‘Nothing compares to the sound of a pipe organ’

Photo by Lisa Hancock: Judith Hancock will play the organ during a concert Sunday in Medina.

MEDINA – Dedication of Trinity Lutheran Church’s newly-expanded pipe organ in a concert Sunday will be like deja vu for nationally acclaimed organist Judith Hancock.

The 1968 Holtkamp organ, which was relocated from Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati, was played by Hancock’s late husband Gerre, who supervised its installation and performed when it was originally dedicated 50 years ago at Christ Church Cathedral. He passed away in 2012.

Judith Hancock is one of America’s leading concert organists, said Trinity Church’s organist Andrew Meier. Her husband was also revered for his skills with the instrument.

The organ is being expanded by the Timothy E. Smith Company.

“Trinity Medina is honored to have Dr. Hancock perform on the 50th anniversary of the Holtkamp’s original dedication,” Meier said.

Hancock has degrees from Syracuse University and Union Theological Seminary. She previosuly held positions of associate organist at St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, and organist/director of music at St. James’ Church on Madison Ave., New York City. She has performed all over the world in solo performances, in concert with St. James Church choir and with her late husband.

Meier has been organist at Trinity Lutheran Church since 1995, when they had a small pipe organ. In 1998, they switched to an electronic organ, but returned to a pipe organ in 2015.

“Nothing compares to the sound of a pipe organ,” Meier said. “It is really authentic.”

Meier explained the Holtkamp organ is a rare instrument. The company, founded by Walter Holtkamp in Cleveland, only made about 300 of them. It’s probable he worked on Trinity’s organ himself, Meier said.

Meier said the Trinity church is honored to have Judith Hancock coming to perform in concert for this re-dedication of the Holtkamp organ.

“She is an exceptional organist, acclaimed nationally and internationally,” Meier said. “When her husband was named music director at St. Thomas Church in New York City, she became associate music director with him. She has extraordinary performance ability.”

Meier said it is amazing that 700 miles and 50 years later, she’s playing at the Holtkamp’s re-dedication.

The concert will begin at 3 p.m. and a reception will follow at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1212 West Ave.

ALBION – Two people pleaded guilty in County Court on Monday and could face incarceration, while an Albion woman was sentenced for drug possession.

Rebekah Champlin, 22, of Albion was sentenced for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

She and a codefendant, Collen Poole, were charged on March 1 by the Medina Police Department. Champlin doesn’t have a prior criminal record. She wasn’t selling drugs, her attorney Robert Viola told County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Champlin said she had cocaine when police and a parole officer did a search of Poole’s residence on Pearl Street in Medina.

Champlin was sentenced to jail for two days a week over the next four months. She also will be on probation for five years.

There also was a hearing on Monday in Poole’s case. His attorney, Robert Fogg, argued in court that police did not have a proper search warrant for Poole’s residence. Police were asked to help secure the property and do a search by a state parole officer.

Judge Church will issue a ruling at a later date about the legality of the search.

Poole was charged on March 1 after police and parole officers found cocaine, marijuana and pills identified as Hydrocodone and Ecstasy, as well as a large sum of money in high denominational bills, and three counterfeit $100 bills.

Poole has rejected a plea offer to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, with a cap of five years in state prison.

In other cases on Monday:

• A Lyndonville man pleaded guilty to felony driving while intoxicated. Kenneth Lonnen, 44, faces a maximum of 1 to 3 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 14.

Lonnen was arrested on Aug. 2 in Yates and registered a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.24 percent, which is three times the legal limit.

Lonnen said he had two beers and two shots at a Lyndonville bar.

“What I consumed was too fast,” he told Sanford Church, the County Court judge.

Lonnen has a previous DWI conviction within five years – Feb. 6, 2014.

• Maijia Scott, an inmate at the women’s prison, pleaded guilty to attempted promoting prison contraband in the first degree, with a cap of 1 1/2 to 3 years in state prison.

Scott is an inmate at the Albion Correctional Facility. She is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder from 2000.

She said she had a codefendant in her case, Edwin King, send her suboxone. She will be sentenced on Feb. 14.

King, 58, of the Bronx also appeared in court. He told the judge he has retained a lawyer and no longer wants to be represented by the public defender. Judge Church adjourned King’s case until Thursday at 2 p.m.

King faces charges of promoting prison contraband after he allegedly twice mailed suboxone to Scott.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Courthouse dome is an iconic landmark in Albion. This photo was taken on May 5, 2015.

ALBION – The dome for the Orleans County Courthouse needs $140,000 in repairs. County officials have set aside the funds in the 2019 budget.

The dome has several leaks. Inside the dome are about a dozen buckets to collect the dripping water after it rains.

The county will have a rubberized coating put on the dome to protect it from leaks, said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer. That new coating will last for at least 25 years, he said.

“We want to preserve that asset for the county long-term,” Nesbitt said Monday during a public hearing on the county’s proposed $71.0 million budget.

The courthouse, which was built in 1858, is the focal point of the Courthouse Square, a district on the National Register of Historic Places.

The $140,000 repair on the dome is among $3,181,106 in capital projects for the county in the 2019 budget.

Most of the projects are in the highway department and include $1.5 million in road work, which is funded through the state with CHIPS – Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program.

CHIPS money will also pay $185,000 for a 10-wheel dump truck, $55,000 to replace a 3-ton dump truck and $69,365 toward dump truck leases.

The county will also do $669,000 of preventive maintenance on four bridges, with $535,000 from the federal TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) and $134,000 from the county.

The highway department will also do $100,000 of patching and sealing county roads with the county paying that expense.

Other capital projects will also be 100 percent funded by the county: $143,452 for vehicles in the Sheriff’s Office, $14,140 for a jail van lease, $9,000 to add a vehicle for animal control, $46,000 for computer services upgrade, $14,000 for wireless point to point project for computer services, $11,000 for Public Safety Building rewire for computer services, $6,645 for generator at Veterans Service Agency, $9,000 for a pickup truck lease for Weights and Measures, and $9,000 to replace the UTV (all-terrain vehicle) at the County Marine Park.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Nate McMurray speaks on July 8 in Albion at the Orleans County Democratic Party’s summer picnic at Bullard Park.

Nate McMurray conceded to Chris Collins this afternoon after the count for absentees, affidavit and provisional ballots weren’t enough to close the gap from election day, when Collins held a lead of about 2,900 votes.

McMurray, the Grand Island town supervisor, ran against Collins in a heavily Republican district. Collins won by less than 1 percent. The district leans plus-23 percent for a Republican, according to the FiveThirtyEight, a website with a heavy focus on politics.

McMurray was encouraged by the close race and said he will remain active in advocating for Western New York. He didn’t rule out running again for public office.

He released this statement this afternoon:

Good afternoon,

Nearly all the votes have been counted and Chris Collins will be returning to Washington to represent the people of New York’s 27th Congressional District. After discussing the matter thoroughly with counsel and weighing our options, we believe it’s in the best interest of this community to end this chapter and move on to the next.

I offer Mr. Collins my concession.

It was a hard decision. Part of me wants to fight. I can’t just smile and pretend this was all fair. And so my concession comes with a warning. Mr. Collins, you won by the slimmest of margins (less than half a percent), in a district designed to ensure anyone with an “R” next to their name, even an indicted criminal, could win a decisive victory.

Still, you almost lost. To win you had to resort to extreme measures—lying about me and my family, hiding from the media and the people you represent, and refusing to face me in the time-honored tradition of a public debate. Your strategy was by your own admission cowardice and partisan politics.

So I will be watching. We will all be watching. We are not going anywhere. Together, with countless supporters across this district and throughout the country, we built something special. We ignored the naysayers and fought like hell for what we believed in.

We learned that at the grassroots level, the people have the power to break the political machine when we work together. We had the largest partisan swing of any first-time state or federal candidate in the country and one of the largest swings period. Together we set the foundation for incredible things to come.

We built this movement from the ground up via potlucks and picnics. I’m proud that we did this with little to no outside support. We raised over $1.2 million in primarily grassroots donations in just over 3 months. Our campaign funds came from mechanics and farmers, school teachers, office workers, students, and senior citizens.  There are few feelings more humbling than to have someone squeeze your hand at a campaign appearance, and tell you, “I just donated five dollars to your election.  It’s all I can afford.”

For the first time in a very long time, the people of the 27th District felt that their voice was heard and that their vote mattered. My heart will not permit me to abandon those wonderful people.

So today, I am proudly announcing that I am forming an organization called Fight Like Hell. Fight Like Hell will be a voice for those thousands of Western New Yorkers who feel excluded, disenfranchised, and apathetic—those who continue to reach out and ask what they can do, what’s next.

We want to take what we’ve learned and the tools and resources we’ve gathered and pay them forward by empowering more good people to run for office. I want more people to understand who their local leaders are (and how they can hold them accountable). Among other things, we will host Town Halls where residents will have a chance to share their voice, whether or not your Congressman thinks it’s important for you to do so or continues to hide.

Beyond that, Mr.  Collins’ future in Washington remains murky. He says that he will finish his term, but as we know, Mr. Collins is not the best at keeping promises. Let me say it here first: when the time is right, I will run for office again.

I have met a lot of disappointed people since the election. I have felt a great deal of sadness. But be of good cheer. We are not what Mr. Collins represents. And we are not what the opportunistic politicians and pundits who supported him represent.

We ARE what those thousands of folks who stood up to him by standing on corners, writing postcards, and knocking doors in the cold represent. We ARE are what those Republicans who took a chance on a lanky Democrat represent. We ARE what the folks who are already gearing up for the next fight represent. Indeed, we ARE what America represents. We are hope, we are kindness, we are decency, and integrity.

Sure, we lost. But if we lost with integrity and fighting for unions, the middle class, and healthcare for every American, so be it.

Stay strong. Protect it from the wind.  But let that light glow.

With love, gratitude, and joy,

Nate

First bridge to close for work is Bennetts Corners Road, with last of 7 to be complete in 2020

Press Release, NYS Department of Transportation

Photo by Tom Rivers: Erie Canal is pictured on Dec. 8, 2017 in Albion with the Gaines Basin Road bridge in the background. This bridge is one of seven that will be worked on in Orleans County.

New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Paul A. Karas today announced the start of a $10.7 million project that will rehabilitate seven historic Erie Canal bridges in the Orleans County towns of Murray, Albion, Gaines, Ridgeway and the Village of Medina.

The rehabilitation work, to be completed in the next two years, is necessary to raise legal weight limits on the bridges and will provide safe access for residents, local farms and businesses, which are vital to economic activity across Orleans County.

“All New Yorkers know the importance and history of commerce along the Erie Canal, especially in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region, which is home to nearly 70 percent of the canal bridges in the state,” Acting Commissioner Karas said. “By investing in this critical infrastructure today, we are helping to preserve that history and maintain the integrity of these bridges for years to come.”

The project has identified for rehabilitation seven single-lane truss bridges constructed between 1909 and 1914. The locations of the bridges over the canal include:

• Bennetts Corners Road, between Route 31 and Gulf Road, in the Town of Murray.

• Telegraph Road, between Route 237 and Groth Road, in the Town of Murray.

• Transit Road, between Route 31 and West Brockville Road, in the Town of Murray.

• Densmore Road, north of Route 31, in the Town of Albion.

• Gaines Basin Road, between Albion Eagle Harbor Road and West Bacon Road, just north of the Albion Correctional Facility, in the Town of Gaines.

• Bates Road, between Telegraph Road and Portage Road, in the Village of Medina.

• Marshall Road, between Route 31 and School Road, in the Town of Ridgeway.

The canal bridge on Telegraph Road in Murray is pictured in February 2015.

The bridge carrying Bennetts Corners Road over the Erie Canal will be the first of seven to close, beginning on December 3rd, for up to six months. Each bridge will be worked on consecutively through Summer 2020.

The work on these bridges will include installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace steel floor systems, low chords, gusset plates, and truss elements. Bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches also will be improved and each bridge will be repainted. The alignments and profiles of the bridges will not change.

“Since being elected in 2014, I have advocated for these long-awaited improvements to our canal bridges, many of which are in my district,” said State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda. “I am pleased to see that many of these bridges are getting much needed improvements. These bridges are vital in ensuring quick and reliable routes for many residents, businesses, and local farms in Orleans County.”

The improvements will require each bridge to be closed to traffic for up to six months at a time, although access to businesses, including public boat launches, will be maintained throughout construction. The approaches to each bridge will be open for local traffic. Work will be done on some of the bridges simultaneously. Pedestrian access to the Erie Canal Trailway also will be maintained throughout construction.

“Safe, reliable and robust infrastructure is the backbone to healthy economic development and one of the many aspects of a flourishing society, and there are few matters more pressing than addressing the insufficient conditions of our area’s bridges,” said State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia. “These seven bridges are not only paramount to our emergency services, daily commuters, agriculture and farm equipment and interstate travelers, but are part of the Erie Canal system’s distinct history. I am pleased to see such a large investment in Orleans County’s infrastructure and look forward to improved travel this spring.”

Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, said, “The Orleans County Legislature is extremely pleased to see that the New York State DOT is continuing to move ahead with plans to ensure the long-term viability of our transportation system. We have made significant efforts to clarify our concerns and priorities and the State has in turn made an effort to understand and respond to those concerns.”

File photo: Holley’s Parade of Lights passes through the Public Square in December 2013. The parade returns on Saturday

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley will once again be celebrating the “Night of Lights” this Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.

There will be many activities for children and adults in the Public Square including the Holley Community Library, the Eastern Orleans Community Center, and at the Friendship Bible Baptist Church, 32 Public Square. Holiday music will be played in the square by Northern Lights DJ and the Holley Elementary and High School chorus and bands.

There will also be six wineries and multiple vendors set up in downtown storefronts, said Mayor Brian Sorochty. Wine tasting tickets will be available for purchase on Saturday at the Village Office.

The annual Holiday Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Citizen of the Year award, memory bulb and tree lighting ceremony.

“We are proud to continue our tradition from last year and we will be lighting the tree in all blue lights in honor of our brave emergency services and law enforcement personnel,” Sorochty said. “We had a tremendous turnout last year and we are looking forward to seeing everyone back again. Please join us for a fun evening celebrating the joys of the season.”

ALBION – An Albion man admitted in Orleans County Court today to providing drugs in his wife’s fatal overdose on Dec. 18, 2017.

Kevin J. McMullen, 32, of West Lee Road pleaded guilty to attempted criminally neglect homicide and could face up to a year in the Orleans County Jail when he is sentenced on Feb. 7. The crime is a level A misdemeanor.

McMullen said in court that he took his wife, Megan, to Rochester on Dec. 18 to purchase what they believed was heroin. When they brought the drug, the seller warned them it was a strong drug.

It was actually fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is often added to heroin to make it more potent.

The two McMullens each injected the drug along a street on the way home. Mrs. McMullen overdosed in the vehicle and her husband was able to revive her with rescue breaths.

They made it home to Albion and injected the fentanyl again. Mrs. McMullen again overdosed and was revived by her husband.

The two took the drug again in their bedroom. Mr. McMullen fell asleep and woke up to find his wife was deceased and could not be revived.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said McMullen failed to get medical assistance for Megan and provided her with a drug despite the warning of its danger, especially after she overdosed the first time.

McMullen could have called for medical assistance without fear of arrest for an overdose because of the Good Samaritan Law, Cardone said in court.

“Were you involved in the activities that led to your wife’s death?” County Court Judge Sanford Church asked McMullen in court.

“Yes, your honor,” he responded.

“Did it involved controlled substances?” Church asked.

“Yes, your honor,” McMullen responded.

“Were you around when she ingested controlled substances?” Church asked.

“Yes, your honor,” McMullen said.

The judge asked McMullen if he took out the drugs and made them available for his wife, even after observing the harmful effect the first two times.

“Yes, your honor,” he said.

McMullen was arrested on Sept. 3 following a nearly nine-month investigation by the Albion Police Department.

ALBION – An Albion teen-ager admitted in court today to breaking into his grandmother’s home during the night on July 8 and then stabbing his grandmother.

The 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary and could face up to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on  Feb. 7.

As part of the plea agreement today, the 17-year-old will be granted youthful offender status which would seal his record and not make it available to the public. His name also shouldn’t be publicized by the media.

The 17-year-old admitted to entering his grandmother’s house through a window. He said he took money from her purse. He was in the kitchen when he heard her wake up. He then panicked and stabbed her with a knife at least twice, he told Orleans County Judge Sanford Church this morning.

The 17-year-old spoke in such a low voice this morning the judge had him come close to the bench so the official court reporter and judge could hear. The boy is represented by Public Defender Joanne Best.

The grandmother has recovered from her injuries. Her grandson won’t face the more serious charge for assault.

The 17-year-old said he was under the influence of alcohol that night. Orleans County Sheriff’s investigators said the 17-year-old stole $23 cash and the victim’s cell phone. He then climbed out a different window and fled the scene.

After a several hour search by law enforcement that night, the 17-year-old was found at 6 the following morning by the bushes at Burger King.

His grandmother, while bleeding profusely, was able to leave the residence and drive to Medina Memorial Hospital. She was then transported to the Erie County Medical Center by Mercy Flight.

The 17-year-old has no prior criminal record. He is currently in the Orleans County Jail on $25,000 cash bail.

ARG Disposal disguised this truck as Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer for Medina’s Parade of Lights Saturday night. ARG used recycled materials it reclaimed at its Albion business to make the display.

MEDINA – It was a night to remember in Medina.

Saturday’s 10th annual Parade of Lights unfolded before a crowd of thousands who packed Main Street to view the spectacular event.

Earlier in the day, a light rain was reason to worry whether the parade should be canceled. But after a meeting of the committee with village officials, the decision was made the show would go on, said parade chairman Jim Hancock.

The day began with the arrival of Santa Claus at noon. All day in the village, vendors lined the streets and merchants offered special deals to shoppers.

The dinner hour found Megan McGraph and her children, Aiden, 15, Owen, 10 and Brinn, 4, taking a break from shopping to have supper at the Country Club Restaurant.

“Although I live in Albion, we come to this every year,” McGraph said. “I work in Medina and have a lot of friends here, and this event is so phenomenal. I’m so impressed with all the businesses who participate.”

The family arrived early so the children could see Santa. Brinn told him she wanted building blocks and a baby that cries for Christmas.

Fireworks were a spectacle in the sky before the start of the parade.

Former Medina mayor Adam Tabelski, his wife Rachel and two children came to spend the day and watch the Parade of Lights.

“I’ve been back several times for the parade,” said Tabelski, who now lives in Batavia. “We’ve had hot chocolate at the Shirt Factory Café, chocolates at Della’s and now supper at the Country Club and then the parade.”

Tabelski was excited about seeing the statue of the World War I-era soldier which was going to be introduced to Medina for the first time in the parade.

“I was mayor 10 years ago when the pedestal for the monument was dedicated,” he said. “I’m anxious to see it completed.”

The statue of a doughboy was a lead float in the parade, having just been delivered from the foundry at the University of Buffalo, where it was fired. It is the culmination of a dream by the late Bill Menz to pay tribute to the men who trained for four world conflicts at the Medina Armory – in Company F and later Company C.

A bronze statue made its public debut during the parade with a message, “Thank you veterans!”

Menz died in July, just four months before the statue was completed.

Bill’s widow Betty and daughter Mary Beth Germano had front row seats for the parade.

“This is going to be so emotional,” Betty said. “Once Bill started this project, everything took a back seat. He may not be here physically, but his spirit is all around us.”

Daughter Lynne Menz picked up the ball where her dad left off, and saw the project to completion. She rode in the parade with Cathy Fox and Cathy Whittleton Iorio, both daughters of Company F veterans.

Also at the event were Bill and Betty’s daughter Teresa Menz, son and daughter-in-law Tim and Karen Menz and granddaughters Alissa, Meghan and Natalie.

As the statue was removed from storage at the Pickle Factory to head to the parade, the family took a minute to offer a toast to Bill and all those whose support resulted in completion of Bill Menz’ dream.

The Mark Time Marchers performed in the parade.

Donna Johnson of Medina volunteered in the Santa House in Rotary Park, working with the scavenger hunt. Children had to find certain items in the stores and then bring their results to the Santa House.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Prime Time Brass of Rochester plays Christmas music in Rotary Park as the giant Christmas tree is lit.

In spite of rain most of the afternoon, Johnson said there were good crowds, and everyone was having a wonderful time.

“People were wet but happy,” she said.

The rain had subsided by late afternoon, and crowds gathered near Rotary Park at 5 p.m. to hear the Mark Time Marchers from Churchville play Christmas songs and some old favorites. This was followed by lighting of the giant Christmas tree in the park and then fireworks over downtown.

Shortly after 6 p.m., the parade led off from the Pickle Factory, and down Park Avenue to Main Street, where people filled the sidewalks.

The 45 floats featured entries by fire companies, service groups, churches and local businesses.

All entrants were asked to incorporate the number “10” in their float, honoring the 10th anniversary of the parade.

Bentley Brothers of Albion entered 10 RVs, all named for reindeer. In addition to the eight original reindeer and Rudolph, the 10th was “Kubota,” a reindeer in training.

ARG Disposal was hardly recognizable as a garbage truck, adorned with lights to look like a reindeer.

Interestingly, according to Hancock, almost 40 percent of the entries were first-timers. Judging was very close for all the awards, he said.

“We thank all groups who entered a float in our 10th anniversary edition of the most spectacular parade in all of Western New York,” Hancock said. “See you next year.”

Velocitii was one of the Medina businesses who decorated a float for the parade.

Dunkin’ Donuts and Grace Baptist Church put together festive displays.

The Medina Marching Band, including some alumni, showed their holiday spirit.

Santa Claus and Buddy the Elf greet their many fans along the parade route.

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The Kendall and Roy-Hart girls basketball tournaments will highlight the first full week of the local high school winter sports season.

Four local teams will compete in the Kendall Tournament which gets underway on Wednesday with Lyndonville vs. Barker at 5:30 p.m. and Holley vs. Kendall at 7 p.m. The consolation and championship games are set for Saturday at 2 and 4 p.m.

The Roy-Hart Tournament’s opening round on Friday will have Oakfield-Alabama vs. Tonawanda at 6 p.m. and Holland vs. Roy-Hart at 7:30 p.m. The consolation and championship games will be on Saturday at 2 and 3:30 p.m.

Lyndonville will host Rochester Academy Charter in a non league boys, girls basketball doubleheader on Friday beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Niagara-Orleans League wrestling season will get off to a very early start on Wednesday with Medina at defending champion Newfane, Albion at Akron and Wilson at Roy-Hart/Barker at 6 p.m.

The Holley-Kendall wrestling team will host its annual Team Tournament on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at Holley.

N-O swim teams will begin tuning up for the league campaign with non league meets on Friday including Albion at Oakfield-Alabama, Medina at Byron-Bergen, Roy-Hart at HAC and Barker at Alexander, all at 5:30 p.m.

Weekly Schedule
Tuesday
Boys Basketball: Barker at Alexander, 6:30 .m.; Pavilion at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Alden at Albion, 7 p.m.

Wednesday
Girls Basketball: Kendall Tournament (Lyndonville vs. Barker, 5:30 p.m.; Holley vs. Kendall, 7 p.m.)
Wrestling: Medina at Newfane, Albion at Akron, Wilson at Roy-Hart/Barker, 6 p.m.

Thursday
Boys Basketball: Albion at Tonawanda, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Boys Basketball: Rochester Academy Charter at Lyndonville, 5:30 p.m.; Holley at Barker, Buffalo Science at Medina, Roy-Hart at MST Seneca, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Medina at Tapestry, 6:30 p.m.; Rochester Academy Charter at Lyndonville, Albion at Elba, 7 p.m.; Roy-Hart Tournament (Oakfield-Alabama vs. Tonawanda, 6 p.m.; Holland vs. Roy-Hart, 7:30 p.m.)
Swimming: Albion at Oakfield-Alabama, Medina at Byron-Bergen, Roy-Hart at HAC, Barker at Alexander, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday
Girls Basketball: Kendall Tournament (2 and 4 p.m.), Roy-Hart Tournament, (2 and 3:30 p.m.)
Wrestling: Holley-Kendall Tournament, 10 a.m. at Holley.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Takeform Architectural Graphics defended its title as the grand champion in Medina’s Parade of Lights on Saturday.

The company won the $1,000 top prize in the 10^th annual parade that included 45 entries.

Takeform created a Tropical Christmas themed float with Santa on a surf board riding a giant wave. The float also includes a candy bar instead of a tiki bar, palm trees and many other Christmas characters wearing Hawaiian shirts and shorts.

The float passes by in about a minute on the parade route, making it difficult to appreciate all the details.

These photos show some of the features on the float.

Takeform repeats as grand champion

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Takeform Architectural Graphics repeated as the grand champion in the 10^th annual Parade of Lights on Saturday.

The Medina business created a float with a Tropical Christmas theme. There were 45 entries in the parade. Takeform won $1,000 for winning the top award.

Looking closely at the sign with the Santa on a Jet Ski, you see see iconic Medina scenes, including St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bent’s Opera House, Thomas the Train Engine and the Big Apple .

Other winning floats picked by the judges include:

Best in Class (Religious) – Community Fellowship Church from Middleport

Best in Class (Service Clubs) – Albion FFA

Best in Class (Fire Company) – Lyndonville, with its fourth consecutive win in this class

Best in Class (Commercial/Business) – ARG Disposal from Albion

Best in Class (Not-for-Profit) – Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund

Community Spirit Award – Company F Memorial Statue

Littlest Elf Award – Cobblestone Girl Scouts

Star Award – Bentley Brothers

Santa’s Pick Award – 4-H Heelers Dog Club

Takeform Architectural Graphics followed up last year’s grand prize float with one celebrating a Tropical Christmas.

Fireworks burst over Main Street just before the parade.

Fire trucks, including one from Middleport at left and one from Medina at right, were decorated with lights. They are in the staging area at the Olde Pickle Factory on Park Avenue just before the parade.

Members of the Albion FFA pose for a photo before the parade. They used 11,500 lights in their float, “10 Reasons to Farm.” Participants in the parade were encouraged to use the number 10 in their floats in recognition of the the 10th anniversary of the parade.

Laura Bentley of Bentley Brothers joins 10 Kubotas from Bentley Brothers in the parade. The Kubotas were all decorated and some were named for reindeer.

Cub Scout Pack 18 gets a wave from the crowd, including Frosty the Snowman.

The 4-H Heelers Dog Club made a big effort with its float.

Two girls on the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund float see someone they know in the crowd along Main Street.

The Medina youth football team soaks up a warm reception from the crowd.

The Medina FFA had a Wizard of Oz theme.

Prime Time Brass of Rochester plays for the judges in front of the review stand on Main Street.

Mary Lou Tuohey, left, and her daughter Nicole served as grand marshals of the parade.

Statue will be installed in spring atop monument at YMCA, the former Armory

A community fundraising effort for $65,000 paid for the statue, which will be installed in the spring on top of a monument by the former Armory, which is now the Orleans County YMCA. The monument includes the names of the 550 soldiers who trained in Medina and then went off to war.

Brian Porter of Lockport created the statue after a 2-year effort. Members of the Company F Monument Committee picked up the statue on Monday from a foundry at the University of Buffalo.

The statue resembles World War I doughboy from a century ago.

David Kazmierczak, a veteran from Medina, gets a close look at the statue.

The Company F Monument Committee rode in the parade with the statue. The committee was led by the late Bill Menz, who passed away at age 86 on July 16. Menz spent more than a decade working on a monument and memorial outside the former Medina Armory.

Bill Menz is pictured in April 2015 with the monument by the former Armory. That’s where the 7-foot-tall statue will be installed this spring. Menz didn’t want the original purpose of the building to be forgotten, as a training site for soldiers who served in several wars. Menz helped build the monument that was unveiled in 2008 by the Armory. Menz sent out letters, knocked on doors and made numerous phone calls to raise funds for the monument and the new statue.

The statue heads down Main Street in front of thousands of people. The parade route is the exact opposite of that taken by those troops when they marched from the Armory to the train station in October 1940.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Mary Beth Germano and her mother Betty Menz snuggle up in the viewing area as they wait for the 10th annual Parade of Lights to begin. A feature of the parade was introduction of a statue of a World War I-era soldier, which Menz’ husband Bill was instrumental in having sculpted to be placed on the Company F monument in front of Medina Armory.

Lynne Menz, left, and daughters of Company F soldiers Kathy Whittleton Iorio and Cathy Fox ride on the float bearing the statue of a World War I-era soldier. Menz’ father Bill Menz had the idea and led fundraising to erect the monument and commission the statue.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – There were 105 finishers in this morning’s 6^th annual Home for the Holidays 5K in Medina, including Jennifer Arnold of Medina.

Many of the runners wore Santa hats, Christmas lights, crazy socks and other decorations to celebrate the holidays.

The event is sponsored by Medina LOYAL Baseball with proceeds from the race going to Medina LOYAL Baseball and the Warrior House in West Shelby. The Warrior House provides a hunting retreat and other services for wounded veterans.

Sullivan Barth, 19, of Lyndonville was the first male finisher in a time of 18:21 and Anna Rickard, 16, of Middleport was the first female to cross the finish line in a time of 21:49.

Jeff Gray of Buffalo pushes his sons, Jeffrey and Andy, in a double jogger stroller. Gray runs with Team Red, White and Blue. RWB has a mission to connect veterans to their community through physical and social activities.

Olivia Sweet, 10, of Lancaster finished in 28:57 and won the 14 and under age group for girls.

Colleen Dinitto of Albion has a strong finish. The race started in the Canal Basin, went on State Street to the canal, before a turn on the Route 63 lift bridge for a finish on North Main Street in front of the American Legion.

Kathy Jurs of Albion sprints to the finish line.