Courtesy of Medina Mustang Band, Kathy Dreyfus, Publicity Chairwoman
SYRACUSE – Leaders of the Medina Mustang Band accept the second place award in the Small Schools 1 Division on Sunday during the New York State Field Band Conference Championship at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Medina competed in the 45th annual championship. This was Medina’s 42nd appearance. There were 53 schools in the conference coming from New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. No matter what the scores, all of the bands and their students are winners. Congratulations to the schools that offer and support this art form to the students.
The day started off at 8 a.m. with the Dome breakfast put on by the boosters for the students and their families as a form of pep rally.
In SS1 Medina competed against seven other schools and came in second place with a score of 90.25, bested by Malverne of Long Island with a score of 91.65.
First place scores in the other classes were SS3 – Jordan Elbridge with 75.50; SS2 – Mineola with 85.05; LS3 – Rome Free Academy with 83.25; LS2 – Jamestown with 89.90 and National – Arlington with 95.
Before the group headed to the Carrier Dome, Medina director Jim Steele commented that the best feeling is going on the field, loving and caring for all the people around you. One band, one sound, enjoying the journey together as one, Steel said.
Regardless of placement these kids are great ambassadors for our school and our community. A heartfelt thanks goes out to Superintendent Mark Kruzynski and Mike Cavanagh, the high school principal, for attending the show along with the many parents and fans.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Recovery coaches and advocates for Orleans Recovery Hope are shown at a benefit for the organization Saturday at the VFW in Medina. From left are Stephanie Higgs, Kathy Hodgins, Kim Lockwood, Tiffany Neroni, Mike Schroeder, Don Snyder and Wayne Litchfield.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 October 2018 at 9:09 am
12 have been trained as recovery coaches
Peer recovery coach Keith Greer chats with Tammy Ashton, Kim Lockwood and Tiffany Neroni, board members of Orleans Recovery Hope, during a fundraiser Saturday at the VFW in Medina.
MEDINA – There has always been a missing piece in the treatment of recovering drug addicts, said Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower.
Now, Bower thinks the county has found the answer.
Bower attended a fundraiser Saturday afternoon at the VFW in Medina for Orleans Recovery Hope, a peer organization which grew out of a group founded a year ago to work with recovering addicts.
“Often when an addict leaves the jail bed he goes to a rehab bed, but when he gets out of rehab, too many times he’s right back in the jail bed,” Bower said. “There was always a missing piece. Orleans Recovery Hope is that missing piece.”
Orleans Recovery Hope started with Kim Lockwood and several of her friends who had heard too many times about their friends losing loved ones to drug overdoses.
In 2017, they said, “This has to stop.”
Wayne Litchfield, retired dispatcher for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department; Don Snyder, jail chaplain; and Tami Ashton, who lost her daughter to a drug overdose, had been meeting regularly at Dunkin’ Donuts to discuss what could be done about the opioid crisis in Orleans County. They learned Lockwood and her friends were having the same discussions.
They joined forces, and a year ago, they organized the first meeting of Orleans Hope at the former high school on Catherine Street in Medina. The community and law enforcement turned out in a big way.
Now 12 people have been trained as recovery coaches and the organization renamed Orleans Recovery Hope has become a 501c4.
Saturday’s fundraiser, organized by Lockwood, was to raise money to train more recovery coaches, to create programs to reach and help those fighting drugs, and to end the stigma and get the community talking about what’s going on with the opioid crisis.
“We want to do more community awareness events because people must begin to talk about this,” Lockwood said.
Douglas and Kristine Ames of Medina wear T-shirts with pictures of their daughter Erin, who died at age 32 of a drug overdose. The Ames are raising their two granddaughters, Callie, 4, left, and Keirra, 7. The family poses with a toy box Douglas made and donated for a raffle Saturday at the Medina VFW to benefit Orleans Recovery Hope.
Lockwood had a hard time fighting back tears as she viewed the people in the room wearing pictures on their T-shirts of a loved one lost to drugs, and of the array of baskets donated to support the event.
Two of those parents were Douglas and Kristine Ames of Medina, who lost their daughter Erin, 32, on June 2, 2017. The Ames are raising granddaughters Keirra, 7, and Callie, 4. Douglas made a wooden toy box and donated it for the raffle in memory of Erin.
Bower has been fighting the drug crisis even before he became Sheriff. He praised the efforts of those involved with Orleans Recovery Hope and talked about his program “Sheriff Cares,” which stands for Community Addiction Rehabilitation Education. It is his goal to be able to identify drug users and get them the help they need.
Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower shakes hands with Keith Greer, a peer recovery coach from Rochester.
“As the result of the energy of these guys who picked up the ball and ran with it, you can see how Orleans Recovery Hope is succeeding,” he said.
A special speaker at the afternoon event was Keith Greer, a peer recovery coach in Rochester and half of a team who trains recovery coaches there. He praised the efforts of Orleans Recovery Hope and said organizations like this are the answer to combating drug addiction.
“We can’t wait for government to come and fix the problem,” he said. “It’s not going to happen.”
Peer recovery coaches are relatively new, having only been around in Rochester for three years. It takes someone who has had some form of involvement with drugs – either personally, a friend or loved one – to become a peer coach, Greer said.
“You combine their experience with the passionate skills they already have, and you have created a lane in the middle for people dealing with addiction,” he said.
Greer said their goal is to get recovery coaches into emergency rooms.
“Drug addiction is the only disease where a person can show up with symptoms and be sent home,” he said.
There are multiple paths to recovery and a recovery coach is trained to look for the right path for each person.
Tiffany Neroni acknowledged The Hilltop Restaurant in Lockport for their support of Orleans Recovery Hope.
The Hilltop’s owner Tony Conrad prepared snacks for the event and wants to establish a scholarship for someone in recovery who wants to further their education. He lost a brother-in-law to a drug overdose.
Money raised by Orleans Recovery Hope has also paid for rack cards which Lockwood said they have distributed throughout the county.
“This is how change is going to happen in our community and every community,” Greer concluded.
These individuals who came forward during a fundraiser Saturday at the VFW in Medina for Orleans Recovery Hope are all wearing T-shirts of their loved one lost to a drug overdose. At right is Don Snyder, jail chaplain who is president of the board of Orleans Recovery Hope.
MEDINA – A second-grader in Stacey Ali’s class at Oak Orchard Elementary School led an effort to collect food for homeless people in Buffalo.
“My teacher and I were talking about the homeless and I felt very sad and wanted to give the homeless some food,” said Caliyah Boston, who is pictured front center with her classmates.
Mrs. Ali said the class was talking about cultures and society.
“We talked about how some kids don’t have the luxury to go to school because they have to work to support their families and help to provide for them,” Mrs. Ali said. “We also talked about how some families are homeless, in not only around the world, but in our country too.”
Caliyah talked to her mom and asked her if they would ever end up homeless and what they could do to help. The day after the conversation in class, Caliyah wrote Mrs. Ali a note and began a personal crusade with her mom to go through their attic and pull out clothes that her family was willing to donate.
She then asked her classmates, with Mrs. Ali’s permission, if they would be willing to donate food for the shelter as well. “Her mother wanted her to experience firsthand helping people,” explained Mrs. Ali.
Caliyah and her mom took all the donations and brought them to We R Buffalo Strong along with cards and notes her classmates wrote to give to the people using the services there. They also helped to feed the homeless.
When asked how she felt doing something nice for the people there she said, “It just made my heart open up more.”
Photos courtesy of Kelly Kiebala: The Medina Marching Band performs “Together As One” during today’s state championship at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 October 2018 at 11:28 pm
MEDINA – The Medina Marching Band competed in the state championships today at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, and came in second in the small school 1 class.
The event for the New York State Field Band Conference culminated months of work by the band.
Medina’s score of 90.25 was topped only by the 91.65 for Malverne, a school from Long Island.
Other scores in the small score 1 division include: 89.55 for East Syracuse Minoa (3rd); 87.50 for Central Square, 87.30 for New Hartford, 85.55 for Oswego, 84.50 for Mohonasen and 84.45 for East Irondequoit.
Some of bands join together on the field at the Carrier Dome.
Medina was second at the state championship in 2017 with a score of 92.35. Last year, Malverne was third with 91.70 and East Syracuse Minoa won first with 92.60.
Medina was third in 2016 with a score of 90.00, and second in 2015 with 91.20.
This was the 45th annual championship competition with 53 schools participating today in 6 divisions.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Mustang Band performs for the home crowd during the Fall Festival of Bands at Vets Park on Sept. 22.
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File photo by Tom Rivers: Edgar Rosario had his face painted for the Dia de Los Muertos “Day of the Dead” celebration at Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill in November 2014. Edgar is pictured near murals inside the restaurant near the bar. Thursday’s Day of the Dead in downtown Medina will include opportunities for face painting.
MEDINA – A popular Mexican holiday – Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) – will be celebrated in downtown Medina on Thursday, an effort led by the Mariachi de Oro Restaurant, the Medina Business Association, GO ART! and the New York State Council on the Arts.
The event is a chance to learn about and enjoy the Mexican holiday with activities from 3 to 8 p.m. The festivities will include crafts, face painting and food tastings at businesses on Main Street from 3 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. one block away on West Center Street at the farmer’s market site.
Activities under a big tent will include live mariachi music, more food, dancing, and traditional Mexican arts displays. A full schedule can be found at www.MedinaDoD.com.
“We’re really excited to invite whoever wants to come,” said Leonel Rosario, co-owner of Mariachi. “We’re excited to bring people to Medina.”
Rosario’s restaurant has hosted the event before, but space is limited.
“Now there’s no limit,” he said. “The goal is for more people to enjoy it. We can only fit so many. There are more businesses involved. It’s going to be huge.”
Provided photos from GO Art! – Leonel Rosario, pictured with an ofrenda, will create an altar of food and flowers for Dia de Los Muertos on Thursday in Medina.
The Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration is a time of joyful remembrance of deceased loved ones, filled with an array of colors, scents, sounds and stories. Centered around the Christian observance of All Saints and All Souls Days on November 1 and 2, the celebration includes images and ideas about the roles of ancestors in our lives, that trace back to Mexico’s indigenous peoples.
Traditionally, people believe that this is the one time of the year when souls can return to earth for a day and commune with their families and friends. Families will clean and refresh gravesites of loved ones and spend the night in a candle-lit vigil in the cemetery with the whole community.
Artist Antonio Cruz Zavaleta will create a sand painting under the tent on Thursday. Created out of basic sand and colored pigments, the three-dimensional paintings can often be found in the streets of the Mexican city of Oaxaca alongside public ofrendas. They vary from simple scenes to elaborately shaded and constructed mosaics.
Beautiful altars (ofrendas) in homes welcome the returning souls and feature candles, wild marigolds, incense, photographs, mementos and loved ones’ favorite foods like fruit, tortillas, tamales, chocolate, and bread.
Rosario, who is also the chef at Mariachi de Oro, will create a large ofrenda at the tent festival site, in the style of his hometown in Oaxaca, Mexico. Artist Antonio Cruz Zavaleta will also create a sand painting under the tent, another decorative art found in Oaxaca for the holiday. There will be a community altar available for attendees to decorate and add photos and memories of deceased loved ones.
Mexican celebrations of the holiday often include animated skeletons and colorfully decorated skulls (calaveras), emphasizing life’s continuing vibrancy in the midst of mortality. From 3 to 5:30 p.m. Medina downtown businesses are offering crafts based on Mexican traditional arts such as paper flowers and banners (papel picado), mask making, collages, bracelets, decorating sugar skulls and ceramic skulls, face painting, and temporary tattoos. Attendees will also enjoy food samples like pan de muerto (bread of the dead), cookies, Mexican tea and other culinary specialties.
Festivities under the tent will be capped with live music by the band, Mariachi Zelaya, and traditional food and beverages created by Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grille of Medina. Activities under the tent are free and open to all ages.
Crafts & Tastings on Main Street – 3 to 5:30 p.m.
Activities
Bracelets – Ellen J Goods
Face Painting – Celebrity Day Spa
Flower Collages – Herbalty Cottage
Paper Mask Making – Meggie Moos
Francisco Rosario is pictured with the ofrenda, an altar that was at Mariachi de Oro for Dia de Los Muertos. An ofrenda will be available at the Farmer’s Market on West Center Street for attendees to decorate and add photos and memories of deceased loved ones.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 October 2018 at 8:42 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Bob Hiller, manager of The Medicine Shoppe, wears a pirate costume and his wife, Lee Hiller, is dressed up as a doctor while the hand out candy to children for Beggar’s Night in Medina on Friday. There was a big line of kids and their parents behind the downtown stores while they waiting for the event to start at 5:30 p.m.
Organizers say at least 800 kids were dressed up in costumes for the event.
Amina Baity, 7, of Medina gets candy from a dinosaur at Kathy Bogan’s law office.
Kathy Bogan dressed up as a stormtrooper and her husband Kevin was Darth Vader. Kathy is holding their dog, Daisy, which was Chewbecca from Star Wars.
Many teachers wore costumes and passed out candy at Rotary Park. Lisa Pavlak (mermaid) is an elementary art teacher, Anne Downey (Groucho Marx) is the elementary school nurse and Mark Fitzpatrick is a seventh grade social studies teacher.
Karen Jones, a high school English teacher, passes out candy to one of the kids. She was also promoting the We Read program.
This group from ATB Staffing includes from left: Bonnie Seelbinder, Barb Dunham, Mary Lou Blount and Bob Blount.
Jack Dougherty, 4, of Brockport is joined by his father Jarrod Dougherty at the start of Beggar’s Night. They are chatting with Police Chief Chad Kenward and Kathy Blackburn, who dressed as Snow White.
Bruce Deyarmin of Medina and his son Austin, 2, get in line for the candy processional. Austin wanted to be a firefighter for the event.
Amanda Mank and her daughter Chloe pass out candy at The Fringe, which is owned by Vanessa Lhommedieu, who dressed as a safari guide.
Cindy Robinson, president of the Medina Business Association and owner of the English Rose Tea Shoppe, greets kids on the sidewalk in front of her store.
MEDINA – Addison Carr, 9, of Medina has been selected to perform in Moscow Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” next month at the Historic Palace Theatre in Lockport.
Addison is a fourth grader at Clifford H. Wise Middle School. She has been dancing since she was 3 at the Dancenter in Medina. She was chosen to perform in “The Nutcracker” after auditioning this past spring.
Bright-eyed and full of smiles, Addison was so excited to be selected. Rehearsals started on Sept. 30 with the performance on Nov. 17. She will be playing the part of a snowflake.
“Addison has beautiful stage presence for such a young dancer,” says Stephanie Szklany, owner of the Dancenter. “Her natural ability to perform no doubt caught the eye of the judges.”
Addison is currently taking Pre-Pointe and Jazz classes from Miss Stephanie at the Dancenter.
Addison is the daughter of Jeremy and Kristy Carr.
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker includes world-class Russian artists, hand-painted sets, Russian Snow Maidens, and jubilant Nesting Dolls. The “Dove of Peace Tour” will be in more than 100 cities across North America.
Tickets for the Lockport performance are available at the Palace Theatre Box Office or online at lockportpalacetheatre.org.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Many Medina officials would like to improve access to the Medina Waterfalls near the Erie Canal, just west of the State Street bridge.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2018 at 2:12 pm
MEDINA – The committee working on a waterfront plan for Medina wants to hear from residents and visitors how Medina could turn its waterfront resources into a bigger asset.
The village is fortunate to have the Erie Canal, Glenwood Lake and Oak Orchard River. Medina also has sizable open spaces near the canal, Glenwood Lake and the Oak Orchard.
The Village of Medina has initiated a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program to better utilize the waterfront for economic development, recreation and tourism.
The committee had a public meeting last week to update the community on the program and to get their ideas for waterfront projects.
The group is also doing an online survey for local residents and will have one available for visitors to fill out. (Click here to see the survey for residents).
The surveys also will be printed and available in the downtown.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: The Lois McClure, a replica of a canal boat from the 1800s, pulls up to the Canal Basin in Medina. A planning committee is seeking ideas from the public on how to make the basin more appealing.
The survey asks local residents how long have they lived in Medina, and why do they live in Medina (proximity to family, work, low cost of housing, accessibility to Buffalo or Rochester, other reasons).
Other questions include: How often do you utilize village parks? Which village parks — Butts Park, Gulf Street Park, Lions Park, State Street Park, Canal Port Park or Rotary Park — do you visit most often?
How often do you utilize the Erie Canal Heritage Trail? How often do you access the Erie Canal, Glenwood Lake, and/or Oak Orchard River?
How do you interact with the Glenwood Lake, Oak Orchard River and Erie Canal? — scenic viewing, boating, kayaking or canoeing, fishing, other (please be specific)
Would you like to see additional recreational amenities around the Erie Canal or in village-owned parks? If yes, what would you like to see?
What kind of amenities would you like to see in Medina?
If you could implement one improvement project around the waterfront (that would have the greatest impact) what would it be?
The village received a state grant to cover most of the cost of the project to develop the waterfront program. That plan is expected to be finished in mid-2019, in time for Medina to apply for funding for state grants.
Samantha Herberger, a planner with Bergmann Associates in Rochester, leads a discussion about Medina’s waterfront during a meeting last Wednesday at the Medina Central School district office.
Members of the committee and the public held a public meeting last week to discuss the waterfront, including potential projects and obstacles to bringing them to reality.
Improved public access to the Medina Waterfalls was cited by many as a top priority. Those waterfalls are currently dangerous for the public to access. The waterfalls are visible from the towpath by the canal, but a better vantage point could make the falls a bigger attraction for Medina.
“The Medina Waterfalls isn’t just underutilized, it’s unknown,” said Jim Hancock, the tourism chairman for Medina.
The group at last week’s meeting also said the waterfront plan should include more amenities by the Canal Basin, including more lighting to make the area feel safer in the evening and at night.
Allison Harrington, an urban planner with Sustainable Planning Design, said Medina has a thriving historic commercial district right next to the Erie Canal.
Medina has lots of open land near its waterfront by the canal, the Oak Orchard River and Glenwood Lake, said Allison Harrington, an urban planner with Sustainable Planning Design. She did an inventory of the assets and opportunities by the village’s waterfront property.
She sees the presence of open and 35 acres of parks as assets that could be enhanced to enhance the quality of life for village residents and also draw more visitors and tourists.
“When you look at a community with a declining population, what are some of the things we can do to keep them here?” Harrington asked about 40 people at last week’s meeting.
She said the Medina downtown and some of the other historic sites in the community give Medina “tremendous architectural resources.”
The downtown is clearly cared for by the building owners, and the interpretive panels and historical markers show there is pride in the community for the downtown and Medina’s history, she said.
“You have this real intact fabric of a downtown that is representative of a canal community,” she said.
Harrington also cited a few underutilized spots on Main Street, including the former Starlite Cleaners. Starlite was leveled and that open lot could be an asset to help the business district.
Residents and committee members at the meeting last week said a better developed trail system, linking the waterfront assets should be developed.
Specifically, residents and committee members at the meeting noted projects that would boost Medina could include a brewery in the Canal Basin, a community center in Medina, and more backside facades such as the one at Fitzgibbons Public House that faces the canal.
The planning group said it wants to add the “wow factor” to Medina’s waterfront, which they say is currently missing.
The consultants for the project will reach out to Medina leaders and other stakeholders in interviews to get their ideas about waterfront development and revitalization.
The planning committee wants to identify specific projects in December. It is pushing to have the planning initiative complete by mid-2019 in time to pursue state funding for some of the projects.
Photos courtesy of Medina Fire Department: Don Marchner was honored on Saturday for his 50 years of service to the Medina Fire Department. He was recognized during the Brian Kwiatkowski Ball, put on by the Medina Firefighters & Police Benevolent Associations.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2018 at 12:46 pm
Don Marchner is shown in this undated photo during the early days of his service as a Medina firefighter. He also has been an active firefighter for the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company.
MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department honored a long-time member on Saturday, and also presented awards for firefighters who made life-saving actions in the past year.
Donald Marchner was honored for 50 years of service to the Fire Department. He started as a volunteer callman, and was a career firefighter before becoming a Medina police officer. He has remained an active volunteer for the fire department, responding to about 200 calls a year. He also is active with the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, and responds to about 200 calls for Ridgeway.
Mayor Michael Sidari declared Saturday to be “Donald Marchner Day” in Medina “for recognition of his loyalty and service to the populace of our great village,” according to the proclamation from the mayor.
Marchner was recognized during the Brian Kwiatkowski Ball, put on by the Medina Firefighters & Police Benevolent Associations. About 130 people attended the event at the Sacred Heart Club.
Marchner is a regular every morning at the Medina firehall, joining firefighters for coffee and often on fire and ambulance calls.
Marchner received this ceremonial ax in appreciation for a half century of service.
The Medina Fire Department also presented the following awards on Saturday:
• “Code Save” Award to firefighters Bradley Mahnke, Joseph Simmons, Rich Jenkinson and Mike Young. This crew responded to a cardiac arrest and was able to successfully resuscitate the patient and transport the person to Buffalo General Hospital for further treatment. That patient was discharged home from the hospital with no deficits.
• Meritorious Service Award to firefighters Timothy Miller and Adam Vanderheite for their lifesaving efforts at an off-duty get together. A small child began choking on a soft drink bottle cap and both men attended to the child and successfully removed the airway obstruction by use of the Heimlich maneuver.
• Firefighter Jacob Crooks received the Brian T. Kwiatkowski Award for all the work he does for the Benevolent Association, the Union and the Fire Department as a whole. The Brian T. Kwiatkowski Award isn’t given out every year. It goes to someone “who goes above and beyond for the department to make it better,” said Stephen Miller, the awards chairman.
• Firefighters Stephen Miller and Dan Scanlon received a “Stork” pin for delivering a baby this past year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2018 at 11:23 am
Photos courtesy of Evette Phillips
BUFFALO – Caliyah Boston, 7, of Medina is shown with some of the donated food she brought to Buffalo on Sunday to give to We R Buffalo Strong, an organization led by Medina native Evette Phillips.
For the past five years Phillips has been taking food to homeless people in Buffalo, often bringing grills and cooking meals with them.
Caliyah’s family heard about the organization through social media and wanted to collect food to be be donated to We R Buffalo Strong. Caliyah’s second grade classmates and others at Oak Orchard Elementary School helped with the effort, which resulted in three carloads of food and clothing.
“Caliyah’s classroom also made cards for the homeless which brought some to tears, including me,” Phillips said.
Caliyah Boston is pictured with Evette Phillips, leader of We R Buffalo Strong on Sunday. Caliyah helped to give away the food to homeless people in Buffalo.
Phillips last year was named the “Humble Humanitarian of the Year” by Compass House of WNY, which runs a shelter for homeless children ages 12 to 17.
She typically meets the homeless on the street behind the Buffalo public library.
“I’m just a single mom of four who wants to make a difference in my town,” Phillips said during a phone interview today.
She was impressed by Caliyah’s good heart and motivation to help the homeless. Phillips didn’t realize the Medina connection until Caliyah showed up Sunday wearing a Medina Mustang sweatshirt.
Caliyah Boston shows her Mustang pride while unpacking a trunk full of food and clothing on Sunday
“For someone to be all the way from Medina to come to Buffalo that really resonated with me,” Phillips said. “I’m from Medina. It’s so small and everybody knows everyone.”
Phillips said she doesn’t just hand out food. Sometimes there are tail-gate parties, cookouts and TV’s hooked up to watch the Bills games together.
“It started off as just trying to make a difference in the community and it really took off,” she said. “It’s just giving the people a sense of normalcy and love without judgement.”
Caliyah made donation boxes for food and clothing, which she took to Buffalo on Sunday.
