By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 September 2019 at 11:15 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Robby Klino of Medina shows some of the items in his extensive collection of Halloween memorabilia, including black birds, bats and skeleton heads at his stairway in his West Center Street.
MEDINA – When most kids were looking forward to Christmas, Robby Klino was anticipating Halloween.
Klino, who grew up in Medina, lived and worked in Atlanta for 25 years, until moving back home in September 2018.
Visitors to Robby Klino’s home in Medina are greeted by this ghoulish wreath, a preview of what waits inside his home.
“I always loved Halloween,” Klino said. “When living in Atlanta, I always flew back home to Medina for Christmas. Because I wasn’t able to decorate my home for Christmas, I decorated for Halloween.”
Klino has amassed an overwhelming collection of Halloween decorations. It began when his mother started giving him pumpkins of all kinds. He has pumpkins made of plaster of Paris, paper mache, wood, glass and chenille.
“It just grew from there,” Klino said. “I travel a lot for work, and I’m a shopper. I love garage sales and craft shows.”
Klino has decorated his home with MacKenzie-Childs, a line of ceramics, hand-painted imported furniture and home décor.
Last year he decided to share his Halloween-themed home with friends and neighbors by having a Halloween open house. He invited half a dozen vendors to set up in his home, and it was a huge success, he said.
“People love to come into someone else’s home, just to see their house,” Klino said.
This year, he has scheduled his open house, which he calls “The Happy Halloween House,” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 5 and 6. His home is at 650 West Center St. in Medina.
He already has nearly a dozen vendors signed up who will have unique Halloween décor, antiques, soaps, primitives, quilts and a Pop-Up Show.
Klino will also have a raffle for a piece of Mac-Kenzie Childs during the weekend. Money will go to PAWS, an animal shelter on Gaines basin Road in Albion.
“My Happy Halloween House is just a way to bring the community together and celebrate Halloween,” Klino said.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 13 September 2019 at 12:26 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Georgia Thomas of Medina holds a copy of her book, “Ellen’s Elephant,” a true story of her granddaughter’s wish for an elephant. The book is for sale at The Book Shoppe, where Thomas will have a book signing on Sept. 23.
MEDINA – It took Georgia Thomas 21 years to finally write a book about her granddaughter’s wish for an elephant.
The former Georgia Ramming grew up in Medina, married her childhood sweetheart Terry Thomas and moved around the country during his military career, while raising their daughter.
From the time her granddaughter Ellen was a little girl, she was fascinated with elephants. While her friends wanted dolls or kittens or puppies, Ellen wanted an elephant.
“We did all sorts of things to appease her,” Thomas said. “Kids can have very unrealistic expectations, and to get them to face reality you sometimes have to be creative.”
Thomas started putting her thoughts on paper while Ellen was still a little girl, and she often read the book to Ellen. But life got in the way and she never got around to having it illustrated and published.
Until recently.
After her husband died, Thomas moved back to Medina to live with her sister Joycelyn Jennings. She still hadn’t found an illustrator for her book, until she renewed acquaintances with Diana Martin, a talented Medina artist. She gave Martin the text and told her to read it, letting the words giver her visualization.
“I truly believe she captured the essence of the words,” Thomas said.
Martin’s father became the image of grandpa in the book.
Ellen, who is now 27, had no idea what her grandmother had done.
The book tells how Ellen begged for an elephant, and no amount of bribing could make her happy.
Then Thomas got an idea.
She was living in Baltimore at the time and the Baltimore Zoo had an adopt-an-animal program. So Thomas showed Ellen how they could adopt an elephant, thereby satisfying Ellen’s wishes, while helping their zoo.
And after that, Ellen was happy.
Thomas taught at a middle school in Baltimore and used the book in their eighth-grade art program. She said the book satisfied three major points.
It had repetitive lines. It introduced the reader to adjectives. And it was an outreach to inform the reader about the program to support their zoo.
The book also has two pages with pictures of Ellen’s elephant which a child can color.
Thomas just sent a copy of the book to Ellen.
“She opened the package and jumped and screamed,” Thomas said. “She was delighted beyond belief.”
Thomas has donated several copies of the book to Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.
Since returning to Medina, Thomas has also written a book for the Cobblestone Society Museum, of which she is a member and volunteer. That book is called “Cobble the Mouse,” and tells about a mouse which lives in the Cobblestone Museum. That book is illustrated by Patty Blackburn of Medina and is for sale at the museum.
Photos by Tom Rivers: There is significant scaffolding on the south side of Bent’s Opera House some crews can work on repointing the masonry.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 12 September 2019 at 1:30 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Roger Hungerford looks at a poster in his office describing the renovation of a barn on his property on Mountain Road in Middleport, which he had turned into an elegant guest home. Hungerford is undertaking the renovation of several historic properties in Medina.
MEDINA – A transformation is taking place around Medina.
Companies have moved in. A hotel is being built, and new businesses are opening.
But in the middle of Medina, another transformation is occurring – a historic one.
And behind it all is a Medina native, born and bred, who when he sold his company chose to invest in his hometown.
Roger Hungerford has stepped up to renovate and essentially save several local landmarks, including Bent’s Hall at the four corners in downtown Medina, the Luther (Stonehurst) Mansion at West Center and Prospect streets and the former Medina High School on Catherine Street.
Hungerford said he has three sides – a family side, a business side and a charitable side.
His family consists of wife Heather Farnsworth, a young daughter and three grown sons.
On the business side, Hungerford and his brother Bill went to work for their father Van at Sigmamotor after college. When Van was approaching retirement and decided to split the company, five businesses were spun off from Sigmamotor. Bill founded American Sigma; Gerald Hilger, who was vice president of sales at Sigmamotor, started Cormed; Frank Bernard became president of Sigmamotor; and a former electronic technician at Sigmamotor started a circuit board company in Akron.
Roger, in 1982 at the age of 31, started Sigma, a company which he would expand to the former skating rink on West Center Street Extension. When an even bigger facility was needed, Roger moved into a small part of the former H.J. Heinz plant, later the home of Fisher Price. When Fisher Price announced in 1995 they were leaving, Roger bought the entire building with the intent of renting out space he didn’t need. He calls it, “The best real estate deal I ever made.”
“I paid $1 million with $125,000 down, with the intent of renting out what I didn’t need,” Hungerford said. “I had five years to pay it off, but Fisher Price needed storage space and I agreed to rent space to them. My annual payment on the building was $192,000, and they paid me $400,000 a year in rent.”
The former Medina High School will be converted into apartments.
In 2009, Roger had become a leader in his field and entered into a relationship with Baxter Medical Products to sell them 40 percent of his company and lend his technology in correcting some defects in their infusion systems. Three years later Baxter purchased the remaining 60 percent of Sigma International General Medical Apparatus.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Medina native Roger Hungerford, founder and CEO of Talis Equity, and his managing director of historic properties, Lisa Tombari, sit in the lounge area of his office in the Olde Pickle Factory on Park Avenue, Medina. Hungerford owns the Olde Pickle Factory, which was the former H.J. Heinz plant. He did extensive renovations to modernize the building.
Ironically, Roger said his father had an association with Baxter 50 years earlier, when they tried to buy Sigma and Van refused to sell.
Since selling Sigma, Roger has become a major partner in Talis Clinical with the Cleveland Clinic. He says they have taken the technology way beyond advanced.
“My top priority now is to turn Talis Clinical into a successful, large-scale business that could be four times bigger than when I sold Sigma,” Roger said.
He is also in the beginning stages of establishing a second medical technology company at the Pickle Factory with Jason Maine of Brockport.
“This building will never get sold,” Roger said. “The jobs we create will stay here in Medina, and Jason agrees with me.”
As far as the charitable side of Roger, he is a generous donor to many causes in the area, often anonymously.
Because of his career, Roger has had the opportunity to travel nationally and internationally, something he said has only made him appreciate his hometown even more and realize what a great place it is to work and raise a family.
Roger said he is hopeful for the projects he is undertaking in Medina because of all the significant development in the village by other business owners.
“If we didn’t have those people, things would be way tougher,” he said.
The Luther (Stonehurst) Mansion at West Center and Prospect streets will be converted into a boutique hotel and event center.
Recently, Roger hosted his 1969 classmates at their former alma mater on the occasion of their 50th class reunion.
One classmate was heard remarking, “The things Roger is doing in his hometown will impact the village and its residents for decades, maybe centuries.”
His wife said Roger was encouraged by the look of hopefulness on classmates’ faces as they realized parts of Medina were going to be saved.
Orleans Hub will feature some of the Hungerford’s projects in upcoming articles. The second story in the series will focus on the efforts to save Bent’s Opera House in downtown Medina.
Staff Reports Posted 11 September 2019 at 11:49 am
Provided photos
MEDINA – The Medina Area Association of Churches and other local donors delivered 48 backpacks filled with school supplies to Oak Orchard Elementary School.
Pictured from left include: Amanda Pollard, treasurer for the Medina Area Association of Churches; Leanna Ohol, Medina Key Bank Branch manager; Vince Iorio, pastor of Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God Church; and Julie Webber, principal of Oak Orchard Elementary School.
Medina churches and organizations also distributed food, clothing, backpacks and school supplies during a community outreach event on Aug. 24 at Butts Park.
That event was cosponsored by the 2ns Church of True Disciples of Jesus Christ (Segunda Iglesia Fieles Discipulos De Jesucristo), led by pastors Jovannie and Melissa Canales; and Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God Church, led by Pastor Vincent Iorio.
There was face painting, children’s games and races, and three bounce houses.
Exhibitors included ABC Head Start, Fidelis, RTS Orleans, Medina Fire Department, United Way, Calvary Tabernacle Church/Stillwaters Counseling Center, and United Healthcare.
The worship bands from 2nd Disciples and Calvary sang during the event at Butts Park, which was attended by about 300 people.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 September 2019 at 10:27 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Kyle Ruggeri speaks Saturday at State Street Park in medina about how his use of painkillers from football injuries led to his drug addiction.
Ruggeri, 31, played football for Webster Thomas and was the Section 5 Defensive MVP in 2005. He then played for two years at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania.
He sustained multiple concussions and had pain in his neck, when he started to abuse painkillers. He became addicted and used cocaine and heroin, and was in state prison for 3 ½ years after a crime spree that included burglaries.
He is now sober and speaks out about opioids and pain management.
“Recovery is so much better than addiction,” Ruggeri said Saturday at State Street Park at a “Recovery Day” organized by Orleans – Recovery Hope Begins Here.
Ruggeri said using drugs “is 30 seconds of pleasure followed by hours of misery.”
He urged people fighting addiction to reach out to many groups in the region that are their to help addicts or those in recovery.
“The programs work so well,” he said. “You can talk to other people who have been through it.”
Ruggeri said addiction is a community problem that needs everyone’s efforts, including parents and teachers.
“It’s up to us,” he said. “We can’t arrest or legislate our way out of it.”
Ruggeri runs the SoberDogs.com website to connect people to resources. He said his dog was a source of unconditional love that helped him in his recovery.
The band Midnight Cruisers performed at the event. Doug Gagne, left, and Neil Gagne are part of the band. Neil is the husband of Sue Gagne, coordinator of a community recovery center in Batavia for the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
Tami Ashton, one of the Orleans – Recovery Hope leaders, said the organization wanted the first-time event to help break the stigma of addiction.
“It’s a celebration of recovery because people work hard everyday in their recovery,” Ashton said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 September 2019 at 7:54 pm
Photo courtesy of Greg Reed
MEDINA – Children ham it up on the new sidewalk art in front of the Orleans County YMCA on Pearl Street in Medina.
The YMCA received a $51,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to transform the sidewalks and steps by the Y with art.
The funding was announced in July by KaBOOM! and the Built to Play initiative, which are supported by the Wilson Foundation. The Play Everywhere Challenge awarded a total of $1 million for 22 projects across Western New York and Southeast Michigan.
Photos by Tom Rivers
This photo is taking of the artwork looking towards the Y. The Y hired artist Jill Pettigrew to create 3-dimensional-looking designs on the sidewalks.
Some of the designs resemble obstacle courses, balance beam, swings and other scenes popular at playgrounds.
Greg Reed (pictured), YMCA director, said the organization wants to make the sidewalks and steps more inviting for children, especially about 25-30 kids who wait for the bus on school days.
“We want to make the YMCA a community hub and not just a fitness center,” he said.
Brandi Zavitz, a Holley art teacher and Y volunteer, painted the front steps in an aquatic and solar theme.
“The goal of the grant is to take ordinary spaces and bring play and social interaction into life,” Reed said.
The artists started work on the project about three weeks ago and have more to do, including on the crosswalk on Pearl Street. Reed said the Y needs a permit from the village to paint the crosswalk.
The front steps have been repainted in a colorful way to also include the Y logo.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Local veterans serve as the Honor Guard during a dedication ceremony on Saturday for a bronze statue at the former Medina Armory, which has been a YMCA for more than three decades.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 September 2019 at 8:28 am
‘Let this statue serve as a representative for the boys who fought for the freedom and liberties for us and future generations. And let it be a symbol of peace.’ – Lynne Menz
MEDINA – A bronze statue, made to represent the young men who trained in Medina and then went off to war, was dedicated on Saturday, culminating a 13-year effort to create a monument for local residents who trained to be soldiers at the site.
The Armory opened in 1901. In 1977, it was closed by the National Guard.
Agnes Pescara of Rochester takes a picture of the names of World War II veterans who trained at the Armory, including her father, Garry Pescara. Her brother Gerry Pescara of Albion would later serve in Vietnam.
“I think it’s absolutely amazing,” she said about the monument. “I will always be proud of my father and brother for what they did.”
The names of 550 soldiers are on the monument. They trained at the site and served in the Spanish-American War, the Mexican Border Incursion in 1916, World War I, World War II, and the Cold War from 1947 to 1977.
Local veterans Glenn Whitmore, left, and Dan Anderson raise the American flag. The monument includes three flag poles. The New York State flag and POW/MIA flag also are usually displayed.
Lynne Menz thanks the many supporters of the project. Her late father, Bill Menz, had the vision for the monument and pushed to get it done.
Families look over the monument on Pearl Street in Medina following an hour-long dedication ceremony on Saturday.
The late Bill Menz pushed to create the monument and statue. He trained at the building in 1953, when he joined Company C of the 174th Armored Infantry. He was promoted to corporal before transferring to active duty in 1956 to the US Army National Guard. He would come back to Medina and work about 40 years in construction as a plasterer/mason.
When the Armory closed, Menz was on the committee that helped it find a new use as a YMCA. Menz, who died at age 86 on July 16, 2018, wanted the community to know the building’s historical role in preparing soldiers to fight on behalf of the country.
He teamed with his friend John Fuller to create a sandstone monument in front of the Y that listed 550 soldiers who trained at the Armory and were then deployed in wars. Menz and Fuller cut the stone and built the monument.
But it wasn’t done. Menz wanted a bronze statue of a soldier on top. He pushed for nearly a decade to raise the $65,000 for the statue. He was able to see it in pieces at the foundry before his death.
Lynne Menz pushed the project following her father’s death, working out the details to have the statue moved from the foundry to Medina and then be installed atop the monument. She also had the statue in Medina’s Parade of Lights for its public debut on Nov. 24 last year. The 7-foot-high statue then spent the winter inside the YMCA.
On April 17, it was installed atop the monument. It was officially dedicated on Saturday to help kick off the fourth annual Orleans County Heritage Festival, which continues until Sept. 15.
“Let this statue serve as a representative for the boys who fought for the freedom and liberties for us and future generations,” Lynne Menz said. “And let it be a symbol of peace.”
Charlie Nesbitt, a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War and later a state assemblyman, said the statue and memorial will tell the story to future generations of the Armory’s role in training soldiers.
He praised the late Bill Menz for not wanting the building’s original purpose to be lost to the community, to honor the sacrifice of the young men who served from the local small towns.
“On this day we honor those who came before us and the vision of Bill Menz and the committee,” Nesbitt said.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said the statue stands strong and resilient like the soldiers who trained at the Armory. He praised the 13-year effort from volunteers to make the monument a reality.
A Patriot Guard Rider holds an American flag during the ceremony.
Cathy Fox, secretary of Company F Memorial Committee, would later become the group’s co-chairwoman. Fox’s father Robert Raymondjack and grandfather, Vincent Raymondjack, are listed on the monument among the names of 550 soldiers.
Cathy Fox said Bill Menz made the project a mission.
“This monument wouldn’t be here without the passion, insight, perseverance, dedication and hard work of one man: the chairperson of the Company F Memorial Committee, Bill Menz.”
Fox said 12 of the men listed on the monument were killed in action.
Since the bronze statue was put in place in April, some of the additional work at the monument included five Medina sandstone benches, including this one with the flowers on top. The benches were made by Jordan Rath, a mason in Medina.
The five benches by the monument will have plaques to recognize the contributors to the project.
There will be bronze plaques on each bench.
One plaque will be for Bill Menz: “In honor of William A. Menz for his dedication to preserving our military history.”
Another plaque will note Carl Petronio, a member of the National Guard, who made a large donation early in the fundraising process that gave the effort strong momentum.
Medina VFW Post 1483 will be recognized for a $10,000 donation to the project.
Bob Waters, original member of the Armory Action Committee and Medina Sandstone Society, also was a key supporter of the project and to finding a new use for the Armory.
“Bob Waters had pride in this community beyond measure,” Lynne Menz said. “His support for assembling a team of leaders to preserve the Medina Armory and make it into a community center for generations to enjoy is a benefit to us all.” Talis Equity donated anonymously in honor of Waters.
Another plaque will be in honor of all the contributors at large from the community.
“This community has an incredibly generous spirit so we are acknowledging all contributors that supported the creation of this monument,” Menz said. “It took a village and you came through.”
Cathy Fox holds a “Contributors’ List” that will be displayed inside the YMCA in the very near future.
Brian Porter of Pendleton created the bronze statue and was recognized with a “uniform,” a white sweatshirt with an image of the monument. Bill Menz wore a sweatshirt with the monument for several years. Porter gets an updated version of the sweatshirt, showing the monument with the statue on top.
The statue weighs 1,400 pounds.
Local dignitaries observe the playing of “Taps.” The group includes Medina Mayor Mike Sidari, Medina Sandstone Society President David Miller, former State Assemblyman Charles Nesbitt, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and County Legislator Don Allport.
Jim Freas served as master of ceremonies of the dedication and gave the welcome message.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 2 September 2019 at 12:14 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: The drum major for West Seneca Marching Band is pictured during the Fall Festival of Bands in Medina on Sept. 26 in 2015.
MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Marching Band will host its annual Fall Festival of Bands on Sept. 21 at Veterans’ Memorial Park.
Nine bands will perform in competition, with the Mustangs debuting their new show in the recently renovated Vets’ Park. Title of their show is “Walk the Path,” an exploration of finding your path in life, taking action and walking the path forward.
The show will take the audience through three movements – “Finding the Path,” “Taking Action” and Walking the Path.”
The band will be led on the field by drum major Jada Draper, with assistants Lacey Kenward, Margaret Klotzbach and Miranda Zelazny. Color Guard captain is McKenna Callard.
Gates will open at 5 p.m., with the show starting at 6 p.m. Medina will take the field at 7:35 p.m.
Other bands are Le Roy, 6 p.m.; Pioneer, 6:13 p.m.; Northwestern, 6:26 p.m.; Orchard Park, 6:39 p.m.; West Seneca West, 6:52 p.m.; Webster, 7:05 p.m.; Jamestown, 7:48 p.m.; and Lancaster, 8:01 p.m.
There will be an intermission from 7:18 to 7:35 p.m., with award presentations beginning at 8:35 p.m.
The Mustang Boosters will again be selling food in the concession stand, as well as buttons, program books and candy grams. A 50/50 raffle will also take place.
Leaders of the Mustang Marching Band are Jim Steele, band director; Becky Botsford, assistant director; and Diana Baker, assistant director/guard caption head.
Others assisting are Mark Rider drill designer; Mike Heaney, visual consultant; Joe Organisciak, music director; Joe Guadagnino, percussion arranger; Jeff Pask, percussion caption head; Tiffany Organisciak, Matt Jaeger and Terry Steele, front end ensemble instructors; TJ Gray and Brian King, percussion instructors; and Kara Brown, guard instructor.
File photo by Tom Rivers: More than 100 people walked 2 miles on Oct. 13, 2018, including a stretch along the Erie Canal, to raise funds to support people battling Alzheimer’s.
MEDINA – The village will host a “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” on Sept. 28 at State Street Park.
More than 100 people are expected for the family-friendly program at 343 East Center Street.
Last year the walk in Medina raised about $24,000 for the Western New York chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
The event includes local vendors, refreshments, photo opportunities and a Promise Garden.
The garden is filled with bright pinwheel flowers in colors that represent reasons people walk: purple to honor someone they lost to dementia, yellow for care partners, blue to honor those living with dementia and orange to show general support of efforts to end Alzheimer’s disease. The flowers are given to each registered participant who can then personalize them and carry them as they walk or plant them in the garden.
The event site opens at 9 a.m. with access to vendors, entertainment, food and fun. A short opening ceremony at 10:05 a.m. will be emceed by Randy Bushover, a Medina native and radio host on WBEN-AM in Buffalo.
In New York State, about 400,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Another 1.2 million people, usually family or friends, provide some kind of care for them. And at this moment, the disease cannot be prevented or slowed and it is, without exception, fatal, said the Alzheimer’s Association.
But there is hope for the first survivor of Alzheimer’s disease through the research funding efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association, the group said.
The WNY chapter has fund-raising walks and events scheduled, including: Sept. 14 in Buffalo, Sept. 21 in Batavia and Dunkirk, Sept. 28 in Allegany and Medina, and on Oct. 5 in Lewiston. For more information, click here.
