Photos and information submitted by Deborah Berry, Treasurer for VFW Post Auxiliary 1483
MEDINA – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post and Auxiliary members from the VFW Lincoln Post 1483 in Medina held a Stop 22 Walk to increase the public awareness of veterans dying by suicide – an average of 22 each day.
The members on Oct. 12 walked 22 minutes along Main Street and in the Canal Basin area. This was their first time observing the Stop 22 Walk.
A veteran in need of any type of help or services is encouraged to reach out to the VFW Post 1483 at 216 East Main Street, Medina NY.
There is also help available 24 hours a day at the National Veterans Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Casey Taylor poses for s selfie with the group of walkers on Thursday in the Canal Basin.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 15 October 2023 at 8:43 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Sandy and Marcia Stornelli watch as 3-year-old granddaughter Alara throws shovels full of dirt on a tree being planted in front of their house during an Arbor Day celebration on April 28. In the stroller is Garrett, who was 8 months old at the time. Medina has been recognized as a Tree City USA the past 16 years for its commitment to planting trees.
MEDINA – Autumn is a time which brings leaves into everyone’s mind, but for one local group, trees are a focus all year round.
The village of Medina not only has a Tree Board, but a support group called Releaf Medina, formed to raise money for the village to replace dying trees, something the Tree Board is not allowed to do.
Robert Sanderson heads Releaf Medina, with members Kathy Blackburn, Jake Hebdon, Lisa Tombari and Ginny Kropf.
And now they are asking the public for donations to purchase more trees.
The village took down 51 trees this year and replanted 46, according to Blackburn. Replacing dying trees is an unending task and can be very costly, with each tree costing upwards of $200.
Kinds of trees vary, and local resident Chris Busch has researched the soil in various areas to determine which kind of trees are best suited for each location.
Information provided by Releaf Medina states that community trees are a critical element of urban life, providing countless proven environmental, economic and health benefits. Multiple studies have shown that people living in communities with trees are healthier mentally, physically and socially.
The economics of maintaining and advancing the Medina community’s urban forest has become increasingly more challenging, the Releaf Medina board explained. It’s the harsh reality of economics today, as recent years have been forestry related costs skyrocket, while municipal expenditures have struggled to keep up.
For this reason, Releaf Medina is asking citizens to contribute to the amazing living legacy of trees by making a monetary gift.
Blackburn has also issued an invitation to local businesses to consider becoming a corporate sponsor.
“Beginning in 2005 and for several years after, the Bank of Castile (now Tompkins Community Bank) was the sole corporate sponsor of Medina’s Arbor Day,” Blackburn said. “Their annual donation made a long-term community impact and helped launch what has become a renowned urban forestry program.”
Businesses becoming a corporate sponsor not only engage with their employees and investors, but also build community through the support of grassroots public environmental stewardship, according to Blackburn. It is a chance to make a tangible difference in a highly visible way that will stand for generations and leave a positive and beneficial living legacy for the future that will be seen every day.
All gifts to Releaf Medina are tax-deductible and can be made in three ways.
As a General Donation, the money helps replace street trees in neighborhoods throughout the village. Donors are recognized on a tree foundation sign at City Hall. Suggested amounts are $25 to $199 (Good Citizen); $200 to $299 (Silver); $300 to $499 (Gold); $500 and up (Platinum).
Gifts In Memory cost $300. They will fund trees placed in one of Medina’s six parks and will be identified with a granite marker honoring a loved one or in recognition of the donor’s family or organization. Memorial trees can be located on streets without a granite marker and cost $275.
To designate a tree On Your Street, the cost is $250. If the village determines a tree or trees are needed on that street, the donor may request a specific location. Those donors are also recognized on a sign at City Hall.
Checks for tree donations should be made payable to ORG/Medina Releaf and mailed to P.O. Box 543, Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2023 at 4:30 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Joe Dibley of Albion makes a scarecrow with his son Keegan, 6, and friend Aubriella Hucknall, 3, of Albion. They are stuffing hay into clothes.
They were among a crowd that made about 200 scarecrows today at the Orleans County 4-H fairgrounds in an event organized by the Medina Lions Club.
The crowd wasn’t deterred by a rainy day. The scarecrow-making was inside.
The biggest challenge for some of the people was fitting the scarecrows into their car.
“I can’t believe how big they are,” Dibley said.
This scarecrow is on an “operating table” and gets its clothes secured by Lions Club members Jim Hancock and Stacy Leavitt. About 40 Lions Club members participated in running today’s event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hancock and Tom Beach served as co-chairmen of the event.
Medina Lions Club member Jim Punch assists Brandi Mack of Lyndonville with a scarecrow.
Hunter and Vivianna D’Agostino of Gasport work together to stuff a scarecrow. The straw was donated by Ed Neal of Poverty Hills Dairy Farm in Albion and Ken Dunham.
The D’Agostintos have been coming to the scarecrow fest for at least three years. Their father, Vinny D’Agostino, said the scarecrows are very durable. The one the made a year ago has lasted all year. They use it to scare away birds from their chickens.
These pillows were decorated by Medina art students in Jen Scott’s classes.
The MAAC Thrift Shop in Medina provides the clothes for the scarecrows with any leftovers coming back for next year’s event.
Barden Homes in Middleport donates the wood for the T-posts to give the scarecrows some support for their backs and arms.
Pete Kaiser secures the hat on this scarecrow. He said there was a big rush of people this morning to make scarecrows.
Carol Bellack provides some assistance getting a hat on this scarecrow.
The Crawford family in Lyndonville made two scarecrows. They include Ashley, Cohlson, Harli and Aaron. Cohlson and Harli’s brother Roenen also helped make the scarecrows.
The Crawfords said they expected to put the scarecrow on a rocking chair on their porch.
The event also included a first-time “PumpkinPalooza” organized and judged by the Master Gardeners in Orleans County. Richard Gudgel won the award for “best-carved” pumpkin.
Other awards included “best decorated” for Tammy Leach and “ugliest gourd” for Lisa Lancaster.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2023 at 7:07 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Village of Medina teamed with the Orleans County YMCA on a new 9-hole disc golf course. Most of the new course is in a wooded area at Gulf Street Park.
Hole 1 goes across the wide open grassy area of the park with the basket near the entrance to the woods. Then the next eight holes are in the wooded area. The village Department of Public Works cleared a path in the woods for the different disc golf holes.
The new course opened on Saturday. The tee boxes still need to be added, but the starting points are marked with pink flags for beginners or blue for more skilled players.
Manny Velez, 34, of Medina tried the course for the first time this afternoon. Velez is shown here before his first shot on the Hole 8. Velez has been playing disc golf for about two years.
“This is pretty challenging,” he said about Medina’s new course.
He likes the weaving paths in the woods, and how the course starts and ends in a loop. He said he is grateful to have a course so close by.
“Having it in town we don’t have to travel,” he said. “It’s awesome.”
The basket for Hole 8 is only a few feet from the water of Glenwood Lake.
Here is another view of the basket for Hole 8 with the lake in the background.
Manny Velez retrieves one of his frisbees that he threw a little too hard with it landing in the water. Velez said the lake is shallow near the course so it wasn’t hard to get the frisbee back.
Once the tee boxes are added, with the distance to the baskets noted, Velez said he can better calculate which frisbee to throw and how far.
He urged people to give disc golf a try, and to go easy on themselves in the beginning. It takes practice to learn how to angle the throws and get the right distance.
The basket for Hole 7 is tucked in close to many trees.
Medina’s DPW used a skid steer with a forestry head to carve a path in the woods, mulching brush and small trees.
Medina worked with the Orleans County YMCA to develop the course in a project funded by a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. Albion did a similar project at Bullard Park.
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation gave the YMCA $20,000 to $24,000 to develop the projects with tee boxes, signs and baskets that are mounted in small concrete foundations – 8 inches wide by 20 inches deep.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 October 2023 at 8:43 am
Case-Nic Cookies owner backs many agencies and causes
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Mary Kou Tuohey started Case-Nic Cookies in 1995 and has supported many local fundraisers with the business. She will receive a Community Service Award from the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 19.
MEDINA – The announcement she would be receiving a Community Service Award from the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is a surprise and an honor, said Mary Lou Tuohey.
The owner of Case-Nic Cookies at 439 Main St., Tuohey said serving her community is just what she does.
Tuohey was a registered nurse when she decided to change careers.
“I had always wanted to own a cookie shop,” she said. “I tried to get into Lockport Mall, but they refused me. I thought about going back to school to become a doctor’s assistant, but with two young kids, that wasn’t an option.”
She figured with her own store, the kids wouldn’t have to go to a baby sitter, and on Feb. 11, 1995, she opened her bakery.
“It was just me and my family,” she said.
Three days later was Valentine’s Day and with her nephew behind the counter they opened the door.
“It was horrifying,” she said. “People filled the sidewalk outside the door. I only had one regular oven and offered four kinds of cookies. I couldn’t bake fast enough.”
She went home that night and thought, “I think I’ve made a big mistake.”
Her first store was down the street and when the store at 439 Main St. became vacant, she moved there.
Her business continued to grow. She added more varieties of cookies, including cutouts, cupcakes and brownies.
She had named the store after her and husband David’s two children, Casey and Nicole. Nicole was born with Triple X Syndrome and has received tremendous support from The Arc. So naturally, The Arc was one of the causes Tuohey started to support.
Both of her parents died of Alzheimers, so that also has become a favorite charity. Every year, Nicole makes links out of construction paper and Tuohey sells them in the cookie shop, with all the money going to the Alzheimer’s Association. She annually is a leader in organizing the Walk for Alzheimer’s. Nicole also makes bracelets and Mary Lou makes cutout cookies, all of which are sold for $1 to benefit their charities.
Tuohey used to sponsor a basket raffle every year, but when Covid hit in March 2020, she couldn’t do a traditional event. So she devised a system where she numbered the baskets and printed them out on a sheet of paper. That was placed in an envelope and put inside a bucket outside her door when the store was closed. Supporters could choose what baskets they wanted and write the number of tickets they wanted placed in each basket. Then they put their money in the envelope with the sheet and drop it in the mail slot.
That became the norm for non-profits’ basket raffles. Tuohey has given up the window in her store and allows any non-profit to use it for their raffle for a month.
She generously donates to benefits when she is asked, providing a basket for their raffle or a gift certificate.
“I ask people for donations for The Arc and the Alzheimer’s Association, and those who ask me for donations are struggling, so if I can help them, I do.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 6 October 2023 at 9:14 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) These sound bowls emit different frequencies when rubbed by a special mallet, as demonstrated by holistic healer Cassandra Boring. (Right) Cassandra Boring performs Reiki in her Sandstone Holistic Healing Center, which includes this bed with lighted crystals, used to relieve stress, anxiety and acute pain.
MEDINA – Cassandra Boring, one of the owners of Mystic Dragon’s Lair, a metaphysical New Age store at 339 Main St., has also recently opened a new business, Sandstone Holistic Healing Center.
Boring has wanted to help heal people her entire life, she said. She wanted to go to medical school, but with two kids (now three) and a full-time job, she couldn’t keep a high enough grade point average. She did, however, graduate from Brockport State College, earning degrees in biology and criminal justice with a minor in sociology and forensics, as well as a second dual in biology and sociology with a minor in chemistry.
Cassandra Boring holds a stack of her certifications in different forms of holistic healing. She sits next to a selenite stone from Morocco, used to cleanse negative energy from a space and change it into positive.
“When I started Mystic Dragon’s Lair, I realized there were other ways I could help people,” Boring said.
The store sells jewels, incense, crystals and jewelry.
Mystic Dragon’s Lair and Sandstone Holistic Healing Center are located in the building where her father, Scott Wengewicz, opened Patriot Guns last November. He is also the Shelby town supervisor.
When Boring decided to open a holistic healing center, she began studying various forms of healing and has been certified in a dozen different fields, including traditional and Shamanic Reiki, crystal light therapy, sound therapy and Rife ray therapy.
Boring explained that holistic healing is a supplemental way for people to enhance their healing when traditional medicine does not do enough for them.
“If I can find something natural to help me, I’d rather do that than take another medication,” she said.
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing method which claims to help cleanse and align the seven chakras of the body. Boring said the body has 122 energy points total and when they are all working properly, we feel good.
Crystal light bed uses a light bed that emits frequencies through vogue quartz crystals to aid in reducing stress, anxiety and acute pain. It targets the mind, body and spirit.
Often in sessions, Boring said she may see spirit animals or other spiritual signs that have connections to the client.
She said the crystal light bed helps align the chakras.
“They are like a gear system,” she said. “If one is out of line, they don’t work.”
She said the therapy was first used on veterans for PTSD and pain.
She also performs animal Reiki, which helps animals in times of stress or transition. Boring said animals can benefit from Reiki just as people can.
Lights of all colors are used for crystal light therapy, as shown here by Cassandra Boring.
Boring is particularly excited about the Rife machine. She explained it was founded in the 1930s by Royal Raymond Rife to help his patients with cancer. He did a study on 16 people, of which 14 had immediate results and the other two had positive results later with more treatment. It has been found to work on other illnesses as well.
Boring said everything has its own frequency, and by using a Rife machine, those frequencies can be used to target unhealthy cells, causing them to divide and explode.
She also has singing bowls and tongue drums for sound therapy.
Aromatherapy can be added during sessions to make people feel calm and relaxed, Boring said.
The healing center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome, but Boring advises making an appointment by calling (585) 318-4565.
She stresses that her healing methods aren’t intended to replace traditional treatments, but to offer a supplemental treatment that might help.
Photos by Lydia Battaglia: (Left) Friends of Boxwood Cemetery welcomed 280 guests on Saturday evening for music, lighting and insights from docents. (Right) The L’Hommedieu monument was illumined for the evening’s event.
Press Release, Friends of Boxwood Cemetery
MEDINA – The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery in Medina promised a “Bigger and Better” Boxwood at Night and they did not disappoint. The event was held on September 30 with pver 280 people in attendance. That is up 27 percent from last year.
The attendees were enchanted by the sights and sounds of Boxwood at Night. One of the most frequently used words by guests to describe the evening was, “magical,” according to docent Sandra Philbrick.
Guests were treated to a 1-mile meander through the cemetery which had lighting elements throughout. The lighting was designed by the committee members with the assistance of Dan Wiegand from Lockport Stage Works.
Cosmic Oases performed during the event.
The magic was enhanced by the artistic entertainment that was made possible by a grant from GO ART! Stacy Steverson twirled to the music with lighted hula hoops and fabrics.
Cosmic Oases took guests on a musical journey with their enchanting sounds. The Orleans County String Band delighted guests with their three-piece band playing Appalachian old-time string band music.
Medina art teacher Jen Scott wowed the guests with her creative original works of art. Robby Klino, the president of the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery, said, “Her artwork was amazing and it seemed to pop up when you least expected it, providing another element of surprise.”
Medina art teacher Jen Scott created these intriguing art installations.
The magical evening did not end there. Guests were treated to stories presented by 11 docents at seven gravesites and in the S. Mainville Burroughs Memorial Chapel, who helped to enlighten and entertain them.
“The docents all did a fabulous job,” according to co-chairperson Todd Bensley. “Many did their own research and all of them showed up in period costumes.”
Co-chairperson Nicole Bensley was impressed by the volunteers from the Orleans/Niagara BOCES Security and Law Class, Medina High School and local business Velocitii, as well as individuals from the community who stepped up to help.
“They all played an important role in the success of the event,” she said.
Tom Philbrick, Sandra Philbrick and Miranda Star were among the 11 docents sharing information about people buried in the cemetery.
She particularly thanked Dale Short, of Shorty’s Beast, who is in charge of cemetery maintenance, for all his help. She declared, “He was instrumental in the success of the evening.”
Klino also would like to thank the many businesses who donated money or raffle items to help raise funds for the continuing chapel restoration and other projects in the cemetery.
To stay up-to-date on upcoming events, and to see a complete list of those who helped out, you can check out the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery Facebook Page.
(Left) This photo shows the plot for Edward Davey Sr. and (Right) features the Bent and Underhill family plots.
Stacy Steverson entertained with Hula Hoops that were lighted up.
Provided photo: These dancers from Dance Theater are headed to Orlando, Fla. They will be doing a Halloween themed program. Pictured from left in front row: Charlotte McGrath, KaliRaine Brownlee, Emmalynn McGrath, Sydney Bruce and Olivia Maynard. Second row: Arabella White, Natalie Rath, Gracie Tardibone, Elaina Bruce and Gracie Brower. Third row: Baylie Watson, Brook Pisano, Marli Thrash, LiLiana Goebel, Olivia Eaton, Carly Voelker and Makenzie McGrath. Missing from photo: Izabella Murphy.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 October 2023 at 9:07 am
MEDINA – A group from Dance Theater in Medina is headed to Universal Studios in Orlando this week.
Brandon Johnson, owner of Dance Theater, said the local dancers will be part of the Universal STARS performing arts program during the Halloween Horror Nights.
The group will be performing in a stage show, as well as taking a workshop class with universal choreographers and dancers.
“The kids will then perform their choreography on stage in one of the sound stages used to shoot movies and music videos!” said an excited Johnson.
In spring 2021, Johnson said he saw that Universal Studios was looking for performance groups to be part of the STARS Program. He sent a performance reel of the Dance Theater students from the 2021 competition season. In August 2022, he received a call letting me know that we were selected to perform in the fall 2023.
The students will take a two-hour Hip Hop choreography class with a Universal choreographer who will be teaching them choreography from a current show at Universal’s famous Halloween Horror Nights celebration, Johnson said.
The class will include a warmup as well as choreography that the studio teaches to their on-set casts, Johnson said. It will take place in a working soundstage at Universal Orlando where the studio shoots movies and music videos.
“This will give the dancers an experience of what it is like to be part of the working dance industry as well as a backstage look and how a working sound stage looks and what it feels like to be part of a film shoot,” Johnson said.
The Dance Theater group will be performing to songs such as Thriller, Halloween and The Wicked Ones.
“The dancers will also get a one-on-one talk with the choreographer and dancers about what it’s like to be working in the dance industry in theme park and what it takes to be part of the industry in that facet or performance,” Johnson said. “This is a great talk for any dancers who may be hoping to continue into the industry after graduation.”
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Members of Medina Area Partnership who volunteered to welcome guests at the Senior Center are, clockwise from left, Amy Crandall, Cindy Hewitt, Amanda Pollard, Laura Gardner, Patrick Weissend, Amber Sherman, Autumn Fuller and Ann Fisher-Bale, events coordinator for MAP.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 1 October 2023 at 12:08 pm
MEDINA – To say Medina’s annual Ale in Autumn was a resounding success would be putting it mildly.
Medina Area Partnership, who sponsor the event, had intended to cap the tickets sold at 600, but sales were brisk right from the start, according to MAP’s event coordinator Ann Fisher-Bale, so they upped the number to 700 and sold out.
The second annual Busker Festival accompanied Ale in Autumn, and that, too, was very successful, according to Rob Robinson, who came up with the idea. The number of buskers was up from last year’s 17 and included a variety of performers, including musicians, jugglers and magicians.
(Left) Kathleen Schumacher pours Shipyard’s Pumpkin Head ale for Lindsey Snyder of Medina at the Medina Railroad Museum. (Right) Lindsey Snyder and Olivia Hill of Medina enjoy friendship and ale at Medina Railroad Museum during Ale in Autumn on Saturday.
Participants at Ale in Autumn arrived at staggered start times at Medina Senior Center, where their ID was checked, they received a wrist band and bag of goodies and bought raffle tickets for baskets provided by each participating business. There were 23 sites offering a tase of beer.
Kristian Poehlmann and Pam Montague were among the first to line up at the Senior Center before 12:30 p.m.
“This event is fun, and it’s a day hanging out with my bestie,” Poehlmann said. “Pam and I have been best friends for more than 50 years. We like going in all the stores, and I like the beers.”
Poehlmann said she grew up just a block away and remembers hearing the train derailment on Christmas Eve, 1968.
Stacey Sage of Batavia has attended Wine About Winter, but this was her first Ale in Autumn, with Ian Mania of Medina.
“I like being able to sample all the ales and going in the stores looking at everything,” Sage said. “I will also do Wine About Winter again. It may be cold, but it’s always fun.”
(Left) Medina High School seniors Logan Gray, left, and Scott Schultz earned volunteer hours for helping at Medina Railroad Museum during Ale in Autumn Saturday. They pose here with Georgia Thomas in the military room, Gray with a World War I helmet and Schultz wearing a World War II hat. (Right) Georgia Thomas, left, pours a Buergerbrau lager at Medina Historical Society for Abbigail Davis and Mallory Albone of Medina.
Poehlmann and Montague were encountered later in the day at Medina Railroad Museum, where they shared their favorite drinks. Poehlmann said her favorite was the Liquid Sunshine poured at Canalside Tattoo. Snyder liked the North Ridge cider at Tapped on Main. Both drinks were one-ounce pours, because of a higher alcohol content.
The girls also commented on Schoeferhofer grapefruit poured at the English Rose Tea Shop.
No two stops had the same ale.
Larry and Gabriella Albanese of Albion were enjoying the day. Larry said they had been to all participating stores, some twice.
Kathleen Schumacher at Medina Railroad Museum explained they blocked off the entrance to the train layout, but let visitors get close enough to see what was there. Schumacher said people were picking up brochures in the museum and it was hoped they would go home and think about it and come back or order tickets to an upcoming event.
The Shewan family couldn’t resist when they saw the antique organ at Medina Historical Society. Scott, left, and Ruth sang along as Steve played an old favorite, before heading to the dining room for their taste of ale.
At Medina Historical Society, Georgia Thomas was pouring Buergerbrau lager, an ale she felt would be perfect with fish and chips. She had set a table with a variety of snacks and cake, which created a lot of interest.
In the main exhibit room Craig and Sarah Lacey welcomed visitors and explained interesting artifacts. Mid-afternoon Scott Shewan, Steve Shewan and his wife Ruth came in and spotted the antique organ. Steve and Ruth are both music teachers and he sat down and proceeded to play an old favorite, while Ruth sang along in her soprano voice.
In the military room, two high school seniors were fulfilling their required volunteer hours to graduate. Logan Gray and Scott Schultz both said they chose the Museum because they liked history and wanted to learn more.
In addition to the baskets provided at each stop, there will be one grand prize awarded of an overnight stay at the Hart House Hotel, a cocktail package at the Shirt Factory and a gift certificate to Ashlee’s Place.
Ann Fisher Bale, events coordinator for MAP said profit from these events goes back to the community in the form of beautification projects and promoting local business. They are also a sponsor of Leadership Orleans.
Photos by Tom Rivers: At the Knights of Columbus, Jennifer Szalay serves a Jamaican Lager beer “Red Stripe” to Victoria Taber of Albion and Marcus Watts of Medina.
Evan Anstey performs as one of the buskers providing entertainment during Ale in Autumn while a passerby drops in some money. Anstey of Middleport sang outside the Dance Theater on Main Street. He was joined by Peter Sarchia of Middleport. They performed many bluegrass and folk songs.
Dave Sevenski serves “Berry Sneaky” to Donna Ferry of Darien at the Downtown Browsery. Berry Sneaky is a sour beer. “It’s the hot thing in craft beer,” Sevenski said about the sour beers.
Wesley Rosentreter, right, serves Chai Pumpkin beer from the Ithaca Brewing company at The Coffee Pot, which is co-owned by his son, Hans Rosentreter. Ann Coon of Lyndonville, second from left, and Linda Mirand of Medina were among the 700 people sampling beer for Ale in Autumn.
Coon said her favorites were a blood orange beer, a forbidden apple and a pumpkin beer.
Mirand said she enjoyed the different beers and visiting with so many people.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 September 2023 at 10:35 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Julie Berry, center, owner of Author’s Note Bookstore, poses with staff Erica Caldwell, left, and Olivia Marchese with a display in honor of the store’s second anniversary on Saturday.
MEDINA – Author’s Note, a bookstore at 519 Main St., reached the two-year milestone on Saturday, and owner and New York Times Best-Selling author Julie Berry decided to throw a big party.
The store was a beehive of activity from the time the doors opened, with cake and cupcakes for customers, new tee shirts, music and therapy ponies out back for children to color and dress up with bows.
One of the early customers was Rachel Frasier of Medina with her daughter Leona, 3.
“My husband is golfing so we are having a girls’ day out,” Frasier said. “We’ve been to the farmers’ market and now we’re just walking on Main Street.”
Frasier didn’t know about the ponies, but took Leona out back as soon as Berry told her about them.
The ponies belong to Lisa Smith of Wilson and are very gentle and receptive to children being in the pen with them. Children were given colored chalk, which washes right off, and had fun coloring their backs, braiding their manes or pinning ribbons and bows on them. Children were also encouraged to read the ponies a story.
Author’s Note also welcomed a local author during the day, Renee Lama, a Medina native and classmate of Berry’s. Lama’s book Last Call: Hotels, Restaurants and Bars, is a history of the service industry in the Medina area, and copies are flying off the shelf.
(Left) Julie Berry invites Rachel Frasier and daughter Leona, 2, to have a cupcake before going behind the store to interact with miniature therapy ponies. (Right) Therapy ponies from Lisa Smith of Wilson were part of Author’s Note second birthday celebration Saturday. Here, Bailey Seimar, 6, rear, colors a pony blue, while Xander Crockett, 9, tries to pin a bow on another pony.
Berry is thrilled with the success of her bookstore and can’t thank the community enough for its support.
“There’s a reason so many businesses fail in their first or second year,” Berry said. “I understand them better now than I ever did before. A small-town indie bookstore is an audacious experiment in a world where behemoth corporations maintain fleets of trucks and billions in state-of-the-art technology. We’re in this together and we feel your care for us and our survival daily. Every friend you send to Author’s Note allows us to remain here. If that’s not worth a party, what is?”
It was in April 2020 when Berry, living in California with husband Phil, learned the book shop in her home town was on the market.
She had previously told the Orleans Hub she couldn’t bear to think of her home town not having a book store.
So she started thinking about returning home.
“By late October we had a deal,” Berry said.
She and her family returned to Medina and began months of renovation to store. They had it ready for a soft opening in the spring, then celebrated with a full opening in the fall.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Berry said. “The thing that moves me most is the incredible dedication of my team, which make Author’s Note a magical place.”
Salespeople and book buyers are Erica Caldwell and Olivia Marchese, who have been there since the store opened.
“I am also amazed at the response from the community and the love people feel for the book store,” Berry said. “They love our book clubs, they love our events and they love being here to celebrate these events with us.”
