Provided photos: The Oak Orchard Elementary School on Friday dedicated a new bench, little library and garden in honor of Andrea Lonnen, a kindergarten teacher who was 45 when she passed away on April 22, 2018.
Posted 10 June 2019 at 3:47 pm
Press Release, Medina Central School
MEDINA – Kindergarten teacher Andrea Lonnen was not only beloved by her family, husband Kip and their children – Hannah, Dylan and Maggie – but by the entire Oak Orchard student body and staff. Her loss on April 22, 2018 devastated all that knew her and loved her.
“She was such a positive influence in the school community as a teacher, colleague, union member, sports fan, chick-hatching expert and friends,” says Oak Orchard Elementary School Principal Julie Webber. “She worked at Oak Orchard for 18 years and we wanted her memory to live on at Medina Central School District.”
Mrs. Lonnen loved all of the students at Oak Orchard like they were her own. From the moment she welcomed them into kindergarten she made it her mission to nurture them as individuals. “One of the greatest gifts that Mrs. Lonnen gave to her students was the gift of reading,” says Mrs. Webber. “We wanted that gift to live on so we decided to install a new bench, garden and little library so that the families that visit our school’s playground could spend time together and read just like Mrs. Lonnen did with her own children and students. I would like to extend a special thank you to the Oak Orchard Student Council and Medina Teacher Association for donating the books for the little library.”
On Friday the dedication was held at Oak Orchard. The Lonnen children unveiled the items to the community with the hopes that it will inspire reading, family bonding and the love of learning and pay tribute to their mother’s legacy. At the conclusion, the Oak Orchard students celebrated their love of Mrs. Lonnen and filled the air with bubbles as she filled their lives with the gift of learning.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 June 2019 at 3:46 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf
MEDINA – This 1956 Chevy belonging to Buster Wetherbee of Holley was among the 91 classic vehicles which attended the first cruise-in of the season in Medina’s Canal Basin on Friday night.
Wetherbee rarely misses a Friday cruise-in and helps organizer David Green with the weekly 50/50 drawing. Green said the Friday cruise-ins average between 80 and 100 cars and Friday’s turnout was very good for the first one. The season continues through late August.
The cruise-in series has been an annual tradition in Medina for more than 20 years. The classic car shows go from 5:30 to 8 p.m. They will be in the basin every Friday until the end of August, except on June 28 when the show shifts to the Orleans County Marine Park in Carlton and on July 26 when the cars are on display at the Orleans County 4-H Fair in Knowlesville.
The season culminates with the Super Cruise on Aug. 28, when a section of Main Street is closed for the cars and there is lots of entertainment.
The student staff for the 2019-2020 Medina Mustang Band are pictured on Friday during a banquet and awards ceremony at the Ridgeway Fire Hall.
Posted 8 June 2019 at 3:31 pm
Courtesy of Medina Marching Band
MEDINA – The 49th annual Medina Mustang Band Banquet and Awards ceremony was held Friday at the Ridgeway Fire Hall. It was an evening of awards and reflection on the many accomplishments in the 2018-2019 school year.
Special guests included Superintendent Mark Kruzynski and Assistant High School Principal Joel Reed. Also present were Srgt. Lavender and PFC Oliver from the US Marines to award the “Semper Fidelis” award for musical excellence to two graduating seniors. The award for excellence in Jazz was given to Ben Zakes and excellence in wind ensemble to Kody Leno.
The Booster organization was credited for their continued dedication and commitment to the band. Outgoing officers were recognized and thanked for their help as well as the incoming officers. Mindy Kenward is still the president and Julie Granchelli the vice president.
Instructional staff were recognized: Jeanette Sheliga – Elementary Band Director; Jeff Pask and T.J. Gray – Percussion Instructors; Terry Steele – Pit Instructor; Joe Organiscak – Music Arranger; Matt Jaeger – Music & Visual Instructor; Diana Baker – Assistant Band Director & Colorguard Instructor; Becky Botsford – Assistant Band Director; Joe Guadagnino and Brian King – Percussion Instructors; Mark Rider – Visual Designer; Leslie Rider – Visual Consultant; Tiffany Organisciak – Front Ensemble instructor; Mike Heaney – Visual Consultant to the Colorguard; Kara Brown – Colorguard Instructor.
The Harry Dinkle award was established to recognize someone who is not a Booster officer but who volunteers a great deal of personal time & effort to the program. This year’s recipients are Joe Granchelli and Adam Uderitz.
Several scholarships were awarded. The NYSFBC scholarship went to Maisie Griffin; the Mustang Band Booster Service scholarship went to Ray Paull; the Band Booster Memorial scholarship to Travis Gotts; the Steele Family Award to Alissa Blount; the Joseph C. McKain award to Jada Draper and Ben Zakes; the Alfred Hartway award to Maisie Griffin, Ray Paull and Alissa Blount.
Recognition was given to the Winterguard program. This year Medina sponsored 3 WG units. The Pony Guard consisted of 15 students in grades 5-8; The Junior Varsity guard consisted of 14 students in grades 4-9 and Varsity guard had 13 students in grades 7-12.
Outstanding Band Member awards were given to Outstanding Rookies – T.J. Burgess, Layne Hodgins, Lillian Wilson and Biance Islam. Most Improved went to Lana Ortiz, Henry Rigerman, Gabe Mark and Aries McMurray. Most Valuable went to Kody Leno, Emma Baldwin, Ben Zakes and Kaela Grosslinger.
Director Awards were given by Mrs. Baker to Ava Chambers, by Mrs. Botsford to Haydin Woodward and by Mr. Steele to James Waters.
Perfect attendance awards were given to students for Fall, Spring and the two seasons combined.
Each of the seniors was given their medallion. Each of the outgoing student staff was given a plaque with their name on it.
The prologue was given by Margaret Klotzbach and the senior epilogue was given by Alissa Blount.
A slide show highlighting the year’s accomplishment was prepared by Joe Granchelli.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the 2019-2020 student staff: Drum Major – Jada Draper; Assistant Drum Majors – Lacey Kenward, Miranda Zelazny and Margaret Klotzbach. Head of Percussion – Margaret Klotzbach; Colorguard Captain – McKenna Callard; Colorguard Managers – Melanie Poynter, Ava Chambers and Destiny Jones; Secretary/Librarian – Emma Roush & Kaylee Lacey; Uniform Managers – Hannah Kenward and Amanda Woodruff; Band Managers – Carter Green, Chris Woodroe, TJ Burgess, Megan Zakes and Faith Vanderwalker; Head Band Manager – Jada Draper; Front Ensemble Section – Sophia Cardone; Tuba Section – Paige Adkins; Trombone/Baritone – Miranda Zelazny; Trumpets – Lacey Kenward; Mellophone – Lily Kiebala; Saxophone – Grace Cook and Bailey Jackson; Clarinets –Trenton Crews; Flutes – Mary Flores.
The 2019 Fall show is entitled “Walk the Path” and practice begins June 13 with Band Camp Aug. 12-16.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 June 2019 at 5:00 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Maureen Sanderson, a volunteer at the Medina Tourist’s Center, and Jim Hancock, chair of the Medina Tourism Committee, stand in front of the Visitor’s Center which opened Memorial Day weekend in Rotary Park.
MEDINA – Memorial Day weekend is not only a sign summer is near, but it means the Medina Visitor’s Center is open and ready to greet visitors to the town.
The Visitor’s Center is run by the Medina Tourism Committee and first opened in 2009 in the office on Main Street shared by Western United Way and the American Red Cross. United Way’s director, the late Betty Hassall, was also the tourism person in the morning, and volunteers ran it afternoons, said Jim Hancock, chair of the Medina Tourism Committee.
In the early years, the Visitor’s Center was only open during July and August and had six volunteers.
Then came their move to the City Hall, where hours were expanded from Memorial Day to Labor Day. While that provided ample space, it was not the most ideal location because of its steep steps and distance from the canal. Many of its visitors are people boating or biking along the canal.
When the idea rose in 2018 to move to the Santa Claus house in Rotary Park, which was only used at Christmas time, the Tourism Committee jumped at the idea. The move was a positive one, as the number of visitors jumped from 90 the previous year to just shy of 200 in 2018, Hancock said.
Last year, visitors came from 29 states and three foreign countries.
The Tourism Committee is looking for more volunteers to supplement about a dozen who already run the Center.
Maureen Sanderson has been volunteering at the Medina Visitor’s Center for nearly three years. Here, she shows off one of Medina T-shirts for sale, which reads, “Barge into Medina. Get that Erie feeling.”
One of those volunteers is Maureen Sanderson, who is in her third year volunteering there.
“I love Medina and I like to talk to people about our town,” Sanderson said. “I always wanted to be a greeter.”
“People come from everywhere, and it’s nice to have someone in the Visitor’s Center who’s been around Medina all their life,” Hancock said.
Jim Hancock greets Marguerite Sherman, a new volunteer at the Medina Visitor’s Center. She showed up for her first day with grandson, 3-month-old Henry Rosenbeck.
Hancock himself couldn’t be prouder of Medina, and boasted for a town of only 6,100, it’s pretty incredible there are at least 10 great places to eat in the business district.
The Visitor’s Center has plenty of free handouts for visitors, including pamphlets, maps and rack cards. In addition, there is a small selection of tourist items for sale, such as Medina T-shirts, mugs and postcards.
“We have stuff I believe even residents of Medina would be interested in,” Hancock said.
The Visitor’s Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Anyone interested in volunteering for a day or just a few hours can contact Hancock at 798-2118.
The Sherburne community in Chenango County hosted its 70th Annual Sherburne Pageant of Bands from Thursday through Saturday.
This pageant is the oldest and longest running event of its kind in the state. The Sherburne community , the Volunteer Fire Department and the Sherburne-Earlville Central School District come together to sponsor this event.
There were 44 schools from around the state that participated and this was Medina’s first year at the competition. Medina was in Class AA for every event they performed in.
In concert band Medina competed against four other schools and won first place with a score of 96. In Jazz, the Mustangs competed against two other schools and won first place with a score of 97.5. In Small Ensemble, Medina performed a saxophone quartet and earned first place with a score of 96.5.
The parade is a big event with 44 schools performing and the people in town begin setting up their chairs on Friday night up and down the 3-mile route. In Class AA, Medina won first place with a score of 93.5, first place in Color Guard with 99 and 1st place in Drumline with 81. Medina also earned awards for Best Overall Color Guard, Best in Class AA, Overall HS Award and the Band Director Award to Jim Steele.
This was the last competitive performance for the band in the 2018-2019 school year and the season will close with the Band Banquet on June 7.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Terry Buchwald, an Elvis Presley impersonator, arrives in downtown Medina on a motorcycle during last year’s Super Cruise on Sept. 5, when a section of Main Street was blocked off for the car show.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2019 at 4:51 pm
MEDINA – A new season of classic car shows will begin this Friday in Medina’s Canal Basin. The cruise-in series has been an annual tradition in Medina for more than 20 years.
The classic car shows go from 5:30 to 8 p.m. They will be in the basin every Friday until the end of August, except on June 28 when the show shifts to the Orleans County Marine Park in Carlton and on July 26 when the cars are on display at the Orleans County 4-H Fair in Knowlesville.
The season culminates with the Super Cruise on Aug. 28, when a section of Main Street is closed for the cars and there is lots of entertainment. Terry Buchwald, an Elvis Presley impersonator, usually performs on a stage in the downtown for that event.
On the regular cruise-ins on Friday evenings, DJ Hank Nevins will be playing music.
The car shows typically attract a few hundred people to the downtown.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 28 May 2019 at 7:33 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf
MEDINA – Members of the VFW and American Legion in Medina prepare for a three-gun salute at veterans’ graves in Boxwood Cemetery on Monday morning.
The Honor Guard includes members of the American Legion and VFW in Medina. They annually do a ceremony at each of the veterans’ memorials and cemeteries in Medina.
Tony Vicknair, left, and Jim Freas put the firearms away after a ceremony on Memorial Day at Boxwood Cemetery, which included a three-gun salute.
Tinker Young, left, and Jon Little, who served with the U.S. Army, fold the American flag after Memorial Day ceremonies at Boxwood Cemetery. Firing at veterans’ memorials in Medina has been a tradition for decades. The veterans repeated the ceremony at Sacred Heart Cemetery, the Company F Memorial at Medina Armory, the Korean Memorial on Park Avenue, the tank at Oak Orchard Elementary School and the John E. Butts Memorial in Butts Park.
Tom Walders, left, plays Taps in front of the Company F Memorial at Medina Armory. In the background is Mustang Band trumpeter Travis Gotts, who played Echo Taps. Saluting are Dave Kusmierczak, left, and Jim Freas.
Members of the Honor Guard from the American Legion and VFW in Medina annually do a ceremony at each of the veterans’ memorials in Medina. Here the firing squad, including Adam Johnson at right, gets ready for a three-gun salute.
At left, Jim Freas from the Medina VFW and Dave Kusmierczak from the American Legion, salute in front of the Vietnam Memorial at the American Legion, while Taps is played by Tom Walders. Trumpeter Travis Gotts from the Medina Mustang Marching Band, played Echo Taps.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2019 at 9:15 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – There was a big crowd at today’s Memorial Day parade in Medina, which included many participants from the community, including Logan Quackenbush, 8, blowing bubbles on a float by the P.Raising Kids childcare site at the Medina United Methodist Church.
For the second year, the Honor Guard escorted a casket draped with an American flag to send a powerful message about the meaning of Memorial Day.
Wayne Hale, a member of the Sons of the American Legion, handed out American flags, including one to Gail Miller. The American Legion distributed 1,500 flags before the parade.
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari tossed candy to kids along Main Street and East Center Street.
Jeremy Brandenburg and other members of the Medina Skate Society promoted a June 21 Skate Jam at Butts Park.
Brooklyn Garrow is a member of the Color Guard in the Medina Marching Band.
Maisie Griffin, the drum major, leads the band down Main Street.
Trenton Crews and the band were a patriotic presence in the parade.
These Boy Scouts from Medina carry their banner in the parade.
These youth baseball players shared candy with the crowd.
Aurora Owczarczak (left) plays for the Sharks in Medina’s youth softball league.
These Girl Scouts greet many of the community members lined up on Main Street.
There was a long line of fire trucks in the parade.
These kids were on top of one of the fire trucks. They acknowledge the crowd.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2019 at 3:19 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A wreath was placed on a World War I cannon at State Street Park today when the cannon was rededicated following more than a year of restoration work by Seed Artillery Reproduction and Restoration, in Altoona, Pa.
Since 1935, the B.L. 60 Pounder British field gun has been the centerpiece of not only the World War I memorial in Medina and also village’s annual Memorial Day observances.
The cannon was removed in March 2018 to Seed Artillery Reproduction & Restoration, where it was completely stripped, disassembled, and rebuilt using newly repaired and remanufactured parts.
The display for the cannon now includes three new flagpoles – one for an American Flag, signifying the soldiers of Medina who served and gave their lives in France during the Great War; one for a British flag, signifying the gun’s heritage; and one for a French flag, signifying the theater of service for the big gun and our local soldiers.
A new granite slant was installed, featuring a refurbished bronze plaque that was originally with the monument in 1935. New lighting to up-light both the cannon and flags also has been installed.
Dan Anderson, left, is commander of the VFW and Glenn Whitmore is commander of the American Legion. They place the wreath on the cannon.
The rare and historic artillery piece was manufactured by the Elswick Ordnance Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, in 1916 and saw extensive service on the Western Front during World War I, firing a total of 4,342 rounds in combat action. It weighs six tons and is a 5 inch/127mm caliber gun. There are few left in the world today.
George Bildleman, owner of Orleans Ford, contributed $40,000 to have the cannon restored.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley gives a glance to the refurbished cannon during his remarks today.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley was among the speakers during today’s Memorial Day service and rededication. He also noted this year is the 100th anniversary of the American Legion.
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari also addressed the crowd. He said the community has several memorials for veterans — the historic cannons at Boxwood Cemetery, the tank at Vets Park, the bronze statue and monument outside the former Medina Armory, and Butts Park named for John Butts who was killed in World War I and awarded the Medal of Honor.
The mayor urged the community members, when they are passing by those memorials, to “remember those who fought and died for our freedom to gather and to live in this great nation.”
Sidari thanked Bidleman for the $40,000 donation, and others who contributed to the effort: the Orleans Renaissance Group, the VFW, the American Legion, Village of Medina DPW, Lyons Collision, Automotive Solutions, Orleans Ready Mix Concrete, BarnesMetal Finishing, Brigden Memorials and Anzalone Electric.
Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson thanked veterans and their families for their sacrifice and service. That includes 1.1 million soldiers who have died during wartime in the country’s history, and about 2.8 million who have been wounded.
“These numbers should truly humble us, as they represent people – individuals – who were brothers, husbands, mothers, sisters, friends. These were people woven into the fabric of communities across the nation. They were loved. They were mourned. And they were missed.”
She urged the community to befriend veterans who are their neighbors, to visit veterans in nursing homes, and to volunteer as drivers in the van service that takes vets to medical appointments.
“Working together with friends, neighbors, veteran groups and entire communities, we can ensure that the sacrifices made by our nation’s finest and bravest never go unappreciated and that their memories are never forgotten,” Johnson said.
Jim Steele, director of the Medina Marching Band, directs the group in playing, “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The Rev. Lambert Duncan, pastor of the Glad Tidings Baptist Church in Medina, gives the invocation.
Tom Walders plays Taps while local veterans stand at attention.
MEDINA – Students at Oak Orchard Elementary recently participated in a poster design contest.
The theme was bus safety and students were asked to create something that represents what being safe and making smart choices on the bus means to them.
Medina Central School’s Transportation Department judged to entries and a winner was chosen at each grade level.
Front row, from left: Elizabeth Dresser, Sophie Kroening, Annaliese Lindsey and McKenna Gamet. Back wow: Oak Orchard Principal Julie Webber, Transportation Department representatives Debbie Faltyn and Kim Heschke, and Director of Transportation Rob Dennis.
