By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2022 at 10:11 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A Day of the Dead display is part of this ofrenda that was created inside the Orleans County YMCA. The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) teamed with the YMCA and Mariachi de Oro to put on the event today. GO Art! counted 420 participants, the most in the three years the Day of the Dead has been at the YMCA.
This ofrenda in back was created by the Rosario family. An ofrenda is an offering placed in a home altar during the annual Mexican Día de Muertos celebration. An ofrenda is often large and elaborate, and is usually created by the family members of a person who has died and is intended to welcome the deceased to the altar setting.
Jesse Cudzilo, YMCA director, was happy to share the facility on Pearl Street for the Day of the Dead.
“It is exactly what we want this place to be – a place where everybody can come together,” he said.
He was pleased to see the big turnout “from people of different backgrounds enjoying a cultural event.”
This display gave people a chance to write notes to a departed loved one.
The Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration is a time of joyful remembrance of deceased loved ones, filled with an array of colors, scents, sounds and stories.
Centered around the observance of All Saints and All Souls Days on Nov. 1 and 2, the celebration also includes images and ideas about the roles of ancestors that trace back to Mexico’s indigenous peoples. Tradition holds that this is the one time of the year when souls can return to earth for a day and commune with their families and friends.
Erin Allis, 9, of Median gets her face painted by Lydia Fox, a Medina High School student who volunteered as face painter. Other art students at Medina helped with the celebration.
Antonio Cruz Zavaleta created this sand painting.
After he made the sand painting, Antonio Cruz Zavaleta served in the popular face painting station.
The festivities included Mexican crafts, dance and drama performance, sand painting and ofrenda displays, and special food tastings.
Karla Alcalá teaches Mexican folklore dances. A former member of a folkloric dance group in Mexico, Alcalá now teaches community members traditional dance from a variety of regions.
Mexican dance and music performances were shared by Alma de México, a group from Rochester.
Abby Fuller made more than 50 paper flowers that she shared with people.
Eleanor Oakes, 5, of Medina makes a mask.
In another activity, children were welcome to create colorfully decorated skulls or calaveras. GO Art! ran out of all 200 of those sugar skulls that were decorated with icing.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 October 2022 at 9:16 am
St. Joseph’s in Albion, Canal Culvert in Ridgeway and Ryan Quarry House in Clarendon recognized by Medina Sandstone Society
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Medina Sandstone Society added three sites to its Hall of Fame at Medina City Hall. There are now 35 sites in the Hall of Fame which was established in 2013. Pictured from left include: Brandan Simon, west region canal engineer for Canal Corporation (representing the Canal Culvert); Maureen and Robert Christian, owners of the Ryan Quarry home on South Holley Road in Clarendon; and the Rev. Richard Csizmar, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Albion which was recognized for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, its lyceum on Main Street and the chapel at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Route 31.
MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Society inducted three members into the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame on Thursday, bringing the total to 35 sites that have now been recognized since the Hall of Fame was established in 2013.
The three new inductees are all in Orleans County and include the Erie Canal Culvert in the Town of Ridgeway, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Albion (including the parish’s lyceum and cemetery chapel), and the Ryan Quarry home owned by Robert and Maureen Christian on South Holley Road in Clarendon.
The Hall of Fame includes churches, mansions, civic buildings, monuments and public works projects from Erie, Pa., to Buffalo, Batavia and Orleans County, Rochester and the Finger Lakes region.
Dave Miller welcomes about 30 people to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday in the main meeting room at Medina City Hall. The Hall of Fame plaques are all made and donated by Takeform.
David Miller, Hall of Fame Committee chairman, said the Sandstone Society wants to showcase how the local quarried stone was used to build so many magnificent sites.
“What a wealth of beautiful buildings that have come out of the ground in Orleans County,” he said during Thursday afternoon’s Hall of Fame ceremony at Medina City Hall. “We need to appreciate them.”
About 70 sites have now been nominated for the hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Committee wants to recognize Medina Sandstone sites with exceptional beauty, architectural uniqueness and longevity, or as Miller said, sites “that have the wow effect.”
Miller said the Sandstone Society welcomes more nominations. (Click here for more information.)
The Canal Culvert on Culvert Road in Ridgeway was initially built in 1823 for the Erie Canal. The current culvert was built in 1911 when the canal was enlarged. This is the only spot where traffic can go under the Erie Canal.
While the Hall of Fame features many ornate churches, mansions and civic structures, the Canal Culvert is the first inductee that served a more utilitarian purpose as a public infrastructure project.
The culvert has a 7 foot, 6 inch clearance, with a peak height of 11 feet inside the tunnel.
The stone tunnel is 200 feet long, 11 feet high at its peak and 19 feet wide. It is an iconic site in Orleans County, and is one of a kind on the 524-mile-long canal system – the only place where you can drive under the canal. The site has been featured on Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
The culvert was originally built in 1823 and was enlarged when the canal was expanded. The current culvert was built in 1911 as part of the Barge Canal enlargement.
The stone arch structure has a reinforced concrete prism liner directly above it, said Brendan Simon, west region canal engineer for the Canal Corp.
“The structure is near and dear to the canals,” Simon said. “I don’t know of any other structure like it on the canal system. Our staff is passionate about maintaining key pieces of infrastructure like the stone arch culvert.”
Simon said the Canal Corp. is gearing up for the 200th anniversary celebration of the Erie Canal in 2025. That year Buffalo will host the World Canals Conference.
Photos by David Miller: The Ryan Quarry House has been lovingly restored and cared for by Maureen and Robert Christian. The home was built in 1863 from stone likely obtained from the nearby banks of Sandy Creek. A former quarry on the property is now a 2-acre pond. This farmhouse became the office building for the Ryan Company quarry beginning in 1920.
The induction of the Ryan Quarry House at 4160 South Holley Rd. in Clarendon is the first Hall of Fame inductee that has a direct link to a Medina Sandstone quarry operation.
The house was likely built from sandstone from the banks of the east branch of Sandy Creek. This was in 1863 when there weren’t any commercial quarries in Clarendon.
This part of Clarendon and Holley would later have three quarries – Down’s and Gorman’s quarry in 1881, Gleason Place quarry in 1890 and the large Ryan Company quarry in 1920.
The Ryan quarry was adjacent to the house at 4160 South Holley Rd. and the building was used as an office building for the Ryan Company in the 1920s and much of the ’30s. Writing from Civilian Conservation Corps workers were found inside on the walls of the house during a later restoration.
Dave Miller of the Sandstone Society praised Maureen and Robert Christian for an extensive renovation and upkeep since they bought it in 1977. They credited their aunt Flo Johnson for saving the site when she bought it in 1950. At that point the site had been abandoned with a collapsed roof and trees growing up inside the house.
“She was told it was too far gone,” Mr. Christian said. “But she always wanted a stone house in the country.”
The Christians bought the house from her in 1977 and raised their three children at the house. Mrs. Christian said the sound of the nearby creek and waterfalls is peaceful and relaxing.
“We just love the history of it,” she said. “It’s built like a fortress.”
Her husband said the family has tried to maintain a part of the county’s sandstone legacy.
“That’s what it’s all about – being a steward of it,” he said.
Miller said the Hall of Fame would like to include more history of local quarrying families. The group welcomes biographies of families that were prominent in the local quarrying industry.
Photos by Tom Rivers: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Albion is a new member of the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame. The First Baptist Church, right, is St. Joseph’s neighbor on West Park Street.
The induction of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is long overdue, said Jim Hancock, a member of Hall of Fame Committee. The site was nominated this year by former County Historian Bill Lattin. It joins other Albion sites in the Hall of Fame including the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, First Presbyterian Church of Albion, and the Civil War Monument at Mount Albion Cemetery.
St. Joseph’s Church was dedicated in 1897, built of locally quarried sandstone in a Gothic Revival style on West Park Street. The parish also dedicated St. Joseph’s School and Lyceum on Main Street in 1905 and then a new chapel at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Route 31 in 1920. The lyceum is the first school to be included in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame Committee praised Holy Family Parish for its care of the three sites for more than a century.
The Rev. Richard Csizmar, pastor of the parish since 1994, said many people over the years have given resources, time and talent to keep up the sites. The lyceum recently completed a $100,000 renovation, he noted.
“They’re so valuable, so beautiful, and so memorable” he said about the buildings. “They are gifts from God.”
The Medina Sandstone Society also highlighted the lyceum and chapel in the Hall of Fame induction for St. Joseph’s, which is in the Holy Family Parish.
Editor’s Note: Orleans Hub editor Tom Rivers is a member of the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame Committee.
MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Trust is making several thousand dollars available in grants to community organizations and projects.
The grants generally range from $200 to $500 and are awarded to qualifying not-for-profit organizations and/or programs in the Medina, Ridgeway and Shelby region.
Funding is intended to help programs that clearly benefit the community and that have favorable tax and regulatory status.
To apply for a grant, organization leaders need to fill out a Sandstone Trust Applications form and mail to Sandstone Trust, Post Office Box 25, Medina, New York 14103 by the application deadline, Nov. 4.
Application forms can be obtained as follows:
In person at Michael Zelazny, CPA, 511 Main Street, Medina, NY 14103
By regular mail request sent to Sandstone Trust, PO Box 25, Medina, NY 14103
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 October 2022 at 9:42 am
Owner Shawn Ramsey strives for fun atmosphere, creative staff
Photos by Tom Rivers: Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo, stands in the side of the building where Canalside clothing and merchandise are available, as well as other items created by artisans and other vendors in Western New York. He said there are 600 different items for sale. Ramsey tries to create a unique atmosphere, including the display of “Hannah,” a hammerhead shark and “Goose Wayne.”
MEDINA – When the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce announced Canalside Tattoo as the Chamber’s business of the year for 2022, Chamber director Darlene Hartway acknowledged there was some pushback.
Some people wondered how a tattoo shop, on Medina’s bustling Main Street, stood out among so many other businesses.
Hartway said Canalside, owned by Shawn Ramsey, brings an energy to the downtown. The business has steadily been expanding, frequently hosts community benefits and has created a welcoming atmosphere, while winning over naysayers.
“They have grown so much,” Hartway said. “They are active in the community. They are active in fundraisers. When you go in, it feels like a family. Shawn is a wonderful person.”
Ramsey said some people, including a village official, initially were concerned when he moved Canalside to the former Curvin’s News & Smoke Shop at 540 Main St. But that official now sees Canalside as a Main Street attraction, rather than a detriment, viewing Canalside much like a salon with a focus on cleanliness and comfort.
Photo by VarukaBlue Photography: The Canalside Tattoo team includes, from left: Andrew London, Megan Furness, James Christian, Maisie Griffin, Shawn Ramsey, CJ Cruickshank, Tyler VerCruysse, Allison Stanton and Matthew Rolfe. Missing from is Amanda Falker, the studio manager who also took this photo.
Ramsey, 47, opened Canalside in Medina in 2015. Initially he was the lone tattoo artist in a 700-square-foot space on East Center Street. The 1993 Medina graduate came back to Medina after working 18 years as a graphic artist in Pittsburgh.
Ramsey has a degree from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He started his career with a sign company and then worked in web design and software development. He also was a tattoo artist his last 12 years in Pittsburgh.
“I was having a successful design career in Pittsburgh,” Ramsey said. “But I didn’t get a lot of personal satisfaction. This allows me to be part of our little town and on main Street and work with people on a one-on-one basis.”
“Blue” or the “Medina-saur” is on the wall on the side of the business where the tattoo artists work. The dinosaur was created by Rashad Santiago of Batavia, who makes props for movies. He also made a Triceratops head that is part of the Canalside experience.
Canalside proved popular in Medina. After two years, Ramsey moved the business to the former Curvin’s site on Main Street with 2,500 square feet. Each year he has typically added a tattoo artist. Canalside now has six full-time tattoo artists, two piercers, and two other support staff that manage the office and a gift shop with Canalside clothing and products from artisans in Western New York.
Canalside expanded next to Curvin’s and now has 4,000 square feet. That gives more room for the merchandise, as well a private room for tattoos, a “selfie wall” and more wall space items Ramsey finds to make Canalside a fun environment. He has a hammerhead shark mounted on the wall, as well as two dinosaur heads made by Rashad Santiago of Batavia, who makes props for movies. Ramsey also has Star Wars figurines on the shelves, bowling trophies from the 1960s from the former Ranallo’s Lanes in Medina, and a giant skeleton that greets people at the front door.
Canalside is decorated for Halloween year-round and really embraces the holiday during October.
But Ramsey said it’s about bringing people into a fun atmosphere, that is clean and comfortable.
He sees customers become empowered with a tattoo, leaving with added confidence.
“We’re incredibly open to all walks of life,” he said. “We are very accepting.”
Tattoos are widely accepted, and many of the Canalside customers come back again and again. About two thirds of the customers are women. People want tattoos to celebrate milestones – a wedding, a graduation, a new child, even the success of the Buffalo Bills. They also seek a tattoo in a time of mourning to honor a loved one.
Many of the Canalside customers just want to express their individuality with tattoos, Ramsey said.
“It’s been growing in popularity,” he said about tattoos. “The younger generations are drawn to tattoos as a way to stand out.”
He has seen how the quality of the artwork has improved dramatically with vibrant colors lasting much longer. There are better tattoo machines, and needles and pigments, he said. The Ink Master television show also has helped showcase the talents of tattoo artists, Ramsey said.
Shawn Ramsey is shown with a 12-foot-high skeleton near the entrance of Canalside. The skeleton has blinking eyes. Ramsey named the skeleton “Gray Skelley” after Grace Kelly. Ramsey said Canalside is decorated year-round for Halloween.
Canalside is fortunate to have talented artists who connect with customers, Ramsey said.
“We hire based on personality,” he said. “We look for warm, friendly and motivated.”
Ramsey and his staff brainstorm community service projects, and look for ways to build their camaraderie, including Friday Night Flights, a monthly paper airplane competition where the paper size and type change. The Canalside team also has gone apple picking together and competed in ax throwing.
Ramsey has embraced community fundraising efforts including an annual toy drive, tattoo challenges for different causes, a “Medina Strong” campaign to benefit the local hospital during the early days of Covid, and a fundraiser this spring that raised $10,000 for Cat by Cat Inc. That paid for care for feral cats in the community. The cats were spayed or neutered, and also vaccinated and given flea medications.
The Chamber will present the “Business of the Year” and other awards on Thursday during a celebration at the White Birch in Lyndonville.
Provided photos: Bob Hiller of Medina poses with his family at a basket raffle fundraiser Saturday at Medina High School to help with his medical bills, as he fights cancer. His wife Lee, a secretary in Medina High School’s guidance office, stands behind him.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 October 2022 at 8:07 am
MEDINA – The family of Bob Hiller is completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from the community for the Medina resident who is battling cancer.
On Saturday, staff at Medina Central School and friends put on a basket raffle to help Hiller and his wife Lee with medical expenses.
“It was a tremendous success,” said Barb Michaud, who helped organize the fundraiser with Lisa Bitsas and Lisa Prentice. “The community was very generous and we want to thank them.”
The Hiller’s daughter Bailey poster her appreciation on Facebook.
“Thank you to everyone who came out,” Bailey wrote. Thank you to those who may not have been able to make it but continue to send my parents notes of encouragement and prayers. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the donors, big and small, the meals and the visits. It’s easy to get discouraged by the constant trips to Roswell, the disappointment that this therapy might not work, the infusions, the transfusions. But to see the love and support from all of you guys is amazing. He continues to push forward and we love your continued love and support.”
People line up at the door to attend a basket raffle fundraiser Saturday at Medina High School for Bob Hiller.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 October 2022 at 9:36 am
ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency has sold 3.26 acres of land to Brunner, a manufacturer on Maple Ridge Road in Medina.
Brunner is paying $60,000 for the land behind its current building. Brunner already has two small structures on the land and has space if the company expands in the future.
The sale will be split between the EDA and the Orleans Land Restoration Corp. The EDA uses the Land Restoration Corp. for projects and land improvements at some of its business parks. After fees with the sale, the EDA and Land Restoration Corp. will each receive $27,500.
The EDA board of directors approved the sale on Friday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 October 2022 at 6:15 pm
Ashlee Warren decides to give the vehicle to her dad, who is an ‘amazing father and grandpa’
Provided photos
MEDINA – The Tim Hortons in Medina celebrated Ashlee Warren, a long-time customer who is the only confirmed winner in the United States for the “Roll Up The Rim To Win” promotion. Warren won a new Ford Bronco.
Pictured, from left, include Joey Filippelli (owner of Tim Hortons in Medina), Jared Karbowski (owner), Ashlee Warren (the winning customer) and Jen Karbowski (owner).
Ashlee Warren is all smiles as the grand prize winner during an event Oct. 5 at the Tim Hortons on Maple Ridge Road. She said she is very grateful to have won the vehicle.
The “Roll Up The Rim To Win” promotion was held from March 7 to April 3.
Warren said she has been a faithful customer of the Tim Hortons since it opened in Medina and plays the promotional games.
“I never thought I’d ever be a person to win a brand new vehicle,” she said. “I happened to be going through emails and seen one that said Tim Hortons Roll Up The Rim promotion. Once I read it, I didn’t actually believe it. I responded back “is this for real?” I got an email back stating yes and I needed to send in some paper work.”
Warren took care of the paperwork and received a congratulatory email that she won the Bronco. She decided to give the vehicle to her father.
“He’s my hero and deserves everything great,” Warren said. “He’s a very hard working man. He is everything a man should be. He’s an absolutely amazing father and grandpa. No matter the job my daddy had always got it done. From showing me how to bat and throw a ball, to fixing a car, to fixing computers and showing me endless love from my very first breath. He deserves a brand new vehicle more than any one I know. He’s overdue for something amazing like this to happen.”
Ashlee Warren won a new Bronco through the promotion, which usually results in prizes for a free beverage or baked good.
There were only two potential winners out of 650 locations in the United States. So far the Medina customer is the only confirmed winner.
“She is a great customer,” said Jennifer Karbowski, chief operating office and managing owner of the Medina site. “She comes through the drive-through and is a very frequent customer. That chance is very slim, and to happen in Medina is a beautiful deal. I’m so happy for her.”
Photo courtesy of Medina Band Boosters: The Medina band is shown in “Full Company Front” with the entire band lined up across the field.
Posted 16 October 2022 at 5:06 pm
Press Release, Medina Band Boosters
Victor Central School held a marching band competition on Saturday for Medina’s fifth competition of the season. A total of 13 bands performed in five different classifications.
The Pride of Rochester, a newly formed band, performed in exhibition. In SS1, Medina earned 1st place with a score of 84.15, followed by East Irondequoit at 83.85. Both of these bands are under the leadership of Medina alumni.
In SS3 Marcus Whitman earned 1st place with a score of 75.10 followed by Falconer-Frewsburg with 73.35 and Pioneer in 3rd at 73.10.
In LS3 Greece earned 1st place with a score of 79.10, followed by Hilton with a score of 76.15.
In LS2 Orchard Park earned 1st place with 81.6 followed by Webster with 81.45
There were three national bands competing and Victor earned 1st place with 88.80, followed by Lancaster in 2nd in with 86.80 and Jamestown in 3rd with 85.30.
Medina will travel to Central Square on Oct. 22 and then onto the Dome Championship on Oct. 30 in Syracuse.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 October 2022 at 9:17 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Debbie Fuller of Medina, left, her daughter Marie Phillips and granddaughter Mazie of Albion, brought the first donations of the season to Sherry Tuohey, second from left, at the First Methodist Church of Medina on Saturday for MAAC’s Christmas barrels.
MEDINA – The Medina Area Association of Churches annual Christmas Barrel Program got its first donation of the season, thanks to a little girl who wanted a lemonade stand.
Mazie Phillips, 4, daughter of Dennis and Marie Phillips of Albion and granddaughter of Debbie Fuller and Pudgie Bale of Medina, saw a lemonade stand on YouTube and begged her mother all summer to let her have one.
Finally, the family agreed, and Fuller came up with the idea to make it a fundraiser. On Sept. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m., Bale let Mazie set up her lemonade stand at his vegetable stand on North Gravel Road.
Mazie’s mom made lemonade from real lemons and bought cider. Bale donated pumpkins. The family promoted the stand on Facebook, and people started making donations. When the afternoon ended, Mazie had made $600.
“When we started setting up in the morning, people were already stopping,” Fuller said.
Marie said Mazie helped with the whole event. Her mom cut up apples which Mazie dropped in the cider. She also put the sugar in the lemonade and stirred it.
“She took all the customers’ money and helped people pick out pumpkins,” Marie said.
They decided to use the proceeds to benefit the MAAC Christmas program. After the sale was over, Fuller took Mazie shopping and she picked out a lot of the gifts and the books, Fuller said. They bought sports equipment and ear buds for boys and makeup kits for girls, in addition to dolls and games.
Sherry Tuohey, who heads the MAAC Christmas Barrel Program, was delighted with their selection of gifts.
“Teens are the hardest to buy for and we are always short of gifts for that age,” she said. “We also have a need for books for ages 3 to 18.”
Fuller said she hopes other kids will follow Mazie’s lead and do the same.
“It’s important kids learn to give back to other people,” she said. “We have an abundance of opportunities given to us, so it is important to share with others.”
Mazie Phillips, 4, helps her mom Marie and grandma Debbie Fuller fill a MAAC Christmas barrel with $600 worth of toys her grandma bought with money Mazie earned from a lemonade stand.
“I’m so thankful they came up with this idea,” Tuohey said.
Mazie is in Pre-K in Albion and at the Tree House, her mother said.
MAAC’s Christmas program will start on Nov. 2 when Medina firefighters deliver 40 barrels to locations within the Medina and Knowlesville zip codes. The public is urged to help fill the barrels with toys, gifts, crafts, games, books, hat, gloves, socks and non-perishable food items.
To qualify to receive a Christmas box the applicant must be from the Medina School District, zip codes 14103 and 14479 (Knowlesville). Eligible individuals are children up to 18 years of age and their parents/guardians and senior citizens 62 and older. Sign-up must be completed during the second and third weeks of November.
Applications will be taken at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 1355 West Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 8 and 15; and at Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God, 11031 Maple Ridge Rd., Medina, from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 10 and 17.
Applicants will need to show proof of household (birth certificates or Social Security cards; proof of residence (utility bill); and one proof of income. (Department of Social Services award letter, SSED/SSI/SSP award letter, pay stubs, most recent tax return or SNAP letter.
For more information, contact Tuohey at (585) 356-8346 or (585) 798-6657 and leave a message.
File photos by Tom Rivers: Erin Allis, 8, of Medina has her face painted on Oct. 23, 2021 at the Orleans County YMCA as part of the fourth annual Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration or the Day of the Dead. The event returns on Oct. 22.
Posted 14 October 2022 at 11:40 am
Press Release, Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council
MEDINA – GO ART! is happy to invite you to our Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration, co-sponsored by the Orleans County YMCA and Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill.
Join us on Saturday, October 22 at the Orleans County YMCA, 306 Pearl St., Medina, from 3 to 7 p.m. Come learn about and enjoy this holiday that remembers ancestors, with free activities for the whole family.
The festivities will include Mexican crafts, face painting, dance and drama performance, sand painting and ofrenda displays, and special food tastings. All activities will continue throughout the day. A full schedule can be found at www.MedinaDoD.com.
The Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration is a time of joyful remembrance of deceased loved ones, filled with an array of colors, scents, sounds and stories. Centered around the observance of All Saints and All Souls Days on November 1 and 2, the celebration also includes images and ideas about the roles of ancestors in our lives that trace back to Mexico’s indigenous peoples. Tradition holds that this is the one time of the year when souls can return to earth for a day and commune with their families and friends.
The celebration last year included Mexican dance, music and dramatic performances by Alma de México, a group from Rochester led by Karla Alcalá. They will be back for the event on Oct. 22.
“We’re excited to be at the YMCA again this year, with the continuing support of local Medina businesses and community members,” says Karen Canning, director of GLOW Traditions at GO ART!
Mexican celebrations of the holiday often include animated skeletons, colorfully decorated skulls (calaveras), elaborately cut tissue paper banners, emphasizing life’s continuing vibrancy in the midst of mortality. Local business owners and community groups are hosting workshops in such arts, including sugar skulls, paper flowers and banners, and paper masks.
Hosts and volunteers include Della’s Chocolates, The Downtown Browsery, Oak Orchard Girl Scouts, and Medina High School students. Canalside Tattoos will offer temporary tattoos, Case-Nic Cookies will have Day of the Dead themed treats for sale, and Las Toxicas will feature Mexican jewelry and clothing for purchase. GO ART! staff will host face painting, and Mariachi de Oro will provide samples of Mexican hot chocolate and pan de muerto (bread of the dead), a typical food of the holiday.
Beautiful altars (ofrendas) in homes welcome the returning souls and feature candles, wild marigolds, incense, photographs, mementos and loved ones’ favorite foods like fruit, tortillas, tamales, chocolate, and bread.
People dance inside these puppets were more than 10 feet tall. The street puppets were created by artist, Antonio Cruz Zavaleta. He is among the returning artists for the upcoming Day of the Dead.
Members of the Rosario family will again create a large ofrenda at the YMCA in the style of their hometown in Oaxaca, Mexico. Artist Antonio Cruz Zavaleta will create a sand painting in front of the ofrenda, another decorative art found in Oaxaca for the holiday—check the schedule for a Q & A with the creators of these artistic traditions.
Attendees can contribute to a community ofrenda, where they can place a candle (electric, provided) and add their own remembrances of loved ones.
Mexican dance and music performances will be presented by Alma de México, a group from Rochester led by Karla Alcalá. A former member of a folkloric dance group in Mexico, Karla now teaches community members traditional dance from a variety of regions. Live music will also be provided by La Marimba, a marimba band from Buffalo, led by Tiffany Nicely.
Large monos de calenda (street puppets), created by artist, Antonio Cruz Zavaleta, will also return to dance and wander among attendees. Everyone’s invited to join in, and feel free to come in Day of the Dead themed outfits.
This year we welcome four artists—Dan Butler, Ted Canning, Ruben Ornelas and Gaitrie Subryan—from the newly-formed GLOW Creatives collective, supported by a 2-year grant from Creatives Rebuild New York. They will assist with face painting, sound reinforcement, and presentations of personal ofrendas and dance—see the online schedule for exact timing (www.medinadod.com).
The event is co-sponsored by GLOW Traditions at GO ART!, Mariachi de Oro Restaurant, and the YMCA, with partial funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
The gymnasium at the Y will be transformed for the celebration of the Day of the Dead.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 October 2022 at 11:26 am
MEDINA – The Medina Police Department has made an arrest today on the stabbing incidents that occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 9.
Nicholas Amos, 43, of Medina has been charged with two counts of assault in the first degree (Class B felony), 3 counts of assault in the third degree (Class D felony), five counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree (Class D felony), criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Class D felony) and disorderly conduct, which is a violation.
Police officers were dispatched to 610 Main St. at 1:35 a.m. on Sunday for a stabbing. There was an altercation and five people were stabbed, the Medina Police Department said today.
Multiple individuals were transported to the hospital and two of the victims required surgery for their injuries. All of the victims are now in stable condition, and there were no fatalities involved with this incident, police said in a news release.
Amos was processed and transported to Orleans County Jail for centralized arraignment.
“The Medina Police Department would like to commend all of our officers who were involved in this in-depth investigation,” the department stated in the press release. “We would also like to thank the agencies who responded and assisted on the night of the incident, including the Albion Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, New York State Police, Sheriff’s Dispatch, Medina Fire Department, and COVA Ambulance.”
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Officer Dustin Meredith with the Medina Police Department presented a program on scams at the Medina Senior Center on Monday.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 13 October 2022 at 8:23 am
MEDINA – Seniors who attended the October dinner meeting at the Senior Center Monday got a lesson in how to stay safe and avoid scams.
Guest speaker for the luncheon meeting was officer Dustin Meredith of the Medina Police Department, who gave a presentation on the various scams that are targeted to seniors.
Meredith has been employed in Natural Resource Conservation, animal control with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and now as the School Resource Officer at Medina Central School.
He explained “fraud” as any criminal deception intended to obtain financial gain.
One area scam artists work in is healthcare, and Meredith said everyone should treat their Medicare number like their Social Security number. Don’t give it to anyone but your doctor or trusted family member.
“We don’t have much success in apprehending these types of scammers,” the officer said.
To prevent credit card scams, Meredith recommends reviewing bank accounts and credit card statements regularly. And never allow a website to remember your credit card information, he said. If a credit card is lost or stolen, call the bank and have it deactivated immediately.
Wire fraud is another type of scam targeting seniors. A senior will get a call saying it is their grandson or a lawyer for the grandson who is in jail and needs $5,000 to get out.
“In cases like that, we are not going to call you on the phone,” Meredith said. “I’ve been in Medina a couple of years now and have dealt with that scam multiple times.”
As school resource officer, Meredith said he has seen students who lost money through Facebook because they befriended someone they didn’t know. He said everyone should be aware if they get a friend request from someone they are already friends with, it is a scam.
Romance scams are also a big problem. A man contacts a lady and gains her trust, often hurrying the romance along. Then they ask for money, for example, for a plane ticket to come and see her, and then they vanish. Meredith has also seen several local cases like that.
Meredith also offered suggestions for home safety. Always lock all the doors and windows to your home, car and garage, he said. Make sure no valuables are visible in your vehicle. Several seniors just recently had their purses stolen out of their cars in the Senior Center parking lot.
Install cameras if possible, Meredith said. Make sure the exterior of the home is well lit. A simple deterrent is the installation of motion lights. He also said people should realize if they leave their garage door opener in their car and it is broken into, the thief can now get into the house.
Criminals like the dark, Meredith said, so keep trees and shrubs around the house trimmed.
“An unkept property looks inviting to a criminal,” he said.
He also advised residents who go away to inform their police department or ask a friend or neighbor to keep check on their home. If requested, the police department will make regular checks on the home to make sure it is all locked up.
“If you come home some day and your door is unlocked, don’t go in,” Meredith said. “Call the police and have them check it out first.”
Information was also shared on calls telling seniors they have won money or a prize and asking them to submit an amount of money to receive it. In no instance, should someone pay money to receive a “free” prize.
Meredith concluded his presentation by sharing risk factors which reduce a senior’s ability to drive, such as side effects of medications, epilepsy, diabetes and aging, which increases reaction time. He suggested having hearing and vision checked regularly and to be aware of weather conditions.
The Medina Police Department is hoping to give this presentation to senior living complexes and interested groups in the Medina area. Anyone who would like Meredith to share this program may contact the Medina Police Department at 798-5602.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: This banner hung over downtown Medina to promote homecoming last week. The Medina Mustang Sports Boosters urged stores to decorate their windows.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 12 October 2022 at 9:18 pm
Photos contributed: Creekside Floral decorated their window with these Mustang-themed panels.
MEDINA – First-time efforts to involve downtown stores in Homecoming Week was a great success, said Melissa Valley, president of the Mustang Sports Boosters.
The Sports Boosters urged stores to decorate their windows to show their Mustang spirit, and five participated – The Coffee Pot Café, Just What the Doctor Ordered, Shirt Factory Café, Creekside Floral and Tapped on Main. The Coffee Pot Café received the most votes of the 1,600 cast.
Businesses who participated with Mustang specials during the week were Tapped on Main, Just What the Doctor Ordered, Fitzgibbons, Rosenkrans, Rudy’s, Shirt Factory Café, the Coffee Pot Café, English Rose Tea Shoppe, Downtown Browsery and Hometown Wellness.
The Print Shop did the banner to hang over Main Street and village employees, especially DPW superintendent Jason Watts, were very helpful in putting it up, Valley said.
“The businesses who participated were really on board and got into the spirit,” Valley said. “They were grateful to be included, and we hope that it grows every year. You could really feel the energy throughout the week. It was exciting and not only did the kids have fun, but I think the community really enjoyed it too.”
In addition, the Sports Boosters recruited Case-Nic Cookies to bake Mustang cutout cookies and Della’s Chocolates to make chocolate mustangs. Sales were great and 80 dozen cookies were sold to benefit the Boosters, Valley said.
Valley said she hopes support for Homecoming Week grows each year.
The Coffee Pot Café on East Center Street was voted the best decorated window during Homecoming Week. Shoppers cast 1,600 votes for their favorite window.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2022 at 11:39 am
ROYALTON – A Medina man is among the four people who were killed in a two-vehicle collision on Tuesday afternoon in Royalton, State Police said.
Simon P. Fox, 20, of Medina was the front seat passenger of a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze that was in a collision. Fox was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two others in the Cruze – the driver Austin W. Wilson, 20, of Wilson and a rear passenger, William Bernadt IV, 21, of Newfane – also were killed. Both front seat occupants were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision, State Police said.
Wilson was driving the Cruze westbound on Slayton Settlement Road at about 3:15 p.m. The vehicle was struck by a 2002 Bear Recreational Vehicle that was traveling south on Orangeport Road and failed to stop, State Police said.
The operator of the RV, Michael H. Duffy, 81, of Sommerton, SC and the passenger, Linda E. Duffy, 80, of Sommerton, SC were transported to Erie County Medical Center in critical condition. Linda E. Duffy succumbed to her injuries at ECMC, State Police said.
The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation, which remains ongoing.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Some of the Takeform team members working on a 16-foot-long Christmas float include Doug Robertson, product engineer; Alahna Grady, designer; and Shannon Dent, design coordinator. This is the sleigh for the float that will include five reindeer, an illumined moon and scenery of Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2022 at 5:17 pm
MEDINA – Takeform will be back in this year’s Parade of Lights and the former grand champion isn’t aiming for the top award.
The company is building a float to carry Santa and Mrs. Claus. The 16-foot-long creation will include a sleigh, five reindeer including Rudolph with a glowing red nose, an illumined moon and recognizable Medina scenery – Bent’s Opera House, the Presbyterian Church and a train highlighting the Medina Railroad Museum. (The Mr. and Mrs. Claus at Medina’s Rotary Park have visited the Takeform shop on Maple Ridge Road to offer insights on a well designed sleigh, including a spot for the sack for presents.)
Company owner Bill Hungerford and the employees are working on a spectacular float with lights and animation.
Takeform is making the float and donating it to the village to be used annually in the parade.
The company is paying for the materials and utilizing its employees to create the float. The company designs and creates signs, architectural graphics and interpretive displays, as well as other products.
Takeform won grand prize in 2017 for a Medina-themed float and then in 2018 for a tropical-themed display on a trailer. The company hasn’t been in the parade since then, but has been part of Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration. It creates ornaments each year, and last year made a gratitude display at Rotary Park. It makes the large letters at Rotary Park wishing the community a Merry Christmas and other messages about the season.
Takeform offered a peak at the float today. The company has been brainstorming the design since March and the pieces are being manufactured with assembly to come.
Takeform isn’t showing the full design but allowed a photo of the sleigh today. The company wants to keep an element of surprise for when the float heads down Park Avenue and Main Street on Nov. 26 for the big parade.
The sleigh is on wheels. It has a seat for Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the spot for the big bag of presents. The sleigh will be painted red. The five reindeer will look like they are taking off in flight. Rudolph will lead the float and will overhang from the trailer.
The float has a “Night before Christmas in Medina” theme.
“We wanted to keep it classic,” said Shannon Dent, design coordinator for Takeform. “This will be built to last.”
