Medina Memorial putting in new parking lot, Farmers’ Market upgrading building and Hart House enclosing outdoor courtyard

This map shows where Medina Memorial Hospital plans to put a new parking lot with 56 spaces at 525 Eagle St. The hospital will demolish a house for the new lot.

MEDINA – The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday gave its approval to three projects in the Village of Medina.

The board is recommending the village approve the following three projects:

Medina Memorial Hospital is proposing to demolish a house and put in a new parking lot with 56 spaces at 525 Eagle St., which is across from the main entrance of the hospital on Ohio Street.

The house/parking is located in the R1/Medical Overlay District. The project would also include sidewalk improvements to the hospital’s main entrance.

The new lot would be on a parcel that is .81 acre. The new lot will ease parking pressure in the main lot next to the hospital that planners said it often congested.

Rendering by Alderman Architect: Hart House in Medina is proposing an addition and roof on the courtyard.

Andrew Meier, owner of the Hart House at 113 West Center St., is planning to enclose the outdoor courtyard at the Hart House and add a roof to that site.

The project also includes new cementitious siding with battens, new windows, doors and masonry to complement existing brick.

The Hart House project would cover about 1,500 square feet and 1.5 stories. It will be able to accommodate about 100 people for parties and events.

The courtyard at Hart House is one of eight projects in Medina approved for funding as part of the $4.5 million NY Forward grant in Medina. The state approved the projects last year and the Hart House was awarded $500,000 from the $4.5 million total.

Rendering by Alderman Architect: The Canal Village Farmers’ Market would get a new metal roof and canopies, and other exterior work.

The Orleans Renaissance Group is proposing upgrade to the Canal Village Farmers’ Market at 127 West Center St. This project was approved for $675,000 from the NY Forward grant.

The farmers’ market previously was used by a bank and also a gas station. The building will be expanded and remodeled to allow for year-round use.

The improvements include a new standing seam metal roof, new painted steel structure, glazed overhead doors, cementitious siding, concrete base, windows, aluminum storefront entry doors, metal canopies, complementary brick masonry and new rooftop signs.

Photo courtesy of Todd Bensley: The stone wall on the hill of Boxwood Cemetery, facing North Gravel Road, has crumbled.

Press Release, Preservation League of NYS

MEDINA – The Village of Medina is one of this year’s Technical Assistance Grant awardees. The grant of $7,500 will fund a Limited Condition Assessment of the Old Cemetery Section Retaining Walls at the Boxwood Cemetery.

The Preservation League of NYS and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) are thrilled to help fund this important work. At its 2025 meeting, an independent panel selected 31 applicants in 20 counties to receive support totaling $347,500. Grants represent both of the League’s signature NYSCA regrants – Preserve New York (PNY) and Technical Assistance Grants (TAG).

Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman said, “The Village is honored and thrilled that the Preservation League and its partners recognize the significance of Boxwood Cemetery, a site that has added to our community’s charm for over 175 years and attracts visitors from around the world today. We will engage our citizens and professionals in this cultural heritage project, thanks to this grant.”

Village Historian Todd Bensley added, “This vital grant will fund analysis by experts at Clinton Brown Company Architecture, pc., for a plan of restoration of Boxwood Cemetery’s character-defining Medina sandstone retaining walls at its hilly, ‘Old Cemetery’ section. This will help secure its future for generations to come.”

Historic Boxwood Cemetery, established in 1849, is an exemplary Victorian burial ground. Its terraces feature several walls of cut Medina Sandstone. The resting place of many early settlers and notable historic people, the cemetery includes approximately 5,000 marked burials, spanning from 1849 until the present day.

Boxwood’s evolution demonstrates changing cemetery design theories, including Rural and Park-Lawn cemetery models. The 1903 chapel was designed in the Gothic Revival style with Medina Sandstone. This grant-funded assessment will provide information to help guide the Village’s efforts to preserve Boxwood Cemetery for years to come.

“This year, the League has brought our two longstanding NYSCA partnership grants together into one cycle, allowing us to see a clear picture of the remarkable preservation work getting started across the state,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of NYS. “The targeted studies funded by TAG and the expansive reports made possible by PNY will lay the groundwork for many vital projects over the years to come.”

Board hopes a formal study can lead to bigger grants for elevator, building upgrades

Photo by Tom Rivers: City Hall on Main Street in Medina is underutilized by the Village of Medina mainly due to a lack of handicapped accessibility. The Village Board is seeking a grant for an elevator and other improvements so the building can be better used by the public.

MEDINA – The Village Board wants to see the City Hall better utilized by the village government, but it will take an elevator and other improvements to make the site handicapped accessible.

The board is seeking a grant through the state’s Community Development Block Grant program to determine what is needed to make the building more accessible and the estimated costs.

Once the village has that report, it can pursue other grants to pay for the upgrades.

The building is underutilized by the village. Medina moved its village offices out of the site in 1999, going to a one-story bank building next door with a drive-in window.

The Village Board doesn’t meet there either. It currently primarily uses the Ridgeway Town Hall and sometimes the Senior Center. For several years it used the Shelby Town Hall.

The Village Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals continues to use the City Hall meeting room for their sessions.

The Medina Sandstone Society uses the main meeting room at City Hall for the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame. This photo shows the induction ceremony on Oct. 17, 2024. The Sandstone Society has inducted 43 sites since the debut class in 2013.

The City Hall “Council Chambers” has been the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame since 2013. The Medina Sandstone Society the third Thursday in October each year inducts sites into the Hall of Fame which is now up to 43 sites.

While the village clerk’s staff is out of city hall, the code enforcement officer remains on the third floor.

Mayor Marguerite Sherman would like to see the building be better used, especially for the Village Board meetings.

Medina will be pursuing a $40,000 accessibility grant to show how City Hall could become ADA compliant. The grant doesn’t require any local match, said Jay Grasso, Medina’s grant writer.

This study should lead to larger grants to address the accessibility shortcomings with the building, which was constructed in 1908 out of local sandstone.

“There should be significant money to make repairs,” Grasso said.

But first Medina needs a formal study assessing the conditions of the site.

Dave Miller of the Sandstone Society speaks during the Oct. 17, 2024 induction. Medina moved its village offices out of the building in 1999 to a former bank building next door on Park Avenue. The Village Board also doesn’t use the main room for its meetings, instead typically using at the Ridgeway Town Hall or Senior Center.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald performs “Bue Suede Shoes” and other classics from a  stage on Main Street on Wednesday during the Super Cruise.

Buchwald is shown looking through the side windows of a 1965 GMC pickup owned by Jim Stone.

There were 289 classic cars, trucks and other vehicles at the Super Cruise. The event is sponsored by The Walsh and Hellner Development Company.

That is a bigger turnout than last year when about 250 cars ad trucks were at the cruise-in.

Medina shuts down part of Main Street for the show. Cars parked on Main Street from the Center Street intersection going down North Main past the American Legion.

Darren Tobolski of Waterport brought a 1972 AMC Gavelin to the Super Cruise. The car has been in his family since 1979. He took it to his prom in 1983.

“She’s been a driver and survivor,” he said.

The car has 95,000 original miles on it. Tobolski said there aren’t too many Javelins at car shows.

“She’s not the prettiest car but she draws a lot of attention,” he said.

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

David Sevor gets his 1994 Cutlass Supreme convertible ready for the crowd. Sevor, a retired Holley police officer, bought the car in Michigan six years ago. The car gets many admirers during the cruise-ins.

“I don’t think you’ll find another car like it,” he said. “I like to be different.”

There are Cutlass Supreme cars at the cruise-ins, but Sevor said his car is unusual in being a convertible.

He has been to 25 cruise-ins so far this year. He loves the setting on a vibrant Main Street in Medina.

“It’s amazing what they’ve done here in Medina,” he said.

A 1972 Gran Torino Sport drew many onlookers to see the car up close.

Terry Buchwald arrived on Main Street in a motorcycle. He slowly made his way past the cars and people to his spot on the stage. Buchwald has been performing at the Super Cruise for several years.

The event caps off the cruise-in season in Medina. The cruises are usually on Friday evenings in the parking lot of the Senior Center on West Avenue.

The line of cars stretched down North Main Street farther than usual.

This 1973 Dodge – Andy’s Dream Machine – is owned by Andrea Wells of Albion.

Terry Buchwald told the crowd he was impressed by so many well cared for classic cars.

Chad Kenward, Shawn Houseman will serve in roles; Medina could add a third officer

Chad Kenward

MEDINA – The school district has hired two retired police officers to provide a security presence on campus this year.

The Medina Village Board, as part of its budget process last April, voted to end its contract with the school district where two Medina police officers served as a school resource officers.

The school district paid the village $82,500 towards each school resource officer. Village Board members said that didn’t fully cover the full costs of each officer, which Trustee Scott Bieliski said is about $125,000 to $130,000.

The school district has hired retired Medina Police Chief Chad Kenward and retired Brighton police officer Shawn Houseman to serve as school security. They will each be paid $53,000 for full-time work at the district this year. With the costs of insurance, FICA, Medicare, etc., the cost is close to what Medina has been paying per officer, said Dr. Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.

Shawn Houseman

The Board of Education may add a third officer during the school year, he said.

Kenward retired as police chief in June 2023. He has served as the school resource officer before during his law enforcement career.

Houseman retired from the Brighton Police Department in 2022 after 26 years in law enforcement. His career also included nearly five years with the Medina Police Department and six years as a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

The two school safety and security officers are authorized by the district to carry a firearm while on school property.

Retiring chief will join Major Felony Crime Task Force

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Mayor Marguerite Sherman presents a plaque to Todd Draper in appreciation for a 21-year career with the Medina Police Department.

Draper is retiring on Friday as Medina police chief. He has been in that role for about two years. He was previously a lieutenant and the department’s K9 handler.

“We appreciate all that you’ve done,” Mayor Sherman told Draper during Monday’s Village Board meeting. “It’s not an easy job.”

Draper will be joining the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force as an investigator. Sherman said she is happy he will continue to be working in law enforcement within the county.

The Village Board will interview six candidates for police chief with three interviews on Sept. 2 and then three more on Sept.9.

“Twenty one years is a long time,” Trustee Jess Marciano said about Draper’s career with the Medina PD. “He’s been a dedicated department head. He’ll be missed.”

Medina Police Chief Todd Draper accepts a plaque in appreciation of his service to the Medina Police Department the past 21 years.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Terry Buchwald portrays Elvis and rides a motorcycle down Main Street in Medina on Aug. 28, 2024 for the Super Cruise. The big cruise-in is back Wednesday in Medina with Elvis.

MEDINA – The super cruise will be back on Wednesday with perennial Elvis impersonator, Terry Buchwald. About 250 classic vehicles are expected for the special cruise-in on a Main Street in Medina.

The section of Main Street north of Center Street will be closed off to traffic. Classic cars are asked not to arrive before 5 p.m. They should enter the street from the north entrance by the American Legion or the west entrance by Zambistro off Pearl Street.

All makes and models are welcome, said Rollin Hellner, who has helped coordinate the cruise-in this year. Most of the events have been on Friday evenings at 615 West Ave., the parking lot for the senior center across from The Walsh.

Hellner owns The Walsh, which is the sponsor of the cruise-ins for the second year.

There will be awards in 20 categories including:

• Best Custom Truck – All years
• Best Custom Car – All years
• Best Modern American Car – Post 1985
• Best Original/Stock – All years
• Best Muscle Car – All years
• Best Drift Build – All years
• Best 4×4 – All years
• Best Lowrider – All years
• Best Motorcycle – All years
• Best Street/Hot Rod – All years
• Best Ford/Mercury – All years
• Best Mopar – All years
• Best GM – All years
• Best Jeep – All years
• Best European – All years
• Best JDM – All years
• Best Sports Car – All years
• Sponsor’s Choice (The Walsh) – All years
• Judge’s Choice – All years
• Best In Show – All years

It cost $10 to enter a vehicle for the judging. There is no charge for the public to come check out the cars and listen to the music.

Photo from Medina Police Department

SANBORN – Medina police officer Alex Villegas was among the graduates on Friday of the Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy. He will next complete supervised field training prior  to working on his own at the Medina Police Department.

Pictured from left include Lt. Christian Navas, Alex Villegas and Police Chief Todd Draper.

Law enforcement officers from Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties were part of the 84th Basic Course for Police at the academy, which was about 6 months of education and training.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library celebrated a ground-breaking today on a 4,785-square-foot addition on the back of the current library, which is 11,100 square feet.

The addition will create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, a teen room and 14 parking spots.

There would also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.

Library officials break ground with ceremonial shovels today. From left include trustees Steve O’Dea, Dave Schwert, Board President Cynthia Kiebala, trustees Isabella mark and Kathy Boice, and library director Kristine Mostyn.

The new addition is expected to be ready in September 2026.

Library Director Kristine Mostyn thanked the community for its support thus far for the addition.

The project is under the $5.2 million that was presented to the community for a Dec. 10, 2024 bond vote. That passed 223-214.

Mostyn said the total are now projected to be $4,980,323.

The construction bids totaled $3,892,623 with the following working on the project: Javen Construction of Rochester, general construction; TME Excavating of Hilton, site work; McGrain Mechanical of Rochester, HVAC; Erie Electric of Rochester, electric; LMC Industrial of Dansville, plumbing.

There also are expenses for soft costs – permits, legal, bonding, utility fees, inspections, and furniture, fixtures and equipment.

Jeanne Tuohey, a trustee for the Nioga Library System, praised Lee-Whedon for securing about $2 million in state funding towards the expansion, which also included acquiring two lots next door and demolishing the houses. The state is paying $1,669,444 of the construction costs for the addition.

Tuohey said libraries are much more than books. She said with the new meeting rooms and programming space, Lee-Whedon will become an even bigger community hub.

The expansion will go on the back of the current library, where there will also be a parking lot with 14 spaces.

The library is trying to raise $500,000 through a capital campaign in donations and already has 65 percent committed towards the project. Click here to see more on that campaign.

There is one anonymous donor at $50,000. Western New York Energy also gave $25,000. Jim and Barb Hancock also donated $25,000 and the new teen room will be named in their honor.

The library anticipates $2,839,556 in financing which would result in a tax impact of $34 per $100,000 of assessed property.

There were several people in the library today for the annual used book sale.

Many of the library events are in the open space inside. The “maker space” will be a separate room for some of the programs. The concerts will still be in the bigger open space.

The library received citations and commendations for breaking ground on the capital project. From left include Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman; Julia Bauer, community liaison for State Sen. Rob Ortt; library director Kristine Mostyn; and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

The front entrance will be upgraded as part of the project.

Passero Associates created this rendering of the front of the building, which includes an overhang near the entrance. This is part of a $5 million capital project at the library, which includes a 4,785-square-foot addition.

Provided photos

MEDINA – Dave Kusmierczak, left, accepts a $2,400 check on behalf of the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council from Dave Berry, president of the VFW Auxiliary to Lincoln Post 1483.

The van service is utilized by the veterans who need rides to medical appointments. They are taken to appointments by volunteer drivers.

The VFW Auxiliary 1483 held a chicken barbecue in May to support some of the programs the veterans and service members use in the community. The VFW Auxiliary would like to thank the community for supporting their Chicken BBQ, making this donation possible.

Dave Berry, president of the VFW Auxiliary to Lincoln Post 1483, is shown with one of the vans used to take veterans to medical appointments.

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Village of Medina has been offered a vacant lot at 115 Pearl St. The site is next to the Hometown Wellness Center.

MEDINA – The village has been offered a 100-by-132 foot vacant lot at 115 Pearl St.

The village can have it for free. It is being offered by 415 West Avenue LLC, which is owned by Dr. Syed Shah, a cardiologist.

Dr. Shah initially offered the land for the Medina Fire Department but that lot isn’t a good fit for the fire department, Mayor Marguerite Sherman said. The village instead could use it as a municipal lot.

The site used to have a structure on it, but that building was taken down several years ago.

The lot is between the Hometown Wellness Center at 119 Pearl St. and MDS Consultants at 105 Pearl St.

The village is doing a deed and title search on the property at 115 Pearl Street to ensure there isn’t a lien on it. That should cost less than $1,000.

The land about a decade ago was owned by Vincent Cardone and the Cardone Family Trust. The lot is currently assessed at $10,200.

The Village Board agreed to not have any citations go to the owner for tall weeds and grass while the property is in the process of being acquired.

The village is doing a title search to make sure there are no liens on the property.

Money goes to Cat by Cat Inc. that works with feral cat problem in Orleans County

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Caturday volunteers Shannon Blount, Ellen Blanc and Kelsey Dreisbach are shown at the Caturday fundraiser on Sunday where 184 baskets were up for raffle.

The event raised $29,000 for Cat by Cat Inc., which eclipsed the $24,000 from a year. Canalside has now hosted the fundraiser four years, raising $10,000 in 2022 and $18,000 in 2023.

Blount leads the local Cat by Cat Inc. that 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.

The team in Orleans County cares for about 150 cats a year. The last four years the local Cat by Cat has tended to 600 to 700 cats and adopted out about 100 a year.

“It’s a quality of life issue not only for the cats but for the community as well,” Blount said. “Nobody wants 100 stray cats wandering around.”

There were 184 gift baskets up for raffle. There were so many, the basket raffle was moved from outside Canalside Tattoo to a tent for the raffle.

That is up from the 150 baskets a year ago. Blount said many local businesses and residents contributed baskets to help support the cause.

Feral or community cats are a big problem all over the county, Blount said.

“Until you get the cats neutered and vetted, the cycle just continues,” she said.

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

Once a week Blount and volunteers take cats to vets in Blasdell and Hamburg for spay and neutering services, which is done at a deep discount.

“We absolutely need more volunteers to help drive,” Blount said.

To inquire about volunteering, go to the Cat by Cat website.

Canalside had 13 tattoo artists doing tattoos on Sunday for $100 each. They would do about 125 tattoos.

Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo, works on a Buffalo Bills tattoo for Chris Barrett of Lockport. Barrett was at Canalside for the first time on Sunday and was impressed with the atmosphere of the place, and the push to raise money for a cause in the community.

Barrett believes the Buffalo Bills will win the Super Bowl for the first time in their history this season.

‘This is the year,” he said. “It’s gonna happen.”

Shawn Ramsey, who is engaged to Shannon Blount, praised the tattoo artists for volunteering their time on Sunday. Canalside has six tattoo artists on staff, and seven other visiting artists were part of the day, as well as piercers and Marked. by Janna doing eyebrow wax and shaping.

C.J. Cruickshank, one of the tattoo artists at Canalside, works on a tattoo for Olivia Miller, 21, during Caturday. Miller also got a tattoo a year ago on Caturday. That raccoon tattoo has prompted by smiles and fun conversation in the past year, Miller said.

On Sunday, her new tattoo was of a cat falling asleep while reading a book. Miller said the tattoo was a birthday present from her father.

“It’s fun getting a silly animal tattoo,” she said.

Miller also wanted to support Cat by Cat which has helped her family with two cats.

Medina will perform show, ‘Fragile World’

Photos by Natalie Baron: Medina Marching Band students perform on Thursday. The band has 80 students this year, including 16 newcomers.

By Natalie Baron, Orleans Hub intern

MEDINA— The Medina Marching Band on Thursday gave the community with a preview of their upcoming performances. The band offered a sneak peak in the high school parking lot next to the band barn.

The marching band program features students from the junior-senior high school, grades 7-12. This year, the program has 80 kids, including lots of rookie members. The 16 rookies stepped forward to be recognized during their first band camp. There are 4 seniors this year: Hagen Van Leuven, Natalie Herbert, Mackenzie Poynter and Lyla Page.

Each year, the band develops a performance with a different theme.

“The theme is called ‘Fragile World,’” Director Matt Jaeger described. “It’s ‘The Way We Were,’ so it starts out dark and mysterious. You won’t hear them tonight, but there’s voiceovers that talk about how we are fragile and frail as a society. Then, it works into the end, which is joyous.”

Director Matt Jaeger speaks with the crowd of parents and other band supporters.

Medina will host the Home Show on Saturday, Sept. 20, with 11 bands part of the show. It will be the third week of the season and the band’s second show. During the season, the band will go to West Seneca, Medina, Oswego, Webster, Victor, Orchard Park and conclude at the dome in Syracuse.

Jaeger could not be prouder of the students. “These kids have worked hard this week,” he lauded. “It was really hot Monday and Tuesday, but they pushed through, and it’s exciting to watch them grow from the beginning all the way to where we are now. So, it’s a long week, but it’s a rewarding week. And this is the hardest week of the season. After this, it gets a little easier. It’s not as hot, the days aren’t as long. We have less time, but it’s like a breath, because we do a lot this week, and we go a little slower and easier for the rest of the time. It’s pretty cool.”

Color guard and the band together create quite the show.

Senior Drum Major Lyla Page remarked about the program, “It’s really great! As soon as you get into the Medina school district, you know it’s gonna be a music school. We rely very heavily on the arts, and being part of the marching band is just so fun, because there’s so many great supporters of it. As you can see, there’s a lot of parents! It’s a very involved community, so I really enjoy it.”

There was a sizeable crowd in attendance this Thursday.

Lyla conducts for the band positioned near the back row. “I do a lot of helping people with drill, do their feet and time, and I mainly just stand up there and wave my arms in time with the music. But, it’s also harder than it seems, because you have to remember all the cues and all the time signature changes. So, it can be pretty difficult.”

The band highlights a number of students in solos.

The drumline, pit percussionists, and color guard receive an extra day of practice to prepare them to work seamlessly with the rest of the marching band

“Because there’s so many different moving parts, we start them a little bit differently,” Front Ensemble Instructor Tiffany Organisciak said. “In the summertime, we’ll usually run a pit, battery, and guard rehearsal by itself, and then Thursday will be everyone.” 

The band works tirelessly to ensure the performances come together.

Money drop offs for registration, shoes, and fundraisers will take place on Tuesdays during the first half hour of practice, to be collected by a Booster. To sign up for the fall shows, reach out to Chaperone Chair Meghan Tuttle. The winner of the Fall Cash Raffle will be announced during the Home Show on September 20.

The band groups got together to share a cheer before dismissal for the day.