Pro wrestlers, laser show instead of fireworks, and more challenges for the people

Photos by Tom Rivers: Luke Gregoire (left), and Vinnie Snell chomp on corn on the cob that was provided by Rush’s in Waterport during last year’s debut of a corn of the cob eating contest. The event returns at the fair today at 6:45 p.m.

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair kicks off today for six days of events and entertainment for the community. The fair typically draws about 25,000 to 30,000 people over the six days.

There has been a 20 to 25 percent increase in livestock entries for this year’s fair, from rabbits to bigger beef animals.

People can buy a week-long pass for $10 and parking is on the west side of the fairgrounds off Taylor Hill Road. The fair will have free shuttles, including a golf cart, Kubota and the tram from the American Legion in Lyndonville.

Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, and Marty Zwifka, the fair manager, are shown on Sunday when many of the 4-Hers and their families moved in with their animals for the week. Many of the exhibitors and vendors also were busy getting ready for the week.

“If you come to fair, you might as well come over and over again,” said Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County.

This year there won’t be Friday fireworks. Instead it will be a laser show on two big screens and also in the sky. The Fair Committee wanted to try something different that was more animal-friendly. The fireworks with the big booms and bursts of light was hard on the animals, especially the horses, said Mary Zwifka, the fair manager.

“We try to do everything we can to appeal to everybody,” Zwifka said.

The committee also is moving the 4-H Animal Meat Auction from Saturday to Friday, with the preview at 6 p.m. and the auction to start at 6:30. There are more animals in the auction this year. Doing the auction on Friday gives an extra day to arrange for the purchased animals to go to the processor.

The grand master showman competition, which has been a staple of the fair on Friday night, will now be on Saturday night. That competition features the top showmen from the larger animals and makes them show all the animal species, even ones they’re not familiar with. Moving it to Saturday gives the participants an extra day to practice with animals.

The fair also will be capped on Saturday night with professional wrestlers from Empire State Wrestling. They will have a ring in the Curtis Pavilion and there will be matches from 7 to 10 p.m. There is no additional charge to see the wrestlers.

The fair also has three prominent acts throughout the week, including Lew-E the Clown, Agri-Puppets and Pompeyo’s Ranch, which performed on America’s Got Talent!

Elijah “The Bull” Starr pushes an 800-pound haybale through a course on July 26, 2025 at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. He won the title despite not having a partner to help with the challenge. Jeremy Neal, the event chairman and judge, is in back. This will be the fifth year of the haybale rolling challenge at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

This year’s fair adds more challenges for people. Karaoke remains a staple from Monday through Thursday nights. Little kids can test their mettle in the small fry tractor pull at 6:30 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday at JCH Tent Lot. That has been a mainstay of the fair.

But there are some new competitions including a frozen T-shirt contest at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the JCH Tent. Participants have to chip a shirt out of a block of ice and then wear the shirt.

Some other challenges and competitions for the community include:

• Hay bale rolling 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at Byron’s Barnyard. Teams of one or two people have to move a heavy bale of hay through an obstacle course.
• Mom-calling competition at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at Orleans Hub stage. Mothers are blindfolded and try to identify which kid calling out “Mom!” is theirs.
• Stick pony rodeo for ages 4 to 7 on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
• Basketball free throw contest at 5 p.m. Tuesday at JCH tent.
• Rubber chicken throwing contest at 5 p.m. Wednesday at JCH tent
• Inflatable costume race at 8 p.m. on Thursday at the horse arena
• Steampunk costume contest and parade at 8 p.m. on Saturday at the JCH tent
• Disc golf at 6 p.m. today on the lawn west of the horse arena
• Corn eating contest at 6:45 p.m. today at Orleans Hub stage
• Survivor Orleans at 5 p.m. on Tuesday
• Pickle eating contest at 6 p.m. on Friday at JCH tent

Photos by Tom Rivers: Kenley Fenton, 16, of Medina and Christina Zaidel, 16, of Middleport get their horses cleaned on Sunday afternoon at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Kenley will be showing “Rubee” while Zaidel is showing “Harvee.” They will be competing in several events this week, with three jump courses, showmanship, dressage and flat classes. They are both in the senior division.

Midway will not be open. Daily: Agri-Puppet Farm Truck strolling the grounds.

9 to 11 a.m. – 4-H Senior Council Stand Breakfast Hours at 4-H Senior Council Stand

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Commercial Exhibits in place throughout event

8 a.m. – Cloverbud Horse Show followed by Walk/Trot Horse Show at Carlos Marcello Arena

9 a.m.– Rabbit and Poultry Meeting for all exhibitors at Wachob Building

9:20 a.m. – Cattle Barn Department Meeting for all exhibitors at Cattle Barn

9:40 a.m. – Goat/Sheep Department meeting for all exhibitors at Goat/Sheep Barn

Gary “G.J.” Donofrio of Bergen leads a 1,050-pound Hereford steer out of a livestock trailer for move-in day on Sunday. Donofrio won last year’s grand master showman title, one of the prestigious awards at the fair.

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – 4-H Exhibits including Common Garden Vegetables, Market Packages, Cut Flowers, Indoor Gardening, Fruits and Nuts, Plant Collection (Preserved and Scrapbook), Landscape Pictures and Plants, Experiments, Horticulture Methods judged at Trolley Building

10 a.m. – Meat and Fiber Goat Show at Knights Indoor Arena

10:30 a.m. – 4-H Fry Stand opens at Fry Stand

11 a.m. – Senior Council 4-H Food Booth Hamburgers, Hots, and Cold Drinks at 4-H Senior Council Stand. Proceeds support teen award trips and programs.

11 a.m. – Field Crops judged at Trolley Building

1 to 3 p.m. – Group Exhibits, Food Preservation, Baked Goods and Visual Arts judged at Trolley Building

Adeline Pask, 11, and her sister Sadie, 12, of Barre tend to their sheep on Sunday. They fed the sheep a sweet feed mix of molasses, minerals, corn and soybeans. The sheep show is Thursday at 5 p.m.

2 p.m. – Pack and Companion Goat Show  at Knights Indoor Arena

4 p.m. – Paid public admission begins at Taylor Hill Road parking lots

4 p.m. – 4-H Leaders’ Homemade Pie Stand opens

4 to 10 p.m. – Blacksmith Demo at Beadle Building

4 p.m. – Mini-Horse Show Hands-on Classes at Knights Building

6 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Agri-Puppets the Farming Singing Puppets! at Cattle Barn Lawn

6 p.m. – Public Contest- Register at Event: Disc Golf Competition at the lawn west of Horse Arena

6:30 p.m.  – Miniature Horse Driving Classes at Knights Building

6:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremony, Presentation of Colors by Orleans County Veterans at Flag Pole on Ed Center Lawn

Amanda Gaczewski of Middleport holds her daughter Willow while son Barry Bulinski, 6, puts his rabbit, “Oreo,” in its cage inside the Wachob Building. Barry is a Cloverbud. The Wachob Building had chickens, rabbits, Guinea pigs, a pigeon and a turkey.

6:45 p.m. – Public Contest – Register at Event: Corn Eating Contest-  Sponsored by Rush’s Farm at Orleans Hub Stage

6:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Pompeyo’s Ranch- As seen on America’s Got Talent! At Knights Lawn

7 p.m.  – 4-H Dog Bowl at Dog Show Tent

7 p.m. – 4-H Fashion Revue at Orleans Hub Stage

7:30 p.m. – Trolley Building Youth Exhibits Open at Trolley Building

8 to 10 p.m. – Orleans County 4-H Fair $1,000 Karaoke Contest  at Orleans Hub Stage

8 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Agri-Puppets the Farming Singing Puppets! at Cattle Barn Lawn

8:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Pompeyo’s Ranch- As seen on America’s Got Talent! At Knights Lawn

10 p.m. – Buildings Close – Goodnight Fair

All admissions are sold as unlimited week long admission for $10 per person. Admission is free for veterans and ages 6 and under. Parking is also free.

Shania Bulinski, 9, of Middleport holds her chicken, “Lulu.” This is Shania’s second time showing an animal at the fair. Two years ago she exhibited a duck.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Children held out their hands hoping a Monarch butterfly would land in their palms, after the butterfly release Saturday on the Floating Barge on the Erie Canal in Medina. (Right) Dave O’Donnell, founder of the Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm in Clarence, prepares to release 50 Monarch butterflies on Saturday afternoon.

MEDINA – A Monarch butterfly release from the Medina Triennial’s Floating Barge drew a crowd estimated at more than 200 Saturday afternoon.

As the Triennial concludes its eighth week today (Sunday), co-director Kari Conte said the event has been attracting people from across the country. She reported on Friday there were visitors from Ithaca, New York City, Massachusetts, California and Toronto, many of whom spent at least one night.

Grace McKissock, an intern with Great Lakes Education, and volunteer Emma Tanovis are dressed as butterflies on Medina’s floating barge, where a Monarch butterfly release took place Saturday afternoon.

Three friends from Williamsville said they visit Medina at least twice a year.

 “We love this town, its shops, Zambistro’s, the scenery and the community,” said Eileen Giarraffa of Williamsville, who was there with Lora Fletcher and Eileen Torse.

The Floating Barge, also called a “food forest on the Erie Canal,” was open for harvesting beginning at noon.

At 1 p.m. today, Conte will conduct a curatorial tour at the historic Medina High School, 324 Catherine St.  She will share information about participating artists and their works.

Volunteers Terry Cook and David Sidari greet visitors to the Floating Barge in Medina’s Canal Basin, prior to a butterfly release Saturday by Dave O’Donnell of Clarence.

Crowds stood with cameras ready to capture the release of 50 Monarch butterflies Saturday afternoon on the Floating Barge in Medina’s Canal Basin. A Monarch can be seen in the upper left corner on a flowering bush.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There were 16 firefighters at the Orleans County Fire Training Tower on Saturday, practicing rope rescue operations. Firefighters rappelled about 50 feet down from the top of the training tower.

Firefighters need to deploy rope rescues when people are stuck down ravines and embankments.

Bob Freida, the Clarendon fire chief, descends down the training tower. Freida is part of a rope rescue team that includes Clarendon and Murray firefighters.

A new county-wide technical rescue team is being created from multiple departments to train and work together and share equipment.

Not all departments with rescue equipment have the same gear. The team will train on each department’s equipment to be familiar with the ropes, harnesses and other tools. Some departments also have grain rescue equipment which includes steel plates and an augur. The team members will also have wet suits for going into the water.

Dale Niehaus of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Department makes his way down the tower. He is entering into a window on the side of the tower.

Saturday was the first day of a 32-hour course that includes today and next weekend.

Participants will develop skills in rappelling and high-angle rescue systems. Topics include safety orientation, risk assessment, equipment, basic rappelling and ascending, anchoring, belaying, mechanical advantage, patient packaging, incident management, skills evaluation, and testing.

John Hightower from the Rochester Fire Department rappels down the training tower. There are three firefighters from Rochester in the class, which is mostly firefighters from Orleans County.

Karl Biedlingmaier of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company works his way down the tower at 14064 West County House Rd.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Ray Keffer is on shore while three firefighters head out into the icy water of a quarry by the Erie Canal in Murray to go after a dog on Jan. 4, 2020. Firefighters were able to safely bring the dog to the shore. They also assisted the owner of the dog in getting up the embankment.

Photo from Medina Fire Department: Fire destroyed a house at 208 Prospect Ave. in Medina this morning and spread next door.

Press Release, Medina Fire Department

MEDINA – As many of you can imagine, we had a very difficult morning on Prospect Avenue. We are incredibly grateful that no residents or firefighters were injured. Sadly, some family pets were lost in the fire, and our thoughts are with the families affected during this difficult time.

We were dispatched at 4:22 a.m. and arrived on scene at 4:24 a.m. to find a significant volume of fire, with the possibility of occupants trapped inside. The crew of Engine 11 immediately began search operations until it was confirmed that everyone had safely escaped the original fire building.

A second alarm was struck at 4:26 a.m. as crews worked to protect the neighboring home at 206 Prospect Avenue, located approximately 20 feet north of the original structure. Once all occupants of that residence were accounted for, a third alarm was requested at 4:36 a.m. as additional manpower and equipment were needed after the fire breached the exterior of 206 Prospect Avenue. Multiple crews worked simultaneously to search for occupants while extinguishing fire throughout both floors and the attic space of that home.

Eight of Orleans County’s eleven fire departments responded to the scene, along with two departments from Niagara County. Fire departments from Niagara, Monroe, and Genesee counties also staffed stations throughout Orleans County to ensure emergency coverage remained available while crews battled the fire.

We cannot thank our brothers and sisters from every department enough for their hard work, professionalism, and support today, whether they were operating on scene or covering our stations. We also appreciate the assistance provided by Orleans County Emergency Management and the Orleans County Highway Department.

To the many residents who stopped by with encouraging words, cold drinks, and support throughout the morning—thank you. Your kindness means more than you know. We wish we could thank everyone individually, but we know we’d unintentionally leave someone out.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Orleans County Fire Investigation Unit, with assistance from the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

The photo accompanying this post was provided by a nearby resident and was taken just after they called 911 to report the fire.

Again, thanks to all that assisted us today.

Steve Cooley

Chief of Department

Photos by Ginny Kropf: A house at 208 Prospect Ave. was reduced to rubble after a fire this morning.

MEDINA – Three people are homeless in a fire early this morning, which completely destroyed an apartment house at 208 Prospect Ave. and displaced at least five people in the house next door at 206 Prospect Ave.

Medina Fire Department received the call at 4:20 a.m. and arrived at the scene at 4:24 a.m., said Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley.

“The house was fully engulfed and three people were outside when we arrived,” Cooley said. “When the ambulance arrived, they said fire was coming from every window.”

A dog and cat were also lost in the fire.

Considerable damage was done to all three stories of the house next door and some damage to a house across the street.

The houses in that location are 20 feet apart, and Cooley said had they not responded as quickly as they did, an entire block of homes could have been destroyed. The fire was extinguished in an hour.

He said indications are the fire started on the front porch.  Cooley said they received assistance from every department in Orleans County and addition help from Niagara County.

Cooley praised all the responders, saying they did a great job of getting the fire extinguished.

Fire Chief Steve Cooley said the fire could have wiped out a block of houses if firefighters from many departments hadn’t responded so quickly.

Brett Sobieraski and team of runners complete 1,600 laps at local tracks in past 8 days, raising $25,000 for Community Action

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Brett Sobieraski holds the American flag high while leading a pack of runners around the Albion High School track this morning in the final lap of an 8-day, 400-mile benefit for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Renee Hungerford, the Community Action chief executive officer, is next to Sobieraski for the final lap. She sang the national anthem right before the final, celebratory 400 meters.

Sobieraski is a retired Rochester police sergeant. He lives in Carlton. He has done endurance challenges before to raise money for fallen police officers and the Special Olympics. This time he wanted to help Community Action, an agency he said serves local residents in many different ways, He set a $20,000 fundraising goal. By the end of the run at 11 a.m., the fundraising was at $25,000.

Sobieraski, 60, has been mostly sidelined the past three days due to severe blisters and an infection in his feet. He thanked other runners for stepping up and wearing his watch that records the laps and distance. He completed more than 275 miles of challenge himself.

Hungerford said that similar to what happens at Community Action, with the agency assisting people through challenges. Community Action is facing a $900,000 cut to the Head Start program, but Hungerford said the agency will persevere.

Jaxon Francis is ahead of Tanner Beecher and other members of the Albion youth football team which came out to do a few laps around the track today.

Jeff Atwell (left), manager of weatherization for Community Action, walks around the track with Jim Babcock, who recently had back surgery. Babcock completed more than a mile both Friday in Holley and today in Albion.

Brett Sobieraski hugs Todd Arnold after he ran for about an hour and half this morning.

Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard walks with Sobieraski around the track this morning. Sobieraski works as an investigator with the Orleans County major Felony Crimes Task Force, which Howard oversees.

Sobieraski during comments after the final lap praised Community Action for doing “God’s work” in Orleans and Genesee counties.

Some of the programs offered by Community Action include:

• transportation for the elderly and disabled
• food and clothing
• home cooling and weatherization projects
• thrift store services
• work place job training and counseling
• prom dresses along with credit counseling for high school students
• Head Start programs to assist with learning, child care and family services
• Through their Project Salus, help adolescents with the support from education to financial

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Brett Sobieraski, far right, is shown running with two police officers and Roger Bolton of Albion during a massive downpour in Albion a week ago. That rain would lead to extensive blisters that became infected Sobieraski’s feet, forcing him to back off his goal of completing 400 miles for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

However, other runners have stepped up and wore his watch that tracks the miles. The distance adds up to 388 miles with the final 12 this morning in Albion at the high school track beginning at 8 a.m.

Nearly 1,000 people have joined Sobieraski at the local high school tracks over the first seven days. Friday’s run was at Holley and more than 150 people joined him, including Holley teen Hayden Keiffer, who presented Sobieraski $100 that Hayden collected from neighbors and friends.

Sobieraski aimed to bring awareness of the many programs offered by Community Action. Friday’s run in Holley highlighted the Eastern Orleans Community Center.

He also wanted to raise $20,000 for the agency that serves people in Genesee and Orleans counties.

The run has raised $24,000 going into the final homestretch. Click here to make a donation online or show up in person this morning.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Donning his ventriloquist hat, Mike Randall banters with his puppet Timmy during a performance Thursday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. (Right) Dudley the Duck and ventriloquist Mike Randall entertain with their antics during Thursday’s appearance at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

MEDINA – Children and their families who attended Lee-Whedon Memorial Library’s summer reading series program on Thursday got to see local television personality Mike Randall perform his magic/puppet show. Seventy children were signed up for the program, which was the first in the new section of the library.

Sawyer Green of Medina was one of the parents who came with her son Glenn, niece Norah Bennett, and nephew Zeke Bennett, 6, to see Randall perform.

“We come to the library all the time, and my oldest son and I saw Mike in Dickens and loved it,” Sawyer said. “Some of the kids have seen Mike at school and they are happy to be seeing him again.”

Mike Randall greets his young audience prior to a puppet/magic show he performed Thursday morning at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. Sawyer Green of Medina brought her niece and nephew, Norah, 4, and Zeke Bennett, 6, and her son Glenn Green, 4, to see Randall.

Randall, who recently moved to Medina with his wife Kathy, presents a fast-paced program featuring puppets, magic, comedy, ventriloquism and audience participation.

A man of many hats , Randall has become one of Western New York’s most popular entertainers, having performed at many local events, including the Cattaraugus County Fair, M&T Plaza, Eastern Hills Mall Children’s Theater Series, the Toy Festival in East Aurora, Lewiston’s Wildlife Festival at the New York Power Authority, Cuba Garlic Festival, as well as schools and libraries throughout the area.

Mike Randall chose these four children to help with his dinosaur/archeology-themed show at Lee-Whedon. The children hold posters depicting things than archeologists might dig up, such as jewelry, pottery, bones and tools.

Randall’s first experience with magic was when he was 6 and saw a man who sounded like Harry Potter entertaining in the street with a deck of cards. He has loved puppets from the time he was a child, watching Howdy Doody and Paul Winchell. At the age of 7 he spent three months in the hospital, recovering from an automobile accident. The one thing which kept him from going stir crazy was a set of Disney hand puppets his grandmother had given him. He has loved puppets ever since.

In 1978 and ’79 he was hired as one of the 20 Marvelous Magical Burger-Kings, performing shows across WNY, northern Pennsylvania and southern Ontario, Canada.

Although he has received rave reviews for his fun-filled entertaining shows, Randall is best-known for his weather-forecasting and award-winning feature reporting for 40 years at WKBW-TV. He has interviewed celebrities such as John Candy, Steve Allen, Red Skelton, Gregory Peck, Willie Nelson and Robert Goulet. He was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2017 and retired from WKBW in August 2023.

A native of Western New York, Randall is also a professional actor and playwright. His plays have won awards and been produced at theaters locally and nationwide. He has performed a variety of roles in theaters in Western New York and around the country. He continues to perform his critically acclaimed, one-man portrayal of Mark Twain Live! In 2017 he conceived, wrote, directed and starred in the holiday solo show, Charles Dickens Presents: A Christmas Carol, again receiving praise from area critics and theatergoers. His presentation of Dickens at the Medina Theater shortly after moving here, sold out.

The summer reading program with a theme “Unearth a Story” will continue at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library on Thursdays through Aug. 11.

Randall continues to do shows at such venues as libraries, schools and churches. His next public shows are July 30 at the Lancaster Library, Aug. 7 at Hoag Library in Albion and the Niagara County Fair on Aug. 6 and 8. In addition, he will read the Declaration of Independence Sept. 6 for the Medina Tourism’s  bicentennial celebration at State Street Park in Medina.

Caleb was picked from the audience to help Mike Randall with a trick.

(Left) Eleanor Davis of Medina is greeted by a dinosaur (who is actually her daughter) as she arrives at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library on Thursday morning to see Mike Randall do a dinosaur-themed puppet show. (Right) Magician/ventriloquist Mike Randall picked Autumn, 6, to help him with a magic trick during his appearance at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

Photos courtesy of Village of Holley

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley unveiled a new sign today for the Holley Community Garden that is located off State Street.

Mayor Mark Bower is shown removing a covering from the new sign. The village used a grant from The Community Heart and Soul Foundation to pay for the sign.

The Holley Community Garden started in 2017 through the County Health Department, Clarendon Lions Club, Myron Holley Garden Club, and Village of Holley employees and officials. Susan Persia was at the sign unveiling today. She was instrumental in starting the community garden nearly a decade ago.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board last week approved a bond resolution for the village to borrow up to $1.7 million for sewer system improvements.

The upgrades include replacing sewer system pump stations and upgrading the SCADA systems throughout the village.

The village is seeking grants to help with the costs, so the final money needed to borrow may be less than $1.7 million.

 Medina initially authorized a bond for a maximum $1,250,000 in Oct. 11, 2021. But the project has been modified and the anticipated costs are higher, prompting the Village Board to seek a higher serial bond.

MEDINA – The Medina Rotary Club is interested in developing a new baseball field at Pine Street Park in the village.

Carl Tuohey, a member of the Rotary Club, last week presented the proposal to the Village Board. He said the club has built up some funds and wants to put some of that money to a baseball diamond.

Tuohey said he expects Job Corps students could be part of helping to create the field.

Village Board members want Tuohey to work on planning the project with Jason Watts, the superintendent of the Department of Public Works.

Pine Street Park has become a more active site since new playground and splash pad were added in 2019. Donors contributed $150,000 to those upgrades.

File photo: Jonathan McManus takes the oath of office as a Medina police officer on Sept. 26, 2022. He has been appointed as sergeant in charge.

MEDINA – The Medina Police Department has a new leader while the village looks to appoint a police chief.

Sgt. Jonathan McManus was appointed sergeant in charge during a special Village Board meeting on July 16. McManus joined the Medina PD as a police officer on Sept. 26, 2022.

He will get an additional $400 a week stipend while leading the department until a police chief is appointed. McManus’s appointment as sergeant in charge was effective July 20.

The Village Board on July 13 accepted the resignation of Police Chief Christian Navas and Sgt. Jacob Reeves. They are both going to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Navas had his last day in Medina on July 19 while Reeves’s last day was July 20.

Both left Medina to join the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office for significant boosts in pay, said Mark Prawel, a Medina village trustee and retired Medina police officer.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) alongside Representatives Mike Carey (OH-15) and David Kustoff (TN-08) today introduced the Supporting Cinema Renewal, Enhancement, and Enriching Neighborhoods (SCREEN) Act, legislation to encourage private investment in movie theaters and help revitalize the Main Streets and commercial districts they support.

The SCREEN Act would establish a 30% federal tax credit for qualified movie theater revitalization projects. Eligible improvements include new seating, projection and sound systems, HVAC upgrades, and accessibility improvements.

The credit would apply to traditional theaters that have been in operation for at least five years, with a lifetime per theater cap of $250,000 for theaters with three screens or fewer, $375,000 for theaters with four to nine screens, and $500,000 for theaters with ten or more screens. The credit would be available for qualifying investments made through December 31, 2030.

“Strong Main Streets depend on strong local businesses, and movie theaters help bring people into our downtowns where they support restaurants, shops, and other small businesses,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “As theaters work to modernize and compete, they deserve the opportunity to invest in their future. The SCREEN Act encourages private investment, strengthens local economies, creates jobs, and helps preserve these important community gathering places for future generations.”

This legislation is supported by Cinema United, Marquee Cinemas, Saunders Theatre Properties, and Malco Theatres:

“This timely and important legislation will spur re-investment in one of America’s great Main Street enterprises – the local cinema. Jobs will be created, including local contractors and vendors that do the work, surrounding businesses in the community will benefit, and the result will be a better experience for fans that love seeing their favorite movie on the big screen. We applaud the sponsors of this bill. Because of their leadership, towns of all sizes, in all 50 states, will see a tangible and positive cultural and economic impact in their local communities.” – Michael O’Leary, President and CEO, Cinema United