Photos by Ginny Kropf: Photographer Alexandra Peracciny is planning a Community Showcase for Amateur Photographers at the new studio she recently opened at 426 Main St. in Medina.

MEDINA – Photography has been a passion for Alexandra Peracciny since she was 10. Along with a 30-year career teaching French and Spanish at Medina High School, Peracciny has maintained her interest in photography.

“I loved the idea of preserving memories,” Peracciny said. “That was a big attraction for me. In those days, film was a challenge and I love challenges and capturing a good image, especially on film.”

She received her first professional camera at the age of 16. She graduated from Royalton-Hartland Central School, and after getting her certification to teach, she went back and got certified in photography. She began taking professional portraits in 2007, and in 2018  opened her first studio above The Booke Shoppe in the building that was owned by her parents. When they sold the building, in 2024 she moved above Blissett’s. This spring a storefront became available at 426 Main St., and she took advantage of the opportunity.

Alexandra Peracciny stands in her new studio at 426 Main St., Medina. The new space allows her to have a studio, classroom and retail store.

Her new location allows her space for a studio, the availability to offer classes and have a retail store, where she has a selection of Medina-themed items, pictures and gifts.

It has also provided space for Peracciny to host a Community Photography Exhibition, showcasing works of 15 local amateurs. It is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 23, and correlates to the Medina Triennial’s theme, “All that Sustains Us.”

The exhibit is free to the public and light refreshments will be available. More than 50 photographs will be featured and will remain on display until Labor Day.

Regular hours of the studio are 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 12 to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

“I wanted to do something special for the Triennial,” Peracciny said. “I wanted to join in their theme, and I hope to make it an annual event.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Boaters head west on the Erie Canal towards Medina’s canal basin recently. This photo was taken from near the bank of the canal from State Street Park.

For the fifth straight day an air quality alert has been issued for Orleans County and Western New York due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation issued the alert which is in effect unil midnight. The outdoor air quality levels are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 125 for fine particulates.

The NYS Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.

Today is forecast to be partly sunny with a high near 74 in Orleans County, followed by a sunny Monday with a high of 80, and a high of 85 on Tuesday with a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The highs are then forecast for 76 on Wednesday, 78 on Thursday, 82 on Friday and 81 on Saturday.

Photos by Natalie Baron: From left include Pat Harrington, Owen Eichensehr, special guest Hayden Fogle and Paul L. Yates. Harrington expressed gratitude to the audience for their attendance during an evening with an air quality alert.

By Natalie Baron, correspondent

MEDINA – Blue Thursdays kicked off its first concert at State Street Park on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. following three cancellations in the weeks before.

The Pat Harrington Trio, which plays around WNY, was joined by award-winning guitarist Hayden Fogle. Along with performing in The Pat Harrington Trio and the Pat & Own Duo, Harrington tours both nationally and internationally and is the lead guitarist for the award-winning band Victor Wainwright & The Train. Special guest Fogle is the grand prize victor in the 2018 Lee Ritenour/Yamaha Music International Guitar Contest for the Blues Category against contestants from 50 countries.

Hayden Fogle feels the groove. Paul L. Yates is all smiles.

The audience braved the hazy, campfire-like weather for an evening filled with music. This follows cancellations due to other unfortunate weather that would have featured the bands the Dave Viterna Group, the Growlers Blues Band, and Miller and the Other Sinners.

Blue Thursdays usually brings by 600-800 people per concert. The turnout was excellent considering the weather. This is a testament to the joy these concerts bring the community.

Blue Thursdays run from 6 to 8 p.m. and are free of charge. As always, there were many food and beverage vendors at the concert, and there was even a vendor selling crocheted goods. The concerts are organized by The Print Shop and Orleans Renaissance Group, showing off blues talents from the Rochester and Buffalo regions. The sound that evening was done by Curly Pfalzer of Pro Sound and Lighting.

The music combined with the bounce house and the playground made this a great evening out for families.

Other performances from the Pat Harrington Trio, The Pat & Own Duo, or additional groups featuring Harrington include July 18 at Heron Hill Winery at 3 p.m., July 19 at 42 North Brewing Company at 4 p.m., and August 14 at Top of the Bay Tex Mex Bar and Bistro at 6 p.m.

Blue Thursdays will continue on July 23 with the Eric Weinholtz Band and wrap on August 6 with Grosh. There are no rain dates.

Board said site has been overwhelmed by brush and construction material from outside village

Photo by Tom Rivers: A gate is locked to prevent access for people to dump brush at the village of Medina’s compost site on North Gravel Road next to Boxwood Cemetery. Medina officials said people were leaving construction materials and other debris.

MEDINA – The Village Board doesn’t anticipate reopening the compost site for brush dumping anytime soon.

The site has been closed for about six weeks for people to unload brush and lawn clippings. That was the intended use, but the site has been overwhelmed with construction materials and debris, as well as brush from people from outside the village.

The board was considering allowing village residents to come to the village office and get a key to open a locked gate, but has decided against that.

The village DPW picks up brush the first Monday each month. It is usually a one-day job, but this month it took 2 ½ days to get all the brush piles around the village, said Jason Watts, superintendent of the Department of Public Works.

He wants to go at least another month with the gate closed at the compost site and gauge how much brush is left around the village. He expected there would be more than normal due to people being unable to use the compost site.

“Right now is prime time for brush with everyone cleaning up their yards,” Watts told the Village Board on Monday evening. “I feel bad for residents leaving brush and having it sit out all month.”

He urged people to have it out in time for the first Monday of the month. He said the DPW starts picking up from the east end of the village first and then works through to the west end.

Trustee Mark Prawel said he favors just having the DPW pick up the brush and not having any dumping by residents or people outside the village. The brush piles are burned at the compost site, which is a concern for some neighbors.

He said the site has too much brush and other materials already.

“I don’t see how we can open it up when we don’t have a solution for getting rid of what we have now,” Prawel said.

Village Board members said they expect residents will get used to leaving the brush by the curb and not dumping at the compost site.

Village sets 6 p.m. Aug. 24 public hearing to ban overnight parking, trailers from using lot

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Village of Medina Department of Public Works has put millings in a parking lot along Pearl Street. This land was donated to the village. The DPW removed concrete from the site and has put down the millings.

The site by Proctor Place is currently blocked off to vehicles. The Village Board has set a 6 p.m. public hearing on Aug. 24 for a local law that will ban overnight parking and trailers from using the space.

The village was given the 100-by-132 foot vacant lot at 115 Pearl St. It was donated by 415 West Avenue LLC, which is owned by Dr. Syed Shah, a cardiologist.

Dr. Shah initially offered the land for the Medina Fire Department but that lot isn’t a good fit for the fire department. The village instead will use it as a municipal lot.

The lot is between the Hometown Wellness Center at 119 Pearl St. and MDS Consultants at 105 Pearl St. The mural at Hometown Wellness was created in 2020 by Julian Montague, an artist from Buffalo who likes to paint large geometric patterns.

Jason Watts, the DPW superintendent, wants to allow the millings to settle for about a year before doing additional work on the space. By not having overnight parking in the lot, Watts said the DPW can more easily plow the site during the winter.

File photos by Tom Rivers: Christian Navas was sworn in as Medina’s police chief during a Village Board meeting on Dec. 15, 2025. He submitted a letter of resignation, with his last day as chief on July 19.

MEDINA – The Medina Police Department is losing two of its leaders to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Police Chief Christian Navas and Sgt. Jacob Reeves both submitted letters of resignation that were accepted by the Village Board this evening. Navas will be done on July 19 while Reeves’s last day is July 20.

Both are leaving 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.

The resignations will leave the department with one sergeant, Jonathan McManus, who joined the Medina PD on Sept. 26, 2022.

Navas joined the department about a decade ago and was appointed police chief on Dec. 15, 2025.

Sgt. Jake Reeves gets helps with his collar brass insignia from then Lt. Christian Navas and then Police Chief Todd Draper on Dec. 17, 2024. Reeves’ wife Dana watches after Reeves took the oath of office for his promotion.

Reeves also joined the Medina PD in 2016. He was appointed to sergeant in December 2024. He also was the department’s K9 handler beginning in 2020 with Phoenix, a Belgian Malinois. But the Medina Village Board disbanded the K9 program in 2025 in a cost-cutting move.

Medina is in arbitration with its police officers, who have been without a new contract for three years.

The Orleans County Legislature in may approved a three-year labor deal with 24 members of the Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, which includes deputies, sergeants, criminal investigators and lieutenants.

The contract gave the members a significant boost in pay to bring the group to the average pay for deputies in smaller counties.

They were about $5,400 below the average base salary for their positions among 13 smaller counties. In Orleans, they currently have a base salary of about $75,000.

They will get a 6.6 percent raise in 2027, bringing the base pay to about $80,000, and will then receive 2.5 percent increases every six months – Jan. 1, 2028; July 1, 2028; Jan. 1, 2029; and July 1, 2029.

The Legislature approved the contract because many of departments in nearby counties are offering $100,000 to start.

The Medina Village Board went into executive session this evening to discuss how to fill the vacancies in the Medina PD, and how the department will be led in the interim.

Medina also saw its previous police chief, Todd Draper, retire and then join Orleans County in the Major Felony Crime Task Force as an investigator.

Provided photos: Pat Harrington, left, will be joined on Thursday at a concert in Medina by award-winning guitarist Hayden Fogle.

Press Release, Orleans Renaissance Group

MEDINA – With the ’26 Blue Thursdays summer concert series in Medina suffering three gig cancelations due to weather, the July 16 might be the one to break the cycle.

It also comes with a special announcement.

“We’ve just been notified that this week’s artist, Pat Harrington, will be bringing along a special guest – Award winning guitarist Hayden Fogle will be joining the Pat Harrington Trio on stage. We couldn’t be more pumped to have this incredible talent at BT in Medina,” said Chris Busch of medinaalive.com, one of the co-organizers of the event.

When he’s not touring nationally and internationally, Pat Harrington performs around his native WNY with the Pat Harrington Trio and the Pat & Owen Duo.

Harrington is best known for his blistering lead work with Grammy-nominated and multi-Blues Music Award winning band Victor Wainwright & The Train. Pat blends rock, jazz, and blues with “smoke-soaked solos” with improvisational fluency and high-octane blues. He has performed with artists including Bobby Whitlock and Gary Clark Jr. among others.

The Trio features Owen Eichensehr (drums) and Paul L. Yates (bass).

Hayden Fogle has surprised and entertained audiences across the world with his electrifying guitar playing abilities. He has been invited to perform with many nationally well-known musicians including Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Grammy® winning producer Tom Hambridge, Lee Ritenour, Robert Randolph, Davy Knowles, Donald Kinsey & Kinsey Report, Bob Margolin and several others.

Fogle was the Grand Prize winner in the 2018 Lee Ritenour/Yamaha Music International Guitar Contest (Blues Category).  The contest included contestants from over 50 countries, and the judges included some of the world’s greatest guitarists including Lee Ritenour, Joe Bonamassa, Keb Mo, Pat Martino, Joe Satriani, and Vince Gill.

“This is going to be a high-octane gig featuring some of the best international guitar talent to be seen anywhere, right here in State Street Park,” said Busch.

The show will feature professional sound provided by Curly Pfalzer of Pro Sound and Lighting.

The concerts are free and open to the public. Shows run from 6 to 8 p.m. There are no rain dates.

A wide variety of food vendors and beverages will be available on site.

Event updates, any cancellations and venue information will be posted at ‘blue thursdays medina’ Facebook page.

Cyclists will pedal 400 miles from Buffalo to Albany

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Cyclists head down Main Street in Medina this afternoon. They left Buffalo this morning and headed 49 miles east to Medina.

This is the 28th annual Cycle the Erie Canal bike tour. There are riders ages 8 to 86. More than 600 cyclists from 37 states and Canada on the journey, which is Parks & Trails New York.

A cyclist signals he will be turning right from main Street to Park Avenue. The cyclists were headed to “tent city” at the Medina Central School campus.

A cyclist from Pittsburgh, Pa. visits the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame inside City Hall. Craig Lacy, right, from the Medina Sandstone Society gave tours of the Hall of Fame, which includes 46 sites.

The Medina school campus has been turned into “Tent City.” The cyclists will camp in tents overnight while having access to the Clifford Wise Intermediate School for showers.

Barb and Jim Hancock from the medina Tourism Committee welcomed cyclists and shared points of interest they might want to check out. A shuttle bus took the riders into the downtown.

The Medina Tourism Committee has welcomed the cyclists all 28 of the event.

“We couldn’t do it without the school,” Hancock, the Tourism Committee chairman, said about Medina serving as a host site. “They are incredible opening up the school and the grounds.”

Dave Stockton and the band Pocket Change also performed an evening concert for the cyclists.

Zambistro also will be catering breakfasts for the riders in the morning, and they give rave reviews about the food.

The cyclists will head east 62 miles on Monday to Fairport, and will be greeted with refreshments in Albion and Holley as they head across Orleans County, and then more welcome centers in Monroe County.

File photo: Saamir Rahman, materials manager and director of continuous improvement for Brunner, shows some of the brake components made by Brunner during a public tour in December 2024.

Press Release, Brunner

MEDINA – Brunner, a Hendrickson company, will host an open house and job fair on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its facility located at 3959 Bates Road in Medina.

The event will invite local community members to tour the operation, learn about Brunner’s continued growth in Medina and explore career opportunities with the company.

The announcement is intended to help local media and community audiences learn more about the investments being made at Brunner, including new manufacturing equipment that delivers automation capabilities and supports Hendrickson’s broader manufacturing strategy across its footprint. Brunner’s Medina facility is now adding capacity for a new product line, bringing an existing Hendrickson product into local production.

Brunner became part of Hendrickson in October 2023 and operates as a division of Hendrickson Brake and Wheel-End, supporting the commercial vehicle, bus and trailer markets with premium brake shoes and S-cams that complement Hendrickson’s broader portfolio. As part of Hendrickson’s reliable portfolio, Brunner’s growth in Medina reflects the company’s ongoing focus on manufacturing excellence, product expansion and long-term investment.

What attendees will see:

• New manufacturing equipment delivering greater automation capabilities at the Medina facility.
• How Brunner supports Hendrickson’s Brake and Wheel-End business and growing product portfolio.
• Information on current job openings in manufacturing, plant operations and automation-focused roles.
• A facility tour and the chance to connect directly with the Brunner team in Medina.

Brunner is seeking local talent to support its next phase of growth in Medina, including positions in manufacturing, plant operations and jobs specifically focused on automation. Local residents interested in long-term careers in manufacturing are encouraged to attend the open house and job fair to learn more about available opportunities, meet team members and get a firsthand look at the facility.

The July 18 event gives the Medina community an opportunity to see Brunner’s investments firsthand, learn how automation is shaping the facility’s future and explore new career opportunities with a Hendrickson-owned business that continues to grow locally. By opening its doors to the community, Brunner is putting its Medina growth story, product expansion and hiring needs front and center to support both awareness and recruitment.

ABOUT BRUNNER

Brunner, a Hendrickson company, is a leading manufacturer and supplier of premium heavy-duty brake components for the global commercial vehicle industry. Because every stop matters, Brunner has built a reputation for quality, integrity, and reliability, producing S-cams and brake shoes trusted by major OEMs and fleets.

Based in Medina, NY, USA, with manufacturing operations in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, Brunner has served the transportation industry for more than 40 years. Learn more at www.brunnerbrakes-intl.com.

ABOUT HENDRICKSON

Hendrickson, a Boler company, is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of medium- and heavy‑duty mechanical, elastomeric, and air suspensions; integrated and non‑integrated axle and brake systems; tire pressure control systems; auxiliary lift axle systems; parabolic and multi‑leaf springs; stabilizers; bumpers; and other components for the global commercial transportation industry. Based in Woodridge, IL, USA, Hendrickson has served the transportation industry for more than 100 years. Visit www.hendrickson-intl.com.

MEDINA – The organizers of the Blue Thursdays concert series have cancelled this evening’s concert due to the high possibility of thunderstorms this evening.

Miller and The Other Sinners, a nationally touring band from Buffalo, was scheduled to perform today at the pavilion at State Street Park.

The first three shows have now been cancelled due to weather. The Dave Viterna Group was scheduled to kick off the series on June 18 followed by the Growlers Blues Band on June 25.

The remaining schedule includes the Pat Harrington Trio on July 16, Eric Weinholtz Band on July 23, and Grosh on Aug. 6.

The concerts go from 6 to 8 p.m. There is no admission charge.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Lined up in their golf carts waiting for the start of the tournament are the 96 golfers who signed up to play in the Orleans Community Connects tournament at Shelridge Country Club.

Dean Bellack, president of Orleans Community Connects’ board, presents Peter Kaiser with the year’s membership to Shelridge Country Club, which he won for the winning bid in an auction.

MEDINA – Sunny skies, warm temperatures and nearly 100 avid golfers made for a very successful fundraiser at Shelridge Country Club.

As the 96 golfers lined up in their carts, they were welcomed by Nyla Gaylord, executive director of Orleans Community Connects, and Dean Bellack, board president. Bellack said Gaylord’s talent for writing grants led to the agency formerly known as United Way of Orleans County to take on an entirely new focus.

“She has put this organization on the map,” Bellack said. “We will still continue to support nom-profits in the community. We are on a very good track.”

Bellack introduced Orleans Community Connects board members and then made a special presentation to Tim Moriarty, who served as treasurer for several years.

The first Saturday in June is the traditional date of the annual golf tournament to benefit Orleans Community Connects, formerly United Way of Orleans County.

Started more than half a century ago as the Van Hungerford Memorial Golf Tournament, the event has become a major fundraiser for the local agency which supports charities in Orleans County.

In addition to golf, the day featured a basket raffle, dinner in the clubhouse and awarding of prizes. A highlight was auctioning off a year’s membership with cart for one at Shelridge Country Club, valued at more than $2,500. Winner was Peter Kaiser, whose successful bid was $950.

“It was a beautiful day,” Gaylord said. “One hundred percent of the net profits from today will be used to fund services and projects in Orleans County .”

“It was a great day and a great time,” Bellack said.

Bellack has chaired the event since joining the board and becoming its president in 2019.

Volunteers get their assignments as golfers begin to register for the annual golf tournament to benefit Orleans Community Connects (formerly United Way of Orleans County) at Shelridge Country Club. Waiting to sell mulligans at left are Nyla Gaylord, executive director of Orleans Community Connects, and Dawn Winkler, financial officer.

Bellack and Gaylord expressed their sincere thanks to sponsors, volunteers, including a large contingent from Baxter and Velocitii; board members; and donors.

“This is our first tournament as Orleans Community Connects, and it will allow us to continue the tradition of giving back to the community,” Gaylord said.

Winners announced were Men’s Champion – Lionel Rhim, Donnell Holloway, Brian Cline and Ryan Woodward; 2nd Place – Alex Bethman, Greg Pollorak, Chad Hursey and Robert Hursey; Mixed Champion – Marc Strain, Melissa Cotter, Cathy Tvenier and John Prospero; Most Honest Team (Balls) – Jodi Gaines’ team; Longest Drive #2 (men) Eric Jaszka; Longest Drive #5 (woman) –  Margy Brown; Closest to Pin #3 (men) – Chad Hursey; Closest to Pin #8 (ladies) – Sam Vermeulen; Closest to Pin #12 (men) – Tim Moriarty; Closest to Pin #14 (ladies) – Sam Vermeulen.

Nyla Gaylord, executive director of Orleans Community Connect, listens as board president Dean Bellack gives a special tribute to Tim Moriarty, who served several years as the agency’s treasurer.

Photos by Natalie Baron: The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library is a staple of Medina’s community. The library’s has a new entrance with an overhang. Lee-Whedon on Aug. 22, 2025 celebrated the start of the construction project. Today it marked its near completion.

By Natalie Baron, correspondent

MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library today celebrated its grand reopening with the near-completion of a 4,785-square-foot addition on the library.

The library held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for donors and other supporters of the $5.2 million project at noon today. There were speeches by the library’s director, Kristine Mostyn, and the construction manager, Chris Ladas of Christa Construction.

The construction project is renovating the existing library as well as the new addition, providing more rooms and space for the public. There will also be expanded WiFi access and more LED lighting.

From left include Assistant Director Sam Covis, Director Kristine Mostyn, and Construction Manager Chris Ladas. They stand just outside the new kitchen area. There will be more tables for use once the space is complete.

The library’s Director, Kristine Mostyn, expressed in her speech, “We’re very excited, but we absolutely want to make sure that we thank everyone in the community who has supported this project from its inception. We wouldn’t have been able to do this if the community didn’t want this and show their support for it, so we’re very grateful.”

In his speech, Ladas stated, “The library board, the library staff, and the library director deserve a lot of credit because it takes a lot of planning, a lot of initiative, and a lot of donations. They went above and beyond to get this job done for this community. This is my fifth library. I’ve done four already, in the Rochester area. Every library, I believe, serves a purpose to help generations to come. This one here will help all future generations come together, come to learn, and come to grow. You can’t ask for more than that.”

“We’re really grateful to our community for supporting us on this project, and we’re hoping it’s going to be wrapped up by the end of this month,” shared the library’s Assistant Director, Sam Covis. She looks forward to bringing these new expansions and renovations to the community, and community support has always helped to keep the construction in motion.

Electricians work on the new addition today.

The construction is on a good trajectory toward completion by the end of the month. Ladas explained further, “We’ve had a couple of material delays, but other than that, the construction itself is moving according to plan. We have a great team of prime contracts with the library. They are working in tandem and getting it done.”

This sneak peek into the developing kitchen space showcases the new cabinets lining the wall and the open windows letting in plenty of light.

Through this process, the library is gaining a rotating art display. Within the room add-ons to the library, an area will be available for bigger programs, such as the library’s movie nights and concerts. There is a room for crafts and science projects. A kitchen space will consist of a refrigerator, stoves, multiple cabinets and tables, and a TV.

There are both a small meeting room and a small room for Friends of the Library, selling used books. A quiet room will contain newspapers and local history in cabinets. Two small study spaces will be available for tutoring and reservation for an area to have meetings between a couple of individuals. Outside of opening hours, one may enter via the back door to use a big meeting room with a TV, where fold-up tables or chairs can be set up, as well as two bathrooms. Outside, there will be a fenced-in garden, and a new parking lot with 14 spaces is also underway.

A new rotating art display presents its first masterpieces.

A quiet room will be part of the library’s expansion. It enables adults to get away from the busy state of the rest of the building. Newspapers and local history will be available in cabinets there.

File photo: Here is how the entrance of the Lee-Whedon  Memorial Library looked before the construction project. The original 11,100-square-foot building was constructed in 1966.

File photo: Here is how the entrance of the Lee-Whedon  Memorial Library looked before the construction project. The original 11,100-square-foot building was constructed in 1966.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Brody Hoffmeister, owner of Rudy’s Diner, is happy to welcome back Frank, a 6-foot-high hot dog.

MEDINA – Frank, the giant hot dog mascot at Rudy’s Diner, has returned to the beloved local eatery after getting a major restoration from students at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES.

Frank left Rudy’s last fall. Frank was falling apart, in need of repairs and fresh paint.

He returned about two weeks ago, looking like new after a major overhaul led by students in the Orleans/Niagara BOCES autobody class and teacher Jim Rozewski.

“Frank,” a 6-foot-high fiberglass statue, kept a low profile at Rudy’s for the last several years. This famous hot dog was acquired around 2008 when Rudy’s founder, Joe Russo, wanted to celebrate the diner’s 20th anniversary. Frank was out in California before making the move to Medina.

The hot dog statue also was a gift from Joe to his wife, Debbie, and their daughter, Kelly Duffield, who were both instrumental in Rudy’s success for many years.

Joe and Debbie Russo opened Rudy’s in 1988 and wanted to create a comfortable environment for people to enjoy a meal. Joe brought a sense of humor to the operation, as well as a commitment to quality food and reasonable prices.

Frank the hot dog used to be out in front of the restaurant on East Center Street, and people would stop by frequently to get photos. They also often leaned on him, knocking off one of his arms.

Frank’s paint started to come off and there was other wear and tear, prompting Brody Hoffmeister, Joe’s grandson and the current owner, to move Frank outside in back of the diner.

But now he is back in the limelight. Rudy’s staff has been wheeling him out each morning to the front of the diner. The BOCES class made Frank a new base with wheels.

Hoffmeister said he appreciates the skill and care the students and their teacher put in on Frank.

Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot., met Frank last September before the frankfurter got his groove back. Orly featured Frank in one of his social media posts about interesting people places and things during Orleans County’s bicentennial in 2025.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jim Hancock, chairman of the Medina Tourism Committee, speaks during last week’s Village Board meeting.

MEDINA – The Medina Tourism Committee is looking forward to special events to celebrate the country’s 250^thanniversary.

The committee is organizing a patriotic birthday concert on Sept. 6 at State Street Park with a jazz band led by retired Medina band director Jim Steele, Jim Hancock, the Tourism Committee chairman, told the Village Board last week.

Retired broadcaster Mike Randall will be reading the Declaration of Independence. There will be 250 birthday cupcakes with red, white and blue frosting.

The Sons of the American Legion is contributing funds towards the event, Hancock said. The VFW will be playing Taps as well.

The Tourism Committee asked the Village Board for permission to have a time capsule buried at Rotary Park with the container to be opened in 2076. The board approved the request for the time capsule, which will be in a circular area in front of the Santa House.

Hancock and committee member Barb Gorham said they expect the time capsule will be buried by the end of October. They said they are discussing what to have in the capsule. They would like a little bit of Medina Sandstone and news coverage of notable events during 2026.

“We’re open to any suggestions about what people want to see put into it,” Hancock said.

The committee wants to reach out to the school district and ask kids what they think Medina will be like in 50 years.

Hancock said the Tourism Committee looks forward to welcoming about 600 cyclists when they visit and stay overnight in Medina on Sunday, July 12. It’s part of the annual Cycling the Erie Canal trip from Buffalo to Albany.

The committee also is working on its second annual Building Brick event at Sacred Heart Club on Sept. 19. Last year there were about 350 people – kids, parents and grandparents – making creations from LEGOs.

The Tourism Committee last week welcomed the Seneca Chief boat to the Canal Basin. This was the third year the replica of the famed canal boat visited Medina.

Hancock said the Tourism Committee also is working on plans for the Parade of Lights and the Christmas celebration on Nov. 28.

The Tourism Committee for the 17^th year also is staffing a visitor center during the summer. This year a team of about 15 volunteers is managed by Barb Gorham.

“We see a great number of people coming into the village,” Hancock said. “We try to provide information to them.”

Photos by Ginny Kropf

MEDINA – Patriotic banners are strung across Main Street this morning in observance of the Fourth of July and the country’s 250th celebration and the Fourth of July. This view is looking north from near the railroad tracks.

(Left) Village of Medina DPW employees string patriotic banners across Main Street in Medina. In the buckets are Brad Freeman and John Fike. (Right) Medina DPW employee Brad Freeman attaches the wire for a patriotic banner to an anchor on the Main Street buildings, which are the ones used for the holiday banners at Christmas.

There are eight banners, four on either side of Main Street. Jason Watts, the DPW superintendent, said it took about a half an hour to install each one, using the existing hardware on the buildings. The banners will remain up through Labor Day, he said.

The banners were requested by Medina Area Partnership and funded with a $3,000 grant from the New York State 250th Commemorative Commission, with the money from the New York State Education Department. Orleans County was approved for $15,000 from the state to help commemorate the country’s 250^th anniversary.

Other funding approved by the local 250^th committee and the Orleans County Legislature includes: Albion Strawberry Festival, $1,500; Barre Betterment Committee, $750; Lyndonville Lions Club, $3,585; Medina Area Partnership, $3,000; Town of Albion, $1,000; Town of Kendall, $740; Town of Murray, $275; Town of Yates, $500; Village of Holley, $1,700. The remaining $1,950 is to be spent at the discretion of the NY250 Committee in Orleans County.