By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2026 at 12:54 pm
Photo from shopgarage.com: Medina’s ladder truck is shown on an online site that sells fire trucks, emergency vehicles and equipment.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina’s ladder truck is officially for sale. It was listed this morning on an online site that sells fire trucks and other emergency vehicles and equipment.
The website, shopgarage.com, lists the 2025 quint fire truck with a 100-foot ladder for $2.4 million. That is about $700,000 more than Medina’s deal for the truck. Medina in March 2023 agreed to pay $1,698,995.
The Village Board on Feb. 9 voted to declare the truck surplus, to begin the process of selling it.
Medina listed the fire truck on shopgarage.com to get a big exposure for the truck, trying to get the biggest price possible, said Scott Bieliski, a Medina trustee. A broker also is helping Medina sell the truck and gets a 5 percent fee or $120,000 if the truck sells for $2.4 million. Garage isn’t the broker, but a marketplace to sell the truck. Garage also can help with freight shipping, warranty and secure payment for the transaction, the company said.
There is a lot of interest in the truck, Bieliski said during Monday’s Village Board meeting. He said a contingent from Rochester, Minnesota was in Medina on Friday to look over the ladder truck.
Three of the five board members on Feb. 9 voted to declare the truck surplus, saying the village can’t afford the truck and an addition on the fire hall to house it.
Shop Garage lists the following about the truck:
2025 Pierce Enforcer Quint
Located in NY
1,095 miles
Brand new, never used
100’ Heavy-Duty Steel Aerial Platform
Engine: PACCAR MX-13
Horsepower: 510 hp
Front Suspension: TAK-4 Independent
Rear Suspension Air
Waterous Midship 2000 GPM pump
300 gallon tank
Harrison Hydraulic 10 kW generator
The fire truck is currently being kept in the DPW garage but will soon be moved to the compost facility on North Gravel Road. The DPW garage is busy with a lot of vehicles coming and going this time of year, said Jason Watts, the DPW superintendent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 May 2026 at 5:55 pm
Provided photos
MEDINA – Jill Kelly, Julie Maryjanowski and about 20 members of the “Kindness Crew” were busy today painting a welcome message at the Medina Canal Basin and the bathrooms at Butts Park and State Street Park.
They also painted a few hydrants in the State Street area.
The basin wall got a major overhaul with paint and a message welcoming people to Medina.
Volunteers also painted the building at State Street Park and the bathrooms at Butts.
Mayor Debbie Padoleski said she appreciates the crew volunteering to help the community. Many of the volunteers aren’t even village residents, Padoleski said.
Some of the volunteers enjoy fellowship and some refreshments in the Canal Basin.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 14 May 2026 at 8:44 am
Becky Winans creates mandala art – ‘Sometimes I paint all night, I love it so much’
Photos Becky Winans holds her granddaughter, while looking at three pieces of mandala art, which are part of her first show at Marti’s on Main Street.
Becky Winans of Medina wears a Mandala necklace she made.
ALBION – Becky Winans, a wife, mother and grandmother, never aspired to be an artist, and it wasn’t until 2019 that she realized her talent and “let loose.”
She currently has her first show at Marti’s on Main at 20 South Main St. There is an opening reception on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the art gallery.
Winans grew up in Millville, the former Becky Pask. Her great-aunt was Esther Boyle of Medina, an artist and art teacher for the Medina School District for many years.
“She left an impression on me which sparked an interest in painting lake stones, like we did together when I was a small child,” Winans said. “I took up painting in 2018 and started out painting stones I collected from the shores of Lake Ontario.”
Gradually, she began painting on small canvas, and then larger canvas. One of her prized artistic accomplishments was painting a wooden clarinet which had been given to her at a yard sale a couple of years ago. Then a friend gave her an old ukulele and she decided it was a perfect piece on which to create artwork. Both are included in her show.
“I’m always searching for unique things to paint and dabble at a bit with decoupage art,” Winans said.
A self-taught artist, Becky Winans of Medina looks at the clarinet she painted. It is part of her first show which will debut with an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Marti’s on Main Street in Albion.
When she discovered mandala, she was hooked. The majority of her exhibit is mandala, an art form which Google calls “a geometric configuration of symbols.”
Gallery owner Kim Martillotta Muscarella said mandala was done by monks as a form of meditation.
Winans explains mandala requires intricate work – exact spacing, texture and consistency of paint. She sometimes uses acrylics and, at times, paint pens.
She builds each piece through layers of patterns and colors, allowing her intuition to guide her hand. Her style, she said, often features bright colors that evoke a sense of joy and happiness.
“I draw inspiration from the intricate patterns of nature and spirituality when creating mandala art,” Winans said. “The circular form of the mandala represents the universe and the interconnectedness of all things, illustrating the importance of balance, wholeness and unity in life. This concept profoundly inspires my creative process.”
The clarinet she painted took a lot of work, she said. She first disassembled all the keys, then painted them individually and put them back together.
“Sometimes I paint all night, I love it so much,” she said.
“Mandalas create a calming and meditative space for reflection,” Winans said. “My hope is that my mandalas instill a sense of peace, contemplation and perhaps joy as you immerse yourself in each piece, allowing for personal interpretations that resonate with you.”
Also exhibiting in Friday’s show is Mark Weld of Middleport and Cindy Meal of Lockport.
Weld is a self-taught artist and welder. He creates metal art and has exhibited in regional shows, including the Allentown Art Festival and the Adirondacks National Exhibition.
Meal began painting in 1997. She had been writing poems and short stories in her spare time, but needed something more. She wanted to somehow paint to communicate, and when a friend told her to do it, she did. She learned about plein art, but also strives to paint more creatively using expressionism, impressionism and abstraction.
An opening reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, and the exhibit runs through June 13. Viewing is by appointment by calling (585) 590-9211, or communication may be sent to Marti’s on Main Street, P.O. Box 103, Albion, 14411.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 May 2026 at 8:17 am
District under tax cap for 17th straight year
MEDINA – School officials have put together a $47,998,851 proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year.
District residents will go to the polls on May 19 from noon to 8 p.m. in the Oak Orchard Primary School Gymnasium, 335 West Oak Orchard St.
The budget increases spending by 2.89 percent from the current $46,648,693. The tax levy, what the district collects in property taxes, would increase by 1.97 percent – from $9,170,809 to $9,351,474.
State and federal aid are at $36,556,210 and covers 76.2 percent of the budget. Property taxes represent 19.5 percent of the budget.
School officials provided these highlights of the budget:
Maintaining all existing programs, sports and extracurricular activities
Continued commitment to providing school supplies for all students
Review of current and future contractual obligations
Purchases 2 full-sized buses and one half-sized bus.
Support for district strategic priorities
Providing students with the most up-to-date programming and facilities
Development of a new 5-year staffing plan
Use of available reserves and fund balance to balance the budget
The budget is again under the tax cap – for the 17th straight year.
“The budget was developed with the Medina Central School District’s vision and mission in mind, guiding all budgeting decisions,” Board President Alissa Mitchell wrote in a letter to the community. “Additionally, the long-range fiscal planning of our Board of Education has allowed the District to submit a budget below the tax cap for the seventeenth straight year.”
There are three candidates for three open seats on the Board of Education:
Steven Blount – A physician assistant at Rochester Regional Health Medina Family Medicine, Blount has been on the board the past three years. Since 2023, he has earned a Doctorate in Health Administration and an MBA.
“I am running to ensure that our district operates with transparency and accountability while maintaining the excellence in education you have come to expect,” Dr. Blount state din the district newsletter. “I want to bring my experience in complex problem-solving and evidence-based practice to the Board to help navigate the challenges facing our schools, ensuring every child in Medina has the resources and support to reach their fullest potential.”
LuAnn Tierney – A retired teacher at Roy-Hart, Tierney currently is a track and field official for USATF, NCAA and NFHS. She has been on the Board of Education for six years.
“My goal is to help create an environment on the school board that is supportive of education, supportive of our staff, and our community,” Tierney said. “This will allow us to have the ability to weigh everyone’s opinion, come to consensus and respect the outcome. We have always worked to do our best to provide a quality education while keeping the tax rate increases to a minimum. We continue to explore new ways to improve and grow as a district.”
Mackenzie Sullivan – The nursing supervisor for Orleans Community Health/Medina Memorial Hospital, Sullivan is a Medina graduate.
“I would like to serve in this role to help ensure that our standard of excellence continues well into the future,” she said. “As a parent of a current student in our district, I am also a personal stakeholder in the success of the Medina CSD. In my career as a registered nurse, I am well versed in NYS regulatory agencies and the struggles of navigating amongst them, bringing that experience and viewpoint to the board.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2026 at 8:25 pm
Medina, Lyndonville students urged to make responsible choices with upcoming proms, grad parties
Photos by Tom Rivers
RIDGEWAY – Medina teacher Rachel Trillizio comforts student Arabella White after seeing her friend Mady Elliott be put on a stretcher.
Medina school district coordinated a mock DWI crash simulation today at the Ridgeway fire hall parking lot. Medina invited Lyndonville students for the first time the two schools experienced the mock simulation together.
The simulation sends a message to students to be responsible with the prom and graduation parties coming up. There were 98 Medina seniors at the event today as well as 52 from Lyndonville who are juniors or seniors.
Grayson Romano of Lyndonville was a student involved in the crash. He portrayed a person who was unconscious. He was moved from the car onto a stretcher by EMTs. Grayson would be pronounced “dead” by county coroner Rocky Sidari.
Firefighters work to extricate Mady Elliott from a car. Mady, a junior at Medina, said she was hyper ventilating in the car as firefighters cut and removed pieces of the car to free her.
“It was scary,” she said afterwards. “People need to take this seriously.”
Elliott said drivers need to not be impaired when behind the wheel, and need to not be texting or looking at their phones.
Mady Elliott is led by stretcher to a Mercy Flight helicopter.
Mady Elliott is put into the helicopter which was flown by pilot Haji Shareef with nurse Gina Pennell on board. They flew from Buffalo in a trip that took 8 minutes.
Pam Cherry, the outreach coordinator for Mercy Flight in Batavia, said the organization will do about 30 of the fly-ins in mock simulations around Western New York. Mercy Flight receives a state grant for those responses.
Medina police officer Bradon Brown and Sgt. Marty Stirk of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office lead Austin Fonda, a Lyndonville senior, to a patrol car after he failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DWI in the simulation.
Firefighters from East Shelby, Ridgeway, Medina and Shelby worked on the response today.
Kevin Bogan, right, the owner of Bogan & Tuttle Funeral Home and his assistant Norman Smolarek move Grayson Romano into the hearse. Grayson was pronounced “dead” by a county coroner as part of the simulation drill.
Members of the Probation Department shared with students some of restrictions and supervision they would likely be under if they were arrested for DWI. From left in back include probation supervisor Katie Vick, juvenile officer Adam Kuhn and Bobby Hodge, probation officer who supervises the DWI caseload.
Hodge said people convicted of DWI have to stay out of bars and parties with alcohol. Vick said the Probation Department will try to connect people to mental health and substance abuse services if needed.
Calvin Cook, a junior at Lyndonville, tries on turnout gear with some assistance from Morgan Austin, the EMS captain for the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company.
Firefighters urged the students form Lyndonville and medina to consider becoming a volunteer firefighter. Austin said she joined the Ridgeway Fire Company even though she didn’t have a family connection to the department. She said the other firefighters welcomed her.
To pass the Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations (BEFO) class, firefighters need to put on all the turnout gear in 60 seconds or less.
Kelly Kiebala, director of the Orleans County Job Development Agency and the Youth Bureau, made STOP-DWI items available to the students and also shared how there are job training programs available through Job Development, The agency also runs a summer youth employment program.
Matt Hopkins with the NYS Department of Transportation health and safety program tells students they need to be extra careful if they are driving in a work zone. They should slow down and change lanes if possible, and watch out for flaggers.
These students tried to steer pedal cars while wearing goggles that showed what is what like to have your vision affected by alcohol intoxicated or marijuana.
Diana Fulcomer, a senior prevention educator for UConnectCare, urged students to watch over each other, especially if they see others engaging in toxic drinking where their lives could be at risk from toxic alcohol poisoning. Students were urged to call for help immediately if they see someone who is vomiting from alcohol, or if they don’t respond when shouted at, if they have very slow breathing, can’t stand up, have pale/bluish skin or an irregular/slow pulse.
Melinda Rhim, supervisor at the Orleans County Mental Health Department (left), and Amber Fortunato, a care manager, discussed how stress can affect people with some turning to alcohol and substances to help with anxiety and mental health issues. Rhim and Fortunato did a true or false exercise with the students. The two mental health professionals were pleased to see the awareness from the students and how they don’t see a stigma around mental health and a willingness to get help if needed.
The NYS Department of Transportation let students climb into a plow truck and blow the horn. Students were encouraged to seek out careers with the DOT.
Medina called today’s simulation and the many presentations at the fire hall part of a “Making Memories Safely” awareness event. The district said it would like to see a bigger county-wide event perhaps at the fairgrounds with all five school districts just before the prom season.
MEDINA – The Board of Trustees of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina has scheduled its annual meeting for 7 p.m. on Monday, May 11, at the library. It will be preceded by the regular meeting at 6 p.m.
The Board will present the Library’s Annual Report to the community as well as the proposed 2026-27 budget. Also on the annual meeting agenda will be the election of one member to the Board of Trustees. Stephen O’Dea is running for a new term.
The Board is proposing a total budget of $963,266 for 2026-27. This includes the first bond payment of $253,222 and an operating budget of $710,044.
The proposed increase to the tax levy is $20,456. The proposed increase is within the state-imposed tax cap allowance; the library has never exceeded the tax cap. The proposed tax levy of $622,795 comprises the majority of the library’s funding and is charged to all property owners in the Medina Central School District.
“Our goal is to provide a high level of service to the community at the lowest tax rate possible,” said Cynthia Kiebala, Board President. “We strive to keep the tax levy in check. This budget provides 2,760 hours of access, staffing, materials and programming.”
The proposed tax increase will primarily be used to offset increased costs for staffing, health insurance and utilities. This is also the first year for the bond repayment of $253,222. This will appear on your school taxes as a separate line from the Operating Budget levied for the library’s normal expenses.
The results of the budget vote will not change the bond levy amount.
Copies of the proposed budget and annual report to the community are available at the library.
Voting on the budget will take place at the library on Tuesday, May 12th from 12 noon until 8 p.m.
Residents of the Medina Central School District over the age of 18 are eligible to vote at the annual meeting and on the budget. Identification and proof of residence are required.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 10 May 2026 at 8:25 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Officers of the Food Pantry at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church are, from left, Michelle Capstick, president; Sally Grimm, volunteer coordinator; Kari Root, new board member and secretary; and Robin Dubai, food pantry coordinator. Absent is board member Marian Fry.
MEDINA – Behind the scenes at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church’s Food Pantry is a dedicated team of volunteers who give of their time and energy to make sure the food pantry is there for those who need it.
Pastor Sohail Akhtar of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church welcomes guests and gives the blessing at the annual luncheon Thursday honoring volunteers of the Food Pantry.
On Thursday, those volunteers were recognized at a luncheon sponsored by St. Peter’s Church.
Robin Dubai has overseen the food pantry for 32 years, with help from her husband Denny and Bob Maryjanowski, who do the heavy work and unload the Foodlink truck. Dubai’s sister Diane Mazur is also a volunteer.
Dubai said the community is generous and they have been very good to the food pantry. She also acknowledged Kathy Iorio’s contribution to the food pantry by doing the double bagging.
President Michelle Capstick has also taken over the treasurer’s duties formerly handled by Jim Hancock, until he retired in 2025 after 45 years. He continues to help by picking up food once a month which has been donated to Lee-Whedon Memorial Library for the pantry.
Dubai said the food pantry serves 60-65 families a month. It is open from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Thursday. Days it is not open, those in need of food can go The Vine on Maple Ridge Road.
St. Peter’s food pantry was originally started by Joe and Mary Jane Sczechowiak and Ginny Krownski, and was located in the kitchen and basement of the church parsonage, Dubai said. Dubai first became involved with stocking the shelves. She likes to recall one story of a mother and her children who came regularly to the food pantry.
“One day the oldest son took a big box of cereal out of the bag and said, ‘I’m going to put this under my bed, so when I get hungry at night, I’ll have something to eat.’ I never forgot that, and I’ve hoped some day a successful man would walk in and say that was him. I’d love to know where the family is and that they are doing well.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 10 May 2026 at 7:58 am
Provided photo: Cleaning up Lions Park has been a tradition of Medina Lions for decades. Here Matt Kreutz, Lions Club chairman of the park cleanup (in the plaid shirt at right), poses with Boy Scouts from Troop 28 and Girl Scouts from Troop 82096, after finishing their work Saturday morning.
MEDINA – Medina Lions completed their cleanup of Lions Park on Saturday, with help from Boy Scout Troop 28 and Girl Scout Troop 82096.
The Lions thanked Tim Winters and the village of Medina, who brought mulch.
The Lions have been taking care of Lions Park for decades, said Lion Dean Bellack. He said they received a thank-you call from Mayor Deb Padoleski.
The cleanup was originally scheduled two weeks ago on April 25, but had to be postponed due to heavy rain.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 May 2026 at 10:17 am
Lyndonville, Medina also recognized for theatrical performances
Photos by Tom Rivers: Neveya Barnes starred as Annie in Albion’s performance of the Annie musical in March and Gideon Pask is Oliver Warbucks at right. They were both recognized for “achievement in a lead role” by the Stars of Tomorrow on Friday. Brayden Whittier, left, performed the role of Bert Healy, a charismatic and goofy radio announcer. Annie and Warbucks went on the show in a search for her biological parents.
ROCHESTER – Three school musicals in Orleans County were well represented at the annual Stars of Tomorrow program that highlights outstanding achievement in local high school theater.
There are 50 schools in the Stars program in the Rochester region.
Albion was a big winner in the small schools division, one of 10 musicals named a “Showstopper” for its production of Annie.
The orphans, including Rianne Hand on table, sing the opening number from Annie, “It’s the Hard Knock Life.”
In addition to being a “Showstopper,” Albion won the following awards and recognitions:
Achievement in theatrical storytelling
Achievement in acting ensemble
Achievement in vocal ensemble
Achievement in dance ensemble
Achievement in production crew
Achievement in production design
Achievement in student orchestra
Achievement in a leading role – Neveya Barnes as Annie and Gideon Pask as Oliver Warbucks
Lily Brigham received a “Tip of the Hat” for her solo in the song, “N.Y.C.” Brigham played the role of a “Star to Be.”
Tip of the Hat:
Kaitlynn Basinait as the deck manager
Hanna Kumalac as the stage manager
Lily Brigham, “Star to Be”
Julia Button, “Lily St. Regis”
Lyndonville’s Gavyn Draper performed the lead role of Peter Pan and was recognized for “Achievement in a Leading Role.”
Lyndonville’s production of Peter Pan received several honors:
Achievement in theatrical storytelling
Achievement in acting ensemble
Achievement in production crew
Achievement in production design
Achievement in a leading role – Gavyn Draper as Peter Pan
Lily Botsford received a “Tip of the Hat” as the Crocodile and also as the Ostrich. Her the Crocodile pursues Captain Hook, played by Austin Fonda.
Tip of the Hat:
Lily Botsford as the Ostrich/Crocodile
Sarah Corser as Tiger Lily
Sierra Frasier and Melanie Jay, percussion
Medina performed High School Musical. Ava Blount played Gabriella and was recognized for “achievement in a lead role.”
Other laurels for Medina include:
Achievement in theatrical storytelling
Achievement in acting ensemble
Achievement in dance ensemble
Achievement in production crew
Achievement in production design
Achievement in a lead role – Arabella White as “Sharpay Evans” and Ava Blount as “Gabriella Montez”
Tip of the Hat
Madelyn Elliot as “Taylor”
Adam James Horton as “Jack Scott”
Arabella White starred as Sharpay Evans in Medina’s production of High School Musical.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 May 2026 at 8:49 am
Canal Village Farmers’ Market uses former NAPA site during cold weather months
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Dave Kusmierczak, left, buys a cabbage from Ron Human of Human Farms in Appleton. Human has been a vendor at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market since shortly after it opened more than 10 years ago.
MEDINA – On Saturday, the Canal Village Farmers’ Market will open at its summer location at the corner of West Center Street and West Avenue, featuring new vendors, activities for children and special focus on events of interest to adults. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekly.
A handful of dedicated vendors have kept the market going since 2015, but to thrive, more vendors are needed and, most importantly, regular shoppers.
“Canal Village Farmers’ Market wants to grow both its vendor base and dedicated customer base,” said market manager Gail Miller. “Vendors won’t stay with the market if they do not have good sales, and attracting customers is not easy if there is not enough variety. The market has a great selection at this time, and will be adding some new vendors this season – another vegetable farm, flowers and crafts. Mushrooms will be back, as Baker Farms will begin selling Hartland Organics mushrooms. We are looking for a soap vendor, wineries and other unique items.”
Rose Baker of Baker Farms talks with market manager Gail Miller, right, while a customer looks on. Baker Farms on Beals Road raises and sells its own beef, pork and eggs.
Miller recommends watching the farmers’ market Facebook and Instagram pages to see all of the products available each week.
Chris Busch, president of Orleans Renaissance Group, sponsor of the market, urged community support of the venture.
“The market has been around for more than 10 years now,” Busch said. “In those earlier years we had more than 500 customers every Saturday, with many of the same vendors and products we have now. We really need our customers to recommit to supporting our community farmers’ market. It’s good for our farmers and producers, and good for the community. Our market isn’t the glitziest, but it has a lot to offer – great products, kids’ activities, live music – and this year we’re adding even more.”
This year’s vendors include Baker Farms (garlic, eggs, beef, pork and scapes); Bower Family Farm and Greenhouse (microgreens, maple syrup and jams); Hazel & Honey Bakes (scones, cookies and sourdough); Human Farms and Greenhouse (vegetables, fruit, eggs and plants); LockRidge Apiary (honey, bees wax); Kimbriel Farm (vegetables); Rosario Farm (fruit and vegetables); Flower Fields Forever (flowers); and crafts (MGERH, Metal Neurosis, EBS Luxuries and two others starting in mid-June.
This list does not show all products available.
A customer buys microgreens from Leonard Bower at Bower Family Farm’s booth at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market in Medina.
Special events planned for kids include, on opening day, a Kids’ Tent where they will show how to do a little art on a cup and plant several seeds in it. In June, the market will participate in Medina Area Partnership’s Faery Festival, and on July 3 the annual Zucchini 500 till take place. All ages are invited to attend this fun event.
Just for adults, on June 6 the market will have a limited number of spots available for folks who need an area to sell items during the Medina Community Yard Sale. Almost any type of merchandise can be sold at the market. In addition, adults will enjoy food demos throughout the season, given by chef Caitlyn from Shelridge County Club. Another event will be “Dog Days of Summer,” where people will vote for the best dog in certain categories. Additional events will be added later in the season, Miller said.
The market also offers free space to non-profits to promote their organization or cause.
For more information or to request a vendor spot, contact canalvillagemarket@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page.
Sue Payne of Medina crochets doilies at her booth at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market at its winter site in the former NAPA Building.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 May 2026 at 1:37 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Canal Basin is shown last summer with a houseboat, the Erie Floatel LLC, at left. Another boat owner wants to rent out a yacht as a short-term rental this canal season.
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has two requests from boat owners to lease space in the Canal Basin this upcoming canal season.
But village officials first want input from the State Canal Corp., where there has been a big increase in using houseboats for short-term rentals on the Erie Canal, said Jeff Wagner, the Medina village trustee.
He has been speaking the Canal Corp. officials about how to best handle the requests. The new canal season starts on May 15 and goes until Oct. 14.
Medina approved a lease in its basin last summer for the Erie Floatel, LLC. That boat was operated by Andrew Meier and Svein Lilleby and it stayed on the south side of the canal, using one of the village’s floating docks.
Medina charged a lease fee of $220, plus another $100 for electric and water consumption for the season.
Rollin Hellner owns a 34-foot-long yacht that he would like to rent out through Airbnb. His father Brian Hellner ran a tour boat business from the Canal Basin but won’t be doing that this year. Rollin would like to keep his boat in the same slip where his father docked the North Star. This is the same boat that Rollin would like to rent out for overnight stays.
“We intend to operate under the same rules, requirements, and fee structure that have already been established and approved for vessel-based Airbnb operations within the Village,” Hellner said in a letter to the Village Board on April 13. “This will be a continuation of an established and successful lodging option that supports tourism and brings additional visitors to Medina’s waterfront and local businesses.”
The Erie Floatel, LLC made its debut in Medina last summer. It is available as a short-term rental directly on the Erie Canal.
Andrew Meier, in an April 13 letter to the board, said Erie Floatel had a great first year last summer with universally positive feedback, earning a rare “5.0 Guest Favorite” status on Airbnb. The houseboat will be exclusively listed on Airbnb and VRBO this year, without direct bookings, Meier said in a letter to the board.
The Erie Floatel is moored and not drivable by guests. There is a two-person maximum occupancy.
Meier offered to pay $500 towards utilities for the boat, up from the $100 in the initial lease.
“The houseboat resulted in many unique visitors to Medina through the course of the summer, who patronized local retail shops and eateries,” Meier write. “It further generated direct revenue to the Village in the form of nightly occupancy taxes. From all accounts, the enterprise was a ‘win-win.’”
MEDINA – Velocitii, a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, is proud to announce its recognition as a recipient of the Top Workplaces 2026 award presented by Rochester Top Workplaces.
This year, Velocitii earned 14th place in the Mid-Size Company category, reflecting the organization’s continued commitment to building a strong, people-first workplace culture.
This recognition highlights Velocitii’s ongoing dedication to fostering employee engagement, supporting professional growth, and strengthening a culture centered on collaboration and accountability. Over the past year, the company has continued to invest in initiatives designed to enhance the employee experience, including expanded engagement programs, structured feedback channels, ongoing leadership development efforts, and continued refinement of internal recognition and growth opportunities.
“At Velocitii, we believe the best outcomes start with empowered people. When our teams feel supported, connected, and equipped to succeed, that impact carries through to every client we serve.” said Jeff Brandt, CIO at Velocitii. “Being recognized as a Top Workplace once again is an honor, and it reflects the progress we continue to make in building a more efficient, supportive, and employee-focused organization.”
This achievement underscores the importance of prioritizing employee satisfaction and engagement within the competitive BPO industry. Velocitii’s continued recognition as a Top Workplace reflects its commitment to building a sustainable culture where employees can grow, contribute meaningfully, and thrive.
About Velocitii:
We partner with brands and organizations to create opportunities, find new customers, generate revenue, and build powerful connections at every touchpoint. Velocitii delivers a complete suite of business services and excels in designing solutions that align with client business goals, strategy, and financial objectives. We thrive on managing complex customer interactions. Our culture empowers our agents, leading to reduced attrition and consistent attainment of performance goals.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2026 at 11:57 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: St. John’s Episcopal Church is shown on Oct. 18 when the church was featured in an architectural tour to benefit the Cobblestone Museum. The stained-glass windows, some from the 1800s, are the earliest ones in Orleans County.
MEDINA – The annual “Sacred Sites” tour around the state will feature St. John’s Episcopal Church, one of the oldest churches in the county.
St. John’s also is known as “the church in the middle of the road” and has been featured on Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
Provided photo: The church is one of the oldest in the region. Construction started in 1832 and was completed in 1838, with a bell tower added later.
St. John’s church began as St. Luke’s Mission in 1827, a result of a rapidly growing village and a group of men who felt spiritual guidance was needed. The Erie Canal was bringing progress and more people along its path.
Construction was started in 1832 with the Medina sandstone quarried from the banks of the Erie Canal. The building was completed, except for the tower, in 1838.
St. John’s will be part of the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s 16th annual Sacred Sites Open House on May 16 & 17. Visitors are welcome to explore the extraordinary architecture, art and history of diverse houses of worship across New York.
This year’s theme is “Holding Community Memories,” and participating sites will showcase their buildings, histories, and community programs through guided tours, lectures, musical performances, and by opening their archives, the Conservancy stated.
“Open House Weekend is an invitation to explore the architecture, art, and history within religious buildings in your community,” says Peg Breen, President of the New York Landmarks Conservancy. “It’s an easy and enjoyable way to be a tourist in your own town.”
To date, congregations participating from the Western New York region in Sacred Sites include:
Buffalo
• Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church, 317 Leroy Avenue, Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Corpus Christi Church, 199 Clark Street – Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, May 17, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Niagara Falls
• Niagara Heritage of Hope and Service, Home of Historic Holy Trinity, 1419 Falls Street – Sunday, May 17, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Medina
• St. John’s Episcopal Church, 200 E Center Street – Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information about the New York Landmarks Conservancy Sacred Sites Open House, visit nylandmarks.org.
St. John’s, shown during the Oct. 18 open house, will offer guided tours and music on May 16 as well as games for children.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2026 at 11:40 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A crew from Suit-Kote Corporation mills Ohio Street on Tuesday morning, the street where Medina Memorial Hospital is located.
Suit-Kote also milled parts of Park Avenue and West Avenue this week, and could do paving on the three streets next week if the weather cooperates.
“Whenever we get a stretch of good weather in the next week or so we will be paving those streets back,” said Jason Watts, superintendent of the Village of Medina Department of Public Works.
The village is doing these milling and paving projects now, and could add more since it knows its CHIPS funding in the new state budget. Watts said he expects Keeler Construction of Barre will do more milling and paving in the village after Medina’s road construction funding is known.
This photo shows Park Avenue being blocked to traffic near Pine Street Park on Tuesday after the top layer of asphalt was removed.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 April 2026 at 8:50 pm
Provided photo: A crowd filled Ridgeway Fire Hall on April 25 for a meat raffle to benefit Medina Rotary’s Scholarship Fund.
MEDINA – The Medina Rotary’s recent fundraiser will result in one or two Medina High School seniors receiving financial aid to further their education.
According to event chair Cindy Hewitt, the meat raffle held April 25 at Ridgeway Fire Hall was a success and will support the Medina Rotary Scholarship Fund. Approximately 100 people attended the raffle for fun and giving back, as well as the opportunity to win meat.
The event was hosted in partnership with Western New York Meat Raffles, with meat prizes sourced from the Market in the Square in Tonawanda.
The fund provides scholarships to students planning to enter college or a trade school.
Students still have time to apply for a scholarship this school year. The deadline in June 1, and applications can be completed online by logging on to https://www.medinarotary.org/medina-rotary-scholarship/, then clicking on “Medina Rotary Scholarship” and “Application.”
“The Medina Rotary Club extends its sincere thanks to its event sponsors and to the entire community for their continued support of Rotary fundraisers,” Hewitt said.
The next Rotary fundraiser will be their annual “Ribs and Ribs BBQ” on May 16 at Medina Lanes, drive-thru only. Tickets are available at Main Liquor, Art Hill Excavating or from any Medina Rotarian.
The next meat raffle has been scheduled for March 6, 2027.
