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.”

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.”