Medina

Medina man has run 201 races and counting this year

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2016 at 4:02 pm

Jose Quiros sets new record for WNY runners

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jose Quiros of Medina runs along the towpath in today’s 5-kilometer race in medina where he finished second in 19:55. This was the 201st race he’s run this year.

MEDINA – On Thanksgiving morning, Jose Quiros reached a milestone never attained by a runner in Western New York: He ran his 200^th race in a calendar year.

Quiros made it 201 races this morning when he ran the Home for the Holidays 5K in Medina. Quiros has run races all over Western New York this year. This morning, he had to travel the least distance. Medina is his hometown.

BuffaloRunners.com tracks the total races for runners. Quiros is 11 ahead of Heather Burger (Click here for a breakdown of all the races Quiros has run in 2016.). He first set the Wester New York record in 2014 with 154 races. He pushed the record to 170 in 2015.

He also leads by racing 1,004 miles so far this year. Kelly Roberts of Barker is second at 833. Only seven are at 500 or more for the year.

“It’s pretty nutty,” Quiros said about his busy racing schedule.

He hasn’t just run a bunch of 5Ks. Many of his races cover long distances, including the Mind the Ducks 12-hour run for 40.5 miles in Webster, and a 6-hour distance race in Williamsville where he completed 32.4 miles. Quiros also ran four marathons (26.2 miles), nine half marathons (13.1 miles), and two 30-kilometer races (18.6 miles).

He is grateful for making many friends in Western New York through running.

“The running community is amazing,” Quiros said. “From being out in the lead to the back of the pack, they’re all very friendly.”

Jose Quiros is in the homestretch of today’s race in Medina, a course that included a stretch along the Erie Canal.

Kelly Roberts of Barker finishes the race in Medina today. It was her 158th race of the year and 140th in the Buffalo Runners series, which puts her eighth overall in WNY.

He took up the sport in 2013 when he weighed about 200 pounds. He has lost more than 50 pounds since then.

“I’ve seen so much of Western New York, from Pennsylvania to Rochester,” said Quiros, who works as a driver supervisor for Modern Disposal.

He said his co-workers will cover for him sometimes so he can get a race in.

Quiros said he is eyeing six more races this year, which would make the record 207. He thinks an ambitious person could do 210 or 215 races max. But it’s tricky scheduling to get to all of the races. Some days he would run two or three in one day.

Quiros doesn’t plan to try to surpass his record next year. He wants to do more long distance training so he can meet a new goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. He will turn 40 in March and would need to run 3:20 to qualify for Boston. He needs to shave 5 minutes off his personal best to qualify for Boston.

Quiros is well respected in the running community, said Kelly Roberts of Barker, who has run 158 races this year.

Quiros isn’t just plodding through the races. He gives a strong effort and is typically among the leaders. He was under 20 minutes in today’s 5K.

“His recovery is amazing,” Roberts said about Quiros and his consistently fast times. “He runs every race amazing. I strive to be like him.”

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Santa arrives in Medina for Olde Tyme Christmas celebration

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2016 at 1:47 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDNA – Santa Claus gets the rock-star treatment when he showed up outsde the Medina Theatre after a parade down Main Street at noon. Santa posed for pictures with a long line of youngsters.

Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas has a schedule packed full of events today, including the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m.

Santa waves to kids along Main Street while he traveled by carriage down Main Street.

Santa poses for a picture with Christopher Mulcahy, left, his brother Ethan of Medina (right), and Glenn Spencer of Lockport. The boys’ mother, Megan Bailey of Medina, takes the photo.

The Medina Fire Department joins the noon parade which ushered in Santa’s arrival for a busy day.

Frosty the Snowman was an energetic greeter to the crowd that gathered along the street.

There also was a “Pet Parade” as part of the noon spectacle on Main Street.

Wendi Pencille walks a dog with a Christmas bow in the Pet Parade.

The Medina Mustang Band played some holiday favorites.

This band member makes music while wearing an elf’s hat.

Hartland Carriage gave Santa and Mrs. Claus a ride down Main Street.

To see the schedule of events for today, click here.

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Medina school district proposes $34 million capital project

Photos by Tom Rivers: The district’s current operations network will be moved out of a basement to the Oak Orchard Elementary School as part of a capital improvement project going before voters on Dec. 21. Tom Cox (left) is Medina’s interim superintendent and Mark Kruzynski is the director of finance.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2016 at 8:56 pm

Residents will vote on project Dec. 21

MEDINA – The school district will ask residents on Dec. 21 to approve $34 million in capital improvements that include all of the district buildings, and will also upgrade athletic facilities and traffic flow by adding a road from the elementary to middle school, a move that should divert some traffic from West Oak Orchard Street.

The state would pay 92 percent of the project. Medina already has the local share for the project in its reserves, said Mark Kruzynski, the district’s director of finance.

The project is actually broken into two propositions: $32,588,000 for a slew of improvements at all three school buildings, the bus garage, Vets Park reconstruction and site work, including a new access road between Oak Orchard Elementary School and Clifford Wise Middle School.

The Medina Marching Band performs at Vets Park. The district is looking to add space at the site, and shift the home bleachers to the opposite side of the field and make other changes, including new turf.

The other proposition for $1,425,000 would allow for an expansion at Vets Park by acquiring 1.6 acres of land south of the park, adding permanent bleachers, more lighting, a new press box in the bleacher system, new fencing and additional synthetic turf in the current press box location.

There will be a public information session on the capital project at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 in the Medina High School Auditorium, where there will be a public hearing 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 13. Voting will take place on Dec. 21 from noon to 8 p.m. at the District Office (next to the high school).

“It’s a positive for pretty much everyone in the school district,” said Tom Cox, interim superintendent for Medina. “It will be a better climate for students and staff, and also for traffic movement.”

The project has been in the works since last spring, when a community formed to look at Medina facilities and make suggestions for renovations and improvements. The initial list of projects totaled more than $50 million.

The district wanted a project that would be “tax neutral,” Kruzynski said.

To get there, the main capital project was reduced to $32.6 million. Eliminating a plan to heat the campus by geothermal was the biggest cost reducer.

Wise Middle School would get a new HVAC system and a host of other improvements.

The project will address many issues in the district, including the following:

• Health and Safety, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act:

Fire Alarm System, door hardware, toilets
Pool – roof, ceiling panels, wall panels
Windows and generator at Oak Orchard
Replace bus lifts

This work accounts for about $7.6 million, including $892,800 at the high school, $2,562,400 at Wise Middle School, $3,637,300 at Oak Orchard Elementary, $561,500 at the bus garage at $7,000 at the concession stand.

• HVAC – All three school buildings, including the bus garage will have HVAC totally overhauled. The schools will also be fully air-conditioned. The HVAC is about $13.6 million and the air-conditioning is $285,600 for each school or $856,800 total.

The HVAC costs are projected at $4,728,200 for the high school, $4,115,200 for the middle school, $4,103,000 for the elementary and $649,900 for the bus garage.

This map of the campus shows where the new access road would go, shifting some traffic from West Oak Orchard Street.

This map of the campus shows where the new access road and parking lot (in white) would go, shifting some traffic from West Oak Orchard Street.

• New access road from Oak Orchard to Wisefor bus traffic – $3,012,700

The campus road will include demolition, removal and grading
It will create heavy-duty pavement section
New sidewalks
Storm water management
Parking (About 75 parking spaces will be added) and road lighting
Existing playground removed and new one installed
Restore landscaping

• Information Technology – The district’s current network operations center is in the basement of the administration building in a flood vulnerable area. The operations center will be moved to Oak Orchard Elementary School at a cost of $380,000.

The current center in the basement has been cited by district auditors “as a potential disaster recovery problem for our data systems,” the district states on its website with an overview of the project.

The project would add fiber optics “to handle future needs as we move to more devices and on-line assessments,” the district stated.

Some of the improvements will be paid for with funds from the state’s “Smart Schools Bond Act.”

• Academic improvements at high school – Medina is planning to spend $2,408,900 in the high school for:

Upgraded science rooms
Renovations in library
Replacing windows and renovating toilet facilities
Providing marching band storage
Gym bleacher renovations
Reconstruction of JV softball and baseball fields and upgrades to practice fields
Renovations in Ag Classroom/Greenhouse

• Academic improvements at middle school – $1,028,000 for auditorium renovations including stage floor, carpet, house lighting, some lighting and sound

Toilet renovations
Science room renovations

The plan to have a campus access road, linking Oak Orchard and Wise schools, would run where this playground stands by the elementary school. The playground would be removed and a new one put on the other side of the school.

• Academic improvements at elementary school – $2,085,600 will include:

Auditorium renovations – carpet, seating, general
Toilets
Drinking fountains
Classroom storage/units with sinks
Renovate playroom
Abate hazardous materials

• Vets Park (Proposition 1 – $2.2 million)

Remove and replace turf that was installed in 1998. The turf is used by football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, field hockey, the marching band and youth sports in the community.
Drainage, sub-base reconstruction
Replace fencing as needed
New scoreboard/sound system
New backstops and moveable mounds for baseball and softball
Reconfigure/expand bleacher system
New walkways

• Site work for track – $896,000

The track will be reconstructed with 6 lanes, event areas, a scoreboard, fencing and paving.

If Medina voters approve the propositions, the district will work with appropriate faculty, staff and administrators to “fine tune” the concept to bring a final design that will be put out to bid in the winter/spring of 2018, pending State Education Department project approval, Cox said.

The Vet’s Park renovations will be on an accelerated timeline, with work hopefully to begin in next spring or summer, Cox said.

For more on the project, click here.

Medina firefighters have busy Thanksgiving, putting out garage fire, helping several patients in crisis

Posted 24 November 2016 at 10:07 pm

Press Release, Steve Cooley, Medina firefighter and public information officer

MEDINA – We all know emergencies do not take holidays. The past 24 hours for the Village of Medina Fire Department have been very busy with 15 calls, several of them very serious calls.

Early this morning with one crew out on an inter-hospital transfer, we encountered four serious patients within a span of 45 minutes. Just after a crew had attended to a patient who suffered a head injury from a long fall, we were dispatched to three separate heroin overdoses.

That makes four opiate overdoses in less than a 48-hour period. If you or someone you know is addicted to heroin or opiates, please seek out help. Our area, like many across the country is being plagued with deaths caused by opiates. The phone number for Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (GCASA) in Albion is 585-589-0055. The Rochester Narcotics Anonymous phone number is 585-235-7889.

Shortly after noon today, Orleans County Public Safety Dispatchers received multiple phone calls reporting a fire at 127 Starr St. Dispatched along with Medina was an engine from Shelby and a FAST crew from Lyndonville.

Incident Commander Captain Joshua Wolck arrived on scene with Medina engine 11 reporting a fully involved garage with fire spreading to a larger adjoining building and ordered a second alarm. Second alarm departments were Ridgeway with one engine to the scene with an engine from Middleport, a rescue from East Shelby and an ambulance from COVA EMS to stand by at the Medina Fire Station.

The fire investigation is being handled by county fire investigators and appears non-suspicious at this time. The garage is a total loss and due to damage sustained today by the fire, along with pre-existing damage, the second adjoining structure was condemned and demolished. There were no injuries incurred at this fire.

This evening just before 6 p.m., Medina along with one engine from Shelby and a FAST crew from Lyndonville were dispatched to 311 North Ave. for smoke in the 2-story house containing two apartments.

After some investigation, crews found and extinguished a small fire in the duct work and wall. There were two people transported to the hospital, one by Medina Fire Department crews and one by COVA EMS, both for non-fire related medical problems. The Red Cross is assisting two adults and four children. The cause is currently under investigation and appears non-suspicious at this time.

We would like to thank all our neighboring departments for their assistance today along with Orleans County EMO staff, the dispatchers, and the Village of Medina Police Department.

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Garland goes up in downtown Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2016 at 3:19 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Village of Medina Department of Public Works hung up the garland in on Main Street in Medina today. The DPW runs a wire across the the street and then fastens the decorations above the street.

Medina is prepping for its big annual festival, Old Tyme Christmas, on Saturday which includes many events from 9 a.m. until the evening. The celebration is capped with the parade of Lights at 6 p.m. To see the full schedule of activities, which starts with a “Home of the Holidays” 5K at 9 a.m., click here.

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Committee close to goal for statue of soldier at former Armory

Photo by Tom Rivers: Some members of the Company F Memorial Committee are pictured when the Orleans County Legislature presented a “commendation” for the committee’s work to build a memorial in honor of the soldiers who trained at the former Armory in Medina. Pictured, include committee members, from left: Wayne Hale, Legislature Chairman David Callard, committee chairman Bill Menz, and committee members Cathy Fox and Lynne Menz.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2016 at 8:57 am

MEDINA – A committee that has been working for several years to raise money for a bronze statue of a soldier at the former Armory, now a YMCA, is close to reaching its fund-raising goal.

Several organizations have made sizable donations recently, including $10,000 from the VFW Lincoln Post in Medina. Bill Menz, chairman of the Company F Memorial, said the committee has commissioned an artist, Brian Porter, who will make the bronze statue.

A 7-foot-high statue of a soldier that will go on top of an existing stone base that is 6 feet, 10 inches in height. That stone monument base was dedicated in 2008 and 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.

Menz was hoping to have the statue in place by October 2017, the 100th anniversary of Company F’s service in World War I. But it now looks like it could take up to two years before the statue is ready, Menz advised the Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday when he and other committee leaders accepted a “Commendation” award from the Legislature for leading the efforts with the memorial.

“The Orleans County Legislature commends the great work of many for the Medina Armory and Company F Memorial which will forever represent the freedoms of past and for future generations to enjoy as a result of the COURAGE, DUTY, VALOR, VIRTUE and HONOR of the Boys of Company F,” the commendation reads.

The current fund-raising campaign includes repairs to two of the panels on the monument from 2008 that were damaged due to vandalism, and will make some name corrections and additions, Menz said. A new 30-foot-high flag pole will also be included.

Menz welcomes donations for the project. Friends and supporters can send tax deductible contributions with the checks made out to the Medina Sandstone Society/care of Company F Memorial Fund, PO Box 522, Medina, NY 14103. Click here for more information.

Several groups have recently donated to the project including:

Members of VFW Post 1483, including Jim Freas (center), present a check for $10,000 for the Company F Memorial project.

Veterans who work at Saint-Gobain Adfors in Albion present a check for $200 for the statue. Pictured, from left, include: Ron Raglan, Company F Chairman Bill Menz, James Olles, Company F Secretary/Treasurer Cathy Fox and Bob Eckert.

Mark Irwin, Medina Lion’s president, presented $300 to Menz from the Lions Club to go towards the memorial.

St. Mary’s Archery Club members present a check to Company F Memorial chairman, Bill Menz & Secretary/Treasurer Cathy Fox. From left, members Jeff Pask, Company F Chairman Bill Menz, Alan “Tiny” Hackenberg, Steve Coville, Mike Walsh, Company F Secretary/Treasurer Cathy Fox and Joe Martillotta.

The Archery Club donated $700 for the memorial. Another member of the Archery Club added $300 to make the total donation an even $1,000.

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No one hurt, pets rescued in Medina fire

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2016 at 9:20 pm

Provided photo: Shelby firefighters used pet oxygen kits to help the rescued animals, including this cat.

MEDINA – A family of four was able to safely get out of a house fire overnight, with firefighters giving credit to a smoke detector for waking up the adults.

Firefighters were dispatched at 1:14 a.m. to West Oak Orchard St. Medina, Shelby and Lyndonville firefighters all responded.

The fire was put out in the living room and the scene was under control at 1:38 a.m., Medina Firefighter Steve Cooley said in a news release. The cause of the fire is deemed accidental, he said.

Firefighters also rescued two dogs and one cat. Shelby firefighters used pet oxygen kits to help the animals. Those kits were donated about a year ago by Wendi Pencille, a wildlife rehabilitator, and were used for the first time to save a pet late this morning.

The rescued cat was transported by Shelby firefighters to a 24-hour emergency veterinarian clinic in Buffalo.

“The latest information on all animals is that they are all doing well,” Cooley said.

The Red Cross also is assisting the family.

“It is extremely important to note that this family was asleep at the time of the fire,” Cooley said. “A properly installed smoke detector activated from the smoke coming from the living room and woke up the adults. The adults were able to grab both children and immediately crawl out of the structure.”

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Medina school librarian challenges students to spend more time reading, less on phone

Posted 14 November 2016 at 1:44 pm

Provided photo: Medina students, from left, include Samantha Barker, Bailey Jackson, Jelia Howard, Hannah Nicholson and Trinitie Andrews. They are pictured with Librarian Jennifer O’Toole, right.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – Librarian Jennifer O’Toole has issued a challenge to the students at the Medina High School.

Saddened by seeing students spending more time on their phones in their study halls rather than reading a good book, she wanted to increase students’ passion for reading.

“We noticed that the circulation in the library was going down over the last two years, which is really a shame since we have so many good young adult novels,” she said. “I talked to the English teachers and asked them how we could get the students more engaged in reading and we came up with the Reading Challenge.”

The Reading Challenge is completely voluntary.

“We tell the students they can choose their own book, whether it is a hard copy or electronic, that it has to be age appropriate,” O’Toole said. “They have to check with their teachers to make sure it fits the requirements and then complete an assessment when they have completed it. The students have to read one book per remaining three marking periods.”

They are eligible for winning a gift basket for each marking period. If they read four books, they are eligible for a grand prize drawing of Kindle Fires.

“We are making it very clear that they cannot watch movies or read synopsis online, that these assessments will be geared totally towards the books,” she said.

Mrs. O’Toole said thanks to the generosity of the members of the community and the school, there are great incentives to get students to participate in the challenge.

“After each marking period they will receive Reading Challenge tickets that are entered into drawings for a lot of great things that have been donated like gift cards and candy in our baskets,” she said. “Students can also receive two extra points on their English average each marking period as well.”

In addition, extra tickets can be obtained by borrowing books from the high school library and if the student is “caught” reading during a study hall.

The official kickoff was on Nov. 4 in the library and a representative from Lee-Whedon Library was on hand to give out information as well.

“We are really hoping students will participate not only for the prizes, but the fact that reading has so many positive effects like decreasing stress and improving memory”, says Mrs. O’Toole.

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Medina library director named grand marshal for Parade of Lights

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 November 2016 at 11:39 am

Organizers urge residents to light up Park Avenue for parade

File photo: Catherine Cooper is dressed as an elf while reading a children’s story during the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration in 2014. Cooper will serve as grand marshal of the Parade of Lights on Nov. 26.

MEDINA – The eighth annual Parade of Lights, which draws several thousand people to downtown Medina, will include a new contest for residents along Park Avenue, urging them to light up and decorate their properties for the parade on Nov. 26. (The winner gets $100 with $50 to the runner-up.)

Altogether there will be about $3,000 in prizes up for grabs for the parade, which usually includes 40 to 50 floats. The grand champion will win $1,000 with prize money in other categories as well. (Click here for more information.)

Parade organizers have named Catherine Cooper as the grand marshal of the parade. She is director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library and Ridgeway town historian.

“We try to get someone who is involved in the community and does good things,” said Jim Hancock, chairman of the parade. “She is very well respected and quite involved in the community. The library has become quite a hub for the village.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Matt C.M. Contracting was grand champion in the Parade of Lights last year. Matt Mundion, owner of Matt C.M. Contracting, created the “Medina Express,” a train with four units.

Cooper will give remarks about the parade and festival, and then flip the switch to light the community Christmas tree at Rotary Park. That will be at 5:30 p.m. Cooper will then head to Park Avenue at the old Fisher-Price plant where the parade begins. She will lead the processional to the downtown, and then take a spot on the judge’s reviewing stand.

The parade is now in its eighth year and for three years has had a grand marshal. Randy Bushover was the first one and Jose Avila filled the role last year.

Just before the parade, there will be fireworks at 5:45 p.m.

Hancock said there is still time for more parade entries.

Prizes will be awarded for Commercial/Business, Not-for-profit, Religious, Service Club/Organization, Fire Company, “Other category,” as well the Little Elf Award, The Star Award, The Community Spirit Award and Santa’s Pick Award.

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Medina names 3 finalists for school superintendent

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 November 2016 at 9:06 am

MEDINA – Three finalists have been named for superintendent of Medina Central School. All three are established education leaders locally.

The three finalists are:

• Dr. Aaron Slack, Principal of the Lyndonville High School;

• Dr. Michael Weyrauch, Principal at the Orleans-Niagara BOCES in Medina;

• Dr. Stephen Lunden, Assistant Superintendent at the Maryvale CSD. (Lunden also served as Medina’s director of finance from November 1998 to July 2000.)

Each finalist has a day to meet with various stakeholder groups – teachers, PTSA, boosters, students, support staff, and administrators – who will interview and provide the Board of Education with critical feedback. Those days are scheduled for Nov. 28-30.

Community sessions with similar opportunities for input are scheduled for the same dates from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the Board of Education room. One candidate will be available each evening on Nov. 28-30 to discuss his qualifications and respond to questions from the community.

“The Board is very pleased with the quality of the 15 applications that were received,” said Board of Education President Wendi Pencille. “The three finalists have the desired professional qualifications and attributes that the Board is seeking for this critical leadership position.”

The school district is currently led by interim superintendent Tom Cox. He has provided temporary leadership for the district following the death on June 23 of Jeff Evoy, who had served as district superintendent for about five years.

The community is welcome to attend the public sessions with the superintendent finalists. Dr. Clark Godshall, superintendent of the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, is serving as search consultant for the Medina and will conduct the sessions.

Little People, once made in Medina, inducted into Toy Hall of Fame

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2016 at 2:24 pm

File photo by Tom Rivers: These Little People, which were manufactured when Fisher-Price was in Medina, are pictured as part of a display by the Medina Historical Society in 2014.

ROCHESTER – A toy that was once mass produced in Medina at the former Fisher-Price plant has been inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester.

Museum officials announced Little People have joined the distinguished group of toys. Other inductees announced today include the swing and the game Dungeons & Dragons.

The honorees were selected from a field of 12 finalists that also included: bubble wrap, Care Bears, Clue, coloring book, Nerf, pinball, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Transformers, and Uno.

The Little People are manufactured by Fisher-Price and for many years were made in Medina until Fisher-Price left in the late 1990s. The company started operations in the Orleans County community in 1970.

The Little People are the first Fisher-Price toy to make the Hall of Fame.

“Little People have been a fixture—albeit a small one—in many American playrooms for more than 50 years,” said Chris Bensch, Strong Museum’s vice president for collections. “More than two billion Little People have been sold since 1959, and they have helped generations of small children imagine big adventures in play sets representing farms, schools, airports, and other fascinating places in their worlds.”

Here’s what the the Strong National Museum of Play had to say about the Little People:

“Fisher-Price first offered its Little People in a 1959 Safety School Bus pull toy. These stylized figures populated a variety of play sets that encouraged youngsters to explore the world beyond their homes and to imagine themselves at school or the airport, at the service station or the amusement park, and at the zoo or a faraway farm. Fisher-Price made the first Little People of wood and lithographed paper; solid, single-colored wooden bodies followed. Later figures were made of hard plastic. In the 1980s, concerns about the small figures becoming a choking hazard led to the 1991 introduction of a new design for larger diameter Little People known as “Chunky People” or “Chunkies.” By the mid-1990s, the Little People became more people-like with arms, legs, and dimensional faces.”

The National Toy Hall of Fame was established in 1998 and recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period. Each year, the prestigious hall inducts new honorees and showcases both new and historic versions of classic toys beloved by generations.

For more information about the hall and to see the list of previous inductees, visit toyhalloffame.org.

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Colors ablaze at Boxwood in Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 November 2016 at 2:43 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Today is a great day for a country drive or walk in the neighborhood. The sun is shining and there are lots of colorful leaves on trees and on the ground.

I stopped by Boxwood Cemetery, a historic site on North Gravel Road in Medina, in the morning. The cemetery was recently included on the National Register of Historic Places. Boxwood has many towering trees and ornate grave sites.

The cemetery is next to Glenwood Lake, which can be seen in this photo.

Dirt paths, now covered in leaves, wind through the hills in the cemetery.

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Medina band takes 3rd at states

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 October 2016 at 12:55 pm

File photo by Tom Rivers: Members of the Medina Mustang Band enters vets Park for a competition on Sept. 24 when Medina hosted the Fall Festival of Bands. Medina’s season ended on Sunday with a third place finish at the state competition.

SYRACUSE – After months of hard work, the Medina Mustang Band competed in the state competition Sunday at the Carrier Dome for the 40th time on Sunday.

The Medina students had their best performance of the season, earning 90.00 points in the Small School 1 Division.

That was good for third place at the NYS Field Band Conference out of nine bands in the division. Medina was topped by East Syracuse Minoa, second at 90.15, and New Hartford, the state champion with a score of 90.90.

Jim Steele, the Medina band director, praised the students and their supporters for the strong showing in Syracuse. The crowd from Medina gave the band a “roar” when they entered the field.

“The kids did everything that we asked of them and it did not fall short as the crowd’s reaction was the best of the night from what I heard,” Steele posted on the Mustang Band Facebook page. “The performance was on point and I could not be more proud of the kids, the wonderful booster organization and my staff for making this the most memorable season to date.”

The band has 135 students. Steele praised them for their effort and commitment to the program.

“As I have told you time and time again live with your eyes wide open and with a full heart and everything will be fine,” he posted on Facebook.

The day started off at 8 a.m. with the “Dome Breakfast” put on by the Boosters for the students and their families as a form of pep rally. From there the students, staff, boosters and all of the equipment traveled to Hobart College where they practiced for three hours before heading to Syracuse for more practice and then their performance.

The band was led onto the field by Brad DeWaal, a former Marine and soloist with the Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Band. The matador uniform worn by Jadiel Flores of Medina was made by Karen Furness.

1st place scores for the other classes are: SS3, Vestal with 80.20; SS2, Northwestern with 82.10; LS3, West Seneca with 84.75; LS2, Cicero North Syracuse with 89.15; and National, Arlington with 96.75.

Medina band leaders accept the third place award on Sunday at the state championships.

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Costumed characters revel in Beggar’s Night at Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 October 2016 at 9:21 pm

MEDINA – Downtown Medina was invaded by children wearing costumes this evening in the annual Beggar’s Night, where merchants hand out candy on the last Friday of October. Many parents and the store owners also dressed up for the occasion.

The top photo shows Lisa Ames of Medina holding her 2-year-old daughter, Abigail, who is dressed as a bumblebee for Beggar’s Night, which is organized by the Medina Business Association. They stop for candy at Ashlee’s Place with owner Angela Waldriff and her son Tanner.

Maria Higgs of Medina walks down a Main Street sidewalk with her twin 19-month-old sons, Lincoln (Thing 2) and Wyatt (Thing 1).

Vanessa Lhommedieu, owner of the Fringe hair salon, was happy to give candy to the throng of costumed characters, including Mason Berry, 5, of Medina, who is dressed as the robot Baymax.

Ashley Woodroe, left, and her friend Lily Kiebala, both 14, dole out treats at Woodroe Realty, which is owned by Ashley’s grandmother, Debbie Woodroe.

Kathy Blackburn, owner of Meggie Moo’s and one of leaders of the medina Business Association, is pictured with the Stalker sisters who showed up an hour early to be first in line. Amelia Slaker (left), 4, is Elsa from Frozen and her her sister Jenelle, 6, is the Queen of Hearts.

Alana Koneski, left, is a crayon and Sarah Martin is the box for the crayons. Both are employees at Blissett’s. They are handing candy to Villette Gary, 8 (giraffe) and Ariane Watts, 3 (Elsa from Frozen). Both girls are from Barker.

Nicole Tuohey is dressed as the Cookie Monster. She hands out treats at Case-Nic Cookies, which is owned by her mother, Mary Lou Tuohey.

Madelyn Elliott, left, is Pippi Longstocking while handing out on candy to Kayden McGaffick, 6, of Medina. Madelyn’s parents, Crystal and Tim, own Brushstrokes.

Carrie Ribbeck of Avanti is pressed as a pizza slice. She hands candy to Jacob Rissew, who has on a sumo wrestler costume.

Tom and Bonnie Heck, owners of Herbalty Cottage, are pictured with their daughter, Lindsay Uderitz. They dressed up as characters from The Cat in the Hat.

All Inclusive Process had a pirate theme while giving out treats. Kate Tracey, left, is the owner and Cindy Tracey is one of the business’s employees. They welcome Gianna Stornelli, 9, of Medina who was dressed up as Stampy from Minecraft.

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Albion and Medina downtowns host Beggar’s Night on Friday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 October 2016 at 6:01 pm

File photos by Tom Rivers: Princesses, ghosts, clowns and other creatures will be in downtown Albion and Medina on Friday for the annual Beggar’s Night events. Merchants at both downtowns will be handing out candy. This photo from October 2014 shows cousins Maria Bregy, a princess, and Anthony Love, a Power Ranger, walking up East Center Street in Medina by Rotary Park.

ALBION/MEDINA – The business associations in Albion and Medina have big baskets of candy ready to hand out during the annual Beggar’s Night celebration on Friday when hundreds of kids in costumes are expected.

Albion has 26 businesses or organizations committed to stops in the downtown. Lisa Stratton, owner of the Hazy Jade Gift Shop, said 476 children attended Beggar’s Night last year. She has enough treats for 500 kids.

The Albion event begins with a parade from the Albion Fire Hall on Platt Street at 6 p.m.

This photo from October 2015 shows members of the Albion Teachers Association handing out candy in front of the First Presbyterian Church. The teachers include, from right to left: Janet Husung, Stephanie Schepis, Mary Jane Klips, Juie Keller and Dawn Squicciarini (in purple).

The Albion Free Methodist Church is a new addition to Beggar’s Night this year. The church at 25 S. Platt St. will have a bounce house, games and candy from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Medina is expecting about 750 kids for Beggar’s Night, which begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m. Children are asked to line up in the parking lot of the Medicine Shoppe at 5:15. Medina has about 40 to 50 businesses participating, said Cindy Robinson, the Business Association president.

“We enjoy it,” Robinson said about the business owners who often are in costume for the occasion. “It’s nice to see the kids dressed up. It’s a feed-good kind of thing.”

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