Young and young-at-heart build impressive LEGO creations in Medina

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Brad Zacher and his son Henry, 5, build a fort with the giant LEGO blocks during Saturday’s special event at Sacred Heart Club.

MEDINA – A first-time LEGO/Building Bricks event sponsored by Medina Tourism at Sacred Heart Club was a resounding success, according to Kathy Blackburn, a member of the Tourism Committee.

“It’s been great. We had quite a turnout,” Blackburn said.

Jan Smith, a member of the Tourism Committee, brought the idea to the Committee and they jumped at it.

The event featured several components – assorted building blocks for children (and adults) to play with at Sacred Heart Club; a competition between first-, second- and third-graders at Roy-Hart and Medina school districts; prizes for everyone who brought in a LEGO creation; displays by Roclug (a Rochester LEGO user group) and local merchant Shawn Ramsey; an I Spy game sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library; a building table; a sensory area; and a scavenger hunt at downtown merchants.

LEGO and Building Bricks competitions are a big deal, in places like Rochester where there is Roclug. In Medina, Shawn Ramsey from Canalside Tattoo, with friends Sam Vella and Tyler Vercruysse are starting a hobby club to get people interested in LEGOs and Building Bricks.

Members of the Roclug LEGO building group out of Rochester sit with their giant display of creations they brought to Sacred Heart Club on Saturday. From left are Robert Herberger, Chuck Frueh and Shyra Murphy, all of Geneva.

At Roclug’s table, Robert Herberger, Chuck Frueh and Shyra Murphy of Geneva discussed their interest in building blocks.

“I have been into LEGOs since I was 6,” Frueh said. “Then about five years ago a set came out to build a typewriter. When LEGO Masters television show came out, I discovered there are LEGO conventions, and I started looking for one nearby. I found Rochester and signed up. Since then, LEGOs have taken over my life.”

Saturday, they had an entire table set up with LEGO displays they have created.

“What I hoped today was to meet some like-minded LEGO enthusiasts in hopes of making contact with others who would like to get together and create displays about the Medina community,” Ramsey said.

Shawn Ramsey of Canalside Tattoo, left, Sam Vella and Tyler Vercruysse (not shown) also had a large display of their LEGO collection. They hope to start a LEGO building group in Medina.

Medina art teacher Jen Scott’s sculpture class submitted multiple entries, which were then judged by popular vote. First place was a structure titled “Medina Sandstone,” and winning students were Sophie Kroenig, Payton Denniston, Elaina Bruce, Anna Saj and Jordan Olson.

Second place was a “Worker Boat,” created by Jordon Olson, Brady Brandt and Wyett Gunthaner.

Third place, “Canal Locks” was created by Eli Biesinger.

(Left) Photo by Ginny Kropf: Kathy Blackburn and Barb Gorham hold one of the certificates given to each entrant in the LEGO event sponsored by Medina Tourism Committee. (Right) Photo courtesy of Kathy Blackburn: The winning entry in the LEGO competition at Sacred Heart Club on Sunday was this building titled “Sandstone,” by Sophie Kroenig, Payton Denniston, Elaina Bruce, Anna Saj and Jordon Olson.

Two participants were Brad Zacher and his son Henry, 5, who sat on the floor with a pile of LEGOs.

“We went to Disney in August and got a LEGO set there to build a fire house, fire truck and helicopter,” Brad said.

Saturday, Henry said they were going to try and build a big square fort with the giant blocks piled on the floor.

“We just live down the street and when I saw this event, I thought it was cool,” Brad said.

River Cogovan, 7, came with his aunt Gretchen Albone.

“I like to build and create different things,” River said. “I have thousands of LEGOs at home.”

 Orly the Ox, Orleans County’s bicentennial mascot, paid a visit to the LEGO event, getting his picture taken with the children.

Overall, Blackburn said the hits of the event were the giant LEGOs and the building table.

Fiona Tavis, 10, of Medina works on building the Medina Falls at the LEGO event Saturday at Sacred Heart Club.