Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jonathan Incho of Medina, a member of Medina’s Masonic Lodge, pours coffee for Pete Lockner of Batavia during a Lenten fish fry last year at the Cataract Masonic Lodge in Middleport. The fish fries will again be served this year from 4:30 to 7 p.m. every Friday at the Lodge, 20 Main St.

With the arrival of Lent comes another tradition – Friday night fish fries served by several non-profits in the area.

The Millville/Knowlesville United Methodist churches and Medina United Methodist Church each put their own spin on the weekly dinners, which not only serve the community, but help put money in their coffers.

One of the longest running organizations to continue the tradition is Middleport’s Cataract Lodge No. 295 Free and Accepted Masons.

After Medina’s Masonic Lodge sold its building, its members now meet in Middleport, with plans to merge with the Middleport Lodge.

As is customary for “brothers” in the lodge, Medina Masons have long supported the Cataract Lodge by attending the weekly fish fries, and many, such as Jonathan Incho, Frank Berger and Scott Mason of Medina regularly help out with the meals.

It was 40 years ago when Leonard Shepard and F. Fred Johnson, now both deceased, organized the first fish fries as a fundraiser during the Lenten season, according to Herb Koenig of Middleport.

Robert Rook made the first custom-built stainless steel cooker to fit the stove.

The menu has not changed much since 1979, Koenig said.

Deep-fried haddock is still the most popular fish, however, shrimp and chicken have been well received.

Marge Perry’s potato salad is a side dish which people rave about. Other choices include French fries, macaroni salad and coleslaw.

For many years orange blossom ice cream was the perfect ending to the meal, but in recent years that has been replaced with a variety of homemade desserts and donuts.

The dinners are truly a community event, with volunteers from Boy Scout Troop 23 and members of the Roy-Hart National Honor Society having assisted as waitresses, waiters and table setters, much to the delight of diners.

The venue has also provided a place for Girl Scouts to sell their cookies.

Serving will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. every Friday during Lent at the Lodge located at 20 Main St.

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MEDINA – The Medina Board of Education on Tuesday was unanimous in approving intermunicipal agreements with Lyndonville to continue shared sports, as well as the musical program.

“It’s been seamless between Medina and Lyndonville students,” said David Sevenski, president of the Medina BOE. “It’s been a natural fit. It’s opened up more opportunities for kids.”

Lyndonville’s Board of Education also approved the eight agreements last week. There was some debate at Lyndonville over the shared boys varsity soccer team. Some Lyndonville community members and two board members wanted Lyndonville and Medina to go back to having their own varsity boys’ soccer teams. Both communities have about 20 boys interested in playing varsity soccer next fall, more than enough for their own teams.

However, both school boards decided to keep the shared team and avoid “uncertainty from year to year,” Sevenski said.

The numbers for both schools might not be there long-term for each district to support their own varsity boys soccer team, he said.

Lyndonville and Medina both have now approved four-year agreements for eight shared programs. Lyndonville hosts the boys volleyball, girls varsity soccer and the musical program. Medina hosts a boys varsity soccer, varsity football, cross country, the marching band and swimming.

The districts don’t bill each other for students who participate in the programs. That differs with Medina’s agreement with Barker, where that district pays Medina for each Barker student on the Mustang football team.

The 4-year agreements are longer than the one- to two-year agreements that were in place since the district first started sharing programs about six years ago.

Sevenski said the agreements are often hotly debated each year and can “burn up a lot of time.” He said the longer time period allows the districts, students and parents to have set expectations for the programs in the next few years.

Even with the longer agreements, Sevenski said school administrators from both districts will continue to discuss the agreements on a frequent basis.

“We talk about it ad nauseum, looking at all of the different angles and how it is affecting everyone,” Sevenski said.

The agreements also allow volunteers from both districts to participate in the programs, assisting coaches and program leaders.

Both Medina and Lyndonville face declining student enrollments. The shared programs have allowed the districts to offer strong programs, Sevenski said.

Some Lyndonville board members last week said Medina wanted “all or nothing” with the agreements, that Lyndonville needed to do a shared boys soccer team or risk the other merged teams and programs.

Sevenski said Medina didn’t put that pressure on Lyndonville.

“There was no edict from Medina that it had to be all or nothing,” he said. “We went to great lengths to not twist anybody’s arm.”

The two districts are open to expanding their partnership to other programs. Sevenski said they are discussing a shared part-time grant writer for next school year.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Lee -Whedon Memorial Library was a popular place Friday night for a concert by Paul Zittel & Pure Country, a band from Collins. There were more than 200 people at the concert, which is part of the library’s “Finally Fridays” series.

Lee-Whedon hosts concerts on Fridays at 7 p.m. for 10 weeks. Paul Zittel & Pure Country was the eighth concert in the series. Crash Cadillac performs on March 1, with Ron and Nancy One Song concluding the series on March 8.

Claudette and Lynn Creasey of Medina were among the couples who enjoyed dancing during the concert.

Paul Zittel is lead singer for the band, which performed for the first time in Medina on Friday. The band has opened for some of country music’s biggest stars when they have performed in WNY, including Brad Paisley, George Jones, Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Daniels and Aaron Tippin. 

Friday’s crowd was one of the biggest for the concert series this year. Catherine Cooper, the library director, said country music is popular with library patrons. People also were more willing to venture out Friday evening because it wasn’t snowing with bitter cold.

Lee-Whedon has been hosting the Finally Fridays concert series for 18 years. The concerts are free, and made possible with funding from the Friends of the Library and state funds administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

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Photos courtesy of the Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition

MEDINA – The Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition once again held a Free Family Roller Skating event on Thursday afternoon at the Orleans County YMCA in Medina. There were 267 youth and parents in attendance.

We had 12 lucky winners of gift certificates donated by local Medina businesses. Youth who brought in non-perishable food items were entered to win a gift certificate donated by local Medina businesses including Brushstrokes Studios, Avanti Pizza, Marks Pizzeria, Cusimano’s, Case-Nic Cookies, Della’s Chocolates and The Book Shoppe.

A record breaking 326 non-perishable food items were collected and distributed to the two food pantries in Medina.

Wendy Scharlau from Cornell Cooperative Extension provided a treasure chest game with prizes for youth to win. Alex Feig, a member of the Medina Skate Society, provided a table to share information about the anticipated Medina Skate Park. For more information check out Facebook Medina Skate Society.

“We always have a good turnout for this event and are overwhelmed by the continued support from the community,” said Pat Crowley, project director for the coalition. “This event would not be possible without volunteers and the continued support from Medina Area Association of Churches and the Orleans YMCA.”

Prize winners include Alex Stanton, Lexi Brazzell, Ianah Drisdom, William Tagg, Iyla Lilleby, Olivia Bessel, Keira Sidari, Natalie Russo, Lucas Jones, Ariel Avery, Trey Kinne and Elijah Doxey.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Riki Lake models a wedding gown during today’s Blissett’s Specialty Shop Wedding & Prom Showcase at the Medina United Church, which uses the former Apple Grove Inn for its church. The circular arch and barrels were provided by The Wed Shed of Lyndonville, one of the vendors at the show.

The church sanctuary was turned into a venue for a fashion show, featuring wedding gowns, and prom and bridesmaid dresses, as well as tuxedos. The two young men in tuxedos are Ricky Pitts, left, and William Braswell. They wore tuxedos provided Daniel’s Men’s Apparel in downtown Medina.

Sarah Martin models one of the wedding dresses.

The Apple Grove used to host a bridal show. Today’s event was believed to be the first bridal show in Medina in 15 years.

Jaye Sullivan, owner of Blissett’s, teamed with Larry Eastlack, pastor of the church, to put on today’s event, which included several other volunteers. They all wanted to showcase the many businesses in the Medina area that provide services for weddings and other special occasions.

Jaye Sullivan puts a corsage on Nate Sherman, one of the models for tuxedos during today’s fashion show.

Michelle Lewis was one of the models during today’s hour-long fashion show featuring dresses and gowns from Blissett’s.

Lindsay Fulwell models one of the gowns that could be wore for a prom or as a bridesmaid’s dress.

Owen Toale served as emcee for the fashion show, which was attended by about 100 people in the church sanctuary.

Darian Kinney walks down the center aisle to model a wedding dress.

Kelsey Evoy gets help with her dress while heading down the steps during the fashion show.

Hannah Willard models a dress that could be wore for a special occasion.

Susan Fuller, owner of Della’s Chocolates in Medina, was among the vendors at the show.

Larry Eastlack, pastor of the United Methodist Church, and Robin Wehling, a member of the church, announce a raffle winner during the first hour of the bridal and prom show today.

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Photo and information courtesy of Medina Mustang Band: The Medina JV Winter Guard is shown competing Saturday at East Syracuse-Minoa.

Medina’s Junior Varsity & Varsity Winter Guard traveled to East Syracuse-Minoa on Saturday to compete in a show sponsored by the Mid-York Colorguard Circuit.

There are two major organizations in the state that sponsor winter guards. They are the North East Color Guard Circuit & the Mid-York circuit. From their names one can see there is a geographical divide, but overall the basic requirements and judging criteria are the same.

Guards connected to a particular circuit can perform in the other one as well. Each guard has 8 minutes to get their floor and props set up, perform their show and then pick up their equipment and exit the floor.

Medina’s JV guard competed in Scholastic RA and came in 5th with a score of 62.16 out of seven guards in this class. First place went to a guard from Homer with a score of 71.25.

The Varsity guard competed in the Scholastic A2 class and came in 3rd with a score of 66.56 out of four guards in this group. First place went to the Northstars with a score of 69.35. Scholastic A consists of nine guards and they were divided into three groups based on their skill levels.

Medina’s next competition is March 2 at Lancaster followed by the home show on March 9.

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RIDGEWAY – The Medina Theatre on Main Street in Medina is collecting clothes and household items for a Ridgeway family that lost all their belongings in a house fire on Monday.

Larry and Corina Sword and their two teen-age daughters moved into an apartment on Friday. They could use household goods, furniture, bed linens, dishes and clothing.

Those items could be dropped off at Medina Theatre, 603 Main St. People are welcome to drop off gift cards as well.

Amy Herman, the theatre manager, welcomes phone calls or text messages so she can assure people she is at the theatre or to give sizes for the clothes. Call her at 585-205-3760 for more information.

“A community only feels love when we all come together,” Herman said in a Facebook post. “Let’s show this family that the community that they live in and love is willing to give back and help in their time of need.”

Herman also is looking for someone with a truck to help deliver any larger items.

The Swords lived at 3358 Bates Rd. Their house has been declared a total loss.

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Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – West Center Street (Route 31) in Medina is littered with potholes. The freeze and thaw cycle is wreaking havoc on the pavement.

I think the stretch of Route 31 in the village of Medina may be the most pothole-plagued in the county.

It’s been too cold for highway crews to get out and effectively patch the potholes.

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MEDINA – The Village of Medina will be getting $55,000 from the Orleans Economic Development Agency to build a new pedestrian bridge over Oak Orchard Creek on Maple Ridge Road.

The EDA’s board of directors approved the allocation on Friday. The money comes from a revolving loan fund that needs to be phased out.

Medina also will use $130,000 from the Town of Shelby for the bridge. That $130,000 also is from the revolving loan fund through the EDA.

The state is making the economic development agencies around the state close out the funds. The remaining funds can stay local if there is a project identified by March 31. The projects need to serve low-to-moderate income residents, or improve handicapped accessibility at a public space.

If a project isn’t identified that meets the state criteria, the funds need to be sent back to Albany.

The section of Maple Ridge by the creek has become busier with a housing development, several new businesses and also the GCC campus center. There are also about 200 available acres in the area being promoted for development by the EDA.

The pedestrian bridge and sidewalks on Maple Ridge have been sought by the village for several years but Medina didn’t receive grants for the project.

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