Ron Felstead gives back to Medina Memorial, his birthplace

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Ron Felstead of Medina, a lifelong pilot, points to the windsock on the roof of Medina Memorial Hospital, which he began replacing after Medina installed a helipad. He makes sure there is a new one every couple of years.

MEDINA – Ron Felstead has had a lifelong love of flying and been a dedicated supporter of Medina Memorial Hospital for almost as long.

It’s not surprising the hospital should occupy a special place in his heart – he was born there.

A few years ago, his background in aviation led him to make a very fitting donation to Medina Memorial Hospital.

The hospital had installed a helipad just south of the facility, when it occurred to Felstead the windsock was neglected and in need of being replaced. He knew how beneficial a windsock would be to the helicopter pilots. He talked to hospital personnel and arranged for a new one to be placed on the roof. Since that time he has continued to replace it every two years.

He explained how a pilot can gauge the direction of the wind by looking at a windsock, and can also estimate the velocity of the wind by how far out the windsock is extended. Knowing conditions of the wind is vital to a helicopter or airplane pilot.

Ron would get better acquainted with the hospital when he had his heart attack a few years ago. He was there 10 days before being transferred to Buffalo General Hospital to undergo a bypass.

Ron Felstead, an avid pilot and dedicated supporter of Medina Memorial Hospital, stands in the entrance to the hospital, where he was born.

He actually began his involvement with the hospital when John Sylvester encouraged him to be on the board in 2005. He would continue in that position until 2017.

He said the most heartbreaking thing while on the board was when they had to close the birthing center.

Ron is a son of the late Herb and Irene Felstead. They were living in Knowlesville when he was born and moved onto Taylor Hill (Townline Road) when he was 5, so his father, an avid pilot, could develop an airstrip.

“One of dad’s dreams when he was young was to fly,” Ron said. “He trained at Medina Airport with Herb Halsey. A Piper Cub was his first airplane.”

Ron got the flying bug very early. He soloed at Genesee County Airport in August 1957, the year he graduated from high school. A year later he got his private pilot’s license. He attended the University of Buffalo for two years through the ROTC program, where a teaching major realized how serious Ron was about flying. He wanted to get into a military flight school, but discovered he had to have four years of college.

Those in the program without a four-year degree were offered jobs in other areas of aviation, such as mechanics or air traffic control. Ron elected to come home and worked in various jobs while continuing his training, obtaining his commercial and flight instructor’s licenses. His first student was the late Zeke Royal of Medina. On a cross country with Royal to Ithaca, Ron learned a company there had a contract with the Army, Navy and Air Force to teach flying at Cornell, and he applied. His first job was teaching ROTC students how to fly to become a pilot in the Army, Navy and Air Force.

He also taught his brother to fly. His brother went out west where he attended Washington State to become a veterinarian. He met a girl in Montana and married her. Then he decided to go to navigator’s school, but a problem with his eardrums prevented him from pursuing that. So he then went back to pilot’s school and became an F-16 pilot. He ended up as squadron commander at the National Guard in Great Falls, Mont. Sadly, his brother died of a heart attack at age 58.

After leaving Cornell, Ron took a job at Page Airways in Rochester for a year, then in 1965 started teaching flying at Genesee County Airport. He had been there four years when, in 1969, the Rochester City School District was looking for a flight instructor, and he applied. He would be there almost 30 years, until his retirement.

When his dad died in 1986, Ron was executor of the estate. Ron had had a heart attack at the age of 52, and was prevented from flying for a year, until he could get his medical back. (A pilot’s medical exam is his license to fly.)

Ron tried to sell the airport. He sold off the house and farmland, but ended up keeping the airport for 30 more years, until selling it several years ago to John Follman of Waterport, a retired airline and jet pilot.

Ron and his wife Lynda have a son, who Ron also taught to fly, and a daughter.

Ron had caught the attention of the FAA and was appointed an examiner by them at the age of 25. He continued in that role for 27 years. His prestigious flying record earned him the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, which was presented Aug 11, 2011 at Genesee County Airport. Ron’s record includes more than 50 years of flying with no incidents or violations.

“I take flying very seriously, a quality I learned from my father,” Ron said.

He still owns a Cessna 172, which he keeps at Genesee County Airport and flies frequently for his own pleasure.

Ron still is a big proponent of his local Medina Memorial Hospital.

“They have the latest in equipment, such as nuclear scanners, all state-of-the-art equipment, right here in Medina,” Ron said. “Being on the board made me realize how important it is to keep our hospital in the community. My life was probably saved here.”

Heather Smith, director of Orleans Community Health Foundation, thinks it’s pretty cool how Ron’s love of flying correlated with his dedication to Medina Memorial Hospital.

“Ron is a joyful donor who is such a pleasure to spend time with and get to know,” Smith said. “His passion for flying goes beyond the runway and he shares that by providing a helipad windsock to the hospital. It may not seem like much, but his donation goes beyond our building. Our windsock also provides a service to the homes in the community, as well as the pilots of Mercy Flight, by helping them gauge the wind and provide a visual for our location. It always amazes me how each and every donor has a different connection to the hospital and how unique their gifts can be. This is just one example of how community members can use their unique gifts to support us.”

Bigger bays sought for ladder truck, 2 fire engines

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Medina Fire Department currently keeps its larger fire trucks, including a ladder truck, in the block building at right. The building’s garage bays only allow 2 inches of clearance for a ladder truck from 1996.

MEDINA – Village officials have started the discussion on an addition to the Medina Fire Department, a building next door to the current fire hall that would have taller garage bays and more room for larger fire trucks.

It’s currently a very tight fit for the ladder truck, and the two fire engines. The ladder truck from 1996 is 10 feet, 4 inches high. The bays have a clearance of 10 feet, 6 inches.

Medina Fire Department the past eight years has mentioned to Village Board members the current fire hall is undersized, but hasn’t pushed the issue until recently. Fire Chief Matt Jackson is urging the board to seriously look at an expansion, especially with the ladder truck nearing the end of life span. Ladder trucks typically last 25 years, the same age as Medina’s right now.

A new ladder truck, at the current size recommendations, wouldn’t fit in Medina’s fire hall.

Jackson during the Oct. 25 Village Board meeting, said he would like to see a new two-bay addition that would have clearances of 14 feet. That new building could be next door to the current fire hall with the addition in the parking lot next to the Village Clerk’s Office. The loss of parking spaces could easily be made up by having people parking next door at the Senior Center, which is also owned by the village, Jackson said.

Medina Mike Sidari said the Village Board will work with the Fire Department to look at options for a more modern building that accommodate the larger fire trucks and give the department more room.

“We will start discussing it,” he said. “The board realizes something needs to be done.”

Sidari said the village will look for grants and a low-interest loan for the project.

The current fire hall includes two buildings, a Medina sandstone structure from 1908 and then an annex built in the 1930s for the DPW. The DPW moved in 1955 and Medina FD took over the 3,960-square-foot space, which is 45 by 88 feet.

In addition to the larger fire trucks, the Medina FD runs four ambulances from the site and one of them, ambulance 61, can only fit in one of the bays.

Jackson said the two existing buildings also have poor drainage  wit parts of the floor eroding.

Medina Fire Chief Matt Jackson would like to see an addition in the parking lot with garage bays about 3 ½ feet higher than the ones in the current building.

Jackson is suggesting Medina pursue a 4,980-square-foot addition that would be 60 by 83 feet. It would have space for modern ambulances and fire trucks, be ADA compliant, and meet the department’s needs for the next 50 to 100 years. It would also have space for potential female firefighters.

The original fire station could also be potentially used by the Medina Police Department, Jackson said.

Jackson presented preliminary numbers that would have the addition at about $1.5 million. Medina also should begin the process of replacing the 25-year-old ladder truck, which is Medina’s busiest truck but often sidelined due to mechanical and electronic issues. The truck is currently out of service. The truck is costly to have repaired and parts are getting harder to come by, Jackson said. Fixing the brakes recently cost $7,400.

A new ladder truck could cost $1 million to $1.2 million. Medina could pursue grants, loans and a bond to pay for the vehicle.

“The longer we continue to put these important projects off, the more the costs will continue to increase,” Jackson told the Village Board.

The 5^th annual Parade of Lights Toy Drive will be Nov. 27, returning to the format for the first three years after last year’s Covid restrictions forced some changes.

The drive this year will be back at Canalside Tattoo at 540 Main St. from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. People who donate new unwrapped toys, clothing or at least $5 will be eligible to win local prize packages donated from businesses.

Last year there wasn’t a parade through the downtown. Instead there was a “reverse parade” at the Medina school campus. Andrew Szatkowski heads up the toy drive and he and his family and other supporters were able to collect $3,000 last year at the parade that was given to Community Action and the Medina Area Association of Churches. They used the money to purchase toys for local children and families.

Donations from the toy drive in the downtown usually fill seven or eight very large plastic bags with toys, plus about $1,000 is donated and given to buy other toys and food for families.

“It is that time of year again, and this year is going to be even bigger – first year back to a real parade and our 5th year doing the drive!” Szatkowski said.

He doesn’t children to go without a special present for Christmas. He appreciates the community donating toys and money for the effort, and for the many local businesses that offer prizes to help entice people to give on one of Medina’s busiest days of the year.

The annual Parade of Lights draws an estimated 8,000 people to Medina for the 6 p.m. parade. There are also many other activities during that day that have the downtown bustling.

Szatkowski said many local families are struggling more financially and emotionally this holiday season due to the impact of Covid.

For more information on the toy drive or to donate, contact Szatkowski at ajs@takeform.net.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Gail Miller of Medina, left, chair of the Canal Village Farmer’s Market poses with some of the year-round vendors on Saturday, as they get ready for the Holiday Market now through Dec. 18. With her are Hannah Pollard from the Catherine Street Bakery, Shauna Gardner from Gardner’s Gardens, Ron Human from Appleton Produce, Rose Baker from Baker Farms and Leah Steverson from Papa Thom’s Rockin’ Bagels.

MEDINA – The Canal Village Farmers’ Market has adopted a new look for the fall season, with start of their “Holiday Market” through Dec. 18.

Effective immediately, the market will welcome new vendors with a variety of new products, most suitable as gifts for the Christmas season, said market chair Gail Miller.

One of the vendors selling his wares is Luke Price of Lyndonville, with his son Camden at the market on Saturday. He converts old vinyl records into keepsakes.

Many of the regular vendors will also continue, including Baker Farms with meat, garlic products, onions and bread from Stone Hollow; Catherine Street Bakery with homemade pies, cookies, tarts, oatmeal bars, cake, jam and decorated cupcakes; Gardner’s Gardens with herb blends, fudge jams and jellies, confections, tea blends and popcorn; Human Farms with produce, barbecue sauces, spices and crafts; Papa Thom’s Rockin’ Bagels with pretzels and coffee from the Shirt Factory Café; and several arts and crafts vendors.

Year-round arts and crafts vendors include Hate Cuddlers Crafts with soaps, shampoo bars, salt scrubs and spa items; Karen Kaiser with handmade jewelry and crocheted items; and Viva LaVinyl with holiday items, book ends, bowls, bracelets and lawn ornaments made from old vinyl records.

Independent consultants at the market are Tastefully Simple seasoning blends, Tupperware, Pink Zebra home décor and fragrant waxes, Meltology handcrafted and organic wax melts and candles and Papparazzi bracelets, necklaces and rings. Flashy for $5 is a vendor from Webster whose jewelry is all $5.

Nov. 27 will be a very special day on the market, when vendors will include Usborne Books for children, a macrame vendor, Sun and Crow artist and Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, along with many of the old favorites. They also expect a vendor to have a selection of Christmas wreaths and they would like to find someone who has Christmas trees.

The Canal Village Market was an idea initially springing from a conversation between Chris Busch, president of ORG, Miller and Cindy Robinson. ORG agreed to sponsor a market and the first one opened in 2015.

These lawn ornaments were made out of vinyl records by Luke Price of Lyndonville.

“Customers have been terrific, but this year is one of the best years,” Miller said. “Customers have been tremendous and we’ve had more vendors.”

Every customer who makes a purchase from a vendor gets a raffle ticket, on which he can put his name and phone number and deposit it at the market booth. On Dec. 11, a winner will be drawn and will receive an item from every vendor.

Each week the market holds a scavenger hunt for young children, and they really have a lot of fun with that, Miller said. She added the market is looking for a sponsor for the hunt each week.

Busch added the market is looking for a sponsor for next year. He said Berkshire Hathaway Zambito HomeServices, Realtors has agreed to sponsor music for the entire season next year.

After the holiday season, the market will continue to be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday with a selection of winter foods. They accept credit cards, WIC, Senior Farmers Markets Nutrition Program and SNAP.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Steve Morse and his wife Pat hold a picture of him at a Santa Claus convention in Albion several years ago. Steve, who has played Santa in Medina since 1977, has been chosen as grand marshal of this year’s Parade of Lights.

MEDINA – It’s no surprise Steve Morse, 84, has spent most of his adult life as Santa Claus. After all, he was born on Dec. 25.

Steve, who has appeared as Santa Claus since 1977 throughout Western New York, often with his wife Pat by his side as Mrs. Claus, has been chosen as Grand Marshal of this year’s Parade of Lights.

“We thought this was a fitting choice because he’s done so much in the past for our community,” said Jim Hancock, chairman of the Tourism Committee which sponsors the annual parade. “We are so happy to have him.”

Steve was born in Painted Post and Pat in Corning. They met when he was a sophomore in school and she was a freshman.

“I was sitting in the auditorium one day when this girl walked in,” Steve said. “I took a look at her and said, ‘That’s the girl I’m going to marry.’ When I went home and told my mom, she asked me what her name was and I said I didn’t know.”

The couple has been married 64 years and have two children.

In January 1977, Steve accepted a job in the X-ray department of Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, and in May they moved to Medina. He worked in Buffalo for 19 years before coming to work at Medina Memorial Hospital, and he said being in the small town was “like coming home.”

Pat taught school at the Early Childhood Center No. 78, commuting from Medina for 17 years.

Their first year in Medina, the village was looking for a Santa, Steve said. He always had a beard as an adult, and he volunteered. He used to sit in his Santa chair in G.C. Murphys’ and then walk the streets, stopping in all the stores. He had an authentic suit Medina’s Tourism Committee had made for him by the famous Charlie Howard of the Santa Claus School in Albion. Steve said it had yak fur and he took it back at the end of every season to be cleaned.

When summer arrived each year, Steve let his beard grow and whitened it for the Christmas season. He needed padding in his suit back then. He said the children always wanted to pull his beard to see if it was real.

Steve was Santa for many years at Ronald McDonald House at Children’s Hospital and at Pat’s school before she retired. He greeted children at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, for Lion’s Club parties, the Medina United Methodist Church, Cub Scout Pack 23 in Middleport, Boy Scouts breakfast with Santa at Middleport Fire Hall and the ABCD Batavia Agri-Business Childhood Development School. He was Santa in the Medina area from 1977 to 1998, then he bought his own Santa suit, which he ordered from Canada.

After Pat retired in 1994, she had Blissett’s make her a red dress with a huge full skirt, white apron and a hat and she became Mrs. Claus.

Steve was even known to make house calls to children who were sick and unable to visit him.

When he gave up being Santa, Steve donated his suit, boots and bells to the Middleport Fire Department. He won’t need them for the Parade of Lights, because he knows the “real” Santa paraded through Medina earlier in the day and he doesn’t want to confuse the children.

He said often, even when he wasn’t wearing his Santa suit, children would come up and call him Santa. Even in Hawaii, Pat said Japanese tourists wanted to know if they could have their picture taken with Santa.

“Christmas is not just a season for Steve,” Pat said. “It’s a way of life for him. He has never said ‘no’ to a child.”

Steve said he was stunned to be asked to the parade’s grand marshal.

“Steve and I haven’t been able to go to the parades,” Pat said. “So this was a nice surprise.”

“I just hope I live up to the task,” Steve said.

Hancock is optimistic the community will honor Morse and show their community support by entering a float in this year’s 13th annual Parade of Lights, scheduled at 6 p.m. Nov. 27. After last year’s parade was dampened by Covid, Hancock and his committee are hoping for a banner year this year. Their goal is to surpass the number of previous years’ floats.

He stressed there is no fee and there are a variety of categories in which to enter.

“It can be just a farm tractor, as long as it’s all lit up,” Hancock said.

He urges highway departments, fire companies, service clubs, churches, schools and businesses to create a float and enter it in the parade.

“We give away nearly $4,000 in prizes,” Hancock said.

Categories are Service, Religious, Business/Commercial, Best in Class, Santa’s Pick (a float the judges think Santa would like), Star (most creative) and Littlest Elf (incorporates youth and adults). Ten awards are given, in addition to the $500 grand prize.

“There is no theme to encourage diversity, and you can be as creative as you want,” Hancock said.

The only restriction is no float can contain a likeness of Santa Claus, because the “real” Santa arrives in his own parade at noon that day.

Entry forms can be found on the website www.christmasinmedina.com or by calling (585) 798-2118. Entries will be accepted until Nov. 24.

The Parade of Lights is part of Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration, with children’s activities, food, musical entertainment in Rotary Park, the arrival of Santa and more. The parade at 6 p.m. is preceded at 5:45 p.m. by fireworks over the downtown.

Photo courtesy of Carol Bellack: Jim Hancock, member of Medina Lions and chair of the Lions’ poster contest, stands with Saniyyaha Johnson, an eighth grader at Medina Middle School and winner of the Lions International Peace Poster contest.

MEDINA – Medina Lions Club has announced an eighth grader at Medina High School is the winner of the 2021-22 Lions Club International Peace Poster contest.

Saniyyaha Johnson was one of 17 students aged 11, 12 or 13 who entered the contest. Brielle Dunham was runner-up.

The Medina Lions has been participating in this contest for more than 12 years, said poster chairman Jim Hancock. In that time, they have had one student advance beyond the district level.

“There are some pretty talented students out there,” Hancock said.

The theme for this year’s poster was “We are all connected.” Saniyyaha depicted hands reaching out across the world, with a dove representing peace.

The contest took place during September and October, with help from art teacher Jen Scott, who helped coordinate the program on behalf of the Medina Lions Club.

“We are indebted to Mrs. Scott for her assistance to get this worthwhile program completed,” Hancock said.

A cash prize will be awarded to each contestant at an upcoming Lions Club meeting.

By winning at the local level, Saniyyaha is eligible to compete at the district level. She could possibly go on to the state, national and international level, where the grand prize winner will win $5,000.

Photos by Ginny Kropf

MEDINA – Local officials turned out to help the family of Jim and Cindy Robinson celebrate the grand opening of their new store, Vintage Cigar, at 513 Main St., Medina, with a ribbon cutting Saturday morning. From left are village trustees Owen Toal, Jess Marciano and Tim Elliott, Ridgeway supervisor Brian Napoli, Medina mayor Mike Sidari, Dave Burd, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Joseph and Amanda Robinson with daughter Cindy, Becky Robinson and Cindy and Jim Robinson.

Medina mayor Mike Sidari, second from left, congratulates the Robinson family on the grand opening of Vintage Cigar and reads a proclamation from Senator Rob Ortt during a ribbon cutting Saturday morning. Waiting to present his proclamation is Assemblyman Steve Hawley, center. Those looking on are Ridgeway supervisor Brian Napoli, left, Dave Burd, Joey and Amanda Robinson and Cindy and Jim Robinson.