The Medina Mustang Marching Band traveled to Boston, MA from April 25-28 to perform in competition in the Music in the Parks Festival. The festival was started in 1981 and is a day-long event for students of choral, orchestral and band ensembles held annually across the US. Music groups perform before adjudicators who rate the ensemble and then awards are issued at the end of the day.
The Medina jazz band won 1st place with a superior rating. Concert band won 1st place with an excellent rating.
Parade took 1st place with a superior rating and an overall concert band award. The band was awarded the Esprit de Corps Award which is presented to just one group at the competition. The Esprit Award recognizes the participating organization that displays an exemplary attitude of positive support and outstanding personal behavior throughout the festival weekend. Personal integrity, quality of character values, a desire for excellence and a spirit of cooperation serve as the cornerstone qualities of this award.
The band will next perform in Seneca Falls on May 17-18 and then the Sherburne Earlville Pageant May 31 and June 1. Locally they will be in the Memorial Day parade on May 27.
Provided photo: Jeff and Audrey Goodale of Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA (left); James McCauley, Camp Good Days PAVE Director; Rachel and Rob Kaiser of Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA.
Press Release, Campground Owners of New York
MEDINA – Over the past seven years, Campground Owners of New York (CONY) and their campgrounds and campers have donated a total of $572,032 to Camp Good Days. This includes the $3,600 contributed in 2018 by Rob and Rachel Kaiser and their campers at Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA in Medina.
Camp Good Days, marking its 40th anniversary in 2019, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer, sickle cell anemia and other life challenges. These programs include camping retreats at their facility on Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes. All programs are offered free of charge for the participants.
Since its inception, Camp Good Days has served more than 48,300 campers from all around the world.
Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA has been an enthusiastic contributor for all seven years of CONY’s fundraising campaigns. This past year, the park held a duck race, a tricky-tray auction, a campground poker run and put out a change collection box to raise $3,600. The park’s 2019 season runs from May 3rd through Columbus Day, and they’ll be offering more opportunities for campers to help support Camp Good Days.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 29 April 2019 at 7:45 am
Photo courtesy of Gabriele Simon: Aaron Grabowski plays the organ at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Medina, one of three he will play during a progressive organ concert May 11 to benefit the Cobblestone Museum.
MEDINA – This year’s progressive organ concert to benefit the Cobblestone Museum returns May 11 and organizers are pushing for a repeat of a sellout.
“So Much More Than a Concert” will feature Medina organist Aaron Grabowski.
“Last year’s concert and dinner exceeded all expectations,” said Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum. “This year’s event is bigger and better in many ways.”
Playing the organ has been a passion of Aaron Grabowski since he was in eighth grade, and he is looking forward to showcasing his talent at three Medina churches.
He will be featured on three magnificent organs in Medina churches during the progressive organ concert, which will include appetizers and wine tasting at Trinity Lutheran Church on West Avenue, followed by Grabowski playing their historic pipe organ; dinner by Zambistro at St. Mary’s Church (Trinity) school hall after a concert by Grabowski on their pipe organ; and lastly, Grabowski’s rendering on the pipe organ at St. John’s Episcopal Church, followed by dessert and beverage.
Grabowski grew up in the Kenmore/Tonawanda area and began his musical career with violin lessons when he was in fourth grade. His fascination with the organ was fostered when a year later he heard a record of Bach music by E. Power Biggs.
“To hear a really authentic pipe organ played by a renowned artist is really awe-inspiring,” Grabowski said.
Photo courtesy of Chris Busch: The organ gallery at St. Mary’s Church is shown in this photo. Organist Aaron Grabowski, who is in the process of restoring the church’s organ, will play a selection of songs there during the progressive organ concert May 11.
He began formal organ lessons at the age of 16. After graduating from high school, he entered the University of Buffalo, where he got his music bachelor’s in organ performance.
An organ is what brought him to Medina for the first time.
Grabowski had been music director at St. Paul’s in Kenmore where the Rev. Paul Whitney served before coming to Medina. Chris Busch, a member of St. Mary’s Church, wanted to see St. Mary’s organ restored to working order and Father Whitney knew Grabowski was the person who could do it. He contacted Grabowski to come and look at it the organ and Busch took him on a tour of Medina.
“Aaron went home and told his wife they might have to move to Medina,” Busch said.
“Gayle and I came to Medina and drove around the village and fell in love with it,” Grabowski said. “Gayle and I had always wanted to restore a Victorian home and Medina was full of them. That was the catalyst for our moving to Medina in 2005.”
They purchased a home on Park Avenue and have been in the process of restoring it since 2010.
Grabowski is excited about the prospect of playing the three pipe organs at the Medina churches.
His full-time job is working for Parsons Pipe Organ Builders in Canandaigua. As two of their contracts out of more than 300 they maintain are the pipe organs at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion and the Albion First Baptist Church, he attended the first progressive organ concert there last year.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Some of the pipes in a Holtkamp pipe organ at Trinity Lutheran Church are pictured in March 2015 while the organ was put together inside the Medina church. The organ was moved from Cincinnati.
“I know Bill Lattin and I asked if he thought anyone would be interested if I gave a little background on each organ,” Grabowski said. “That led to meeting Doug Farley from the Cobblestone Museum, and I offered my services.”
The entire program for the May 11 event is all music Grabowski picked for its appropriateness to each organ he will play, he said.
Trinity Lutheran’s organ came from the Episcopal Cathedral in Cincinnati and was featured in a concert last year by the wife of Gerre Hancock, who had been organist and choir director at the Cathedral. The organ was installed at Trinity Lutheran about four years ago.
St. Mary’s organ was first installed in 1913, but has undergone many changes during the years. It lends itself to mid-18th century French and German style music.
The 19th century Hook and Hastings organ at St. John’s Episcopal Church was rebuilt in the 1950s or 1960s by Schlicker Organ Company in Buffalo.
Grabowski will play a total of 30 pieces at the three churches, for a total of 2 1/2 hours of music.
Reservations for the concert and dinner must be made by calling the Cobblestone Museum at 589-9013.
Photo courtesy of John Dieter, Cub Master of Pack 35
MEDINA – Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from Pack & Troop 35 braved the weather on Saturday morning to pick up trash at the Canal Culvert on Culvert Road in Ridgeway. They also picked up garbage on the towpath above as part of the Canal Clean Sweep Program.
The New York State Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York sponsored the spring cleanup this past weekend to help maintain sections of the Canalway Trail. They supplied garbage bags, provided pickup for garbage collected, and gave T-shirts for the volunteers for the 14th Annual Canal Clean Sweep Event.
Medina Lions reschedule cleanup day for May 11
Cleanup along the canal near the Prospect Street lift bridge, Lion’s Park and village parks was canceled Saturday due to the weather.
The Lions have sponsored the event for decades, in cooperation with local Boy Scouts, Medina Masons and the Iroquois Job Corps. There are usually 40 Lions, Scouts and others who participate.
According to Lions’ member Don Colquhoun, the even has been rescheduled for May 11 at 9 a.m. As has been the tradition, the Lions will cook hot dogs and provide drinks for all volunteers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 April 2019 at 11:27 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
This London Planetree was planted at State Street Park this morning.
MEDINA – Jason Watts of the Medina Department of Public Works climbs into an excavator this morning at State Street Park. The DPW planted a new tree at the park for Arbor Day.
Medina is planting 36 trees this spring, with four new ones at the park.
Medina normally hosts a festive Arbor Day celebration with more than a hundred elementary school students. This week is spring break and the students are off from school.
Besides the four trees at State Street Park, Medina will plant 32 other trees, mostly along areas of East Center Street with additional plantings throughout the village. Species to be planted in the village this year include Elm, and varieties of Maple, London Plane, Honey Locust and Serviceberry.
Some volunteers will be at the park on Saturday for a cleanup effort from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers are urged to bring gloves and sturdy shoes.
Kyle Morgan, left, and Ricky Tuohey of the DPW help plant the new tree. Medina has planted about 1,000 new trees in the past 15 years, and has been recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a “Tree City USA.” The designation recognizes Medina for its commitment to community forestry.
Chris Busch (left), chairman of the Medina Tree Board, and Mayor Mike Sidari pose for a photo with the tree after it was planted at State Street Park.
Provided photos: Parts on the cannon from World War I looks like new after more than a year of restoration work.
MEDINA – A World War I cannon will be going back to Medina on May 1 following 14 months of restoration work.
Seed Artillery Reproduction and Restoration stripped and disassembled the field gun, and created new parts. The gun was then reassembled and painted with historic accuracy.
The B.L. 60 Pounder British field gun was a fixture at State Street Park since 1935. It was hauled away on March 12, 2018 for its restoration work.
The cannon was falling apart. George Bidleman, owner of Orleans Ford, paid the $40,000 cost to have the cannon restored by Dave Seedenberg of Seed Artillery Reproduction and Restoration in Altoona, Pa.
The field gun was completely stripped and disassembled, new parts were fabricated, and the gun was reassembled and painted with historic accuracy.
The cannon is expected to arrive back in Medina at State Street Park at 10 a.m. on May 1. The cannon will be placed on a new concrete pad with new flagpoles, lighting, and a new granite slate for the original plaque. Those were paid for with donations through the Orleans Renaissance Group with the concrete donated by Orleans Ready Mix.
The cannon, manufactured in 1916, was fired during World War I. There are few of these cannons left in the world.
Every Memorial Day for about 80 years, the Medina community has gathered by the cannon for the solemn ceremony. The cannon wasn’t there for Memorial Day last year. It will be back for the observance this Memorial Day, May 27.
The cannon is a British Heavy Field Gun known as a B.L. 60 Pounder, manufactured in 1916 by Elswick Ordnance Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
It weighs 6 tons, is a 5 inch/127mm caliber, 21 feet in length and 6 feet in width. The gun was originally issued to battery in France, April 1917, and fired 2,871 rounds during its first tour. It was returned to England in 1917 for repairs and reissued to battery in France, September 1918, firing an additional 1,471 rounds.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Veterans watch a World War I cannon be loaded up on a trailer on march 12, 2018. The cannon was taken to Altoona, Pa., the location of Seed Artillery Reproduction and Restoration. George Bidleman, Orleans Ford owner, is second from right.
MEDINA – The Medina FFA celebrates Animal Appreciation Day last Thursday by welcoming students to the FFA to see livestock and pets. The top photo shows Sydney Watts with Fiesta, a llama.
Teacher Todd Eick and his students invited everyone districtwide to stop by the Agriculture Room at the High School and check out all the cute and amazing animals. The FFA room was filled with everything from mice to horses. Students brought in animals from their homes and the on-campus animals made an appearance as well.
Oliver Wilson is pictured with one of his call ducks
Photos by Tom Rivers: Chris Busch, chairman of Medina’s Municipal Tree Board, is pictured with Medina elementary students during an Arbor Day celebration at Rotary Park on April 28, 2017. The National Arbor Day Foundation has awarded Medina “Tree City USA” designation for its commitment to community forestry.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 April 2019 at 9:21 am
Chris Busch said arbor effort has been ‘a labor of love’
MEDINA – The chairman of Medina’s Municipal Tree Board has announced his resignation after 15 years of leading Medina’s effort to plant more than 1,000 trees.
Chris Busch is stepping down from the volunteer post on June 1. He will be part of Medina’s Arbor Day celebration this Friday at 9 a.m. This year the Arbor Day party will be at State Street Park at the new pavilion.
Busch pushed for an aggressive tree-planting program in Medina after a state road project took down many trees along the state roads. Many other trees also were toppled in wind storms.
Chris Busch is shown trimming a hackberry tree on Gwinn Street on May 6, 2015. Busch removed some of the lower branches so the tree wouldn’t obstruct pedestrians or have low-lying branches out into the road. Trimming the tree also helps funnel energy into the top of the tree, which will make it grow taller, faster, Busch said.
The Tree Board teamed with the Department of Public Works to put new trees on the main arteries in the village, and the effort has expanded into side streets.
“People have noticed the plantings and the impact,” Busch said on Tuesday. “It was a labor of love and a fun thing to do.”
But the task also has become increasingly demanding, Busch said in a resignation letter that was accepted by the Village Board on Monday.
Funding is always an issue, and there is lots of paperwork in ordering the trees, developing an annual plan and pursuing funding through National Grid, which provides some money for shorter trees that won’t affect the overhead electricity wires.
Medina has been recognized as a“Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The village is sought after by other communities for advice on crafting a tree ordinance and planting program.
“I am extremely proud of what I and the Tree Board have been able to accomplish during my tenure as board chairman,” Busch writes in his resignation letter. “Medina’s urban forestry program is the envy of other communities far and wide. We are the standard to which other programs are held.”
Busch said former Mayor Howard Lake urged Busch to become involved and help create the Tree Board, which wrote a local law for tree maintenance and plantings.
The Tree Board chairman often was often with loppers, trimming trees with a focus on removing lower branches so the trees would grow taller at a faster pace.
Busch said there is a lot more work to do for the Tree Board.
“There are likely over 1,000 additional planting sites throughout the village,” he said.
In addition, “numerous park trees have critical issues,” he said.
The recently planted trees also are in need of comprehensive scheduled maintenance. Busch also suggested additional training for the DPW tree crew, and a risk survey and an overall tree survey “are badly needed.”
Medina also needs to stay current with its “Tree City” certifications and its applications to National Grid for reimbursement on utility plantings. The Tree Board needs to start work this summer on the site plans for 2020 plantings.
“There is much work left to done in the coming months and years,” Busch said. “Though we have accomplished a great deal, there is still a great deal of work to do.”
Medina in 2019 will mark the 12th year in a row that the village has been awarded the Tree City USA designation by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
This year the village will plant 36 trees, mostly along areas of East Center Street with additional plantings throughout the village, and in State Street Park. Species to be planted in the village this year include Elm, and varieties of Maple, London Plane, Honey Locust and Serviceberry.
“This year, we’re planting approximately half of what we’ve been able to do in the past,” Busch said. “Budgets are tight and the cost of plant material has seen double-digit percentage increases in the last five years. Nonetheless, we are truly pleased to be planting 36 trees this year, with ten of those going in along East Center Street.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 April 2019 at 1:12 pm
MEDINA – The Village Board approved a $5.9 million budget on Monday that will increase taxes by 5.45 percent.
The budget will increase the tax levy, what the village collects in taxes, by $162,239 – from $2,975,955 to $3,138,194.
The tax rate, however, will increase by 1.65 percent or by 29 cents, from $18.03 to $18.32. The rate would have increased more but the village’s assessed value increased by 3.74 percent or $6.2 million, from $165.1 million to $171.3 million.
The Village Board believed the budget was under the tax cap, which is generally about a 2 percent increase. However, after the meeting Orleans Hub editor Tom Rivers told the board he believed the tax cap is based on the tax levy not the tax rate. The levy increased 5.45 percent.
After village officials researched the issue this morning, the board will have a special meeting to vote to override the cap and will have to vote again on the budget. That meeting will likely be 3:45 Wednesday. The board has until April 30 to have the spending plan in place.
The taxes are on the rise partly because the village is using $75,000 less in surplus funds in 2019-20. The current budget allowed the village to use $300,000 in surplus money. Next year, the budget calls for using $225,000. That $75,000 difference accounts for about half of the tax increase.
This was the ninth village budget that Owen Toale has been a part of as village trustee.
“This was without a doubt the most difficult budget I had to do,” he said during Monday’s board meeting. “It was extremely difficult. We want to keep it as low as we can.”
Overall spending actually went down in the budget by $6,122 – from $5,947,932 to $5,941,810.
The village budgeted $14,000 less in capital projects and $11,169 less in employee benefits.
However, employee salaries are up by $174,839 to $2,850,949 and debt service also will increase by $46,484 to $305,317.
The budget includes $48,000 for 20 new air packs and 40 air bottles for the Fire Department. Medina will be paying $48,000 each of the next three years towards the equipment. The new bottles will hold enough air for firefighters for 45 minutes, rather than the current ones which have a supply for about 20 to 30 minutes, Mayor Mike Sidari said.
The budget also includes $50,000 towards a computer upgrade for the Police Department, and $5,000 for upgrades to an office and the locker rooms for police officers.
The village also will be replacing a dump truck for the Department of Public Works.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 April 2019 at 8:50 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Nancy Bracey, left, known as “Booska” in Polish, poses with her grandchildren Aubrey Christiansen, 2; Mason Christiansen, 7; and Lucas Christiansen, 4; and her mother Irene Dunn at Sacred Heart Club on Monday, where Polish residents of the North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital were invited to a Dyngus Day celebration.
Polish residents at Medina Memorial Hospital’s North Wing attend the party
MEDINA – Celebrating Dyngus Day has been a longstanding tradition at Sacred Heart Club.
As far back as 1988, Sacred Heart Club has hosted a Dyngus Day party with a Polish polka band, pussy willows and the traditional Polish food.
Eileen Pettit showed up for Dyngus Day at Sacred Heart Club in Medina dressed in her traditional Polish attire.
About five years ago, as Dyngus Day celebrations increased throughout Western New York, especially in Buffalo, it became more and more difficult to hire a Polish polka band, said Dee Lucas, who organized the event for many years.
Sacred Heart made the decision then to discontinue the celebration as a public event, and instead to do a scaled-down version for their members only. As the custom for the past several years, John “J.T.” Thomas and Irene Dunn have taken the lead in organizing the Dyngus Day observance.
That proved successful, but this year the Club thought it would be nice to extend an invitation to the Polish residents of Medina Memorial Hospital’s North Wing. A call to hospital resulted in news that this would, indeed, be possible, as the hospital had recently acquired a new handicap-accessible van, which allows the hospital to transport North Wing residents on occasional outings.
“The residents are so excited to be able to get back out into the community and have fun,” said Karrie Mikits, director of Nursing Services for Long Term Care. “Some of them started getting ready for their much-needed day out as soon as they woke this morning.”
Rindy Punch was one of the residents who came to Sacred Heart.
“It’s wonderful to get out on such a beautiful day and be able to listen to real Polish music,” she said.
Mary Stack, a resident of the North Wing, was accompanied by her husband Stan.
“We used to come here in our younger days,” Mary said.
Joyce Johnson couldn’t wait to have a beer. She was one of several who had permission from their doctors to have a beer or glass of wine.
“It’s been at least two years since I’ve had a beer and I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “It’s great to get out and ride in a brand new bus.”
Brandi Pasnik, who works as a physical therapy assistant, said many of the residents are allowed a glass of wine or mixed drink.
“Our nurse doubles as a mixololgist,” Pasnik said.
The residents were served the traditional Polish meal of pierogis, Polish sausage and sauerkraut, fresh Polish sausage, golumpki, sweet and sour cabbage and Polish sweet bread.
Sacred Heart has also kept the tradition of crowning a king and queen at the end of the evening. This year’s royalty were Chloe Nashwenter and Scott Newton, each of whom have given countless hours of volunteer service to the Club, Dunn said.
Nashwenter has worked tirelessly on the Club’s fish fries for several years and helped with the children’s Christmas party.
Newton is a past board member who also worked on Dyngus Day and does all the electronic work at the Club.
Activities aide Stephanie Uptegraph, left, and Adrienne Belson from the North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital, wheel resident Joyce Johnson back on the hospital’s new van, which transported them to a Dyngus Day celebration at Sacred Heart Club Monday.
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By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 April 2019 at 8:17 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Medina Fire Chief Tom Lupo intended to retire April 30, but has rescinded his retirement and will continue to lead the department.
MEDINA – The Fire Department’s chief for the past three years was to retire on April 30. However, Tom Lupo has agreed to stay longer, likely for another 15 to 18 months to give more time for others to get the training needed to lead the department.
Lupo has worked as Medina’s part-time chief since March 28, 2016. He also is the assistant fire chief in Lockport. In Medina, he is paid $30,000 a year for up to 30 hours of work each week.
The state passed new legislation that took effect in January, requiring more training hours for fire chiefs leading departments with at least five paid firefighters. The chiefs now need at least 229 hours of approved training classes.
Those classes are offered on a sporadic schedule, said Medina Mayor Mike Sidari.
The mayor said he is grateful Lupo is postponing his retirement to give Medina more time to have a qualified successor.
“The state made the requirements more stringent,” Sidari said at Monday’s board meeting. “Right now no one is eligible.”
Photos by Tom Rivers: Medina resident David Barhite asks the Village Board to consider a tax exemption for Cold War veterans, which would be worth up to $75 for 20 eligible veterans in the village.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2019 at 9:45 pm
Earl Schmidt, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, said the exemption would increase the tax rate by 1 cent for the other taxpayers in the village. He said Medina is the only village in the county that doesn’t currently have the exemption in place.
MEDINA – The Village Board was asked to approve a tax exemption for Cold War veterans that would save the 20 eligible veterans up to about $75 in their village taxes annually.
The exemption is for up to 10 percent off the taxes or $4,000 off the assessed value of a property.
The village has a tax rate of $18.32 per $1,000 of assessed property for 2019-20, according to a budget approved this evening. If the exemption were in place, eligible veterans would get $73.28 off their taxes if the taxable value was reduced by $4,000.
Earl Schmidt, director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County, asked for the minimum exemption, which is the $4,000 off in taxable value. That is the level that the County Legislature approved in December 2017 for eligible veterans with their county taxes.
Schmidt said the exemption would include 12 veterans in Ridgeway’s portion of the village, and eight in the part of the village in Shelby.
If approved, he said the exemption would cause the other taxpayers to see a 1 cent increase in their tax rate.
“For a penny, I believe that it is worth saying thank you to our veterans,” he said.
Schmidt also said Medina is the only village in the county that doesn’t have the exemption in place. The Albion Village Board last year approved the Cold War exemption at a maximum of $6,000 off the assessment.
Schmidt was joined by the Medina meeting by several local veterans. David Barhite, a former village trustee, asked the board to consider the tax discount for the Cold War veterans.
“We’re talking about a penny to say thank you to the veterans for what they went through to give us our freedoms,” he said.
It’s too late for the exemption to be in place for the 2019-20 village budget. The Village Board said they would discuss whether to offer it in the future.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 April 2019 at 1:29 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Lang Lilley, right, and Dennis Oberther carry a cross across Main Street in Medina just after noon today.
About 40 people participated in the annual “Pilgrimage to Golgotha” in downtown Medina, where local Christians carry the cross.
The group also sings hymns, reads Scriptures and prays at different stops in the downtown. The Medina Area Association of Churches and the Medina Clergy Fellowship organize the annual event.
Lang Lilley, a member of the Medina United Methodist Church at the Grove, carries the cross down Main Street.
It was raining hard at the start of the annual Good Friday walk.
Michael Stephenson, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Medina, shares a welcome message and opening prayer to start the cross walk. The walk began at Medina City Hall and then included stops at Rotary Park, the Canal Basin, Medina Historical Society, Cooper’s Funeral Home, First Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church.
Dan Thurber, pastor of the Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina, reads the Scriptures from John 18: 15-27. The group then read “Beneath the Cross of Jesus.”
Michael Stephenson, pastor of First Baptist Church, takes a turn carrying the cross.
The group which included about 40 people heads down East Center Street towards the Canal Basin.
There will be Good Friday church services today at the Albion Free Methodist Church at 6 p.m. That service is led by Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation (PACT).
The Medina United Methodist Church at the Grove also will host a service at 7:30 p.m.
The Medina Area Association of Churches will lead a sunrise worship service on Easter this Sunday at 6:30 a.m. at Boxwood Cemetery.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 April 2019 at 11:05 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The bronze statue of a soldier, resembling a doughboy from pre-World War II, was mounted atop a monument today in front of the Orleans County YMCA. Cody Dix of the Medina DPW is at right.
That building has been a Y for more than three decades. But for 76 years it was the Medina Armory, a site used to train soldiers for battle.
The new statue looks to be right at home by the former Armory.
The statue is taken out of the YMCA, where it spent the winter inside. The statue was finished in November and made its public debut in the Parade of Lights on Nov. 24.
The Armory opened in 1901. In 1977, it was closed by the National Guard.
Bill Menz trained at the building in 1953, when he joined Company C of the 174th Armored Infantry. He was promoted to corporal before transferring to active duty in 1956 to the US Army National Guard. He would come back to Medina and work about 40 years in construction as a plasterer/mason.
The Menz family is pictured with the statue and monument after the installation today. Pictured include Menz’s wife Betty, second from left, and their four children, from left: Timothy Menz, Mary Beth Germano, granddaughter Alyssa Germano, Lynne Menz (in back) and Tam Menz.
When the Armory closed, Bill Menz was on the committee that helped it find a new use as a YMCA. Menz, who died at age 86 on July 16 last year, wanted the community to know the building’s historical role in preparing soldiers to fight on behalf of the country. He teamed with his friend John Fuller to create a sandstone monument in front of the Y that listed 550 soldiers who trained at the Armory and were then deployed in wars. Menz and Fuller cut the stone and built the monument.
But it wasn’t done. Menz wanted a bronze statue of a soldier on top. He pushed for nearly a decade to raise the $65,000 for the statue. He was able to see it in pieces at the foundry before his death. His daughter, Lynne Menz, included some of her father’s ashes underneath the statue’s base, just before it was mounted today.
Mary Beth Germano, center, is one of Menz’s four children. She takes a photo of the statue being moved out of the former Armory, down Pearl Street and to the front lawn of the building.
Germano thanked the local residents and many veterans’ organizations for supporting the project with donations.
“It’s emotional seeing it,” she said after the installation this morning. “It’s a great community effort.”
Her father was unwavering in pushing the project in the community.
“When he had his mind set on something, it was full-speed ahead,” Germano said.
Ben Lacy, right, of the Medina DPW was off from work today but wanted to help with the statue installation. Lacy grew up next door to Menz. Lacy said he admired Menz’s determination in working on the monument and memorial for the local soldiers.
“Bill was dedicated to get this done and I wanted to help today to get this up and done,” Lacy said.
The statue was created by sculptor Brian Porter and the University of Buffalo’s foundry director Chris Serano.
Mayor Michael Sidari was among the onlookers watching the statue installation today. He said the statue is great addition to Medina.
“It’s a great tribute to the members that served our country out of the Armory,” Sidari said. “Many came back and many did not. Those that did continued to serve their community.”
Medina next month will also welcome the return of a World War I cannon. It had been a fixture at State Street Park for about 80 years. It has been gone since March 2018 while the cannon has been refurbished in Altoona, Pa. at Seed Artillery Reproduction and Restoration. It is coming back to Medina on May 1 and will be rededicated on Memorial Day.
The statue is expected to be formally dedicated during a ceremony in September. That will give time for landscaping work and some changes to be made to the plaques on the monument. Some lights may also be added to the site.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 April 2019 at 12:47 pm
Dedication celebration expected in September after site improvements
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A 7-foot-high bronze statue of a soldier was installed this morning on a Medina sandstone base that is a memorial to the soldiers who trained at the former Medina Armory.
The memorial has been more than a decade in the making.
The statue was complete in November and made its first public appearance during Medina’s Parade of Lights on Nov. 24. The statue was placed inside the former Armory on Dec. 20. The building is now used as a YMCA.
Medina DPW workers helped move the statue today. They include Joe Perry, the DPW superintendent (back to camera), and employees Ben Lacy (right) and Cody Dix (left).
The statue was moved out of the YMCA, where it spent the winter.
The Medina Armory opened in 1901 for Company F, which formed in 1891. In 1977, the National Guard left the Medina Armory. The site has been used as a YMCA for more than three decades.
The statue, which weighs 1,400 pounds, is moved down Pearl Street to go on the monument in front of the Y.
A crowd of people, including many local veterans, gathered to watch the installation.
The statue was created by sculptor Brian Porter and the University of Buffalo’s foundry director Chris Serano.
The late Medina resident Bill Menz was influential in building the sandstone monument and raising more than $65,000 for the statue.
A dedication is expected in September for the statue. That will give time for landscaping and additional work on the plaques on the monument.
The monument currently includes 550 names of local soldiers who fought in wars on behalf of the United States. The soldiers enlisted and trained at the Medina Armory for conflicts from 1898 to 1945 including the Spanish-American War, Mexican-American, World War I and World War II.
The statue stands prominently outside the Orleans County YMCA.
Orleans Hub will have another article later today on the statue installation.
