By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 September 2026 at 4:17 pm
Resident says many people can’t afford roof projects, other costly repairs
Photo by Tom Rivers: Tim Zeiner Sr. speaks during a recent Village Board meeting when the board said it was concerned about lingering property maintenance issues in the village. From left include Trustee Jeff Wagner, Trustee Jess Marciano, Village Clerk/Treasurer Jada Burgess and Mayor Debbie Padoleski.
MEDINA – A village trustee said he wants to see more progress in the village with property owners fixing leaking roofs, painting buildings and tending to other property maintenance.
Jeff Wagner, a Village Board member, says some roofs have been covered with tarps for years. It is unsightly and unfair to neighbors and other residents to have that blighting effect, he said.
“We have to figure out how we can take this village from a B to an A,” Wagner said during last week’s board meeting.
Tim Zeiner, a Park Avenue resident, said aggressive enforcement may not be the answer because many residents are cash-strapped and can’t afford a new roof that he said can top $30,000.
“I understand the cost is prohibitive,” Wagner replied.
Code enforcement officer Dan Gardner said he issues many citations a month and tries to be reasonable in working with people to address the issues.
“Many people are long-term residents on fixed incomes,” Gardner said.
He issues tickets and many go to court, and the cases can drag on for months, even years without resolution.
Some of the residents said Gardner could use more help with code enforcement. The village used to have three part-time staff that assisted the codes officer.
Mayor Debbie Padoleski said new Police Chief Corey Black can be part of looking at the codes and seeing if police officers can help with enforcement.
“We get a lot of complaints,” Padoleski said about some of the problem properties.
Wagner would like to see more improvements among the home and building owners.
“I’m not talking about throwing people in jail,” he said. “It’s about holding people accountable and doing what they should be doing.”
Press Release, Orleans County Emergency Management Office
The Orleans Aware App provides alerts on emergencies, and also other health and safety information.
ALBION – The storms that ripped through Orleans County this week, including the tornado in the Town of Shelby, point out the need for residents to be able to receive real time emergency alerts, according to Scott Buffin, Deputy Director of Orleans County Emergency Management.
Orleans County Emergency Management joined the National Weather Service (NWS) yesterday to complete a damage survey from the tornado. NWS reported the tornado had a rating of EF1 with an estimated peak wind of 105 mph, a path length of 1.20 miles and a width of 200 yards. Orleans County volunteer fire departments answered nearly 200 storm-related calls during the weather events.
“First, we are very thankful that such serious storms, including the tornado, did not lead to any serious injuries or deaths,” said Buffin. “We also want to recognize the great work of the county’s first responders and emergency personnel, including those in the Orleans County 9-1-1- Communications Center who fielded a tremendous number of calls and did a great job directing resources. This was a team effort that continues as we deal with the aftermath of the storms.”
Buffin said the county’s Emergency Management Director Justin Niederhofer has made direct communication with residents a priority of his office, recognizing the importance of sharing information quickly in emergency situations. That is what led to the development of the Orleans Aware app to their smartphones.
The app provides alerts and other real-time information during emergency situations while also serving as a resource for other health and safety information. The app is available by clicking here.
Buffin also encouraged residents to follow Emergency Management on Facebook (click here).
“These are free communication vehicles that allow us and other agencies to quickly push out notifications as situations develop and change,” said Buffin. “Do yourself and your family a favor and download the app and follow us on Facebook so you are prepared for the next emergency situation.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 September 2026 at 1:39 pm
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 28th annual business awards.
Nominations are due by Sept. 14 and can entered on a Google Form (click here).
The categories include:
Business of the Year – This award is presented to a business that has experienced significant overall achievements/success throughout the year. (Last year’s winner: Velocitii in Medina.)
Lifetime Achievement – This award is presented to an individual with a long-term record of outstanding business achievements. (Rita Zambito received the award in 2025.)
Phoenix Award – This award is presented to an organization or business that has successfully adapted or re-used an existing facility. (Newell Lounge/Shirt Factory in Medina won the award last year.)
New Business of the Year – This award is presented to a business or organization that has opened in the past year. (Homestead Pest Control in Albion won last year.)
Community Service Award – This award is presented to a business, organization or individual that has provided meaningful contributions to the community in either professional or non-professional spheres. (Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern won in 2025.)
Agricultural Business of the Year – This award is presented to an agricultural business that has experienced significant overall achievements/success throughout the year. (RLW Cattle in Lyndonville won the award in 2025.)
Small Business of the Year – This award is presented to a small business that has experienced significant achievements/success throughout the year. (Bentley Brothers in Albion won last year.)
Hidden Gem –This award is presented to a business that has made a positive contribution to tourism in Orleans County. (Hurd Orchards in Holley won the honor in 2025.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 September 2026 at 11:15 am
ALBION – Two people were arraigned in Orleans County Court on Wednesday for felony drug possession and weapons charges.
Daniel Busch, 34, and Kayli Burrows, 28, both of Albion, were arraigned on two different indictments.
They both face charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree after being charged on April 30 for allegedly having 690 milligrams of cocaine as well as scales and baggies.
In a separate indictment, they face criminal possession of a weapon in the third and fourth degrees, as well as criminal possession of a controlled in the third degree allegedly for having on Sept. 14, 2025 a loaded handgun and 14-round large capacity magazine. Busch faces an additional charge of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree due to a prior conviction.
Both have been released on their own recognizance with conditions that they attend UConnectCare appointments and not break the law.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 September 2026 at 9:34 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Construction has started on a new pedestrian bridge in Medina that will cross the Oak Orchard Creek.
RJT Construction Services in Rochester is the contractor for the project on Maple Ridge Road (Route 31A) in Medina. This area also will get about 2,000 feet of new sidewalks on the north side of the road.
The Medina Village Board on March 23 approved the $837,448 bid by RJT Construction Services to install the bridge and sidewalks. RJT was the lowest of four bidders when the bids were opened on Feb. 18.
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. (In this photo, the Mariachi de Oro Mexican restaurant is shown in the background.)
The new bridge and sidewalks have been several years in the waiting. 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 ($55,000), Town of Shelby ($130,000) and Orleans County ($97,500).
In addition to the construction bid, the village has approved paying Barton & Loguidice $166,300 for construction services and inspections.
Crosby’s is the first business west side of the creek on the north side, near the approach to the new bridge.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 September 2026 at 8:13 am
The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF-1 tornado, with estimated winds of 105 miles per hour, hit East Shelby on Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service reported on Thursday.
Tornados from the powerful Wednesday evening storms also hit in Olcott, Niagara County, and in Alexander, Genesee County.
The East Shelby tornado started at 6:45 and ended at 6:47 p.m. The tornado had a path length of 1.2 miles and a path width of 200 yards.
This supercell thunderstorm snapped multiple trees with significant damage to trees across several residences, but only minor structural damage, the Weather Service said.
The agency said a severe supercell thunderstorm moved into western Orleans County, circulation tightened and a tornado touched down in a field east of Bigford Road and south of Martin Road.
“Several trees were toppled on the edges of this field before the tornado crossed over East Shelby Road causing significant tree damage across several residences on the east side of the road, along with minor structural damage to a home,” the Weather Service said. “The tornado then continued eastward through a forested area with numerous trees uprooted and few snapped. The tornado then lifted over an open field west of Townline Road.”
• Olcott tornado – The National Weather Service confirmed tornados in the hamlet of Olcott from 6:07 to 6:08 p.m., with a path length of 0.67 mile, with a maximum path width of 70 wards. The estimated wind speed was 105 miles per hour.
“A supercell thunderstorm, that previously produced a waterspout moved onshore producing damage from the shoreline inland.”
• Alexander tornado – The east Alexander tornado last six minutes, from 7:29 to 7:35 p.m. It had a path length of 3.78 miles and a width of 150 yards with maximum wind speeds of 110 miles per hour. It flattened a corn field and snapped multiple trees.
There were also confirmed tornados in Waterloo and Fayette in Seneca County in the Finger Lakes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 September 2026 at 8:07 pm
‘The president should stop the political games, get back to the negotiation table, and make a deal that lowers costs for New York families.’
File photo by Tom Rivers: Kayakers were out on Lake Ontario during a sunset on Aug. 4, 2018 in Barker.
Another bill will soon be introduced in Congress about the official name for Lake Ontario, as recognized by the federal government.
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, announced she will be presenting legislation to nullify President Donald Trump’s executive order from a week ago that called for Lake Ontario to now be known as “Lake America.”
Trump’s executive order gave the Interior Department 30 days to update the federal Geographic Names Information System. It also directs federal agencies to use the new name on maps, contracts, documents and other communications.
“President Trump’s inane executive order is a weak attempt to distract from the fact that the Trump administration has raised costs on hardworking families, caused gas prices to skyrocket, and cut the programs that Americans rely on to get healthcare and put food on the table,” Gillibrand said in a news release. “Instead of renaming Great Lakes for no good reason, the president should stop the political games, get back to the negotiation table, and make a deal that lowers costs for New York families. I am proud to announce this legislation to restore Lake Ontario’s original name, and I look forward to getting it passed.”
Congressman Joe Morelle, a Democrat from Rochester, introduced legislation in the House of Representatives on Monday to ban the name change to Lake America.
A Florida congressman also introduced legislation in the House to change Lake Ontario’s name to “Lake America.” Jimmy Patronis Jr., a Republican, represents Florida’s 1st congressional district in the Western Panhandle.
“President Trump put America back on the map. Now we’re putting America on Lake Ontario,” Congressman Patronis stated in a press release. “Canada can call it whatever they want, but here in America, I say we call it Lake America.”
Morelle, in a statement today, said the naming controversy has created uncertainty for businesses.
“Communities like ours are asking Washington to focus on the challenges that actually affect people’s lives,” Morelle said. “Here in Rochester, we’ll keep calling it Lake Ontario. And in Congress, I’m working with my colleagues to make sure it stays that way.”
Gillibrand said she will introduce a bill in the next Senate working period that would prevent the executive branch from renaming any of the five Great Lakes. It would also nullify and prohibit the implementation and use of funds for the executive order that renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Gillibrand also announced legislation to repeal all tariffs levied under Section 338 of the Tariff Act and refund Americans for all duties paid under this authority. This includes President Trump’s most recent 50% tariffs on Canada, which Gillibrand said will raise prices for New York families and hurt the local economy.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 September 2026 at 6:41 pm
145 remaining without electricity; Yates has most without power
Photos by Tom Rivers
SHELBY – Crews work to restore power to a home on Oak Street in Shelby at about 6 p.m. The crew had the power back on and was headed to its next assignment.
During the peak of Wednesday’s power outages, there were 2,150 National Grid customers in Orleans County without electricity.
As of 6:29 p.m. today, there were 155 waiting for electricity to be restored. National Grid reports those remaining outages by municipality include: 38 in Barre, 4 in Clarendon, 1 in village of Medina, 24 in Ridgeway, 24 in Shelby, and 54 in Yates.
There were two different crews working in Shelby near the intersection of Chestnut Street and Oak Street. The Town of Shelby Highway Department also was busy in this neighborhood today cleaning up fallen branches.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 3 September 2026 at 9:29 am
Initiative showcases work by 39 artists at multiple sites
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Cora Goyette, left, and Bea Young of Medina inspect an exhibit on the bank of the Erie Canal in State Street Park created by Korean artist Anne Duk Hee Jordan for the Medina Triennial.
MEDINA – As the Medina Triennial goes into its final week, executive and creative director Kari Conte reflects with immense gratitude on the artists, partners, supporters, volunteers, residents and visitors who have brought the ambitious project to life.
The first time such an event has taken place in a small town, the Medina Triennial has brought thousands of visitors to Medina since the opening June 8. It’s final day is Sept. 7, Labor Day.
At the heart of the Medina Triennia is a vital commitment to accessibility, said Conte. The exhibition is free and open to everyone.
“We believe access to art should not depend on the ability to purchase a ticket,” Conte said. “Keeping the Triennial free allows people to visit spontaneously, return with friends and family, encounter new ideas and experience contemporary art within Medina’s distinctive cultural, architectural and ecological landscape.”
During the past three months, the Triennial has welcomed guests from 32 states and several foreign countries to experience more than 100 artworks by 39 artists across sites throughout the village. The response from critics and visitors alike has affirmed our belief that ambitious contemporary art can thrive outside usual cultural centers and create meaningful connections across generations and ideas, according to Conte.
In a recent Hyperallergic review, “Art as Infrastructure at the Medina Triennial,” Sue Reisman described the Triennial as “sprawling yet rigorously organized” and “beautifully curated,” highlighting the exhibition’s engagement with the systems that sustain our shared lives, Conte shared.
The theme of the Triennial is “All That Sustains Us.”
Also, to sustain the Medina Triennial and assure its return in three years as a free event, donations are imperative, Conte stressed. Donors may log on the Medina Triennial website and choose to make a one-time donation or monthly donations.
In addition, the Triennial may be supported by purchasing one of several limited edition artistic items.
Conte also shared a letter from former Medina resident Burton Thomas, who wrote, “Medina is my hometown, and it was a wonderful place to be as a kid. I returned today to visit the Medina Triennial, a truly wonderful world-class art exhibition. I have never been prouder of this charming village, and I am grateful to the organizers and curators of this wonderful exhibition. I could have spent several days viewing the beautiful and thought-provoking works of so many amazing artists. If you value art, history and the environment, you must experience the Triennial. My only regret is I did not visit it more this summer.”
The final weekend of the Medina Triennial features a talk by Buffalo-based artist Matt Kenyon at 4 p.m. Saturday; a curatorial tour with Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo at 2 p.m. Sunday in the historic Medina High School on Catherine St.; a conversation on James Beckett’s A Good Wall with Nicholas Bruscia, assistant professor of architecture at the University of Buffalo, at 4 p.m. Sunday on the front lawn of Medina High School; and a walk and talk with artists Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens at 2 p.m. Monday in Rotary Park on Main Street.
All 10 exhibition sites will be open from noon to 6 p.m. the last weekend, Thursday through Labor Day, including the YMCA.
Conte’s invitation is, “We hope you will join us during this final week and continue to be part of what comes next.”
The Triennial is scheduled to return to Medina in three years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 September 2026 at 8:40 am
MEDINA – The Medina emergency food pantry will be closed today due to flooding in the basement.
“We have some water in the food pantry area as well as other parts of the church basement,” said Michelle Capstick of the food pantry. “All the food is safe but the floors are wet.”
The food pantry is at St. Peter Lutheran Church on West Avenue. The pantry is usually open on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon.
Medina was hit with two powerful storms on Wednesday, in the morning and then the evening that are requiring some cleanup at the church.
Severe storms brought heavy water, damaging winds throughout county
Photo courtesy of Orleans County Emergency Management Office: A car is stuck in the flood at Medina Central School on Wednesday night.
Press Release, Orleans County Emergency Management Agency
ALBION – Orleans County was struck by two separate rounds of severe weather on Wednesday, resulting in widespread power outages, flooded roadways, downed trees and power lines, and storm damage in every town and village in the county.
Ground across most of the county was already saturated prior to Wednesday morning’s rain event. The morning storms brought heavy rain and damaging winds, downing trees and power lines across the county.
The rainfall pushed many small streams and ditches beyond their banks or to near capacity and produced widespread power outages affecting approximately 2,150 National Grid customers. Restoration work continued through the day, but 476 of those customers were still without power when the second round of storms arrived Wednesday evening.
A second, more significant storm system moved through the county Wednesday evening, bringing additional heavy rainfall and strong winds. The evening storms produced additional downed trees and power lines, renewed flooding of roadways, and flooded basements across the county.
Radar data indicates a possible tornado touched down in the Town of Shelby, south of Route 31A in the area of Salt Works Road and Martin Road. The Orleans County Emergency Management Office will work with the National Weather Service on Thursday to confirm whether a tornado occurred.
Rainfall:
The New York State Mesonet station at the Orleans County Fairgrounds recorded 3 inches of rain over the course of the day. Storm totals across the county generally ranged from 2 to 3 inches, with radar estimates as high as 3.5 inches in the heaviest areas by 10:25 p.m. Wednesday.
Orleans County remains under a Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service in Buffalo, currently in effect until 11:15 a.m. Thursday. All remaining severe thunderstorm and tornado watches and warnings for the county have expired or been cancelled.
Power Outages and Response:
The evening storm caused a new wave of outages. At its peak, National Grid reported 2,239 customers without power.
While no town or village escaped the storms’ impact, the bulk of the damage and response work has been concentrated on the west side of the county and in the Towns of Albion and Gaines. County and town highway crews and fire departments continue to work throughout the county on debris removal, monitoring flooded roadways, traffic control at downed power lines, and pumping of flooded basements.
The Village of Medina has been hit the hardest by flooding. The Medina Fire Department is being assisted by the Orleans County Emergency Management Office, the Village of Medina Department of Public Works, the Murray Joint Fire District, the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company, and the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company, all of whom are on scene pumping flood waters from basements.
“We want to thank the Orleans County 9-1-1 Communications Center for their efforts today. Dispatchers were at times inundated with calls and handled the volume professionally throughout both events,” said Justin Niederhofer, Orleans County Director of Emergency Management and County Fire Coordinator. “National Grid has also been vital to this response. Despite the call volume and the weather conditions, their crews responded as quickly as possible to make scenes safe so our first responders could do their work. Getting them to downed lines quickly allowed our highway and fire crews to clear those roads and reopen them, which kept routes available for responding to other emergencies across the county. They continue to work to restore power.”
The Emergency Management Office expects to compile accurate totals of incidents, damage, and response activity by the end of the week, once reports have been gathered from the 9-1-1 Communications Center and the county’s fire agencies.
Public Safety Reminders:
Residents are reminded to:
Never drive through flooded roadways. Turn around, don’t drown. Water depth and road condition cannot be judged from a vehicle.
Treat every downed power line as live. Stay away and report it to National Grid at 1-800-867-5222, or call 9-1-1 if it presents an immediate hazard.
Report outages to National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 or through the National Grid outage map.
Use generators safely. Operate generators outdoors only, well away from windows and doors, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Reserve 9-1-1 for emergencies. Non-emergency questions should be directed to the appropriate town or village office, or to the Emergency Management Office during business hours
Karen Hudomint sent these photos of a flooded Culvert Road by the Canal Culvert in the town of Ridgeway. This is the only spot where motorists can drive under the Erie Canal –when the tunnel isn’t flooded.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 September 2026 at 6:36 pm
A tornado warning is in effect for Orleans, Niagara and Genesee counties until 7 p.m.
The National Weather Service said the affected areas include east central Niagara County, Orleans County and northwestern Genesee County.
“At 6:28 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Middleport, or near Medina, moving southeast at 35 mph,” the Weather Service said.
Locations impacted include Medina, Albion, Middleport, Oakfield, Holley, Ridgeway, Shelby, Clarendon, Gaines and Alabama.
“Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter,” the Weather Service said. “Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.”
