – in the upper 20s with some wind – didn’t snuff out the excitement for the parade.

A Mercy EMS ambulance from Batavia was part of the emergency response vehicles that were decorated with lights for the parade. This photo was taken in the parking lot at the Olde Pickle Factory on Park Avenue, which served as a staging area for the floats.

The Medina Fire Department had a Santa sitting its the Fire Department’s rescue boat.

The Little Bits 4-H Club created this float.

The praise band from One Church Medina performed from this float.

The 4-H Heelers Dog Club has been a regular in the parade.

The Orleans County Christian School’s float was led by Pastor Russ Peters of the Alabama Full Gospel Church and his wife Jodi, who is a principal at the school.

The Cobblestone Unit of the Girl Scouts had many children in their float.

The Roy-Hart FFA had a pirate-themed float.

Velocitii was among several local businesses to join the holiday celebration in Medina.

The Medina Lions Club had giant lion cutouts for its float.

The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company did a tribute to the firefighters who responded to the Sept. 11 terroist attacks in 2001.

The Medina FFA works on its Charlie Brown float just before the parade.

To see two videos from the parade taken by Cheryl Wertman of the Orleans Hub, click here and click here.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Santa and Mrs. Claus make their way to the Medina Theatre after a parade through the downtown. They rode in an old Medina fire truck.

The parade included some of the winners of a “Littlest Elf” contest. Crystal Elliott leads two of the littlest elf participants, Lanie Feder, left, and Rayna Balaban, both of Medina. Elliott was in charge of the contest.

Laine Harvey, 1, won the ‘Littlest Elf” contest. She is held by her mother, Katie Harvey of Albion.

Chris Goyette, a Medina High School senior, wears the Olaf costume and waves to people along the parade route.

The Medina Marching Band played many holiday favorites.

The color guard added some pizzazz to the parade.

Pets in costume were welcome to join in the parade.

Roxie was dressed up for the parade. She was led by Madeline Bilicki of Medina.

AJ’s Play Date indoor play center was part of the spectacle.

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