Medina fire chief highlights report – ‘The funding model is broken’

Photos by Tom Rivers: Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley shows a slide detailing a 21 percent in ambulance calls for the Medina Fire Department from 2008 to 2025. He also provided an overview of a 90-page report from the New York State Rural Ambulance Services Task Force. Cooley spoke during Tuesday’s meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities at the Fair Haven Inn. About 25 attended the meeting.

ALBION – It’s a recipe for a crisis: more calls for service and a declining numbers of responders. And it’s a situation that could get more dire without changes in the funding model for emergency medical services.

A 90-page report from the New York State Rural Ambulance Services Task Force paints a grim picture for EMS services in rural areas. Many agencies have been run by volunteers, but many of those ambulance squads have gone out of service or are not able to respond to a growing number of calls.

In Orleans County, Kendall Fire Department was the last volunteer-run ambulance. It ceased operations after on Dec. 31, 2022. COVA also went out of business in late 2022 after 44 years of service in central Orleans County.

Now the Medina Fire Department and Mercy Flight EMS are handling most of the calls in the county. Those organizations face high operational costs, with low reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare.

The Rural Ambulance Services Task Force released a report earlier this month calling for immediate state action to increase reimbursement rates and provide grants for rural ambulance services.

The Task Force said a state-level public health emergency should be declared to direct resources to areas struggling to provide timely service to residents in crisis.

Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley highlighted the report as well as data for the Medina Fire Department during a presentation on Tuesday evening. Rural areas have seen many of their hospitals close or shot down services such as maternity. Locally, hospitals have closed in Albion and Brockport, and Medina no longer delivers babies.

Those changes have ambulances driving farther out of county. That ties up ambulances often for several hours, and can result in overlapping calls where there are delays because ambulances are all in service.

A Medina Fire Department ambulance is shown on East Center Street on Thursday at the Main Street intersection. The ambulance headed to Route 63 and out of Orleans County. The Medina FD responds to over 2,000 calls a year.

Cooley started as a volunteer in 1990 at age 16 with Tri-Town Ambulance in Gasport. He has worked with Medina Fire Department as a career firefighter/paramedic since 2010, and has been the fire chief since last year.

“Volunteers were once the backbone,” Cooley said about the local ambulance service. “But there are no volunteer transporting agencies left.”

He said the Task Force report was a five-year effort and it makes 38 recommendations to strengthen rural EMS care.

“This is not a future problem,” he said. “It is already impacting response times, coverage and patient outcomes in communities like ours.”

Orleans County had 5,521 ambulance calls in 2025, which was up from 4,965 in 2024, according to the Orleans County Emergency Management Office. Medina responded to 2,416 of those calls, with most in western Orleans – Village of Medina and towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates.

Orleans County is working on its own EMS and fire services report, which is expected to be complete next month.

County Legislator John Fitzak said he expects there will be conversations among officials throughout the county once the report is out about EMS and the fire service in the county.

“Everybody is thinking about this and we’re looking for answers,” he said during Tuesday’s meeting of the local officials.

Cooley said “the funding model is broken” for EMS, with the reimbursement rates too low with Medicaid and Medicare. The ambulance providers also can’t bill unless there is a transport, and many people receive care at the scene but decline to be transported.

“We should be paid for care and not just transportation,” he said.

Cooley said EMS should be classified by the state as an essential service, on par with police and fire service.

Cole Hardenbrook, a member of the Kendall Fire Department, takes the radio out of the Kendall ambulance in this photo from Dec. 31, 2022. The fire department ceased providing service at 11:59 p.m. that day after 54 years. Kendall was the last volunteer-run ambulance squad in the county that did transports. Kendall responded to 9,700 calls over those 54 years.

It recent years it was getting harder and harder for volunteers from to meet the training requirements and give up the time to respond to a call and then make the transport to a Rochester hospital. Often the ambulance would have to wait at the hospitals to drop off patients. It could take five hours to go on some of the calls.

“In New York State, the reliability of the EMS system has significantly declined in recent years due to various challenges,” the EMS report states in the executive summary. “These challenges include a decrease in volunteerism, insufficient and lack of public funding to cover readiness costs, staffing shortages, escalating operational expenses, inadequate insurance reimbursement, increased call volumes, absence of performance standards, limited awareness of the EMS system among elected officials and the public, the influence of NYS home rule, and a lack of transparency and accountability for EMS agencies.

“In some instances, these systems receive public funding, but in many communities, they are not financially supported. This results in a patchwork system with local municipalities or fire districts throughout the state opting for different approaches to provide EMS coverage.

“EMS response is often at the mercy of time of day, day of week, proximity of an ambulance within a geopolitical boundary, and the availability of staff. Response times vary from minutes to more than an hour in many locations.”

Click here to see the full report from the Rural Ambulance Services Task Force.

Photos courtesy of Medina Triennial: Tania Candiani, left, will lead the recording of “Two Waters” on Saturday in the auditorium of the old Medina High School on Catherine Street. Two Waters is a choral performance inspired by one of the Erie Canal’s most unusual engineering features: the aqueduct where the canal crosses directly above Oak Orchard Creek, a spot where two waterways flow past each other without ever meeting.

Press Release, Medina Triennial

MEDINA – This Saturday, in the long-abandoned auditorium of Medina High School, Mexican artist Tania Candiani will gather hundreds of local participants—many from across Western New York—for a four-hour, one-take collective vocal performance that will be filmed as part of a new installation for the Triennial.

The 25,000-square-foot building, closed as a public school since 1991, is reopening as the central exhibition site for the Medina Triennial, one of twelve locations across the village showcasing internationally recognized artist works this summer from June 6 to Sept. 7 along the Erie Canal.

Candiani, who represented Mexico at the 2015 Venice Biennale, is known for creating artworks that bring together technology, history, and community participation. Her projects often transform local stories, industrial heritage, and environmental data into immersive sound and video installations.

In Medina, she’s collaborating with composer Rogelio Sosa on Two Waters (2026), a choral performance inspired by one of the Erie Canal’s most unusual engineering features: the aqueduct where the canal crosses directly above Oak Orchard Creek—two waterways flowing past each other without ever meeting.

Participants—recruited through an open call—will perform simple vocal gestures such as breaths, hums, tones, and whispers that build into a collective soundscape inspired by the canal and the region’s history of labor and infrastructure. The filmed performance will later become one of the Triennial’s major installations.

The project reflects the Triennial’s broader focus on Western New York’s landscape, labor history, and waterways, and its theme, “All That Sustains Us,” which looks at the systems and communities that maintain and shape places like Medina.

To be part of the vocal collective, click here for more information. The deadline to register is March 26.

Photo by Tom Rivers: An ambulance leaves the Medina fire station for a call on July 29, 2025.

MEDINA – The rates will be going up by 5 percent for most services and types of care from the Medina Fire Department’s ambulance.

The rate for mileage remains at $38 per mile, and the fire department kept bariatric at $850, out-of-district care at $75 and BLS treat and release at $396.78.

The following represent 5 percent increases: ALS treat and release, $564.39; BLS non-emergency, $923.35; BLS emergency, $1,172.42; ALS 1 non-emergency, $1,347.98; ALS 1 emergency, $1,661.82; ALS 2, $1,898.22; paramedic intercept, $1,220.71; and specialty care transport, $1,854.31. The new rates will be effective April 1.

The fire department ambulance typically brings in about $1.2 million in revenue a year. The revenue is on pace for $1.7 million for the fiscal year ending May 31, said Steve Cooley, the Medina fire chief.

The new rates are close to the average for the ambulance providers served by MedEx, an ambulance billing company based in LeRoy.

Cooley said he wants the rates to be fair for the people served by the Medina FD ambulance.

He said he is concerned by possible cuts through the Medicaid program. Gov. Hochul has proposed cuts that could reduce Medina’s revenue by about $70,000 a year, Cooley said.

Courtesy Medina Fire Department: Here is the new rate structure for ambulance services provided by the Medina Fire Department.

Sherman gets praise and some criticism for tenure as mayor at final regular board meeting

Election inspectors count votes and verify voters’ signatures on March 18 when about 900 people voted in the village election. Mary Ann Ander is in front. In back, from left include Linda Deyle, Judy Szulis and Cynthia Kiebala.

MEDINA –  The hard-fought recent village election featured many social media posts that residents say were often nasty and unfair personal attacks.

Those posts, campaign mailers and comments at public meetings often set an unpleasant tone.

“This was the ugliest election in the history of the village,” resident Mary Hare said during Monday’s Village Board meeting.

She faulted the union for Medina firefighters for dividing the village with their social media posts. That union endorsed Mayor Marguerite Sherman and Courtney Henderson as a trustee.

When the votes were counted last Wednesday night, Debbie Padoleski won as mayor, 489-405 over Marguerite Sherman, while Jeff Wagner, 491 votes, and Mark Prawel, 487 votes, were both elected trustees. Dean Bellack received 319 votes and Henderson, 212 as a write-in.

Mayor Marguerite Sherman is ending 12 years on the Village Board including the past two years as Medina mayor. She urged the board to work together for the betterment of the community.

The firefighters’ union worries about a move to declare a new ladder truck surplus, and possible reductions in staff. Padoleski has cited the example of volunteer departments nearby. Medina has 17 paid firefighters who provide an ambulance service to western Orleans County in addition to responding to fire and other emergency calls.

Hare chided the union for being so vocal in the election.

“Most people want to see them gone,” she said during Monday’s meeting.

Kayla Rosenbeck, the mayor’s daughter, also spoke during the meeting, and said she received an “extremely vile letter” during the election. She said many of the public comments crossed a line of decency.

“It was an absolutely horrendous election,” she said.

Rosenbeck is an English teacher at Medina and she said many high school students have attended village meetings and witnessed character attacks and also seen the aggressive online comments.

“We all need to do better,” Rosenbeck said. “How we communicate matters. Students watch how adults handle disagreements, stress and patience.”

Rosenbeck said she also needs to do better.

“We need to choose words that lift up and don’t tear down,” she said.

Rosenbeck thanked her mother for an “unwavering commitment” during her time as a village trustee and mayor.

Another speaker during Monday’s meeting, Ellen Goheen, said she received a message urging her to vote in the election. Goheen said she moved out of the village eight years ago and wasn’t an eligible village voter. The message came from Village Trustee Jess Marciano and wasn’t from Medina’s mass notification system, which started five years ago.

Marciano said she had a list of numbers and sent them texts from her personal phone number, urging them to vote. She apologized to Goheen for bothering her. Marciano said the message didn’t favor any particular candidates and simply said to get out and vote.

“It was nothing improper from the village,” Marciano said during Monday’s meeting. “It was 100 percent me trying to get more people out to vote in our village.”

Medina had 894 people vote out of 3,655 eligible for a turnout of 24.5 percent.

Monday was the final regular board meeting for Mayor Marguerite Sherman. She has been mayor the past two years and was a trustee for 10 years before that.

Trustee Prawel thanked her for the numerous hours she put in for the community.

“I want to thank Mayor Sherman for all of her service,” Prawel said. “It was a lot of hard work for the Village of Medina.”

Trustee Marciano and Village Clerk/Treasurer Jada Burgess also commended Sherman for her tenure on the board.

“You’ve done a lot for this village,” Burgess said.

Sherman’s husband Jon Sherman also spoke during the meeting, saying his wife listened to residents and scheduled vacations so she wouldn’t miss village meetings. Even on vacation, she answered emails and messages.

“It’s 24-7,” he said. “The Village of Medina has come a long way in the past 12 years as a destination.”

He urged the new board that takes over April 1 to keep moving the community forward.

The mayor said the village has had many successes in recent years, and other communities routinely reach out to Medina to try to model the community’s success. Sherman said the struggles with a new ladder truck and an addition that would be big enough to house it have “tarnished” the village.

That truck has been declared surplus and the village is looking to sell it, although nothing is definitive now. The truck is currently in Tonawanda for some “punch list” work by a mechanic. Once it’s back in Medina it will likely be housed in the DPW building while the board determines if and when it will be sold.

“I remain proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in the past 12 years,” Sherman said at Monday’s board meeting.

The state is investing millions in Medina through the Canal Corp. and the NY Forward program. Private entities also are putting their money in the village, she said.

Sherman said she wishes the new board the best, and said differences of opinion should be viewed as an asset.

Brian Hellner, a Newfane resident operating a tour boat business from the Medina Canal Basin, addressed the board and said his experience in recent years with Sherman and the board has often been “frustrating and discouraging.”

He said correspondence has been unprofessional and “unnecessary threatening.”

“We should be treated as partners, not adversaries,” he said.

Hellner said he looks forward to a different approach by the Mayor-elect Padoleski and the new board.

John Parada, a resident, responded that the board has been accommodating to Hellner in getting him a lease to operate the tour boat business. Parada said Hellner often didn’t follow the rules, which required a response from the village. When Parada spoke, Hellner and his son Rollin, owner of The Walsh, got up and walked out of the meeting room at the Shelby Town Hall.

The new mayor and the two elected trustees will be sworn in at 6 p.m. on April 6. There are two budget meetings on March 25 and March 27 before the start of the Padoleski tenure as mayor.

Photos courtesy of Medina Railroad Museum: Two dozen players showed up for bingo at the Medina Railroad Museum on Saturday, the first of several bingo afternoons scheduled at the museum each month through August.

MEDINA – Visitors to the Medina Railroad Museum shouldn’t be surprised to see some unusual activities taking place.

Renee Hemby, event coordinator, and museum staff have come up with a schedule of new things to do while visiting the museum.

“We want to get more people interested in visiting the museum to see what we have to offer,” Hemby said.

James Ruiz gives a thumbs up for the fans who came to play bingo at the Medina Railroad Museum on Saturday. With him are Autumn Bower and Renee Hemby, event coordinator.

The theory is that although someone might not be a fan of railroading, when they get there, they are sure to find something of interest.

The first of the new events is bingo on select Saturdays from April to October. Games are scheduled April 18, May 23, June 20, July 18, Aug, 8 and Oct. 17. The first game last Saturday brought several dozen fans to play bingo, enjoy beignets from Nola’s Gaming, hot chocolate and a free mug.

“We will partner with the community for our events,” Hemby said. “This includes Becker Farms Brewery and Greenlief food truck,” she said. “Those who came last week had a great time and said they would come back again.”

March 28 will feature the Easter Depot Dash for children through age 12, featuring relay races, games, food truck and other children’s activities.

Other events planned are History in Motion at 6 p.m. June 3, July 1, Aug. 5 and Sept. 2. These are dates of the new Historic Speaker series.

The museum will participate with Medina’s Community Yard Sale on June 6 and 7 with their Trackside Treasures Yard Sale. The community is invited to donate Christmas or railroading treasures.

On July 19, Boxcar Buddies will welcome Girl Scouts of Western New York. The museum will cooperate with them to earn a patch.

Aug, 15 is Platform Play Day and basket raffle from noon to 4 p.m.

Train rides are scheduled during a Golden Age Rail Tour at 11 a.m. on Sept. 19 and 20, which will include a guided tour along the rails and history of railroading. At 2 p.m., a second train ride will be a murder mystery ride titled “Murder at the Museum,”  enacted by Western New York Improv. A food truck will also be on site.

On Oct. 4, the museum will feature Boy Scouts and Boxcars.

The famed Polar Express Train Ride will return for excursions to the North Pole weekends Nov. 21 through Dec. 20. Excursions in 2025 brought 28,000 riders to Medina.

The Medina Railroad Museum is available for private events and tours. Information is available at www.medinarailroadmuseum.org or by e-mailing events@medinarailroad.org.

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Park Avenue in Medina has been infested with large potholes. The Medina Department of Public Works used cold patch recently but that didn’t stick.

DPW superintendent Jason Watts said the street needs to be repaved. He asked for the public’s patience in the meantime.

He will soon be meeting with Keeler Construction, which does the paving in the village, to work out a schedule for the work.

Watts acknowledged the street is very bumpy in spots.

“Anything we do now is just a waste of money,” he said about the cold patch and other attempts at short-term fixes. “I do have a plan. Just go slow and be patient with me.”

The street’s condition was brought up during Monday’s Village Board meeting.

He said the DPW could put millings in some of the deeper potholes. He also will see about putting up signs that note Park Avenue is a “rough road” and drivers should go slow.

Watts said the punishing winter was hard on the pavement in Western New York.

“We’re not the only community with rough roads,” he said.

There are many potholes and deteriorating pavement on Park Avenue in Medina.

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

MEDINA – New sidewalks and a pedestrian bridge will be coming soon on Maple Ridge Road.

The Medina Village Board on Monday approved a $837,448 bid by RJT Construction Services in Rochester to install the bridge and sidewalks. RJT was the lowest of four bidders when the bids were opened on Feb. 18.

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.

But a bid approval has been delayed because RJT wasn’t on the state’s registry for contractors. The company has since joined the registry which verifies that contractors and subcontractors are in compliance with labor laws, including prevailing wage requirements.

RJT incorporated two years ago and has done culvert and wastewater projects. The company’s owner, however, has a long career in construction, said Barton & Loguidice, a firm that worked on the design of the bridge, and secured easements from utility companies and property owners.

The Village Board on Monday also approved a contract with Barton & Loguidice where the firm will be paid $166,300 for construction services and inspections.

The project is within budget, Mayor Marguerite Sherman said. The RJT bid was more than $100,000 less than the next lowest bid of $943,088 by Keeler Construction in Barre. The highest bid was $1,058,485 by C.P. Ward in Scottsville.

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 local 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.

MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Society has approved $11,540 in grants to local organizations.

The grants generally are about $1,000.

Here are the grants that were approved:

• Hands 4 Hope Street Ministry – to purchase laundry detergent for clients.
• Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern – to assist with the purchase of beds and mattresses for clients in Medina.
• Home for the Holidays 5K – for their annual Veterans Christmas Drive to provide holiday gifts and essential items to veterans and their families.
• Friends of Boxwood Cemetery – to hire an engineering firm to use GPR to locate unmarked graves in Potter’s Field and other cemetery sites.
• The Medina Historical Society – to cover the cost of historical speakers and publicity costs for future programming and to purchase archival quality boxes to store photograph negatives.
• Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council – to purchase equipment and upgrades to their traveling stage.
• Orleans Renaissance Group – to purchase a stepladder, table and chairs for the Canal Village Farmers’ Market.
• Arc GLOW – to purchase a 10-piece bundle of wireless silent disco LED headphones for use at Camp Rainbow.
• Orleans Koinonia Kitchen – to help provide food and weekly meals for those in need.
• Calvary Cupboard – for emergency food assistance to those in need.

2025 Special Project – In addition to the annual grant awards, a donation was given to the Orleans County Historical Association to provide funding for the new wooden floor for the chapel at Mt. Albion Cemetery. That building from 1875 is undergoing restoration with a new roof, repointing and other repairs.

MEDINA – Scouts in Medina’s Pack 28 will be at the Tops store on Saturday for their annual “Scouting for Food” event.

Instead of going to homes in the community, the scouts will accept the food at the Tops store from 9 a.m. to noon. The food will be given to the food pantry at The Vine church on Maple Ridge Road.

The scouts will be handing out flyers in the store lobby with lists of heavily requested items.  Shoppers can purchase those items and then donate them on their way out, said Jeff Baron, Cub Scout leader of Pack 28.

There also will be a location out front marked for people to pull up and drop off items.

Some of the most requested items include: pasta, cereal, peanut butter, canned soups & stews, tuna fish and infant formula.

Albion scouts will be doing a “Scouting for Food” collection in April.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Medina students sing “Stick to the Status Quo” to close out act one on Saturday night of High School Musical. The song is about breaking free from social stereotypes and the pressure to stay in cliques.

At the end of the musical, students sing “We’re All in This Together,” a message of unity over division.

“This show is about a group of students trying to find where they belong within the school community, and ultimately how their differences help them discover who they truly are. It’s a story about acceptance, inclusivity, and friendship which is incredibly important to us as directors,” says Medina JSHS directors Rachel Trillizio and Anna Ferlito.

Medina performed the show on Friday and Saturday and has a final performance today at 2 p.m. in the school auditorium.

Jackson McGrath plays Troy Bolton, the star of the basketball team. He also is interested in theater to the dismay of the his father, the basketball coach. In this scene, Troy and the team sing, “Get’cha Head in the Game.” Troy is distracted by a new girl in the school, Gabriella, and the idea he might enjoy singing.

Troy (Jackson McGrath) and Gabriella (Ava Blount) first meet on new year’s Eve when they are both vacationing at a ski lodge in Utah. They sing a karaoke duet together, “Start of Something New.” When Troy returns home to East High School in New Mexico, Gabriella has transferred there by coincidence.

Sharpay Evans (Arabella White) and her twin brother Ryan (Arik Papaj) do a very up tempo version of “What I’ve Been Looking For” during an audition for the school musical. Sharpay is a very energetic student, and the star of the theater program who loves being the center of attention. Her brother dutifully aids her in her quests, including sabotaging Gabriella’s relationship with Troy.

Zoey McKinney plays Ms. Darbus, the leader of the drama department. She dislikes sports and cell phones. She is talking with the class, including student Kelsi Nielsen, a musical composer played by Veda Cogovan.

Chris Mulcahy Jr. plays Coach Bolton, Troy’s father and coach of the basketball team. He sees Gabriella as a distraction to Troy’s basketball career.

In “Stick to the Status Quo,” a skater stands on the table in the cafeteria and would pretend to play the cello on his skateboard, showing it’s OK to try other interests. James Page plays the character, Ripper.

Warren Blount, Michael Royal, Nelda Toussaint and Mary Brennan Woodruff will be recognized

MEDINA – The Medina school district will be recognized four graduates as “Distinguished Alumni” at a ceremony on April 23 at 2 p.m. in the school auditorium.

The honored alumni include:

• Warren Blount – posthumously, Class of 1963
• Michael Royal – Class of 1997
• Nelda Toussaint – posthumously, Class of 1947
• Mary Brennan Woodruff – Class of 1965

Warren Blount in highlighted for outstanding service to his profession. He served three tours of duty during the Vietnam War with the United States Marines, including the Battle of Khe Sanh and the Tet Offensive. His received the Purple Heart, the Naval Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star, and the Vietnam Cross.

Following his military service, Warren transitioned from the battlefield to the operating room, dedicating himself to the pursuit of medical excellence. After graduating from the University of Birmingham, he became a highly skilled Surgeon’s Assistant in Cardiac Vascular Surgery. His career in Michigan saw him assist in over 6,000 open-heart surgeries and transplants, working alongside world-class surgeons to save countless lives.

He furthered his education at the Michigan University College of Human Medicine, completing a residency in Emergency Medicine to expand his capacity to care for those in crisis.

Blount concluded his distinguished career in Tallahassee, Florida, where he served for 17 years as a practicing emergency physician at the Capital Region Medical Center.

“Whether in the heat of combat or the intensity of the emergency room, Warren Blount lived a life of purpose that fundamentally changed the lives of others,” the school district said. “He remains a shining example of the heights a Medina alumnus can reach through hard work and a heart for service.”

Mary Brennan Woodruff is being honored for outstanding service to her community. Her distinguished 35-year career in education at the Royalton-Hartland School District was marked by a versatile mastery of teaching, ranging from elementary classrooms to specialized middle school mathematics.

Beyond the classroom, Woodruff emerged as a formidable leader in her profession, serving nine terms as Union President and chairing the district’s Professional Council.

Her impact on the local landscape is perhaps most visible through her visionary leadership of the Medina Hometown Heroes initiative. Inspired by a family tribute to her father-in-law, she launched the program in 2019 to honor the military men and women of Medina.

“With meticulous attention to detail and profound empathy for grieving families, Mary has coordinated the placement of over 410 banners throughout the village,” the district said. “Her tireless work balancing design, sponsorship, and logistics has transformed the streets of Medina into a living gallery of gratitude, ensuring that the sacrifices of local veterans are never forgotten.”

Woodruff made history in 2012 by becoming the first woman elected to the Ridgeway Town Council in the town’s 200-year history. Now serving her third term, she remains a steadfast advocate for her constituents and a vital member of the Decorate Medina Committee.

Dr. Michael Royal, Ed. D. is recognized for excellence in his profession. Dr. Royal has built a distinguished career defined by academic excellence and leadership.

A member of the National Honor Society and a record-setting athlete in the 4×400 relay, he carried his Medina work ethic to the Mooresville Graded School District in North Carolina.

Since 2001, he has ascended from an award-winning mathematics teacher and Principal of Mooresville High School to Chief Operations Officer—where he oversaw over $100 million in construction projects—and currently serves as Assistant Superintendent. His visionary leadership in digital learning and student growth earned him the 2016–2017 Administrator of the Year award and led to his appointment as Interim Superintendent in 2022.

Dr. Royal also is a legendary figure in North Carolina athletics. One of only five coaches inducted into the Mooresville High School Athletic Hall of Fame, he led his teams to a staggering 39 team titles and six State Championships. Most notably, his 2007–2008 boys’ teams achieved the historic “Triple Crown,” winning State Championships in Cross Country, Indoor Track and Outdoor Track—a feat unmatched by any other boys’ program in state history.

Beyond the scoreboard, his contribution to humanity is seen in his devotion to his brother, Corey. By running marathons for Team Spina Bifida, he turned personal loss into a mission of hope, raising vital funds and awareness in Corey’s memory.

Nelda Toussaint is recognized for “Outstanding Service to her Community.” Toussaint was a woman of remarkable intellect and determination, graduating at the age of 16 before earning a degree in Fine Arts from Syracuse University, the district noted.

After returning to her hometown, she applied her meticulous organizational skills to the management of her family’s farm and multiple local law offices.

For over seven decades, Nelda remained a pillar of the Medina community, balancing her professional acumen with a deep-seated commitment to civic duty. Whether managing complex finances or serving as an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, she moved through life with a grace and precision that earned her the enduring respect of her peers.”

She offered an unwavering advocacy for local education. For over 20 years, she served as a vital member and President of the Medina School Board, steering the district through decades of growth and change. She continued to serve on the budget committee and attend meetings well into her 90s, ensuring a bright future for generations of students.

Beyond the school district boardroom, her leadership extended to the Medina Memorial Hospital’s Association of Twigs and the Woods Creek Pony Club, reflecting a lifelong mission to enrich the social and educational fabric of the village she loved, the district said.

“To all who knew her, Nelda was a portrait of vitality and spirit,” the district said. “An adventurer at heart, she traveled the world, notably riding a camel across the Sahara at the age of 89. Nelda Toussaint’s life was a masterclass in active citizenship and family devotion.”

Wagner, Prawel picked for village trustees

Photos by Tom Rivers: Medina voters elected the team of Debbie Padoleski as mayor, and Jeff Wagner, center, and Mark Prawel for village trustees. The trio campaigned together and were on the same party line: the “People’s Party.”

MEDINA – Five years ago Debbie Padoleski retired as Medina’s village clerk-treasurer. She worked in the village clerk’s office for 41 years, starting when she was 19.

On Wednesday, village residents elected her mayor.

Padoleski won 489 to 405 for incumbent Marguerite Sherman.

After waiting about 2 ½ hours for the votes to be counted, the outcome was announced by Judy Szulis, the election chairwoman for the village.

Padoleski and Sherman hugged each other when the results were announced. They had waited patiently in the Senior Center until just after 11:30 p.m.

“I’m in shock,” Padoleski said walking in the parking lot. “It was a very close race.”

She was congratulated by several people, with one saying, “It’s time to take back the village.”

Padoleski starts the new two-year term as mayor on April 1 and right away will need to lead the Village Board in working through the new village budget for 2026-27. That spending plan needs to be adopted by April 30.

“I’m ready to get to work,” she said.

Padoleski never expected to be a politician with her name on signs. She was elected village trustee two years ago and has been outspoken about a high tax burden in the village. She led the way in getting the village’s new ladder truck declared surplus. The $1.7 million ladder truck’s fate is uncertain. Padoleski would like to sell it and hold off on an addition to the fire hall.

She worries the high village taxes could drive out residents and businesses. It’s a message that seemed to resonant with many in the community.

“The support I’ve gotten is fabulous,” she said.

Sherman wishes the new board well as it faces many issues, and not just the ladder truck and a possible fire hall addition. Medina should work on developing long-term plan for infrastructure, sidewalks and affordability, she said.

“No matter what the outcome, the board has to come together because there is a lot going on in this village,” Sherman said after the results were announced.

Medina voters also elected village trustees – Jeff Wagner, 491 votes, and Mark Prawel with 487. They ran together with Padoleski on the “People’s Party” line.

Dean Bellack received 319 votes and Courtney Henderson was named on 212 write-in votes for trustee.

Provided photos: The East High student body dances together in the finale of High School Musical, which will be performed by Medina students on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – The Medina Junior Senior High School Musical Theater Program invites the community to their highly anticipated spring musical, Disney’s High School Musical, running for three performances from March 20-22 in the JSHS Auditorium.

Following the massive success of their previous productions, Medina students have been working tirelessly since early January to bring the iconic characters of Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, and Ryan to the local stage. Featuring energetic choreography, a lively pit band, and unforgettable musical numbers, this production promises to be a nostalgic, high-energy event that the whole family will enjoy.

Medina senior Ava Blount plays the role of “Gabriella Montez” while the captain of the East High basketball team, “Troy Bolton,” is played by Jackson McGrath. Jackson embodies this character as he is a leader in multiple music ensembles at Medina JSHS and is an active member of the Medina Varsity football, wrestling and lacrosse teams.

“This show is about a group of students trying to find where they belong within the school community, and ultimately how their differences help them discover who they truly are. It’s a story about acceptance, inclusivity, and friendship which is incredibly important to us as directors,” says Medina JSHS directors Rachel Trillizio and Anna Ferlito. “We have kids in the show ranging in age from 13 to 18, and the lessons woven throughout the story are personal to each kid in different ways. We have students who are uniquely gifted at academics, singing, dancing, acting, building, athletics, organizing, and leading, and they have worked together for the past 3 months to create one amazing show.”

Medina senior Saniyyaha Wilson stars as “Zeke” and is shown with the rest of the East High Wildcat basketball team.

Performance Details:

Where: Medina JSHS Auditorium-2 Mustang Dr. Medina, NY 14103

When: March 20 at 7 p.m., March 21 at 7 p.m., March 22 at 2 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each show.

Tickets: $12- Available at medinamusic.booktix.com or at the door.

About the Production:

Disney’s High School Musical tells the story of two high schoolers—Troy, the basketball captain, and Gabriella, a shy transfer student—who break the “rules” of high school cliques to audition for the school musical. The show addresses themes of unity, diversity, and being true to oneself, offering a fun, empowering experience for both the performers and audience members.

Arik Papaj is “Ryan Evans” and Arabella White plays his sister, “Sharpay Evans.”

Ava Blount is “Gabriella,” while Madelyn Elliott plays the captain of the science decathlon team “Taylor McKessie.” Mackenzie Poynter, center in back, is the “Martha Cox,” a girl with a secret passion for hip hop.

Vocalists of all experience levels welcome to be part of event

Press Release, Medina Triennial

Provided photo by Yvonne Venegas: Tania Candiani welcomes hundreds of participants for a collective vocal work from 10 a/m. to 2 p.m. at the old Medina High School at 324 Catherine St.

MEDINA – As part of the inaugural Medina Triennial opening this June, internationally renowned artist Tania Candiani, in collaboration with composer Rogelio Sosa, will lead a large-scale filmed performance bringing together hundreds of community participants for a four-hour collective vocal work.

Participants of all ages and experience levels will generate a dynamic soundscape using guided breaths, hums, whispers, and tones, inspired by the meeting of waters at Medina’s Erie Canal aqueduct.

Filmed inside the historic former Medina High School auditorium, the performance will transform individual voices into a unified sonic experience, reactivating the space through sound and movement. The resulting work will be presented as part of Candiani’s installation in the Triennial, on view June 6 through September 7.

Casting is open to the public, and individuals of all experience levels are encouraged to participate. Registration is available at https://medinatriennial.org/programs/casting-call.

The Medina Triennial is an upcoming free, village-wide contemporary art exhibition featuring more than 100 artworks by 35 artists and collectives across indoor and outdoor venues throughout Medina. Opening June 6 and running through September 7, the Triennial marks the first recurring exhibition of this scale to take place in a U.S. community of this size, positioning small-town geographies as vital sites of cultural and critical imagination.