Greg Stanton, left, and Tony Vicknair served as Honor Guard for ceremonies Sunday throughout Medina to honor veterans.

MEDINA – Members of the American Legion and VFW in Medina know they have a service to perform each Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

That is to conduct a proper ceremony paying tribute to veterans living and deceased from the local area.

On Memorial Day, the veterans travel to cemeteries around Medina, placing flags on all veterans’ graves.

Each Veterans Day, however, they concentrate on ceremonies at each of the veterans’ memorials throughout the village.

This Veterans Day began with breakfast at the VFW for all participants, then loading up their rifles to begin their duties.

First stop was the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in front of the American Legion Post on North Main Street. With Jim Freas standing at attention, Dave Kusmierczak read a prayer. Then followed a gun salute and playing of Taps by Earl Schmidt, director of Orleans County Veterans’ Service Agency.

That ceremony was repeated at the Company F Memorial in front of the YMCA, the Korean Memorial on Park Avenue, the memorial tank in front of Oak Orchard School and the Butts-Clark Monument in Butt’s Park on South Main Street.

Another ceremony was performed for residents of Orchard Manor Nursing Home, and a final one at the VFW.

Participating veterans were Jim Freas, Dave Kusmierczak, Steve Johnson, Glenn Whitmore, Tony Vicknair, Fred Heschke, Bill Koneski, Dan Anderson, Steve Earl, Frank Berger, Dave Morien and Greg Stanton.

Veterans from the VFW and American Legion in Medina prepare to conduct a service Sunday morning at the memorial tank in front of Oak Orchard School.

At left, Dave Kusmierczak and Jim Freas salute in front of the Company F Memorial at the YMCA, while Earl Schmidt plays Taps. Greg Stanton and Tony Vicknair are the Honor Guard.

Veterans from the VFW and American Legion in Medina celebrated Veterans Day by conducting services at all the veterans’ memorials in Medina, as well as Orchard Manor Nursing Home. Here they are lined up in front of the American Legion for a prayer, gun salute and playing of Taps.

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MEDINA – For a first-time event, co-organizers Jen Thom and Sarah Levandowski-Surdel are pretty happy about the success of the Veterans’ Day 5K they planned.

Jenn Thom, whose husband Doug is a veteran, is also founder of Operation Honor, which sponsored the race with proceeds going to the Warrior House on Salt Works Road.

Thom said she and her husband have lost friends who are veterans and know there could be more assistance for veterans in Orleans County.

Earl Schmidt, director of the Orleans County Veteran’s Service Council, stands with Sarah Levandowski-Surdel and Jenn Thom, co-organizers of the first Veterans’ Day 5K run, prior to the start of the race on Sunday morning. The event was sponsored by Operation Honor, a 501 3c organization founded by Thom to raise money to help local veterans.

Orleans County Joint Veterans Agency director Earl Schmidt said his office does a good job in dealing with local, state and federal veterans’ benefits, but things like donating to the Warrior House or helping a vet with a utility bill is something they can’t do.

Corinne Hill of Medina, a student at Medina High School, was the first female to cross the finish line in Medina’s first Veterans’ Day 5K race.

“The more services we can provide for veterans, the better,” Schmidt said. “Jenn is doing something that’s never been done in Orleans County before.”

When all the receipts were tallied, Thom reported they had raised $2,500 for the Warrior House. In addition, $500 in Carhartt gift cards, which were donated by the New York State Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association, were given to the Warrior House for veterans to buy outdoor goods.

The Warrior House’s owner Pete Zeliff Jr. wants to donate a vehicle to a veteran in need and is looking for referrals of deserving veterans.

Anyone who knows of a veteran who needs a vehicle and can’t afford one can call (585) 590-0278 or log on to the Warrior House’s website at www.warriorhouseofwny.com.

Thom said 51 runners and walkers participated in Sunday’s race and she is ecstatic at the turnout and the money they raised.

The first male to cross the finish line was Jay Heideman, 14, a ninth-grader at Royalton-Hartland School, with a time of 21:23.

The first female was Corinne Hill of Medina with a time of 25:07.

Both teens are members of the cross country teams at their schools.

Christian Held of Middleport decided to run the race in observance of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. The cross country coach at Medina High School, Held said the war ended in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Thom already knows who next year’s race will benefit. She has promised profits will go to the Orleans Joint Veterans’ Agency’s van service, which provides free transportation to veterans for medical appointments.

Jay Heideman, 14, held off a challenge by Rich Hartway to win the first Veterans’ Day 5K race sponsored by Operation Honor to support veterans. Jay crossed the finish line in 21 minutes and 23 seconds.

Jenn Thom, left, and Sarah-Levandowski-Surdel, right, present American flags to the winners of the first Veterans’ Day 5K race Sunday at Junior Wilson’s Sportsmen’s Club. Jay Heideman from Roy-Hart was the first male to cross the finish line and Corinne Hill of Medina was female winner.

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Aaron MacKenzie loads a red barrel in an ambulance Monday for delivery to a local church, where it can be filled with gifts and toys for MAAC’s Christmas Box program.

MEDINA – Monday was a “Red Barrel” day for the Medina area.

It was the day Medina firefighters delivered 30 MAAC Christmas barrels to select locations throughout Medina and Knowlesville.

The MAAC Red Barrels are a familiar site each Christmas season in local churches and the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

For dozens of families, the barrels mean they will have a Merry Christmas.

The barrels will remain in the community, where they can be filled with non-perishable food items, hats, mittens, scarves, socks, stuffed animals, toys, books, games and puzzles.

On Dec. 10, firefighters will collect the barrels and return them to the First United Methodist Church (the former Apple Grove location), where volunteers will sort the donations and pack Christmas boxes for the families who have applied for holiday assistance.

Firefighters who helped deliver barrels Monday were Captain Matt Jackson, Tim Miller, Adam Fisher, Jacob Crooks, Joe Simmons and Aaron MacKenzie.

Several of the firefighters, like Crooks who has been with the department since 2009, had helped before, but for MacKenzie, this was his first time.

“This looks like a very good program,” he said.

Families may apply for holiday assistance from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 8 and 15 and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 13 and 20 at Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God, 324 Catherine St.; or from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 13 and 20 and 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 6, 13 and 20 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 1355 West Ave.

Applicants must bring proof of household (birth certificates, Social Security cards or benefit cards); proof of residence (water, electric, phone or gas bills); and proof of income (Social Services award letter, SSD or SSI award letters or WIC card/pay stubs).

Food boxes and gifts will be delivered between 9 a.m. and noon on Dec. 15.

Sue Metzo with Medina Area Association of Churches stands by the dozens of red Christmas barrels which were delivered to local churches on Monday by members of the Medina Fire Department. Barrels will be filled with toys and gifts for children and picked up and returned to the First United Methodist Church of Medina on Dec. 10.

Sue Metzo, who volunteers with MAAC, said they are seeing more and more working people who just aren’t earning enough to live on.

Last year, 112 families (163 children) received holiday assistance, as well as 43 senior citizens.

Not only do children receive age-appropriate gifts and clothing, but families receive food for Christmas dinner.

“Our biggest concern is while we receive many toys for small children, we receive almost nothing appropriate for teens,” Metzo said.

The MAAC Christmas program serves children up to age 18.

Metzo also stressed for people who make cash donations to take note of MAAC’s new address, which is 536 Orient St., Medina, 14103.

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MEDINA – For more than two decades, the community has thrown its support behind a signature fundraiser to benefit Medina Memorial Hospital’s (now Orleans Community Health’s) Foundation.

Saturday was no exception, when the 25th anniversary of Treasure Island was celebrated in style.

After having the event in different venues over the years, the Foundation decided to bring it back to Medina for the 25th anniversary, and held it at Sacred Heart Club.

Kathy Vicknair points out one of the high-profile items donated for Treasure Island’s silent auction Saturday night – an autographed picture of Thurman Thomas in his heyday with the Buffalo Bills. Seated is her husband, Vick Vicknair, who ran the sound system for the event.

“The event was incredibly successful,” said Angela DiRosa, director of the Foundation. “There were many comments that it was one of the best they’ve attended in several years.”

Hundreds of items were donated from jewelry and gift certificates to trips and special services. There were works of art, bottles of wine and lottery tickets, all part of a silent auction.

But a live auction also livened the evening, with such items as a premier parking spot at Medina Memorial Hospital, valued as “priceless.”

Also touted as priceless was a day at the fire station, donated by Medina Fire Department. The winner gets to tour the station, have lunch with the firemen, and on Nov. 24, ride on a fire truck in the 10th annual Parade of Lights.

Another one-of-a-kind prize was an autographed photograph of Thurman Thomas from his heyday with the Bills during the team’s unprecedented streak of four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s. David Cook of Lyndonville donated the photograph, which he obtained while in the locker room with an on-field pass.

DiRosa said she is always amazed at how giving the community is. She anticipates this year’s event to match the recent Treasure Island fundraisers.

“The event is on track to be as successful as previous years, which typically raise more than $30,000,” she said.

Money from Saturday’s event will supplement grants and aid the hospital with upgrades and improvements, she said.

Winners of the cash raffle during the evening were Eli Howard and Randal Sanderson, each $250; and Halli McPherson, the grand prize of $500.

DiRosa issued a thanks to major sponsors, who included Lawley, Talis Equity, Baxter Healthcare, Ridge Animal Hospital, TakeForm, Roland Howell, Jr. Wilson’s Sportsmen’s Club, Lyndonville Lions Club, MS&L/Generations Bank, Orleans Community Health Medical Staff, Radiology Solutions Associates and Western New York Energy.

Cindy Incho of Medina, rear, and Tish McAdoo of Lyndonville make their bids in the silent auction at the 25th annual Treasure Island Saturday at Sacred Heart Club. The event, which benefits Orleans Community Health, attracted supporters who bid on hundreds of items and took chances to win dozens of other prizes through various raffles.

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Sherry Tuohey, who has started an annual Hall of Wreaths at the Senior Center in Medina, shows off several of the creative ones she made for this year’s event.

MEDINA – Christmas is already in the air at the Senior Center of Western Orleans, where rows of holiday wreaths are on display for the annual Hall of Wreaths.

The Hall of Wreaths is an idea started last year by Sherry Tuohey, when the Center was trying to come up with a way to participate in Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas.

The annual Christmas celebration takes place in downtown Medina the Saturday after Thanksgiving and features a parade and arrival of Santa Claus at noon and special events and sales throughout the stores, capped off by fireworks and the spectacular Parade of Lights at 6 p.m.

The Senior Center, which is barely a stone’s throw from Main Street, wanted to get involved.

Tuohey suggested the Hall of Wreaths and it was an immediate success. Dozens of wreaths were donated and sold to the highest bidder on the day of Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas.

This year, Tuohey scheduled two wreath-making classes at the Senior Center, which resulted in several dozen unique creations, including bulb wreaths, a half-moon Santa and a Micky Mouse wreath.

Anyone may donate a wreath or make a bid to buy one. The Center is open from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Tuesdays, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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