Railroad Museum shows appreciation to long-time volunteer

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Erica Wanecski, center, is given a pair of tickets for the Polar Express by Medina Railroad Museum director Jeff Lewis, in appreciation of her hours of volunteering at the museum and throughout her community. Looking on, from left are board member Dave Murphy; Lew Capwell, event consultant with Rail Events; and Joe Kujawa, also a board member.

MEDINA – A local woman who thrives on volunteering was rewarded for her efforts by the Medina Railroad Museum on Monday.

To show their appreciation for all she does, Museum director Jeff Lewis presented Erica Wanecski with two tickets to ride the Polar Express. There to share in her honor were board members Dave Murphy and Joe Kujawa and Lew Capwell, event coordinator from Rail Events, who own the rights to Polar Express.

Lewis acknowledges that events like Polar Express require a lot of volunteers to make them happen.

“Since all our trains were sold out and we added an extra day, we thought, ‘Why not recognize the volunteers, without whom we couldn’t do this,” Lewis said. “So we picked someone who goes above and beyond and has been here the longest – Erica.”

“She is truly a distinguished volunteer,” Capwell said. “She shows exemplary leadership.”

He said this is his second year of representing Rail Events at Medina’s Polar event, and he loves the town.

“This event has grown over last year,” Capwell said. “This Museum is a real asset. Kids love the layout.”

Wanecski loves helping others, learning new things and sharing them with her community. She is especially fond of volunteering at the Medina Railroad Museum.

“I knew founder Marty Phelps, even before he started this museum,” Wanecski said. “I have been here from the beginning.”

Erica Wanecski, left, was at the Master Gardeners’ booth at the Orleans County 4-H Fair in July with nancy Walker, another Master Gardener. Volunteering as a Master Gardener is one of Wanecski’s favorite pastimes.

Wanecski, 74, loves history and her community. Telling people about them is the joy of her life. She is a member and/or volunteer of Medina Historical Society, Cobblestone Society, Attica, Warsaw, Oakfield, Clarence and Hartland Historical societies, Master Gardeners and the Steel Plant Museum in Buffalo. She maintains flower beds at Medina Memorial Hospital and helps many of the museums with their landscaping, weeding, collections and setting up exhibits.

“I was inspired by Marty and his passion,” Wanecski said. “If I can add to other people’s experience, then they walk away happy, and I’m happy. The message I want to share is for everyone to find their passion and consider volunteering and sharing their time with others. You’ll find it a very positive and rewarding experience.”