Sacred Heart Club continues Dyngus Day tradition

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Ray Serafin plays the accordion and sings during the Dyngus Day celebration at Sacred Heart Club in Medina. Ray Serafin’s Brass Magic, a polka band from Rochester, played many songs during the event.

Jim Pinckney is crowned the Dyngus Day king during the Polish party at the Sacred Heart Club. John Weaver, last year’s king, puts on the crown while Dee Lucas puts on the red cape.

Pinckney is a retired corrections officer. He joined Sacred Heart Club about 21 years ago and helps mow the lawn, shovel snow, clean the fryers, and with other painting and carpentry tasks. “It’s good to help out because it’s an all-volunteer organization,” he said. “It’s just to help the community.”

Tessa Hartway is crowned queen. Last year’s queen Baillie Oberther passes on the crown. Hartway, 32, helped start an annual disco event at the club about three years ago and works on the fish fries and desserts for the club.

The king and queen are both active volunteers at the club. Hartway works as the marketing manager at Baxter Healthcare. She grew up attending events at the Sacred Heart Club.

About 150 people attended the party. They danced to the polka and quickly consumed Polish food staples, such as sweet and sour cabbage, scallop potatoes, smoked Polish sausage, pierogis and “pigs in the blanket” – rolled cabbage with pork.

Lyndsay Oliver-Farewell, 28, of Medina has been coming to Dyngus Day since she was a little girl. Her grandmother, Dee Lucas, helps organize the party. Oliver-Farewell has a 4-month-old daughter, Kendall, who made her Dyngus Day debut tonight.

“It’s fun and it’s a tradition,” Oliver-Farewell said. “As long as they have Dyngus Day, we will be there.”

Pussy Willows were part of the ambiance at the Sacred Heart Club.