Oh hey, it’s been awhile.

It’s been harder to return here, the scene of our most beautiful crime, to wax poetic about life in a small town in WNY when you have a thriving toddler repeating “Mama watch me!” for the thousandth time. But this place continues to be the haven where I seek refuge when troubled and exciting things are on my mind. And this is both.

Congratulations, Medina!! YOU DID IT! You won. That NY Forward Grant is here, businesses have been awarded their pieces of the pie, and many are grieving the projects that were passed by in favor of others. If ever there was a time when allegiance could be divided, well, this is it.

When Scott and I were deliberating moving home in 2016, we watched diligently the news of our village. Every event, be it Farm to Table dinners on Main Street, Ale in Autumn, or Parade of Lights – every event was celebrated without controversy. Medina was moving, and in the same direction.

Medina was all of the sudden up for grabs. Everyone wanted to help sway the tide – we felt it too as we opened up our dream of a cocktail bar when we bought Shirt Factory in 2018. We wanted to add to this gem of a community, join the momentum, do our part to add to the fabric of this historic moment. Things got fuzzy in 2019, and then 2020 humbled us all when we found common ground with keeping doors open. We were one. #MedinaStrong.

Scott and I both watch social media and news outlets as part of our jobs as marketers. We see it all. We see the posts, dissect the rhetoric, discuss the comments on Facebook and the Hub. And over the past year, we’ve seen the narrative change – there is more confrontation, more combat, more coveting of this beautiful place we call home.

I urge you all to Remember Medina. Remember this dream we have of welcoming tourists to our quaint canalside town, beckoning them to frequent our shops, our restaurants, and our parks. Remember that progress never happens when the heart of the community is at odds; we must lift each of our businesses up and refrain from shouting “the best” about any one of them. Every piece of our puzzle is unique, and there is room for everyone around this table.

The week we moved home, feeling a bit heartbroken in saying goodbye to our life in DC, we walked down Main Street on a Friday afternoon. Scott bought me flowers from Creekside, we fell in love with ellen j, and long before we ever owned it, we stopped in for coffee at Shirt Factory. As we meandered down the sidewalk, we heard a familiar voice shout from a truck passing by. “Welcome home guys!” Bryan DeGraw, acquaintance turned business neighbor and friend, made us forget our heartache and embrace what it means to live in a small town. And we are so glad we’re part of this one.

While we don’t own a business in Medina anymore, we are more excited than ever to get back to frequenting our friends and their shops. Strolling the farmer’s market, hanging out at Leonard Oakes for Wednesdays on the Lawn, and checking out all our favorite hometown patios for a good bite to eat on date night. This town is a rare and beautiful place, and we hope you will join us in pulling in one direction for the benefit of all.

Congratulations to those awarded by the state to add to Medina, and for those who did not – now is the time to let us all help you as you continue to improve and stay true to your goals. Great things are yet to come.