The Grove United Methodist Church will serve up big meal, memories on Sept.19

Photos courtesy of the Rev. Mike Breunig: This photo of the outside of the Apple Grove Inn was taken in 2007.

MEDINA – The Grove United Methodist Church is celebrating on Sept. 19 the restaurant from which it took its name, with a buffet dinner and presentation renewing memories of the former Apple Grove Inn.

When the United Methodist Church needed a new home, in 2013 they moved into the building which for many years was the Apple Grove Inn and then vacant.

Earlier this spring, the Grove United Methodist Church had planned to have a Lenten dinner with a guest speaker, but, unfortunately, the speaker had to cancel and the church did not have time to locate a replacement to fill the spot, according to the Grove’s pastor Barb Brewer.

After canceling the Lenten dinner, the church decided to take more time in planning another event.

This is hostess Segrid Van Auker greeting  guests Mrs. Karlton Davis and Mrs. John C. Collins.

Pastor Brewer was talking with Nate Sanders, who uses the church kitchen for his business, Elite Foods, in which he sells healthy and pre-packaged meals for public consumption. The two started talking about the Apple Grove Restaurant and Sanders suggested doing an Apple Grove buffet dinner. For years, the original Apple Grove Inn was famous for its gigantic and delicious buffet.

The pastor liked the idea and took it to the Worship Committee, who liked it as well.

The Grove UMC is currently selling tickets to the Sept. 19 event, which promises to be an evening of good food, with a buffet and presentation on the history of the Apple Grove Inn. There will be two seatings for dinner, at 4 and 6 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to food pantries at The Vine and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

Jeff Wagner, who worked at the Apple Grove and later purchased it, is shown on the stairs.

The menu for the evening will consist of roast pork loin with apple glaze, roasted chicken thighs, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, candied carrots, dinner rolls, garden salad and homemade applesauce. A dessert table wlll hold the Apple Grove’s famous bread pudding, apple crisp and sugar-free butterscotch pudding. Coffee and tea (hot or cold), lemonade and ice water will be the available beverages for the evening.

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The Apple Grove Inn was a landmark restaurant/lounge in Medina which began in 1927 as a hot dog stand and grew into one of the most popular restaurants in the state, having been owned for decades by Walter Hilger.

It had several rooms, including the Greening Room, Baldwin Room and Johnny Appleseed Lounge, where an apple tree grew up to the roof. At its peak the restaurant could seat at least 700 customers. For decades, people came from all over to celebrate everything from weddings and proms to anniversaries, retirements and more.

This photo shows the Apple Grove Inn before the United Methodist Church transformed it into a church.

For many years, the Apple Grove ran a boat, the Miss Apple Grove, from across the street on the Erie Canal.

After a fire, several owners and declining popularity, the restaurant closed.

A presentation on the history of the Apple Grove Inn will follow each dinner seating at the Sept. 19 event..

Tickets are currently available for $25 and are selling quickly, Pastor Brewer said. They are available at the church during office hours, which are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Those wishing to purchase tickets should park on the west side of the building and enter through the office door. To make other arrangements to purchase tickets, contact the church at (585) 798-2142 or Pastor Brewer at (716) 598-8543. If no one is there, leave a message and someone will return the call.

This Baldwin Room photo was taken from the outside, looking through a window. On the far right is the Greening Room and entrance

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

MEDINA – Main Street in Medina will be closed to traffic on Wednesday evening from the Center Street intersection going down North Main past the American Legion.

Medina will be hosting the annual Super Cruise. Last year there were 289 classic cars, trucks and other vehicles for the event which is sponsored by The Walsh and Hellner Development Company.

This is the biggest car show of the year in Orleans County. Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald will again be performing from a stage on Main Street.

Proceeds from chicken BBQ go to other families with children facing serious medical issues

Photo by Tom Rivers: Dominique and Brady Meakin are pictured with a photo of their late son, Koleson, who passed away on Jan. 3 at age 4. Koleson lived with TPK1 Thiamine-Deficient Leigh Disease, a rare genetic condition.

MEDINA – Brady and Dominique Meakin want to offer compassion to other families with children facing serious medical issues.

The Meakins’ son Koleson lived with a rare genetic condition, TPK1 Thiamine-Deficient Leigh Disease. Koleson was 4 when he passed away on Jan. 3, 2026.

His family has started a foundation in his honor. Cared for Koleson has its first fundraiser this Saturday at the Glenwood Lake boat launch, not far from Koleson’s grave at Boxwood Cemetery.

There will be chicken barbecues from Chiavetta’s from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 presale and $18 the day of the event. Click here for more information on tickets.

Brady and Dominique, both 28, said they feel fortunate the local community was so helpful while their son fought his condition, often requiring extended hospital stays. They met other parents with children in the hospital, and some of them didn’t have a strong support system.

The Meakins started the foundation to initially raise money for gift cards for DoorDash, Uber Eats and the hospital cafe for the families. They know a good meal and cup of coffee can provide a momentary lift.

The Meakins plan to give the gift cards to the children’s hospitals in Rochester and Buffalo.

This Saturday’s fundraiser is close to Koleson’s fifth birthday which is on Aug. 31.

“We are thankful for all the support we had,” Dominique said. “But a lot of other parents, including single mothers, don’t have that kind of help.”

Dominique is a Medina graduate and Brady graduated from Albion. They met at the former GCC campus in Albion, taking a class together.

Dominque is president of the new foundation with Brady the director. Other family and friends are assisting with the foundation, including one of Koleson’s nurses. Click here to see the foundation’s website which was designed by Brady’s brother, Zandyr.

They hope the foundation can eventually help provide some financial assistance to families where parents may not be able to keep working full-time due to the care needs for their child.

The Meakins said they are grateful for their son, Koleson, who loved having his stuffed bear close by.

“His smile was the best in the world, lighting up every room,” they state on the foundation’s website. “He never complained. He continued to shine. He continued to have faith. He inspired everyone he met. This foundation exists to carry his light forward.”

Photos by Tom Rivers: Corey Black takes the oath of office as Medina’s new police chief during the Village Board meeting this evening in the Shelby Town Hall. Mayor Debbie Padoleski administers the oath while Black’s wife Marilyn holds the Bible.

MEDINA – The Medina Police Department has a new police chief is a veteran local law enforcement officer.

Corey Black started as Medina police chief today. He retired about a year ago as an investigator with the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force after 10 ½ years in that role. Before that he worked 20 years in the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy, sergeant and investigator.

Corey Black smiles after being sworn in as Medina police chief. He is joined by his wife Marilyn during the swearing in.

He has been part of the marine patrol for the Sheriff’s Office since July 2025.

He was appointed to lead the Medina Police Department, which has seen an exodus of officers and leadership to other departments that are much higher-paying. The Medina Police Department has been without a new contract for over three years. Mayor Debbie Padoleski said she wants an arbitrator to make a ruling seen on the contract. She said the village is currently stuck with the old contract with the low pay that makes recruitment and retention very diffiult.

Another officer, Dustin Meredith, submitted his resignation, effective today. The department is only about half strength and has lost its previous chief, Christian Navas, and a sergeant, Jacob Reeves, to the Sheriff’s Office. Other officers have also joined other departments.

Black said he welcomes the chance to rebuild and lead the Medina PD.

“There is a need and I feel I have a lot to offer,” Black said after this evening’s swearing in ceremony. “I still have a lot of gas in the tank.”

Black, 54, will be paid a $95,000 salary as Medina police chief. Mayor Padoleski said the board interviewed five candidates for the job. She is impressed by Black’s experience.

Black said he believes working at Medina PD will be enticing to officers.

“It’s a young department so there is room for growth,” he said. “The community here is great.”

The board this evening also cancelled a contract with Flock safety for three mounted license plate readers in the village. The board in November approved Flock setting up the plate readers at three locations in the village. The cameras never were installed and the board has since had concerns about surveillance and how the data would be used.

Padoleski and Trustee Scott Bieliski both said the board is committed to hiring more police officers. They said Medina is currently hamstrung with the contract in arbitration.

“This board wants to work with our police department,” Bieliski said during this evening’s meeting. “We want to build the police department back to where it should be. We want to work with our officers.”

The Medina PD currently is at half strength. The department should have 12 officers, but currently has six with the police chief, two sergeants and three other officers.

Corey Black has family and friends in law enforcement. Pictured form left include George barton, an Orleans County deputy and Kendall school resource officer who is dating Black’s daughter Haley; Black’s son Dillon Black, a sergeant at the Albion Police Department; Corey Black; and Devon Pahuta, Black’s stepson and an investigator with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Photo by Alexandra Peracciny: Youth are shown in an activity during one of the youth programs held during the summer as part of the Medina Triennial. Here, they are building structures out of toothpicks and marshmallows to see how different materials hold up. They practiced using a variety of foraged and repurposed materials to see what was most sustainable. The final two programs are this Sunday and Aug. 30.

MEDINA – As the Medina Triennial enters into its final weeks, focus is being given to a series of youth programs, led by Medina School teacher and local photographer Alexandra Peracciny.

Peracciny has been leading the free programs throughout the summer, in which children and teenagers were introduced to the ideas behind the Triennial’s artworks through conversations, close looking and hands-on creative activities, said Kari Conte, creative director of the Medina Triennial.

Each workshop offered separate sessions for ages 5-10 and 11-18, allowing activities and discussions to be tailored to different age groups.

The programs encourage young people to think about art in relation to everyday life, community, local history, food, storytelling and the environment.

Participants received Triennial passports to use while visiting the exhibition’s 10 sites throughout Medina. The passports encourage families to experience the full exhibition and connect the individual artworks.

The Medina Triennial is a contemporary art exhibition presented across multiple sites in Medina. Its programs invite residents and visitors of all ages to engage with art and with ideas that relate to the region, its communities and the wider world.

The next program, titled “Nourishing Connection: A Workshop on food and Where it Comes From,”  is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Medina Triennial Hub on North Main Street. The sessions for ages 5-10 begin at 2 p.m., followed by the program for ages 11-18 at 3 p.m.

Inspired by the works of Mary Mattingly and Michael Wang, participants will discuss where food comes from and how caring for their communities can encourage healthier habits. Each participant will then plant seeds to take home.

The final youth program of the summer on Aug. 30 is called “Reflection:” Who We Are and What We’ve Learned.” Sessions begin at noon for ages 5-10 and at 1 p.m. for ages 11-18. Participants will receive the Triennial passports they completed over the summer and reflect on their favorite artworks and the projects they created during the youth program. The closing activity will invite participants to make self-portraits and write descriptions expressing who they are as artists and who they hope to become.

Past programs, which began June 14 with “Everyday Stories,” introduced participants to works by Jean Shin and Tania Candiani. Young people considered how art can celebrate ordinary experiences and make space for many voices. They then created projects inspired by the discussion.

Future Forests on Aug. 9 explored sustainability and deforestation through works by James Beckett, Harun Farocki and FIBRA. Participants used recycled materials to construct structures of their own.

Collective Memory on Aug. 16 drew upon works by Futurefarmers and Gregory Halpern. Participants discussed how one place can contain many stories and perspectives, then created drawings through which they shared their own stories.

Provided photo: Retired Channel 7 personality Mike Randall will open a celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday with his puppetry. The Medina Tourism Committee is sponsoring the event Sept. 6 in State Street Park, which will include entertainment for the entire family. Randall also will do a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence.

MEDINA – The Medina Tourism Committee has announced plans for an afternoon of entertainment to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary.

According to Tourism Committee chairman Jim Hancock, on Sept. 6, beginning at 3 p.m. in State Street Park, the Salute to America’s 250th Anniversary will take place, featuring entertainment for the entire family.

Hancock said they chose to wait until Labor Day to celebrate the birth of our country because there is always so much going on in summer, especially around the Fourth of July

First on the Sept. 6 program will be retired local television personality Mike Randall, who will entertain with his puppetry.

“He is remarkable,” Hancock said of Randall’s talent. “He will start our program, which will be enjoyed by kids, parents and grandparents.”

This will be followed by retired Medina High School band director Jim Steele and his band, the MRJ Big Band, who will play jazz and patriotic music.

Next, Randall will do a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence.

“This is a wonderful document which outlines why the colonies broke away from England,” Hancock said. “Many don’t know what it says. This is something everybody needs to know.”

Following a break, another 45 minutes of music will take place by the Jazz Band.

During the afternoon, there will be food trucks on site, offering food and drinks. One will be Hazel and Honey with their baked goods and lemonade.

Hancock said the Sons of the American Legion contributed money toward the event, which provided cupcakes for the crowd.

Hans’s Bakery will make 250 red, white and blue cupcakes, which will be handed out to the crowd, along with miniature flags.

Also participating in the celebration will be members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, whose Honor Guard will present Colors, fire a salute and play echo taps.

Hancock expects the program to last until about 7 p.m. In case of rain, the event will take place at the Medina Theater.

In addition to Hancock, members of the Medina Tourism Committee include Jan Smith, Barb Gorham, Kelly Kiebala, Kathy Blackburn, Ann Fisher-Bale, Debbie Padoleski and Dawn Borchet.

Photos courtesy of Mary Fellios: (Left) Part of the towpath is shown between Medina and Middleport, similar to the walk planned on Saturday, as part of the Medina Triennial. (Right) Mary Miss is the founding director of City as Living laboratory. She will lead a conversation at the Triennial Hub’s headquarters after Saturday’s walk.

MEDINA – The Medina Triennial, which has focused on local exhibits by world-renown artists, will take a new path this weekend with a walk along the Erie Canal Towpath.

Presented by City as Living Laboratory, or CALL, and artist Mary Miss, the program invites participants to experience the historic towpath as a “living laboratory,” shaped by ecology, infrastructure, labor and community.

Participants must register in advance by logging on to the Triennial’s website at www.medinatriennial.org. They will meet at 10 a.m. at the Medina Triennial Hub at 346 Main St. for orientation, coffee and light refreshments. At 10:15 a.m., complimentary shuttles will transport the group to Middleport, where the walk will begin.

From approximately 10:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m., the group will travel slowly along 4.7 miles of the Erie Canalway Trail, pausing for guided observations and discussions with the walk leaders. Participants should bring water, a hat and wear comfortable shoes.

Rather than follow a conventional guided tour format, participants will encounter a series of stops, questions and conversations led by artists and environmental specialists. These include pioneering environmental artist Mary Miss, curator and arts leader Olivia Georgia, University at Buffalo environmental scholars Nick Henshue and Sanford Geffner and Western New York landscape designer Zuzanna Drozdz.

Henshue will contribute expertise in soil, restoration, earthworms and urban ecology, while Geffner will offer perspectives on natural history, environmental education and the regional landscape. Drozdz will discuss approaches to landscape design that bring together biodiversity, nourishment, beauty and community, according to Kari Conte, co-creative director of the Triennial.

The event connects the Erie Canal’s 200-year history with current questions about environmental responsibility, Conte explained.

 “The canal and its towpath are not simple historic landmarks – they are forms of public infrastructure that require continuing care,” Conte said.

The walk will conclude in Medina near the Floating Garden in the Canal Basin. Participants will then return to the Triennial Hub for a complimentary lunch. The day will close with a presentation by Mary Miss and Olivia Georgia, followed by a group conversation in which participants and walk leaders can share observations and reflect on the canal corridor together.

Canalside Tattoo has now raised more than $100K in 5 years for Cat by Cat Inc.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Dawn Dyson, left, of Middleport gets a Buffalo Bills tattoo on Sunday by Melissa Freebern as part of the Caturday fundraiser at Canalside Tattoo in Medina.

The fifth annual event raised just over $30,000, topping the $29,000 from last year. In five years, Caturday has now raised over $100,000 for the Medina team of Cat by Cat Inc.

The organization is trying to rein in the feral or community cat problem in Orleans County. Cat by Cat seeks to humanely “TNVR” cats through targeted trapping. Cat by Cat focuses on a TNVR model – Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return.

Dawn Dyson, 58, got her first tattoo 11 years ago. She said a Buffalo Bills tattoo has been on her list.

Freebern traveled from lake George to be part of Caturday where 14 tattoo artists donated their time and talent. The tattoos were $100 each and the artists did about 100 altogether.

Ellen Blanc, front left, and Kim Desantis greeted people at the gift basket auction where 180 baskets were available.

Shannon Blount, leader of the local Cat by Cat, thanked the community for donating so many quality baskets. She also appreciated the big crowd of people that bought tickets for the gift baskets.

Shannon Blount checks in on some cats that were available for adoption.

The fundraiser will pay for veterinarian costs, cat food, litter and other supplies.

Cat by Cat’s Medina team last year was able to TNVR 150 cats in the community. The organization took in 130 cats and adopted out 90 cats last year.

So far this year Cat by Cat has taken in 107 cats and adopted out 56, Blount said.

“The need is great but the resources are scarce,” she said.

The local group has about 10 volunteers who drive cats to vet’s appointments in Blasdell and Hamburg for spay and neutering services, which is done at a discount. There also is a network of about 10 foster homes for the cats while they are waiting to be adopted.

Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo, puts a Buffalo Bills tattoo on Marissa Stanley of Gasport. She went to her first Bills game on Saturday, a preseason win over the Carolina Panthers, 29-14, which was the first home game in the new Highmark Stadium.

Stanley said she adopted a cat “Opie” through Cat by Cat. She wanted to support the organization at the fundraiser and also get a new tattoo.

Ramsey and five of the Canalside tattoo artists were joined by eight visiting tattoo artists for Caturday. The 14 in total was up from the 13 last year.

Ramsey said he appreciated the big response from the community to support Cat by Cat.

Shannon Blount and Shawn Ramsey, who are engaged, turned Canalside Tattoo into a festive atmosphere for Sunday’s fundraiser.

MEDINA – New York Lottery is reporting that a winning $50,000 Powerball ticket was sold at the Crosby’s in Medina for Wednesday night’s drawing.

It was one of five third-prize-winning tickets were sold for the Aug. 12 Powerball drawing. Besides the Medina ticket, there were three purchased at 1619 SRS in Brooklyn and one at Millenium Smoke and News in Manhattan.

All five winners were worth $50,000.

The winning numbers for the Powerball game are drawn from a field of one to 69. The red Power Ball is drawn from a separate field of one to 26. The Powerball drawing is televised every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Brandon Brown is sworn in as a new sergeant for the Medina Police Department on Monday evening. His wife Diana Brown holds the Bible while he takes the oath of office.

Brown joined the Medina PD in Feb. 25, 2025. Before that he worked about two years for the Le Roy Police Department.

Diana Brown pins the chevrons on her husband’s collar after a swearing-in ceremony on Monday evening. Medina Mayor Debbie Padoleski is in back.

Sgt. Brown, an Albion graduate, said he enjoys working with the Medina community and is excited to be part of the leadership working to rebuild the Medina Police Department. The Medina PD is currently at about half strength after several officers left to join other nearby higher-paying departments.

The Medina PD has been without a new contract for more than three years and is in arbitration.

Brown said the police department and Village Board support training for the officers and want them to forge strong relationships in the community. He cited a recent outing at the YMCA where he and other officers played dodgeball against YMCA staff.

“Medina is a like a hometown to me,” he said about the community policing efforts. “I’m happy here. The communication is positive with the board.”