MEDINA – The school district will have its annual “Parade of Graduates” on June 13, when members of the Class of 2025 walk from the high school along a sidewalk past the district office, to the intermediate school and concluding at Vet’s Park.

Students will dismiss at 8:35 a.m. with the parade to start at 8:45.

“This is an opportunity to cheer on our graduates as they make their last walk through the district,” said Michael Cavanagh, the high school principal. “This should only take a few minutes, but definitely has a lasting impact on our graduates. Classes will resume as soon as the graduates have passed by.”

Parents and other spectators can park at Vet’s Park and line the sidewalk in front of Vet’s Park going towards the Wise Intermediate School.

“Parents can follow the seniors into Vet’s Park and sit in the bleachers to view a special ending,” Cavanagh said.

Kindergarteners will meet the seniors at the 50-yard line to share some “words of wisdom,” he said.

Skyven Technologies planned first-of-its-kind system at Western New York Energy

Photo by Tom Rivers: Western New York Energy has operated an ethanol plant at the corner of Bates Road and Maple Ridge Road in Medina since 2007. This photo was taken on Sunday.

MEDINA – A federal grant for $15 million would have helped build the first-of-its-kind industrial decarbonization system at Western New York Energy.

But that project, and 23 other clean energy and manufacturing innovation projects across the country, were cancelled last week by the Trump Administration.

Skyven Technologies was looking to build the industrial decarbonization system at the ethanol plant. The company said the nationally significant project uses electrified high-temperature steam production, calling it a critical need for decarbonizing U.S. manufacturing.

Skyven said its system would have reduced annual operating costs at the ethanol plant, cut carbon local emissions, and served as a replicable model for food, beverage and chemical manufacturers across the country.

“This groundbreaking project is a major step forward in reducing carbon emissions in the industrial space,” Skyven, a Texas-based company, announced in September. “Arcturus will cut 20,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year from WNYE’s facility, which is equivalent to removing 4,300 cars from the road annually. And this is just the beginning of what our cutting-edge technology can achieve.”

The project had already attracted major private investment and was expected to drive an additional $150 million to the Medina site, the company said. Skyven in September announced it had been approved for a federal grant for the project.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Friday announced that $3.7 billion in project grants were being cancelled by the Department of Energy.

After a thorough and individualized financial review of each award, the DOW found the projects “failed to advance the energy needs of the American people, were not economically viable and would not generate a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars,” according to a press release from the DOE.

The grants were primarily targeted for carbon capture and sequestration, and decarbonization initiatives.

“While the previous administration failed to conduct a thorough financial review before signing away billions of taxpayer dollars, the Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment,” Wright said in a statement. “Today, we are acting in the best interest of the American people by cancelling these 24 awards.”

Provided photos: (Left) Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza sets up for business last summer at Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market. The market opens in its summer location at West Avenue and West Center Street on Saturday. (Right) The kids’ tent at Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market had lots of fun activities at last year’s Faery Festival.

MEDINA – The Canal Village Farmers’ Market will kick off the 10th season with opening day at 9 a.m. Saturday (June 7) at their summer location on the corner of West Avenue and West Center Street.

“It’s always exciting to open the summer season, and with 2025 being our 10-year anniversary, we have a few special things planned to celebrate, which we will announce later,” said Gail Miller, manager of the market. “As always, we’ll have regular and rotating vendors, food trucks, kids’ scavenger hunts, crafters, community groups and some new vendors this year, too.”

In addition to the weekly anchor food truck El Gran Burrito, other food trucks will be rotating in and out throughout the season, including crowd favorites, Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza and NOLA “New Orleans Style” Snocones.

Miller said the market is planning a big year for kids’ activities, too.

“Lots of fun activities are planned for kids,” Miller said. “In addition to the weekly market Scavenger Hunt and Prizes, we’ll have other fun games and crafts each week, along with our free book cart. And we’re excited to bring back the Zucchini races – bigger and better than ever – on July 19, 26 and Aug. 2.”

Another spectacular day is planned as the market participates in Medina’s Enchanted Faery Festival June 21. Participating kids will be able to make a faery wand and other crafts, and there will be a faery backdrop for photo ops, Miller said. In addition, every participant will receive a very cool light-up faery lantern (while supplies last).

“Later this summer, our favorite market pup, Winston the Labradoodle therapy dog, will also be visiting,” Miller said.

Products and activities for each Saturday are listed every week on the market’s Facebook page and, new this year, on Instragram=Canal Village Farmers Market. Customers are encouraged to follow the market on Instagram and like/follow their Facebook page for up-to-date information on vendors, food trucks and general activities.

The market will again have multiple options for making sales transactions, including cash, credit via Square, PayPal and Venmo; and also senior coupons, WIC, SNAP and Fresh Connect Checks. Double Up Food Bucks to SNAP recipients will soon be available.

The Canal Village Farmers’ Market is operated by the Orleans Renaissance Group, a 501©3 arts, culture and preservation organization in Medina. This year’s market sponsors include Takeform (general operations) and Medina Lumber and Hardware (live music).

“We are so incredibly grateful for our sponsorship support from Takeform and Medina Lumber and Hardware,” Miller said. “Their support is huge and makes an enormous difference in our ability to operate a great market for the community. Sponsorships make live music possible, and we have a full slate of great local musicians this year, starting with Steve Novak, who will be playing from 10 a.m. to noon on opening day.”

Other scheduled musicians include local music legend Rob Robinson, Dave Stockton, Barry DiGregorio and Zach Busch, Holley Band director and son of ORG’s president Chris Busch.

Located in downtown Medina, across from the Post Office, the market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday. Market manager Gail Miller can be reached at canalvillagemarket@gmail.com or via Facebook Messenger with questions or vendor/food truck inquiries.

Provided photos

MEDINA – Brandi Zavitz, an artist from Medina, has been at the Medina Dog Park working on a mural that will feature about 70 beloved canines in the community.

Zavitz and the Friends of the Medina Dog Park had set a cap of 50 dogs for the mural. People pay $100 to have their dog painted on the mural with those proceeds going to the Friends for improvements at the park on North Gravel Road, just south of Boxwood Cemetery.

Due to the strong interest, the mural was expanded to 70 dogs as well as Orly the Ox, the county’s bicentennial mascot.

The mural initially was planned to be 24 feet long but Zavitz made it 8 feet longer to fit in more dogs.

Her artist fee and the cost of the materials are being covered with a grant administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Cindy Davis, vice president of Friends of Medina Dog Park, is thrilled to see the outlines of all the pets that Zavitz has sketched out on the mural.

“I’m so excited,” Davis said. “It’s going to be awesome. I truly think it’s going to bring more people to the park. We have kind of become a family here. We all take care of each other. So seeing these dogs painted will always keep these fur babies in our hearts.”

The Friends of the Dog Park would like to add another water station, a second gazebo, another fenced-in area for smaller dogs and include more agility equipment, Davis said.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Volunteers at Medina’s Visitors’ Center celebrate opening day Tuesday of the tourism booth in Rotary Park. From left, Medina Tourism Committee chair Jim Hancock hams it up with volunteers Ruth Cleveland, Peggy Schreck, Orly the Ox, Janet Janneck, Barb Gorham and the Rev. Vince Iorio.

MEDINA – Medina Tourism Committee has announced the opening Tuesday morning of its tourist booth in Rotary Park.

On hand for the opening were volunteers Jim Hancock, also Tourism Committee chairman; Barb Gorham, volunteer scheduler; Ruth Cleveland, Peggy Schreck, Janet Janneck, the Rev. Vince Iorio and Dawn Borchert, director of Orleans County Tourism, with Isabella Zasa as Orly the Ox. Zasa studied travel and tourism in college and was a paid intern at Borchert’s office last year.

“Now she is a full-time employee,” Borchert said.

Volunteers Janet Janneck, left, and Peggy Schreck pose with the sign promoting Medina which indicates the Visitors’ Tourist Booth is open.

Several changes are taking place in operation of the tourist booth this year. First, the tourist booth will be open on Saturdays all through the month of September.

“We anticipate getting a lot of visitors with the special events planned for the canal’s bicentennial,” said Barb Gorham, who has taken over scheduling volunteers. “On Sept. 23 a bus load is coming from the International Canal Conference in Buffalo, and on the 25th the Seneca Chief will be making a stop in Medina. We have many events planned for their visits.”

Also new this year will be T-shirts and name tags for tourist booth volunteers.

“This will set us apart,” Gorham said.

The tourist booth has operated under the leadership of Hancock since it was established in 2009. For the first several years, it was located in the Chamber of Commerce office on Main Street, then moved to City Hall until relocating to Rotary Park in 2018.

The booth attracts more than 400 visitors every year, with 493 being the largest number. Last year, 438 tourists stopped at the booth from 38 states and eight foreign countries.

The Rev. Vince Iorio said he stepped up to volunteer because he enjoys seeing groups come into our town and greeting them.

“We get a lot of bikers and boaters,” he said. “This is my fifth year volunteering. When Jim first asked me to do it, I thought it sounded interesting.”

Hancock also talked Ruth Cleveland into volunteering.

“It’s hard to say ‘no’ to Jim,” she said. “And I thought it would be something different to do. This will be my third year volunteering.”

Hancock said they meet some really neat people from all over the world.

“They come by various means – car, bus, boats and bikers,” Hancock said.

Most are looking for places to eat, hearing local history and viewing the canal.

The tourism booth is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and currently, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, until a volunteer is found for the 1 to 4 p.m. shift.

Anyone interested in volunteering for a three-hour shift, especially for the 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, can contact Gorham at (716) 474-2734.

File photo: Medina police officer Jacob Reeves is shown in June 2020 when he and the department’s new K9, Phoenix, began a 14-week training program together before the dog went into service for the department.

MEDINA – The Village Board has agreed to sell the Medina Police Department’s K9 for $1 to Jacob Reeves, a police officer and the K9’s handler.

Reeves teamed with Phoenix, a Belgian Malinois, for nearly five years. Phoenix worked his last shift on Wednesday. The board as part of the 2025-26 budget voted to end the K9 program with the police department, citing costs. The K9 sees service outside the village and board members felt village taxpayers shouldn’t bear the full cost, especially with overtime for the K9 team.

The board also voted to end having two Medina police officers work in the school district as resource officers. Those officers will return full-time to the MPD for road patrol and other work within the department.

The board and Reeves always had the understanding he could buy the dog for $1 at the end of Phoenix’s service, which officially will be on May 31. Board members said that agreement was in his contract and is similar to what most police departments do when a K9 goes out of service.

The board last week also said any unspent donations towards the K9 program will be refunded after May 31. The board will wait until after May 31 in case there are any unexpected vet bills or other expenses.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Cindy Robinson, board member of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery, holds a poster promoting the annual Tea Time at Boxwood on June 14.

MEDINA – Friends of Boxwood Cemetery will kick off its 2025 year of fundraising with their third annual Tea Time at Boxwood Cemetery on June 14.

The event from 2 to 4 p.m. will feature low tea served with three types of tea, scones, tea sandwiches and sweets, said Cindy Robinson, board member of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery and owner of The English Rose Tea Shoppe, whose idea it was to sponsor the tea.

“In Victorian times, eating and relaxing among the dead was a national pastime,” Robinson said. “People would dress up in their fine clothing and fancy hats and get out of the city for picnic or tea to socialize in the fresh air. A cemetery was the perfect setting for parasols and fancy hats.”

The tea will take place at the back of the cemetery by the lake, where Friends of Boxwood will have tables set up. Attendees should bring their own tea cups and create their own Victorian table setting. The guest whose table is voted “Most Victorian” will receive a $25 gift certificate to The English Rose Tea Shoppe.

There will also be additional drawings for prizes and those attending will receive an entry for the drawings with the purchase of their ticket. Anyone who joins Friends of Boxwood Cemetery before the event will receive five additional entries.

The day will feature an informative program by Todd Bensley on the history of Boxwood Cemetery.

Robinson also reminds attendees June 14 is Flag Day and they are encouraged to wear their red, white and blue.

Rob Klino, president of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery, said the tea kicks off their 2025 year of fundraising, which also will include the annual Boxwood at Night later in the year. He explained the village of Medina isn’t allowed to do fundraising, so Friends of Boxwood Cemetery was formed by village historian Todd Bensley (now Friends’ vice president) and his wife Nicole to raise money to support projects for the cemetery.

Klino said they are raising funds now to purchase a marker or historic stone for Potters’ Field. Donation checks may be made payable to Friends of Boxwood Cemetery and mailed to Orleans Renaissance Group, P.O. 543, Medina.

Tickets for the tea are $20 for members of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery and $25 for non-members. They can be purchased at The English Rose Tea Shoppe at 527 Main St.

MEDINA – Jimmy Dieter, a Scout in Troop 35, is working to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank.

For his project, he wants to build a batting cage in Butts Park. Dieter is proposing a batting cage that would be 55 feet long and 14 feet wide to be used by Medina youth baseball and softball teams.

The wood structure would be up year-round but the nets for cage would likely just be up in spring until late summer.

There would be four 6 by 6 posts at the corners of the cage. They will be used to hold plastic-coated steel cables to hang a net from. Pressure-treated skirting will be installed around the hitting area and filled with fine packable stone with a turf hitting installed at one end, according to his project description that Dieter presented last week to the Village Board.

There are four baseball diamonds at Butts Park but no designated warm-up area for the players to safely take hitting practice. If players take batting practice on an open field, there are sometimes accidents with players, coaches or spectators getting hit with errant baseballs or even baseball bats, Dieter said.

The Village Board gave its permission to the project, with the stipulation Dieter work with DPW Superintendent Jason Watts on the location for the batting cage. Dieter likes a spot in between field near the Oak Orchard Creek.

“It’s the best area that is out of the way,” he told the board.

Dieter will lead scouts in the project, which is an estimated $850. He will secure the funding or donations for the batting cage.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Veterans line up around the Company F memorial in front of the YMCA (formerly the Medina Armory and home to Company F) to fire a three-gun salute this morning.

MEDINA – Memorial Day observances began early in Medina on Monday morning, with members of Medina’s Honor Guard firing three-gun salutes at all the veterans’ sites in the village and nearby area.

The Honor Guard, made up of members of Medina’s American Legion and VFW, met early for coffee and donuts at the VFW, before starting out with their rifles and flags.

Peter Huth, right, reads a prayer as the Honor Guard waits to fire a three-gun salute in the veterans’ section at Boxwood Cemetery.

Their first stop is always the Vietnam Veterans’ memorial in front of the American Legion on North Main Street, followed by the veterans’ sections at Boxwood Cemetery, St. Mary’s Cemetery and Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Then it was on to the Company F Memorial in front of the YMCA, formerly the Medina Armory. Next stop is the Korean War Memorial on Park Avenue, across from the Olde Pickle Factory; then the tank at Oak Orchard Elementary School; and, lastly, the Butts-Clark Memorial in Butts Park on South Main Street.

Flag carriers representing the five branches of the military stand at attention in Boxwood Cemetery as Ryder Jones, left, and his brother River, in the distance at right, play echo taps.

At each site today, the service began with a prayer read by Peter Huth, followed by the three-gun salute and ending with echo taps, played by brothers Ryder and River Jones, both Medina High School students and members of the Mustang Marching Band.

Jim Freas is the officer in charge of the volunteers, who says he can’t remember how long they’ve been providing this honor to veterans.

Bradley Nudd, a member of the firing squad, said he started in 1972, when his dad Al Nudd told him they needed younger men to step up. He has been participating ever since, sometimes stepping in as bugler.

Veterans from the VFW and American Legion enjoy coffee and donuts before starting out to fire three-gun salutes at veterans’ memorials in the area on Memorial Day. In front are Jim Freas, officer in command of the Honor Guard, Larry Szatkowski and Dave Wells. At rear are Marine Nick Fintak and Medina Mustang buglers River and Ryder Jones.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Medina Marching Band performs down Main Street in today’s Memorial Day parade. It was bright with sunshine for the parade after a rainy week.

The parade route was lined with people, especially on Main Street and East Center Street. Following the parade there was a service at the State Street Park.

These veterans in the honor guard carry the colors along the parade route which started at the Pickle Factory on Park Avenue, then onto Main Street and East Center Street to State Street Park.

Local veterans sent a powerful message with these flag-draped coffin and a headstone for “American Soldier.”

Shelby firefighters Zach Petry, left with American flag, and Rob Schaal, with the Shelby fire company flag, wore turnout gear and marched in the parade.

The Medina Marching Band brought a big presence and sound for the parade.

Kevin Bogan of the Knights of Columbus passed out candy along the parade route.

Tyler Meehan, 8, of Middleport assists his grandfather Bob Meehan in passing out flags. The Sons of the American Legion handed out more than 2,000 of the flags to people watching the parade.

These people along East Center Street were happy to receive flags given out by Tyler Meehan.

There were several community groups in the parade including Early Head Start.

Lee-Whedon Memorial Library promoted its upcoming summer reading program.

Alishia Foss, left, and Diana Baker carry the banner to highlight the Orleans County National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event will be outside at Wise Middle Intermediate School in Medina with free food and other activities with first responders and community organizations.

At the beginning of a service at State Street Park, the flags were raised. Veterans placed a wreath on the cannon from World War I.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: From left, Samantha Rae Hughes and Matt Martin of Lockport pose with Craig Lacy in front of the former NAPA building at 345 Main St., Medina. Martin and Hughes have recently purchased the historic building which dates back to 1834. The new owners plan to capitalize on the building’s proximity to the canal.

MEDINA – Believed to be the oldest and one of the most historic buildings in Medina, the former home of Medina Parts/ NAPA is about to make new history under new owners.

Owned since 1925 by the Lacy family, Craig Lacy has sold the building at 345 Main St. to Matt Martin and Samantha Rae Hughes, life partners and real estate investors from Lockport.

Except for Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market using the space free of charge during winter months for the last three years, the building has been unused since NAPA unexpectedly sold the business name out from under Lacy in 2022, resulting in his closing the doors in May that year.

Martin and Hughes came to Medina last summer due to an interest in the Medina Cold Storage. Hughes had lived with her parents in Medina for several years as a child, so she has special feelings for the village, she said.

Photos courtesy of Samantha Rae Hughes: Samantha Hughes, who recently purchased the former Medina Parts building with her partner Matt Martin, stands in the planned events space, which overlooks the canal.

While in Medina last year, they walked down Main Street, ending up in the Canal Basin.

“I’m in love with buildings that have history,” Hughes said. “I saw this building and I kept walking back and looking at it again.”

“The first time we walked this far, Craig was working in the basement and I asked if he was the owner,” Martin said.

“He took us on a tour and we fell in love with it – the look of it, the history, the potential it has,” Hughes said.

“I saw them overlooking the canal and I thought they were boaters,” Lacy said. “Two weeks later, Matt called and said, ‘We’d like to make you an offer on your building.’”

“Working with Craig has been awesome,” Martin said. “We’ve purchased a number of buildings in recent years, but Craig has been the most wonderful to work with.”

Lacy said he hadn’t been thinking seriously of selling the building, but it was nice to meet someone who had a vision for it.

Martin and Hughes shared their tentative plans for the building.

“We have an agreement with the Canal Corporation for the next 16 months to rent the building out as an art gallery for ‘Art Along the Canal,’ beginning July 1,” Hughes said. “Artists from all over will be invited to come and showcase their works. It will be nice to bring people back into the building.”

(Left) This is the view from one of the windows in the event space being developed in the former Medina Parts building on Medina’s Main Street. (Right) A view of the canal basin will greet people on the rooftop lounge the new owners are planning for the former Medina Parts building at 345 Main St.

Hughes did say the Canal Village Farmer’s Market will be allowed to finish their winter season in the building, and use the space until the end of this month, when they will move back to West Center and West Avenue.

The back space of the building will become an event space, suitable for celebrations and parties, Hughes said. Creation of a rooftop lounge overlooking the canal is in the plans, to be rented for showers or for the public just to come and enjoying one’s lunch. Preliminary plans include a brewery after the art show ends and an Airbnb on the second floor.

This article by former county historian Bill Lattin in Sept. 28, 1984 in The Journal-Register shows the building in three different eras and describes one of two devastating fires which occurred during its existence.

“We will try to figure something out for the basement (which houses a historic jail) so people can go down there and take pictures,” Hughes said.

Immediate work will include making the restrooms handicap accessible and other cosmetic (temporary) changes to spruce up the area for the art show. Renovations to the back room will start as soon as possible, with the intention of keeping that space for use by the community.

“Lockport used to have such a nice Main Street, until Urban Renewal came along,” Hughes said. “Coming here and seeing Medina’s Main Street is kind of sweet.”

For Lacy, the situation is bittersweet.

“We came within a month of celebrating our 100th year in business here, and that got swiped right out from under us,” he said. “But I feel very good about the building’s sale. I didn’t have a vision for this place and I’m real happy with what these people have planned.”

The Lacy family has claimed ownership of the sandstone building since Craig’s grandfather M. Cady Lacy and his partner Charles Haak started the Medina Cylinder Regrinding Co. in 1921.

“They had both lost their jobs when the Central Foundry closed in 1921,” Lacy said.

Botsford Fairman originally built the structure in 1834, which housed a grocery, bank and insurance office on the first floor; the Masonic fraternity on the second floor; and the Odd Fellows on the third floor. On April 15, 1861, the building was destroyed by fire.

Lacy noted that because it was built of Medina sandstone, which does not burn, only the interior was gutted, and Fairman rebuilt the arcade using the original foundation. In 1869 the property was sold to Jonathan A. Johnson of Yates, who converted the arcade into a hotel called the Johnson House.

Only the walls remained of the building at 345 Main St. after a fire in 1923. The walls survived because Medina sandstone doesn’t burn.

In April 1872, the hotel was bought by a real estate man from Jefferson, Ohio, named Henry S. Bancroft, who remodeled the hotel, adding the 60-foot tower and a fourth floor. While the addition of a gas-illuminated clock in the tower was spectacular, its financial success was another story. Ownership changed several times before Albert H. White purchased it in 1886, renaming it White’s Hotel.

White owned the landmark for 25 years, but soon leased it to others. In 1914, a local brewer from Orient Street, George F. Stein, bought the hotel, naming it Steinhof. The Salvation Army acquired the property in 1917 to use as a residence for the homeless and destitute.

According to Ed Grinnell’s Medina – Here’s to Our Heritage, the building burned again on Jan 4, 1923, leaving it almost in total ruin. “Forty-eight years after the tower was built, Medina’s most visible and best-known landmark was no more,” Grinnell wrote.

Enter M. Cady Lacy and Charles Haak in 1925, who bought the ruins, reduced the walls to two stories, added a section to the canal side for their machine shop and started selling auto parts.

According to Grinnell, “If longevity means anything, this building which saw so many heartbreaking failures, was now a success.”

As automobiles became more popular, the auto parts business took over, Lacy said.

“In 1941, we leased the machine shop to Phinney Tool & Die, who moved to West Center Street after World War II when they needed more room,” he said.

Haak died in 1947, ending the partnership with his grandfather, and the business was incorporated as Medina Parts Co., Inc. Craig’s dad John joined the business after the war, retiring in 1980.

Craig had started working there in 1962, while still in high school.

“All I ever did every holiday and vacation was hang out here,” he said. “I never considered it a job. My son Nicholas joined the business in 2010, taking over until we closed in May 2022, when NAPA bought him out.”

The parts counter of Medina Parts and Machine Shop is shown in this 1910 photo provided by Craig Lacy, grandson of one of the company’s founders.

In spite of its use throughout the decades, 345 Main St. has become famous for an interesting incident, believed to have occurred in the mid 1870s.

Grover Cleveland, who would become mayor of Buffalo, New York state governor and the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, had a ward named Frances Folsom, who lived with her mother at her aunt’s home at 300 North Main St.

While visiting the Folsoms one day, Cleveland borrowed a horse and buggy from a friend, Don Bent, in Medina. As he rode down Main Street, Medina police officer Henrie Fuller recognized the horse and carriage, but not the driver and assumed they were stolen. He took Cleveland into custody, and it is speculated he would have been taken to the jail in Lacy’s building, where he was detained until it was proven he was not a thief.

The jail, which was Medina’s first lockup, was used until 1908, when the village built City Hall. It is believed to be the oldest existing jail in Orleans County.

Hughes said she and Martin will do everything possible to keep the Lacy legend alive and incorporate the building’s history into any future plans.

Farmers’ Market will need new home during winter months

Photo courtesy of Chris Busch: Gail Miller, manager of the Canal Village Farmers’ Market, talks with vendors in January 2024 inside the former NAPA Auto Parts building. The vendor in front is from Human Farms and Greenhouse in Appleton.

With the sale and new uses planned for the former Medina Parts/NAPA building at 345 Main St., the Canal Village Farmers’ Market will have to make other plans for the winter months. The market has been using the front part of the former store free of charge for the past three winters.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate these past few winters to be able to relocate the Canal Village Farmers’ Market indoors at 345 Main St.,” said Chris Busch, president of Orleans Renaissance Group, which sponsors the market.  “The market wouldn’t exist without the generous support in so many ways of people throughout the community. We are very grateful to Craig Lacy for his kind generosity in allowing the market to use his building. It’s been a true lifesaver and has allowed us to operate a great winter market.”

Busch said the new building owner, Samantha Rae Hughes, “has also been tremendously kind to us.” ORG is very excited for the future at 345 Main St.

“As for what the market will do for winter 2025 – that is to be determined,” Busch said. “Our new facility at 127 West Center St. planned from the NY Forward Grant award will not likely be completed by then. Hopefully, an opportunity of some sort will present itself. We’ll have to wait and see. That said lots of cool things will be happening with the market in the next year or two.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – These Medina students work on making gift bags out of wrapping paper during IMPACT Day at Medina Jr./Sr. High School on Thursday. The bags will be used by the Oak Orchard Elementary School at their Christmas store during the holiday season in December.

These students are in the library making the gift bags. They were among 120 students working on service projects inside the school and in the community for the 8^th IMPACT Day.

The community service projects originated in 2016 from the IMPACT (Influencing Many People As Concerned Teens) students with staff rallying behind the effort.

Medina Jr./Sr. High had a half day of school today and students volunteered to help with many projects.

Some of the off-school projects included at Mt. Pleasant, the YMCA, Iroquois Wildlife Refuge, Medina Railroad Museum, East Shelby Fire Department, Shelby Fire Department, St. Peter’s Church, Medina City Hall/Fire Department, Medina Historical Society, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, Orleans Community Health and canal path.

Skyla Sootheran makes works on double knots on the edge of a blanket with unicorns and stars. Students made several blankets as part of Project Linus, where the blankets are distributed to children in hospitals and shelters to help them feel less anxious.

Alex Wilson, left, and Alex Drum yank weeds out of a big flower box leading into the school. They later planted flowers at the site.

Alex Drum, a sophomore, said she looks forward to IMPACT Day every year.

“It’s the enjoyment and feeling I have that I helped out the community,” she said.

Asia-Lynn Neuhaus, left, and teacher aide Bonnie Lotz do some weeding in front of the school.

Cole Callard paints part of the border that will be used on the number 5 for a display of “2025” at graduation next month.

Eric Valley and Sophia Goyette mark out the letter 5 that will be cut out and painted white. Valley and his students have made the large numbers in recent years and the Mustang logos on campus.

From left include Lucy DiCureia, Adelynne Lacy and Grace Goodrich making tray favors that will go to residents of the North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital.

Amonte Mortensen-Chamblee, left, and Roxy Hyde work on the tray favors. The finished product is shown in front.

Keren Sanchez, left, and her sister Ashley worked on dusting off trophies in one of the display cases.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Ben Lacy of the Medina DPW installs banners on Tuesday in front of Lyon’s Collision on East Center Street. Lacy and DPW employee Chris Dix hoped to finish the task on Wednesday. (Right) Daniel Roberts, great-great-great-grandfather to a number of local residents, is the first Revolutionary War soldier to have a banner in Medina. It hangs on Main Street in front of Zambistro’s.

MEDINA – Although this year’s Hometown Heroes banners project faced several setbacks during the year, the results have been excellent, said Mary Woodruff, who started the project in 2019 with 38 banners. By the fourth year they had reached the maximum of 120.

“Everyone has been supportive and patient during this long period of completing the 2025 campaign,” Woodruff said. “One particular and most generous supporter has donated a large sum of money to the Medina Hometown Hero banner project. I was overwhelmed and most grateful for this kind donation. This person is very happy with the project and hopes it continues for a long time.

The donation will be helpful in many ways, such as updating their website and providing more opportunities for sponsors who would love a banner for their family members, but have limited funds in their budget, Woodruff said. Many more ideas are being considered, thanks to this very generous contributor since the project began in 2018.

The array of banners featured this year will highlight the number of servicemen and women in our village of Medina and towns of Shelby and Ridgeway, Woodruff said.

“Each year I am amazed at the number of banners produced and the history of all these servicemen and women,” Woodruff said. “I thank everyone who joins in keeping this most honorable project alive and well. Imagine the coincidence back in the fall of 2018 when I asked the village board members to consider the ‘Hometown Hero banner project.’ I presented my pitch, explaining each detail of managing this project, which would be done in memory of my wonderful father-in-law, Willis Burr Woodruff. My final step, I told the board, would be to contact Orleans Hub and ask them to support this project with an article. Unbeknown to me, Tom Rivers had arrived at the meeting and was there throughout my presentation. He assured me the project would be a featured article – and the rest is history.”

Every year, Woodruff expresses her thanks to the village of Medina DPW for installing the hardware and putting up the banners each spring. They are typically taken down around Veterans’ Day.

For several years Woodruff has expressed the desire to have a Revolutionary War soldier, and she ended up with two – Daniel Roberts, whose ancestors lived in East Shelby and Medina, and Benjamin Darling, who also lived on East Shelby Road, and most certainly served in the same regiment as Roberts.

In addition, Daniel’s grandson Ziba Roberts, who lived on East Shelby Road, served in the Civil War and has a banner this year.

Woodruff is already receiving requests for banners next year.

(Left) The second Revolutionary War soldier to have a Hometown Heroes banner is Benjamin Darling, who lived on East Shelby Road. This artist’s drawing represents Darling, whose banner is next to Daniel Roberts. (Right) A Civil War soldier is memorialized on a banner this year. Ziba Roberts, who lived on East Shelby Road and is the grandson of Revolutionary War soldier Daniel Roberts, is also one of the first three hung on Main Street.

Project will add 4 apartments, 2 commercial units in historic downtown

Photos from Forward NY: Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an $850,000 Restore NY grant to rehabilitate the upper level of 409-413 Main St. in Medina to create apartments and also add two commercial units to the bottom of the building facing the Erie Canal.

MEDINA – Gov. Kathy Hochul today announced $50 million in Restore NY grants across the state, including $850,000 towards rehabilitating the upper levels of 409-413 Main St. in Medina to create apartments and also commercial space on the lower level facing the Erie Canal.

Those apartments will be above the Hemp House CBD Store and More at 409 Main St. and the Downtown Browsery at 413 Main St.

Thomas Development LLC, owned by Tom Snyder, is the developer for the project at the 1873 brick building, the former home of The Journal-Register in Medina.

Snyder plans to by transform approximately 4,600 square feet on the second-floor into four apartment units. He is planning three 1,000-square-foot one-bedroom units and one 1,200-square-foot two-bedroom unit.

The project improvements will include two egress stairs and a lift, exterior windows, building insulation and a fire suppression system.

Snyder plans to create two commercial units in the rear-facing, sub-grade space and a new commercial flex kitchen at street-level. He also has been approved for a $370,000 NY Forward grant towards the rehab of the building.

The State’s Restore New York Communities Initiative aims to help remove and reduce blight, reinvigorate communities and generate new residential and economic opportunities statewide.

The program, administered by Empire State Development, is designed to help local governments encourage new commercial investments through community revitalization, growing local housing, and putting properties back on the tax rolls to increase the local tax base, Hochul’s office stated in a news release.

“Revitalizing and rehabilitating vacant and blighted areas of our communities for housing or development is vital to make downtowns thrive,” Governor Hochul said. “Restore New York helps our municipalities plan for the future by catalyzing economic growth and supporting housing, businesses and cultural spaces. We are further unlocking the potential of these sites and communities across New York.”

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Pastor Sohail Akhtar of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church offers a prayer and welcome at the annual volunteer appreciation luncheon for the Medina Food Pantry, located in the church’s basement.

Jim Hancock is congratulated by Robin Dubai at a luncheon for volunteers at the Medina Food Pantry, located in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Hancock has announced he will step down at the end of the year as treasurer of the food pantry after more than 40 years.

MEDINA – The Medina Food Pantry, operated out of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, paid tribute to its many volunteers at an annual appreciation luncheon last week.

Robin Dubai, food pantry coordinator, said some of the volunteers go “above and beyond,” like Jim Hancock and Sally Grimm.

Grimm is volunteer coordinator and Hancock, who has been treasurer for more than 40 years of the pantry’s 46-year existence, has announced he will step down from the position at the end of year.

“It’s time for someone else to take over,” he said.

Volunteer Michelle Capstick has offered to assume the duties, Hancock said.

The Medina Food Pantry serves an average of 60 families a month, according to Dubai. Eligible families must live in Medina and present proper ID. Each family is entitled to a paper bag filled with non-perishable food items and meat when it is available.

As coordinator, Dubai shops for meat and groceries items that are not donated. Meat is purchased through donations and a Foodlink grant.

“Jim instigated a fundraiser in the village recently, and it was a great success,” Dubai said. “The community was great to us.”

She also said hunters will sometime donate venison from a deer they shot, and many people love that meat.

“We are blessed to have food and monetary donations,” Dubai said.

She also said they are very thankful for their dedicated supporters, like Lake Wine and Spirits and Cindy Hewitt, who continually collect donations for the food pantry.

The food pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Thursday.

Sally Grimm, left, and Robin Dubai introduce volunteers for the Medina Food Pantry at their appreciation luncheon last week. Grimm is volunteer coordinator, while Dubai is food pantry coordinator.