First-time event is sold out in fundraiser for chapel window

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Hazel Mason, 5, of Lockport tries the giant Light Brite at the start of Saturday’s Boxwood at Night event at Boxwood Cemetery.

All 200 tickets sold out for the event and organizers accommodated more people who wanted to experience Boxwood. Many of the cemetery paths were lighted up. There was also music and seven stops with docents or interpreters discussing people buried in the cemetery.

Sue and Kevin DeHollander share about George Kennan, a traveler, investigator and writer. He was born in 1845 and died in 1924. He went on an expedition to Siberia in the 1860s to explore the feasibility of the telegraph in that land. He wrote about his experiences in 1870 with the book, “Tent Life in Siberia.”

The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery gave the historic cemetery a different look for the event on Saturday with lights along the paths.

Georgia Thomas speaks about May Howard, who survived the Titanic at age 27 in 1912.

David Stacey shared about the potter’s field where 107 people are buried. Those people were poor, “unknown or unclaimed,” Stacey said. The potter’s field only includes 28 gravestones.

The band “Cosmic Oases” provided music for the walkers at the cemetery.

The cemetery was a display of lights on Saturday.

Catherine Cooper led a tour inside the chapel at Boxwood where the large stained-glass window needs repairs. The window was donated by the late Silas Burroughs, a Medina native who was an influential innovator and entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry. A new book by Julia Sheppard – “Silas Burroughs, the Man who made Wellcome – American Ambition and Global Enterprise” – highlights his life.

The stained-glass window needs about $7,500 in repairs. The tickets on Saturday were $10 each and raised over $2,000 towards fixing the window.

Press Release, Department of Environmental Conservation

BASOM – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will start accepting trapping permit applications on Oct. 3 for three DEC Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in DEC’s Region 8.

Permit applications for Oak Orchard, Tonawanda, and John White WMAs can be picked up in person Monday through Friday at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Office located at 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or by calling DEC at (585) 948-5182. Permit applications will be accepted from Oct. 3 to Nov. 30.

Trapping seasons on these three WMAs are more restrictive than the overall seasons for Western New York:

• Muskrat and mink trapping for these public lands will run from Dec. 3, 2022, to Feb. 15, 2023, and is limited to 25 traps at water sites. Beaver trapping dates follow the statewide seasons; and
• Upland trapping at the John White WMA does not begin until Nov. 1. Upland trapping at Oak Orchard and Tonawanda WMAs follows the statewide seasons.

Trappers who obtain a permit will be required to report their harvest and trapping efforts on each area, for all species. More information related to permits for these three WMAs can be found in the trapping letter that is included with the permit application, and more information on trapping seasons, regulations, and the rights of trappers can be found on the DEC website at the Trapping Regulations and Trapping Seasons webpages.

Photo courtesy of Mary Lou Tuohey: Nicole Tuohey holds some of the paper chain she calls “elephant links” which are sold at her mother’s store, Case-Nic Cookies, to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Both of Nicole’s grandparents died of Alzheimer’s Disease.

MEDINA – Each year, Nicole Tuohey and her family have a goal – to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Both Nicole’s maternal grandparents died of Alzheimer’s, so the disease is no stranger.

Nicole’s mother Mary Lou Tuohey owns Case-Nic Cookies, where she is always eager to support a charity, and the Alzheimer’s Association is a special one to the family.

In addition to loaning the use of her store’s front windows for a basket raffle, Mary Lou also helps Nicole raise money in other ways.

As elephants are associated with memory (it is said an elephant never forgets), in 2008 Nicole and her mother came up with an idea to sell links of construction paper at the cookie store for $1.

Nicole calls them her “elephant links.” Then Nicole tapes them together and anyone who buys a link gets a frosted elephant cutout cookie which Mary Lou baked.

It has always been Nicole’s goal to sell enough links to stretch down the entire block of downtown Main Street. Last year, she sold enough to almost reach the end of the stores down to Five Star Bank, raising a record $1,639.

Mary Lou also devised a unique way to make the basket raffle accessible to everyone. She places a bucket in the entryway of her store at 439 Main St. Inside are envelopes with a paper listing all the baskets.

Donors put their money in the envelope for the number of tickets they want, then mark after each item how many of those tickets they want placed on each basket. Then the envelope is sealed and dropped through a slot in the door. That makes is possible for people to participate in the raffle whether the store is open or not.

The money raised is donated to the Alzheimer’s Association the day of walk, which this year is Oct. 8, starting in State Street Park. Registration begins at 10 a.m., with the opening ceremony at 11 a.m. followed by the walk at 11:15 a.m.

MEDINA – The restoration of Bent’s Opera House by Medina native and businessman Roger Hungerford has opened up a lot of new possibilities for the area.

Not only has the historic opera house brought swing dancing and the return of opera to Medina, but its first floor restaurant named Harvest is opening new doors in fine dining.

The upscale restaurant recently began offering seven-course wine pairing meals, created by chef Lionel Heydel, who came from the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School.

Roger and his wife Heather who manages Bent’s said the dinners are amazing, not only for the food, but the friendships and conversation they foster.

Roger explained tables are put in a long row across the dining room, and it doesn’t take long before the room is a buzz of conversation.

“They are an experience,” he said. “You meet a lot of new people, but sometimes see old friends – people you haven’t seen in a while. Everything you have to eat is usually something you never had, but very, very good.”

Three long-time friends were among the first to arrive at the dinner Sept. 25 – Kathy Blackburn, Cheryl Tuttle and Gabrielle Barone, all of Medina.

Blackburn has attended a wine pairing dinner before. Tuttle and Barone have both been to Harvest for dinner, brunch or drinks, but this was their first wine pairing dinner.

“It’s a wonderful experience,” Barone said. “It’s really a benchmark.”

The wine pairing dinners, which take place the last Sunday of each month, not only feature a different theme, but a noted sommelier. At the most recent dinner, the theme was Around the World, featuring food from seven continents, and the sommelier was from a major cruise line. His wine selections were chosen to complement each course – and there turned out to be nine of them, after the chef added a couple of surprise courses.

The first was the “chef’s surprise,” a peppadew filled with a spicy cream cheese.

Next was Som Tum, a classic Thai street food. Third was African gumbo with chicken and okra, followed by a fall harvest salad of arugula, roasted Brussels sprouts, dried cranberries and toasted pecans. There were two meat dishes – baked seabass from Europe and lamb chops from Corfu.

Just like the sommelier explained each wine served, Heydel came out of the kitchen to explain each course. He said wine can be paired to food or it can be done the other way around. It used to be a tradition to serve white wine with fish and red wine with meat, but that isn’t the case any more, he said.

The lamb, served “the Aussie way,” and acquired from a farm in Corfu was a blend of the “new world and the old world,” he said.

The cheese course was followed by two desserts created by pastry chef Mary Sandy. The first, called “Best Kept Secret,” was a sachertorte, a traditional Austrian dessert to which Sandy added her touch by using cherries. It was accompanied by wine from Freedom Run Winery. Also served was a pinot noir from Oregon.

The final course was an East African doughnut, similar to a beignet.

The coffee cart was wheeled out at the end for the diners who lingered to continue their conversations.

Jonathan Amoia and his guest came from Clarence for the dinner.

“It was very unique,” he said. “I’ve been to similar ones in New York City and Florida, but there’s nothing like this in the Buffalo area. It was quite an experience, and I’d definitely do it again.”

While the dinner was $225 a plate, those who attended this most recent one said it was well worth the once-in-a-lifetime experience and something everyone should try at least once.

Reservations for the wine-pairing dinners can be made on Bent’s Opera House website.

ALBION – Community Action and Cornell Cooperative Extension are announcing approval of a new food and nutrition program.

This new grant to benefit Orleans County is for $250,000 from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York’s Blue Fund. The grant will support a new program of Community Action and Cornell Cooperative Extension called Rx: Stone Soup Success.

In the story “Stone Soup,” a delicious soup emerged as different ingredients were found, even though in the beginning of the story all that was available was a stone, a pot and some water, said Community Action’s director Renee Hungerford. Ingredients came about through generosity and eventually something wonderful resulted, even though at first they thought they had nothing.

“We sometimes offer ‘Pop Up’ pantry food distributions, but sometimes find people don’t know how to prepare some of the ingredients,” Hungerford said.

“Other times they may not have the tools and utensils to prepare a meal. This program will arm people with the tools, the knowledge and the access to healthy ingredients they need, and at the same time, benefit our local farmers and our community.”

Hungerford continued to explain how she got the idea for such a program. A few years back, her husband Mark was volunteering at a food pantry in Medina and came home with a bunch of tamarinds. He said he took them because no one chooses them because they don’t know what to do with them.

“Being an avid cook, I did some research, found some recipes and made wonderful dishes with them,” Renee said. “The thought always stuck in my mind that we provide food to people who need it, but if they don’t know what to do with it or if they don’t have the tools to prepare it, it doesn’t really help.”

A few years later, after becoming director of Community Action, Renee said she was sitting in a conference room with Robert Batt, director of Cornell Cooperative Extension; Jackie Dunham from Community Action; and Matt Holland, grant writer, and they were brainstorming what they could do with a grant opportunity in which they could all partner.

“We talked a bit about a program I really liked at a medical center that I visited that did food prescriptions,” Renee explained. “We started to toss that idea around and then combined it with the idea of providing people with the knowledge and the tools to prepare food that was available. Robert pulled all the ideas together into a program concept that progresses from learning how to prepare food, to receiving the necessary tools, to working with local medical providers and farm markets to create a food prescription program.

“Matt took this information and applied for the grant, and out of hundreds of applicants, we were chosen as one of the 16 recipients of the grant. This definitely is a team effort and we are proud to be working with these distinguished partners in improving the health in the communities we serve. I want to give special thanks to Matt Holland of the United Way of Orleans County for assisting us in writing this grant.”

Renee said prescriptions for healthy food items will encourage people to make healthy choices and our hope is this will contribute to healthier people with better health outcomes.

The Blue Fund’s annual grant program is designed to have a positive impact on behavioral health, cardiovascular health, health care workforce development, maternal health and healthy children, High Mark said in a press release Sept. 21.

The organization also announced Blue Fund’s total investment in Western New York communities is nearly $15 million over the past five years. The health plan has made a commitment to invest $7 annually though the Blue Fund and other community investments and partnerships.

In announcing this latest round of grants, Highmark BCBSWNY’s vice president of community affairs said of the $3.1 million in grants, “Every day we see the impact of our Blue Fund investments in the community and are proud to invest an additional $3.1 million to help fund these extraordinary nonprofit partners and programs.”

Highmark BCBSWNY launched the Blue Fund in July 2018 to support organizations and initiatives that work collaboratively to address key health areas and demonstrate enhanced measurable outcomes for the community.

In the past five years, the Blue Fund’s total investment in Western New York communities is nearly $15 million. The health plan has made a commitment to invest $7 million annually through the Blue Fund and other community investments and partnerships.

Gas prices are down again this past week in Orleans and in New York State. The price dropped an average of 7 cents in Orleans, from $3.75 to $3.68 a gallon, while the average price statewide is down 8 cents to $3.60 today, AAA is reporting. The previous week, the price went down 24 cents in Orleans.

Nationally the price is up 7 cents to an average of $3.80 a gallon in the past week.

Here are the average prices per gallon for regular unleaded among Western New York counties:

• Orleans, $3.681
• Genesee, $3.776
• Wyoming, $3.807
• Livingston, $3.750
• Niagara, $3.567
• Monroe, $3.663
• Erie, $3.762
• Chautauqua, $3.809
• Cattaraugus, $3.801
• Allegany, $3.798

AAA reports that in New York today the average price for regular unleaded is at $3.596, compared to $3.678 a week ago, $4.034 a month ago and $3.275 a year ago. The average price for diesel is at $4.997 today, compared to $5.050 a week ago, $5.295 a month ago and $3.422 a year ago.

AAA issued the following statement about gas prices:

“Higher gasoline demand amid tight supply and fluctuating oil prices have increased the national average. If demand remains robust as supply tightens, drivers should brace for rising pump prices. Locally, prices continue to drop despite extremely high prices out west – the average price in California, for example, is $6.38.

“Crude prices have increased due to market concerns about oil supply. According to the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, 11 percent of crude oil production in the Gulf of Mexico was shuttered to prevent damage from Hurricane Ian. Moreover, reports have emerged that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies – including Russia – known as OPEC+ intend to announce collective oil production cuts at their next meeting on October 5. This morning, oil prices are up about $4 per barrel – they range from $82 to $88 per barrel.”

Internet-based station runs 24-7 with music, community updates

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Randy Reese of Medina shows the app on his phone where people can listen to his Medina-based radio station, now available 24 hours a day.

MEDINA – Medina native Randy Reese admits he is a man of many interests.

He has had his own comedy club in Buffalo, done improvisation comedy, worked as a state fraud investigator and written a novel and a couple of screen plays.

But his real love is radio. And that has led him to start a radio station in Medina.

As licenses are no longer given to low-power FM stations, Reese is broadcasting through the Internet on thecanalsideradio.com.

Reese’s interest in radio developed while he was in high school, and they had a high school radio station. He attended Penn State, but left after three semesters.

“It wasn’t because I bailed out, but because I was at the radio station all the time,” he said. “It was an AM station, and I fell in love with radio, eventually becoming a station manager.”

Eleven years ago, he moved to Boise, Idaho and he and his wife were driving through a town that had a low power FM radio station.

“I started going up once a week and doing a blues rock show,” Reese said. “Last year we moved back to Medina and I thought, ‘This is what Medina needs.’”

He knew the only way to do it would be on the Internet.

“That’s how a lot of people get their entertainment today, anyway,” he said. “I thought it would work.”

He has been up and running for six months now. He said it took a while to get the bugs out.

Reese said he loves old-time radio, and the format of his station is music from the 1960s to today. He plays songs not usually heard by musicians on other stations.

“They are good songs by good bands, such as the 1910 Fruitgum Company, today’s Canadian Indy Pop Band and the Monowhales,” he said. “I know people like to hear their favorite songs, but I like to expose people to songs they might not have heard before.”

During the day on Monday through Friday, he airs local news, courtesy of Orleans Hub, makes local community announcements and the weather, Reese said.

He also does a couple of specialty rock shows and a 1980s-themed show for an hour each. On weekends is going to try and do some specialty shows and syndicated shows, such as CBS Mystery Theater. A program called “Legislative Gazette” airs happenings in the New York State Legislature.

Another science program is called “Big Picture Science.” On Saturdays he offers Celtic Rock.

“I try to make it as community-centered as possible,” he said.

He also has the ability to cut in with late-breaking news.

He plans to have contests. People can also request songs from the website that are in his database. He is also planning local features, as well as a local history program once a month.

His long-term goal is to put the radio station in a store front downtown and have other DJs do their own show.

His target area is all of Orleans and eastern Niagara counties.

To keep the station going, he will have to solicit advertising. People can submit community events for non-profits free of charge, but those who want to advertise can do so for $50 a month, which buys them two spots a day.

They can sign up on the Canalside Radio’s website by clicking on “advertise with us.”

“I just love Medina and Orleans County,” Reese said. “I moved away and came back with my wife from Boise and stepson Alex.”

His wife Ann is studying to be a nurse and works part-time at Medina Memorial Hospital.

“She loves the hospital and the small-town feel,” Reese said.

The radio station also has an app that can be downloaded to a phone. Go to the app “Simple Radio” and search for “The Canalside Radio.”

While Reese is optimistic the radio station will be well-received, he plans to keep his day job in Federal Transit grant management.

Louise Nicholson known as ‘one of the best bartenders we ever had’ at the Legion

Photos by Ginny Kropf: From left, Valerie Wells, secretary of the Butts-Clark American Legion Auxiliary; Chris Barone, Auxiliary president; and Cathy Fox, right, president of the County American Legion, pose with Louise Nicholson who is a 67-year member of the Auxiliary.

MEDINA – The Butts-Clark American Legion Auxiliary recognized its longest standing member in a get-together Sunday afternoon at the local post.

Louise Heveron Nicholson joined the American Legion Auxiliary in 1955 under the wing of her late husband Pat, according to her sister Phyllis Allport. She had also joined the Medina VFW in 1946 under her brother Roy Cook.

Cathy Fox, president of the Orleans County American Legion Auxiliary, presented Nicholson with a plaque signed by Anne M. Baglio, 8th District president, and Nancy Babis, chair of the Department of New York Membership. The plaque recognizes Nicholson for outstanding service and dedication to the organization.

Nicholson and her first husband Pat Heveron owned the Maui Inn on East Center Street when the American Legion was located upstairs.

“The guys patronized us a lot and I wanted to show our appreciation,” Nicholson said. “When they moved to North Main Street, I came down here to have a drink with the boys.”

Nicholson eventually became bartender at the Legion, and retired from there on her 90th birthday. She will be 97 Dec. 10.

Gary Hill called Nicholson, “One of the best bartenders we ever had.”

While waiting to receive her plaque, Nicholson enjoyed a drink at the bar.

“It’s just a short vodka and tonic, a very short one,” she said. “It’s my favorite drink.”

(Left) Cathy Fox, left, gives Louise Nicholson an envelope with her membership renewal form for the American Legion Auxiliary. Fox also holds the plaque presented to Nicholson for 67 years as a member of the Auxiliary. (Right) Family friend Robin Boyle of Lyndonville gives Louise Nicholson of Medina a corsage in celebration of her recognition for 67 years of membership in the Butts-Clark American Legion Auxiliary. Nicholson was recognized for her years of membership Sunday afternoon at the Legion Post.

Provided photo: Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, is shown accepting an Innovation Award from the New York State Community Action Association, presented at the annual Professional Development Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester on Sept. 29.

ROCHESTER – Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, and Community Action have been chosen as the recipient of the 2022 Innovation Award for their work with the Axis of Care Pilot.

Axis of Care was developed by Hungerford to increase access to healthcare for the homeless and housing for insecure families across Orleans County. The award is given by the New York State Community Action Association’s Membership Development Committee and was presented Sept. 29 at the 2022 Annual Professional Development Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Rochester.

“I want to express my congratulations to Renee and the agency on their exemplary work that led to this award,” said Charles Barbay, project manager with New York State Community Action Association, in a letter to Hungerford.

The award is presented to a Community Action agency’s current project, program or initiative that demonstrated an innovative and effective response to a community challenge, addressing a need in the community, according to Barbay.

“I am honored that NYSCAA has chosen us as the recipient of the Innovation Award for our Axis of Care program,” Hungerford said. “This program is a one-year pilot, funded by the Finger Lakes Performing Providers Association, with the goal of demonstrating the critical role that community-based organizations like Community Action of Orleans and Genesee play in healthcare and wellness.

“The program will demonstrate how health outcomes can be improved with lowered costs by addressing social determinants of health, along with connecting individuals to healthcare services,” she said. “This program was developed primarily to help individuals in need, but is also intended to demonstrate why community-based organizations are a vital part of healthcare delivery and why we deserve a seat at the table in value-based contracting and SDOH service insurance reimbursement.”

Hungerford co-presented about the program with their partners at Continual Care Solutions, the creator of ImPowr. In addition, Melinda Chaffee and Hungerford were honored to be asked to participate in a recorded panel discussion about Community Action. This recording will be available at NYSCAA Learns in the near future.

Photo and information courtesy of Medina Mustang Band Boosters

The Medina Mustang Marching Band competed for the third time this season on Saturday, travelling to Oswego.  A large number of Medina fans made the trip to support the band.

A total of eight bands performed in competition. In SS1, Medina took second place with a score of 80.05, bested by New Hartford in first with 82.7.

In SS3, the Rome Free Academy earned first place with a score of 68.1. The SS2 class had two competitors with Phoenix earning 1st with 77.4, followed by Norwich with 74.0. Cicero-North Syracuse was the only National band and they scored 86.45. Oswego’s band performed in exhibition and thus no score.

Medina’s next competition is Oct. 8 in Webster.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – This colorful scarecrow is one of 32 that was created on Saturday during a fall festival organized by the Albion Merchants Association.

There were also several food and craft vendors at the festival.

Stan Farone ties scarecrows to a light pole on Bank Street. Farone was assisted a group of high school students in the task.

These high schoolers helped during the activity. All of the supplies were used up, with scarecrows made non-stop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pictured from left include Abby Mancuso, Micky Stowell and Skyler Draper.

This Purple Eagle themed scarecrow is on Main Street. The scarecrows will be judged during most of October in four different categories. Ballots will be at the Downtown Browsery and Krantz Furniture.

People walk by the scarecrows that were created on Saturday.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Taylor Czeh, 6, of Kendall gets her face painted by Melissa Salatino on Saturday during the Kendall Community Scarecrow Festival at the Town Park.

The scarecrow fest has been an annual tradition since 2010. It drew several hundred people for many free activities on a sunny, warm fall day.

George Castaneda of Hamlin helps his son Sebastian, 4, paint a pumpkin. Panek Farm sin Albion donated about 200 pumpkins. Many businesses and sponsors donated to make the event free to the community.

Some of the decorated pumpkins are on display.

The scarecrow decorating contest was with a theme of “favorite outdoor activity.” There were nine entries. Some of the entries included scarecrows playing baseball, fishing, bow hunting, relaxing by the water and doing other activities.

There was also a station where people could build their own scarecrows.

The band Rebel’s Posse played country, southern rock and classic rock music at the gazebo.

Jeffrey Cook of Fairport carves a bear with a chainsaw. He owns Critters 3D, a chainsaw-carving business.

Emily Schmitt assists her son Barrett in the “Gun Smoke Shootout” activity where foam balls were fired at targets.

Becky Charland is the chair of the planning committee for the scarecrow festival. She is shown with a scarecrow with a bow hunting theme. Charland helped start the first scarecrow fest in 2010.

She praised the community for the support of the event and for the big turnout. Other committee members include Linda Kludt, Wendy Becker, Robin Schepler, Maggie Whelehan, Cheryl Werner, Candi Mael, Donna Dangler and Rene Cliff.

These kids enjoy pony rides.

There also was a wagon ride through town, including to the firehall where there was a farmer’s market with several vendors.

MEDINA – Thirty-three years ago, two local families who lost loved ones to cancer combined their fundraising efforts to found the Knights-Kaderli Fund.

Since then, the families of Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli have given out more than $800,000 to 750 cancer patients and their families, to help with medical bills, food, transportation and living expenses.

It has become a tradition that the Knights-Kaderli Walk is held the first Saturday in October at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Hall. While Covid dampened their fundraising the past two years, this year the event was back in full swing.

Kathy Hodgins, Kathy McCauley and Joe Rosenbeck, all of Medina, show their excitement at completing the Knights-Kaderli Walk. Approximately 200 participants completed the course.

Approximately 200 participants showed up this morning for the 34^th annual Knights-Kaderli Walk. They ranged from the youngest – six-week-old Garrett Walker who was pushed in his stroller by his mother Emma Wolter and grandmothers Julie Wolter and Lynn Ambrose, to 69-year-old Joe Rosenbeck, who was among the first group to finish.

The fundraiser is a family event for many, such as the McAdoos. Katie McAdoo, granddaughter of the late Ken McAdoo, and her daughter Gracelynne Kujawa, 8, walked, along with Ken’s daughter-in-law, Kristin McAdoo and her son Justin. Also joining them was cousin Allie McAdoo.

Gracelynne walks every year, her mother said. This year she was recognized for the most pledges by a youth, $50, said Stacey Knights Pellicano, daughter of the late Richard Knights and an organizer of the event. The most money brought in by an adult was $4,679 by Barb Hale of Medina.

Christine Griffin contemplates purchase raffle tickets at the Knights-Kaderli benefit today at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Hall. Seated from left are Stacey Knights Pellicano and Mary Kaderli Zelazny.

The family of Sue Martin of Medina have also been big supporters of the walk. They have walked together as a family in past years, and Sue has helped register participants every year. She has walked for at least 20 years, she said. She was going to try this year with daughter Sarah Hanssen, even though she had a bad knee.

A basket raffle and big-ticket raffle items were also part of the fundraiser, along with a “last number drawn” game and 50/50 drawing.

The Knights-Kaderli Fund got a big boost from an $8,500 donation from the Lizzy’s Love Fund, a charity in honor of the late Liz Monell-Higgins. The check represents the proceeds from a golf tournament they hold every July.

Pellicano said the walk raises between $15,000 and $20,000 each year. The record year was almost $30,000.

Donations to the Knights-Kaderli Fund can be made by logging onto the Knights-Kaderli website or by paying through Venmo or Paypal, or by sending a check to P.O. Box 684, Medina, 14103.

Six week-old Garrett Wolter was the youngest participant in the Knights-Kaderli Walk on Saturday. With him, from left, are his grandmas, Julie Wolter and Lynn Ambrose and mother Emma Wolter.

Kristin McAdoo, her son Justin and grandson Gracelynne Kujawa, 8, wait for the walk to start.

Luke Duffina, 13, grabs a bottle of water at the conclusion of the Knights-Kaderli Walk. He was the first person in overall. With him is Laura Albone, the first woman to complete the walk.