Photo by Ginny Kropf: This is the bomber jacket Scott Cielewich had made to duplicate one worn by his father Don, a B-17 pilot in World War II.

Editor’s Note: This is the third in a  three-part series about the Jack, Don and Scott Cielewich. 

MEDINA – By 2000, Don Cielewich’s son Scott’s interest in his dad’s service during World War II had peaked and he and his wife Jamie set out to find some answers.

He had tracked down Don’s co-pilot Leonard Moen in California and called him. Scott and Jamie were invited to visit him in California, and they spent several days there. The man owned a machine shop and took Scott and Jamie there. Then he went through the entire story of their mission.

“It was like it was yesterday,” Scott said. “The details were amazing. Later, he sent me an e-mail, so I had that for reference. I’ve kept it with all of dad’s memorabilia.”

Then he began thinking about what he was going to do with all the stuff, and that’s when the idea hit him about retracing his father’s last mission.

In 2018, Scott and Jamie left Orlando and flew to London, where a bus tour awaited them. One of the places they visited was Thorpe-Abbotts field, where his dad had flown out of. It was also the same place featured in the Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg series, “Masters of the Air.” Thorpe-Abbotts was a regular Air Force base when Don was there. The Corps of Engineers had built it out of farmland, and it had kind of reverted back, except for the runway and a World War II Museum.

The Bloody 100th Bomb Group flew out of there and were involved in all the big bombing missions of 1942, ’43 and ’44.

“They lost a lot of men and planes,” Scott said. “Leonard said when you were assigned there, it was a death sentence.”

As Scott and Jamie were getting off the bus, a man came up and asked if he was related to Don Cielewich.

“I told him that was my dad, and he said he wanted to show me something,” Scott said. “The English were so grateful for American support and intervention and what we did for their country. They still do archeological digs and find all kinds of things soldiers lost. At the end of the tour, we went in a control tower where there were little offices in back, and over one doorway was Dad’s and Mr. Moen’s names, with ‘Hard Luck’ burned into the wood. It was like a miracle.”

The men had leather jackets with a lamb’s wool collar and “Hard Luck” on the back.

“I am having one made now just like it,” Scott said.

Scott said he couldn’t believe the things that happened during their trip. They flew from England to Germany, where they discovered the tour agent had got in touch with a retired German officer who was a military historian.

“We went to the town where Dad’s plane went down, and we learned it didn’t just land in the forest, it hit a barn and exploded, killing 10 people,” Scott said.

With the help of the historian, they located kin of some of the deceased and met them.

“They opened their houses to us,” Scott said. “We weren’t sure how they’d welcome us. The community has a remembrance ceremony in the cemetery every year on the anniversary of the plane going down, and we send flowers every year.”

From there, Scott and Jamie were taken to the spot where his dad was captured by the German farmer, then to where he was interrogated. Moen told Scott that was where he and Don were reunited. Next they went to Stalag Luft III, which was Germany then, but it is Poland today. They visited the prison where Don was a POW. They have a museum there and Scott saw his father’s ID cards, with his picture and fingerprints.

“The guide took us on an extensive tour, including where the march started in January 1945. It was snowing and there were little provisions for the prisoners,” Scott said. “The first night the prisoners stayed in a church and we were taken there.”

They next flew to Munich, where they got to go to Moosburg and learned the full story of what happened there.

“The prison camp was built for 10,000, but by the time Dad got there, they had more than 70,000,” Scott said.

During their trip, they were interviewed by a German newspaper.

“What shocked me most during the trip was the fact Dad’s plane crashed into that barn, and meeting the families of those killed,” Scott said. “The lady of the house we met and I both cried, and Jamie gave her her scarf.”

Scott has since donated all his memorabilia to the World War II Museum in New Orleans.

He and Jamie collect antique automobiles and they have consigned a 1955 MG TF1500 to be sold and the proceeds donated to the World War II Museum, to pay for the two hotel rooms there which they have dedicated to the memory of their fathers.

In addition to Don’s service flying B-17s in World War II, Jamie’s father was a bombardier on B-24s in North Africa and Italy. He flew 50 combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Instead of returning home, he volunteered to become a B-51 pilot and completed his training as the war ended.

The rooms at the Higgins Hotel, part of the World War II Museum, each have a plaque with a picture of the men in uniform and a second plaque with a summary of their war service.

“My wife and I have made it our mission to keep the stories of these brave men alive to remind future generations of the debt we all owe that generation for responding to the call of service at our nation’s most vulnerable moment,” Scott said.

Click here to see the first part of the series: “The last ‘smithy’ in Medina served in World War I”

Click here to see the second part of the series: “WWII pilot from Medina survived being prisoner of war after bailing out of plane”

‘Our county was very unhealthy until 1828.’ – Jeremiah Brown, pioneer in Ridgeway

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, Number 4

“About the first of the next September (1816), myself and my wife and one child were taken sick, and until December following, we suffered everything but Death. Often during that time while myself and my wife were confined to our beds, our children were crying for food and neither of us had strength sufficient to enable us to get to the cupboard to help them.” (Jeremiah Brown, Ridgeway)

This account describes an illness encountered by the early settlers of Orleans County, they referred to it as “a fever and ague “(sounds like “ay-goo”). It was a miserable, debilitating condition which affected everybody, even the strongest person. It persisted for months and was recurrent.

“Our children, then four in number, had their full share of fever and ague. It was painful to see the little ones draw up to the fire while suffering the chill, then see them retire to their beds, tormented by the raging thirst and fever following the chills, while their mother could do little for them, except to supply their frequent requests for water.” (Asa Sanford, Barre)

In Albion, Lansing Bailey was sorely afflicted: his wife and brother died of the fever and ague in August 1813. After his wife’s funeral, some friends who lived on the Ridge took the children home with them. Bailey returned to his “desolate house to spend one of the loneliest nights I ever knew.”

The illness was thought to be part of the acclimating process, or “a penalty to Nature.” It occurred “whenever an opening was made in the forest; or the earth was turned over for the first time to the hot rays of the summer sun.”

Asa Sanford ascribed it to “clearing trees and building dams.” In 1817, Henry McCall and Robert Perry built a dam and mills at Sandy Creek to serve the twenty families living there. The dam raised the water to cover eighteen to twenty acres.

“The water killed the timber, and a terrible sickness followed among the inhabitants, about one quarter of whom died in one season. The well persons were not numerous enough to take care of the sick and bury the dead, and settlers from other neighborhoods came there and helped the needy ones. The mill dam was taken down and the sickness disappeared.”

We now understand that this was a malarial-type illness, caused by the mosquitoes who thrived in those water-logged areas. Those who had access to a doctor were prescribed “quinine and the blue pill” but that many people “just let it work itself off the natural way.” Adin Manly mentioned that some early Kendall residents drank whiskey to keep off the fever and ague.

Dr. White, who attended Lansing Bailey told Bailey that he could prescribe something that would stop it, but that he would be well advised not to take it. Bailey said that he would take it on his own responsibility. Dr. White gave him arsenic, Bailey took it.

“It stopped the ague, but I did not get well for a long time.”

Jeremiah Brown observed that “our county was very unhealthy until 1828.”

Asa Sanford recalled that “as the county was cleared up and the lowlands drained of their surface water, the people suffered less from ague.”

(Source: Pioneer History of Orleans County, Arad Thomas, 1872)

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Rob Klino, owner of Thistle Ridge at 418 Main St., Medina, pours a cup of hot cocoa for shopper Donna Irneweine of Albion, during his Shop, Sip and Win days on Friday and Saturday. (Right) Rob Klino stands among his collection of MacKenzie-Childs home decor in his Main Street store.

MEDINA – When it comes to creative marketing, Rob Klino has hit on the perfect way to entice customers out in the cold weather, while helping to promote a similar business in Medina.

Klino, owner of Thistle Ridge, came up with a unique idea to spruce up business in January, when things are usually slow.

He contacted Danette Oakes, who owns Filomena’s Favorites at 4237 South Gravel Rd., and is really a competitor, and asked her to join him in a new, fun way to drum up business.

He devised “Shop, Sip and Win,” in which he and Oakes each set up a hot cocoa bar in their stores. Shoppers walk in either store, shop, look around, have a cup of hot chocolate and a sweet snack and then fill out an entry, which they take to the other store and deposit in a drawing to win a $20 gift card.

“The customers loved it and it has been very productive,” Klino said.

Both he and Oakes said business has been unusually brisk both Friday and Saturday.

Danette Oakes, founder of Filomena’s Favorites at 4237 South Gravel Rd., holds portraits of her mom and dad, in whose store in Perry she learned how to treat customers as a child. The Walt’s Men and Boys Wear sign, under which she is standing, was the sign that hung on her parents’ business. Oakes partnered with Rob Klino in his Shop, Sip and Win event this weekend.

Donna Irneweine of Albion came into Thistle Ridge with her friend, Vickie Robinson of Lyndonville.

“We have been doing business with Rob for a long time and love to come in here and shop,” Irneweine said. “We are big followers of his estate sales. There are lots of treasures here, and we usually find something we want.”

Saturday was no exception, when Robinson spotted to antique metal boxes, which she had to have.

After enjoying a cup of hot, delicious cocoa, they were on their way to Filomena’s Favorites.

Klino opened Thistle Ridge in May 2023. He is planning to expand the consignment business and his line of MacKenzie-Childs home décor, which he describes as “primitive, farmhouse fabulous items.”

At Filomena’s Favorites, named after Oakes’ grandmother, she explained she got her first taste of working in a store when she was 8 or 10 and helped in her parents’ store, Walt’s Men and Boys Wear, in Perry.

“I started doing crafts and selling them when I was 21 and I’m 60 now,” she said. “I was on East Center Street and ran that for four years, then I purchased this building, which will be five years in August. I just love it here,” she said of the location, which used to be the Mill Run Restaurant.

Oakes was overjoyed that Klino reached out to her to participate in his promotion.

In May, June and July, Oakes runs a big flea market there, followed by an antique and homemade primitive show in September. She has added a mini shed with collectibles, she calls “Crabapple Creek,” and eventually wants to have a little village of single shops.

“I love Rob’s idea of ‘Shop, Sip and Win,’” Oakes said. “It is the first time in the eight years I’ve been in business someone has asked me to participate with them.”

She said she always tries to help anyone who needs it, so it is heartwarming someone wanted to help her. She sells candy bars to benefit PAWS Animal Shelter and spring bouquets for Hospice.

It’s a sure bet both Klino and Oakes will be receptive to trying Shop, Sip and Win again on a cold January day.

Press Release, Robert Batt, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair committee annually attends the NYS Association of Agricultural Fairs convention. This year held in Syracuse from Jan. 17-19 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown Hotel.

Highlights from this year include:

The major entertainment we’re bringing in this year includes Agri-golf, The Amazing Bubble Factory, and Aim High Canines Dog Show.

All three will have shows throughout the fair, with Agri-golf being open for all to play for free throughout the day, except during tournaments.

Fair Committee member Natalie Ricci meets a representative from Aim High Canines Dog Show.

Bands and music are also still being booked for the fair with Vinyl Recovery planned to play the Orleans Hub Stage on Saturday night. The fair is also looking for buskers interested in performing at the 2025 Fair from July 21 to 26.

The Amazing Bubble Factory also will be making its debut at the fair in July.

NYS has announced grant funding for the Agricultural Fairs Advertising, Promotion, and Education Program (AFAPEP) which has been awarded to all fairs and will support up to $10,000 for the promotion of our fair including advertising costs, unique educational exhibits or other promotions that enhance and encourage visitor participation and appreciation of agriculture and domestic arts.

Fair volunteers and CCE staff attended workshops including Marketing and Promotions of fairs, Succession planning, Self-Care as you Fair, Emergency Response during Festivals, Fairs, and large events, and other topics. The team also workshopped several new contests which will premiere at the fair including a basketball free throw challenge, rubber duck throwing contest, and disc golf tournament.

The Amazing Bubble Factory also will be making its debut at the fair in July.

Press Release

ALBION – For the second year Albion is hosting a Classical Music Series in 2025.  The performing groups will be the Wind Chamber Group of the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble, The Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble, The E-Yah-Pah-Hah Wind Quintet, and the Argos String Trio.

Starting us off on Feb. 8 will be the Wind Chamber Group of the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble performing a 4 p.m. recital at the Albion First Baptist Church, 30 West Park St.

The Wind Chamber Group is made up of small ensembles: a flute trio, a clarinet quintet, a bassoon duet, a saxophone quartet and a mixed woodwind ensemble with director Philip Briatico. All members are experienced musicians who play in numerous organizations throughout Monroe, Genesee and Orleans counties. Many are current or retired music teachers.

The program promises to be interesting and diverse, from classical works to popular pieces including long time favorites. The concert is free and open to the public.

The following concerts in the classical music series will be the full Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble, directed by Philip Briatico on May 3 in the Albion Middle School Auditorium at 4 p.m.

The E-Yah-Pah-Hah Wind Quintet will join the Cobblestone Society’s Summer Soirée on July 17, playing at 5 p.m. The soirée will be held at the gardens at Riley Place in Albion. The event is a summer favorite of the museum membership and community, enjoying a beautiful garden setting, music and fellowship.

The fourth concert of the series is the Argos Trio featuring Liana Kirvan, violin; Lars Kirvan, cello; and Ciao Wen Chen, piano. All are also members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert will be held at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, 10 East Park St. in Albion.  A fall date will be scheduled.

All concerts are free and open to the public. This series is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO Art!

LYNDONVIILE – The Board of Education has approved two construction to replace some of the roofs on the school and also for site work that includes a new track with synthetic lanes.

The Board last week accepted the low roofing bid of $498,000 from Weaver Metal & Roofing Company of Buffalo. It was the lowest of four bids, with the others at $506,850, $589,300 and $952,000. The new roofs do not include recent emergency roof projects.

The board also approved a site work contract for $2,047,700 to DiFiore Construction of Rochester. It was the lowest of six bids, with others ranging from $2,050,000 to $2,673,215.

The DiFiore bid just edged the $2,050,000 bid from Ingall’s Site Development.

The site work contract includes replacing the track with a new one with synthetic lanes.

Lyndonville hasn’t been able to host a home track meet for about 15 years due to the subpar state of the current facility, superintendent Sharon Smith said.

The new synthetic track will have a natural grass regulation soccer field in the middle and better drainage added for the site. The track will be able to be used by the community. The work is expected to get started in the spring.

The bids approved last week are phase one of an overall capital project totaling $19,505,384. The project was approved in a public vote on Dec. 14, 2023 with 97 yes and 36 no.

Phase two includes demolition of a wing known as the “metal building.” It will be replaced on the same footprint of four new classrooms. School officials say the metal building has outlived its expiration date, and it is not cost-effective to renovate.

The metal building was constructed in the 1970s as temporary classrooms and was expected to only last about eight years, Smith said.

The new classrooms will have bathrooms and will be multipurpose space that could be used by elementary grade levels or by high schoolers.

Phase two is expected to start in the spring 2026.

Lyndonville’s capital project also includes upgrades to the entrances of both school buildings for improved security and safety. There also will be heating and cooling (HVAC) improvements.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a high wind watch for Orleans County from Monday morning through Monday night.

Southwest winds from 30 to 40 miles per hour are expected with gusts up to 60 mph. The high wind watch also includes Niagara, Monroe, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming and Chautauqua counties.

The forecast for the next few days includes scattered flurries and a high of 29 today in Orleans County, and a mostly cloudy Sunday with a high of 30.

Monday will be partly sunny with a high of 32, followed by a mostly cloudy Tuesday with a high near 24.

Dan Dragula, Lyndonville’s Educator of the Year in 2020-21, embraces new role

Dan Dragula

LYNDONVILLE – The school district has a new business administrator who is already well-connected with students and staff.

Dan Dragula, a popular physics and science teacher, was appointed to the business administrator position last week. He had been working as the business administrator intern since July with business official Bart Schuler, who has retired after 2 ½ years with Lyndonville following a long career at Newfane. Schuler has been coming in the office once a week providing guidance for Dragula.

The new business administrator worked 11 ½ years as a Lyndonville teacher and was the district’s Educator of the Year in 2020-’21.

Dragula brought humor and creativity to his class lessons in physics and astronomy. He served as a class advisor, built sets for the school musical, and was a go-to person with sound, electrical, lights and technology. He also has been working in educational technology and integration.

“I love Lyndonville, the students, the community, and the school district,” Dragula said today. “We have amazing staff, faculty, and administration and this is where I wanted to work.”

Dragula said in his new role he can have an impact on the entire district and community. As a teacher he worked with about 100 students directly.

“In my new role, I can support 70 teachers, who impact 100 kids each,” he said. “My direct impact is diminished, but my overall impact is multiplied. By serving the community and the district behind the scenes, I can now serve more students than I could in my previous classroom.”

Dragula enrolled in SUNY Brockport’s School District Business Leader program in 2023. The certification program requires 20 graduate hours in budgeting, accounting, school finances, school law, and data management.

He has earned his initial certification and has 20 more graduate hours and needs to pass two more state tests to earn his permanent certification. He expects to complete have the permanent certification next spring.

Sharon Smith, Lyndonville’s district superintendent, said Dragula has proven to be an asset to the school district, and now is doing it in a different role.

“He’s a great guy,” Smith said. “Kids and parents really respect and love him. He has built great relationships with kids and families.”

He brings a strong work ethic and diligence to the details as school administrator.

“He believes he can help more people,” Smith said about the new role for Dragula. “He has a servant’s heart.”

ALBION – It’s been a month of transition for The Lake County Pennysaver since it was sold to Featured Media, owner of about a dozen Pennysavers including the the Genesee Valley Pennysaver in Batavia.

The Lake Country Pennysaver has gone from being delivered by carriers to the Postal Service. The Postal Service is delivering the weekly publication to over 19,000 households in Orleans County, and more drop sites will be added in the county, said Brad London, sales manager for the Pennysaver.

He is getting good feedback from the community about the reliable delivery of the Pennysaver throughout the county. He wanted to dispel rumors that the paper isn’t available for home delivery. He said the agreement with the Postal Service is working out well and will continue.

The Pennysaver also is available online by clicking here.

ALBION – Current climate changes and threats to peace, safety and security have prompted the World Life Institute to create a Global Nuclear Awareness Program.

At the Hoag Library at 7 p.m. Wednesday, WLI will sponsor an evening of engaging and thought-provoking speakers who will share their expertise on critical issues surrounding nuclear energy, climate change and the implications of global conflict, according to Linda Redfield Shakoor, deputy director of WLI’s Global Nuclear Awareness Program.

“We focus our presentations on two general areas – the effects of radiation on humans and the environment with an emphasis on the risks and consequences of nuclear power plant accidents, and the direct effects and local consequences of nuclear war,” Shakoor said.

Global Nuclear Awareness is a program of WLI headquartered in Medina. It was founded by the late Col. Dr. Asaf Durakovic, the director of radiology and nuclear medicine for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Wilmington, Del.

Highlights of Wednesday’s event will be “The Fukushima Accident…or is it,” and “What’s War Got to do with it? Nuclear Winter, Nuclear Warming and Rapid Climate Change.”

The session on the Fukushima Accident will be presented by Stella Gresham, a member of Durakovic’s team who coordinated and presented Radiation Emergency Management medical education lectures at Veterans Affairs hospitals and professional and public education programs sponsored by Brockport State College. She continues to be a researcher and presented for Global Nuclear Awareness, giving public presentations locally and at Niagara University.

Tedd Weyman, deputy director of the Uranium Medical Research Center and a lecturer for WLI’s public, community and school programs on Global Nuclear Awareness, will lead the presentation on “What’s War Got to do With it? Nuclear Winter, Nuclear Warming and Rapid Climate Change.”

Weyman was the field team lead for UMRC’s studies into armed forces contamination and civilian effects of uranium weapons used by the coalition in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza. He will explore the sudden climate effects of nuclear war and its potential to modify global and local temperatures, affecting food production and person security in North America.

In a press release from Samiah Ghani, a member of the Global Nuclear Awareness Program, she states this is a unique opportunity for individuals interested in learning about nuclear energy’s role in global security and the environment to engage directly with experts in the field.

“Whether you are a professional in the field or simply curious about the subject, this event offers valuable insights into one of the most pressing issues of our time,” Ghani reports.

To secure a spot at the presentation, individuals are encouraged to register by visiting www.globalnuclearawareness.org or e-mailing info@globalnuclearawareness.org.

Shelby seeks more time for wind energy regulations

Photo by Tom Rivers: The 17-member Orleans County Planning Board met for the first time this year on Thursday in the legislative chambers at the Orleans County Administration Building. The board re-elected Brian Napoli of Ridgeway as chairman and Dan Strong of Carlton as the vice chairman.

ALBION – The Town of Albion is working on updating regulations for larger solar projects and also wants an ordinance for battery storage utilities.

The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday backed six-month moratoriums in Albion for constructions of commercial solar farms and construction of battery storage utilities.

Albion has three commercial solar farms under construction and another one has been approved. Dan Strong, a member of the County Planning Board, said Albion wants to address “some glitches and holes” in its ordinance and have an option for host fees to allow the town to receive a larger percentage of the revenue for the projects. Right now with a PILOT the revenue is shared in thirds among the town, school district and county.

The town approved regulations for solar farms in 2017.

The Albion Town Board has scheduled public hearings on the moratoriums for 5 p.m. on Feb. 10. During a moratorium no applications shall be considered or processed by the town while it works to update or write its ordinances.

The town currently doesn’t have any battery storage utilities, including among the four commercial solar projects, Strong said.

Albion approved regulations for battery storage systems in 2021, but wants to update those, he said.

The Planning Board on Thursday also gave its OK for a six-month extension of a moratorium in Shelby on wind energy systems. The Planning Board approved a six-month moratorium in July 2024, but the town wants more time to go through and approve the regulations.

Kirk Myhill, the Shelby Planning Board chairman, said the Planning Board has made its recommendation to the Town Board, which is now reviewing the ordinance.

During the moratorium, town officials will suspend any permitting, processing, interpreting or deliberating upon wind energy projects and wind energy overlay districts.

Planners recommend Kendall approve farmworker housing for Herberle Farms

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board recommended the Village of Medina approve a variance to allow for a bigger parking lot for Oak Orchard Health at 911 West Center St.

The board on Thursday evening also recommended the Town of Kendall approve the site plan and permit for farmworker housing at 17288 Lakeshore Rd.

Oak orchard Health opened a healthcare center in June 2022 at the former office for Dr. Surinder Bath, a Medina physician for nearly 47 years. He retired in September 2021.

The office currently has eight parking spaces. Oak Orchard wants to expand the lot by seven feet to the east, which would then allow it to have 14 spaces. Two of those spots would be designated as handicapped accessible.

Medina’s code requires a 10-foot setback to a property line for a parking lot. Oak Orchard would need a 7-foot variance to expand the lot and only have a 3-foot buffer to the neighboring property line, where there is a privacy fence.

County Planning Board member Gary Daum of Lyndonville stated his support for the variance saying it would allow Oak orchard to better serve the community, and help patients to park closer to the building, especially those with mobility challenges.

Oak Orchard is hoping to have the expanded parking lot done in the spring.

In Kendall, Heberle Farms is working to establish farmworker housing at 17288 Lakeshore Rd., near the Monroe-Orleans Countyline Road.

The property is outside the agricultural district so the housing requires a permit and site plan review from the town. Joe Heberle, the farm owner, told the Planning Board he will apply to have the property go in the ag district during the review process later this year beginning in July.

Heberle Farms has expanded recently, acquiring 100 more acres while also planting more high-density orchards. Heberle said he needs more farmworkers to bring in a crop of 200,000 bushels of apples.

A smaller double-wide structure would first be used for five or six farmworkers, Heberle said. The Orleans County Health Department will determine the maximum number of workers that can stay there in an upcoming inspection.

A larger brick house will likely be a two-year renovation effort, Heberle said. Bruce Newell, a Planning Board member from Kendall, said town officials are pleased to see the brick building getting attention.

Heberle said the farmworker housing will be used from May to November.