Editor:

I am recommending Deborah Padoleski for Mayor of Medina. I’ve known Deb since Fourth Grade and we worked together at Super Duper right out of High School – me in Produce and she in the Deli.

If one wants to acquire people skills quickly, definitely work a retail or service job. Deb nailed it and taught me a few things along the way.

Later, her 41 years of experience in the Village Clerk’s Office totally prepared her to be our Mayor.

Intrinsically honest, experienced, people-oriented, and humble describes Deb perfectly.

I also believe any of Mark Prawel, Dean Bellack and Jeff Wagner deserve your votes for Village Trustee. All of them are disciplined critical thinkers and doers.

I co-own a business on Main Street and I know that our Business District is the envy of small towns for miles around.

But as one travels outward into Medina’s neighborhoods, there is not so much to envy. As a Realtor, I can see the tax burden wearing on our village.

Over the past several years, there has been much talk, but very little results from the mayor’s office. It’s time to change.

There comes a time for every organization where a “Great Disruption” is needed to break the chains of status quo. I believe that time for Medina is now.

While serving on the MCSD Board of Education, I often reminded myself of that famous saying, “Good is the enemy of Great.” Most recently we’ve heard it in reference to the Buffalo Bills. It means that we sometimes get so comfortable being good, that we stop striving to be great.

This is a transformational election for Medina. It is very important to choose wisely on March 18th.

It isn’t high school student council. This is real life and real consequences.

Not just for us, but for our heirs and beyond. It’s our legacy we are voting on.

Let’s get the right people in place to bring a culture of discipline and accomplishment to Medina government. It’s time to break free of the same old visionless bureaucracy.

It’s time for Medina to be Great!

Deborah Padoleski for Mayor of Medina.

David Sevenski

Medina

Editor:

As Medina residents who have raised a family in this community, we care deeply about the direction our village takes and the kind of leadership guiding it. In a small community like Medina, leadership is measured not only by words but by actions. Over the past several years, Mayor Marguerite Sherman has demonstrated both.

She has consistently shown a commitment to preserving the things we value most about Medina while also encouraging thoughtful progress and new ideas. Medina has a proud history and a strong sense of community. Mayor Sherman understands that protecting that character is important, but she also recognizes that communities must continue to move forward. What stands out to us is her ability to balance those priorities. She respects Medina’s past while working to position the village for a stronger future.

Another quality that deserves recognition is her understanding of the financial pressures residents face. Taxes are a real concern for many families, and Mayor Sherman has made it clear that reducing the burden on taxpayers matters. At the same time, she has actively pursued grant opportunities and outside funding for projects that benefit the community without placing additional strain on residents. That approach shows both responsibility and creativity.

We also know Marguerite as an outstanding schoolteacher and a dedicated advocate for students and families. Her background in education has shaped her ability to listen, empathize, and problem solve—qualities that translate directly into her work as mayor. She has always put people first, and those who worked with her in the school community know how deeply she cares about helping others succeed. That same commitment is evident in how she leads our village.

Leadership also means having a clear plan and the experience to carry it out. In this election, it seems clear that there is one candidate who has both a vision for Medina and the track record to back it up.

For these reasons, we encourage our fellow residents to support the re-election of Mayor Marguerite Sherman.

David and Melissa Cotter

Medina

Editor:

I am writing this letter in support of Debbie Padoleski for mayor of the Village of Medina. I have known Debbie for over 45 years and worked with her on a day-to-day basis for 25 of those years. She has been totally committed to her work and spent 41 years in service to Medina.

Debbie has a complete understanding of the functions and management of Medina. She has spent much time on research before making decisions and recommendations. I don’t know anyone that would have a better understanding for the best outcome for Medina. Debbie also has the best knowledge of the finances and taxes in Medina.

I encourage your support in electing the best-qualified candidate: Debbie Padoleski.

Thank you,

Edward Houseknecht

Retired DPW superintendent for Medina

Editor:

On March 18th, Medina residents will elect a mayor and two village trustees. Medina is at a crossroads. Taxpayers are overburdened by increasing costs spread across a shrinking tax base.

As a village taxpayer and Shelby town board member, I am glad there are choices in this election. The range of candidates this year gives voters the chance to consider the different strengths each person would bring to the village.

Serving on Shelby’s town board, I know how important it is to have people with different opinions and skill sets in public service. We need people with knowledge of infrastructure and technical systems. We need people with finance experience who can understand municipal budgeting practices, interpret the numbers correctly, and make disciplined decisions that control costs and protect taxpayers over the long term.

We also need people who understand professional workplace standards and have a proven ability to lead, train, and manage staff. Those elected next week must be ready to step in at once and make budget and operational decisions that safeguard the village’s financial future.

Social media has been loud during this election. Much of it has not been helpful or productive. Differences in perspective are part of any strong board. They force a closer look at the facts, the costs, and the long-term impact of each decision.

Public service will always involve differences of opinion. Moving forward, I hope officials and residents alike can publicly exchange ideas respectfully, even when we disagree.

If you have been unable to attend or watch the village meetings online, I hope you research the candidates. Learn what each person brings to the table.

This election is critical. It calls for voters to look past personal likes and dislikes and focus on who is prepared to make sound decisions that will impact residents for the next 5-10 years.

Please vote on March 18th from 12 noon to 9 p.m. Make your voice heard. Medina’s future depends on it.

Sincerely,

Linda Limina

Medina

Photo courtesy of Heather Colella: Firefighters remove a tree from a road in Clarendon.

Editor:

I wanted to share a quick community shout-out after an incident tonight that really impressed me.

With the high winds we have been having, I was at home cooking dinner when I heard a tree come crashing down. At first I did not think much of it, but after a minute I realized it sounded like it may have fallen across the road. Our driveway is several hundred feet long, so I drove down to check, and sure enough, a tree had fallen and was blocking the roadway.

I immediately called 911. By the time I got back to the house, grabbed our truck with the emergency light, and headed back with cones, police were already on scene. The fire department arrived right after, and the entire area was cleared in about 22 minutes from the time I first contacted the 911 center.

It was honestly impressive to watch. Everyone moved with purpose, worked together seamlessly, and had the road reopened in no time. It looked like a pit crew in action—everyone had a job, and they handled it quickly, safely, and professionally.

In a time when people often only hear complaints, I thought this deserved recognition. I just want to publicly acknowledge the excellent response and teamwork from the local emergency crews.

Thank you,

Heather Colella

Clarendon

Editor:

I am writing to share why I have decided to run for Village of Albion Trustee.

Albion is more than just the place I live it is the community that helped shape who I am. I graduated from Albion High School, I work in the village, I coach and volunteer in the village, and most importantly, I am raising my family here. Like many residents, I care deeply about the future of our village and the people who call it home.

I chose to run because I believe our community deserves leadership that is present, engaged, and respectful to everyone. Local government should be approachable, transparent, and focused on listening to the people it serves. Everyone in our village deserves to feel heard and valued, regardless of their background, opinions, or circumstances.

Through my work as the Executive Director of a nonprofit organization that assists individuals and families in need, I am acutely aware of many of the systemic challenges that people in our community face. That experience has shaped my perspective and reinforced the importance of approaching decisions with compassion, understanding, and a focus on the real lives affected by those decisions. I believe bringing a person-centered viewpoint to the board is essential in ensuring that policies and decisions reflect the needs of the people we serve.

I also strongly believe that elected officials work for the residents of the community, and that input from those residents should be welcomed and encouraged. Some of the best ideas and solutions come directly from the people who live, work, and raise their families here. Creating space for respectful dialogue and community engagement is something I view as a key responsibility of local leadership.

If elected, I will do my best to represent all residents with fairness and integrity. I will show up, listen thoughtfully, and work collaboratively with fellow board members, village staff, and community partners. While we may not always agree on every issue, we can still treat one another with respect and work together toward solutions that benefit the entire community.

Albion has always been a place where people care about their neighbors and take pride in where they live. I believe that by working together, we can continue building a village that residents feel proud to call home and that future generations will want to be part of.

I am not asking for support simply because people know me. I am asking for the opportunity to serve because I believe in this community and in the importance of thoughtful, respectful leadership.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my perspective.

Sincerely,

Jami Allport

Candidate for Village of Albion Trustee

Editor:

If you have children attending the Albion Central School district, live in the Albion area, a neighbor, or if you are another community stakeholder, please attend the meeting in regards to the proposed  327 East Avenue Dollar General store site on Thursday (March 12) at 5 p.m. at the Albion Village Hall.

There are very real concerns about student and public safety at this site as well as declining quality of life issues it will bring.

The first concern is that of students and others jaywalking back and forth on Route 31 to shop at the store regardless if there is a  school crossing guard available. There are many after-school, after-dark activities (i.e. football games) which will make crossing The Avenue even more dangerous.

Secondly, truck deliveries with tractor trailers, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, will be attempting to turn in or out of the store, which will block traffic as they do so. This will not only cause traffic backups, but will also block emergency vehicles. Additionally, there will  be various delivery trucks in and out of the store throughout the day. The aforementioned issues will be further exacerbated during after-school events, many taking place during the evening hours.

Quality of life issues include the creation of food deserts, lost tax revenue, and the lowering of property values. Dollar stores cut into nearby grocery stores’ profits, forcing them to close a few years later, creating a food desert.

Once closed, tax revenue from the former grocery store will be lost. The presence of the dollar store and the lost grocery store will, in turn, drive down neighboring property values.

Please come to the Albion Village Hall on Thursday, at 5 p.m. if these issues concern you or if you have your own concerns.

Sincerely,

Annette M. Piano

Albion, affected resident of East Avenue

Editor:

There is an old adage “Don’t swap horses in midstream.” And no, I no longer pay taxes in Medina, but have lived in Orleans County for over 60 years, paid taxes in Medina for 40 years. I read minutes and the Hub.

Marguerite Sherman has been a very active and progressive member of this village. She has done her research and has moved Medina forward. It’s time to let here finish her tasks and move forward. You need someone who listens to your concerns and does not dismiss them or put them off.

We are assured of two things in life….death and taxes. Do not be fooled, taxes rarely decrease.

Jeanne Crane

Carlton

Editor:

Several years back, I got voluntarily involved in Medina government as a member of Mayor Sidari’s Visionary Committee with some wonderful people I still consider friends, even though we didn’t always agree.

Our charge was to think about Medina’s future — what it could become — we were not asked to consider anything specific. One of the weaknesses we identified was the state of the village sidewalks, and I had several disagreements with one of the trustees at the time over what Medina should do about fixing them.

Marguerite Sherman is the first village official I am aware of to really take the concerns we expressed then seriously — spurred on by the very helpful donations and efforts of Bob Sanderson and his group. Aside from making Medina a more walkable community — a laudable goal in itself — this is a basic safety problem that is in dire need of a solution.

If you walk around the village as I do, you will soon see the issue — because current code puts the onus on the homeowner to finance new sidewalks, the result is a patchwork of good and bad sections like a mouth missing numerous teeth.

There are students walking to school and people without cars who are forced to navigate huge heaves of concrete created by the roots of trees planted by the village. Moreover, there are a number of people in the village who have to travel by wheelchair or scooter who are forced to ride in the street because the sidewalks are so uneven.

As a member of the village Planning Board, I look forward to taking up Mayor Sherman’s proposal to find a more effective code for sidewalk maintenance if and when it comes before us.

And I wholeheartedly support her re-election as mayor. Sherman has the experience and integrity necessary for the village to survive its current challenges and create a bright future for all of its residents.

Richard Moss

Medina

Editor:

I am writing to ask for the support of Village of Medina residents as I run to be their mayor.   This is a community I care deeply about and a position I believe I am well equipped to continue in.

My education background is in Education from SUNY Geneseo. Following my Bachelor’s Degree, I received a Master’s in Education from Buffalo State University. Like many of you, I started my professional career at Darien Lake, where I worked as an admissions manager.  Any role in guest relations gives a unique look at organization, problem solving, and customer service, which quickly allowed for my desire to help others take off.

For over three decades, I have had the privilege of teaching in the Medina Central School District, serving 31 years as an educator and as Department Chair of the Special Education Department. During that time, I helped guide students, families, and fellow educators, navigate a learning environment where every child could thrive. It is truly heart-warming to see former students working and living in our community, knowing that I may have had a hand in assisting them in their personal success.

Beyond the classroom, I have been deeply involved in our community. I served as past President of the Mustang Sports Boosters, and have been a committed member of Holy Trinity Parish, teaching religious education and serving as a reader and eucharistic minister.

The Village of Medina means the world to me. When the opportunity came to serve on the Village Planning Board and subsequently run for a Village Trustee, I took it on. Then two years ago, I ran for mayor, a position I do not take lightly. These roles allowed me to work directly on issues that matter most to our residents, from responsible planning and spending, to ensuring a high quality of life for all.

As a parent of four children who were raised in the Medina Central School District, I understand firsthand the importance of supporting our schools, families, and youth programs. My husband and I have actively supported the arts, music, boy scouts, and sports programs in Medina. We continue to support our local businesses and events.

 My lifelong commitment to Medina—through education, service, and active participation—drives my desire to continue working for the benefit of our community.

Progress and change rarely happen as quickly as we would like. I believe we can address affordability, without cutting essential services. To do that, we must continue working with town, county, and state officials to find ways to deliver services to taxpayers more efficiently and cost-effectively. We should continue to aggressively pursue grants and other funding streams that help to further remove the burden from taxpayers. While the Village Board may not agree on every issue, we must remain committed to working together to move our community forward.

I respectfully ask for your support as we work together to ensure that Medina remains a vibrant, welcoming, and thriving place to live, learn, and grow.

Sincerely,

Marguerite Sherman

Candidate for Village of Medina Mayor

Editor:

My name is Mark Prawel and I am running for reelection for a second term as Medina Village Trustee. I am a lifelong village resident and have owned and/or managed a small business in the village for the better part of 35 years. I also am a former law enforcement officer that spent sixteen years working for the Village of Medina Police Department.

Prior to being elected, I heard from my customers for years regarding the direction of the village, questionable decisions by previous boards, and how the costs of living here were beginning to become unsustainable.

I care very deeply about  Medina, always have and always will. This is where I grew up, where I went to school, where I raised my family, and where I have worked my whole life. I shared in the worries of the direction of the Village and I wanted to help fix it; that is why I ran two years ago and that is why I have decided to run for a second term.

In the last two years, especially in the last few months, I believe the Village Board has finally been making the right steps towards a better future for Medina and making responsible decisions for our residents. But, for far too long, the “Bully Mentality” has been accepted, and even sometimes encouraged, across the entire village government as the way to operate. This is not okay and should not be tolerated. I aim to create a better, healthier work environment for all village employees.

In recent months, some have even chosen to question my devotion to Public Safety. I believe my track record of 30+ years of serving the public faithfully, including 16 great years here in Medina, speaks for itself. My passion for serving this community and pushing for a safe and responsible Medina hasn’t diminished one bit and any assertion otherwise is just flat out false.

The public safety of this village is much more than one department, one piece of equipment, or one building. It encompasses all facets of us as a village. In order for this to be the best version of Medina, we need to continue to find the best ways to be responsible and equal in spending and attention for all of our village departments without bankrupting our residents. I have always been welcoming of any village resident to come speak with me directly regarding any issue or idea that they may have and that will never change.

I would also like to express my support for Debbie Padoleski for Mayor and Jeff Wagner for Trustee. For many years I have had the pleasure of witnessing firsthand Debbie’s hard work and dedication for this village, whether it be as our Clerk or Trustee. She possesses all the necessary knowledge, experience, and mindset necessary to be our Mayor. Jeff also would be a great asset to this Village as a trustee and I can personally attest to his great business mindset and his love for this community. We are all united in our commitment to putting the Medina taxpayers first and finding the best, most responsible way to keep moving forward.

I ask all Medina Voters to please come out and vote on March 18th and hope you chose to support Padoleski for Mayor and Prawel and Wagner for Trustee. Thank you.

Mark Prawel

Village of Medina

Editor:

I’m writing this letter of support for my friend and (retired) colleague Marguerite Sherman, who is the current mayor of Medina and is now seeking another term.

I’ve known Marguerite as a teaching colleague for the entirety of my (27-year) career. I also know her as a friend, and I know her to be a person invested in what is going on locally, be it community events, school events, or local politics.

Marguerite Sherman has always had a presence. In all of these arenas, she is actively involved, caring, intelligent, and sincere. I have learned so much from the example she has consistently set.

She has taught me that in everything, there is one constant: we are all neighbors. We have to find a way to live and work together. Over the years, there is one sentence I have heard her say again and again: “We’ve got this.” And she always says it with a smile. She means it, and she will be right there alongside you, working to make it happen. From one step to the next, she’s done her homework, whether through deep reading, meeting with various stakeholders, or doing the labor herself.

Marguerite Sherman has also taught me that labels do not define a person. In a village and in a town, there’s no such thing as a Democrat or a Republican. Everyone is just a neighbor. What defines someone as worthy of leadership in public office is their character, honesty, intelligence, work ethic, faith, perseverance, humility, generosity, and empathy. Marguerite Sherman embodies all these qualities.

She puts herself last. She puts her constituents— all of whom she treats as neighbors— first. Over the years, I’ve watched her give so much of her time, energy, and care to Medina, a community she loves. She doesn’t do it for power or status. When she starts something, she wants to see it through and is willing to keep working to help long-term goals become a reality.

She signs up for thankless jobs all the time. At the school, there were many volunteer jobs she did behind the scenes that were unknown to most people. She didn’t want money or recognition. She just cared and wanted to make her school community the best it could be. With quiet dedication and hours of labor behind the scenes, the endeavors she led and assisted were better because she was there.

I’ve seen her bring this same ethic to the work she does now as Mayor of Medina and as an active member of Medina and Orleans County, regularly attending other entities’ meetings, like the Shelby town board meetings. She is there to listen and truly hear what the people around her care about and value.

It’s why when questions about water, shared services, or aging infrastructure come up, I know she will be part of the solution. She understands what surrounding communities care about and works well with people across different entities and across party lines.

No one running for public office can magically solve all the issues facing our villages and towns. But we need people who do more than grandstand. We need people who are willing to work together to accomplish goals.

When I see a picture in the Hub of the Village of Medina Mayor sitting down with people from Ridgeway and Shelby, it restores my faith in what we have here in Medina: the ability to work together to solve things. Marguerite Sherman will never outshout anyone. She will smile, take notes, and listen. Patience and behind-the-scenes labor rarely gets the headline, yet these virtues are sorely lacking in the world today.

When I see a person like Marguerite Sherman running for office once again, I know it is because she truly wants to help the village be the very best that it can be. It is my honor to give Marguerite Sherman this character reference and to endorse her candidacy as Mayor of Medina.

Respectfully,

Karen Jones

Medina

Editor:

Recently, political consultant, James Carville, displayed obvious symptoms of Trump Derangement Syndrome and admitted he has the malady. His words: “I want to hate him more,” exposed not only his anger but his acute loathing.

His profane and utterly disgusting rant very accurately confirms that when hatred this intense threatens the well being of the hater, it has become pathological.

In his position as a political influencer, he has the responsibility to maintain composure and decorum, not only for his audience but for his party – in this case the Democrats. His words arose as a significant hypocrisy because his own failure to display diplomacy weakened his attack on Trump.

He then beckoned people who were listening to his tirade to pray to God to intensify their hatred to the point where “…we can’t see straight.” Imagine praying to God with a heart laden with hatred. It opposes the very foundation of who God is – a God who so loved the world, he gave his only begotten Son to die for our sins.

His insults against Trump continued as he rattled on his putrid condemnations against our President. He displayed a false consensus that his Democratic Party agreed with everything that poured out of his vile mouth; at one point stating: “This is what we believe.”

This is the same idiot that told everyone before the 2024 election that Harris would be the winner. In 2025 he declared his support for AOC if she won the Democratic nomination.  I wonder if he still maintains this claim as she made a fool of herself on the world stage in Munich, displaying both incompetence and inexperience. Her gaffes and pauses exposed her vulnerability. Undoubtedly, her credibility was obviously questioned after her ignorance on foreign policy.

Both Conservative analysts and social media users rapidly called out Carville’s unhinged behavior. His despicable and combative delivery was indicative of extremism within the Democratic old guard.

Mary Mager

Fairport, formerly of Albion

Editor:

In a democracy the government derives its just powers with the consent of the people, as stated in our Declaration of Independence. One of the ways our Founding Fathers codified this principle is by giving our elected representatives the authority to declare war in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

President Trump violated U.S. law and the Constitution by starting a war with Iran without any consultation with Congress let alone a declaration of war.

Furthermore, Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the U.S. The U.S. intelligence officers assessed that there was no imminent threat from Iran. The International Atomic Energy Agency says there is no evidence Iran has an active plan for creating nuclear weapons and the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessed that if Iran tries to build an intercontinental ballistic missile it will take them at least ten years.

Clearly, there was time for negotiation and other measures, like economic sanctions, short of war. Mr. Trump unilaterally started this war with no clear justification, and no clear goals, stating it was to prevent them from obtaining a nuclear weapon and later that it was for regime change.

Mr. Trump did not consult our allies, and he is violating the United Nation’s Charter. These actions have alienated us from our friends, leaving us isolated. Finally, Mr. Trump is a profiteer. After U.S. forces risked their lives to extract Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Mr. Trump announced he controls the oil and the money from that oil. There is no reason to doubt that Mr. Trump started this war for his personal benefit.

Representatives Claudia Tenney and Nick Langworthy lavishly praise Mr. Trump, a convicted felon and sexual predator, for starting this war. Mr. Trump’s reckless illegal actions and Republican’s willing embrace of his actions threaten American lives. I pray our service men and women are not harmed, but I fear for their safety.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Deborah Padoleski’s tenure as clerk-treasurer demonstrates deep institutional knowledge of village operations. She has proven her fiscal responsibility and budget management through her experience in the clerk’s office.

Her understanding of municipal regulations, procedures, and legal requirements gives her a heads up for the mayoral position along with her track record of maintaining accurate records and ensuring transparency.

She has exhibited integrity and ethical standards in public service especially with her problem-solving abilities during challenging situations.

Debbie has exhibited a commitment to the community’s welfare through her collaborative approach to working with other officials and departments.

Debbie has the ability to make difficult decisions under pressure especially through her experience in balancing competing community needs.

Debbie has a vision for the village’s future and shown her accessibility and willingness to listen to constituents.

As I have stated previously, I worked with her for 31 years and her work ethic, dedication and leadership during our 31 years working together showed her skills as clerk-treasurer translate directly to mayoral responsibilities.

If you live in the Village of Medina be sure to vote on March 18 for Deborah Padoleski for Medina’s next mayor.

Dawn Meland

Medina