By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2021 at 10:31 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Orleans Hub has already posted many photos from the Parade of Lights, including the winning entries that were announced today and other photos from Saturday night not long after the parade.
We wanted to highlight more of the floats, including the top photo that shows the entry from the Orleans County Tourism Department. It shows Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and 13-foot-long fiberglass salmon that was lighted up for the display.
Schaal’s Tree Service gave the Grinch a ride in its bucket truck.
Miller Family Transport
Mahar Excavating spread a message of joy with its float.
Mark Time Marchers were one of four marching bands in the parade.
Bent’s Opera House featured a horse-drawn carriage. It is passing near the Bent’s Opera House which recently opened after an extensive renovation.
Albion Fire Department decorated its ladder truck.
Medina Lions Club
Pride Pak was one of nine new entries in the parade.
Niagara County 4-H Equine Program
Middleport Fire Department
Prime Time Brass perform in front of the judge’s stand on Main Street across from Avanti Pizza.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2021 at 5:40 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Parade of Lights Committee in Medina has announced the winners in the 13th annual Parade of Lights on Saturday, which included about 40 entries.
The Metz’s Family Christmas (shown above) was named the grand champion and won the $500 top prize. The Metz’s Family Christmas is a first-time winner. The Medina Railroad Museum was the grand champion the previous two years.
The float for the Metz’s Family Christmas is shown in the staging and setup area at the Olde Pickle Factory before the start of the parade.
The Parade of Lights Committee gives out about $4,000 in prizes. Other winners included:
Best in Class – The Medina Misfits
Fire Company – Shelby Fire Company
The Shelby Fire Company pulled a trailer with a Christmas tree and sent a message: “Reduce the risk of a fire, WATER YOUR TREE!”
Not-For-Profit- Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund
Business – Party Tents Plus
Religious – Community Fellowship Church
Service Clubs – Roy-Hart FFA with a Buffalo Bills themed float
Star Award (for creativity) – Boy Scout Troop 28 in Medina with an aqua theme to promote the group’s trip to Florida to earn badges
Santa’s Pick (award the committee felt Santa would like the best) – Orleans County 4-H Heelers Dog Club
Little Elf Award (entry that best utilized youth in their entry) – Cub Pack 18 in Gasport
Community Spirit (entry that best represented their community) – Case-Nic Cookies
“Congratulations to all of these winners and our most sincere thanks for all the hard work represented in every entry!!” the committee stated in announcing the top floats.
The Parade of Lights Committee for 2021 includes: Jim Hancock, Mark Irwin, David Miller, Gail Miller, Duane Payne, Pat Payne, Jeff Wagner, Betty Rogowski, Reinhard Rogowski, David Stacey, Kathie Valley and Jake Hebdon.
Photos by Tom Rivers: This house on Park Avenue is decorated for the holiday season.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2021 at 9:32 am
MEDINA – Village residents are encouraged to keep Medina lighted up for the holidays.
Medina had another successful Parade of Lights on Saturday night. But the lighted displays don’t need to stop with the parade.
Residents are encouraged to enter a “Village of Lights” competition that includes prize money.
Entries must be received by Nov. 30, and decorations must up by Dec. 6. The competition is open to residents and properties within the village.
There is no cost to enter, and entry forms can be found at The English Rose Tea Shop and at www.christmasinmedina.com.
Completed entry forms must be returned by Nov. 30 to Pat Payne, 3952 Fruit Ave., Medina, NY 14103. When she receives an entry, she will mail an entry number card.
Only decorations on the front face and front lawn of a house will be judged. Judges will view and judge from the curb. No one will enter the property. Lights and animated displays must be turned on during the judging periods, and entry number cards must be prominently displayed and visible from the street. Participants agree to have a photo of their decorated homes posted on the Parade of Lights Face Book page and website (www.ChristmasInMedina.com). Businesses may decorate any and all parts of their facade.
Judging categories and prize amounts:
Christmas Spirit – Traditional ($50)
Christmas Spirit – Innovative ($50)
Most Whimsical ($50)
Best Use of Lights ($50)
Probably Visible from Space ($50)
Best Business – Christmas Spirit ($50)
Best Business – Community Spirit ($50)
Block Party – (4 or more adjacent and/or across-the-street entries entered as a group) ($50)
Grand Champion ($200).
Judging will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 10, 11 and 12. Winners will be announced and notified on Dec. 14.
This house on Park Avenue in Medina features many decorations and lights.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2021 at 11:21 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Members of the Medina Marching Band as well as some alumni performers were lighted up for the Parade of Lights on Saturday night. This photo shows the band on Main Street, where thousands gathered for the parade’s return.
Last year there was a “reverse parade” with the floats all stationary at the Medina school campus, with vehicles driving by the floats. This year, the parade was back to normal a big crowd lined the route from Park Avenue to Main Street in the downtown.
Fireworks went off right before the start of the parade.
The Medina Fire Department was the second of 40 entries in the parade, following the Medina Police Department.
The Medina Railroad Museum, the grand champion from the 2019 and 2020 parades, gave another big effort for this year’s parade. This is the 13th annual Parade of Lights, and the event draws several thousand people to the downtown area. The crowd gave a loud cheer at the conclusion of the parade.
The Medina FFA created a float with the theme of “The Island of Misfit Toys.”
These inflatable snowmen were part of the floats by the Orleans County 4-H Heelers Dog Club, front, and for Bentley Brothers. They are in the staging area at the Olde Pickle Factory before the parade.
The Roy-Hart FFA gets their float ready which had a Buffalo Bills theme.
Santa Claus took the mic during a stop on a parade route and thanked the crowd for attending the event. Assemblyman Steve Hawley, left, served as emcee of the parade.
East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company was among nine fire departments that decorated a fire truck for the parade.
The Pembroke Marching Band performed in the parade. They were one of four marching bands with the Medina Marching Band, the Mark Time Marchers and Prime Time Brass the others.
The Parade of Lights banner is carried down the parade route near the beginning of the lineup of entries.
Stacey Knights Pellicano checks a display of names of people who were highlighted by friends and family as part of the Knights-Kaderli float. The Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund assists people who are battling cancer, helping them pay some of their bills.
Knights-Kaderli helps about 50 families a year pay for out-of-pocket expenses, co-pays, transportation and other bills. A recipient must be undergoing a cancer treatment and must be an Orleans County resident.
The “Medina Misfits” includes a group of friends from several local businesses who wanted to dress up Christmas characters and add some extra fun to the parade.
Click here to see a 42-minute video of the parade.
Click here to see a video of the festivities before the parade, including fireworks and a tree-lighting.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2021 at 3:51 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Maverick, a golden retriever owned by Kathy Napier of Albion, wears a holiday costume during a pet parade at noon that also featured the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus. (Click here for a short video of the pets in costume.)
The parade is part of the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration in Medina, which features many activities throughout the day, including fireworks at 5:45 p.m. and the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m. with 38 entries.
The Medina band plays Christmas songs during the parade, including Feliz Navidad and Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.
Gabby, a Boston Terrier owned by Sue Hagen of Gasport, wears a Mrs. Claus outfit as part of the pet costume competition. Prizes were awarded to smallest and largest participants, best costume and most Santa-like.
Jim Hancock, chairman of the Parade of Lights, poses with Olaf before the noon parade, which started at the Medina Historical Society on Park Avenue and went through Main Street. Sophia Goyette wore the Olaf costume. Her brother Chris was Olaf is prior noon parades.
Rayna Balaban of Medina took her grandparents’ dog, Sadie Stahl, for the pet costume contest.
Santa and Mrs. Claus greet people gathered on Main Street.
The Medina Railroad Museum decorated a mini-replica of a railroad station.
Medina Police Lt. Todd Draper directs traffic while in the holiday spirit.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2021 at 1:22 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Ryan Czaja of Middleport wears a Santa suit while running a 5K this morning in Medina. He was one of 75 participants in the 9th annual Home for the Holidays 5K. Czaja also is the Middleport fire chief. He has worn the Santa suit for the race at least three times.
“It makes the kids smile,” he said.
Debbie Tompkins, co-director of the race with Teresa Wilkins, welcomes the runners for the 5K race. Tompkins and Wilkins have organized the event the past four years. Last year’s was capped at 50 due to Covid restrictions. This year there wasn’t a cutoff.
The runners, including Santa, get lined up in the Canal Basin for the start of the race. The proceeds from the event, estimated at $1,000, will be given to the Hands for Hope ministry.
The runners take off at the Canal Basin this morning when temperatures were about 30 degrees.
Aurora Owczarczak has an elf costume on for the race. She is close to the finish on the Prospect Avenue lift bridge.
Alden Cayea of Medina won the race in a time of 18:33. Kimberly Mills of Oakfield was the first woman to cross the finish line in a time of 21:09.
Loren Jones and Katy Owczarczak head to the finish line amidst a brief blast of snow.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2021 at 11:21 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Takeform employees Dave Kozubal, Tosha Boyle and Shannon Dent are at a booth this morning that was created by the company as part of Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration.
Takeform will be on Main Street by the Presbyterian Church today until 10 p.m. to accept messages about gratitude.
The company will use those words and messages to create a display at Rotary Park from mid-December until mid-January.
Takeform has been a big part of Medina’s Parade of Lights and holiday celebration in recent years. It twice was the champion in the Parade of Lights, and donated typography decorations for Rotary Park to celebrate the Christmas season.
This year, Takeform decided it wanted to emphasize a feeling of gratitude, especially during a time of suffering and disruption from Covid-19.
Takeform employees want to hear from the community what they are thankful for. Takeform will also be giving away cutout ornaments in celebration of the 2021 Parade of Lights.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Lyndonville Fire Department won Best in Class in 2018. The department has been decorating fire trucks for the parade for several years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2021 at 7:08 pm
MEDINA – Medina’s Parade of Lights on Saturday includes 38 entries, with four marching bands and nine first-time parade participants.
The parade typically has 35 to 40 parade entries. Last year, there were about 20 when Medina shifted to a “reverse parade” where the entries were stationary and people drove by from their vehicles.
Jim Hancock, the parade chairman, said organizers and participants are happy to be back for a “normal” parade with the procession starting at the Olde Pickle Factory on Park Avenue and then working its way downtown on Main Street. This year’s parade marshal will be Steve Morse, who has portrayed Santa Claus for many years.
The four marching bands in the parade include Mark Time Marchers, Prime Time Brass, Pembroke High School Marching Band and the Medina Mustang Band, which is coming off its 15th state championship. The band will be joined by alumni from graduating years of 1975 to 2021.
Prime Time Brass will perform at the four corners of Main and Center streets beginning at 5 p.m. The community Christmas tree will be lit at 5:30 p.m. at Rotary Park. There will be a special performance by Stacey Steverson at 5:40. Fireworks will go off at 5:55 and the Parade will start promptly at 6 p.m., Hancock said.
There are activities throughout the day, including a noon parade down Main Street with Santa and Mrs. Claus coming to town. Click here for a full schedule of events.
Fireworks burst in the sky in downtown Medina just before the 11th annual Parade of Lights on Nov. 30, 2019. Fireworks are scheduled for 5:55 p.m. on Saturday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2021 at 9:40 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Downtown Medina is decked out in decorations for the holiday season. This photo of Main Street was taken on Wednesday evening.
Medina will celebrate its annual Olde Tyme Christmas on Saturday with numerous events throughout the day, including the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m. Click here to see the full schedule.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church is in the background of this photo showing some of the decorations on Main Street.
Today on Thanksgiving the forecast calls for a high of 46 with showers expected after 11 a.m. Tonight, rain and snow showers are likely.
The highs the next few days include cloudy and high near 34 on Friday, partly sunny and 34 on Saturday and some snow likely on Sunday with a high near 36.
Medina also decorated East and West Center Street for the holidays. The First Baptist Church is in the background.
Press Release and photo courtesy of Medina Police Department
MEDINA – The Medina Police Department’s Police Benevolent Association has used donations collected from “No Shave November” to purchase Thanksgiving meals for some local families.
Pictured from left to right are K9 Handler Jacob Reeves, Pastor Rich Damey with his children and School Resource Officer Dustin Meredith.
Members of the Police Department were allowed to grow facial hair during “No Shave November” and collect donations to be given to a good cause.
For the second year in a row, the PBA chose to purchase Thanksgiving dinners for local families. Faith Bible Baptist Church helped to select recipients. The meals were purchased and delivered by MPD police officers to Pastor Damey to be distributed to the selected families for the upcoming holiday.
