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Pro wrestlers will be back in fundraiser for East Shelby Fire Company

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 February 2023 at 7:27 pm

Event moved from fairgrounds to Medina school gym for ‘Spring Smash’ on April 15

Photos by Tom Rivers: Joe Gacy applies lots of pressure on Kevin Bennett during their wrestling match on May 4, 2019 during the “Fairground Fallout: Return of the Empire.” That was the last time Empire State Wrestling held an event in Orleans County. The wrestlers will be back on April 15, this time in a bigger venue at the Medina Junior-Senior High School gym.

MEDINA – The pro wrestlers who entertained crowds for events in 2018 and 2019 will be back in Orleans County on April 15.

Empire State Wrestling will bring the “Spring Smash” with eight or nine matches to the medina Junior-Senior High School gym. That is a change from the previous events at the Lartz Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

The gym has more seating room, higher ceilings for wrestlers to jump off the top ropes, a bigger parking area and more heat.

Ryan McPherson, the event chairman, expects at least 500 people for the wrestling. That would be up from the high of 350 at the fairgrounds. The event will continue as a fundraiser for the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

“We’re very excited,” McPherson said today about the return of the wrestlers. “We were happy with the turnout before. Everybody who came had great things to say. We are hoping this will be an even bigger draw.”

There will be four wrestlers with local ties in the ring on April 15: Thomas Green “Big Budget” of Albion; Kevin Lockwood (aka Kevin Blackwood), an Albion native; Gavin “A Cut Above the Rest” Glass, a Medina native; and Jacob Miller (aka Maxx Cannon) of Medina, also known as “The Filthy One.”

Medina’s Gavin Glass was in action during the May 4, 2019 at the fairgrounds. He waits to get tagged in by his partner Rob Sweet. Glass, a 2015 Medina graduate, will be back on April 15.

McPherson said there will be discounts for students in grades 12 and younger at $10 each while general admission for adults in $20. Kids under 3 can get in for free with an adult. There also is a four-pack ticket option for adults at $60.

“We are instituting special pricing for grade school students and hope to make this our largest and most family-friendly event to date,” he said.

McPherson said the half of the ringside tickets have already sold. He appreciates the school hosting the event. There will be mats on the floor and the ring will be set up on that to protect the floor.

The doors will open at 5 p.m. with the first match at 6. The action should continue until 8:30 or 9 p.m.

Several of the fans at the fairgrounds wrestling events exclaimed about the athleticism of the wrestlers, and how physical the matches were. There were drop-kicks, body slams and other moves. McPherson said many of the fans felt like it was WWE.

“It is definitely not fake,” he said.

McPherson urged people to take in the spectacle of the event, with the many colorful characters and strongmen.

“There is a ton of excitement,” he said. “I think everyone will be blown away by how much fun it will be.”

For more information on tickets, click here.

Kevin (Lockwood) Blackwood, an Albion native, pins Scotty O’Shea during one of the matches on April 28, 2018 during the debut “Fairgrounds Fallout.”

Mr. Ed’s Super Bowl race brings about 300 runners and walkers for 5K in Middleport

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2023 at 7:46 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

MIDDLEPORT – Runners take off at the start of the 34th Mr. Ed’s Super Bowl Warm-Up today in Middleport. There were 217 people who finished the 5K and about 60 others who walked the course on a sunny day with temperatures in the high 40s. Often the race has been held on freezing cold days with snow and ice.

The top 3 male finishers include Ian Heschke of Gasport, 1st at 17:55; Jay Heideman of Middleport, 2nd at 19:17; and Anthony Cinotti of Akron, 3rd at 19:43.

The top three female finishers include Kimberly Mills of Oakfield, 1st at 20:04; Emma Evans of Lockport, 2nd at 22:04; and Kelli Roger, 3rd at 22:34.

Don Heschke, Mike Dellario and Joe Moll continued a Mr. Ed’s tradition by firing a small cannon to start the race.

The race in its history has raised $95,000 for scholarships and also to assist community members in need.

Valerie Wood (left), Barb Keirn (second from left) and Bonnie Boyd serve chili, hamburgers and tuna fish salad at the post-race party inside the fire hall. The 2021 race was a virtual event and it was back in-person last year but there wasn’t a post-race party due to Covid concerns.

The post-race celebration, considered one of the bigger post-race parties among Western New York races, returned today.

Medina will repair stained-glass window at Boxwood chapel

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2022 at 11:24 am

Village asked to consider renaming State Street Park in honor of Burroughs family

The stained-glass window donated by the late Silas Burroughs will be repaired. The window and the chapel at Boxwood Cemetery were featured on Sept. 26 in a night-time tour of the cemetery. Catherine Cooper, county historian at center, is shown discussing the window.

MEDINA – The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery have met their fundraising goal of $7,500 to repair the stained-glass window in the chapel at Boxwood.

The window was donated by the late Silas Burroughs, who was influential in the pharmaceutical industry. Burroughs and Henry Wellcome pioneered the use of Empirin Compound for headaches. They also developed a technique to make powdered medicine more palatable by making pills.

Burroughs in his estate left money to Boxwood Cemetery. The bottom half of the window and frame will be repaired by Pike Stained Glass Studios in Rochester. The company will remove the window in the spring and try to have it back in place in time for next year’s “Boxwood at Night” event, where many of the cemetery paths were lighted up.

The inaugural “Boxwood at Night” on Sept. 26 attracted more than 200 people. The event was a big fundraiser for the window restoration. There was also music and seven stops with docents or interpreters discussing people buried in the cemetery. One of the stops was inside the chapel where people could see the window donated by Burroughs.

The Village Board approved the repair at a cost of $6,750 with the money coming from the Friends of Boxwood.

Todd Bensley, the village historian and member of the Friends of Boxwood, said a bigger goal for the Friends of Boxwood is a complete restoration of the Medina Sandstone chapel. The group would like to get contractors in the building over the winter to prepare bids for a project.

Bensley also asked the Village Board on Monday to consider an interpretive panel about Burroughs and his father at State Street Park. The panel would be done in a similar style as the ones in the downtown. Bensley said once the panel is designed it will be presented to the board for its input.

Burroughs father, Silas Burroughs, was a member of Congress from 1857 until his death on March 4, 1860. The elder Burroughs was a lawyer, a brigadier general in the New York State Militia and a state assemblyman.

The family home was at State Street Park until 1916. Bensley asked the board to consider renaming the park in honor of the Burroughs family.

That request was made to the village in 2019 by Chris Busch, the former Village Planning Board chairman and current president of the Orleans Renaissance Group.

Bensley said the village previously renamed a park. South Main Street Park was renamed Butts Park in honor of John Butts, a Medal of Honor recipient in World War II.

“We’re not asking for it to happen today, but trying to gauge the interest level,” Bensley said during Monday’s board meeting.

Village Trustee Marguerite Sherman said one possibility could be naming the new pavilion at the park in memory of the Burroughs family.

“The village board needs some time to digest,” Mayor Mike Sidari responded to Bensley.

The board last month approved having a sidewalk at the corner of the park leading to a World War I cannon. An anonymous donor is covering the cost.

Honor Guard pays tribute to veterans

Photos by Ginny Kropf: The firing squad is ready to give a three-gun salute during services at State Street Park this morning.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 November 2022 at 10:08 pm

MEDINA – Members of the Butts-Clark American Legion in Medina and VFW Posts in Medina and Albion visited all the war memorials in Medina this morning, to pray and present three-gun salutes, honoring veterans on Veterans Day.

Memorials included the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial at the Butts-Clark American Legion Post, the Company F Memorial in front of the former Medina Armory (now the YMCA), the Korean War Memorial on Park Avenue, the tank at Oak Orchard School, the memorial at Butts Park, the World War I cannon in State Street Park and the Freedom Memorial at the VFW Post.

Jim Freas, left, and David Kusmierczak salute during services at the memorial in Butts Park on Friday morning. An honor guard made up of members of the local American Legion and VFWs in Medina and Albion visited all the war memorials in Medina to present three-gun salutes.

Each stop included a prayer and three-gun salute. Participating members were Jim Freas, Bradley Nudd, Glenn Whitmore, John Follman, Dave Kusmierczak, Mike Donahue, Dan Anderson, Greg Smith, Mike Harmer, Jim Wells, Eric Delano, Carol Callina, David Wells, Nick Fitzak, Pat Little and Greg Stanton.

The VFW Auxiliary served a baked ziti lunch at noon for all veterans.

The honor guard lines up by the World War I cannon in Medina’s State Street Park during Veterans Day services.

Members of the VFW in Medina and Albion and Medina American Legion line up for a three-gun salute in front of the Freedom Memorial at the VFW Post on East Center Street.

Most of NY moves past peak fall foliage

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 October 2022 at 3:18 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers: Mount Albion Cemetery is in its autumn glory. This photo was taken on Tuesday afternoon with lots of leaves still on the trees and many on the ground.

I Love NY reports most of the state has moved past peak fall foliage. Spotters in the Greater Niagara region report nearly complete leaf change and very brilliant yellow, orange and red leaves.

Trees are starting the shed their leaves, but the remaining colors are quite brilliant, I Love NY states on its weekly fall foliage report.

The weekly fall foliage report from I Love NY shows most of the state is past peak colors with the changing leaves.

Here are some more photos from Mount Albion, including the Civil War section with the cannon.

One of the disc golf holes is shown on Saturday at Lakeside Beach State Park in Carlton.

Hochul forms advisory council to reduce child poverty statewide

Posted 7 October 2022 at 12:29 pm

About 1 in 5 children live in poverty in New York

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council which will develop a plan to cut child poverty in half over the next decade. Authorized via the Child Poverty Reduction Act, the diverse panel will begin developing this plan during its first meeting in Albany on Thursday, Oct. 13.

“Alleviating poverty for all New Yorkers – especially our youngest – is a key priority for my administration,” Governor Hochul said. “This talented and diverse group of policy experts, service providers, advocates, and community members will examine both proven strategies and new approaches to further this goal and address the broad and systemic inequities that perpetuate cycles of poverty in communities throughout New York State.”

The council is charged with developing evidence-based recommendations for reducing child poverty in New York State by 50 percent over the next ten years. As part of this effort, the council will conduct comprehensive data analyses, create a timeline with annual benchmarks, determine effective metrics for measuring the state’s progress reducing child poverty, and issue reports.

The council is co-chaired by Jihoon Kim, Governor Hochul’s Deputy Secretary for Human Services and Mental Hygiene, and Daniel W. Tietz, Commissioner of the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Jihoon Kim said, “I am grateful to Governor Hochul for appointing me as co-chair of the Council. This administration is committed to taking concrete steps to alleviate the economic, mental and emotional stress experienced by far too many New Yorkers, especially our children. The Council will focus on building consensus toward broad-based policy solutions that can help disadvantaged communities, including communities of color, escape poverty and achieve economic security.”

Daniel W. Tietz said, “It is an honor to serve as co-chair of the Council and I am excited to begin the critical work of creating a blueprint that we can use to cut child poverty in half over the next decade. The work of the Council is intended to empower some of our most marginalized and vulnerable fellow New Yorkers and improve the quality of life for those most in need.”

The council’s statutory membership includes:

  • State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Shelia Poole
  • State Department of Taxation and Finance Deputy Commissioner of Processing and Taxpayer Services Kristin Dence
  • State Council on Children and Families Deputy Director and Counsel Elana Marton
  • Former Children’s Defense Fund Director of Health and Economic Justice Policy Ben Anderson
  • Robin Hood Foundation CEO Richard Buery
  • Community Member Candace Cabral
  • Community Member Pamela Walcott
  • Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council member Shelly Callahan
  • Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council member Kathy Connerton
  • Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy President & CEO Kate Breslin
  • Westchester Children’s Association Executive Director Allison Lake
  • The Children’s Agenda Director of Policy Peter Nabozny
  • The Education Trust Executive Director Dia Bryant
  • New York City Human Resources Administration Administrator Lisa Fitzpatrick
  • Erie County Department of Social Services Commissioner Marie Cannon

Hundreds of thousands of children are living in poverty throughout New York State in 2021, according to U.S. Census Bureau data compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This represents more than 15 percent or nearly one in five children throughout the state.

The New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council will conduct its first meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m., in Meeting Room 6 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. The meeting is open to the public and may also be viewed online, along with materials the Council will discuss, which will be available at the following link the day before the meeting: otda.ny.gov/news/meetings/.

Yates celebrates 200th with party on Main Street

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 August 2022 at 9:50 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

YATES – A section of Main Street was closed off to traffic so the Town of Yates could celebrate its 200th anniversary on Friday evening.

The local band Who Dats performed from 7 to 9 p.m. after deejay JT Thomas played music in the downtown.

The Who Dats include John Borello on guitar, Alona Kuhns on bass, Alex DeSmit on drums, lead singer Lonnie Froman and Ed Hilfiker on guitar.

The street was closed between Maple and Eagle, with food trucks and tables and chairs on the street.

The “street fair” was the second of three bicentennial celebrations for Yates. The “Grand Finale Lake Fair” will be on Sept. 24 from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Town Park by Lake Ontario on Morrison Road.

Joanne Suhr helped organize the street fair. She was pleased with the attendance. Organizers estimated about 1,000 people came for parts of the celebration.

“The turnout was more than I expected,” she said.

She recalled a street dance back in the 1980s and thought the public would respond to the event.

Suhr, a recently retired Lyndonville teacher, was happy to see different generations coming together for the event.

There were 20 different food and craft vendors for the celebration. There were also two tours of the Lynhaven Cemetery on Friday evening.

There are 200th anniversary T-shirts available for Town of Yates.

There are also bicentennial magnets and other Yates merchandise.

Jack Buckner of Medina brought his grandson Logan to see a Civil War encampment by Johnson Creek near the back of the municipal parking lot.

Jack Buckner and his grandson Logan are silhouettes as the sun sets. They looked over a Civl War cannon.

Myron Woolston of Corning and six other Civil War re-enactors answered questions from the public during a Civil War encampment. The re-enactors spent the night outside at their camp.

Who Dats lead singer Lonnie Froman, right, and Ed Hilfiker on guitar play in front of a crowd on a closed-off part of Main Street.

Alex DeSmit plays the drums for the Who Dats.

Alona Kuhns plays the bass guitar for the Who Dats with the Village Hall in the background.

Yates continues 200th anniversary bash on Friday with street fair

Posted 18 August 2022 at 8:36 am

Press Release, Town of Yates

YATES – On Friday, August 19th, the Town of Yates will celebrate its bicentennial with the second of its three fairs, dubbed by committee coordinator Joanne Suhr as, “A Street Fair.”

The event will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Main Street in Lyndonville between Maple and Eagle Streets. There is no charge for admission.

After the “Family Fair” in July featuring live music from a Lyndonville school chorus, a church choir comprised of some of the churches in town, and a barbershop quartet, this second of three events should have the feel of a street dance.

Although thru traffic – especially all trucks – will be diverted around downtown Lyndonville, local traffic and people attending the fair will be allowed to park closer to the event. Main Street will be closed between Maple and Eagle, and the Town will have food trucks and tables and chairs on the street.

Several vendors will be set-up in the parking lot behind the Town Hall, and of course the Friday evening farmer’s market will be running at the old Pennysaver.

From 5 to 7 p.m., there will be a DJ and music in front of the Town Hall, and then from 7 to 9 p.m., the Who Dats will be performing live at that same location.

There will be a Civil War encampment in Patterson Park, southwest of the Town Hall parking lot along the reservoir, which will include several cannon fire demonstrations during the evening.

At 6 p.m., Catherine Cooper, the Orleans County Historian, will guide a cemetery tour at Lynhaven Cemetery on Housel Avenue.  At 7 p.m., Steve Goodrich, American Legion Lyndonville Post Commander, will lead a cemetery tour. Both tours will begin at the flag pole in the cemetery.

Joanne Suhr is hoping that everyone comes out for the fun gathering, “What better way is there to celebrate the Town’s bicentennial than to have a street party?!”

As a reminder, please mark your calendars for the “Grand Finale Lake Fair” on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Town Park.

For more information go to the Town of Yates website: townofyates.org, or call Town Supervisor Jim Simon, 716-946-2075.

Public welcome to attend flag retirement ceremony on June 14 in Lyndonville

Posted 12 June 2022 at 7:33 am

Editor:

The Lyndonville American Legion Post 1603 will hold a U.S. flag burning ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on June 14. It will held at the Lynhaven Cemetery near the cannon and flagpole.

The public is invited to attend with their children. This is an opportunity to learn about the retiring of old worn and torn flags the correct way.

Bring your chairs and refreshments so you can observe this ceremony in comfort. See you there.

Carl Boyle

Chaplain of American Legion Post 1603 in Lyndonville

Yacht Club kicks off summer boating season

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 10 June 2021 at 4:52 pm

Club with 100 members aims to make organization more community friendly

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Oak Orchard Yacht Club members Paul Gray and Bob Frost, both past commodores, wait to raise the American and Canadian flags during ceremonies Saturday to celebrate opening of the summer boating season.

WATERPORT – Like all social organizations, the Oak Orchard Yacht Club has gone through changes.

If the new commodore, Bob Hodgins of Batavia, has his way, he’d like to see a lot more changes taking place this year – most of all, making it a more community-friendly club.

“One of the things we recognize is there is a perception of the Yacht Club as being stand-offish,” Hodgins said. “We want to change that. We have a board of 11 and they are a great group. They are like-minded and work together.”

Hodgins pointed out the sign in the front yard of the Yacht Club which reads “Members and guests only.” He has changed that by adding signs saying, “Memberships available. Docks available,” hoping to send a more welcoming message.

“We’ve got a wonderful facility here, and we’re trying to make better use of it,” Hodgins said. “Chap’s Diner in Elba runs the restaurant and bar, which is open on Friday and Saturdays from May through September.”

The Yacht Club recently invited the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association to have their annual meeting there.

“This was a good experience,” Hodgins said. “They are our neighbors, and many had never been here before.”

He said they also recently had a pseudo-senior prom for kids who missed out on their senior prom last year due to Covid. He said it was a wonderful event, with kids coming from all over, including New Jersey and Delaware.

They have invited Leadership Orleans 2021 to have a meeting at the Yacht Club on July 8.

“This is a great opportunity to bring young community leaders into our club,” Hodgins said.

Hodgins is also working on having an open house at the Yacht Club for different segments of the population, possibly with a chicken barbecue and music, which would be open to the public.

Officers of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club stand for the Pledge of Allegiance during open ceremonies signifying opening of the boating season. Commodore Bob Hodgins is second from left.

“This is a club developed and kept up by its members,” said Hodgins wife, Mary Lu.

OOYC welcomes both social and full members. Social members have the privilege of visiting the club and enjoying the amenities of the dining room and bar. Full membership is for boaters and includes a dock. Anyone wishing more information on becoming a member on either level may contact Hodgins at (585) 409-9869.

OOYC, which currently has 100 members, was founded in 1938 and began operation at the current site of the public boat launch on the east side of Oak Orchard River, near the harbor mouth at Point Breeze. Club activities centered on cruising, both sail and power, and an active one-design racing program.

In the early 1970s, New York state cast a covetous eye on the old site and began the push to the club’s current location on the west side of the river, about a mile upstream. During this time, members faced the herculean task of arranging funding, getting permits and the construction of the current yacht club. It was then that the tradition of being a “working” club was really cemented. Capital was secured not only by mortgage, but also by members contracting for their docks for 10 years in the future. With funds in hand, the membership spent the winter of 1972 on the ice constructing the docks. The clubhouse was also built entirely by volunteer labor. Only the main structural parts were contracted out.

The years since have seen gradual improvement to the facilities and expansion of services to members. In the early 1980s, additional land was purchased on the west side of the road to provide a buffer between the club and increasing residential surroundings.

According to their website, the club is now in the fortunate position of enjoying a debt-free facility in a beautiful location. Their vision for the future is to continue to maintain and improve on the physical structure and to stay true to the yachting traditions of all who gave so much personal effort to create what they enjoy today.

Jeff Plummer of Waterport steps away from the miniature cannon, which he fired three times to signify opening of the boating season at Oak Orchard Yacht Club on Saturday night.

Medina holds Memorial Day ceremonies

By Cheryl Wertman Posted 31 May 2021 at 1:54 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Though no parade was held a Color Guard followed the traditional parade route this morning from Park Avenue to Main Street to East Center Street to State Street Park where Medina’s Memorial Day observance was held. The Color Guard is shown here on Park Ave.

A flag draped coffin honoring the memory of all deceased veterans followed the Color Guard.

A wreath was placed on the cannon at State Street Park during the ceremonies which also included the reading of the names of the communities’ veterans who had passed away this year, a 21 gun salute and the playing of echo Taps. Click here to view a video of the ceremony.

Albion downtown hosted many holiday activities on Saturday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 December 2020 at 10:37 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jennifer Mateo of Albion takes a photo of her daughters, Eva and Elise, with Santa and Mrs. Claus in front of a holiday backdrop in Beaver Alley. That spot hosted “Selfies with Santa and Mrs. Claus” as part of Saturday’s Hometown Holiday celebration.

The Albion Merchants Association organized the annual event, which included more outdoor activities due to Covid-19 concerns.

Elise Mateo, left, and sister Eva join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a photo.

Gavin O’Brocta, 7, of Albion writes a letter to Santa inside the Dwontown Browsery. His mother, Laura Lechner, took him to some of the holiday activities.

There was also ornament making, ribbon ornaments, free ice cream, hot cocoa and other fun during the event.

Valerie Rush portrayed Mrs. Claus and handed out ornament kits outside The Back Room and Little Sweet Bakery.

Lori Laine brought a selfie stick to get a photo with Mrs. Claus.

Community members and the Albion Merchants Association lighted the Christmas tree at Waterman Park which is in front of a big mural celebrating the late Charles W. Howard, who started the first Santa Claus School. He ran the school in Albion from 1937 to 1966.

Click here to see a video of the tree-lighting, which included confetti cannons.

Medina Lions Club, DPW get State Street Park ready for holidays

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 November 2020 at 6:36 pm

Photos by Ginny Kropf

MEDINA – Employees with the village of Medina strung lights on this giant Christmas tree next to the cannon in State Street Park on Tuesday.

The two Department of Public Works employees worked high in their bucket trucks to string Christmas lights in this tree at State Street Park.

Decorating the park for the holidays has been a tradition for Medina Lions for several decades, and this year is no exception.

The Christmas display which extends the full length of State Street Park is an annual tradition in Medina. The manger and Three Wise Men are just part of the extensive display, which Medina Lions put up on Saturday.

Lions’ members spent several hours putting up the decorations, which run almost the entire length of the park and include the Manger scene, Three Wise Men and Advent wreath.

Lion Dean Bellack said this a favorite project of the Lions and members support it wholeheartedly. More than two dozen members showed up to help put up the decorations, he said.

After the holidays, the Lions will remove the decorations and store them away for next year.

Honor Guard, firing squad pay tribute to veterans in Medina

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Veterans from the American Legion and VFW in Medina prepare to conduct services for the first time at the cannon in State Street Park on Veterans Day.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 12 November 2020 at 9:18 am

MEDINA – Honoring veterans has been a tradition for the American Legion and VFW posts in Medina for decades.

Each Veterans Day, several dozen members of the local posts visit all the memorials in Medina, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the American Legion, the Company F Memorial in front of Medina Armory (now the YMCA), the Korean War Memorial on Park Avenue, the tank in front of Oak Orchard Elementary School and the Butts-Clark Memorial in Butts Park on South Main Street.

This is the first year the veterans haven’t visited the veterans’ plot at Boxwood Cemetery. Also, for the first time this year, the veterans fired a tribute at the historic cannon in State Street Park, which was restored a year ago.

The ceremony at each memorial included a reading by David Kusmierczak, playing of Taps by Don Hinman, and a three-gun salute.

Typically, Veterans’ Day would begin with breakfast at the VFW, but because of Covid, that was discontinued this year.

Jim Freas, front, addresses the Honor Guard as they prepare to fire at the Vietnam Memorial at the American Legion in Medina. The Legion and VFW have fired at all the memorials in Medina on every Veterans Day for years.

Dave Kusmierczak salutes after reading a tribute to veterans in front of the Company F Memorial on Wednesday morning.

Don Hinman plays Taps for ceremonies at the veterans’ memorials in Medina on Memorial Day. He plays here at the cannon in State Street Park.

Members of the American Legion and VFW in Medina fire a tribute at the Company F Memorial in front of Medina Armory (Orleans County YMCA) on Wednesday morning.

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Vietnam War Monument in Medina upgraded with flower bed, sandstone edging

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Six members of the American Legion and VFW in Medina are veterans of the Vietnam War. Posing here with the Vietnam Memorial at the American Legion on North Main Street are, from left, David Higgins, Don Hinman, Jim Freas, David Kusmierczak, David Walker and Tony Vicknair. Walker and a friend, Tom Beach, recent updated the monument with a flower bed and sandstone edging.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 11 November 2020 at 12:18 pm

MEDINA – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial next to the Butts-Clark American Legion Post in Medina has recently undergone an updating, with the addition of a flower bed and sandstone edging.

The work was done by Vietnam veteran David Walker and his friend Tom Beach, who have been friends since before the Vietnam War era.

“When I returned from Vietnam, Tom was the first one to recognize my service,” Walker said.

Walker lives across the road from the American Legion and didn’t like the way the memorial was looking.

“I got tired of sitting on my porch and watching the grass grow up around the monument,” Walker said. “I asked the Legion why they didn’t take better care of it, and they said it belonged to the village.”

The monument consists of a large stone with a plaque of the names of the seven soldiers from Medina who were killed in Vietnam. They are Rolland Shubbuck, who is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Roger Cook, Charles Seefeldt Jr., LeRoy Keller, Nicholas Natale, John Albanese and George Underdown.

“I went to school with all of them except Shubbuck,” Walker said. “I came home alive and intact and these guys didn’t. People don’t realize the brotherhood of those in the military. “

For that reason, Walker wanted to see their memorial taken care of.

The memorial sits at the north end of the Legion on the bank of the Erie Canal. It is backed by a large American flag and bullets from a cannon stand on either side.