Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Donning his ventriloquist hat, Mike Randall banters with his puppet Timmy during a performance Thursday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. (Right) Dudley the Duck and ventriloquist Mike Randall entertain with their antics during Thursday’s appearance at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

MEDINA – Children and their families who attended Lee-Whedon Memorial Library’s summer reading series program on Thursday got to see local television personality Mike Randall perform his magic/puppet show. Seventy children were signed up for the program, which was the first in the new section of the library.

Sawyer Green of Medina was one of the parents who came with her son Glenn, niece Norah Bennett, and nephew Zeke Bennett, 6, to see Randall perform.

“We come to the library all the time, and my oldest son and I saw Mike in Dickens and loved it,” Sawyer said. “Some of the kids have seen Mike at school and they are happy to be seeing him again.”

Mike Randall greets his young audience prior to a puppet/magic show he performed Thursday morning at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. Sawyer Green of Medina brought her niece and nephew, Norah, 4, and Zeke Bennett, 6, and her son Glenn Green, 4, to see Randall.

Randall, who recently moved to Medina with his wife Kathy, presents a fast-paced program featuring puppets, magic, comedy, ventriloquism and audience participation.

A man of many hats , Randall has become one of Western New York’s most popular entertainers, having performed at many local events, including the Cattaraugus County Fair, M&T Plaza, Eastern Hills Mall Children’s Theater Series, the Toy Festival in East Aurora, Lewiston’s Wildlife Festival at the New York Power Authority, Cuba Garlic Festival, as well as schools and libraries throughout the area.

Mike Randall chose these four children to help with his dinosaur/archeology-themed show at Lee-Whedon. The children hold posters depicting things than archeologists might dig up, such as jewelry, pottery, bones and tools.

Randall’s first experience with magic was when he was 6 and saw a man who sounded like Harry Potter entertaining in the street with a deck of cards. He has loved puppets from the time he was a child, watching Howdy Doody and Paul Winchell. At the age of 7 he spent three months in the hospital, recovering from an automobile accident. The one thing which kept him from going stir crazy was a set of Disney hand puppets his grandmother had given him. He has loved puppets ever since.

In 1978 and ’79 he was hired as one of the 20 Marvelous Magical Burger-Kings, performing shows across WNY, northern Pennsylvania and southern Ontario, Canada.

Although he has received rave reviews for his fun-filled entertaining shows, Randall is best-known for his weather-forecasting and award-winning feature reporting for 40 years at WKBW-TV. He has interviewed celebrities such as John Candy, Steve Allen, Red Skelton, Gregory Peck, Willie Nelson and Robert Goulet. He was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2017 and retired from WKBW in August 2023.

A native of Western New York, Randall is also a professional actor and playwright. His plays have won awards and been produced at theaters locally and nationwide. He has performed a variety of roles in theaters in Western New York and around the country. He continues to perform his critically acclaimed, one-man portrayal of Mark Twain Live! In 2017 he conceived, wrote, directed and starred in the holiday solo show, Charles Dickens Presents: A Christmas Carol, again receiving praise from area critics and theatergoers. His presentation of Dickens at the Medina Theater shortly after moving here, sold out.

The summer reading program with a theme “Unearth a Story” will continue at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library on Thursdays through Aug. 11.

Randall continues to do shows at such venues as libraries, schools and churches. His next public shows are July 30 at the Lancaster Library, Aug. 7 at Hoag Library in Albion and the Niagara County Fair on Aug. 6 and 8. In addition, he will read the Declaration of Independence Sept. 6 for the Medina Tourism’s  bicentennial celebration at State Street Park in Medina.

Caleb was picked from the audience to help Mike Randall with a trick.

(Left) Eleanor Davis of Medina is greeted by a dinosaur (who is actually her daughter) as she arrives at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library on Thursday morning to see Mike Randall do a dinosaur-themed puppet show. (Right) Magician/ventriloquist Mike Randall picked Autumn, 6, to help him with a magic trick during his appearance at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board last week approved a bond resolution for the village to borrow up to $1.7 million for sewer system improvements.

The upgrades include replacing sewer system pump stations and upgrading the SCADA systems throughout the village.

The village is seeking grants to help with the costs, so the final money needed to borrow may be less than $1.7 million.

 Medina initially authorized a bond for a maximum $1,250,000 in Oct. 11, 2021. But the project has been modified and the anticipated costs are higher, prompting the Village Board to seek a higher serial bond.

MEDINA – The Medina Rotary Club is interested in developing a new baseball field at Pine Street Park in the village.

Carl Tuohey, a member of the Rotary Club, last week presented the proposal to the Village Board. He said the club has built up some funds and wants to put some of that money to a baseball diamond.

Tuohey said he expects Job Corps students could be part of helping to create the field.

Village Board members want Tuohey to work on planning the project with Jason Watts, the superintendent of the Department of Public Works.

Pine Street Park has become a more active site since new playground and splash pad were added in 2019. Donors contributed $150,000 to those upgrades.

File photo: Jonathan McManus takes the oath of office as a Medina police officer on Sept. 26, 2022. He has been appointed as sergeant in charge.

MEDINA – The Medina Police Department has a new leader while the village looks to appoint a police chief.

Sgt. Jonathan McManus was appointed sergeant in charge during a special Village Board meeting on July 16. McManus joined the Medina PD as a police officer on Sept. 26, 2022.

He will get an additional $400 a week stipend while leading the department until a police chief is appointed. McManus’s appointment as sergeant in charge was effective July 20.

The Village Board on July 13 accepted the resignation of Police Chief Christian Navas and Sgt. Jacob Reeves. They are both going to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Navas had his last day in Medina on July 19 while Reeves’s last day was July 20.

Both left Medina to join the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office for significant boosts in pay, said Mark Prawel, a Medina village trustee and retired Medina police officer.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Todd Draper (right), the former Medina police chief, runs with current Medina police officer Dustin Meredith at about noon today at the Medina High School track.

Draper wore Brett Sobieraski’s  watch that tracked the laps and distance. Draper now works with Sobieraski in the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force. They are both investigators.

Brett Sobieraski has been hobbled by bad blisters and cellulitis in his feet. After 7 miles today he was advised by healthcare professionals to not keep running more today. Matt Jackson, the former Medina fire chief, stopped by to run laps and check on Sobieraski.

He already logged more about 250 miles the first five days of an 8-day run for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. He set a goal of 400 miles. Although he won’t do all of those himself, he said others will ensure the 400-mile goal is reached.

Besides Draper filling in for Sobrieski, Roger Bolton, an ultra-marathoner from Albion, completed many miles around the Medina track.

Sobieraski said he expects to be back running around Holley’s track on Friday at 7 a.m. with a 55-mile goal for the day.

The Community Action 400 concludes Saturday with 15 final miles at the Albion High School track beginning at 8 a.m.

People are welcome to join him, walking or running around the track.

Sobieraski is trying to raise $20,000 for Community Action, which has faced budget cuts. Click here to make a donation online.

Julia Rohde, a star runner for Roy-Hart, completed some fast-paced laps around the track today in Medina.

(Left) Monarch butterflies are pollinators and essential to the environment. Photo courtesy of Dave O’Donnell. (Right) Mary Mattingly stands in an area of her floating barge where plants are growing which are favorable to Monarch butterflies. A Monarch butterfly release is scheduled at the barge at 1 p.m. July 25. Photo courtesy of Mark Tomas Duggan.

MEDINA – A repurposed barge and the Erie Canal will be the backdrop for a historic Eastern Monarch butterfly release this Saturday as part of the Medina Triennial, now taking place throughout Medina until Sept. 7.

The butterfly release will be led by Dave O’Donnell of Clarence, who runs the Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm. O’Donnell is on the board of the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge, where he created pollination gardens at the Cayuga Overlook. He explained the 80% decline of Monarch butterflies in recent years is due to human destruction of the one plant they need to survive – the milkweed.

After O’Donnell was put in touch with Mary Mattingly, who created the Triennial’s floating barge for of vegetation, a section of the barge was dedicated to native plants favorable for butterflies.

“This is a great educational project, as well as a beautiful art installation,” O’Donnell said of the barge. “Sustainability – climate change, the environment are big issues. No matter what our ideologies are, we don’t bother about butterflies. Butterflies are pollinators, but more importantly to me, butterflies are a part of our culture.”

He hopes his programs with butterflies will bring people together for one cause – to protect our natural environment.

“A lot of pollinators and birds are disappearing and nobody is aware of it,” O’Donnell said. “Monarchs have such an interesting life cycle.”

He explained how after being released they travel to Mexico.

“Their population is down 80% because of one plant we call a ‘weed,’” O’Donnell said.

Milkweed is essential to the life of a Monarch butterfly, because milkweed is toxic, and therefore unpalatable to predators of butterflies and caterpillars.

Attending the butterfly release will be Professor of Ecology Nicholas Henshue of the University of Buffalo, who is also with the Department of Environment and Sustainability, and a a representative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Schedule:

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Environmental organization tents open at Erie Canal Basin, behind the Medina Triennial Hub, 345 Main Street, Medina, NY 14103
• 12 p.m. – Floating Garden Harvest: Forage for a selection of fruit, vegetables and herbs.
• 2 p.m. – Program concludes

(In the event of rain, this program will be held on Sunday, July 26. The Medina Triennial’s public programs are free and open to the public.)

Photos and information courtesy of Troop 28

Local scouts from Troop 28 in Medina are back home after a nine-day backpacking trek at a high adventure camp in Philmont, New Mexico.

The group is shown after summitting the Trail Peak Mountain with an elevation of 10,250 feet.

The Troop 28 crew consisted of 10 individuals: Matthew Jacobs, Joey Brueckner, Gideon Pask, Aidyn Jackson, Tony Anelli, Tyler Draper, Eli Pask, Matthew Anelli, Jay Metcalf and Todd Draper.

Philmont is a high adventure Scout camp on a functioning 140,177 acre (220 square miles) ranch in the Rocky Mountains. Philmont has been operating since 1939 as America’s largest premiere scouting destination along the original Santa Fe Trail in New Mexico.

Philmont operates 35 staffed camps and 55 trail camps, with 315 miles of trails across rugged mountain terrain. Philmont is designed to challenge participants mentally, physically and emotionally while delivering wilderness and learning adventures that last a lifetime. Approximately 22,000 scouts travel to Philmont each summer for trekking adventures.

Troop 28, who is sponsored by the Medina United Methodist Church, traveled to Philmont Scout Ranch from July 9 to July 18.  Prior to the trek, while acclimating to the elevation and climate, the crew went white water rafting on the Arkansas River in Colorado.

While at Philmont, Troop 28’s crew hiked over 53 miles in nine days, carrying their food, water, shelter and supplies in backpacks ranging from 40-50 lbs. They summited Trail Peak Mountain at an elevation of 10,250 feet and the landmark Tooth of Time peak at 9,003 feet.

The crew had the opportunity to take part in many adventure programs including archery, low and high COPE courses (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience), fly fishing, and homesteading.

Scouts took in breathtaking views and sunrises, and even had a memorable close encounter with an adult black bear. In addition to all these adventures, participants completed a 3-hour outdoor conservation project.

Photos courtesy of Medina Fire Department: Hazmat Teams responded to a chemical leak at Pride Pak today. The site is a vegetable processing facility.

Press Release, Village of Medina Fire Department

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department was dispatched to Pride Pak at 7:29 a.m. for a male with chemical burns to his face.

Medina firefighters including Fire Chief Steve Cooley made the initial response. Once on site, Cooley requested a a fire response, bringing Engine 11 and an off-duty recall for Engine 12 and additional manpower.

Shortly after, several additional patients were identified and off-duty firefighters brought the other two in service ambulances to the scene.

Initial reports indicated a pump malfunction released a chemical that splashed a male and another coworker was exposed while assisting the victim and shutting down the pump, which helped limit the spill.

Several others reported the chemical had aerosolized, creating a cloud in the chemical room. Chief Cooley ordered the building evacuated and requested Hazmat Response. With the assistance of Orleans 1 (Emergency Management Coordinator Justin Niederhofer), the Niagara County Hazmat Team, including the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Hazmat Team and the Genesee County Hazmat Team, were dispatched. Niagara County EMS Ambulance responded with the hazmat team.

The chemical was identified as Bioside HS 15%. Upon entry, Hazmat teams located a spill approximately 25 by 10 feet on the floor. They mitigated the spill, secured the equipment and utilized facility systems to clean the room. Medina crews assisted with ventilation and decontamination.

Chief Cooley requested Middleport Fire for an engine, and Wolcottsville Fire responded with a BLS ambulance. Together they provided standby coverage at the Medina Fire Station during the incident. During that time, a walkup to the station reporting an odor of natural gas on South Avenue was handled by Middleport and Medina Ambulance 62.

There were a total of three patients. Two were transported by Medina Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital and one refused treatment on scene.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all the agencies listed above including Orleans County Sheriffs Dispatch, Orleans County Emergency Management Office, Genesee County ESU, Niagara County Hazmat Team, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Hazmat Team, Niagara County EMS, Niagara County EMO, Middleport Fire Department, Wolcottsville Fire Department, NYS DEC and NYS OFPC.

Medina Fire Department worked with other first responders to mitigate a spill at Pride Pak, 11531 Maple Ridge Rd.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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