MEDINA – The Seneca Chief, the boat which opened the Erie Canal in 1825 with Governor Dewitt Clinton, continued to attract visitors in the canal basin this afternoon and evening, on its return to Buffalo after traveling to Rochester.

More than 320 people visited the boat last Monday during its first stop in Monday, said Kathy Blackburn, a member of Medina’s Tourism Committee.

Replicating Monday’s visit, the Seneca Chief was open for tourists, staff was on hand to talk about the boat and Medina and Orleans County Tourism agencies had an informational tent.

Local busker Rob Robinson strolled the grounds, playing his guitar and singing songs of the Erie Canal and old favorites.

“This is pretty cool,” he said of the Seneca Chief’s visit. “People need to know how history used to be. The canal carried hundreds, even thousands of boats up and down this canal, filled with barrels of apples and grain.’

Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman talks to her in-laws, John and Sally Sherman, near the interpretive panels describing the Seneca Chief’s history.

Roger Allen was the master boat builder with Greg Dudley. Allen said he has been building wooden boats for museums since 1978, but this was the most amazing project he ever worked on.

“The reason it is so amazing to me is the size of the boat,” Allen said. “This is not a common occurrence in the United States any more. Only two of us were paid staff, and I point out the woodwork to visitors, because it was all done by volunteers.”

He explained the research which went into the project before they started building the boat.

“The Seneca Chief was a line boat we discovered in the original records,” Allen said. “It is 73 feet by 12 ½ feet.”

He explained a line boat is a specific type of boat which carries cargo and also has a passengers’ cabin. It would have carried lumber, wheat, apples or any goods manufactured or grown in the area, maybe even Medina sandstone, he said.

“A lot of early newspapers reported Dewitt Clinton got aboard a packet boat,” Allen said. “That is not true. A packet boat carried mail and passengers, not cargo.”

(Left) Sally Sherman of Buffalo, mother-in-law of Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman, examines a display of tools which would have been used to build a boat like the Seneca Chief. There was a plane, auger, a lipped adze and a maul (the large club near the front). (Right) Master boat builder Roger Allen, right, chats with John Sherman, father-in-law of Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman, as they stand in the front of the Seneca Chief. Sherman lives only 10 minutes from where the Seneca Chief was built in Buffalo and came to see the finished boat. They stand by the tiller, which was made from a piece of wood pulled from the Flight of Five Locks in Lockport.

Allen went on to say the boat is not yet finished. They still have to finish the crew’s quarters in the stern of the boat and the passengers’ cabin in the front.

Allen said Governor Clinton did a lot of promoting of the canal and he could have opened the cargo doors and shown people the tons of cargo, showcasing the many goods which could be carried on the canal.

This trip down the canal to Rochester and back is a sea trial for the Seneca Chief’s voyage next year, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the canal. The 2025 World Canals Conference will take place in Buffalo from Sept. 21 to 25, followed by the Seneca Chief’s departure from Buffalo and arrival in New York City on Oct. 26.

After departing from Medina about 8 a.m. Saturday, the Seneca Chief will return to Buffalo, where the crew’s quarters and passengers’ cabin will be finished by mid-October. Then the boat will be returned to Lockport’s Flight of Five Locks, where it will spend the winter.

MEDINA – Sunshine and warm weather created a perfect day for the annual picnic of Orleans Community Health’s North Wing this afternoon.

Activities director Adrienne Belson was in charge of arranging the picnic, which featured a buffet meal and music by David Stockton, a guitarist, flutist, percussionist and singer.

“Adrienne does a wonderful job,” said Rebecca Mannella, director of nursing in the North Wing.

Rebecca Mannella, standing, director of nursing in Orleans Community Health’s North Wing, talks with residents and families during the annual picnic. From left are Rindy Punch, a 20-year resident of the North Wing; Mary Siedlecki, Sue Monell and her husband, Jack Monell, a resident since November.

Twenty-five of the North Wing’s residents were able to come outside and enjoy the picnic with family members, which included a buffet meal of macaroni and cheese, baked beans, seasonal vegetable salad, fruit bowl, watermelon and hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on the grill by Marquis Hammonds, who has been a cook at the hospital for 16 years.

The hospital has been treating North Wing residents to a summer picnic for more than 15 years, Mannella said.

“I look forward to the picnic every year,” said Rindy Punch, a North Wing resident for 20 years. “It’s a chance to get outside.”

Marquis Hammonds, a cook at Orleans Community Health, grills hot dogs and hamburgers for the North Wing picnic on Thursday.

Punch and Mary Siedlecki of Medina enjoyed each other’s company, sharing things they have in common. Siedlecki’s husband Richard and Punch’s dad “Pook” Bielak grew up together in the Polish section of Medina.

Also at their table was Sue Monell, visiting her husband Jack, who transferred to North Wing last fall.

A table away, Fulton Rogers’ sister Nicki Fredericks of Medina and niece Cheryl Nages of Sidney were his guests for a picnic supper.

The evening activities concluded with musical entertainment by David Stockton, who sings and plays guitar, flute and percussion.

A large tent in the parking lot accommodates 25 residents of Orleans Community Health’s North Wing and their guests at the annual picnic this afternoon.

MEDINA – When Medina Lions agreed to take over the Medical Loan Closet from Lyndonville Lions prior to the Covid pandemic in 2020, they couldn’t have imagined the scope of the service they would provide.

Now, they are preparing to expand that service even further by donating medical equipment to war-torn Ukraine.

The idea was born when little more than a week ago. Lion Bill Jurinich of Lyndonville attended a family reunion in Pennsylvania.

Jurinich explained his grandfather immigrated to Pennsylvania from Ukraine, and subsequently was responsible for a large number of relatives joining him.

During the recent reunion, Jurinich learned that a family member from the Salvation Baptist Church in State College was coordinating a drive to gather supplies for families in Ukraine and Moldova.

Lion Dave Bellucci points to a huge supply of crutches which have been donated to the Lions Medical Closet. The Lions are preparing to join a Lions Club in Pennsylvania in supplying medical equipment to Ukraine.

Jurinich said his relative’s church was also looking into the logistics of getting walkers and wheelchairs, even hospital beds, to Ukraine.

In 2019, Jurinich’s Pennsylvania relatives and their church sent more than 150 coats to Orleans County for Hands for Hope, and knowing the abundance of medical equipment in the Medina Lions’ Medical Loan Closet, Jurinich approached Medina Lions with the idea to help the Pennsylvania Lions in their mission project.

He explained his Pennsylvania relatives were looking into obtaining a container to ship items such as wheelchairs, toilets and even hospital beds to Ukraine.

Jim Punch, who heads the Lions’ Medical Loan Closet, said they continue to accept donations and to loan medical equipment. Anyone wishing to donate or borrow equipment should call (585) 205-3502.

From left, Dave Bellucci, Jim Punch and Bill Jurinich look over some of the many walkers in the Medina Lions Medical Closet.

MEDINA – Steven Morse was a dedicated member of the Medina community and a devoted family man, but his claim to fame locally was his talent in spreading love and cheer as Santa Claus.

On Saturday morning, family, friends and fellow members of Medina Lions gathered in Lions Park to dedicate a bench in honor of their late husband, father and friend.

Steve’s wife Pat said it was the early 1990s when Steve and Howard Caldwell of Medina got the idea to create a Lions Park on the north side of the canal.

The Morses had moved to Medina from Buffalo around 1977, where even then Steve’s likeness to Santa Claus resulted in his being asked to play Santa at various schools. Two years after their move to Medina, the Decorate Medina Committee asked him to play Santa for them.

“We had to spray his beard white then,” Pat said.

Michael Morse, right, son of the late Steven Morse, shares memories of his dad during a ceremony Saturday morning in Lions’ Park dedicating a bench in Steven’s name. Looking on are, from left, Lions Tom Beach, Dave Bellucci and Jim Hancock and Levi Olsen, worship leader at Pat Morse’s church, the East Shelby Community Bible Church.

Always an active supporter of his community, Steve had joined Medina Lions, and shortly after Howard Caldwell came up to him and suggested the concept of a Lions Park, to remind people about the Lions Club and the work they do, Pat said.

Last year after Steve’s family began discussing a memorial in his honor, and decided on a bench in Lions’ Park. They learned it had to be in cement, and a Lions’ member anonymously donated the money for that.

Steve and Pat’s children, Michael Morse of Ashland, N.H., and Wendy Ehrenfeld of Buffalo both attended the dedication ceremony Saturday morning.

Michael talked about his dad and told one story he never forgets.

“We were in Hawaii and had just come out of the Pearl Harbor Memorial,” Michael said. “We had to lock our belongings up before we could go in, so I went to get them, and when I got back, there was dad sitting on a bench, getting his picture taken with a whole line of Japanese tourists, who thought he was Santa Claus.”

Wendy said, “Dad was always my Santa Claus.”

Pat Morse, center, sits with her son Michael Morse of New Hampshire and daughter Wendy Ehrenfeld of Buffalo on a bench they donated Saturday morning in Lions Park in memory of the late Steven Morse.

Playing Santa became Steve’s second job, Pat said.

Levi Olsen, worship leader at East Shelby Community Bible Church, where Pat attends, paid tribute to Steve.

“When they first came here to church, one of the children came running in and said, ‘I think Santa Claus is here,’” Olsen said. “He was truly Santa. He lived in a simple, loving manner. We are thankful to Steve and his gifts for our lives.”

“Jim Hancock went through a lot of red tape to get all the permits, for this bench,” Pat said.

Hancock explained the process to get the bench approved in Lions’ Park.

The idea was first brought to the Lions’ board, who approved it. Then they had to get approval from the New York State Canal Corporation, the Power Authority and Historic Preservation, Hancock said. “This became Howard’s and Steve’s prize possession.”

Hancock praised Steve for his involvement in Lions and his community. Steve was awarded a Melvin Jones Fellowship in 1995, the highest award given to a Lion member, and the Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Award in 2005.

Most people remember Steve because he portrayed Santa.

“Whenever we needed a Santa, Steve was there,” Hancock said.

Michael said whether one knew his dad as Santa, from getting an X-ray by him, by his music and singing or though his amazing love, care and support of community, he couldn’t think of a better place for this memorial bench than a park in the village Steve loved.

Pat said it the family’s wish that others consider a bench in Lions Park as a memorial for their loved ones.

Family and fellow Lions members gathered around the bench dedicated to Steven Morse on Saturday morning in Lions Park. Seated on the bench are Steven’s daughter Wendy Ehrenfeld, his widow Pat and son Michael. Standing, from left, are Lions Dean and Carol Bellack, Don Colquhoun, Ken Dunham, Tom Beach, Tom Robinson, Dave Bellucci and Jim Hancock.

Press Release, Orleans County Tourism

MEDINA – Get ready to witness history from a new perspective as the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief docks at 1 Canal Basin in Medina on Monday, Aug. 12, and Friday, Aug. 16.

Both days consist of live music, food trucks, engaging speaker series, and free tours of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief from 4 to 7 p.m.

Constructed by the Buffalo Maritime Center, the boat is a reproduction of the original Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief that opened the Erie Canal in 1825. It  will make a trial run through Lockport, Medina, Brockport and Rochester in 2024 as preparation for its 2025 voyage to New York City. The 2025 journey marks the Erie Canal Bicentennial, honoring 200 years since the canal’s official opening.

According to Dawn Borchert, Director of Orleans County Tourism, the event will happen rain or shine and attendees are encouraged to bring a chair and stay for the afternoon. Food trucks will be available for dinner at the canal basin. Visitors can take advantage of free boat and exhibit tours, witness boat-building demonstrations, and even try paddle-shaping.

This historic moment for the Buffalo Maritime Center represents an exciting opportunity for Medina to experience maritime history. The Buffalo Maritime Center inspires meaningful connections and life lessons through community boatbuilding, preserving maritime culture, and exploring the waterways of Western New York.

Learn more  by checking www.orleanscountytourism.com/events/2024-sea-trial-of-seneca-chief.

A group of friends from Medina High School with a passion for biking have added another prestigious ride to their repertoire.

Jeff and Bronwyn Green, Dave Maiorana and his companion Pam Brown Muscato, Kate Dydo Eaton and a family friend Amy Forbush of Indiana just completed a seven-day ride in the 51st Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. Tom Walders of Medina accompanied the cyclists driving a support vehicle – Maiorana’s RV he named “Lola.”

Maiorana, Jeff and Walders graduated in 1981; Bronwyn and Eaton in 1982; and Muscato in 1983.

Jeff and Bronwyn started cycling during the first year of Covid in 2020, she said. Jeff had just had a total knee replacement in 2018 and his surgeon said cycling was a safe sport for him to try.

“He’s never looked back,” Bronwyn said.

They have cycled across America, including twice on the Cycle the Erie Canal ride from Buffalo to Albany; the Gravel Grinder, a 38.4 mile ride in the Adirondacks. They are in the Adirondacks riding this week, and plan to ride the Sun Road in Glacier National Park and the Gap Trail from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Md.

Friends from Medina High School and a friend from Indiana pose with a Medina Mustang banner near the Mississippi River, after completing a seven-day ride across Iowa. Standing from left are Tom Walders, who was the riders’ support person; Jeff Green; Dave Maiorana; Kate Dydo Eaton and Amy Forbush. Kneeling are Bronwyn Green and Pam Brown Muscato.

The recent RAGBRAI, as the Iowa race is known, was one of the most challenging, Bronwyn said. It was also the first time they have ridden with Maiorana, who has a reputation as a world traveler since his retirement. He and the Greens planned for the RAGBRAI for a year.

The ride is the hilliest they have ever done, encompassing almost 20,000 feet of elevation, Bronwyn said. Where the Cycle the Erie Canal ride has 650 to 750 riders, RAGBRI had more than 18,000, making it the largest bike ride in the world.

“There was a river of bikes,” Bronwyn said. “The weather was perfect – in the 80s, and we were on the road most mornings between 5:30 and 6 a.m. “

The shortest day was 40 miles and the longest was 84 with an option to do 100. Jeff, Bronwyn and Forbush did the 100 miles.

The towns they passed through were all ready to welcome the riders with drinks, port-a-johns, snacks and bike repairs.

One van who followed the riders was pink and called “Pork Chop.” They cooked pork chops along the way and at a stop, each rider was handed a pork chop.

Maiorana and Muscato are next heading to Europe at the end of August to tour Italy and Spain for a month.

Bronwyn said they owe credit to Maiorana and Eaton for starting the wheel turning for the RAGBRAI trip to Iowa.

“We had all kept in contact after a Celebration of Champions get-together a couple of years ago,” Bronwyn said. “We all had cycling in common, and the trip, thanks to Dave as team leader, became a reality.”

The Greens plan to do the Virginia Creeper ride in September and may join Eaton and Forbush in Indiana to ride the Hilly Hundred in October.

MEDINA – A bike helmet safety event held at the YMCA on Friday was considered a success by sponsors, in spite of a rainy day.

The event, sponsored by Orleans Community Health in collaboration with the Orleans County YMCA and Medina Area Partnership had to be canceled in early July because of weather and was rescheduled for Aug. 2 at the YMCA. In spite of rain that day also, 15 children did show up for the event which took place inside.

“It wasn’t what we were hoping for, but it was well worth it,” said Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach at Orleans Community Health. “It’s something we intend to do again in the spring.”

All the children were provided with information on bike and helmet safety, Robinson said. These safety tips included hand signals, what to wear, the importance of riding with others and a variety of other useful pieces of information.”

The event was designed to promote bicycle safety and the overall importance of wearing helmets during certain activities. Members of the community donated bicycle, skateboarding and even snowboarding helmets to the effort, Robinson said.

“A large thank you goes out to members of the community, supporting organizations and the YMCA for hosting this event,” Robinson said. “Any time we can come together to promote health and safety activities, we’re helping to create positive change. Thanks also goes to the Medina Police Department for stopping by and speaking with the children.”

The event included an indoor course, bicycle décor, helmets and safety tips for young riders. Helmets not handed out that day will be donated to the Medina Police Department for National Night Out this evening and future bike safety activities.

MEDINA – Various members of the tourism industry in Orleans County met Monday afternoon to finalize plans for a visit of the historic Seneca Chief in Medina on Aug. 12 and 16.

The Seneca Chief is an exact replica of the boat carrying Governor Dewitt Clinton, which opened the Erie Canal in 1825. This year’s trip is a trial run from Buffalo to Brockport. Next year the boat will go from Buffalo to New York City as part of a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Erie Canal.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Barb Gorham and Jim Hancock hold up a banner provided by the Canal Corporation which will be placed in the canal basin during the visit of the replica Seneca Chief to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the canal next year.

At Monday’s meeting were Jim Hancock, chair of Medina Tourism Committee; Tourism Committee members Kathy Blackburn, Barb Gorham and Jan Smith; Dawn Borchert, director of Orleans County Tourism; Chris Busch, president of Orleans Renaissance Group; Justin Bruce, manager of Harvest Restaurant; Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman; and Brian Hellner, operator of Medina’s Canal Tours and a former vice president of the Buffalo Maritime Center board.

The Buffalo Maritime Center built the full-sized replica of the Seneca Chief from 2019 to 2024 with the help of hundreds of volunteers.

Hancock learned about the project this past January and contacted Brian Trzeciak, executive director of the Buffalo Maritime Center, asking if the boat could make a stop in Medina. In March, Trzeciak visited Medina, and scoped it out, Sherman said.

“This year’s trip is a precursor to what is going to happen next year,” Hancock said. “They will spend a full day here on Sept. 25 enroute to New York City, and we will have a full schedule of events planned.”

On Monday, and again on the return trip on Friday, the Seneca Chief will be docked in the canal basin and will be open for free tours from 4 to 7 p.m. The public is invited to visit for a couple of hours or make a day of it.

Other features include a Buffalo Maritime Center tent filled with merchandise; opening remarks by Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman and Brian Trzeciak from Buffalo Maritime Center at 4 p.m. musical entertainment by local busker Rob Robinson at 4:15 p.m.; and a series of speakers at 5:30 p.m., including Roger Allen and Greg Dudley, BMC boatbuilders, Tonawanda Reservation historian Terry Adams and Medina historian Todd Bensley.

At 7 p.m. on Monday and Friday, the crew and volunteers with the Seneca Chief will be treated to a complimentary dinner at Harvest Restaurant and lodging at Bent’s Hotel, if rooms are available.

The schedule for both days the Seneca Chief is in the canal basin are the same, with the exception of Aug. 16, when an additional speaker at 5:30 p.m. will be John Montague, founder of the BMC.

Members of various segments of the tourism industry met Monday afternoon to finalize plans for the arrival of the historic Erie Canal boat in Medina on Aug. 12 and 16. Clockwise from left front are Brian Hellner, operator of Medina’s Canal Boat tours and former board member of the Buffalo Maritime Center; Barb Gorham from Medina’s Tourism Committee; Justin Bruce, manager of Harvest Restaurant; Dawn Borchert, director of Orleans County Tourism; Chris Busch, president of Orleans Renaissance Group; Marguerite Sherman, mayor of Medina; Jim Hancock, chair of Medina’s Tourism Committee; and Kathy Blackburn and Jan Smith, both members of Medina’s Tourism Committee.

“The village is very excited to welcome the Seneca Chief, a traditionally built, full-sized replica of the boat that opened the Erie Canal in 1825,” Sherman said in a memo from her office. “This 73-foot boat will be doing a sea trial in preparation for next year’s bicentennial canal celebration, where it will complete a Bicentennial Voyage from Buffalo to New York City in September and October of 2025.”

In order to make this the best experience possible, Sherman said traffic will be limited in the canal basin. On Sunday and Thursday evenings, the roadway between the Napa building and Hemp House will be blocked off and re-opened once the boat departs on the 13th and 17th.

In addition, the parking area between the canal and the grassy area closer to the buildings will be blocked off so tents and a staging area can be set up. The parking area directly behind the buildings will be accessible, but will be limited to one-way traffic so business owners can get in and out.

Those planning to visit the Seneca Chief in Medina’s canal basin are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, as there will be no seating provided.

Press Release, National Night Out in Orleans County

MEDINA – The Medina Police Department, with the assistance of the Medina Police Advisory National Night Out Sub-Committee, are collaborating again for this year’s Orleans County National Night Out.

We are proud to give an update on this year’s event that will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Medina Clifford Wise Intermediate School, 1016 Gwinn St.

National Night Out started in the 1980s as a way to bring law enforcement and citizens together nationwide on the same night each year. We have expanded on that principle and put together an event that focuses on bringing many agencies and organizations together for the annual National Night Out date each year.

Participants in this event will include law enforcement from throughout the county, fire agencies, EMS responders, civic organizations and other groups that will be providing activities and giveaways. Some of the big hits from past events have been the “Battle of the Belts,” K-9 demonstrations and the bike rodeo.

Our mission is simple. We want an event where families can come for a night and be entertained at no cost, eating and having fun in an environment that is free of violence, alcohol, tobacco and drugs. We hope citizens can meet members of our local organizations and get to know the services they provide to our community.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors, participants, and volunteers who have helped make this event possible!

We will also be providing regular updates through our Facebook pages: National Night Out – Orleans  and Medina Police Department.

Tentative Schedule

• 6 p.m. – Mercy Flight Landing
• 6:45 p.m. – Battle of the Belts
• 7:15 p.m. – K-9 Demonstration

Tentative Dunk Tank Participants

• Police Chief Todd Draper
• Fire Chief Matt Jackson
• Village Trustee Jess Marciano
• Village Trustee Diana Baker
• Pastor Jovannie Canales

Highlighted Activities:

• Free Hot Dogs, Water, & Chips
• Bike Rodeo,
• Child Car Seat Safety Inspections
• Llamas & Alpacas
• Bounce House
• Coloring Contest
• Spray House
• Games and Giveaways
• Police and Fire equipment
• Appearances by Safety Pup
• Caricature
• Magician