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.”

MEDINA – The Medina school district is canceling after-school activities today with a snow band to hit this afternoon, bringing a half inch to an inch of snow per hour, the National Weather Service said.

About 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected in part of Orleans and Niagara counties, affecting Niagara Falls, Lockport, Middleport, Medina and Millville areas.

Plaque for Jack Cielewich will be restored noting Medina’s last blacksmith shop in the Canal Basin

Provided photos: This was the blacksmith shop owned by the late John “Jack” Cielewich, the last blacksmith in Orleans County, before it was demolished in 1979. Jack’s grandson Scott Cielewich of Florida has agreed to pay for restoration of the plaque.

Editor’s Note: The following story will run in three parts, highlighting the career of Medina’s last blacksmith, John “Jack” Cielewich; his son, the late Don Cielewich, who became top executive for Marine Trust, was a B-17 pilot and POW in World War II; his son Scott’s journey to retrace his father’s last mission in Europe; and efforts to restore a historic plaque in the Canal Basin paying tribute to Don’s father, Jack Cielewich.

MEDINA – A Medina native who recently reached out to Mayor Marguerite Sherman about restoring a historic plaque paying tribute to his grandfather has brought back a lifetime of memories for the family and friends.

Scott Cielewich, who lives in Florida, is the son of the late Don and Ruth Cielewich, both Medina natives. Don was the son of John Cielewich, a well-known and much-loved Medina businessman, who ran a blacksmith shop in the Canal Basin.

This story was brought to light by Chris Busch, the Godson of Don Cielewich, and whose parents were lifelong friends of Don and Ruth.

Busch was in junior high school when he became acquainted with John “Jack” Cielewich. He and his friend Randy Holbrook wandered into the blacksmith shop one day after school. By then, Jack had stopped blacksmithing, but would craft an occasional piece out of iron, and his craftsmanship fascinated the young boys.

Jack had created an antique shop there by then, and had a lot of military items, which captured Busch’s eye. He and Randy visited the shop almost every day. The interests fostered there resulted in Busch beginning to collect memorabilia from both World War I and II.

The plaque will be refurbished. It highlights the last blacksmith shop in Orleans County.

Jack had served in World War I and the stories he told Busch and Holbrook kept them wide-eyed and rapt with fascination, Busch said. Jack was drafted in April 1918 and served as a lanyard man on a French 75mm gun with the 308 Battalion Field Artillery. He spent 122 straight days on the front and participated in many of the great actions of the war. He endured gas attacks and constant shelling.

“We absolutely loved him,” Busch said.

John “Jack” Cielewich was the son of William Cielewich, who immigrated in 1889 from Poland, where he had been a blacksmith for 63 years. Jack began as a blacksmith in 1922, and bought the business from his father in 1946, when they built the shop in the basin. He retired from blacksmithing in 1956 and began buying and selling antiques and collectibles.

On Aug. 2, 1979, an editorial in the Medina Daily Journal paid tribute to the blacksmith shop’s final day.

It read, “It took only an hour or so to reduce it to kindling wood and cart it away, but with it went centuries of an industry that once was one of Medina’s most needed and frequented.

“The former Cielewich blacksmith shop became the victim of the bulldozer and the debris was carted away to make room for additional parking space in the canal basin area. It was the last reminder of a half dozen or more ‘smithy’ establishments that were a flourishing necessity back in the horse and buggy days.

“The small building on Mill Alley was donated to the village by Don Cielewich, son of the last of the ‘smithies’ in Medina. The late Jack Cielewich, who in his later years forsook the anvil to pursue his hobby of antique collecting, was the last of the family to be identified with the profession.”

This story continues with Scott’s offer to pay for restoration of John’s deteriorated historic marker in the canal basin.

Because of his connection to the family, Busch, who is president of Orleans Renaissance Group, told the mayor ORG would coordinate the restoration of Jack’s plaque.

“It’s in pretty rough shape,” Busch said. “Once it has been fully refurbished, we will hold off on reinstalling it in the basin until the New York Forward grant work unfolds. We’ll then make a determination as to how and where we might display it in a more suitable manner.”

Busch reached out to Scott to let him know he would be overseeing the restoration.

“During the e-mail exchange, I told Scott I had watched ‘Masters of the Air,’ and while watching the combat scenes, I thought emotionally about Don’s experience. Our dads were both World War II pilots. It was then Scott shared with me his journey to retrace his father’s flight and capture.”

Regarding Don, Busch said Jack once told him the conditions in the POW camp were desperate.

“He recounted one story where the guards would receive potatoes, boil water and pour it over them, then give the water to the prisoners as their ‘potato soup,’ and eat the potatoes themselves,” Busch said.

Don made a name for himself in the banking world and rose to a prestigious position with Marine Trust. Starting as a mail clerk in 1947 at Medina’s Marine office, he retired in 1987 as president and chief executive of Marine’s Delaware Bank. He won numerous awards in Delaware and in 2009 was named to Medina High School’s Alumni Hall of Fame. Wherever he lived throughout his life, he was a pillar of his community.

It was Don’s service in World War II and Scott’s desire to retrace his father’s military experience which the next two parts of this series will highlight.

In addition to Don’s military service, Jamie’s father was a B-24 pilot in World War II. Before his death, Scott said a B-24 was touring the country and came to Florida. They wanted to take her father for a ride, but he declined.

“I just can’t do it,” he told them. “I still have nightmares about those planes.”

Like Jamie’s dad, Don never talked about the war.

“I heard bits and pieces when I was young, but I just thought my dad went to war,” Scott said. “I was always in awe of him. He died of a heart attack at the age of 67, and I wish I could have had more time with him.”

Note from Ginny Kropf: As a Medina native, I knew Don and in 2011, I wrote a column about him, after receiving a letter from Robert Emens of Batavia, who had saved a clipping of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle dated Sept. 30, 1946, in which there was a lengthy article about Don and a letter he received from the German who befriended him when his plane went down.

Modern Disposal Services will be collecting garbage a day later for its Orleans County customers this week.

Today’s service will be collected on Tuesday, while the rest of the week is on a one-day delay, the company announced on social media.

Tuesday’s collection has been moved to Wednesday, with Wednesday’s on Thursday, Thursday’s on Friday, and Friday’s on Saturday.

“We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we work together to keep our neighborhoods safe,” the company said.

Declaration mobilizes resources as snow and extreme cold hit WNY, northern NY

Photo by Tom Rivers: The bronze statue of Santa on Main Street in Albion is partially covered in snow this morning after several inches fell overnight and this morning.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for 12 counties, including Orleans, which have been impacted by a lake-effect snow storm.

Extreme cold and up to three feet of snow are forecast to hit some of the areas, although the total in Orleans is about 4 to 8 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Orleans is under a cold weather advisory from 7 p.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday with bitterly cold wind chills expected as low as 15 to 20 below zero.

Hochul said the state of emergency declaration allows the state to coordinate and share resources with local governments affected by the snowstorm. The State Department of Transportation will be available to provide assistance to municipalities in excess of existing shared service agreements, Hochul said in a news release.

The declaration includes Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego and Oneida counties, as well as contiguous counties.

“As lake effect snow falls across several areas of our state, I’m declaring a state of emergency for these areas to ensure state resources are available to assist local communities as we work together to keep New Yorkers safe throughout the duration of the storm,” Governor Hochul said. “We also continue to deal with extreme cold which poses an extraordinary risk to anyone who is exposed to the elements or is unable to adequately heat their home, and I encourage all New Yorkers to monitor their local forecast and take precautions to keep themselves and their families safe.”

Albion, Clarendon, Kendall and Murray among responding departments

Photo courtesy of Brockport Fire District: Firefighters battle a fire last Tuesday evening at the Morgan-Manning House on Main Street in Brockport.

BROCKPORT – The Brockport Fire District is thanking a big response from surrounding fire departments for their assistance at the Morgan-Manning House last Tuesday evening and night.

Leaders of the Morgan-Manning House say they are optimistic the building and many of the artifacts can be saved. Shrink wrap has been installed on the collapsed portion of the roof on the south side of the historic mansion.

Mayor Margaret Blackman issued this statement last week after the fire: “We grieve with all of Brockport and the larger community for the fire that severely damaged our magnificent Morgan Manning House on the night of January 14th.

“It felt like so many personal memories of events at the House and on its grounds went up in the smoke. Yet we have much to be thankful for—beginning with the Morgan Manning board members who spotted and reported the fire, the numerous fire companies that answered the call and stayed for hours, the pizzas, food and drinks donated by local restaurants to feed the fire crews, Brockport Police who monitored foot and vehicle traffic in the area, our Village Building inspectors/fire marshals who determined that the building was still structurally sound, and the many government officials and citizens who shared their thoughts in person and writing on the tragedy and offered to help.

“Brockport is resilient, Brockport is determined; the Village stands ready to assist the Morgan Manning in its recovery.”

Brockport firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 6:54 p.m. on Jan. 14 with report of smoke coming from the structure.

Fire companies from Spencerport, Murray, Bergen, Churchville, Chili, LeRoy, Gates, North Greece, Kendall, Albion, Clarendon, Hilton, and Hamlin-Morton-Walker were summoned as additional alarms were declared during the course of the fire.

Christopher Martin, the Brockport Fire District public information officer, detailed the firefighting efforts in the following news release:

Brockport firefighters were summoned to 151 Main Street: the Morgan-Manning House, a historic landmark in the Village of Brockport for a report of smoke in the structure.  On arrival a light smoke condition was reported with smoke coming from the north side of the home.

At 18:54 hours District Fire Chief Tim Smith declared a working fire while they continued to investigate the source of the smoke they were dealing with. Hand lines were pulled from Pumper 233 and laid into the basement and first floor. Utilizing the National Incident Command System (NIMS), Chief Smith (2C-13) established command with Deputy Chief Adam Leggett (2C-23) supervising operations and establishing divisions while Assistant Chief Scott Wainwright (2C-33) managed personnel accountability.

The basement division located a small fire in the basement which they were able to knock down with the lines pulled into the structure. As they were attacking the fire in the basement, the first-floor division was reporting heavy fire which they extinguished with their hand line.

Crews were ordered to the second floor to continue to search for extension and were inhibited in their efforts by the fire hidden beyond their reach within the walls. Not long after, the first-floor division reported a partial collapse of a section of the second floor down to the first floor.

Firefighting crews were then ordered from the second floor in the interest of firefighter safety. The tactic to extinguish shifted to a defensive attack utilizing the ground and aerial ladders which allowed them to attack part of the fire from the front porch roof through the windows.

Due to the floor collapse and the inability to access the fire within the walls, fire quickly spread to the attic and broke out on the second floor.

Part of the shift in the operational tactics led to utilizing elevated Master Streams from Brockport’s Quint 230, Spencerport’s Quint 2910, and Hilton’s Quint 260. 2910 was repositioned due to their proximity to the South side roof and chimney due to a concern over a possible collapse which did occur a short while later. Gates Quint 4510 was requested to position on the Northwest corner of the roof tasked with opening up the attic and extinguishing any hotspots found there.

All crews were released from the scene and returned to their home quarters prior to 12:46 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

“Our heartfelt thanks go out to our neighboring departments that contributed to extinguishing this blaze, and provided standby apparatus while the rest of us were tied up fighting the fire,” Martin said. “In addition, we would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to the Brockport Police Department, the Village of Brockport Department of Public Works, Monroe Ambulance, Brockport Ambulance Corps, Monroe County Fire Bureau, Regional Transit Service (RTS), Nativity BVM Church, and all the local businesses that provided food and beverages for our personnel.”

The Brockport Police Department provided security for the structure overnight. Martin said Monroe County Fire Bureau Fire Investigation Team returned later Wednesday morning to continue its investigation. Results of the investigation have not yet been released, Martin said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The large Santa in front of the Downtown Browsery on Main Street in Albion is covered in snow, except for the eye after heavy snow this morning.

The area is under a lake effect snow warning until 4 p.m. with 4 to 8 inches of snow expected, with the greatest amounts north of Ridge Road, the National Weather Service said.

Today is forecast for a high of 16 with a wind chill as low as minus 5 degrees.

Jason Tarnowski, pastor of the Albion Free Methodist Church (Community of Hope), clears the sidewalk at the church with a snow blower at about 8 this morning.

Main Street has several inches of snow this morning.

Here is how the street looked at 5:15 p.m. on Sunday before the snow last night and this morning.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, Number 3

This is a sketch of the first courthouse building in Albion as it appeared in 1840. (Landmarks of Orleans County)

Dewitt Clinton was Governor of New York State, serving the first year of his second term of office, when the 48th Legislative Session passed the Act which formed Orleans as a “separate and distinct county of the state of New York”, on April 15, 1825.

Law and order were primary concerns of this Act. It specified that two terms of the “court of common pleas and general sessions of the peace” were to be held in Gaines. Commissioners appointed by the act were instructed to locate a site for a courthouse and jail before the second Monday in June 1825. An election for sheriff, clerk and coroners was to be held on the second Tuesday of May 1825.

The first case was held in Gaines on October 13, 1825, at the Mansion House, a hotel owned by Selah Bronson. Samuel Miner was charged with assault and battery and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

The first courthouse in the county was built in Albion in 1827 on land donated by Nehemiah Ingersoll. Ingersoll is credited with naming the county and with strategizing the selection of Albion as the county seat in 1826. Located on the site of the current County Jail, the courthouse was a brick building with a white cupola and pillars. The County Clerk’s office was on the first floor, while the jail was in the basement.

At that time, the Free and Accepted Masons were an influential fraternal organization. Many of the early settlers were members and they established lodges shortly after they took up residence, in Ridgeway and Gaines.

In 1826, William Morgan, a disenchanted mason originally from Canada, threatened to publish a book exposing details of the Freemasons closely guarded secret rites. This caused a great furor and added to dissension which had already been brewing among members.

After several incidents, Morgan was arrested and jailed in Canandaigua. His release was organized by Masonic members, on condition that he return to Canada. Following his release, he was immediately escorted to a waiting carriage which then transported him north to Rochester and west along Route 104 to Niagara Falls and freedom in Canada. In all, this hurried journey required three carriage changes, five drivers, seven teams of horses and many assistants.

After some time, it became apparent that William Morgan was missing. He was never seen again after that carriage ride, nor was his body ever found. Speculation was rampant, an investigation was ordered. A total of twenty Grand Jury investigations and fifteen trials ensued.

Two of the trials took place in Albion. The first case against Avery Downer, a teacher from Gaines, was dismissed. The second case, against Elihu Mather, lasted ten days, and was held in November 1829. Hon. Addison Gardiner, Circuit Judge of the 8th Circuit presided.

Mather was charged with conspiracy to kidnap and abduct William Morgan. Detailed accounts of the trial were reported by the Orleans Telegraph and published in newspapers throughout the state, in Canada and in Vermont. (Click here to see historic newspapers in New York State. )

The counsel for the defendant, William H. Adams, addressed the jury for four hours. He did not deny that Mather drove the carriage but argued that he did so innocently, without knowing that any illegal act was contemplated. He argued that there was no proof that Morgan was in the carriage and if he was, there was no proof that he was held by force. The jury returned a verdict of “Not Guilty”.

Several of the others accused were found guilty of kidnapping Morgan, but nobody was charged with his murder, all of which further fueled anti-Masonic sentiment and led to the formation of the Anti-Masonic Party in 1831.

New Yorkers capped at deducting up to $10,000 per year in state and local taxes

Press Release, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Democratic members of the New York congressional delegation urged President-elect Trump to permanently remove the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and put more money in the pockets of everyday New Yorkers.

Removing the SALT deduction cap would allow New Yorkers who itemize when filing federal taxes to fully deduct certain taxes paid to state and local governments, including property, income, and sales taxes.

“Republicans created this problem, and it is now their responsibility to fix it and restore the full SALT deduction,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This would change the lives of hardworking New Yorkers who have been robbed. A full SALT deduction would ensure that families have more money in their pockets, get much-needed tax relief, and are once again treated fairly. President-elect Trump has an opportunity to reach across the aisle while also working within his own party to make an impact by eliminating an unfair and economically prohibitive policy.”

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) capped the SALT deduction at $10,000 per year, negatively impacting New Yorkers’ pockets. According to the State of New York  the SALT deduction cap has cost New Yorkers as much as $12 billion every year since it took effect in 2018.

“Eliminating the SALT cap is not just about fairness; it’s an economic imperative to support middle-class families, bolster local municipalities, and safeguard vital services like public safety and emergency response,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “As Dean of the New York House Delegation, I am proud to join my New York Democrat colleagues in calling for the full elimination of the SALT deduction cap in any tax-related legislation brought to the House floor.”

Gillibrand pointed to the following additional reasons for why reinstating the full SALT deduction will have positive benefits for New Yorkers:

• New Yorkers already subsidize other states by paying nearly $20 billion more in taxes than we receive back from the federal government;
• The SALT deduction cap resulted in double taxation by imposing federal taxes on the income used to pay state and local taxes above $10,000;
• The cap on the deduction encourages wealthier people to move to other states and leaves middle- and lower-income taxpayers holding the bag to pay for school, police and other essential state and local tax burdens.