Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orly the Bicentennial Ox was on the move this morning, going from the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds to Hoag Library in Albion.

Keith Ward, left, and Vincent Zona, motor equipment operators for the Orleans County DPW, move the painted fiberglass statue from a trailer into the library. The ox isn’t too heavy, approximately 60 pounds.

Orly was painted during last July’s fair by Albion native Stacey Kirby Steward. One side has an agricultural theme honoring the pioneer settlers and the other side has a 4-H and County Fair theme.

The ox was moved the library today so people could get a close look at him.

There will be an informational meeting at noon on Saturday at Hoag for artists, organizations, businesses and other sponsors to hear how they could be part of having more oxen painted around the county.

The ox was featured during the Medina Parade of Lights on Nov. 30 and then Albion Christmas parade on Dec. 14.

Library director Betty Sue Miller sizes up Orly with the DPW workers, who also include Wayne Krull, the deputy commissioner for the DPW.

Miller noted the library has several other paintings and a large mural done by Stacey Kirby Steward.

Orly will greet library patrons for maybe the next three months or so. He might be on the move again on April 15, which is the county’s official 200^th birthday. April 15, 1825 was the day the State Legislature first recognized Orleans County. Before that Orleans was part of Genesee County.

Don Cielewich piloted aptly named Hard Luck, a B-17 bomber

Provided photos: This formation of B-17s shows Hard Luck, center, the plane in which Medina native Don Cielewich went down on a bombing mission in Germany.

Editor’s note: This is the second part of a three-part series about Medina native Don Cielewich and his family.

MEDINA – Don Cielewich enlisted in the Army July 1, 1943 and became part of the Army Air Corps. He went to Transition Flying School in Sebring, Fla. and Advanced Flight School in Seymour, Ind., before eventually joining the 100th Bomb Group in Scotland as a lieutenant.

The mission which changed his life began on Aug. 14, 1944, when he was assigned to pilot the B-17 Hard Luck. Their target in Germany was Mannheim/Ludwigshaven. This was his first time flying that plane and on runup for takeoff, he realized it was aptly named. He reported to his commander the engines were shot, but he refused to let Don abort the mission.

The late Don Cielewich of Medina wears a bomber jacket and headset in this photo from World War II, when he was a B-17 pilot and POW.

News accounts of the mission say Hard Luck was shot down, but his co-pilot Lenard Moen of Whittier, Calif., who Don’s son Scott visited in later years, said that wasn’t true. They ran out of gas.

“When they took off, the plane was struggling,” Scott said. “Lenard said dad was a strong guy and he was struggling to get the plane over a grove of trees at the end of the runway. He was pulling with all he had and just touched the tops of the trees. As they were turning for the bombing run, the engines quit.”

Moen said they had realized with the increased manifold pressure, they were consuming way too much fuel, and Don dumped the bombs when the first engine quit. He gave orders for the crew to bail out the rear side door and set the plane on autopilot.

Don and Moen tried to bail out the nose hatch, but had trouble getting it open. They were at 1,400 feet over mountains when the hatch finally gave way. The plane was at 500 feet when Don bailed out and his chute didn’t fully open. He landed in a tree and was hurt.

The men were separated and Moen walked for three days through the mountains until he was captured. Don attempted to make his way to France, following a railroad line. He traveled at night and found shelter during the day. Both men were taken in by German farmers who discovered them and then turned them over to German officers.

Fritz Rey was the farmer who found Don and fed him a raw egg and a glass of home brew. They cooked another for him to take with him, but it was taken by the authorities to whom he was turned over. They next took him to a large Gestapo interrogation center outside Frankfort, where he spent six days and nights in solitary confinement before being moved to Stalag Luft III, 90 miles southeast of Berlin.

In January 1945, Don and 10,000 American officers were forced to walk for 11 days, covering 110 miles, before being loaded into boxcars for transport to Moosburg. Here, he spent the remainder of his confinement until being liberated April 29, 1945 when General George Patton’s tanks rolled through the front gates.

Don was home from the war about a year when a letter arrived from Fritz Rey, inquiring how he fared during imprisonment and if he ever thought of the egg Fritz gave him. He went on to tell Don because he had given him that egg, he was reported to the circuit prison. But he said his concern for Don was because he had spent four years as a prisoner of war in France during World War I and could put himself in Don’s plight.

Click here to see the first part of the series.

CHILDS – Virtual Lecture Series have become a popular way for the public to support the Cobblestone Museum and enjoy programs, even when the museum is closed. They also make it possible for speakers to share their expertise on interesting subjects with members and friends of the museum, without having to travel, said Sue Bonafini, assistant director of the of the Cobblestone Museum.

Bonafini has announced the museum will host three monthly history-based virtual programs, via Zoom, beginning with a presentation at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 on Elizabeth Roseberry Mitchell’s “Graveyard Quilt.” Bonafini shares that this extraordinary textile was created by Mitchell and her daughters around 1843 to memorialize their deceased family members.

The quilt was designed with a graveyard in the center, bordered by a picket fence, trellis and climbing roses. It’s an unusual mourning quilt of this period because of the presence of coffins, both in the cemetery and around the perimeter of the quilt, Bonafini explained.  Additional coffins were incorporated with the intent of adding the names of new family members as they arrived.

Jennifer Downs, curator at the Kentucky Historical Society, where the quilt is housed, will share a program of the quilt’s history within the context of the 19th century Kentucky and Victorian mourning customs. Because of its fragility, the quilt is rarely shown to the public, Downs has explained.

Registration online and a donation are required to take part in the program, and will close soon, Bonafini said. PayPal and credit card payments are accepted, and all proceeds benefit the Cobblestone Society and Museum.

Official sponsor of this program is Marie Bell, owner of Country Treasures Quilt Shop in Brockport.

Pat’s Auto Repair in Albion is the sponsor for the remaining two virtual programs.

For assistance or information, call (585) 589-9013 or watch the CobblestoneMuseum.org website to view full details of the February and March programs.

February’s program on the 27th at 7 p.m. will be “U.S. Grant & Civil Rights,” presented by Ben Kemp, operations manager of the U.S. Grant Cottage State Historic Site. This fitting program during Black History Month discusses subject matter that helps to highlight a very difficult but promising period of the Civil Rights struggle and Grant’s role in it, Bonafini said.

The March 20 presentation at 6:30 p.m. will feature Elizabeth Farrell, assistant director of Education and Public Programming at the Erie Canal Museum, who will share “Waterway of Change: Women and the Erie Canal. “ This celebrates the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Erie Canal and Women’s History Month by joining the virtual audience for this presentation, according to Bonafini.

“Learn how the fight for women’s rights grew out of the changes brought about by the Erie Canal and the movement’s dependence on the networks that the canal facilitated,” Bonafini added.

Photos courtesy of Kendall Lions Club

KENDALL – The Kendall Lions Club last week presented $1,000 checks to the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia and the pre-diabetes program at the Orleans County Health Department.

The donations were made towards the Lions Club’s global causes of vision and diabetes. They money came from the proceeds from the Kendall Lions Club’s annual Christmas Party Auction.

In the photo at left Lions Club President Zina Cappatelli presents a check to Nola Goodrich-Kresse, a public health educator and public information officer, for the Orleans County Health Department to support the pre-diabetes education program.

In the photo at right, Lions Club President Zina Cappatelli presents a check to Batavia School for the Blind’s Christopher Wolsey and Jackie Simpson.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The Holley Waterfalls were nearly frozen in ice on Wednesday when then the temperatures were near 0 in the morning and peaked at about 12 degrees.

The falls remained an attraction with several people stopping by on Wednesday afternoon.

Despite the ice some water kept flowing. There was still a roar from the waterfalls.

After four days in a deep freeze with temperatures typically in the teens or less, the temp will “warm up” to a high near 24 today. The highs in the following days include 22 on Friday, 29 on Saturday and 29 on Sunday.

The Holley Waterfalls are about 35 feet high and carry water from the east branch of Sandy Creek.

This bird stopped by the frozen falls on Wednesday afternoon.

Holley has a pedestrian bridge near the falls.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Photo by Mike Groll/Office of the Governor: Gov. Kathy Hochul today launched her statewide push for distraction-free schools at Farnsworth Middle School in Guilderland near Albany.

Governor Kathy Hochul today stood with students, parents, teachers, social justice advocates and law enforcement officials to launch her push to restrict smartphone use in K-12 schools statewide.

The launch of this new effort follows the introduction of this legislative proposal as part of Governor Hochul’s FY 2026 Executive Budget Proposal. Additionally, Governor Hochul today released a new report with recommendations gathered from her statewide listening tour this past year with students, parents and teachers regarding excessive smartphone use in schools.

This effort continues Hochul’s commitment to protecting youth mental health and promoting student success in the digital age, following her action last year to secure and sign a first-in-the-nation law to restrict addictive social media feeds for minors.

“From parents and teachers, to social justice and law enforcement leaders, New Yorkers agree that our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said. “Using the insights from my statewide listening tour, this comprehensive proposal to restrict smartphone use in schools will ensure that New York’s statewide standard for distraction-free learning delivers the best results for our kids and educators.”

 The governor’s legislative proposal to create a statewide standard for distraction-free schools in New York can be seen here. This new legislation covers requirements and details including:

• No unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day, including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods.
• Allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students.
• Proposes $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free.
• Requires schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day if needed.

The Governor’s proposal also clarifies that students would still be authorized to have access to simple cell phones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.

Additionally, the Governor’s proposal includes several exemptions to smartphone restrictions, including for students who require access to an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, where required by a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), or for other academic purposes, such as translation.

This new requirement would be in place starting in the 2025-26 School Year and would apply to all schools in public school districts, as well as charter schools and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).

Governor Hochul’s new report “More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools” includes:

Findings from the Governor’s statewide listening tour, including:

• Smartphones distract students and inhibit learning and creativity
• Phone-free environments do not compromise student safety
• Phone-free environments support the mental health of students and teachers

NYSUT President Melinda Person said, “Today marks a pivotal step in our push to create distraction-free learning environments, ensuring our schools are sanctuaries for learning, growth and genuine connection. This movement is growing larger and stronger every day, and has brought together parents, teachers, law enforcement, and local officials who all recognize the crucial importance of giving children a school day free from the pressures of social media and other distractions. I want to thank Gov. Hochul for keeping student mental health a top priority, and for her clear dedication to the success and well-being of the next generation.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These three friends from Lyndonville head down the sledding hill at Bullard Park today around 2 p.m. Carson Woodworth, 7, is in center next to Emma Lear, 9, with Richard Burch, 5, at the far right.

The trio zooms down the hill with Emma having a wipeout not too far into the descent.

They came from Lyndonville with their families for their favorite sledding hill. There was no school today due to the frigid cold. Even though the temperature was 12 degrees, it didn’t seem too bad because there was barely a breeze.

These three are on top of the hill and headed down together. From left to right include Nick Luft, 15; Walker Davey, 16; and Logan Kast, 16.

The trio has fun near the bottom of the hill with their sleds cutting through the cold snow. Front to back include Walker Davey, Logan Kast and Nick Luft.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

ALBANY – As part of Governor Hochul’s recently unveiled 2025 State of the State, Governor Hochul today announced the Department of Financial Services has posted proposed regulations to enhance consumer protections against unfair overdraft fees.

These regulations ensure consumers will no longer be burdened with overdraft fees for minor transactions and require banks to provide timely notifications to consumers about overdraft fees to improve transparency.

The proposed regulations eliminate the most exploitative and deceptive banking fees, cap overdraft fees, strengthen customer communications and establish stricter transaction processing requirements. State-chartered banks would be prohibited from:

• Charging overdraft fees on overdrafts of less than $20.
• Charging overdraft fees that exceed the overdrawn amount.
• Charging more than three overdraft or non-sufficient funds (“NSF”) fees per consumer account per day.
• Charging NSF fees for instantaneously declined electronic transactions.
• Charging multiple NSF or overdraft fees for the same transaction, including when a merchant resubmits a declined transaction.
• Charging a “sustained,” “continuous,” or “daily” fee for each day an overdraft balance is not repaid.
• Charging double fees to cover an overdraft, such as one fee for automatically transferring funds from another account and a second fee for the overdraft itself.
• Processing electronic debit transactions in a manner intended to maximize the number of overdraft and NSF fees.
• Charging an overdraft fee for an electronic transaction when the consumer’s account indicates sufficient funds at the time the transaction was initiated.

“With hidden fees and unfair practices, it has become increasingly more difficult for hard-working New Yorkers to keep up,” Governor Hochul said. “It is time that we hold banks accountable and lighten the burden of high overdraft fees for minor transactions to keep New Yorkers’ hard-earned money in their pockets.”

In 2023, the New York State Legislature passed, and Governor Hochul signed into law, legislation granting DFS additional authority to combat unfair bank fee practices. The Governor’s affordability agenda is focused on easing the financial burden on New Yorkers by addressing unfair practices and ensuring transparency in essential services.

From combating exploitative fees to expanding access to affordable housing and child care, she remains committed to creating a more equitable and affordable New York for all residents.

New York State Department of Financial Services Superintendent Adrienne Harris said, “A healthy market grows when consumers have confidence and trust in the products offered and the providers offering them. Today’s proposed regulation ensures that consumers will no longer be taxed with surprising and disproportionate fees for using the overdraft services provided with their bank accounts.”

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – Sheriff Christopher Bourke is warning community members about a scam currently circulating in the area.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has received reports that individuals are receiving phone calls from scammers who claim to be members of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. These fraudulent callers are demanding payments via Venmo, or other electronic payment methods in exchange for clearing outstanding warrants.

If you receive a call like this, do not provide any personal information, financial details, or make any payment. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will never request payment to resolve warrants or other law enforcement matters over the phone.

These calls are a scam and should be treated as such. If you are contacted in this manner, please hang up immediately and report the incident to our office.

Community members are urged to be vigilant and to report any suspicious calls or other fraudulent activity to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office at (585) 589-5527.

The area is in a deep freeze with temperatures plunging below 0 overnight and early this morning.

The Buffalo airport dropped below 0 for the first time since Feb. 1, 2019, nearly six years ago, while the Rochester airport went below 0 for the first time since Feb. 4, 2023, nearly two years ago, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

A cold weather advisory is in effect for Orleans County until 11 a.m. today with bitterly cold wind chills from 15 to 20 below 0.

Today’s high temperature in Orleans County is forecast to reach 15 degrees.

All five school districts in Orleans County have cancelled school today due to the extreme cold.

All five school districts will be closed on Wednesday due to the extreme cold weather.

Wednesday is forecast for a high of 14 with wind chill values as low as minus 15 degrees. The morning temperature will be below 0.

Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina all have cancelled classes on Wednesday. The districts said students taking Regents will be updated on when they will take the test.

District will work with Orleans/Niagara BOCES to pick successor

Sharon Smith

LYNDONVILLE – Sharon Smith, the school superintendent for the past three years, announced she will be retiring on Aug. 1.

“It has been my greatest honor to serve as the Lyndonville Central School District Superintendent,” Smith said in a letter to the Board of Education on Jan. 14. “I am proud of the work accomplished together with my administrative team, faculty, staff and the Lyndonville Board of Education.”

Smith’s educational career spans 40 years, with her first 22 years as a teacher and the past 18 as an administrator. Prior to being Lyndonville’s school superintendent, she worked three years for Lyndonville as Director of Instruction and Student Services.

Previously, she worked as Kendall’s elementary principal, a curriculum coordinator for Frontier Schools and assistant principal, CIO and grants coordinator for Newfane schools. Prior to her administrative career, she worked as an elementary teacher for 22 years.

“I am so grateful for all the opportunities afforded me in my 40-year career, but it has been my greatest honor to serve as the Lyndonville Superintendent of Schools,” Smith wrote to the Board of Education.

Smith helped lead the district through a successful vote on a $19.5 million capital project. That was approved on Dec. 14, 2023.

Jerod Thurber, president of the Lyndonville BOE, said praised Smith for her service to the school district.

“We wish her the best in this next chapter of her life,” Thurber said.

The board will work with Dr. Taweepon Farrar, district superintendent of the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, in the search for a new district superintendent. This consultation service is provided to the district at no cost, Thurber said.

“A defined timeline will be shared with the community in February,” Thurber said in a letter posted on the district website. “Information about the search and critical updates will be provided to the community regularly.”

He welcomed input from residents and district stakeholders in the selection of the next superintendent.

“The Lyndonville Central School District Board of Education is committed to ensuring our students continue to receive exceptional education and set their path for future success,” Thurber wrote in the letter. “To uphold this commitment, our community must come together and work on finding an outstanding superintendent who will lead our schools into the future with vision, excellence and tiger pride.”

Meeting on Saturday at Hoag Library will go over initiative to help celebrate county’s bicentennial

Photo by Tom Rivers: This ox painted with an Orleans County Fair and agricultural theme is shown in Albion’s parade on Dec. 14.

ALBION – The Orleans County Bicentennial Committee is urging artists and organizations to be part of public art project featuring fiberglass oxen.

The oxen bodies can be painted in themes celebrating the local community as part of the county’s 200thanniversary this year.

A first ox was painted during the Orleans County 4-H Fair last July. The ox then was featured during the Medina Parade of Lights on Nov. 30 and then Albion Christmas parade on Dec. 14.

The Town of Clarendon has since bought an ox body. The Bicentennial Committee also is planning to purchase an ox and have it painted to be displayed on county property in Albion. The Friends of the Orleans County Marine Park also is pursuing an ox and artist to have a painted ox at the County Marine Park in Carlton.

The Bicentennial Committee will have an informational meeting at noon on Saturday at Hoag Library in Albion to go over the costs of acquiring an ox statue and having it delivered. The ones at the Fairgrounds and for Clarendon were bought from a manufacturer in Texas and then shipped by FedEx.

Each organization, business or municipality that acquires an ox will need to work out a contract with an artist to paint the ox body.

Albion native Stacey Kirby Steward painted the ox at the fairgrounds. That ox will be at Hoag for artists and others to get a close look at.

The committee also will be available to try to connect organizations with artists and help brainstorm themes for the oxen.

More information about the painted oxen should be available soon on the County’s Bicentennial page.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released the following statement after the release of Ryan Corbett, who is from Dansville in Livingston County.

“After 894 long days, Ryan Corbett is finally being reunited with his family. These past nearly 900 days have been incredibly challenging for the Corbett family, yet the resilience and strength demonstrated by Anna, Ketsia, Miriam, and Caleb have been nothing short of inspiring.

“It has been our privilege to advocate for the Corbett family in Congress. We are especially glad that, through our efforts, the Corbett’s were able to meet with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and other members of the Trump administration even before President Trump was sworn into office.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to President Trump, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and the incoming Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Adam Boehler, for their dedication to bringing Ryan home. Today is a momentous day for our community and our nation, and we are thrilled that Ryan will finally be back where he belongs—at home with his family.”

Editor’s Note: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer released the following statement:

“After over two years of being unjustly and wrongfully detained by the Taliban, Ryan Corbett, praise God, is now finally on his way home. It is a blessing. In just a few hours he will be on American soil once again. I met with Ryan’s wife Anna and his beautiful children dozens of times, and worked alongside them to make sure everyone knew Ryan’s story.

“Building bipartisan support for Ryan’s release and elevating his case to the highest levels of government. Even in the darkest moments, they never gave up, never got angry, they just persisted persisted persisted. Thank you to President Biden, National Security Advisor Sullivan, and the bipartisan coalition that worked to ensure Ryan’s release. Everyone in Western NY can smile today knowing that Ryan is coming home. I look forward to welcoming Ryan back to Western New York very soon.”