By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 April 2025 at 10:16 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Mike Zaidel, a leader at Alabama Full Gospel Fellowship, carries the cross from City Hall to the next stop of the “Cross Walk” on Good Friday in Medina. Zaidel and Kevin Lawson, pastor of The Vine Church, carried the cross to Rotary Park.
Neil Samborski, a member at Glad Tidings Missionary Baptist Church, is dressed as a centurion, a Roman soldier.
About 35 people were part of the Cross Walk, an annual tradition in Medina organized by the Medina Area Association of Churches and the Medina Clergy Fellowship.
The churches will have a sunrise service at 7 a.m. Sunday at Boxwood Cemetery.
The Rev. Dan Thurber, retired pastor at Oak Orchard Assembly of God, gives an opening prayer outside City Hall. At each stop the group read passages from the Bible and sang a hymn.
John Weaver, front, and Jarred Saj carry the cross down East Center Street.
Mike Zaidel holds the cross steady during a stop at the Canal Basin.
The Rev. Randy LeBaron, pastor of the New Hope Community Church (First Baptist Church in Medina), and the Rev. Dan Thurber carry the cross from the Canal Basin to the next stop outside the Medina Historical Society on West Avenue.
Photos courtesy of Cody Catlin: A group of 26 Medina teachers volunteered to scrub graffiti off vandalized rail cars at the Medina Railroad Museum.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2025 at 2:30 pm
MEDINA – A group of Medina teachers showed up at the Medina Railroad Museum on Wednesday, ready to scrub graffiti off vandalized rail cars.
The rail cars were targeted last week with red paint. A social media post and letter to the editor from a museum volunteer made the public aware of the problem, and a stretched-thin group at the museum that now had to deal with it.
Medina schools are off this week due to spring break right before Easter. One of the graffiti messages referenced a Medina staff member. Teachers value the work from that staff member and wanted to get that message off the rail car, as well as help the museum with the cleanup of the other cars, said Joe Byrne, Medina Teachers’ Association president.
The 26 teachers spent about an hour wiping off the paint on a chilly day with temperatures in the 30s.
“This was something that was senseless and not derserved,” Byrne said about the graffiti. “It was cool to turn a negative thing into a positive.”
He said Medina teachers are committed to service.
“We’re not just people in the classroom,” he said. “”We’re people in the community.”
A train from Genesee Valley Transportation passes by the volunteers while they work on getting rid of the graffiti. Jeff Lewis, Medina Railroad Museum executive director at left, thanks Medina teachers for getting rid of graffiti off railcars on Wednesday afternoon.
AE Washing in Lyndonville provided water and hoses for the cleanup, while the museum had sponges and soft Brillo pads. The teachers showed up with buckets and a gusto to tackle the challenge.
“They did a bang-up job,” said museum executive director Jeff Lewis. “That is the kind of community support we appreciate.”
The museum is often plagued with graffiti and vandalism, including people breaking windows and sometimes sneaking into railcars to spend the night.
“It is an ongoing problem that hopefully will improve,” Lewis said.
Byrne said the experience has better connected teachers to the museum. He envisions having experts from the museum in the schools to discuss the impact of railroads on the local community.
“This could lead to a better partnership at the school,” Byrne said.
Teachers spent about an hour on a cold day cleaning the graffiti off the rail cars.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 April 2025 at 7:49 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Three crosses on the front lawn of the First Presbyterian Church welcome worshipers on Easter weekend. A Cross Walk will begin at noon today for Good Friday.
MEDINA – A re-enactment of Jesus carrying the cross has been a tradition in Medina for at least 25 years, according to the Rev. Vincent Iorio, retired pastor of Calvary Assembly of God and vice president of Medina Area Association of Churches.
Residents are welcome to participate in the walk which will begin at noon at City Hall with readings at several stops along the way.
From City Hall, the walk heads to the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street, then Rotary Park, the Canal Basin, Medina Historical Society on West Avenue, Cooper Funeral Home on West Center Street, First Baptist Church at West Center and West Avenue and back to the Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. Iorio said everyone is welcome to participate in the Cross Walk, and if they are unable to walk, they may follow in their vehicle. Some have even taken part using their walkers, he said.
Also on Good Friday, Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation (PACT) will sponsor a service at 6:30 p.m. at Harvest Christian Fellowship on East Main Street in Albion, with Kevin Lawson, pastor of The Vine Church in Medina, as speaker.
The public is also reminded of a sunrise service at 7 a.m. Sunday in Boxwood Cemetery.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2025 at 7:32 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Julie Berry, left, and Olivia Marchese hold copies of books from authors who will be visiting Author’s Note on April 26, in observance of Independent Bookstore Day.
MEDINA – On April 26, Medina’s independent bookstore Author’s Note will celebrate its fourth annual Independent Bookstore Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with visiting authors and a “Bill of Readers’ Rights” theme.
Store owner Julie Berry said they will be joining 1,600 bookstores around the United States in celebrating the 12th anniversary of the event sponsored by the American Bookselling Association.
Independent Bookstore Day was created to help communities, book lovers, authors and booksellers celebrate together all the community, fun and creative richness a locally-owned, independent bookstore brings them that chains and e-commerce sites cannot, Berry said.
In addition to games, activities and giveaways throughout the day, three visiting authors will be present to sign their books and greet readers.
Doogie Horner will sign books from 10:30 a.m. to noon. He is an artist, illustrator, graphic novelist, stand-up comedian who has appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and author of two books in a new series for middle school readers – The Adventures of Invisible Boy and Zeroes to Heroes.
Horner’s background is in children’s publishing, working as a cover designer and artist with Quirk Books for about 10 years. In addition to appearing at IBD at Author’s Note, he will spend Friday visiting students at Fred Hill Elementary in Brockport, Holley Elementary School, Roy-Hart Middle School in Middleport and Wise Intermediate School in Medina. He lives with his family in upstate New York.
Mylisa Larsen will sign books and greet readers from noon to 1:30 p.m. She is a nationally-acclaimed author of middle grade and children’s fiction, and an especially local favorite. Her visits a few years ago presenting Playing Through the Turnaround to local schools left her with a large fan base in the area. Author’s Note is thrilled to welcome her back to sign copies of the acclaimed sequel, Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t be Better, along with her other titles, Berry said. Larsen lives with her family in upstate New York.
Journalist and author Will Bardenwerper from Pittsburgh will sign copies of his new book, Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America from 1:30 to 3 p.m. This nationally published title is based on the story of the Batavia Muckdogs after the team transitioned from professional baseball to a Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League in 2021.
He will also sign copies the night before from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Eli Fish Brewing Company at 109 Main St., Batavia.
Berry went on to explain Independent Bookstore Day celebrates and underscores the irreplaceable value independent bookstores bring to readers, authors and local communities. Author’s Note’s self-chosen theme for IBD 2025 is a “Bill of Readers Rights,” celebrating the freedoms the First Amendment confers upon all Americans, Berry said.
As Author’s Note expresses them, these rights are, “To read past bedtime, any book we please, published by a free press, by authors embracing freedom of speech and be filled with wild, rebellious delight.” Or, as Berry said, put more succinctly on T-shirts and tote bags the store has made for the occasion, “Read freely. Read Independently. Read with wilk, rebellious delight.”
“We want to celebrate the uniquely American First Amendment rights that make our industry and livelihoods possible,” said Berry, who in addition to being store owner is a New York Times Best-Selling author. “Without freedom of the press, we couldn’t bring you such a wide variety of published titles and voices. Without freedom of speech, authors couldn’t safely convey their research and creativity to the world. With freedom of religion, we couldn’t work out the private beliefs and values which inform all art and literature – and without any one of these freedoms, we likely wouldn’t have evolved our world-class American educational system that gives us an avid reading public, and the literacy that helps democracy and these very liberties thrive.”
Throughout Independent Bookstore Day, in addition to meeting authors, customers will share in games including “Banned Books Bingo,” special activities, art projects with Doogie Horner and treats. Customers can win gift cards, Author’s Note T-shirts and gift baskets. Several IBD-exclusive items supplied by the ABA will be available for sale or giveaway that day only.
“We want to thank our customers,” Berry said. “And remind the region of all we bring, and urge them to make shopping small and shopping local an ongoing habit and a meaningful reflection of their love for this lovely part of the world – and for literacy.”
Indie bookstores return two and one-half to four times as much revenue to their local economies as chains do, while keeping jobs and revenue local and boosting salts tax volumes, Berry said.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the rise in online bookselling, chain stores and e-readers caused many people to predict the death of the independent bookstore, yet between 2009 and 2018, the number of independent bookstores rose nearly 50 percent, Berry said. Harvard Business School researcher Ryan Rafaelli, in a 2020 study entitled “The Novel Resurgence of Independent Bookstores,” explained that indie bookstores thrive in an online-heavy book market by differentiating themselves along three lines: Community, Curation and Convening.
Berry explained “Community” refers to how local bookstores strengthen local economies and add vitality to shopping districts. “Curation” underscores how local book buyers can select inventory that reflects the tastes and preferences of local shoppers. And “Convening” emphasizes the ways bookstores foster a shared sense of community amongst book-lovers by creating book-friendly spaces and hosting events such as book clubs, story times and author readings to draw readers together.
For more information about Independent Bookstore Day festivities at Author’s Note, or to reserve copies of the visiting authors’ books, visit AuthorsNote.com, e-mail info@authorsnote.com or call (585) 798-3642.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 April 2025 at 10:54 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Daniel Doctor starred as Stephen and Jesus in Godspell at the Medina Historic Theatre. He is singing “Save the People” during Saturday night’s show.
A cast of nine performed the musical, a production of WSA Theatrics. There were five shows from April 4-6, and then April 11-12.
Doctor also served as director of the musical, which reimagines the Gospel of Matthew and tells the story of Jesus’s life, teachings, and ultimate sacrifice on the cross. The performers tell the story through parables, games and songs.
The show begins with the “Tower of Babble” with the characters portraying famous philosophers. They talk over each other creating a cacophony of noise.
From left include Meggan Wakefield, Joseph Lederhouse, Brielle Lederhouse, Eric Flugel, Natasha Hill and Steve McQueen.
This is the second show by WSA Theatrics. The group debuted last September with Nunsense.
Doctor has been leading the West Side Academy of Visual and Performing Arts at 417 Main St. for nearly 20 years.
He wanted to bring theatrical productions to the community, open to people of all ages. The Medina Historic Theatre provides an ideal home for the group, set up as a “theater in the round” where the audience can see performers from three sides of the stage, Doctor said.
“We want to bring live entertainment back to the community,” Doctor said. “I think it’s needed. The goal is to transform young and old alike.”
WSA Theatrics has three more shows planned: Annie, with auditions on May 23; Showstoppers on Broadway, a musical revue with auditions May 23 and the show in August 2025; and Steel Magnolias, with auditions Nov. 16 with shows in April 2026. Click here for more information on WSA Theatrics.
Tammy Wilder portrayed John the Baptist and baptizes the prophets, signaling a new beginning and urging the group to move toward a community. She sings, “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord.”
Meggan Wakefield plays the character Robin and sings, “Day by Day.” Wakefield was in the school musicals as a student at Medina and is grateful for the chance to return to the stage in her hometown as an adult. Eric Flugel is at right.
Natasha Hill, a Medina native, played the role of Gilmer, a goofy character. She sings, “O Bless the Lord.” She said the cast developed strong camaraderie in putting on the show.
“It is powerful,” she said about Godspell. “It is moving and very inspirational.”
Eric Flugel, administrator of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, said he welcomed the chance to sing, dance and act in Godspell. He watched his father Raymond in many shows and saw the joy it brought his dad.
“It is very different from my normal day,” Flugel said. “I love it. They’re great people and it’s great energy.”
Daniel Doctor and the cast close out act one with “Light of the World.” Behind him from left are Natasha Hill and Holly Lederhouse, and Joseph Lederhouse, at right.
Photos courtesy of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – The library hosted REPCO Wildlife today and 155 people came to see the creatures.
Posted 16 April 2025 at 5:43 pm
Press Release, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library
A cane toad proved interesting to the kids, who got a close-up look.
MEDINA – The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library had 155 people in attendance at our spring break program today with REPCO Wildlife.
REPCO owner, Crystal Poyfair, showed off a scaleless bearded dragon, a frog, a cane toad, a red-eared slider turtle, a tortoise, a kingsnake, a ball python and a blue-tongue skink.
She explained the habitat where each animal is found, what they eat, and how they protect themselves from predators. Those in attendance were able to watch an exciting race between the turtle and tortoise, and yes, the turtle won. To end the program, everyone got to pet the ball python.
“Programs like this are so important because they inspire a sense of wonder and a connection to nature,” said Patricia Mumau, children’s librarian.
Even Orly the Ox stopped in to watch the presentation. Orly was in many photos with all the kids and gave out special bicentennial stickers for Orleans County’s 200th anniversary.
Kids were happy to meet Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Second-graders in Abbi Keppler’s class at Oak Orchard Primary School help plant a tree on North Avenue last year on Arbor Day.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 April 2025 at 9:25 am
MEDINA – The Village of Medina is planning to plant 49 trees this year, continuing its commitment to new trees in the community.
The Arbor Day celebration will be at 10 a.m. on April 25 at the State Street Park pavilion and will include presentations by Village of Medina Municipal Tree Board, Mayor Marguerite Sherman, the Oak Orchard Glee Club and many students from Oak Orchard Primary School.
Most of the locations for the new trees are James Street and Main Street, Ann Street and West Center Street, West Avenue from James Street to Maple Street, State Street along the park and in State Street Park. Several of the trees are memorial ones that will have plaques.
“We are only able to do what we do thanks to generous donations,” said Mary Lewis, a Municipal Tree Board member. “We receive several Memorial Tree sponsors throughout the year.”
Lewis said the group welcomes more donations, including corporate sponsors. Click here for more information.
Medina has been designated a “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation for the village’s commitment to planting trees every year. For the past 20 years, Medina has planted about 50 trees every year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 April 2025 at 12:50 pm
MEDINA – The Medina Police Department has released the name of a woman who was fatally struck while crossing the intersection at West Center Street and West Avenue on Saturday.
Kellie Staschak, 55, was struck by a pickup truck at about 11:40 a.m. Police and citizens providing first aid at the scene and then a Medina ambulance soon arrived to provide advanced treatment. Despite those efforts, Staschak was pronounced dead at the scene.
The preliminary investigation shows that Staschak walking eastbound through the crosswalk on the south side of the intersection. A pickup truck was traveling westbound on West Center Street and turning southbound onto West Avenue, said Medina Police Chief Todd Draper.
Following the incident, the intersection and surrounding streets were closed for approximately three hours for the on-scene investigation. The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene and is assisting with the investigation, Draper said.
“Witnesses confirm the pickup truck had a green light and law enforcement confirmed that cell phone use was not a contributing factor in this incident,” Draper said. “Further information is still being collected and the investigation is ongoing.”
The Medina Police Department would like to thank the Medina Fire Department, Medina Public Works Department, State Police and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance.
“We would also like to commend all of the first responders, dispatchers, and civilians who assisted in all stages of this tragic incident,” Draper said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 April 2025 at 4:48 pm
MEDINA – A pedestrian was struck by a car and killed today in Medina at the corner of West Center Street and West Avenue.
“Tragically the pedestrian involved in the accident was pronounced dead at the scene,” the Medina Police Department posted on its Facebook page. “We will release further information pending notification to family.”
The State Police accident reconstruction unit is assisting with the investigation.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Brody George, collections manager at Medina Railroad Museum, portrayed mayor E. Lou Sieve in the Medina Area Partnership’s murder mystery in 2024, “When Push Came to Shove.” It was set in 1904. (Right) From left, Tami Siffsinger of Lyndonville and Carol Bellack and Robin Wehling of Medina dressed for the era during last year’s murder mystery. Here, they prepare to enter Author’s Note, hoping to find a clue. Seventeen businesses and 132 people participated in the event, which entailed visiting all participating businesses, talking to the character portrayed in that store and then deciding who killed Austin Franks, an owner of the Franks and Bettor Cold Storage after its grand opening.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 April 2025 at 8:37 pm
MEDINA – Medina Area Partnership is kicking off the spring season with two very special events.
First is the annual Easter Bunny and Golden Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The event will include the Easter Bunny, who will be stationed at Rotary Park from noon to 2 p.m. Kids will be able to visit with the bunny, take a picture and get a chocolate bunny sucker. There will also be 12 golden Easter eggs hidden in the windows of various downtown businesses (chosen at random), as well as five colored eggs that will be hidden up high. Last year’s eggs were hidden near street signs and in trees, etc.
The second exciting event will be the third annual murder mystery. Murder on the Orleans Express will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3. Those attending will be asked to sign in at the Medina Senior Center by noon.
This event is gaining in popularity every year, said Ann Fisher-Bale, event coordinator for MAP. She said they tried to incorporate elements from Medina’s history when planning the event.
As background for the event, Murder on the Orleans Express is a 1940’s-themed murder mystery. The Pickle Factory, a processing facility of the largest pickle producer in the state, has been run for years by Noah Lott. It is now time for him to retire, and to celebrate his successful leadership of the Factory and for Medina, his secretary Mary Nade has arranged for a special train excursion on the Orleans Express.
All the important people from the Factory and Medina, his family and, hopefully, people from the parent company itself will be joining the luxuriously fabulous expedition. Mary has arranged for a meal on the train, entertainment and multiple presentations to laud her boss.
As the speeches drone on, everyone is toasting Noah Lott, and the glasses are refilled time and time again. The fifth speaker is Beau Degas, owner of the local grocery mart. As Beau finishes speaking and everyone imbibes one more time, Mary collapses.
Someone has murdered the secretary extraordinaire.
Businesses and attendees are encouraged to dress up in 1940’s era garb and have fun at this event.
Tickets are $20 and provide participants with an Investigator’s Booklet, which can be used to compile notes and clues.
The event is also Kentucky Derby Day and participating businesses are being urged to run suitable specials or features that day.
Fisher-Bale said MAP hopes the event will bring several hundred people to downtown Medina to enjoy a fun spring day, visit the local businesses and maybe catch a “killer.” After deciding who they think committed the murder, attendees can e-mail their answer to MAP the next day. A winner will be drawn from the correct answers and will win a gift basket with a value of at least $200.
Photos courtesy of Chris Busch: This is the interior of St. Mary’s Church where a service of Tenebrae will take place at 7 p.m. Friday.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 April 2025 at 8:03 am
MEDINA – St. Mary’s Church (Holy Trinity Parish) will host a Tenebrae service at 7 p.m. Friday. The service is an idea of the church’s principle organist and director of music Aaron Grabowski.
Lifelong church member Chris Busch explained the meaning of “Tenebrae.”
Aaron Grabowski is the principal organist and music director at St. Mary’s Church (Holy Trinity Parish).
“In the Roman Catholic Church, the word refers to a unique and solemn Lenten liturgy dating back to the ninth century and having its roots in medieval tradition,” Busch said. “Seven candles are extinguished, evoking the darkness associated with the crucifixion and death of Jesus, as psalms are chanted and Scripture read with somber ritual. As the final candle is extinguished, a loud strepitus (Latin for ‘great noise’) is sounded symbolizing an earthquake or thunder at the death of Christ. All depart in silence.”
The St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum, directed by Steve Quebral, is an a capella choir dedicated to preserving, promoting and performing sacred choral works from the great treasury of music of the Catholic Church, Busch said.
The Cantorum’s repertoire ranges from Gregorian Chant to masterpieces of sacred polyphony from the Middle Ages to modern times. Their stated ambition is “to learn and perform the great masterpieces of Catholic choral repertoire, focusing on a cappella works for mixed voices and keeping in mind the great purpose of sacred music of the Catholic Church: ‘the Glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful.’”
“The tenor of this liturgy is one of sorrow and desolation as those attending contemplate a world with the light of Christ,” Grabowski said. “We’re pleased and excited to be able to present this incredible Lenten spiritual opportunity.”
The setting is a darkened church, Grabowski added. While the mood is one of sadness and grief, it is at the same time a beautiful opportunity to contemplate Christ’s sacrifice with Scripture, chant and some of the most magnificent sacred music ever written, he said.
The service will run for approximately one hour and is not exclusive to Catholics. According to Grabowski, Tenebrae is observed by many Christian denominations and all are welcome to attend and experience it.
“Tenebrae has its origins in the Roman Catholic Church, but it is also celebrated in the Lutheran, Anglican, Episcopal and Methodist churches, as well as some Western Rite Orthodox churches,” Grabowski said.
Some of the music to be featured by the Cantorum include Benedictus (Josef Rheinberger 1839-1901), Ego Sum Panis Vivus (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina 1525-1594, Ave Verum Corpus (Camille Saint-Saens 1835-1921), In Monte Oliveti (Anton Bruckner 1824-1896 and Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs (Karl Heinrich Graun 1704-1759).
Also heard will be several psalms chanted in the traditional manner.
Grabowski’s concluding thought is “Tenebrae is a powerful, reflective experience for any Christian. If you’re looking for an opportunity for spiritual and contemplative enrichment this Lent, please join us.”
A free will offering will benefit Schola Cantorum.
MEDINA – The annual meeting of the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library will be held at the library on Monday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
Agenda items include voting on a trustee position, the presentation of the annual report and the presentation of the proposed budget.
Trustee Cynthia Kiebala is seeking re-election to the board for a five-year term.
The board has prepared another conservative budget for 2025-2026 and continues to stay below the mandated 2% tax cap. The proposed property tax levy is $602,339.
This budget vote is for the library’s annual operating budget and does not pertain to the library’s capital project. The library always holds a public vote for its budget whenever the levy amount is changed. Copies of the proposed budget are available on the library website or at the library.
“Costs have risen in every aspect of our operations and so we must ask for an increase in order to maintain current levels of service,” said Kiebala, the board’s president. “We are proud of our staff and our high standards of service.”
Residents of the Medina Central School District are invited to attend this public meeting. The Library’s Annual Budget Vote will take place at the library on Tuesday, May 13, from noon to 8 p.m. As in previous years, absentee ballots were mailed out to those who had previously registered for them with the county.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Bonnie Heck stands at the doorway of the infrared sauna in Herbalty Cottage. (Right) Bonnie Heck steps on the vibration plate, which provides a variety of healing benefits.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 April 2025 at 1:28 pm
MEDINA – A serious car accident in 2008 would lead Bonnie Heck down a path to health and wellness and ownership of a specialty shop called Herbalty Cottage.
This year, Herbalty Cottage is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Heck’s road to recovery from an automobile accident would take several years, during which time she was often bedridden.
“During that time I was taking the usual treatments and they were not working,” Heck said. “That included physical therapy, a Tens unit and soft collar. My head was like a bowling ball. I couldn’t keep it up.”
She progressed to teaching piano lessons, sitting propped up in a chair, but couldn’t turn her head up or down or side to side.
“A year after the accident, I fell and locked my pelvis, and couldn’t take a step or move,” Heck said. “My husband and daughter had to roll me over in bed.”
She sought chiropractic help, which got her mobile, but not pain free. A year later, her chiropractor put her through a purification program, which limited her eating.
“I went through a couple days of detoxification and on the third day I felt like I was 20 again,” she said. “I walked around the block for two miles, gardened and cleaned my house from top to bottom. I jumped in the pool and swam five laps and went for a bike ride. I called my chiropractor to tell her I was pain free.”
She eventually went to work in her chiropractor’s office, and after five years of watching patients who struggled to get in there and seeing how they progressed, “I knew they needed extra help. Like I needed extra help. But there was no place in Orleans County to get it.”
She was going to Rochester to buy organic foods and herbs for extra support. Then both she and her daughter started growing herb gardens.
After taking her first walk alone around the block, Heck said she thanked the Lord, but going forward she couldn’t do it on her own. One night teaching a piano lesson, her student’s mother said she had just purchased some property in Lyndonville that would be great for someone who wanted to start a small business.
“It was just down the street from my house,” Heck said. “But the village refused to zone it for commercial use. Now that I had gotten the idea, I had to do something. Tom and I walked the streets of Medina and Albion to see what was available. I had always known the building on Main Street in Medina as Lockport Optical. On one of our walks, we saw the ‘For sale’ sign.”
They toured the building and of all the buildings they had seen, this one needed the least amount of renovation.
“It seemed doable,” Heck said. “But we were too late with our offer by an hour. I began to think maybe this was not the right time and I needed to take a break.”
Almost a year later she talked to a friend in real estate again about what buildings were available. She was looking into a building on the west side of Main Street when she looked out the window and saw this building at 415 Main St. A friend knew the owner and knew it was going to become available.
“A year later I got the opportunity to purchase it,” Heck said.
Bonnie and Tom Heck stand in front of a display of herbal flavored oils at Herbalty Cottage, which is celebrating 10 years in Medina this year.
On Sept. 22, 2015, Heck opened Herbalty Cottage, a business which focuses on health and wellness and provides a place of peace for those who come in, Heck said.
She started with bulk organic herbs, Himalayan salt lamps and products, supplements, essential oils, extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars.
Then Heck earned her certification as an herbalist.
Shortly after, her daughter Lindsay Uderitz joined her to provide reflexology, acupressure, manual lymphatic drainage treatments, dry bushing, Indian scalp massage, Nerve mobilization therapy and aromatherapy. She is close to being certified as a naturopath.
In 2017, Heck added a far infrared sauna, which is certified commercial medical grade approved by the FDA. Another sauna and salt cave were added in 2019. At the end of 2019, Nancy Rose joined to provide nutritional therapy by creating personalized nutrition and supplement plans specific to an individual’s need.
In 2024, one sauna was retired and red light therapy and a vibration plate were added. Heck explained in earlier years astronauts returning from space were put through red light therapy, before they re-entered public life. She said the National Institute of Health has written more than 3,000 articles on the benefits of red light therapy.
Herbalty Cottage’s products provide relief from almost any malady, including respiratory problems, stress, arthritis, anti-aging, cancer, healing of wounds, and much more. Tom, Bonnie’s husband, adds his support as “jack of all trades,” filling in for his wife when she is out and manning the farmer’s market in Lockport on Saturdays.
Herbalty Cottage is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Extended hours are available until 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for the salt room and sauna clients.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Bartender Chris Kozody of Medina, left, and sous chef Jake Muessigbrodt of Middleport stand at the bar of The Lounge in the Shirt Factory.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 31 March 2025 at 6:32 pm
MEDINA – The newest business to open in the former Newell Shirt Factory is described as an “early mid-century lobby bar, featuring intimate table seating and comfortable lounge for relaxing and enjoying a drink.”
Local attorney Andrew Meier purchased the former Newell Shirt Factory building in 2005, and began what would become two decades of renovations and improvements.
The first renovations saw opening of the Shirt Factory Café and remodeling of the second floor for the law offices of Webster, Schubel and Meier. Third-floor renovations which followed now accommodate hotel rooms called the Hart House.
Last year, Meier and his husband Rich Sarrero completed renovation of the east end of the building for Factory Espresso, a coffee bar/café which is open seven days a week.
(Left) A short rib served with potato puree, roasted root vegetables and gremolata is one of the menu offerings at The Newell, a lounge open from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday in the Shirt Factory on West Center Street. (Photos by Alix Gilman – Right) Andrew Meier, owner of the building formerly known as Newell Shirt Factory with his husband Rich Sarrero, traveled to the Carolinas to purchase this ornate mirror which hangs over the bar in The Newell.
The Shirt Factory Café has closed and has reopened as the Shirt Factory, a craft cocktail bar offering typical fresh and modern bar food. They are open from 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, featuring a “boozy brunch.”
At The Newell, a menu of cocktails, including classic favorites and their signature Sunrise in Montego are available, along with a choice of unique menu items.
“A lot of places are closed on Sunday and Monday, and now there is another option where people can go and eat,” said Alix Gilman, head of marketing for the Shirt Factory.
Chris Kozody, Gilman’s brother, is general manager and bartender. He delights in mixing up a traditional daiquiri, martini, Manhattan or marguerita, as well as a variety of old classics and their signature drink he developed – Sunrise in Montego, featuring dark rum, coffee liqueur, pineapple and egg.
(Left) Framed clothing made at Newell Shirt Factory and historic old photos are grouped on a wall in the new intimate, 25-capacity lounge called The Newell, an intimate 25-capacity space just opened in the building. (Right) A photo of Robert Newell, who owned the famed Newell Shirt Factory for many years, hangs in the recently opened lounge called The Newell.
Food items include crab cakes with pickled watermelon radish; Newell’s plancha, with cured meats, cheese, olives and pita chips; calamari, breaded to order with marinara; beet deviled eggs with goat cheese; frites, greens and vegetable of the day; saku tuna poke bowl; short ribs; and a burger blend of brisket, sirloin and ribeye, lettuce, tomato and onion with aioli and chimichurri on a Costanzo hard roll.
The food menu was developed through consultation with local chef Lionel Heydel and head chef David Gawron. Sous chef is Jake Muessigbrodt of Middleport.
“You would expect to see a lounge like this in the city,” Gilman said. “It has amazing food and delicious cocktails, and it’s five minutes from home.”
The Lounge is also available to rent for private parties of up to 25 people on the days they are not open to the public.
The Lounge is located in space formerly occupied by 810 Meadworks.
Photos and information courtesy of Medina Band Boosters: The Medina varsity winterguard competed Saturday at Gates Chili in the North East Color Guard Circuit’s championships.
ROCHESTER – The Winter Guard season came to a close on Saturday when the held their championships at the Gates Chili High School.
The Medina varsity came in fourth in A1 and the Medina JV was second in Cadets.
There were 30 guards performing in competition in various classes coming from around New York State, Pennsylvania and Canada. Approximately 1,000 spectators were there to cheer them on.
The winners in each class are as follows:
Novice – Gates-Chili with a score of 62.71
Cadets – Ventures with 72.45; Medina JV in 2nd with 70.74
Regional A – Marcus Whitman with 83.93
A1 – Jamestown Express with 80.14; Medina Varsity in 4th with 74.31
Scholastic A – Victor with 91.86
Independent A – Gates Chili IA with 87.74
Senior – Luminosa with 86.51
Independent Open – Gates Chili IO with 89.90
The Medina JV winterguard competed on Saturday and came in second in the Cadets division.
