By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 July 2019 at 9:30 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Who Dats perform this afternoon in the first concert at the new bandstand at State Street Park.
The band includes lead singer Lonnie Froman, John Borello on guitar, Ed Hilfiker on guitar, Marty Hobbs on guitar, and Aaron Robinson on drums.
Before the concert there was a ribbon-cutting celebration with from left: John Thomas, applied academic manager at Iroquois Job Corps; Jim Hancock, chairman of Medina Tourism Committee; Kathy Blackburn, administrator for the Orleans Renaissance Group; Medina Mayor Mike Sidari; Tim Elliott, village trustee; Diane Krenning, member of ORG; and Marguerite Sharman, village trustee.
The Orleans Renaissance Group helped spearhead the new bandstand.
Kathy Blackburn, the ORG administrator, thanked the Medina Department of Public Works prepping the site. Mayor Mike Sidari said the DPW also helped remove some decaying trees and planted new ones.
Sidari also praised employees at Baxter in Medina for repainting some of the playground equipment.
Blackburn said others helped with the project, including: the Iroquois Job Corps building crew which erected the bandstand; Orleans Concrete, which donated cement; Eric Watson Enterprises did cement work; Matt C.M. Contracting did the roofing; Tom Snyder did staining and varnishing.
Blackburn also thanked the Village Board for supporting the effort. The ORG is working to bring more concerts and improvements to the waterfront, Blackburn said.
The pavilion/bandstand was built with community donations and support of the Medina Business Association.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 July 2019 at 3:27 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: United Way of Orleans County’s executive director Dean Bellack posed with George Bidleman from Orleans Ford during a workplace campaign to support United Way.
MEDINA – George Bidleman knows the importance of supporting United Way.
That’s why he agreed to host a workplace campaign at each of the Orleans County dealerships in which he has ownership. This is the first time the dealership has held such a campaign.
“When Dean called and asked if I’d be willing to do it, I asked, ‘Where have you been,’” Bidleman said.
Most recently, the majority of his 70 employees at Orleans Ford in Medina attended the workplace campaign, headed by United Way director Dean Bellack.
Bidleman said he has always been community minded, and United Way has always been an important charity to him. In fact, about 15 years ago he served on the board of United Way of Western Orleans, which then merged with the United Way of Eastern Orleans.
“The community supports us, and we need to stay on our game and give back,” Bidleman said. “I know the need and I know what the agencies supported by United Way do.”
Bidleman plans to host workplace campaigns in each of the dealerships in his group.
“If someone can’t give $1 or $2 a week, something is wrong,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2019 at 2:56 pm
Provided photos
MEDINA – Benjamin Zakes, the final Medina student to receive his diploma during Friday’s commencement, takes a selfie with his classmates.
There were 114 students who graduated with the Class of 2019.
Kody Leno gives the valedictory address. (Courtesy of Erin Mufford)
Mr. Michael Cavanagh, the high school principal, is at right. He also addressed the students and urged them to let their conscience be their guide and show compassion for others.
“Have a big heart, root for the underdog, volunteer, stand up for what you believe in, and fight for those who are not strong enough to fight for themselves,” Cavanagh said.
These happy graduates include Madison Williams, Marguerite Brakenbury, Cora Mykayla Payne and Guin Schalck. (Courtesy of Colleen Brakenbury)
Jonathan Pietrafesa delivers his salutatorian address on Friday. (Courtesy of Erin Mufford)
Kelly Uderitz – These five graduates from Fruit Avenue grew up together and all graduated with high honors. They include Meadow Washak, Emma Baldwin, Kali Schrader, Dan Squire and Alyssa Blount. “Awesome job fruit loops!!!” (Courtesy of Kelly Uderitz)
Shelby Martin and Devin VerCruysse are cousins who started kindergarten together with the same teacher, played lacrosse together, and graduated together. (Courtesy of Sara Frasier)
Private Ryenn Oliver, a Marine, graduated from basic training on May 31. (Courtesy of Trena Oliver)
The tennis team crew includes Andrew Houseman, Valedictorian Kody Leno, Salutatorian Jonathan Pietrafesa, Benjamin Zakes and Ray Paull. (Courtesy of Jessica Leno)
The daisy chain is a tradition dating back to 1922. The daisy chain is made by the top 16 ranked girls and top 2 boys in the junior class. They include Grace Cook, Jada Draper, Micaela Erway, Mary Flores, Bobby Geiger, Elle Gross, Alexis Jones, Lacey Kenward, Lily Kiebala, Margaret Klotzbach, Jordan Lugo, Jenna Moore, Chloe Nashwenter, Nathan Sherman, Miya Troidl, Layna Viloria, Ashley Woodrow and Miranda Zelazny.
The Class of 2019 is on stage in the high school auditorium. (Courtesy of Dave Viterna)
Alissa Blount with Kaela Grosslinger behind her are happy to have their diplomas at commencement. (Courtesy of Shannon Blount)
These two friends, Ashton Laird and Marguerite Brakenbury, graduated together on Friday. (Courtesy of Colleen Brakenbury)
This group includes, from left: Makenzi Wynn, Heidi Hofmeister and Maci Wynn. (Courtesy of Bianca Cruz)
Photo by Ginny Kropf: The new pavilion in State Street Park in Medina was recently completed and will host its first band on July 7, when the Who Dats entertain for the Medina community and 650 cyclists who will be passing through Medina on the Cycle the Erie Canal tour.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 2 July 2019 at 12:21 pm
MEDINA – The Medina Business Association will show off the new pavilion in State Street Park on July 7 with the first concert to be presented in the new venue.
From 4 to 7 p.m. the Who Dats will entertain the community and an estimated 650 cyclists who are participating in Cycle the Erie Canal, an annual ride from Buffalo to Albany.
The pavilion/bandstand was built with community donations and support of the Medina Business Association.
Jim Hancock, chairman of the Medina Tourism Committee, said in the past, the cyclists have spent the night camping at Medina High School, but this year they will stay at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville.
The public is encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, listen to the music and welcome the cyclists.
Hancock said there should be a great turnout of cyclists, because the canal towpath has had significant improvements from Middleport to Brockport.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Wine from Chateau Niagara was served with the second course, Chile Verde Empanada from Mariachi De Oro, during last year’s Farm to Table dinner, which served 220 on a closed off section of Main Street.
MEDINA – For several weeks, planners have been busily preparing for the fourth annual Farm to Table Dinner in Medina. The event is hosted by the Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc., as part of the annual activities of the Canal Village Farmers’ Market, a Medina enterprise also sponsored by ORG.
Tickets for the 2019 Farm to Table Dinner go on sale Monday, July 8, at 10 a.m. for $125 each. They will be available online at www.medinaalive.com and at the English Rose Tea Shoppe (cash & check only), 527 Main St., Medina, (585) 798-4410.
“If it is your intention to attend the dinner, my advice is don’t hesitate one minute to buy your tickets!” said Chris Busch, president of the Orleans Renaissance Group. “This event will sell out within minutes, so don’t delay in securing your tickets.”
Medina held its first Farm-to-Table dinner event on a closed off Main Street on Aug. 4, 2016. There were 137 people at that dinner, a fine dining experience featuring locally grown food and wine.
The event delivers an exquisite, six-course, gourmet meal. The dinner also provides an opportunity to experience how local chefs capitalize on Orleans County’s number one industry: agriculture.
This years’ dinner event will be held on Thursday, August 8, at 6 p.m., once again right down the center of Medina’s Main Street Historic District. Should it rain, the event will be held at The Gallagher in Medina.
“The effect is something out of a Hallmark movie,” wrote Francesca Bond in a piece for the Buffalo News Gusto, entitled “Inside Medina’s small-town culinary and cultural renaissance,” published March 27, 2019.
“Francesca got it exactly right,” said Cindy Robinson, ORG board member. “The evening is pure magic – the setting, the food, the atmosphere – there’s nothing quite like it.”
The event will again host 225 dinner guests with the table stretching nearly the entire length of North Main Street.
Guests will again be treated to live music, this year provided by What About Jane, a popular coffeehouse trio from Holley, NY, and frequent performer at Medina’s farmers’ market.
Upon arriving, guests will be treated to a complimentary Chef’s Course paired with award-winning Cuvée Reserve Brut, courtesy of Schulze Vineyard & Winery of Burt, NY. The dinner will deliver a sensational locally-sourced, six-course meal with Chef Michael Zambito of Zambistro once again collaborating with local culinary colleagues.
Among those joining Zambistro will be Mariachi De Oro, Mile 303, Sourced Market & Eatery, Bent’s Opera House and the Shirt Factory. All ingredients used in the meal will be locally sourced and farm-fresh, provided almost entirely from the vendors at Canal Village Farmers’ Market, Medina.
“In addition to all of last years’ chefs returning, we’re excited to have Chef Lionel Heydel of Bent’s Opera House joining us this year,” said Cindy Robinson. “We’ll be seeing much more of Chef Lionel here in Medina in the coming months.”
Each course will feature pairings from Niagara Wine Trail wineries, including Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, Medina; Schulze Vineyard & Winery, Burt; Victorianbourg Estate Winery, Wilson; Liten Buffel, Middleport and 810 Meadworks, Medina.
“As you can imagine, making an event like this a reality requires a great deal of time, talent and treasure,” Busch said. “One of the hallmarks of Medina’s success is everyone working together to make good things happen and this dinner is no exception.”
Annual corporate sponsors of the Farm to Table Dinner include Zambistro, PridePak Inc. with Steve Carr, CEO; Takeform in Medina; Bent’s Opera House, Medina; and Generations Bank of Seneca Falls.
With each passing year, the demand for Farm to Table Dinner tickets has been great. To help create more opportunity for people to secure tickets, ORG will raffle off two pairs of two tickets over the coming days and weeks.
“People actually begin inquiring about the tickets in January,” said Busch. “There’s a limited number and they go very quickly. However, there will be two opportunities to win two dinner tickets this year. In addition to the annual ticket raffle at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market, we’ve prepared another really fun opportunity to win a pair of tickets.”
The farmers’ market raffle started June 29 and will run through Aug. 3. Every $5 spent at the market earns a chance in a drawing for two tickets. The market runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 127 West Center St.
This Saturday there will be a “crawl for tickets,” Busch said. To participate in the crawl, participants will pick up an official “crawl card” at the managers’ tent at the Farmers’ Market. The card will be used to track a visit to each of the businesses listed on the back throughout the day. The idea is to tour Medina, patronize those establishments and get the card officially stamped. Each stamp is worth one chance in the ticket drawing. Crawl cards are turned in at the Shirt Factory in exchange for tickets to enter the drawing.
Participating businesses include Canal Village Farmers’ Market, Mile 303, Zambistro, Mariachi De Oro, and Shirt Factory.
A live prize drawing will take place at the Shirt Factory, 10 p.m. Participants must be 21 and over to enter/win.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 July 2019 at 2:46 pm
Provided photo: John Robinson heads out this morning from Buffalo to Medina for the first day of a 350-mile journey on the Erie Canal towpath. He is scheduled to reach Medina this afternoon. On Tuesday, he heads from Medina to Fairport.
MEDINA – John Robinson is riding a bike along the Erie Canal towpath for the seventh time raising awareness about the skills and abilities of people with disabilities.
Robinson is a quadruple amputee. He is the leader of Our Ability, which works with businesses to deepen the understanding of what people with disabilities can bring to the workplace. Our Ability also serves as a bridge between individuals and employment opportunities.
Robinson started the trip this morning at Canalside in Buffalo and will go 51 miles to Medina. On Day 2, he will go from Medina through Orleans County and stop at Fairport, a 56-mile trip.
The ride ends July 10 in Albany at Jennings Landing.
As he embarks on this year’s journey, Robinson is encouraging more companies to join the New York Business Leadership Network, a coalition of businesses in New York State interested in hiring and supporting businesses owned by individuals with disabilities.
More than 20 employees of M&T Bank, a NYBLN member organization, joined Robinson for the first section of the Journey Along the Erie Canal, and about 20 more M&T employees visited Canalside Monday morning to cheer them on.
The Arc of Genesee Orleans will greet Robinson today at about 3 p.m. when he is expected to reach Medina. He will is scheduled to leave Medina on Tuesday morning at the lift bridge at 8:30 a.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 July 2019 at 1:02 pm
This rendering from Parkitects shows the improvements planned for Pine Street Park.
MEDINA – A new splash pad with five ground spray elements should be installed at Pine Street Park in Medina in mid to late August, Village Board members said.
The board last week approved allowing the Pine Street Park Project Committee to buy the splash pad equipment. When it is installed, the splash pad will be given to the village.
The five elements for the splash pad is expected to cost $46,750. The committee is working on fundraising for about $200,000 in upgrades to Pine Street Park. The members include Tom Hungerford, Bob Sanderson, Maureen Sanderson and Nicole Goyette.
The splash pad will be the first of improvements, with a new playground and a butterfly garden to follow.
The splash pad will be 30 feet in diameter and water will circulate out to water plants and trees.
The splash pad will be installed after the village’s summer parks program, which is at Pine Street Park this summer and continues until Aug. 6.
The installer for the equipment is currently backed up with other projects and can’t work on Medina’s until later this summer.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 29 June 2019 at 9:36 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: This team of Dan Maciejewski of Orchard Park, Jeff Lowry of Buffalo, Lidia Santos of East Amherst and Mike Hofer of Lancaster represented Western New York Blue Cross/Blue Shield at United Way of Orleans County’s golf tournament on June 21 at Shelridge Country Club. Because a number of their sales reps work in the Orleans County area, they wanted to show their support for United Way.
MEDINA – This year’s golf tournament to benefit the United Way in Orleans County saw an increase in golfers and more net revenue for the organization.
This year’s 80 golfers was up from the 56 in last year’s tournament, said Dean Bellack, United Way executive director.
The tournament is a significant fundraiser for United Way of Orleans County, and raised $9,537 after expenses for the United Way.
“Support for this year’s golf tournament to benefit United Way of Orleans County grew significantly, and the money raised grew as well,” Bellack said.
David Bilson of Amherst, an employee of Brunner in Medina, practices putting before the golf tournament at Shelridge Country Club.
Dave Cook of Lyndonville, an avid golfer and longtime board member of United Way of Orleans County, was chairman of the tournament at Shelridge Country Club. His team, which included Mike Bielak, Sharon Zacher and Jeanne Whipple were the mixed team winners.
Cook thanked the many sponsors and supporters who assisted to make the tournament and fundraiser a success.
“The money raised goes towards services for individuals of Orleans County, through our agency partners,” he said.
The winning men’s team was from Hartway Motors and was comprised of Lionel Rhim, Donnell Holloway, Josh Bennett and Dylan McEwan.
The United Way in Orleans County helps 14 agencies who assist people with emergency shelter and fuel, and provide meals for seniors, camps for the disabled, education for at-risk teens, exercise programs, hospice care and other services.
From left, Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County; Jodi Gaines, board member and official scorer for the annual United Way golf tournament; and Bill Hungerford, a board member whose father Van was instrumental in starting United Way in Western Orleans County back in the 1950s, helped to promote the golf tournament.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 29 June 2019 at 9:04 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf
MEDINA – Students at Oak Orchard Elementary School in Medina celebrated Carnival Day last week with a bike rodeo. Third-grader Janelle Stalker negotiates a figure-eight during the bike rodeo for kindergarten through third-grade.
Its purpose, according to Patrolman Rick Messmer, is to teach children how to ride a bike safely.
Patrolman Rick Messmer marks out the course. Students, who brought their own bikes and helmets to school, had to weave in and out of cones and stop at a designated spot.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 June 2019 at 8:53 am
Photos courtesy of Libby Woodroe
MEDINA – Students are shown Thursday in a field on Blair Road, picking daisies for the daisy chain at this evening’s graduation ceremony at Medina High School.
The 16 top-ranked girls academically and top two boys in the Class of 2020 work on the 54-foot-long daisy chain.
They spent Thursday picking the flowers, and today they will assemble the chain in the school cafeteria.
Mackenzie Bropst, left, and Ashley Woodroe picked lots of daisies on Thursday.
The flowers are put in buckets. They are picked the day before graduation so they look fresh for commencement.
Photos courtesy of Lily Kiebala: Emma Baldwin picks daisies on Portage Road.
The daisy chain tradition goes back nearly a century in Medina.
Albion and Lyndonville also will celebrate high school graduation with commencement programs at 7 p.m. today. Holley students graduate at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Kendall held its commencement last Friday.
“In addition to all of last years’ chefs returning, we’re excited to have Chef Lionel Heydel of Bent’s Opera House joining us this year,” said Cindy Robinson. “We’ll be seeing much more of Chef Lionel here in Medina in the coming months.”
