Photos by Tom Rivers (Left) Carol Callina of Medina was one of about 40 veterans who took advantage of a free day of bowling Saturday at Medina Lanes. (Right) Nick Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans’ Services Agency, chats with his wife, Tricia, left, and Sara Hults, a volunteer in suicide prevention from the Batavia VA, as they wait to check in veterans for the day of bowling Saturday, sponsored by the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Program.

MEDINA – The Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer-sponsored afternoon of bowling was a resounding success, according to Nick Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans’ Services Agency.

At least 40 veterans and their families enjoyed an afternoon of bowling with pizza, wings and pop. complements of the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Program.

Adam Rush of Waterport, a Navy veteran, came with his wife Ashley and children Evelyn, Henry and Charlotte.

“It’s great to get together with other veterans,” Adam said.

Navy veteran Adam Rush of Waterport checks in at Medina Lanes with his wife Ashley and children Evelyn, Henry and Charlotte.

Carol Callina, also a Navy veteran, brought her sister Christine Mason. Mason’s son is a 17-year veteran of the Navy, where he is an air traffic controller.

“This is great,” Mason said.

At another table, Jack Miles and his wife Nancy of Albion chatted with Mike Donahue of Albion, a Navy veteran who did two tours to Vietnam. Both men are members of the Veterans’ Services Council and Honor Guard. Neither man bowls but they wanted to be there at the bowling alley.

“We’re just here for the camaraderie,” they said.

A veteran waits with his ball, while Danille Colasurdo speaks to her service dog Brady, partly visible at right. A Navy veteran, Colasurdo suffers from PTSD.

It was a very significant day for Daniele Colasurdo, a Navy veteran who was happy to be out.

“I have PTSD and this is the first time I’ve been in a bowling alley in four years,” she said.

She was accompanied by her service dog Brady, who helps her deal with her stress.

Nick Mroz said the turnout was double the number who came last year. Other events sponsored by the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Program were free turkeys at Thanksgiving and a banquet with prize giveaways at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. The next event will be giving away 100 free hams for Easter.

Jack Miles and his wife Nancy, left, and Mike Donahue are greeted by Bill Moroz, a volunteer driver for the Veterans’ Van Service.

Photo courtesy of Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company: Firefighters converge at the scene of a fire on South Main Street in Medina this morning.

MEDINA – Three people were safely rescued from a fire this morning on Sout Main Street in Medina.

The Medina Fire Department was dispatched to 824 South Main St. at 5:52 a.m. Firefighters encountered active fire and heavy smoke conditions near the entrances of two apartments of a large multi-unit apartment building.

Medina Police officers were first on the scene and attempted to slow the spread of fire with several fire extinguishers.

With reports of multiple residents still inside, firefighters deployed a 1¾’ hoseline and initiated fire attack, Fire Chief Steve Cooley said in a news release.

“After knocking down the fire at the doorway, crews made entry into an apartment under hazardous smoke-filled conditions,” Cooley said. “Firefighters quickly located and removed two occupants, a mother and child.”

Firefighters were then told a third person remained inside a bedroom. Lieutenant Adam Fisher and Firefighter Amanda Cassano re-entered the apartment with the protection of a hoseline and conducted a targeted search with the thermal imaging camera, locating and rescuing the third victim found in the bedroom, Cooley said.

Additional firefighters and Medina police officers conducted searches of the remaining smoke-filled apartments to ensure all occupants were accounted for. Medina firefighter-paramedics immediately began medical evaluations and treatment of the rescued residents, Cooley said.

“As additional firefighters arrived, crews completed primary and secondary searches, continued suppression efforts, and conducted overhaul to ensure the fire was fully extinguished,” Cooley said,

The Orleans County Fire Investigation Unit, assisted by the Medina Fire Department Investigation Unit, began determining the cause of the fire. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office accelerant detection K9 unit also responded to assist. The fire cause is under investigation.

Two residents were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital. One occupant left the scene prior to transport, and another resident was evaluated for smoke inhalation but declined further treatment. No firefighters were injured at this incident.

East Shelby, Albion ladder, Middleport and Mercy EMS all responded to the scene with the Middleport Fire Company providing coverage at the Medina Fire Station to ensure uninterrupted emergency response within the village during the incident.

“We extend our sincere appreciation to all the agencies listed above including the Orleans County dispatchers and deputies, village code enforcement and the Red Cross,” Cooley said. “During this incident, an additional EMS call within the village was handled by Medina Fire Ambulance. We would also like to thank the manager of Dunkin’ Donuts for delivering fresh coffee to crews operating on scene.”

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Kay Van Nostrand describes this steel shovel used by her father all of his life to shovel snow, coal and even grain. (Right) Georgia Thomas, a member of Medina Historical Society, brought this 12-candle mold to Show and Tell at the February meeting.

MEDINA – The Medina Historical Society’s meeting on Monday night was a crowd-pleaser.

Once a year, the society features “Show and Tell,” and gives members an opportunity to share unique, unusual or unknown items with the membership.

While a stormy evening likely kept some people away, the brave souls who attended the meeting enthusiastically enjoyed the evening’s presentation.

Historical Society president Reinhard Rogowski welcomed guests and announced the next two meetings would be at the Medina Senior Center, due to construction at the library. At the March 30 meeting, Ron Stork will share some of his collection of Medina treasures. The April 27 meeting will feature Erica Wanecski giving a history of Medina Memorial Hospital.

The first to “Show and Tell” was Diane Mazur, who brought her grandmother’s wedding shoes. They were black, size 4 and perfectly preserved.

Next, Georgia Thomas produced an 18th century candle mold, which made 12 beeswax candles. She shared how she made bayberry candles at Christmas.

“Bayberry is very expensive, but it smells nice,” she said.

 Kay Van Nostrand demonstrated a very heavy shovel made of steel.

“I grew up in Attica where they had lots of snow, and my dad used this to shovel snow,” she said. “He was married in 1928 in Dannemora and I’m sure he shoveled snow there. This was the only shovel he ever used. He shoveled a path to the house, to the barn, to the woodshed and to the driveway. In his younger days, he shoveled coal for train cars. He was also known to shovel grain. He would wax his shovel with paraffin from my mother’s canning jars.”

(Left) A photo of noted Medina builder Frank Mallison was shared by Orleans County historian Catherine Cooper during Show and Tell at the Medina Historical Society’s meeting on Monday. The photo was discovered at a house sale in Shelby. Mallison is credited with building many of Medina’s historic buildings. (Right) Ron Stork entertained members of the Medina Historical Society during their Show and Tell meeting with a demonstration of this musical cigarette box.

Catherine Cooper, Orleans County historian and board member of Medina Historical Society, shared a photograph of contractor and builder Frank Mallison, which had been discovered at a house sale in Shelby. On the back it listed four generations of his descendants.

“This is significant because Mallison’s buildings form part of the structure of Medina,” Cooper said.

Some of the buildings built by Mallison include Medina Cold Storage, the Senior Citizen’s Center, armory, Medina Memorial Hospital, the high school, S.A. Cook buildings on East Avenue and Main Street, the Masonic Temple addition and the chapel at West Ridgeway Cemetery.

“He left a lasting memory,” Cooper said.

Ron Stork, a longtime collector of Monitor clocks, brought a very unique gadget – a cigarette music box made by Edgar Gould. Gould also made Monitor clocks, owned Medina Toy Company and worked with veterinarian Dr. Stocking. The music boxes were last made in 1933, Stork said. He said they would sit on a bar and for a penny a customer could buy a cigarette. As the six-sided music box revolved, its doors opened wide.

The program concluded with Shirley Bright-Neeper, who read a letter she had received from the late Pete Nesbitt of Pine Hill, after meeting him in 1992. Pete and his older brother Bob were both Navy pilots – Bob serving in World War II and Pete joining 12 years later in peace time. Bob was awarded four Flying Crosses for his heroics during the war.

“This was another year of intriguing items at the Show and Tell,” Cooper said.

Provided photo: A grouping of flower pots is positioned in front of Rotary Park at the four corners of downtown Medina. The Medina Area Partnership is seeking donations to place 69 flower pots in the business district this summer.

MEDINA – Beautifying the downtown business district has always been a major goal of the Medina Area Partnership, and in continuing that long trend they have announced plans to place 69 flower pots throughout the downtown, in addition to four hanging baskets at the intersection of Main and Center streets.

To achieve that initiative they are seeking monetary donations from the public to assist with the cost of flowers, soil and other products associated with the project.

“These efforts are not possible without the support of the community and help from the village DPW in placing and watering the plants,” said Mary Lewis of Creekside Floral who chairs the project.

Lewis said the downtown flower project was started about 20 years ago by the Medina Business Association, which became Medina Area Partnership. She doesn’t know how many pots were originally sponsored, but she is sure the number steadily grew to the 69 flower pots and four hanging baskets they have had in recent years.

She said they have limited the pots to that number, as they have to rely on the Department of Public Works to place and water the pots all summer.

“We couldn’t do this without them, and we don’t want to over-burden them,” Lewis said.

Lewis also stressed their efforts would not be possible without the support of the community, on whom they count for donations to cover the costs associated with the project.

The cost to sponsor a flower pot is $100 and anyone who is interested should send a check payable to Medina Area Partnership, in care of Creekside Floral, 509 Main St., Medina. Sponsors will be recognized on a sign in a flowerpot, on the large sign outside of City Hall and on the MAP website.

Donations of any amount will also be accepted to assist with beautification projects. Donation forms can be found on MAP’s website.

Lewis urges everyone to consider helping them continue to make Medina’s downtown community and greater Medina area an attractive place to visit.

Lewis notes that signs may not be placed until June 30.

Anyone with questions is welcome to contact Lewis at Creekside Floral.

Fire departments from 5 states so far have expressed interest in ladder truck

Provided photo: Medina firefighters train on the new ladder truck for the department about two weeks ago. The truck is currently in Tonawanda for outfitting and some electrical tweaks and will stay in the DPW building when its back in Medina. The truck isn’t being detailed with lettering for Medina Fire Department.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board is trying to determine the next steps with how it will proceed with possibly selling the fire department’s new ladder truck.

Three of the board members – Deborah Padoleski, Mark Prawel and Scott Bieliski – voted on Feb. 9 to declare the ladder truck as surplus to start the process of a possible sale.

The board on Monday morning met with the village’s bond counsel, financial advisors, and attorney to discuss protocol in following municipal law, should a majority of the board decide to sell the truck.

If the truck is sold and the loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture paid off, the village would still be out $42,000 in a financing charge.

The village also could face potential tax payments if it sells the truck and makes a profit, Mayor Marguerite Sherman said.

The USDA representative and other village advisors said declaring the new truck surplus and then moving to sell it seems unprecedented with no past experiences to guide the involved parties.

“We are trying to get on the same page in a very unusual circumstance,” Sherman said during Monday evening’s board meeting.

Sherman said the village was advised it is obligated to try to maximize the purchase price for the $1.7 million ladder truck.

The sale could happen through an auction, sealed bids, or RFPs (request for proposals).  The village could hire a broker to help with the sale.

Padoleski said her goal is to at least get enough money to pay off the truck. She sees the truck as unaffordable for village taxpayers, especially when the cost of addition is included in the overall cost. Medina might need to spend over $1 million for a one-bay addition to the fire hall because the new truck doesn’t fit in the current fire hall.

The truck issue has garnered headlines in the region and in national fire house magazines and blogs.

Sherman said fire departments have reached out to Medina from nearby Brockport, and the states of Idaho, Michigan, Alabama and Pennsylvania. They want to be informed if Medina decides how it will put the truck up for sale.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – The application for Medina’s Full Day Universal Pre-K (UPK) program is now available on the Primary School’s website or by going to oak.medinacsd.org and looking under “News and Announcements.”

Parents of children not already enrolled in UPK who are interested in enrolling their child in kindergarten for the 26-27 school year are also asked to complete the application form.

To be eligible for UPK, children must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2026. To be eligible for kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2026.

For any families looking to learn more about the full-day UPK program, the Medina School District will be hosting an information night on Thursday, March 12th from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m., held at Oak Orchard Primary School. Childcare will be provided for any children eligible to attend school in the 2026-’27 school year.

Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. and the evening will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. There will be a brief general session for adults in the auditorium, and then participants will visit scheduled locations throughout the building. Please plan to arrive by 5:30 and stay for the duration, in order to receive all the information prepared.

Families interested in learning more about Medina’s UPK program are encouraged to attend the information night. If you are unable to attend, information will be shared afterward on Oak Orchard Primary School’s website.

Timeline for UPK application, acceptance, registration, and screening:

• February 23 – April 1: UPK applications accepted by calling the Oak Orchard Main Office, or through our website, starting on Feb. 23.
• Thursday, March 12: UPK Information Night 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at Oak Orchard Primary
• April 8: Families notified of acceptance into UPK Program or if program capacity is reached, that lottery is to be held.
• Week of April 6: Lottery held, if needed, and registration packets mailed.
• Week of May 18 – May 21: UPK Student Screening, applicants should bring all registration materials to the screening. A parent and the child are expected to attend the screening. Applicants will be contacted by phone to schedule their screening time.

Any questions can be directed to the Oak Orchard Main Office by calling 585-798-2700, option 3 and then 0, between 7:30-3:30, Monday through Friday.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald performs “Bue Suede Shoes” and other classics from a stage on Main Street on Aug. 27 during the Super Cruise. Buchwald is shown looking through the side windows of a 1965 GMC pickup owned by Jim Stone.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has approved the schedule for the 2026 cruise nights. The Friday car shows will again be held at the parking lot of the Medina Senior Center on West Avenue.

For the third year, Rollin Hellner will be organizing the cruise nights and sponsoring the events through his business, The Walsh.

“We has a very successful year last year,” Hellner told the Village Board on Monday. “It was the largest car count ever.”

He would like to bring in more than 300 cars for the Super Cruise on Main Street on Aug. 26. Last year’s event drew 289 cars. Hellner said Terry Buchwald, an Elvis impersonator, will be back for the Super Cruise.

Hellner was asked about having the Friday car show back at the Canal Basin, but he said he wants to keep the event at the Senior Center parking lot.

Here is the 2026 schedule for Cruisin’ in Medina:

• May 29: Opening cruise
• June 5: Country Truck Night
• June 12: Corvette Night
• June 19: Mustang Night
• June 26: Hot Rod Night
• July 3: Bike Night
• July 10: British/Foreign Night
• July 17: Camaro Night
• July 24: Mopar Night
• July 31: Cruisin’ at the Fair (in Knowlesville at 4-H Fairgrounds)
• Aug. 7: Van Night
• Aug. 14: 50s Night
• Aug. 21: ’60’s and ’70’s Night
• Aug. 26: Super Cruise with Elvis (on a Wednesday on Main Street)

The events are from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on a Friday and are at the Senior Center parking lot on West Avenue unless otherwise noted.

Many onlookers wanted a close look at this 2023 Vanderhall owned by Rick and Judy Overholt during the Super Cruise last summer. Vanderhall Motor Works manufactures these three-wheeled autocycles, which have two wheels in the front and one in the back.

MEDINA – Medina Area Partnership is embarking on a new year with a new slate of officers and exciting list of events for 2026.

In recent elections, those elected to the 2026-27 term were Amy Crandall, president; Marc Shurtz, vice president; Sara Flansburg, secretary; Riki Lake, treasurer; and board members Mary Lewis, Michael Snyder and Patrick Weissend.

“These individuals bring a diverse range of experiences, expertise and perspectives that will help guide the Medina Area Partnership as it continues to support local businesses, promote community development and strengthen our regional economy,” said representatives of the Nominating Committee.

Crandall is assistant vice president/market manager of Orleans County Generations Bank; Shurtz is CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health; Flansburg is owner of Blissett’s; Lake is logistics and finance manager for C&H PC; Lewis is owner of Creekside Floral and Gift Shop; Snyder is CFO of MDS Consultants and co-owner of Main Liquor and Modern Mercantile; and Weissend is vice president and Community Banking Manager of Tompkins Community Bank.

Members of the Nominating Committee were Scott Robinson, director of marketing for Orleans Community Health; Cindy Robinson, owner of English Rose Tea Shoppe; and Kristine Mostyn, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. Both Scott Robinson and Cindy Robinson previously served as president of MAP and were instrumental in its founding.

MAP extends is appreciation to the Nominating Committee for its service and to all board members – past, present and future – for their continued dedication to the Medina community.

The Medina Area Partnership was founded in 2020 as a spinoff of the former Medina Business Association, whose members were required to operate within the village limits. The move to a name change allowed for the organization to be a single standalone entity, whose membership includes businesses and organizations within the 14103 zip code, as well as those who have a vested interest in the area. This could include businesses outside of Medina.

The idea came from collaborative work done by the Medina Business Association’s board of directors and committee chairs. The original board consisted of the committee chairs of the previous MBA. While there is a board that acts as the governing body of MAP and has liaisons to different committees, much of the work is done at the committee level. This allows for more members with different skills and expertise to be involved in a variety of focus points, Scott Robinson explained.

Since its forming, MAP has taken on the events previously sponsored by the Medina Business Association and expanded to include more and new successful activities. These include Wine About Winter (which sold out 800 tickets on Feb. 7); the Easter Bunny on March 28; a Murder Mystery and Dapper Day May 2; Medina Scavenger Hunt May 24 – Aug. 31; the Enchanted Faery Festival June 20; Medina Sidewalk Sale Aug. 1; Ale in Autumn, Sept. 26; Beggar’s Night, Oct. 30: Moonlight Madness, Nov. 19; numerous events during Olde Tyme Christmas, Nov. 28; Holiday Open Houses, Dec. 2-6; and the Peppermint Trail (holiday-themed shopping event), Dec. 5-25.

MEDINA – The Village of Medina won’t have a referendum on changing the village elections as part of the March 18 vote this year.

Jess Marciano, a village trustee, has decided to wait a year before introducing a resolution for the board to put the issue to a public vote. Marciano wants to move the village election from the third week in March to the third week in June.

But Marciano doesn’t want the issue to be rushed on the public or the village employees. She also heard from village office staff who believe June is already a busy month for the employees.

“More things need to be evaluated and employees need more time,” Marciano said during Monday’s board meeting.

Marciano said moving the election back would be better for incoming trustees and the mayor who would then start their terms on July 1 instead of April 1. With the March election, board members start their terms on April 1 and immediately face the difficult task of putting together the village’s budget by the end of April.

Marciano thinks it would be better for the new members to ease into their roles and learn about the village departments before having to hammer out the budget.

A later election season would also mean candidates would be seeking petitions and campaigning during much warmer weather, rather than the often bitter cold of January, February and March.

Marciano and Mayor Marguerite Sherman have stated support for moving the elections to June while trustees Deborah Padoleski, Mark Prawel and Scott Bieliski said they prefer the current timing. Padoleski, Prawel and Bieliski said it’s better for new board members to put together the village budget rather than getting handed a spending plan that didn’t have their input.

One village resident, Tim Zeiner, said he hopes the issue will eventually go before the voters for them to decide.

Long-awaited project comes in under budget

Photos by Tom Rivers: A pedestrian bridge will soon be built across the Oak Orchard Creek along Maple Ridge Road (Route 31A) in Medina. This area will get about 2,000 feet of new sidewalks.

MEDINA – Four contractors submitted bids by today’s 3 p.m. deadline for a new pedestrian bridge and about 2,000 feet of sidewalks on Maple Ridge Road.

The bids were opened at the village office by Jason Watts, Medina’s superintendent of the Department of Public Works.

The bids include:

• $837,448 by RJT Construction Services in Rochester
• $943,088 by Keeler Construction in Barre
• $977,000 by Rochester Earth Inc. in Churchville
• $1,058,485 by C.P. Ward in Scottsville

The bids will be reviewed and the Village Board may choose the bidder during its meeting on Monday. Village officials were pleased with the bids, and said the project will be under budget.

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). The money comes from a revolving loan fund that was administered by the Orleans Economic Development Agency. The state in 2019 required funds be ended with the money staying in the community for projects if they are for handicapped accessible initiatives or if they assist a neighborhood that is predominantly low-income.

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.

Mayor Marguerite Sherman said the project will make it much safer for residents and cyclists along that stretch of Maple Ridge. The spot by the creek, in particular, has a very narrow space for pedestrians and cyclists. The pedestrian bridge will be north of the busy road.

The sidewalks will go 200 feet east of the Intersection of Maple Ridge Road (NY 31A) and South Main Street (NY 63), and then to 1,900 feet east of the intersection of Maple Ridge Road (NY 31A) and South Main Street (NY 63).

The Barton & Loguidice firm worked on the design of the bridge, and worked to secure easements from utility companies and property owners.

Jason Watts, superintendent of the Medina Department of Public Works, opens bids from four contractors this afternoon. Miranda Herbert, the village’s deputy clerk, records the bid amounts.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has given its blessing for the Medina Triennial to have art installations at State Street Park and Rotary Park, but the board is holding off approval for sculptures at Gulf Street Park.

Those sculptures would be close to the playground equipment at Gulf Street, and might be taking away too much of the play area for kids, two of the park’s neighbors told the board recently.

The board has asked leaders of the Triennial to see if other areas of the park farther away from the playground, or perhaps even a different site would work for the sculpture.

Two nearby residents, Jim Hibbard and Ron Stork, both spoke during a recent board meeting, saying they didn’t think the sculptures should be so close to the playground.

Stork said there would be several tall sculptures that would take up a big footprint at the park. He suggested the Triennial put the art installation at State Street Park. He also wondered inf the installation would stay after the Triennial, which runs from June 6 to Sept. 7 and is expected to bring 50,000 visitors to Medina.

Organizers have said some of the installations could stay long-term, but that is up to the village or the host property.

The debut of the Medina Triennial will feature works from 35 different artists at 12 sites in the community. Organizers are trying to keep the locations within a 15-minute walk of each other.

At State Street Park, the Village Board approved a project that will have barnacles resting on top of four slate boulders. Barnacles are strong indicators of water quality and the sculpture symbolizes the power of natural materials to filter and purify water. The sculpture will be created in Buffalo and transported into Medina.

The artist making this sculpture created a similar piece for a biennial in the United Kingdom, said Triennial co-artistic director Karin Laansoo. She spoke at the Jan. 15 board meeting.

The artists’ names haven’t been officially announced yet. The Triennial expects to announce the artists and their projects in March and April.

At Rotary Park, the Triennial wants to feature a shed-like sculpture filled with handmade objects for birds, including nesting materials and perches.

The shed is 7 feet tall and about 4 ½ feet wide. The sculpture will have a protective plexiglass screen attached to the front to protect the contents inside. Laansoo said this sculpture is whimsical and shows the artists’ sense of humor.

At Gulf Street Park, an artist wants to create a sculpture stacked with stone pillars. The artist is working with students from the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning. They want to locate unused Medina Sandstone, scan that in 3D and assemble the stone into precise sculptures through computational processes.

Mark Prawel, a Medina village trustee, said the sculpture will result in extra work for the DPW to mow around the objects.

Matt Hollenback, the Triennial’s head producer, said the Triennial is looking to finalize sites to showcase this art installation and others.

“We want to do something that makes sense for Medina,” he told the board. “We want something that people can interact and connect with.”

Photo from Medina FD: Medina firefighters evacuated more than 20 homes after a natural gas meter was damaged by falling ice.

MEDINA – A residential gas meter that was damaged by falling ice from a roof resulted in an uncontrolled gas leak at Applewood Mobile Home Estates on Sunday afternoon.

Medina firefighters were dispatched at 4:48 p.m. for a reported natural gas leak at 1 Pebbleridge Drive, with the caller noting a strong smell and sound of gas outside.

Upon arrival Medina firefighters detected a strong odor of natural gas. Medina firefighters notified Orleans County dispatchers and requested an expedited response from New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG).

At the same time, firefighters conducted door-to-door notifications and safely evacuated more than 20 nearby homes as a precaution, ensuring the immediate area was cleared until the hazard could be mitigated, said Steve Cooley, the Medina fire chief.

Due to the extent of the damage to the meter, firefighters were unable to shut off the gas supply and were required to await NYSEG personnel to secure the leak, Cooley said.

Medina firefighters kept Engine 11 and Engine 12 strategically positioned on either side of the incident scene and supplied by a nearby fire hydrant as a precautionary measure to ensure immediate fire suppression capability if needed, Cooley said.

NYSEG representatives arrived on scene and worked to safely stop the flow of natural gas, he said.

Board may vote Feb. 23 on whether to put it as a referendum on March 18

MEDINA – Will the public get a say in whether the village moves its elections from March to June?

The Village Board is expected to vote on Feb. 23 whether the issue will be a referendum in the March 18 election.

During Monday’s board meeting, Mayor Marguerite Sherman and Trustee Jess Marciano said they favor putting it to a public vote.

Trustees Deb Padoleski, Mark Prawel and Scott Bieliski all said they favor keeping the election in March.

Marciano has led the effort to move the village elections back three months. She said the timing would be better for incoming board members who could ease into their roles of the running the village government.

With the election the third week in March, the elected board members start their terms on April 1 and then are tasked with putting together the village’s budget by April 30.

Marciano said that isn’t a good fit to have inexperienced people developing the village’s budget and setting the tax rate.

Other forms of local government – town boards, county legislature, fire districts and school boards – all have their elected officials start terms after the budgets have been developed.

Padoleski, a retired Medina village-clerk treasurer, said she is “hesitant” to put the issue to a public vote on March 18. She said the election would add more work to the clerk’s office in June during what is already a very busy time in the office.

Padoleski said it is beneficial for the new board members to have a say in the budget process. If the election was the third Tuesday in June – after the village fiscal year starts on June 1 – the newly elected board members “work with a budget you had nothing to do with.”

Prawel also said new board members gain a deeper understanding of the village government by being part of the budget process and working with the department heads on the spending plan for the village.

“I think you should be part of the budget process,” Prawel said. “It certainly helped me.”

Mayor Sherman said the public sits in many of the budget discussions and often offers feedback. But Prawel said that is different than having a seat at the table and making budget decisions.

Moving the election back would also mean warmer weather for the vote, and when candidates are out securing signatures for their petitions and campaigning. The candidate petitions – signed by at least 100 registered voters in the village – currently are due in early February.

Bieliski acknowledged the winter season is tough on candidates for getting signatures and going door to door. But he said he wouldn’t want to take office and have to work with a budget put together by the prior board.

“I’d rather work with a budget I created than one handed to me,” he said.

Marciano said she believes village residents ultimately get a better budget product with experienced board members working on the budget.

She said she will introduce the resolution on Feb. 23 to move the elections to June. If at least three of the five board members back that resolution, it would be on the March 18 ballot and would take effect in 2027.

“Let’s see how the residents feel and put it on the ballot,” Sherman said.

MEDINA – Medina’s Lenten luncheon series hosted by the Medina Area Association of Churches will begin Feb. 19 and take place at noon every Thursday for six weeks at the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street.

Participating churches will provide lunch on a rotating basis, followed by a meaningful reflection.

The first lunch Feb. 19 will be soup and sandwich provided by the First Presbyterian Church, followed by pasta on March 6 by Holy Trinity, quiche by One Church on March 6, pulled pork by Alabama Full Gospel Fellowship on March 12, beef on weck March 19 by New Hope Community Church and scalloped potatoes and ham March 26, prepared by the Grove United Methodist Church.

Everyone is welcome to stop in to share in the meal and fellowship, said Barb Hancock, organizer of the Lenten lunches.

Meals begin at noon and the program ends at 1 p.m. Takeouts are available, beginning at noon. There is a suggested donation of $5 for lunch, with all the proceeds going to the Meals on Wheels program and the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen in Albion.

Comfortable seating for guests is available in the Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

Internationally recognized Mexican artist and composer will premiere work during Triennial arts initiative

Press Release, Medina Triennial and Go Art!

MEDINA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) is pleased to partner with the Medina Triennial to announce a casting call for community participants in a collaborative performance artwork premiering during the Triennial’s inaugural event in 2026.

This unique opportunity invites individuals of all ages and backgrounds to take part in a filmed performance created by a renowned Mexican artist in collaboration with a composer and sound artist. The work will explore the history and hydrology of the Erie Canal through simple, guided vocal actions that together form an immersive soundscape.

Casting Call Details

• The Medina Triennial will run from June through September 2026, highlighting contemporary art and community engagement throughout Medina and the Erie Canal corridor.
• Participants are needed for a filmed performance directed by an internationally recognized artist.
• The performance will feature accessible vocal actions, requiring no prior training.
• Filming will take place on March 28 at 324 Catherine St., Medina (the former Medina High School) with optional rehearsals on March 25 and 26.

Participant Requirements

• Open to singers, vocal enthusiasts, movers, and community members of all ages; no experience necessary.
• Participants must provide their own transportation to Medina.
• Individuals under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and submit a signed photo release.

Application Process

• Interested individuals or groups should complete the participation form by February 20.
• All participants will be credited and must consent to being filmed for promotional and archival purposes.
• The casting call and application form are available on the Medina Triennial website.

Or click here to apply online.

Hard copy applications are also available at GO Art!

Contact: Federico Rosario, Community Engagement & Programs Coordinator for the Medina Triennial, at info@medinatriennial.org.