Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Several local fire departments decorated fire trucks with lights and ornaments in Saturday’s Parade of Lights in Medina.

The top photo shows a fire truck from the Medina Fire Department headed down Main Street.

Lyndonville’s fire truck was heavily decorated for the parade. The truck is shown in the staging area before the parade at the Olde Pickle Factory.

A Lyndonville firefighter is covered in lights and stands on the back of the fire truck for an added element in the the department’s display.

The East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company put lights on a fire truck and also had a sleigh with a reindeer on top of the truck.

The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company had multiple units in the parade with all-terrain vehicles serving as reindeer pulling a “sleigh.”

The Middleport Fire Department from Niagara County joined the fun.

Tim Cooper of Medina debuted this restored historic Medina fire truck in the parade.

Return to top

MEDINA – The Book Shoppe in Medina hosted two local authors for book-signings on Saturday.

Daniel Mault, left, is the author of The Cost of Gold, A True Fairytale. Jessie Miller, right, illustrated that book and also wrote her own book, Rooster Wore Skinny Jeans.

Mault lives in Cheektowaga and is a third grade teacher at Roy-Hart. His book tells the story of two children, Maggie and Henry, who meet a golden frog, which grants their wish to live in a castle and be royalty. However, they miss their family that they were forced to leave behind.

“This fairytale will leave you thinking about what really matters in life, and open a dialogue with children about what they cherish most in their lives,” according to a review on Amazon. Click here for more information.

Miller, 28, is a 2007 graduate of Medina High School who works as a freelance illustrator. She earned an animation degree at Edinboro University.

Her book is about a rooster that wears skinny jeans, despite some ridicule from its friends.

“It’s about not being afraid to be yourself,” she said.

For more on her book, click here.

Return to top

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A one-day toy drive resulted in 500 toys being donated plus about $700. The toys were dropped off on Saturday at Canalside Tattoo on Main Street in Medina. Shawn Ramsey, left, is owner of Canalside. He is pictured with Andrew Szatkowski, organizer of the toy drive.

The toys will be given to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and the Medina Area Association of Churches, which will distribute them to families in Orleans County.

Szatkowski put together 20 packages to entice donations of toys or $5 that will be used to buy presents. With every donation, people were given a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of the 20 “Medina Experience” packages.

Szatkowski thanked the community for their generous donations.

Return to top

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Before the big Parade of Lights, Medina celebrated with fireworks in the downtown.

There was about a 15-minute show just before the parade at 6 p.m.

The fireworks and parade brought a throng of people to the downtown.

There were numerous activities throughout the day as part of the Olde Tyme Christmas Celebration.

Medina has Main Street decorated for the holidays.

Return to top

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – There were nearly 40 floats in today’s Parade of Lights in Medina. Some of the entries are shown in the parking lot of the Olde Pickle Factory, which served as a staging area for the floats.

This was the ninth annual Parade of Lights and the event continues to draw big crowds to downtown Medina and caps off Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas Celebration.

Matt C.M. Contracting made this giant candy cane. The generator stopped when the candy cane made it to Main Street so most of the crowd was unable to see it lighted up.

Matt Mundion of Matt C.M. Contracting tries to get another strand of lights working on his candy cane. Mundion is the three-time grand champion of the event.

Katelyn Schlager of the Little Bits 4-H Club gets her Grinch make-up on for her role in the club’s Whoville float. Brook Lux’s hand is showing. She was the makeup artist.

Bo Gobeli, a den leader for Cub Scout Pack 35 in Medina, adjusts the flag pole in the float. John Dieter, the cub master, also makes some last-minute adjustments before the parade.

Dustin Shaffer of Bentley Brothers works on stringing lights for the business’s float.

Baxter Healthcare in Medina participated in the Parade of Lights for the first time. Employees created a toy shop theme on the float.

Takeform Architectural Graphics also made its debut in the parade and featured several cutouts depicting Medina landmarks.

Teaghan Freeman of Le Roy is dressed as an angel for the Mark Time Marchers. She is joined by her parents, Yvonne Freeman, left, and Jeff Freeman.

Ian Becker of the Roy-Hart FFA puts a finishing touch on the sign, “Support Our Troops.” FFA students did all of the work on the float.

Several veterans joined the Roy-Hart students on the FFA float including a Marine, Bradley Mandaville of Barker, standing.

Weedman in Albion makes its way down Main Street during the popular parade.

Return to top

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Jim Hancock, chairman of the Parade of Lights, is pictured with Frosty the Snowman today at the Medina Historical Society.

The Parade of Lights starts at 6 p.m. at the Olde Pickle Factory and includes 38 participants, Hancock said. The parade heads down Park Avenue before reaching Main Street.

There will also be a tree-lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at Rotary Park. Frank Berger, the grand marshal of the parade, will light the tree.

There will also be a fireworks display in the downtown at 5:45 p.m.

The Albion FFA won the grand prize in last year’s parade. The float had a Candy Land theme with about 10,000 lights.

Return to top

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Santa Claus greets a child in Medina after a parade through the downtown. Santa will be at the Medina Theatre for three hours meeting children. Cindy Robinson, right, is president of the Medina Business Association, which is one of the organizers of today’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration in Medina. (Click here to see the schedule of events.)

Emma Underhill, 6, of Elba won the “most spirited elf” award in the Cutest Little Elf Costume Contest.

Debbie and Paul Goodwin of Medina have their dogs dressed for the holidays in the pet parade. Mrs. Goodwin is walking Luna and her husband has Sadie.

Luna, Debbie and Paul Goodwin’s dog, waits for the parade to get started. The dogs assembled at the Medina Historical Society on West Avenue before taking the trek down Main Street.

Shelby Green, drum major for the Mustang band, and her bandmates practice Christmas songs before the parade at noon.

Shelby Green directs the band during a practice. It was drizzling out but the band played on.

Medina students, Hunter DeHollander and Abby Wilson, dressed as elves to help raise money for the Decorate Medina Committee.

Daisy Duke, owned by Kathy and Kevin Bogan, is ready for the parade to get started.

These two wave to the crowd while getting a ride in a Medina fire truck.

Return to top

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Heide Cornell of Sanborn is all smiles when she crosses the finish line this morning during the 5^th annual Home for the Holidays 5K in Medina. Cornell is dressed as “The Baker” from a Christmas story.

Her friend, Jay Weber, dressed as the Gingerbread Man.

The 130 runners take off at the start of the race in the Canal Basin. Many wore Santa hats and holiday costumes. The 130 participants is the most since the race started in 2013.

Proceeds from today’s race are going to Medina’s LOYAL youth baseball program and a reading program at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

Brennan Root, 22, of Medina is in the home stretch of the race, which he won in a time of 16:45, nearly 3 minutes ahead of the second place finisher.

“It was awesome,” Root said about the race. “Everyone was so supportive. The Christmas vibe is awesome.”

Martha Gardner, 18, of Medina was the top female to finish in a time of 20:34.

Kathleen Donhauser gets off to a good pace at the start of the race.

Medina natives Megan Sidari and Lauren Ickowski ran together in the race. The two friends now live in Arlington, Va. Megan is the daughter of Medina Mayor Mike Sidari and Brenda Sidari. Lauren is the daughter of Sam and Diana Barber.

Jose Quiros, 40, and his daughter Sabrina, 15, run together near the finish. The two Medina residents both won age group awards with a time of 23:07.

Ed Russell, 75, of East Amherst crosses the finish line with his dog, Samantha. Russell was the fastest in the 70-and-over group with a time of 31:24.

Steve Karas, 68, of Barre is in the Santa spirit during the race.

These participants wave to the crowd at the start of the race.

To see the schedule of events in Medina today for the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration, click here.

Return to top

MEDINA — The Geneses-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse will lead a meeting about the opioid crisis in Orleans County on Nov. 30.

The 2-hour meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the old Medina High School, 324 Catherine St.

GCASA professionals will discuss the crisis and how it is affecting the community. Two young adults have died from overdoses this month.

GCASA will also detail resources available in the community, and give advice to residents on how they can help.

There will also be Narcan kits available. Narcan is a prescription medicine that blocks the effects of opioids and reverses an overdose.

Return to top

MEDINA – The Medina Masonic Lodge #336 will be ringing the bell for the Red Kettle today from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tops grocery store.

The local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons has been a bell-ringer for 22 years. Masonic Lodge members do two-hour shifts with two people at the Red Kettle.

Their 22 years of commitment at Kettle is topped by the 27 years from members of the American Legion, Butts-Clark Post #204. The Legion will be at the Kettle on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All of the money raised with the Red Kettle in Orleans County stays in the county and supports services from Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. Call Community Action at (585) 589-5605 if you are interested in ringing the bell this holiday season.

Return to top

Provided photos

MEDINA – The hanging of the wreaths for the “Hall of Wreaths” at the Medina Senior Citizens Center is underway.  The event is being held in conjunction with the festivities planned at Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration on Saturday.

“This is the first year the Senior Center has sponsored the ‘Hall of Wreaths’ and they are looking forward to this being an annual event,” said organizer Sherry Tuohey, secretary for the non-profit organization.

She appreciates the “wonderful response” for donations of wreaths from individuals, organizations, and businesses throughout the community. Proceeds from this event go to the Senior Citizens of Western Orleans.

Public viewing of the wreaths at 615 West Ave. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. During this time a wreath sale/silent auction will take place. The silent auction will commence at 3 p.m.

Other activities scheduled at the Senior Center on Saturday include a Holiday Basket Raffle, Christmas Gift Shoppe and Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, serving chili, hot chocolate, coffee, cookies. A free Santa hat will be given to children while supplies last.

From 2 to 2:30 p.m. the Medina Police Department with K-9 “Kye” will be at the center for an informal meet and greet.

The Center is located within an Historic Train Station built in 1908. The public is welcome to stop in and look around.

The Senior Citizens of Western Orleans are always looking for new members who are 50 years or older. Dues are $10 per year.  The center provides services and activities that encourage social engagement for the senior population. For more information please call the Senior Center at (585) 798-4544.

Return to top

Donate a toy or $5 and win a chance for a fun outing in Medina

MEDINA – The Old Tyme Christmas celebration on Saturday in Medina is packed with events to usher in the holiday season. It also includes a new opportunity to donate a toy for local children.

Andrew Szatkowski has put together 20 packages to entice donations of toys or $5 that will be used to buy presents. The toys and funds will be turned over to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and the Medina Area Association of Churches, which both do toy drives each year.

“In our county there are children that need toys,” Szatkowski said. “I think it’s important as a community that we step up. There are children that need help.”

Szatkowski wanted to do a one-day toy effort timed when about 8,000 people are expected in the Medina downtown for the Olde Time Christmas celebration on Saturday, which is capped by the Parade of Lights at 6.

People are urged to bring an unwrapped toy to Canalside Tattoo at 540 Main St., or donate $5. For each toy or $5 donated, people will receive a ticket for a chance to win one of 20 “Medina Experience” packages.

The local restaurants and other service businesses have all donated for the packages to help encourage people to give to the toy drive. People can pick which of the 20 packages they want to try to win.

Szatkowski said the businesses were all quick to respond and donate to the raffle.

“The response has been great,” he said. “The energy in Medina’s business district is awesome.”

Szatkowski, who works at Takeform Architectural Graphics, wants to see “a pile of toys” that are dispersed to children in the community.

Return to top

Provided: Author Julie Berry is pictured with senior Ethan Kujawa.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – Multiple literary award winner and nominee, Julie Berry, recently stopped into the Medina Middle School and High School to give several workshops and talk about her craft.

Mrs. Berry, a native of Medina and a graduate from the school district, has written over 20 books and has received many accolades for her work in young adult fiction and children’s literature. In June, she released her newest book, “The Emperor’s Ostrich” which is geared towards children 8 to 12 years of age. She ended her day with a book signing at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

At the Middle School, Mrs. Berry presented two types of workshops.

“One was inspirational about her life growing up in Medina and how thankful she was for the opportunity to go to school here with so many wonderful teachers,” said 7th grade teacher Melinda Hill.  “The second presentation was a writing workshop where Julie led the students through the type if decision-making she goes through when creating a story. She worked on a large board at the front of the room and students came up with their own ideas. They created a character, who wants something they can’t have, enemies and friends of the character and then plotted out how the character can journey to achieve their goal. My students showed they thoroughly enjoyed the writing workshop by bringing wonderful ideas back to class that they were proud to share with me and others.”

High School English teacher, Karen Jones, was a classmate of Mrs. Berry’s and has been reading Mrs. Berry’s “All the Truth That’s In Me” with her classes for the past three years. Publisher’s Weekly calls it, “Suspenseful and haunting.”

“The fact that Julie graduated from Medina shows them this is what an author looks like,” Jones said. “This is what you can grow up to be. That is encouraging, even to someone like me, a teacher, who has hopes of being an author. I want them to think, maybe I can do that too, no matter what I do.”

The senior students had many questions for Berry about her writing process, what inspires her stories and what advice she would give anyone who wanted to be an author.

“She is just so energizing and encouraging,” Jones said. “She comes all the way from Los Angeles to talk to the students and it means so much to all of us.”

The dedication to her new book says it all: “To the thousands of children who brainstormed with me in creative writing workshops. To answer the question you frequently ask me; yes, this is really how I write a story. This one is for you.”

Return to top

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Pete Kaiser secures an angel to a tree at State Street Park in Medina this morning. Kaiser heads up the decorating effort for the Medina Lions Club.

For about 30 years, the Lions have been decorating State Street Park. They display Christmas trees, set up a Nativity scene and put out other signs of the upcoming holiday season.

“It is our gift to the village,” said Lions Club member Don Colquhoun.

The Lions Club was helped by local churches this morning, and also received money from the Decorate Medina Committee to spruce up some of the decorations at the park.

Pete Kaiser climbed a ladder to tie the angel to the tree. Many of the cut-out animals and other decorations face the angel, which has a light on it at night.

Lions Club members Bernie Froman, left, and Don Colquhoun secure some of the decorations to the ground.

These volunteers carry a large decoration of a Christmas present near the front of the park by Route 31.

These Lions Club members set up a big Advent wreath. They include, from left: Bob Holtz, Ross Thompson and Ken Dunham.

Many Christmas trees with lights are set up in the park on the east side of the village.

Return to top

File photo by Tom Rivers: Frank Berger is shown during Medina’s Memorial Day observance on May 29.

MEDINA – The committee organizing the 9^th annual Parade of Lights on Nov. 25 has named Frank Berger as grand marshal of the event.

“We are excited to have Frank serve in this honorary position,” said Jim Hancock, the parade chairman. “Frank has a long history of community involvement in the village of Medina along with several committees in Western New York.”

Berger is a Korean War veteran and has been active in the Butts American Legion Post 204. He has served as commander at both the local and regional levels.

He also has been involved in local Scouting since 1946 and is currently serves as vice chairman of the Towpath District/Iroquois Trail Council. Besides working 30 years as an Industrial Arts teacher in the Medina School system, Berger served 14 years as a county legislator, and worked diligently on behalf of the local Medina Historical Society.

He also served over 30 years in the Masonic Lodge #336 of Free and Accepted Masons and has organized the Memorial Day Parade in Medina since 1971.

“It will be nice that Frank will finally be able to see a Parade in full,” Hancock said. “The Committee is very pleased to be able to have such an active supporter of the village be this year’s Grand Marshal.”

Berger, as part of his duties, will light the Community Christmas Tree in Rotary Park at 5:30 on Nov. 25. He will then take his place of honor by riding in the Parade at 6 p.m.