Photo by Ginny Kropf: This banner hanging by Creekside Floral on Main Street in Medina pays tribute to Medina’s legendary Dan Paul, known to all as “Dan Spaghett.”

MEDINA – Only a few days remain until this year’s Hometown Hero banners come down for the winter. But before that happens, Mary Woodruff would like to call attention to two very special veterans who are honored in Medina’s downtown.

One is Dan Paul, known to the Medina community as Dan Spaghett, and the other is Civil War soldier and Shelby farmer Asa Hill.

Woodruff first got the idea for the banners after she attended a ceremony in Alfred Station where her father-in-law Willis Burr Woodruff was one of the town’s residents whose banner was on display in a local gymnasium. Burr served in Africa during World War II. He came to Medina as manager of the Agway plant in Knowlesville.

When Woodruff walked into that room with all the banners, she was awestruck, she said.

She came home and immediately started making plans to start a Hometown Heroes program in Medina.

The results have been overwhelming, not only the number of banners which have been purchased, but the stories of the veterans honored.

Two very special banners hanging this year are those of Civil War soldier Asa Hill and Medina’s legendary Dan Spaghett.

When Woodruff posted on Facebook she was looking for comments from people who had memories to share of Hill and Dan, whose real name was Dan Paul, she was overwhelmed with responses.

Most people didn’t know much about Dan, except he was our town “hobo” and always wore his long coat. His portrait is prominently displayed at the Rudy’s diner in Medina.

Legendary Locals of Orleans County, a book by Holly Canham, has the most information known about Dan, who was born in 1892 (location unknown) and died in 1976.

Legendary Locals says he came to Medina as a young boy to work on railroad maintenance gangs. He stayed with the Paul family and adopted their surname. He was a veteran who served in World War I, returning to Medina after the war, at which time it was said he displayed signs of trauma.

He was never seen without his long coat and felt hat, even in summer. It was often said his coat was lined with money, and Legendary Locals reports when he was once hospitalized they found considerable amounts of money hidden in the folds of his coat. Later in life, while at the VA, many uncashed pension checks were found in his coat. It was also reported his only known possession was a trunk full of lacy items, such as doilies, which it is suspected his mother made and which he occasionally gave as a gift.

In spite of his reclusive lifestyle, he was trusted by Medina merchants, for whom he often ran errands, made bank deposits, delivered telegrams and performed handyman jobs.

The most often-told tales about Dan involved his walks to Lake Ontario to bathe in the lake.

Dan’s banner was suggested and paid for by Lee and Maureen Blackburn, Medina natives who now live in Fredonia.

Their reasons for remembering Dan with a banner were because he was friendly and honest, but most of all, because he was a veteran, Maureen said.

“Dan was a regular strolling along Main Street,” she wrote in an e-mail to Woodruff. “Sensing the reluctance of my two daughters when Dan approached, we stopped and waited for him to greet us. The girls weren’t sure of this exchange, but I assured them he was a friend. He greeted them and, as he often did, played a slight-of-hand coin trick. They loved it. Being preschool age, it was natural they were hesitant, and only with an adult nearby would this be ok. This was over 50 years ago and I can still see the image of two little girls enjoying Dan’s kindness.”

Donna Piedmont Bryant recalled Dan walked to Shadigee every day to wash his feet.

“We often picked him up and gave him a ride,” she said. “My dad and he would have a great visit. He got to ride up front and we had to get in the back seat.”

Anita Wigley Weese shared her memories of Dan when she worked at G.C. Murphy’s in the early 1970s.

“Dan would always hang around there,” she said. “He was never any trouble, just sat around quietly and smiled. One day some kids started picking on him. Dan went into the stairwell and grabbed the broom that was always kept there. He took off chasing them and swinging the broom at them. I can still see that.”

Joann Sellers’s memory of Dan is when her family would go downtown and the kids would stay in the car.

“Dan would come up to the car and we would roll down the window just a little and he would give us one piece of Juicy Fruit gum,” she said.

Laurey Kenward said Dan had lived in a run-down house on Park Avenue, a couple of blocks from her family. It was a corner house one block east of Davis Avenue, and she said it was torn down after his death.

Fran Kenward’s memories of Dan are when they had first moved to Medina in 1966 and walked uptown every day with her children, age 1 and 4.

“We were always greeted by Dan when we walked through Murphy’s,” Kenward said. “He was one of the most friendly people in town. He would walk to the stop light with us and would sing to us. What a wonderful voice he had.”

Gloria Fierch remembers Dan very well. She said Dan used to walk by their house on Paddy Hill every night in the summer.

“We assumed he spent the night on Erin Road in this little old house,” she said. “I think he stayed with this little old bag lady, Mrs. Barney, but I’m not sure. He was a very fascinating man.”

Donna Graves said Dan is buried in the front of Boxwood Cemetery and each time she visits her parents’ graveside, she visits his. She asks everyone to stop by and say a prayer “for a very memorable man to many of us.”

There were many more responses to Woodruff’s request for memories, most of whom recalled Dan’s walking to the lake, his honesty, his attention to children and his beautiful voice.

The story of Asa Hill will be shared in a future story.

Provided photos: The Medina Marching Band closes out its first-place finish Sunday at the Carrier Dome.

MEDINA — The Medina Marching Band won the championship on Sunday during the New York State Field Band Championships at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

Medina had the highest score, 94.75, among the nine bands in the Small School 1 Division.

The seniors in the band gathered for a group photo.

Medina’s performed a program called “Together Again” in a return to competition after the 2020 season was wiped out due to Covid-19. Medina also won the title in 2019.

Medina’s score on Sunday topped New Hartford at 92.40; Mineola at 92.25; Malvern at 90.60; East Syracuse-Minoa at 89.65; East Irondequoit at 88.45; Central Square at 87.50; Oswego at 87.10; and Mohonasen at 82.70.

Jim Steele, the band director, said he is proud of the band program. He views the band as a huge family. There were 50 bands that performed during the championships and each developed a program. Steele said they are all winners, no matter what their score, especially in these times of Covid and other budget cuts. These schools are to be commended for their persistence and dedication, Steele said.

This was the 15th time that Medina has won the championship in their class with the prior titles in 1982, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,  2013 and 2019.

Sunday’s event also included the induction of retired Medina Marching Band director Joseph McKain into the 2021 NYS Field Band Conference Hall of Fame. McKain led the marching band in Medina from 1970 to 1999.

Courtesy of Jeanne Upton: Pouring rain blurred the camera, but it didn’t stop hundreds of children and their parents from lining up at the Medicine Shoppe Friday evening for Beggar’s Night in Medina.

This young creature is one of hundreds who lined up outside the Medicine Shoppe in Medina for Beggar’s Night Friday evening.

MEDINA – Pouring rain Friday night didn’t dampen the spirits of hundreds of children who came out for Beggar’s Night in the village of Medina.

Children started lining up well before 5:30 p.m. for the Medina Area Partnership-sponsored event, according to MAP president Scott Robinson.

Robinson said they feared the bad weather might result in a light turnout, but it turned out to be quite the opposite.

“We typically have between 600 and 800 children who come out for Beggar’s Night, and this year was no exception,” Robinson said.

Some of the business owners also dressed in costume to welcome the little beggars, Robinson said.

“Everyone was in the spirit,” he said. “And everyone was having a blast.”

Sue Phillips was one of the deacons at the First Presbyterian Church who gave out candy.

“It was a good turnout of children in costumes and parents with umbrellas,” Phillips said. “All the deacons who helped went home damp and cold, but it was a lot of fun, seeing all the costumes and handing out candy. We had lots of laughs.”

Courtesy of Sue Phillips: The deacons from the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Medina gave out candy for Beggar’s Night Friday evening. From left are Ginny Roberts, Sue Phillips, Peggy Pearce (seated), Rollie Phillips and Yvette Nevins. Also participating were the Rev. William Wilkinson and his children, Patty and Jeremy.

The Lee Whedon Library participated in Beggar’s Night by giving each child candy, a toy and a book of their choice. Books were donated by Tops, said children’s librarian Kelsey Withey.

Robinson said they were thrilled to be able to have the event this year, as last year they couldn’t, due to Covid. Instead, they held a scaled-down event, where they handed out candy to children in a drive-thru format.

He said this year they adhered to Health Department guidelines for Friday night, and store owners wore masks as suggested.

“Beggar’s Night is not about MAP, it’s a time to give back to the kids,” Robinson said.

He added Beggar’s Night is a perfect introduction to the upcoming holiday events in Medina, beginning with Christmas in Medina and the Parade of Lights the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Albion also hosted Beggar’s Night on Friday.

This was the scene on Main Street in Medina, as hundreds of children braved the rain for Beggar’s Night Friday.

Courtesy of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library

MEDINA – Several young treat-or-treaters got to choose a book, along with candy and a toy at Lee Whedon Memorial Library in Medina on Friday during Beggar’s Night.

Provided photo: Medina Rotary Club President Ben McPherson, right, presents checks to representatives from volunteer fire companies including Debbie Taylor (East Shelby), Jen Thom (Ridgeway) and Jason Watts (Shelby).

Press Release, Medina Rotary Club

MEDINA – On September 11 of this year the Rotary Club of Medina held a Chicken & Ribs Dinner. Part of the proceeds were designated to go to volunteer fire departments in the area.

On October 27 the Rotarians presented representatives from the Ridgeway, Shelby and East Shelby Volunteer Fire Departments with checks for $250 each for their share of the dinner proceeds.

Representing the fire departments were East Shelby Fire Chief Debbie Taylor, Ridgeway Fire Department Accountant Jen Thom and Shelby Fire Department Fire Chief Jason Watts.

Jason Watts informed the club that Shelby has had a record number of ambulance calls this year with over 400.

All three representatives talked about their organizations current and future needs.  The biggest being aging buildings, equipment and members.

A lack of volunteers is a major concern. This is due to an increase in the number of hours required for training before becoming certified.

A majority of calls are no longer for fires but for ambulance services. This is due to the fact that people are home more the past year and a half.

The fire departments were proud of how well they work together and cover for not only each other but also assist the Medina Fire Department.

MEDINA – The Village Board isn’t opting out of allowing legal dispensaries for marijuana, a vote that means the village will be opting in.

The board voted 4-1 on Monday evening to take no action on opting out. Medina officials think they are the first municipality in the county that will allow the legal dispensaries.

Mayor Mike Sidari said it may not come to fruition for 12 to 18 months as the village awaits guidelines and regulations from the state, and to see if a business can work through the permitting process from the state.

Sidari said marijuana was decriminalized by the state. He compared it to easing off the Prohibition laws about a century ago.

“I liken this to back in Prohibition time,” Sidari said. “They probably had the same exact meetings that we’re talking about with the marijuana. With marijuana I have a feeling it’s here and now.”

During a public hearing on Sept. 26, several speakers urged the village to not oppose legal dispensaries. Those speakers said they would have access to a safe, regulated product, and the village would stand to gain tax revenue.

Medina will get a 3 percent tax for every dollar spent at the dispensary, part of an overall 13-percent excise tax on marijuana.

“We don’t know what the dollar amount will be,” said Tim Elliott, a trustee on the board. “But we know it will be better than zero.”

The village has struggled in recent years to keep taxes from rising, partly because it’s revenue from the local sales tax has been frozen by the county since 1996. The state also hasn’t increased the share to the village in AIM funding.

“This is a guarantee of tax revenue, we just don’t know the amount,” Elliott said. “But we can definitely use those funds.”

The Village Planning Board is expected to weigh in on the matter, whether the dispensaries should be limited to certain locations in the village.

Elliott said he doesn’t want to see the dispensaries banned from the downtown.

“I have no problem with them being on Main Street,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for someone to open a business. I don’t see why they should be secluded. It will bring people into town and they will spend money at other businesses.”

Marguerite Sherman, a trustee on the board, cast the lone vote against taking no action. Sherman said there are currently too many unanswered questions about the legal dispensaries, especially with no regulations yet from the state.

Medina also set a public hearing for 7:05 p.m. on Nov. 22 on whether to allow on-site marijuana use at smoking lounges in the village.

Provided photo: Christian Navas is officially promoted to sergeant in the Medina Police Department during Monday’s Village Board meeting. Lt. Todd Draper, right, and Chief Chad Kenward pin Navas with his collar brass insignia. Navas’s wife Stephanie held the Bible during the swearing-in ceremony.

Press Release, Medina Police Department

MEDINA – Christian Navas was officially promoted and sworn in as a new sergeant of the Medina Police Department during Monday’s Village Board meeting.

He will be assigned as the afternoon shift sergeant. Sgt. Navas has been a member of the Medina Police Department for 5 ½ years. Through these years he has become certified as a law enforcement instructor, including specialty topics of principled policing and spike strips. Sgt. Navas is a member of the county’s multijurisdictional tactical team, a member of the Medina Police Advisory Committee, and also handles sex offender registry for our department.

Sgt. Navas’ wife Stephanie held the Bible as he was sworn in by Chief Chad Kenward. Chief Kenward and Lt. Draper pinned Navas with his collar brass insignia, and his wife pinned him with his Sergeant’s badge.  In attendance at the swearing in was the Medina Village Board, colleagues, and Sgt. Navas’ wife, daughter and parents.

Our sincere congratulations go out to Sgt. Navas on a well-deserved promotion. Sgt. Navas is a respected member of our department and the community and his hard work and dedication are to be commended.

Photo and information courtesy of Medina Marching Band

GREECE – The Greece school district hosted a field band competition on Saturday, the last performance for Medina before the championships on Oct. 31 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

Fourteen bands competed in five classifications at Greece. In SS1, Medina earned 1st place with a score of 92.10 followed by East Irondequoit with 87.50.

In SS3, Marcus Whitman earned 1st place with 80.85 followed by LeRoy with 78.90. In LS3, Greece earned 1st place with 82.65 followed by Hilton in 2nd with 82.0.

Webster was the only contender in LS2 with 87.60. Victor was the only National band and had a score of 90.10.  The evening was capped off with a performance by The All In Brass Band.

The championships at the Carrier Dome will include 50 marching bands competing, involving more than 4,000 students. The day’s events are broken down into three shows with bands in different classifications in each show.

Medina is in Show #3 which starts at 5:30 p.m. and includes SS1 and National class bands which start at 7:45 pm. Medina performs at 5:45 pm. Additional info about the championships can be found by clicking here.