My hometown. The place where I spent the last 15 years of my life living. A place I will always consider home. These are some things that come along with growing up in Orchard Park.

1. Being a Bills Fan

It’s basically a requirement with the Bills stadium in the town. Which in the hearts of those who knew it as the Ralph, it will always be the Ralph.

2. Being known as a rich town when really most of us aren't.

Honestly we aren't, sure there may be a few people who are but there are a lot of us who are just average. I hate being known as that because of the connotation that we are all snobby.

3. Spirit Weeks

My favorite week of the year in high school. When you go all out for theme days such as decades day, pajama day, toga day, or buffalove day. And then Fridays were always Maroon and White.

4. QMB

Quaker Marching Band. I may not have been in it myself but I had a lot of friends who were in. I saw how much hard work they put into something that many people did not appreciate. It made a difference in their lives.

5. $2 movies at the McKinley Mall theater

My go-to movie theater during high school. Not only was it close, it was also cheap.

6. Sledding at Chestnut Ridge

The giant hill covered in snow, sleds going down and people walking them back up. Parents with little kids on the sled pulling them up the hill. This is a typical day at the Ridge.

7. Walking to 7-11 after school in Middle School

There were 99-cent doughnuts afternoon so, of course, you had to buy one. And then the Slurpee machine in the front right corner where you could mix and match flavors.

8. Frank Young's Roller Rink

We've all been there at least once whether for a birthday party when we were younger or open skate as a teenager

9. We can live through any snow storm together

October surprise. Snowvember. All the other ones. We've been there for each other every step of the way. From the years we barely have any snow days to the years like my junior year where we had 11 snow days, we live each one to where the cold doesn't bother us anymore.

10. Quaker Arts Festival

A weekend in the middle of September where behind the Middle School is taken up with tents for various booths. The dance studio dancing at the pavilion. It was sad to miss it this year.

11. Green Lake

The place where we have all been to at least once. From the Rec department to the baseball fields to walking along the lake to the various playgrounds. It’s a place for all. With added swimming recently, it makes it a place busy with activity in the summer.

The amount of Maroon and White I brought with me to college is insane. I will always remember the place that helped me grow and helped me create so many memories. Thank you Orchard Park!