By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 February 2026 at 10:01 am
Village also may pursue new street sweeper for DPW
ALBION – A member of the Village of Albion Planning Board said it’s long overdue for the village to update a comprehensive plan for zoning, land use, development and other long-term priorities.
Jeff Holler, a member of the Planning Board, said that board and a Comprehensive Plan committee have been working on a revised plan, but the village needs a planning professional to move the project forward.
Holler said there are grant opportunities through the state Department of State that would pay for a planning firm to assist the village with the updated plan.
He has been pressing the Village Board at recent board meetings about applying for state grants for the comprehensive plan. That updated document would help guide development in the village with businesses, housing and other projects, Holler said.
Village trustees Tim McMurray and Joyce Riley said the board will out to its grant writer, G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, about pursuing a grant for the comprehensive plan.
During the board meeting on Wednesday, DPW Superintendent Jay Pahura said the village should be looking to replace a 30-year-old street sweeper, which is expected to cost $350,000 to $400,000.
Pahura was able to save $149,000 from last year’s CHIPS allotment from the state and expects to set aside a similar amount this year. That would give the village about $300,000 towards the new street sweeper, which he said can also be used for leaf pickup especially in high-traffic areas such as Route 31 and Main Street.
Village Clerk Tracy Van Skiver said there also are state grants to that could go towards the purchase. She will check those programs that have funded street sweepers for other communities.
The board also agreed to a policy update where employees in the village office will be paid if the office is closed due to weather or another emergency. This applies to employees scheduled to work on the affected day, and not people who may be on vacation or off.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 February 2026 at 9:25 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Joyce Riley was the Democratic Party line for mayor of Albion in the March 18 election. She also plans to run under an independent line, “Vote for Albion.” She is shown speaking at the Albion Republican Party caucus on Jan. 24.
ALBION – Registered Democrats in the Village of Albion have backed Joyce Riley for mayor in the upcoming March 18 election.
She will face off against Tim McMurray, who has the Republican line. There is still time for candidates to run under an independent line. They have until Feb. 10 to submit petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters in Albion.
Riley also intends to run as an independent under the “Vote for Albion” line.
Riley and McMurray both have been trustees on the Village Board for nearly four years. Riley ran for mayor in 2018 and lost a close race to Eileen Banker, 250 votes to 211. Kevin Doherty also received 153 in that election for mayor.
Riley was elected trustee in March 2022. She said Albion is on better financial footing, after working to establish reserves and build back its unfunded balances. That should help the village pay for equipment purchases in the future and guard against big tax increases.
“We’re on the cusp of turning things around,” Riley said.
Riley worked as a registered nurse and later supervised an ambulatory surgical unit in Washington, D.C., overseeing 200 employees. When she retired, she moved back to Albion in 2015.
Riley, 77, said she brings a lot of energy to the Village Board, and a willingness to do the research and planning to make decisions that are best for the community.
She is also hopeful for the village because so many people are engaged as volunteers.
“There are more people getting involved,” she said. “We have more collaborations.”
Riley is the lone candidate who will appear under the Democratic line. Republicans, in addition to backing McMurray for mayor, also supported Jami Allport and Kevin Sheehan for village trustee.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 January 2026 at 11:25 am
File photo by Tom Rivers: The Village of Medina is accepting bids for a new pedestrian bridge over Oak Orchard Creek on Maple Ridge Road. The project also includes sidewalks in that area.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina is accepting construction bids for a pedestrian bridge over Oak Orchard Creek on Maple Ridge Road, a long-awaited project that also includes about a half mile of sidewalks.
The village in 2021 was awarded a $1,094,196 grant to construct the bridge and sidewalks as part of a multi-use path for pedestrians and bicycles. The funding was awarded by the state through a federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant.
That is covering 80 percent of the project. The remaining 20 percent will be paid locally from the village, Town of Shelby, Orleans County and Orleans Economic Development Agency.
The section of Maple Ridge Road by the creek has become busier with a housing development, several new businesses and also the GCC campus center. There are also about 200 available acres in the area being promoted for development by the EDA.
Mayor Marguerite Sherman said the project will make it much safer for residents and cyclists along that stretch of Maple Ridge. The spot by the creek, in particular, has a very narrow space for pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge will be north of the busy road.
Contractors need to turn in their bids by 3 p.m. on Feb. 18 at the Village Office. At that time the bids will be opened and read aloud.
The sidewalks will go 200 feet east of the Intersection of Maple Ridge Road (NY 31A) and South Main Street (NY 63), and then to 1,900 feet east of the intersection of Maple Ridge Road (NY 31A) and South Main Street (NY 63).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 January 2026 at 10:31 am
Board could include election change as referendum on March 18 ballot
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jess Marciano, a Medina village trustee and the deputy mayor, speaks during Thursday’s board meeting about moving the village election from the third Tuesday in March to the third Tuesday in June.
MEDINA – The village could move back its election by three months to June. Holley, Brockport and other villages have their elections the third Tuesday in June, rather than the third Tuesday in March.
If that happens in Medina, the terms for trustees and mayor would start on July 1, rather than April 1. Moving the start back would give trustees and the mayor some time to adjust to the their roles on the Village Board rather than face the big task of putting together the village budget at the immediate start of their terms, said Jess Marciano, a village trustee who is suggesting the change.
The board has several extra meetings in April as it works with department heads to put together a budget that must be adopted by April 30.
“This is incredibly unfair,” Marciano said at Thursday’s board meeting.
The town and county elected officials begin their terms on Jan. 1, after the budgets have been adopted by the prior administrations. Board of Education members start their terms on July 1, after the budgets have been adopted.
If the Village Board terms started on July 1, instead of April 1, the Village Board members would have months to gain a deeper understanding of the village government by the time it’s budget season.
“It would give people more of an opportunity to get their feet underneath them before setting the village tax rate which affects everyone in the village,” Marciano said.
A later village election also would give candidates better weather to be collecting petitions to get on the ballot. Right now that needs to be done in early February. The candidates then go door-to-door campaigning in some rough weather.
A June election would give the process better weather conditions when more residents are also around to vote in person.
The board will need to decide next month if it wants to put the issue on the ballot for a referendum during the March 18 election. (This year’s election is the third Wednesday in March. It was moved back a day due to St. Patrick’s Day.)
Board members on Thursday said they were willing to discuss the issue more on Feb. 9 and Feb. 23. The board needs to decide by Feb. 23 if the issue will be on the ballot for March 18.
“I’m not sold on it, but I’m open to talking about it,” said Trustee Deb Padoleski.
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Stearns/Principal of Clifford Wise Intermediate School – Lee Teitsworth, senior vice president at Liberty Balloons in Groveland, brought a hot air balloon to Clifford Wise Intermediate School on Friday and let students go inside it. This group includes fifth- and sixth-graders. Teitsworth also spoke with third- and fourth-graders.
Information courtesy of Medina Central School
MEDINA – Students in grades 3–6 at Clifford Wise Intermediate School celebrated their academic efforts and success for Marking Period 2 on Friday with an unforgettable, sky-high experience.
As part of the celebration, Liberty Balloons visited the school with a presentation – “The Sky Is the Limit” – encouraging students to keep reaching for their goals while learning the science behind hot air ballooning. The interactive program combined motivation with hands-on learning, giving students a closer look at how hot air balloons work and the physics that allow them to soar.
Lee Teitsworth discusses the science behind hot air balloons taking flight.
Students first viewed an informational presentation explaining the principles of hot air balloon flight, including how heated air creates lift and how propane burners are used to control altitude. The excitement continued in the Wise gymnasium, where a real hot air balloon was fully inflated, on its side, indoors. Students were given the rare opportunity to sit inside the balloon, experiencing its size and structure up close.
To complete the experience, students briefly stepped outside—just under five minutes—to safely observe the lighting of the propane flames, a dramatic highlight that brought the science lesson to life.
Remax Reality and the Clifford Wise Student Council sponsored the event. For more information on Liberty Balloons, click here.
These third- and fourth-graders see a brief outdoor presentation.
‘The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified to ensure citizenship for newly freed slaves and their children, not to create a permanent incentive for illegal immigration,’ – Rep. Claudia Tenney
Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney
OSWEGO – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today led an amicus curiae brief filed with the United States Supreme Court in Trump v. Barbara, a major constitutional case addressing the scope of birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment.
The brief was joined by Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Cory Mills (R-FL), John Rose (R-TN), and Barry Moore (R-AL).
The brief was submitted in support of President Trump’s Executive Order 14160, which clarifies that birthright citizenship does not automatically extend to children born in the United States to individuals who are unlawfully present or visiting temporarily.
The case centers on the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, specifically whether the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” applies to individuals who have violated U.S. immigration law or who lack permanent legal status.
The amicus brief argues that historical precedent, English common law, and Supreme Court jurisprudence make clear that citizenship at birth was never intended to apply universally without regard to allegiance, obedience, or lawful presence.
Congresswoman Tenney is also the sponsor of the Constitutional Citizenship Clarification Act, legislation that reinforces Congress’s constitutional authority to define the terms of U.S. citizenship consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Supreme Court granted certiorari in Trump v. Barbara on Dec. 5, and oral arguments are expected later this year.
“The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified to ensure citizenship for newly freed slaves and their children, not to create a permanent incentive for illegal immigration,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The Constitution requires allegiance and lawful subjection to U.S. jurisdiction. Granting automatic citizenship to the children of those who have broken our laws stretches the amendment far beyond its original meaning and undermines Congress’s authority over naturalization.”
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health), with funding from the New York State Department of Health, will offer free rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets in 2026.
Important Information:
• To receive a 3-year certificate for a dog or cat, please bring proof of prior rabies vaccination (metal tags or licenses will not be accepted as proof).
• Ferrets must receive vaccinations annually, regardless of previous immunization.
• All animals must be leashed or crated and kept under control during the clinics.
Why should your pets be vaccinated?
• Protects Your Pet: Rabies is a deadly disease that can affect both animals and humans. Vaccination is the best way to keep your pet safe.
• Protects You, Your Family, and the Community: Rabies can be passed to humans through bites or scratches from infected animals. Vaccinating pets helps prevent outbreaks.
• Required by Law: According to New York State Law, all dogs, cats, and domesticated ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies.
“Rabies continues to be a public health problem in Genesee and Orleans Counties,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “We remind all residents to keep their animals’ rabies vaccinations up to date.”
Genesee County Rabies Walk-in Clinic at the Batavia Town Highway Garage (3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020)
Thursday, February 5, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Genesee County Rabies Drive-Thru Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020)
Thursday, May 14, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, August 13, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, October 8, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Orleans County Rabies Drive-Thru Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion, NY 14411)
Saturday, April 25, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 17, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, August 19, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, October 7, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or contact your local health department at:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 January 2026 at 10:06 am
Majority of board believes used fire truck with no fire hall addition makes most sense
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Medina Village Board moved its meeting on Thursday evening to the high school auditorium due to a larger crowd expected as the board tries to determine whether it will put a new ladder truck into service and put an addition on the fire hall for the new truck. From left include Village Trustee Debbie Padoleski, Trustee Jess Marciano, Clerk/Treasurer Jada Burgess, Mayor Marguerite Sherman, Trustee Mark Prawel, Trustee Scott Bieliski and Village Attorney Matt Brooks.
MEDINA – In a meeting that stretched more than four hours, Village Board members and the pubic debated on Thursday night whether to keep a $1.7 million ladder truck for the fire department and put an addition on the fire hall.
Three of the board members – Debbie Padoleski, Mark Prawel and Scott Bieliski – voted to have the board pursue options to sell the new truck and see if a used ladder truck is available that would fit in the existing fire hall.
That trio of trustees said the new truck and an addition is too costly for the community where many residents are already overwhelmed by taxes.
Padoleski said the truck and addition would raise the village tax rate by at least $1 per $1,000 of assessed property, and it would be a 20-year commitment to pay off the truck and addition.
Bieliski noted that Medina in March 2023 agreed to pay $1,698,995 to Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisc. for a new fire truck with a 100-foot-long ladder. It took nearly three years for the truck to be manufactured. It hasn’t been put into service yet.
Since Medina’s contract nearly three years ago, the costs for ladder trucks have continued to escalate. The Albion Joint Fire District on Aug. 14 voted to buy a new ladder truck at a cost of $2,480,698 from Pierce Manufacturing.
Bieliski said he will reach out to a broker to see if there is interest in Medina’s new truck and at what price. He expects the truck could command $2 million, which would allow Medina to pay off its loan for the truck and have extra money to pursue a used ladder truck.
If Medina would take a loss on selling the truck, Bieliski said it shouldn’t be sold.
Village resident Brian Wiesinger speaks during Thursday’s board meeting. About 150 people attended the meeting that stretched more than four hours, starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 10:20. Wiesinger said the village should look at a more affordable option with a ladder truck.
Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman and Trustee Jess Marciano said they remain committed to keeping the new ladder truck and putting on a one-bay addition.
Marciano noted the fire hall addition and upgrades were cut from about $6 million to just over $1 million.
Sherman said she continues to seek grants and assistance with the addition. She met last week with representatives from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. The village needs more detailed drawings and cost estimates for the addition to move forward with seeking grants, Sherman said.
She hasn’t been able to get the majority of the board’s support to hire a firm for those cost estimates.
Village resident Robin Wehling said she supports giving the Medina firefighters the equipment they need to best serve the community. She said the new ladder truck would account for a 48-cent in the tax rate.
Trustees and Padoleski and Bieliski said the cost of the addition puts the total expense for the new truck closer to about $4 million when financing is included over 20 years. They said that amounts to about $1 more in the tax rate.
(Left) Jason Cogovan said he supports the Medina Fire Department but it needs to be at an affordable level for the community. “It’s about delivering services in a responsible way,” he said. He suggested going to a volunteer fire department and looking at contracting for EMS services.
(Right) Village resident Linda Limina, who is also a Shelby town councilwoman, said the Medina board needs to reach out to neighboring towns about helping to pay more for services provided by the village.
“Village residents shouldn’t be the only ones funding the service,” she said.
She worries the added debt from the ladder truck and addition will push village taxes even higher.
Medina firefighter Steve Miller said the Village Board has known for many years the fire hall needed upgrades and that a new ladder truck wouldn’t fit in the current building.
He said the board hasn’t been properly planning for the fire department for more than a decade.
Trustee Bieliski told Miller and the firefighters in attendance they were using “fear-mongering” to pressure the board into keeping the truck and putting on an addition.
Miller said not getting the new ladder truck could result in higher insurance costs for residents and businesses if Medina’s ISO rating is negatively impacted.
He also said there could be delays in response times if the community needs to wait for a ladder truck from elsewhere.
“This is not a scare tactic,” Miller said. “This is simply the truth.”
Trustee Debbie Padoleski, left, says Medina is bearing too much of the expense for fire protection and EMS services in the community.
Padoleski said data from 2024 shows Medina’s ladder truck only was used for 33 calls, with 12 inside the village and 21 outside.
“The Village of Medina taxpayers cannot and should not subsidize mutal aid in the county,” Padoleski said.
Medina’s Ladder 40 is 30 years old and has been out of service since June due to mechanical issues.
The village put it up for sale and sold it for $8,700 at Thursday’s meeting. It was listed online for sale through an auction company. Trustee Mark Prawel wanted to oppose the sale but the title had already been signed over and the deal done without a final village vote. Prawel thought the old truck was worth more than $8,700.
In the future, the board said none of the sales from items declared surplus will be finalized until a board vote to approve the sale.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 January 2026 at 7:59 am
Photos courtesy of Scott Robinson: Adrienne Belson, center, activities director and MDS coordinator at Orleans Community Health, sits with residents of the North Wing during a bake sale she helped organize last summer. Belson was one of three North Wing employees recognized during National Activity Professionals Awareness Week.
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health observed National Activity Professionals Week by celebrating the dedicated activity professionals serving residents in the North Wing, along with the community partners who support individuals in long-term care, assisted living and memory care.
Organized by the National Association of Activity Professionals, National Activity Professionals Week is celebrated Jan. 26-30, focusing on the theme “Beyond the Ordinary.” The week recognizes staff who foster independence and joy through meaningful, person-centered engagement, going above and beyond to support cognitive and physical health.
Activities Assistant Angel Mackey helps a North Wing resident paint a pumpkin during a special fall activity. Mackey was another employee who received recognition at OCH this week.
This national observance honors professionals whose creativity, compassion and commitment enhance residents’ emotional, social, cognitive and physical well-being, according to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing at OCH.
“At Orleans Community Health, activity professionals play a vital role in promoting connection, dignity and purpose, ensuring residents continue to live full and meaningful lives,” Robinson said.
Among those recognized are Adrienne Belson, activities director and MDS coordinator; Anna Lewis, activities leader; and Angel Mackey, activities assistant.
Belson, a Lyndonville resident, has served Orleans Community Health for 19 years. She has dedicated her career to the elderly population and emphasizes that activities extend far beyond recreation. Her team builds trusted relationships, provides advocacy, supports residents through life transitions and creates opportunities for continued engagement within the community.
Lewis joined OCH in 2020 and celebrates five years of service this year. Known for her creativity and enthusiasm, Lewis brings versatility to each day and focuses on learning residents’ life stories to better support and individualized care. She encourages community involvement, noting that residents thrive when volunteers share their time and talent.
Angel Mackey, Activities Assistant, is also being highlighted for her compassionate approach. After beginning her career at Medina Memorial Hospital in the dietary department, Mackey transitioned into activities, where she enjoys building meaningful connections with residents. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work and remains deeply committed to making a positive impact.
Orleans Community Health also expressed gratitude to the broader community for its continued support, including fundraising efforts which helped provide transportation for residents’ outings. These experiences allow residents to reconnect with familiar places, memories and traditions, often creating powerful moments of recognition and joy, Robinson said.
“Activity professionals bring life, purpose and connection into each day,” Robinson said. “Their dedication reminds us that quality of life matters at every stage.”
Orleans Community Health extends sincere appreciation to its Activities Department, North Wing care teams, volunteers, families and community partners whose compassion and collaboration continue to enrich the lives of its residents.
Anna Lewis, activities leader at OCH, also recognized during National Activity Professionals Awareness Week. She is shown here with two North Wing residents on a field trip to the lake.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 5:17 pm
ALBION – The replacement of the Eagle Harbor Road bridge in the Town of Barre is moving forward.
The County Legislature on Tuesday accepted a bid from Nardozzi Paving & Construction of Geneva for $979,000. This project is 100 percent reimbursable and won’t need any local dollars, county legislators said.
The Legislature also approved a bid for $1,077,947 for preventive maintenance on bridges in Kent. Keeler Construction in Barre submitted the low bid for a project that is 95 percent reimbursable.
ALBION – The Orleans County Board of Elections (BOE) reminds all registered voters that Saturday, February 14, is the deadline to change your party enrollment before the 2026 Primary Election on June 23.
Primary elections are a way for political parties to choose who will be their candidates on the General Election ballot in November. New York State has closed primaries, meaning that to vote in a party’s primary election, you must be an enrolled member of that party on or before Feb. 14.
Enrollment requests must be received by the BOE no later than Feb. 14 to be effective for the June Primary Election. Any enrollment changes received after the deadline will take effect June 30.
The Orleans County Board of Elections will be open Saturday, Feb. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to receive any last-minute enrollment changes.
Paper forms are available at your local post office, municipal building, or over the counter at the BOE. Call the BOE at 585-589-3274 if you need a form mailed to you or have any other questions.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 2:46 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum, speaks on July 6, 2025 during the annual patriotic service held near the Fourth of July in the Cobblestone Church.
BUFFALO – The Cobblestone Museum and Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council have both been approved for $13,500 grants from the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo.
The money comes through the 2025 Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative awards, which total over $421,000 to support 46 small to mid-sized arts organizations.
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative was established at the Community Foundation to support arts and culture in the eight counties of Western New York, plus Monroe County, in recognition of the key role arts and culture organizations play in a thriving economy.
The grants are in two categories:
Category 1 – Combined Capacity-Building and General Operating Funds for organizations with at least one full-time staff member to help organizations build the solid foundation necessary to pursue an ambitious mission and vision.
Grantees include:
Alfred Box of Books Library – $13,500
Beau Fleuve Music & Arts – $14,500
Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology – $13,500
Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art – $13,500
Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, Inc. – $13,500
Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts, Inc. – $13,500
The Cobblestone Society – $13,500
Community Canvases – $13,500
Cordelia A. Greene Library – $13,500
Danceability, Inc. – $13,500
El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera – $13,500
Fenton Historical Society of Jamestown, New York – $13,500
The Fountain Arts Center, Inc. – $13,500
Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council – $13,500
Gowanda’s Historic Hollywood Theater, Ltd. – $13,500
Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center – $13,500
IndicatorArt Corporation – $13,500
KORP Foundation Inc. – $14,500
Lewiston Council on the Arts Inc – $13,500
Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes, Inc. – $13,500
North Park Theatre of Buffalo, Inc. – $13,500
Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective – $13,500
Shake on the Lake – $13,500
Sukanya Burman Dance Inc. – $13,500
The Theatre of Youth Company, Inc. – $18,515
West Falls Center for the Arts – $13,500
Western New York Minority Media Professionals Inc – $13,500
Category 2: General Operating Micro Grants up to $2,500 for organizations with less than one full-time staff member to execute immediate programming.
Grantees include:
Arts Services Inc. – $5,000 (for two separate projects)
Aurora Players – $2,500
Batavia Players – $2,500
Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus – $2,500
Buffalo Heritage Carousel – $2,500
Chautauqua Youth Symphony – $2,500
Community Canvases – $2,500
El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera – $2,500
Genesee Symphony Orchestra – $2,500
Harmonia Chamber Singers, Inc. – $2,500
LMCimpact Inc. – $2,500
Minerva Free Library – $2,500
Polish Arts Club of Buffalo – $2,500
Sotto Voce Inc. – $2,500
Starring Buffalo – $2,500
Tonawandas’ Council on the Arts/Carnegie Art Center – $2,500
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America – Buffalo, NY Branch – $2,500
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 12:55 pm
State now contributing nearly $1.7 million to $5.2 million project
This rendering from Passero Associates shows the front of the library in Medina, which includes an overhang near the entrance. This is part of a $5 million capital project at the library, which includes a 4,785-square-foot addition.
MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina has received confirmation of an additional $874,124 grant from New York State Public Library Construction Aid towards the library’s $5.2 million expansion.
This is the second state library construction grant. Lee-Whedon also received a $795,320 grant in construction aid which brings the total from the state to $1,669,444.
In December, Lee-Whedon also received $25,000 in funding from the Garmin Family Foundation administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.
“Lee-Whedon has received a total of $1,697,444 in grants toward expansion costs exceeding our goal of $1.5 million,” said Kristine Mostyn, the library executive director.
Lee-Whedon will host a gala and auction from 7 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 6. That is expected to be the final big fundraising event for the library expansion. Click here for more information about that event.
Lee-Whedon celebrated a ground-breaking on Aug. 22, 2025 for a 4,785-square-foot addition on the back of the current library, which is 11,100 square feet. That project is expected to be complete in July.
The addition will create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, an art gallery, a teen room and 14 parking spots.
There will also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.
“The library’s expansion project is designed to meet growing community needs and ensure the facility can continue to provide high-quality service for decades to come,” Mostyn said.
