Amber Hofmeister has appeared in several scary flicks

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.”

File photos by Tom Rivers: At last year’s Ale in Autumn on Sept. 27, there were beer tastings at Modern Mercantile from Talking Cursive in Syracuse. They were served by Holly Lederhouse, left, and Bekah Osher.

MEDINA – The air is cooler; days are getting shorter; and Ale in Autumn is just around the corner. A sure sign of fall.

For 15 years, Ale in Autumn has heralded the season in Medina, originally started by the Medina Business Association, now known as Medina Area Partnership.

The event has regularly been a sellout, according to Ann Fisher-Bale, event coordinator for MAP, but tickets are still available for this week’s event, scheduled Saturday. Tickets may be purchased on MAP’s website, in person at A Lily and a Sparrow at 438 Main St. or at check-in.

Participants must check in beginning at 1 p.m. at the Senior Center at 615 West Ave. Start times are staggered at 1, 2 and 3 o’clock to minimize congestion. The event concludes at 6 p.m.

Check-in includes being ID’d, receiving a wrist band, getting a gift bag and commemorative beer glass, and the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes at each location. Someone will win the grand prize valued at $500.

Ale in Autumn is designed to encourage folks to shop, dine and/or stay in Medina, Fisher-Bale said. There will be 20 pourings in all.

Proceeds benefit Medina’s beautification efforts, scholarships to Leadership Orleans and Medina High School.

“This is a great way to experience Medina’s seasonal flavor with friends and visit participating businesses,” Fisher-Bale said.

A commemorative glass from the 2025 Ale in Autumn has a light beer, Oktoberfest, from Meier’s Creek Brewing Company in Cazenovia. This photo is inside the Medina Triennial Hub in the former NAPA building on Main Street.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: The Rev. Mike Breunig, a retired elder in the United Methodist Church, reads some history of the Apple Grove Inn, while a picture of the famous Russet Room is shown on the screen. The shirt hanging on the podium is the original one worn by Bill Dunn when he was assistant chef at landmark restaurant.

MEDINA – The former Apple Grove Inn was celebrated Saturday night by 160 diners who attended a tribute to the iconic restaurant, sponsored by the Grove United Methodist Church.

The church, which occupies the site which was formerly the Apple Grove Inn, took its name from the highly acclaimed restaurant when it moved from West Center Street in 2013.

Earlier this summer, the idea was suggested to have an event to celebrate the Apple Grove Inn and its history throughout Western New York.

On Saturday night, 160 people attended the evening, which featured a buffet cooked by chef Nate Sanders using authentic recipes from the Apple Grove’s famous buffets.

Serving up a buffet with recipes from the former Apple Grove Inn are Linda Blanc, Ruth Cleveland, Gretchen Dunn and Kathy Vicknair. One-hundred and sixty people attended the event, which featured recipes from the Apple Grove Inn, prepared by chef Nate Sanders.

A highlight of the meal was the bread pudding and apple crisp for which the Apple Grove was famous.

“It was a wonderful time and I saw friends that I don’t often get to see,” said Pastor Barb Brewer. “Although I was stuck in the kitchen most of the night, I really enjoyed seeing our Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary full of people. I have fond memories of the Apple Grove Restaurant. Our family enjoyed the dinners and Sunday brunches, and I had my high school prom at the Apple Grove Restaurant. Being from Lockport, it was always an adventure coming to the Apple Grove.”

The pastor encourages everyone to “stay tuned,” as the church has future endeavors coming up, such as their turkey dinner.

“We will review our dinner night and if we can encourage younger families to join us, there will be no stopping us from doing more dinners like this,” Pastor Brewer said. “We just want people to know we live and love like Jesus.”

The boat shown on the screen is the Miss Apple Grove, a tourist boat operated on the canal by the Apple Grove Inn.

Saturday evening was special for many people, including Chris Busch of Medina.

“It was really nice to walk down memory lane vis-à-vis the Apple Grove,” Busch said. “All of those great memories came rushing back at the dinner, with a lot of familiar ‘Grove’ faces and friends. I had my first legal drink there in 1978. The place was legendary on so many levels – the incredible meals, specialties, the famous two-for-one Happy Hours, Flo Simpson’s unrivaled baked goods, free wings on Thursday nights – it had it all. I mean fish fry for $3.95, that came with English chips, slaw, soup, salad and rolls. That simply does not happen today.”

Of course, Busch continued, there was the Thursday Night Social Club.

“Back in the early 1980s, a few of us decided to go out on a Thursday night and start the weekend early,” he said. “That ended up happening every Thursday night for years. My wife and I actually met at the Apple Grove and had our wedding there – weddings at the Grove were spectacular.”

Diners waiting for dinner to be served Saturday night at the Grove United Methodist Church are, from left, Bea Young, Pam Turner, Delbert Young and Cora Goyette, all of Medina.

Busch added his kudos to Nate Sanders for coming up with the idea of recreating an Apple Grove meal and for the Grove UMC for hosting it.

“It was a great way to revisit some treasured memories of one of Medina’s most beloved establishments and a whole lot of cherished memories,” Busch said.

After enjoying the delicious buffet, guests moved into the Sanctuary where Mary Zangerle and the Rev. Mike Breunig gave a presentation on the history of the Apple Grove, along with a slide show. Guests marveled at the pictures of the Russet Room, the wishing well, the fireplace with copper hood, the staff and even the boat Miss Apple Grove on which the restaurant gave rides to guests on the Erie Canal.

Rob Robinson plays piano for the diners at a special evening at the Grove United Methodist Church paying tribute to the former Apple Grove Inn. Robinson’s mother was a long-time piano player at the historic restaurant.

The Rev. Breunig shared comments about what the Apple Grove meant to people, especially Ruth Carr Miller of Barre, whose mother was married to Apple Grove owner Walt Hilger.  He also said his first visit to the restaurant was in 1976 for Thanksgiving dinner. He was amazed how a hot dog stand could turn into a landmark restaurant. He also commented on the Russet Room, which could seat 700 people.

Of course there was the Greening Room, Baldwin Room and Johnny Appleseed Lounge.

A highlight of the evening Saturday was the piano played by Rob Robinson, whose mother Virginia Bishop played piano at the Apple Grove Inn for 30 years.

Jeff Gay, left, talks with Jeff Wagner, former owner of the Apple Grove Inn, at the conclusion of a tribute by the Grove United Methodist Church to the former Apple Grove Inn Saturday night.

One special guest with ties to the restaurant was Jeff Wagner, who lives in Medina and worked at the Apple Grove before purchasing it in 1985. He worked there in 1972, was promoted to running the bar and dining room in 1974 and learned how to cook before buying the restaurant.

“There are so many memories – all the people we worked with – many of whom keep in touch,” Wagner said. “The people really made the Apple Grove what it was. This evening is a great tribute to Walt, myself and Medina.”

As part of the tribute, the church encouraged people to send in their memories of the Apple Grove, which were typed into a booklet and sold at the dinner for a donation. Nearly 100 responses were received.

A table is set with authentic Apple Grove Inn china and the trademark chairs with an apple cutout. At the podium, Mary Zangerle shares some history of the former restaurant.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Children of all ages sit at a play table filled with building blocks during the second annual Building Blocks Event sponsored by Medina Tourism Committee.

MEDINA – The second annual Building Blocks event sponsored by Medina Tourism Committee attracted a crowd of adults and children, some who came to look, others who came to enter their creations and those who came to build or play while they were there.

The event, with a United States’ 250^th anniversary theme, was moved to Lee-Whedon Memorial Library when the Sacred Heart Club was booked by another group.

D.J. Tucker, 10, describes his pirate ship he made out of building blocks. It took him three days to build, he said.

“The library turned out to be perfect place for our event,” said Kathy Blackburn, who co-chaired the event with Barb Gorham. “It was a great success.”

Blackburn shared they even had an entry from Philadelphia. The family was visiting the area for another family get-together, when they learned of the Building Blocks event and brought their child to the library.

Kathy Blackburn, co-chair with Barb Gorham of the Building Blocks event Saturday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, helps some young builders with their creation.

One feature attraction was a giant display by the Rochester Lego Users Club. Building blocks are not just for kids, according to ROCLUG members Scott Lawrece, Jeremy Tolski and Jerry Santelli. The men have been members for 7 to 15 years and say their club regularly has 50 to 75 members in attendance at their monthly meetings at Gates Town Hall.

“Building Blocks of all sizes were a hit with all the kids,” Blackburn said. “Especially the giant blocks the children were using to build, with one child inside.”

Winners were chosen in several categories. In K-2, Ryder Russell was first with Jack Mufford and Rowan White tying for second.

In grades 3-7, Byron Hill was first, Hollis Green and Ian Mufford tied for second, and D.J. Tucker and Maggie McManus tied for third.

Three members of the Rochester Lego Users Group stand by their display at the Building Blocks event Saturday. From left are Scott Lawrence, Jeremy Tolski and Jerry Santelli. The club meets monthly at Gates Town Hall, where 50 to 75 members attend regularly.

In the adult category, Aaron Gould was first and Samantha Gould was second.

An added feature this year was a hot dog stand by Boy Scout Troop 28. The Troop is led by Scoutmaster Todd Draper and Assistant Scoutmaster Aaron Thomas.

“This is a little fundraiser for us,” Thomas said.

Michael Hooker volunteered to wear a hot dog costume at the food stand run by Scout Troop 28 during the Building Blocks event Saturday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. Seated at right is assistant Scoutmaster Aaron Thomas.

This elaborate display by the Rochester Lego Users Club features an operating passenger train.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Mary Mattingly’s “Floating Garden” will be leaving Medina’s canal basin and traveling the Erie Canal to New York City, where it will become a permanent display, indicating it is “Medina’s Gift to New York City.”

MEDINA – Medina’s first-of-its-kind Triennial has ended a three-month visit, but its effects will linger far and beyond Medina for a very long time.

Exciting news is that the barge transformed by artist Mary Mattingly into a floating garden in the canal basin will be taken to New York City, where it will become a permanent exhibit.

“The barge will have a sign indicating it was made in Medina, and another which reads ‘Medina’s Gift to New York City’,” said Kari Conte, executive director and co-curator of the Medina Triennial. “Some of Medina’s dirt will forever be in New York City. How cool is that?”

Conte added it will take weeks to dismantle everything from the Triennial.

“Very little will go in the trash,” she said. “We sell or repurpose everything. After all, the Triennial’s motto was ‘All That Sustains Us’.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Mary Mattingly is shown about a year ago on Sept. 17, 2025 when she was removing sludge from a barge that months later be teeming with vegetation.

The Floating Garden will stop at canal villages along the way to share Medina’s story, Conte said.

Conte has also shared news about at least two exhibits which will remain in Medina. One is “I traveled 66 million years to be with you and then you came,” Berlin-based artist Anne DukHee Jordan’s creation, which will remain in State Street Park. It is located between the pavilion and the canal.

 Photo by Tom Rivers: “I traveled 66 million years to be with you and then you came” is artist Anne DukHee Jordan’s creation, which will remain in State Street Park until the next Triennial. It features barnacles sculpted by the artist, and set atop a large rock with fossils and several slate boulders sourced from Western New York. This photo was taken during the Aug. 6 concert at State Street Park, where 900 people turned out to see the band Grosh.

This piece features Roman concrete mixed with biochar, locally sourced slate stones and fossils. It was first commissioned by UP PROJECTS in London. Like real barnacles, the sculpture’s parts filter rainwater through the natural properties of biochar, collecting it for local birds and insects to drink.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Artist Evelyne Leblanc-Roberge created this exhibit at Medina Memorial Hospital titled “All the hours” for the first Medina Triennial. It is one of several exhibits which will remain until the next Triennial in three years.

The final news is that of artist Evelyne Leblanc-Roberge’s creation at Medina Memorial Hospital. It is titled “All the hours” and is installed on both sides of glass panels around the building near the main entrance.

More exciting news is the Triennial has made a donation to have a permanent space in Lee-Whedon Memorial Library dedicated to the Triennial. It will feature books and Triennial memorabilia. A full story will appear when the space is dedicated.

160 people attended workshops on repairing windows, roofs, plaster and other parts of older buildings

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Sadie Rose leads a workshop today on “The Art of Stencil.” It was among several workshops today in the former Medina High School.

There were 160 people in Medina for the three-day International Preservation Trades Workshop, with sessions from Thursday through today.

Rose works in the Detroit area as a preservation craftsperson specializing in decorative painting, mural conservation and wood restoration.

The Preservation Trades Network picked Medina for the conference partly because it’s the base for Talis Historic Restoration, which employs 20 people and utilizes 30,000 square feet of the old high school.

A banner welcomes attendees to the International Preservation Trades Workshop held the past three days at the former Medina High School.

The conference has recently been in Savannah, Ga., and Frederick, Maryland. In Medina, the attendees could see a remarkable concentration of historic cobblestone buildings that reflect extraordinary craftsmanship and durability, the Preservation Trades Network said.

“Just as important is Medina’s connection to the Erie Canal—one of the most transformative infrastructure projects in American history,” the group said in promoting the conference. “The canal turned small towns like Medina into hubs of trade and movement, fueling the growth of local industry and shaping the built environment you see today. Medina sandstone, quarried locally and shipped via the canal, became a defining material in buildings across the region and beyond.”

Terry Wullenweber, a master plasterer from Milan, Indiana, leads a workshop about plastering today entitled, “Look Up! Don’t miss the ornaments above.” Wullenweber received an award at the conference for his decades of work and expertise.

The Preservation Trades Network seeks to share knowledge on the importance of preservation, and how to repair and restore windows, stained-glass, plaster, finishes/paint, masonry. metals and roofing.

Dan Totten, a commercial estimator and project technician for Talis Historic Restoration, is on the board for the Preservation Trades Network. Totten went to art school and he said that he, like many in historic trades, came to the profession after working in other careers.

He enjoys the challenge of working on older buildings, many were built extremely well but have seen decades of deferred maintenance.

He said there is need for workers in historic trades. Talis in Medina has 20 employees and Totten said the company is actively hiring.

Talis started eight years ago in a business led by Roger Hungerford. Talis works across upstate New York and in the Northeast. Some notable window restoration projects by Talis include the Thompson A.M.E. Zion Church (Harriet Tubman’s church) in Auburn, NY; nearly 300 windows at the old Medina High School in Medina; Cobblestone Museum in Albion; William J. Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City, New Jersey; Morgan Manning House in Brockport; Sojourner Truth house in Kingston, NY; and other prominent historic sites in Effingham, New Hampshire; Buffalo, NY; Sackets Harbor, NY; Ithaca, NY; Canandaigua, NY; and Rochester, NY.

Travis Farnsworth is president and CEO of Talis Historic Restoration. He has been with Talis since it started eight years ago. The company led several workshops in glazing windows during the historic trades conference.

Totten said Talis Historic Restoration was pleased to be a part of hosting the convention and welcoming people with a passion for the historic trades.

“At Talis we’re very collaborative,” he said. “We like to bring people together.”

John Moore leads a workshop today in the former Medina High School. Moore is a preservation carpenter, educator, and former residential builder. He taught carpentry and construction technology at West Kentucky Community & Technical College, where he helped develop a historic preservation curriculum.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Brad Zacher and his son Henry, 5, build a fort with the giant LEGO blocks during  special event at Sacred Heart Club last year, sponsored by Medina Tourism Committee.

MEDINA – The second annual LEGO event sponsored by Medina Tourism Committee is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

Medina Tourism Committee member Barb Gorham said the event was so popular last year, they have decided to do it again. Because last year’s venue, Sacred Heart Club, was booked for tomorrow, the Committee decided to move it to the library.

The event was an idea of Jan Smith, a member of the Tourism Committee. The committee discussed it and thought it be a good fit for the community, Gorham said.

The theme last year was the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal, while this year’s theme is the 250th anniversary of the country. However, entries for prizes do not have to have a theme, nor do entries for display. They may also be already-made.

Prizes will be awarded in age categories of K-2nd grade, 3rd to 7th grade, 8th to 12th grade and adults.

In addition to displays and the competition, there will be hands-on activities, building blocks and entertainment by Chuckles the Magician in the library from 11 a.m. to noon.

Gorham expressed her thanks to Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern for loaning them the building blocks.

A new feature this year will be the Boy Scouts selling hot dogs and beverages. Water and popcorn will be provided for the children.

Members of the ROCLUG LEGO building group out of Rochester sit with their giant display of creations they brought to Sacred Heart Club last year. From left are Robert Herberger, Chuck Frueh and Shyra Murphy, all of Geneva, They will be in Medina again for the second LEGO event Saturday (tomorrow) at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

Photo from Medina Fire Department

MEDINA – Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley accepts a donation of four EKO digital stethoscopes from Jeff Lyons and Kim Patterson. They gave the stethoscopes in honor of their parents, Ancel and Patricia Lyons.

These stethoscopes will be placed on fire department’s four ambulances after in-service training which will greatly increase our diagnostic capabilities, Cooley said.

Ancel Lyons, the long-time owner of Lyons Collision, died at age 84 on July 26, 2026. His wife, Patricia Lyons, passed away at age 82 on May 16, 2025.

Together, they opened Lyons Collision in 1978.

Provided photos

MEDINA – About 30 firefighters were out on Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon with a boot drive to collect money for Make-A-Wish.

The firefighters collected nearly $6,000 – $5,955.60. There are a couple more donations coming in, too, said Tim Petry of the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

Firefighters from East Shelby, Medina, Shelby and Ridgeway were at three intersections in the community. There were at Route 104 and Route 63 in Ridgeway; Maple Ridge Road near the Route 63 intersection in Shelby; and downtown Medina at the main intersection.

Make-A-Wish is an organization that gives life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Band opens season with 2^nd place at Jordan-Elbridge

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Medina Marching Band performs on Sept. 11, 2026 during halftime of the OC Rivals football 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.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Medina Marching Band is shown performing at halftime on Friday evening of the OC Rivals football game versus Lakeshore. The game was played at Vets Park in Medina.

The band the next day then competed for the first time this season at Jordan-Elbridge High School in Jordan, which is near Auburn.

The competition featured nine bands, six of which were in Medina’s class, SS2.  In that class Medina came in 2nd place behind Oswego.

Medina’s show is called “We The People” and celebrates the nation’s  250th anniversary with the music of Aaron Copeland.

The band consists of 90 students and is directed by Kyla Leno-Denise and Andrea Busch.  The band is led on the field by drum major Sophia Lopez. The is performing in new uniforms this year.

Medina’s next performance is at their home show, “Fall Festival of Bands” on Saturday, Sept. 26th beginning at 6 p.m. at Vets Park.

The results from Saturday include:

• SS2 – 1st, Oswego with 69.700; 2nd, Medina with 67.900; 3rd, Westmoreland with 67.250; 4th, Jordan-Elbridge with 66.900; 5th, Horseheads with 65.850; 6th, Vestal with 63.750.
• LS2 – 1st, Corning with 69.250.
• National – 1st, West Genesee with 79.100; 2nd, Baldwinsville with 77.600.

Here are more photos from Friday’s halftime show: