Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Santa Claus visited Hoag Library this evening, sporting his casual wear. The library’s main meeting room was full of youngsters wanting to meet Santa and share their Christmas wish list.

Before he met with the children individually, Santa read the book, Reindeer Christmas by Mark Kimball Moulton and Karen Hillard Good.

It was Santa’s first in-person visit to the library in three years. His visits in 2020 and 2021 were limited to Zoom video conferencing.

Santa said he was happy to be back at the Albion library to meet the kids in person. He told him it’s very busy for the elves right now.

“It’s crunch time at the North Pole,” Santa said.

Santa reads the children’s book, Reindeer Christmas.

Santa said he recently got his hair cut and beard trimmed for the first time in years.

“I almost teared up when they were cutting it,” he told the kids.

Santa leads the group in some stretches.

He will be at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina at 6 p.m. on Friday for “Pajama Storytime with Santa.” Registration is recommended for that program. Call 585-798-3430 for more information.

ALBION – An Albion business will be hosting a chance for people to have breakfast, lunch or dinner with Santa Claus on Dec. 3 and Dec. 17.

Dan Conrad, owner of Toyz n Kandy, wanted people to have a chance to spend time with Santa without the pressure of a long line and large group of people.

Conrad organized the “Inside the Snow Globe” events with Santa, with tickets for up to 18 people per hour.

“This will be an opportunity for more personal time with Santa,” Conrad said.

The party room at his store will host the events at 28 East Bank St. The tickets are $25 for an adult and $20 for children 13 and younger.

The meals on Dec. 3 include breakfast by Romyn’s, lunch by the Albion Subway and dinner prepared by Wild Flour. The Dec. 17 meals will be made by the Albion Masonic Lodge for breakfast, Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries for lunch, and dinner by 58 Main BBQ & Brew in Brockport.

The tickets also include desserts from Pretty Sweet Bakery, coloring pages and other Christmas trinkets. There will also be face-painting at Necka’s Treasures, and other businesses are expected to be offering holiday-related  activities on those days.

The tickets for Dec. 3 are available at the Coffee Joint while the tickets for Dec. 17 can be purchased at Toyz n Kandy.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Michael Bonafede, co-owner of the Pratt and Day buildings at 114-120 North Main St., stands in Beaver Alley this morning by the new Gold Medal Flour mural on the Pratt building.

Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler have owned the building for about 15 years. They had paint scraped early this summer from the brick wall, near the corner of the site by the sidewalk and Beaver Alley.

They were planning to have the spot repainted to list the businesses in the building, and also to paint that parking is available behind the building.

Provided photos

Underneath about seven layers of paint was the original Gold Medal Flour sign. Judith Koehler believes the sign dates to 1906 to 1908. That was the style for the logo at the time.

In 1908, there was a corner store at the site, Woods & Sprague. Bonafede and Koehler know that business was there based on an advertisement from 1908 for an Elks minstrel show at the Pratt Opera House.

When Bonafede and Koehler saw the historic sign for Gold Medal Flour, they changed their plans. Instead of listing the current businesses with a new painted sign on the building, they decided to recreate the Gold Medal Flour display.

They wrote to General Mills and received the company’s licensing permission to have a new sign for Gold Medal on the building in that one spot only.

Bonafede and Koehler also received approval from the State Historic Preservation Office and the Albion Historic Preservation Commission for the sign.

“Nobody even knew that sign was there, nobody,” Bonafede said. “It was a total surprise.”

He and Koehler are thrilled with seeing the old sign and are happy to be recreating the display at their historic building.

“It’s pretty cool that we found it,” Koehler said. “Every once in a while we find something pretty cool.”

The building from 1882 has an intact GAR Room used by the Grand Army of the Republic, and many programs and posters from performances at the opera house, as well as several other artifacts.

Mark Weld, a sign painter from Middleport, works on the project. He is teaming with D.J. Button of Albion and Bonafede on recreating the sign. Bonafede said they are pushing to have the work done before the harsh winter weather.

Photo by Tom Rivers

The sign isn’t quite done. There will be a black outline around the white letters. There will be a silhouette of an Albion skyline below that Bonafede is keeping a surprise. The top part in white will say there is parking in the rear lot.

A Main Street grant from the state is helping to pay for the project.

Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

WATERFORD – The public is invited to pick up a free 2023 Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor calendar starting December 1, 2022 at selected libraries and visitor centers throughout the National Heritage Corridor. The calendar features winning images from this year’s Erie Canalway photo contest.

“The Erie Canal transformed New York and the Nation and continues to contribute to the economy and sense of place of communities along it today,” said Bob Radliff, Erie Canalway Executive Director. “The calendar serves as a reminder to celebrate, preserve, and enjoy this incredible place all year long.”

Calendars will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, thanks to generous support from the NYS Canal Corporation and the National Park Service.

“There is a reason they call December ‘the most wonderful time of the year!’ The annual Erie Canalway Calendar is a perennial favorite, beloved and eagerly awaited by all,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “Released at the start of the holiday season with photos captured by our friends and neighbors in canalside communities, this calendar is a testament to the beauty of this historic and scenic waterway. We are proud to continue to support this publication as it brings the charm of New York’s canals into our homes and offices for all to enjoy.”

In Orleans County the calendars will be available at:

• Hoag Library, 134 South Main St. in Albion
• Community Free Library at 86 Public Square in Holley
• Lee-Whedon Memorial Library at 620 West Ave. in Medina

Some other nearby locations include:

• Seymour Library at 161 East Ave., Brockport
• Brockport Welcome Center at 161 East Ave. in Brockport
• Hamlin Public Library at 1680 Lake Rd. in Hamlin
• Royalton Hartland Community Library at 9 Vernon St. in Middleport

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Faye Conley is the events coordinator for Bent’s Opera House, which houses Harvest Restaurant and 10 boutique hotel rooms as well as the performing arts and events space on the third floor.

MEDINA – Faye Conley, new event coordinator at Bent’s Opera House, is excited about all the new activities she is planning for the historic remodeled opera house.

The opera house has already hosted an opera singer and baroque musician, a band, a singing duo and swing dancing. The swing dancing has proven so popular, dancers are coming from Buffalo and Rochester. They will continue one Thursday a month.

Several new events are planned for the holidays. The Polar Express on Saturday was played on the large screen in the upper-level performing arts and events center.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 4, children are invited to have brunch with Santa at Harvest Restaurant, located on the first floor of the opera house. Santa will have a small gift for each child. Reservations may be made by visiting www.harvestatbent.com.

Finally, the public is invited to spend New Year’s Eve at Bent’s Opera House and enjoy an evening of The Great Gatsby. The event will run from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and feature a night of music, dancing, food and beverages. Attendees are encouraged to wear attire of the 1920s era.

Live music will be provided by The Swooners. The evening will include desserts and a cash bar, welcome champagne and the live ball drop from New York City shown on the large screen.

Party goers are also invited to make it a one-stop evening. Dining at Harvest Restaurant will feature a special New Year’s Eve menu, with serving from 5 to 9 p.m. Then after dancing all evening in the opera house, attendees can go to their room on the second floor and spend the night in one of the 10 uniquely designed hotel rooms. Reservations are encouraged early, as tickets are limited.

MEDINA – A generous donation by a Medina businessman and Navy veteran will result in 1,000 wreaths being placed in Boxwood, St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart Cemeteries on Dec. 17, Wreaths Across America Day.

When Kathy Blackburn, president of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery, started Wreaths Across American in 2013 in Medina, her goal was to have a wreath for every veteran in the three cemeteries.

The American Legion and VFW joined in a Wreaths Across America ceremony honoring veterans on Dec. 18, 2021 at Boxwood Cemetery. Pictured from left include Dave Morien, Dave Berry and Dave Wells. There were 315 wreaths in Medina last year for Wreaths Across America.

This year that goal will come close to being realized with the purchase of 1,000 wreaths to be placed in the three cemeteries.

This is a big jump from the seven free wreaths received the first year and the 315 purchased last year.

The reason for the big increase this year is the donation from Medina businessman Tom Snyder, a seven-year veteran of the Navy and owner of Medina Lumber and Hardware.

Wreaths Across America Day is the third Saturday in December. After last year’s observance on Dec. 18, the national organization announced that anyone who bought a wreath for 2022 would get two for the price of one, as long as the purchase was made within 30 days of Dec. 18.

An unspecified number have still been purchased by individual donations from the community, but Snyder’s donation allowed Medina to more than triple the number of wreaths for veterans’ graves in the three cemeteries.

The challenge now is to get volunteers to lay the wreaths in the Dec. 17 ceremony, Blackburn said. She is asking school groups, Scouts, civic organizations, churches, clubs and families to come out and help with this project to honor all of the area’s veterans. She reminds everyone to wear warm clothing, boots and mittens.

Those who want to volunteer to place a wreath can call Blackburn at (585) 734-5801.

A short ceremony will begin at noon at Boxwood Cemetery and then the wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves.

To sponsor a wreath for $15, log on to www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

Metz’s Family Christmas takes grand prize for 2^nd year in a row

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Metz family in Medina won the grand prize in Medina’s Parade of Lights on Saturday, committee chairman Jim Hancock announced this afternoon.

Judges awarded Metz’s Family Christmas the top honor and a $500 grand prize for a float that had 15,000 lights and tried to depict National Lampoon’s Vacation including “Cousin Eddie” from the movie.

The family tied a big Christmas tree to a car, paying homage to a famous scene in National Lampoon’s Vacation when the Griswold family tied a big tree to a station wagon. The Metz family is shown getting their float ready in the staging area at the Olde Pickle Factory’s parking lot.

Dan Metz said the family enjoys celebrating Christmas and wanted to share that passion with the community.

There were about 40 entries in the parade with floats, fire trucks and marching bands.

Best In Class – Fire Company – Shelby Volunteer Fire Company

Shelby decorated a fire truck and had a mini-house on a trailer with firefighters.

Best in Class – Not-For-Profit – Niagara County 4 H Equine Program

Best In Class – Service Group – Roy-Hart FFA

The Roy-Hart students dressed in penguin costumes. They sent a message to reduce, reuse and recycle and try to protect penguins from Global Warming.

Best in Class – Business – Eye of Oden  K9 Training

Best in Class – Religious – Community Fellowship Church. The church had a float with a message about God, Country and Family.

Best in Class – Orleans Niagara BOCES

Santa’s Pick (the float that in the judges’ opinion they think Santa would pick) – Orleans YMCA, with a float highlighting the kayaking and electric bikes offered by the organization.

Littlest Elf Award (the float that best incorporates youth into the entry) – Cobblestone Girl Scouts

Star Award (for the float that is most creative) – Oak Orchard Yacht Club

Community Spirit Award (float that bests demonstrates  a sense of spirit within the community) – Medina Misfits. This group is highlighting the Wreaths Across America program with a goal to have each veteran’s grave in Medina have a wreath. This year the Wreaths Across America ceremony is on Dec. 17.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: From left, Medina Mayor Mike Sidari, Parade of Lights chairman Jim Hancock and Grand Marshal Georgia Thomas chat on the reviewing stand before opening ceremonies to kick off the 14th annual Parade of Lights on Saturday night.

MEDINA – Christmas in Medina on Saturday could go down in history as a record-breaker – from crowds of people and 50-degree temperatures to an impressive 40-plus floats in the Parade of Lights.

The day began with the 5K race, which exceeded sponsor’s hope of more than 100 runners, followed by a pet parade and arrival of Santa Claus at noon, sales and special holiday events in downtown stores throughout the day, and capped off with fireworks and the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m.

Throughout the day, people filled the streets and lined up to enter stores. At the Coffee Pot Café, where lines extended to the door, Dan Rosentreter and his husband Hans rushed to fill orders.

“It has been extremely busy all day,” Hans said. “This is exciting.”

Hans also works full time at Creekside Florist, where he said they were also very busy all day.

At 5:30 p.m., Prime Time Brass, a regular participant in the Parade of Lights, played Christmas tunes in the alley behind Rotary Park, where just prior to the 6 p.m. start of the parade, Tom Hungerford, vice president of sales at Takeform, presented Mayor Mike Sidari with the keys to a new sleigh the company made for Santa.

“It took two engineers, a designer and a year of work, but we have a new sleigh,” Hungerford said.

Sidari accepted the key, saying the sleigh will provide holiday cheer to the community for years to come.

(Left) Tom Hungerford, vice president of sales at Takeform, presents a key to Medina Mayor Mike Sidari for the sleigh his company made for Santa Claus. (Right) Georgia Thomas, Grand Marshal of Medina’s 14th annual Parade of Lights, talks about her love of Medina, after being introduced by parade chairman Jim Hancock, prior to start of the parade.

Parade Grand Marshal Georgia Thomas was introduced by parade chairman Jim Hancock, after which she shared why she was honored to be chosen as Grand Marshall.

“When I watch TV and they talk about the best small towns in America, they miss the really best one – Medina,” Thomas said. “In my opinion, Medina has it all. A Nationally Registered Historic Main Street, great shopping, and to borrow a word from the movie ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,’ ‘scrumpdelicious’ restaurants. This is a fabulous family town, with the YMCA, a fabulous skate park, a dog park and people parks.”

She named the village’s great schools, great football team and award-winning Mustang Band, as well as the Medina Historical Society and Museum, which preserves the past for future generations.

“Our community services, such as Lee-Whedon Library, public works, police, fire department and ambulance are wonderful in my opinion,” Thomas said. “We have friendly churches and service organizations, and let’s not forget all of you – super Medinaians.”

She went on to point out Medina has the only road that goes under the canal and a lovely, wide canal basin for visiting boaters and watercraft rental, plus a tow path for walking.

“Our local farms and yummy Farmers’ Market, I think, make this area the ‘Foodie Capital’ of the world, in my book,” Thomas added.

These are the reasons, in spite of having lived in two different continents and visited others, she chose the home town she grew up in – Medina – to come back to when she retired.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Santa and Mrs. Claus ride in a new sleigh created by Takeform for the Parade of Lights. Takeform, a past grand champion of the parade, used its talents and resources to create the sleigh for Santa and Mrs. Claus. It is the culminating float in the annual parade that draws thousands into downtown Medina.

Before the parade, Takeform representatives presented a key to Mayor Mike Sidari for the sleigh which will be used in future lighted parades. The sleigh was given to the village by Takeform

“May this key unlock holiday joy for parade goers far and wide for many years to come,” according to the proclamation from the company to the village.

To see a video of the parade and festivities before the parade with a tree-lighting and fireworks, click here.

Some of the percussionists in the Pembroke Marching Band are shown during the 14^th annual Parade of Lights. Pembroke had more than 90 students in the band performing for the parade. The temperature for the parade was an unseasonably warm 50 degrees.

The Metz family in Medina, grand prize winner from the 2021 parade, was back with another big effort this year. They used 15,000 lights for a float highlighting National Lampoon’s Vacation, including the character “Cousin Eddie” from the movie.

Albion Eagles Cheerleading made their debut in the parade and were joined by a friendly Grinch that waved to the crowd.

The Community Fellowship Church in Middleport puts the finishing touches on its float. There were about 40 entries in the parade. They used the parking lot at the Olde Pickle Factory as a staging area before the parade.

The Medina Fire Department heads down Main Street with the a big crowd gathered to watch the annual parade.

The Niagara County 4-H Equine Program created a North Pole scene with their float.

Mia Hobbs leads the Medina Marching Band as drum major. The band performed part of their show “Take to the Skies.”

The Oak Orchard Yacht Club had a float that highlighted a youth sailing program.

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee highlighted the Head Start programs in the two counties.

Sheriff Chris Bourke takes a photo with the Marine Patrol that was decorated in lights for the parade.

Shelby firefighters ride in a float.

The Orleans/Niagara BOCES promoted its programs, from cosmetology to auto repair and many others, with a float that included the Grinch.

Case-Nic Cookies have been in all 14 Parade of Lights events in Medina.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – There was a fireworks show this evening in Medina for 15 minutes before the big Parade of Lights.

Young Explosives set off the fireworks, one of many activities as part of Medina’s Old Tyme Christmas Celebration.

The village is decorated for the holidays, especially on Main Street.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Cutest Little Elf (Emma Lilleby, 7, of Medina) wave to the crowd along Main Street during a parade at noon today.

The parade featured little elves and pets in costume.

Emma Lilleby won the Cutest Little Elf contest and won the prize to walk the parade route with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Three generations joined for the Pets on Parade, which included Shea Masse with Bea, a Bernese Mountain Dog; her mother Carissa Masse, with Duke, a Pyrenees Lab; and Shea’s grandmother and Carissa’s mother Sue Van Buren, with Carl, a Golden Retriever that is also a therapy dog. Carl makes weekly visits to Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

Sue Van Buren moved to Medina in June after eight years in Georgia. She likes the atmosphere in Medina.

“It’s very friendly and welcoming,” she said. “This is a happening town. There is always something going on.”

Rayna Balaban, 8, of Medina poses with Ginger, a Chihuahua. The dog is owned by Scott Schmidt. Rayna pushed the dog in a stroller during the parade.

Gabe Brice, 7, of Albion keeps his rabbit Ruby close for the Pets on Parade.

Aurora Owczarczak, left, and her mother Katy Owczarczak wore Grinch pajamas while walking their dogs, Meredith with Aurora and Gabe with Katy, in the parade.

The Medina Marching Band played some holiday favorites along the parade route.

Medina’s Parade of Lights is today at 6 p.m. with fireworks before that at 5:45.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Members of the 3D Trio (John Borello at right, Alona Kuhns at center and Lonnie Froman at left) perform this afternoon on a stage on Main Street in Albion.

With the lift bridge bridge closed to traffic, the stage was set up for performances from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Beaver Alley and Bank Street.

The 3D Trio who are all members of the Who Dats sang holiday favorites today. The lineup of performers was arranged by Amy Sidari, owner of Gtta Dance by Miss Amy.

She used the backdrop from previous Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas events.

Amy Sidari and Crystal Hollenbeck lead a group in line dancing as part of today’s entertainment. The performers helped celebrate Small Business Saturday to encourage shopping at locally owned businesses in Albion. The businesses had a passport that encouraged people to visit 20 businesses for the chance to win prizes.

These four competed in an ugly contest. They include from left: Lily Madison of Albion, Brooklyn Carr, Joline Gabrielson of Albion, and Gabrielson’s daughter, Myah Bisig.

Myah Bisig holds up her trophy for winning the ugly sweater contest.

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Aidan Paul, 17, of Medina wears the Santa suit in today’s Home for the Holidays 5K in Medina. He is running down the last stretch of the 3.1-mile course with Kathy Jurs of Albion, who is pushing her son Mason in a stroller.

There were 113 participants in today’s 5K, which was the 10^th anniversary of the event.

Jim Schuler of Newfane won the male division in a time of 18:45 while Payton Smith of Hermosa Beach, Calif. was the first woman in a time of 22:32.

Photos courtesy of Marsha Rivers

Debbie Tompkins, co-director of the race with Teresa Wilkins, served as the starter for the race that began in the Canal Basin and headed east and north, before making a turn near the Bates Road canal bridge and heading back east.

Lathan McEwen-Miller, 13, of Medina is off to a fast start at today’s Home for the Holidays 5K.

Jeremy Weakland of Gasport carries the American flag while finishing the 5K this morning on North Main Street in front of the American Legion Post.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Christopher Richard of St. Catherines, Ontario, is dressed in holiday cheer for today’s Home for the Holidays 5K.

Santa feels victorious in today’s 5K. He circled back a couple times and high-fived some youngsters along the course.

Proceeds from today’s race will be given to Cat by Cat Inc., led by Shannon Blount in Medina. The group in Medina works to humanely “TNVR” cats through targeted trapping. Those cats are then neutered, vaccinated and either returned or adopted out.