MEDINA – New York Lottery is reporting that a winning $8,393 Take 5 ticket for the Saturday evening drawing was sold at the Walgreens in Medina. The winning numbers were 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29.
It was one of four tickets for the grand prize. Other tickets were sold at an Amoco in Yonkers (Westchester County) , a Conger’s Little Food Market in Congers (Rockland County), and a 7-Eleven in Miller Place (Suffolk County).
Photo contributed: Nicole Tuohey stands next to a pile of elephant’s links, which she makes and sells in Hans’s Baker to benefit Alzheimer’s research. The links are sold for $1 and come with an elephant cookie. She strings them down Main Street the night before the Alzheimer’s Walk, which is Oct. 10.
MEDINA – Alzheimer’s disease has been a big part of Mary Lou Tuohey’s life for more than a decade – dealing with it, dreading it, fundraising for research for it and promoting awareness of it.
On Oct. 10, the annual Walk to end Alzheimer’s will take place in State Street Park, with registration at 9 a.m. The walk will start at 10 a.m. A basket raffle is currently on display in the window at Hans’s Bakery. The drawing will take place after the last walker finishes.
One thing Mary Lou has been adamant about over the years is instilling in daughter Nicole the impact the disease has had on their lives and the need to support efforts to combat it.
That is why Nicole every year has sold “elephant links,” which she fastens together and stretches down Main Street. Her goal every year is to sell enough to stretch them down the block of downtown Medina.
Nicole started making the links when her mom owned Case-Nic Cookies and she sold them for $1 in the store. They also come with an elephant cutout sugar cookie, formerly made by Mary Lou, and now by Hans Rosentreter, who purchased the store and runs Hans’s Bakery there.
The elephant signifies memory (an elephant is said to never forget) and memory is what Alzheimer’s destroys.
Along with the links, Mary Lou started a basket raffle, with items displayed in her store window, and now in Hans’s window.
Tickets for the raffle are currently on sale at the bakery, with a unique system Mary Lou developed where supporters can buy their tickets even when the store is closed. A bucket outside the door is filled with envelopes in which there is a sheet listing all the baskets, which are displayed in Hans’s window. Customers put in their money ($10 per sheet) in the envelope, mark how many tickets they want in their chosen baskets, and drop the envelope in the mail slot in the door.
Every year, Mary Lou shares a story of her family’s history of Alzheimer’s and how it has affected Nicole.
Nicole’s grandma and grandpa both died of Alzheimer’s.
“For a total of 27 years, my mom watched her mom and dad fade away,” Nicole’s message reads. “She saw her dad, who was an engineer for Harrison Radiator for 30 years, owned his own business, loved to fish, fix cars and golf, and took care of his family, become a man who forgot who he was, wore diapers and only said, ‘What’s on the agenda?’ He ended up in a nursing home when Grandma could no longer take care of him.”
A few years later, Nicole’s Grandma Bradley became increasingly forgetful, got lost when driving and couldn’t take care of herself any more. She, too, had to go in a nursing home, where Mary Lou took Nicole to visit.
“Gramma didn’t know who I was,” Nicole shares. “She spoke ‘gibberish’ and the only thing Gramma did was cuddle the doll, Andrew, that her four children got for her. She loved Andrew, but didn’t know who her four children or seven grandchildren were. Mom cried every time we left.”
Nicole tells her story because she worries and wonders if her mom will get Alzheimer’s disease.
“If she does, what will happen to me,” Nicole asks. “ I love her and need her.. I don’t want her to fade away from life like Gramma and Grampa Bradley did. I don’t want her to not know who I am.”
That is why Nicole sells her elephant’s links for Alzheimer’s, and stretches them down Main Street the night before the Alzheimer’s Walk. All the money raised goes directly to Alzheimer’s for research to help find the “link” to Alzheimer’s.
“I pray my mom does not have to suffer through this horrifying disease,” Nicole wrote in her message.
File photo by Tom Rivers: People step inside the Mount Albion Cemetery chapel as part of a tour of the cemetery on Aug. 30. The chapel is getting a $225,000 restoration. The Medina Sandstone Society is helping to pay for a new floor for the building that was constructed in 1875.
Press Release, Medina Sandstone Trust
MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Trust is accepting grant applications for programs that benefit the Village of Medina, Town of Ridgeway, and Town of Shelby communities.
Applicants must be a 501c3 nonprofit, municipality, or school district residing or working within Orleans County.
Consideration will also be given to projects within the entire Orleans County area that focus on the preservation of historical structures, especially those constructed from Medina Sandstone. Grant requests generally range from $500 to $1,000, but larger requests will be considered for preservation projects.
Grant application forms can be obtained electronically by clicking here. Please contact us at sandstonesociety@gmail.com to request a physical copy.
Completed applications are due by Nov. 7. They should be mailed to:
Medina Sandstone Trust
PO Box 25
Medina, NY 14103
or emailed to sandstonesociety@gmail.com.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Staff at Medina’s Downtown Browsery have announced a grand opening Oct. 9, 10 and 11 to celebrate the store’s expansion. Pictured are David Sevenski, vendor and board president; Ruth Higgins, vendor and volunteer; and Erik Sinkora, vendor and store manager.
MEDINA – Taking a quote from Mary Poppins, “When one door closes, another door opens.”
Such is the case in Medina, where the closing of one store on Main Street has provided the opportunity for another to expand.
The Downtown Browsery at 413 Main St., of which Erik Sinkora is manager, has expanded its store into one next door which was recently vacated. They will celebrate a grand opening on Oct. 9 with a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. Cookies and punch will be available and a coupon promotion will take place all week.
“We currently have three store fronts in Albion, and now have two here,” Sinkora said. “Our new space gives us room for 10 more booths and seven more shelving units.”
He said they have a waiting list for vendors in both stores. Currently there are more than 75 vendors in Albion and Medina. To become a vendor, one must also commit to volunteering a minimum of 10 hours a month in the store. Sinkora not only manages the store, he is also a vendor. He sells items made from alpaca items which comes from the alpaca he and his wife raise at Lake Shore Alpaca.
Sevenski has a booth selling Pyrex and vintage kitchen furnishings.
A day this week found Ruth Higgins volunteering. In her booth she sells Barbie items, kitchen boas, aprons and playing cards.
Other items to be found in the store are beer coaster clocks, steampunk lamps, quill greeting cards to benefit a mission for girls at risk, herbs, incense, pottery, comic books, cameo brooches, local honey and jams, spaghetti sauce from Albanese and maple products – just to name a few.
The Downtown Browsery opened in Albion in 2004 and utilizes three store fronts previously occupied by Landauer’s on North Main St. The Medina store opened in 2019 and continues to grow.
Information online reveals that consignment shops are surging in popularity among all age groups, due to economic inflation and rising costs. One site states, “With high household expenses, consumers turn to resale and consignment shops to find clothing, accessories and home goods at a fraction of traditional retail prices.”
They are also an unexpensive way for home crafters or small businesses to sell their wares. The Browsery charges by the square footage of a booth, and booths are available in all sizes. A shelf can be rented for less money.
Board president David Sevenski has filled this space at The Downtown Browsery in Medina with a collection of Pyrex and items found in a retro kitchen.
Sinkora said a lot of merchandise changes with the seasons, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
A recent day found sisters-in-law Emma Weeks and Angel Hoy browsing the store with Emma’s mother.
“We come her quite often and always go home with something,” Weeks said.
The store is open seven days a week from Thanksgiving to Christmas, and from Tuesday to Saturday after that. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Four friends enjoyed camaraderie and sampled ale at The Vintage Cigar on Medina’s Main Street during Ale in Autumn on Saturday. From left are Marie Bell of Akron, Jeannette and Don Geberling of Cheektowaga, and at rear is Marie’s husband Bob Arnold.
MEDINA – Saturday’s Ale in Autumn was about the most perfect day organizers could have hoped for. The day brought beautiful fall weather and a nearly sold-out event, according to Ann Fisher-Bale, coordinator for Medina Area Partnership, sponsor and organizer of the event that brought nearly 600 to the downtown to sample beer.
Tickets were sold for three different start times to participants who checked in at the Medina Senior Center. There, they were first ID’d by Pattrick Weissend and then had their tickets checked by Wendy Wilson and Bale, before getting a wristband from Sarah Fisher or Anne Joynt.
Pat Weissend (in blue Bills shirt) IDs for ticket holders checking in at the Medina Senior Center for Ale in Autumn on Saturday.
After picking up their souvenir glass and a goodie bag filled with snacks, pen, coupons and other items, participants proceeded to the back of the room to buy tickets on baskets which were available at each participating business. Ticket holders were also eligible to win a grand prize basket valued at $500.
John and Melissa Gorham have attended every Ale in Autumn, they said.
“It’s a chance to try different beers, and the snacks are usually very good,” John said.
Wendy Wilson checks tickets for Melissa Bunbrock of Gasport at the Senior Center on Saturday. Behind Wilson is Anne Joynt, Medina native who is running for New York State Supreme Court and volunteered to help. At Wilson’s left is Ann Fisher-Bale, event coordinator for Medina Area Partnership, which sponsors the event.
For Barb Gorham, it is a way to get out and about before the snow comes.
“And you always run into friends you haven’t seen for a while,” she said.
Melissa Bunbrock of Gasport said she has attended the event every year.
“It’s a great way to get together with friends and support local businesses,” she said.
A new business, Katie’s Dipped Delights, was being promoted by Katie’s husband Brian Wiesinger in front of the English Rose Tea Shoppe. Seated at left is Brian’s mom Carole. Katie makes four kinds of gourmet apples, using Honeycrisp they buy from Roberts’, Brian said.
At The Vintage Cigar, Joe Meyer and owner Jim Robinson poured ale for a steady stream of participants.
Robinson, whose wife Cindy runs the English Rose Tea Shoppe, said they participate in Ale and Autumn every year, at one store or the other.
“The weather is always good and people come in who didn’t know there was a cigar store in town,” Robinson said.
One group of friends sipping their ale in the store was Bob Arnold and his wife Marie Bell of Akron with Don and Jeannette Heberling of Cheektowaga.
“We’ve been coming to this event for years,” Don said. “We’ve come to every one.”
Jeannette said it was a great community building event.
“The shops change and it’s good to see the different shops and what they sell,” Don said.
Entertaining near Main Street TV and Appliances on Saturday were Kathy Vandemortel of Point Breeze and Laurence Sugarman of Pittsford. Vandemoreal plays fiddle, while Sugarman plays banjo.
Gabriella Albanese of Albion has also attended Ale in Autumn every year.
“I’m not a beer drinker, but my sister and a friend love the opportunity to go together and visit all the stores,” Albanese said.
Local musician Rob Robinson for the last several years has arranged to have buskers on the street entertaining during Ale in Autumn. It is an age-old tradition for musicians to perform on a street corner for money. Saturday’s buskers included “The Last Call” singer (named Skinny) and his band who performed in front of Main Street TV and Appliance.
“We have been nearly every year,” said Skinny, who was born in Medina.
“I love coming here,” he said. “I love Medina.”
Just down the street Kathy Vandemortel of Point Breeze and Laurence Sugarman of Pittsford were entertaining – she on fiddle and he on banjo. Vandemortel has taken part in Ale in Autumn for three years, but this is Sugarman’s first appearance.
Winner of the Grand Prize worth $500 was Melissa Streiff.
Saturday’s buskers included “The Last Call” singer (named Skinny) and his band that performed in front of Main Street TV and Appliance. Standing in the center is Rob Robinson of Medina, also a musician, whose idea it was to have buskers.
Photos by Tom Rivers: This group poses for a fun photo at Alexandra Peracciny Photography, 426 Main St., which was also one of the pouring stations for the Ale in Autumn.
Dave Sevenski, right, pours a sample of an IPA from the Hamburg Brewery for Christopher Hare of Medina. They are at the Downtown Browsery. Hare was happy to be out and seeing so many people.
“It’s better than sitting home and watching college football,” he said.
Lezly Rosario, bartender for Mile 303 Cantina, serves Bells amber ale. The Mile 303 Cantina is run by Gali Rosario and Leonel Rosario Jr.
Daniel Sprague played his electric guitar near Rotary Park as one of the musicians in the downtown.
Rick Zucco of Niagara Falls also performed as a busker.
Photos courtesy of Cindy Busch: The Medina Mustang Band performs against a backdrop of important leaders in the United States’ history at the Fall Festival of Bands on Saturday night at Veterans’ Memorial Park. The show titled “We the People” celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary and features the music of Aaron Copeland.
MEDINA – The Fall Festival of Bands brought out a crowd to Veterans’ Memorial Park Saturday night to see their hometown band and half a dozen other area bands perform under a perfect sky.
Competing bands were Medina in SS2 class, with a first-place score of 74.60, followed by Le Roy with 72.10; in SS3, Marcus Whitman was first with 70.30, Pioneer, second with 66.30 and Falconer-Freesburg, third, with 64.60; and in LS2, Greece, first, with 78.85 and West Seneca, second, with 74.30.
Medina’s show, “We the People” pays tribute to the country’s 250th anniversary, and is performed by 92 students in grades 7 through 12.
The program also paid tribute to the late John Ryan, who was a color guard instructor for Medina and was involved with several other marching organizations. He passed away at age 85 on Aug. 17. His career with the Mustang Marching Band started in 1975 and spanned 30 years, serving with Mustang Band directors Joe McKain and Jim Steele. As director of the Mustang Winter Guard, it grew to become one of the highest ranked in the United States.
The horns are featured here as they perform in front of a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.
Two people in Saturday’s crowd were twins Darlene Rich and Sharlene Pratt, both of Medina and both former band members. They attend the Festival of Bands every year, they said.
“Once a Mustang Band member, always a Mustang Band member,” Pratt said.
The sisters said not only they, but their older sister Fonda was in the band under Joe McKain.
“Regardless of the weather, we always come to watch the band,” Rich said. “We have sat here under umbrellas in the pouring rain. This is our ‘ladies night out.’”
The sisters said they get goosebumps when they see Medina’s show this year.
“It brings tears to your eyes,” Rich said.
The evening also featured a 50/50 drawing.
The Mustang Band currently sits in third place in Smal School II in the New York State Field Band Conference, behind Oswego and Mohanasen, with Medina one point out of first place. They compete against Oswego next Saturday in their division. Oswego High School is located at 2 Buccaneer Blvd. The show starts at 6:30.
The Mustang Marching Band is lined on the end of the field at Vets Park.
Photo by Karen Jones: Seniors in the band pose for a photo on Saturday.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Marching Band is shown performing on Sept. 11 during halftime of the OC Rivals football game at Vets Park. The band is debuting new uniforms this season and also is performing a show, “We The People” celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary with the music of Aaron Copeland.
MEDINA – Saturday will be a special day for the Medina Mustang Marching Band.
It will be their first performance for their hometown fans, under the direction of new band leaders Kyla Leno-Denise, Andrea Busch and Michael Denise.
Other leaders assisting the band are Tim Sexton, drill design;, Joe Organisciak, music arranger and writer; Michael Denise, battery arranger and writer; Tiffany Organisciak, front ensemble instructor; Zach Busch, wind instructor; Adam Mark, battery instructor; and Diana Baker, McKenna Callard, Katie Crooks and Kaela Grosslinger, guard instructors and designers.
Medina’s fall show is titled “We the People,” and features the music of Aaron Copeland. Their performance earned them a second-place finish at their first competition of the fall season Sept. 12 in Jordan-Elbridge.
The Mustang Band boosters have sponsored a Fall Festival of Bands for many years at Veterans’ Memorial Park. Saturday’s event begins at 6 p.m.
The schedule includes:
The Mustang Boosters will again have a concession stand offering not dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chill, pizza, candy and beverages.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Reinhard Rogowski, left, and Craig Lacy have been actively involved in the Medina Historical Society since joining – Lacy in 2000 and Rogowski in 2011. Here, Rogowski holds a dark room light, while Lacy is holding a gadget used to take seeds out of raisins, both items found in the museum’s collections and belonging to Lacy’s father-in-law, Henry Pollard. The Historical Society is actively seeking new members.
MEDINA – Preserving history for the future is a major initiative for the Medina Historical Society.
And now they are asking for help to continue that mission.
Last year the Historical Society conducted a campaign for new members, with a goal to exceed 100. They accomplished that, but since then, membership has dropped in half and the plea is out again to please consider buying a membership and help preserve Medina’s history. A membership costs $15 for an individual or $20 for a family.
Georgia Thomas is a long-time board member of the Medina Historical Society and supports all its functions, including Ale in Autumn on Saturday.
She stresses the importance of “preserving the past for the future.”
She cites Levan Merritt who in 1841 built the home at 406 West Ave., which was eventually acquired for a museum.
“Mr. Merritt loved trees and noticed the lack of trees in his village,” Thomas said. “He set about to plant trees in the village, such as the big, beautiful trees which grew on West Avenue. He made sure Medina had trees for shade and beauty.”
Thomas went on to say that preserving the past assures future generations know how we evolved and who started us.
The Medina Historical Society is a treasure trove of memorabilia, such as a War Room with a large lithograph of the Civil War. It is one of only 16 in existence, Thomas said.
Recently, longtime member and former president Craig Lacy shared information about a dark room camera and a gadget from the 1890s used to seed raisins, which had belonged to his late father-in-law, Henry Pollard.
Reinhard Rogowski is currently president of Medina Historical Society, an office he has held since he joined 15 years ago. Lacy joined in 2000 and has served as president for four or five years, and is now vice president and treasurer.
The Medina Historical Society was founded in 1971 by village historian, Ceil White, who held early meetings at her home on East Avenue. Seven years later, an opportunity arose to acquire a permanent home at 406 West Ave.
Merritt’s home was acquired by the village of Medina in 1958 and two years later the town of Ridgeway acquired it, and converted the house to their town hall. In 1979, the town purchased the rear lot in order to build a new larger, modern town hall. The village agreed to the sale of the lot, with the stipulation the Merritt home be leased to the Medina Historical Society for $1 a year, with the Historical Society responsible for its upkeep.
According to Ed Grinnell’s “Medina – Here’s to Our Heritage,” membership in the society regularly averaged between 70 to 100.
Rogowski is personally inviting everyone to consider purchasing a membership.
“Your support keeps the doors of your museum open and ensures the rich history of Medina is shared, celebrated and remembered for generations to come,” Rogowski posted on “Memories of Medina.”
He invites people to attend meetings on the last Monday of the month at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. Meetings start at 7 p.m. in September through November and January to May and always feature a speaker. This month’s speaker is Pembroke history teacher Greg Kinal.
“We have several great presentations coming up,” Rogowski said. “This is a plea for membership, not money.”
The museum is open the first Saturday of the month from May to October or by special request. He suggests people consider the Historical Society when will planning or making a memorial to a loved one.
Checks may be mailed to Medina Historical Society, 406 West Ave., Medina, 14106. Membership forms are available in the Medina Bugle, on their Facebook page or at a meeting the last Monday of the month.
File photos by Tom Rivers: Miranda Starr portrayed George Beach, who was born in 1842 and died in 1902. He was active in a pharmaceutical business and manufactured iron goods in Medina. This photo was taken from Boxwood at Night on October. 5, 2024.
Press Release, Friends of Boxwood Cemetery
MEDINA – Boxwood at Night is back. The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery in Medina are excited to announce the fifth annual event will be on Saturday, October 3.
Tickets cost $20 and there will be two time slots – 7 to 8 p.m. or 8 to 9 p.m. The time slots are when you can enter. Once you are checked in, you are welcome to stay until the event ends at 9:30 p.m.
This is a popular fall event, so get your tickets before they sell out.
“It’s going to be a very special night and we are excited to put on this event for the community,” said Robby Klino, president of the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery.
Guests walk through the spectacularly lit cemetery at their own pace, stopping along the pathway to enjoy storytelling by docents, artwork, music and performances in a relaxing, family-friendly atmosphere.
Shawna Baldwin portrays Harriett Davey and reads a passage from Edgar Allan Poe, the famous writer who died in 1849, the year Boxwood opened.
Returning artists, musicians and performers include Jen Scott, Amirah Hicks, Orleans County String Band, The Vine church choir, Mike Zelazny, Stacy Steverson and Jenna Papponetti. New to the lineup this year include Megan Furness and the Jim Steele Band with friends. Some special lighting effects provided by the extraordinary Paradise Fest NY.
“We have more lighting and entertainment than we have ever had before,” said event co-chairwoman Nicole Bensley.
Boxwood at Night is the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from previous years have been used to restore the chapel – including the beautiful stained-glass window, to create a Potter’s Field memorial that will hopefully be done in time for the event, and to begin the restoration of the caretaker’s office.
Tickets are available during business hours at the English Rose Tea Shoppe and Thistle Ridge – both places are on Main Street in Medina. Tickets will also be available at the Canal Village Farmers Market in Medina on Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As an added convenience, you may also purchase tickets using a credit card by going online (click here).
Raffle tickets will also be available to purchase at the Farmers Market booth and again at the event.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO Art!
Provided photos: (Left photo by Bianca Cruz) Amber Hofmeister, who goes by Amber Brooke in her film career, stars in the 75-minute film, “Sick & Twisted Tales.” Medina Theatre will host a red carpet and premiere of the film on Nov. 7 at 603 Main St.
MEDINA – It may be a first-ever event in Medina: a red carpet entrance to see a premiere of a film.
The Medina Theatre at 603 Main St. will host the film screening on Nov. 7. The red carpet will be outside on the sidewalk leading to the theater. “Sick & Twisted Tales” will start at 7 p.m. and the film features Amber Hofmeister of Medina, who goes by Amber Brooke in her film and modelling career.
August Lee Geitner, Amber Hofmeister’s husband, took the photo for the film’s poster which shows a movie theater, Miller Cinema 6. Amber Brooke (Hofmeister) of Medina plays the role of Valeri, left, and Clifton Taylor is Victor Mortis.
Hofmeister, 38, made her film debut in 2021. She appears in horror films, and has become a star and sought-after person at horror com events. She will be appearing at the New Jersey Horror Con this month. Next month she’ll be in Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ohio for either filming or conventions.
She said she has enjoyed scary movies since she was 5 years old.
“When I was young loved horror films,” she said. “I got addicted to thrill of being scared and what will happen next. A thriller makes you think.”
Her film credits include: Friday the 13th Vengeance 2: Bloodlines, 2:59, Amityville Barbi, Aversion, Birthday Bash, Black Sheep, Fragmented Mind, McKinsey Manor Massacre, FRACTURED, Awake in the Dark, Sick and Twisted Tales with more in the works. (Click here to see some of her credits listed on IMDb.)
She also has appeared in television ads in Western New York for William Mattar and Evans Bank.
The new film was shot in York, Pa. Hofmeister didn’t want to give away too much of the plot for Sick & Twisted Tales. She does kill someone in the film, but she said most of the action and dialogue could be considered more of a comedy.
The Nov. 7 event will include a question and answer segment with Hofmeister and the film’s director, Tom Smith.
Hofmeister’s husband, August Lee Geitner, designed the film’s poster, did behind-the-scenes photography and also plays a dead body in the film. Geitner is the guitar player for the band, Until I Wake.
Tickets for the Nov. 7 film will become available on Oct. 1 on the Medina Theatre website or at the door on Nov. 7. The cost is $10 a ticket. There will also be posters and Blu-rays of the film for sale.
“I thought it would be cool to bring something different to the town,” Hofmeister said about the red carpet and film showing. “ People should enjoy the movie. I don’t think it’s that scary. It’s more of a comedy. You’ll laugh more than anything.”
