Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Retired TV personality Mike Randall, right, and Medina Theater owner Joe Cardone draw winning tickets for free prizes following Randall’s presentation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Friday night at the Medina Theater. (Right) Mike Randall portrayed the roles of characters from A Christmas Carol. He performed to a full house Friday night at Medina Theater.

MEDINA – The Medina Theater was packed Friday night for a performance by Mike Randall, who presented A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

The performance came about when Randall and theater owner Joe Cardone were having lunch. Randall and his wife Kathy had recently moved to Medina and he suggested doing a show to benefit local food pantries and Medina Area Association of Churches. He said that would be his gift to Medina.

Cardone agreed to donate use of the theater, and the rest is history. The show sold out a week in advance.

Jim Hancock, left, representing St. Peter’s Food Pantry, and Donna Poore, who heads the food pantry at The Vine, hold a tote of food items at the Medina Theater, which were donated by theater-goers Friday night. The food pantries shared the collection of food.

Attendees who brought in non-perishable food items or made a cash donation received a ticket for a drawing for various prizes, which included gift certificates, raffle baskets and a grand door prize of a flat screen TV, donated by local attorney Katherine Bogan.

A giant container of food was filled to overflowing and divided between the food pantries at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and The Vine Church. Cash donations were given to MAAC. On Monday afternoon, Cardone and Randall presented a check for $2,230 to Sue Metzo, president of MAAC. Jim Hancock, treasurer of St. Peter’s Food Pantry, and Donna Poore, head of The Vine’s Food Pantry, both attended the presentation and will make arrangements to have the food items delivered to their churches.

“I can’t tell you what this means to us,” Metzo said.

“We especially need donations of groceries at this time of year, when people are running short,” Hancock said. “The amount of food collected was quite amazing. It was nice we could split it with The Vine.”

From left, Joe Cardone, owner of Medina Theater, and Mike Randall give a check for $2,230 to Sue Metzo, president of MAAC. Jim Hancock, treasurer of St. Peter’s food pantry, and Donna Poore, head of The Vine’s food pantry, will share the food items collected.

Friday’s entertainment began with an appearance of Medina High School’s A’Capella Select Choir. Members were appropriately dressed in 1800’s cloaks and hats, as they sang several Christmas songs.

Director Rachel Trillizio shared how thrilled they were to be able to perform for the community.

“We have already had a performance every day this week and have four more to go,” she said.

Randall first began impersonating Dickens’ characters in 2007 and continues to amaze audiences with his talent.

“I did a lot of research and how Dickens portrayed the different characters fascinated me,” Randall said. “I realized he wasn’t actually reading the book, he was performing the characters. I started studying the parts in November 2006, knowing I had my first performance scheduled for December 2007.

The A’Capella Select Choir, dressed in 1800s attire, sings a variety of Christmas songs for a packed house who attended Medina Theater to see Mike Randall’s presentation of A Christmas Carol.

The presentation by Randall on Friday night left the crowd in total amazement.

“It was magnificent,” said Cora Goyette, a newcomer to Medina. “I’m in awe he can remember all of that, and he delivered it so perfectly. We were totally entertained.”

One lady had seen him twice before and said it gets better every time.

Shirley Bright and Le Roy Neeper had also seen Randall’s performance before, but were delighted to see it again.

“And the theater has never looked more beautiful,” Neeper said of the Christmas decorations. “It was a wonderful evening.”

Georgia Thomas said she reads Dickens every Christmas.

“Mike performed it so beautifully,” she said. “All the inflections he used for different characters made them come so alive. I absolutely loved his performance. How fortunate we are to have all that talent in Medina.”

Rachel Trillizio, director of Medina High School’s A’Capella Choir,  tells the audience at the Medina Theater how happy they are to sing for the community. The Select Choir entertained Friday night prior to Mike Randall’s performance of A Christmas Carol, which benefited food pantries and MAAC in Medina.

This was the first time Kathy Blackburn had seen Randall and she said he was amazing.

“We couldn’t get over how he knew all those parts,” she said. “He moved from character to character and was able to memorize it all.”

In addition to 212 performances of A Christmas Carol since 2007, Randall has continued to present his critically acclaimed one-man portrayal of Mark Twain Live since 1972. Cardone said after the holidays, he might talk to Randall about doing that show at the Medina Theater.

Randall also performs with puppets, magic, ventriloquism and comedy as Mike Randall and Friends in local schools, libraries, festivals and family events all across Western New York.

Best-known as an on-air personality on WKBW-TV for 40 years, Randall retired in 2023. He was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2017.

Photos and information courtesy of Medina Central School

MEDINA – For several years running, the Medina Teachers’ Association has embraced the spirit of “Movember” by growing mustaches, raising awareness, and generating essential funds for men’s health and mental wellness in Medina.

This November, despite a season filled with other school fundraisers (including the annual Helpful Harvest Food and Essentials Drive supporting MAAC), Medina’s dedicated staff came through once again. The men on staff grew out their mustaches throughout the month, while the entire team rallied with donations, encouragement, and momentum.

Joe Byrne, MTA president, presents a check to Nola Goodrich-Kresse, who accepted on behalf of the Orleans County Suicide Prevention Coalition.

The results were an incredible $1,200 raised for the Orleans County Suicide Prevention Coalition, marking the third consecutive year Medina has surpassed the $1,000 mark.

These generous donations will directly support next year’s Men’s Day Out event in Orleans County, an event that creates a welcoming space for men to come together and to support one another and learn life-saving tools while having fun.

MTA President and 8th-grade Social Studies teacher Joe Byrne shared his gratitude in a message to staff:

“Thank you to everyone who grew a mustache, donated, encouraged others, or helped spread the word. Your generosity and enthusiasm made this year’s campaign truly special. Because of all of you, we’re able to support the Orleans County Suicide Prevention Coalition and continue making a meaningful impact right here in our community. I’m deeply grateful for the kindness, humor, and heart our staff brings to Movember each year. This is a team effort, and once again, you’ve shown what can be accomplished when we come together.”

A special thank-you goes to Nola Goodrich-Kresse, who leads the coalition’s efforts, for her ongoing collaboration.

This annual tradition not only raises critical funds but also fosters camaraderie, humor, and a deeper sense of purpose among our staff, all while making a real difference in Orleans County.

Here’s to many more successful Movembers ahead!