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Editor:

Last month, five New Yorkers had the privilege of attending the Citizen’s Climate Lobby Day for conservatives in Washington, DC.

We visited Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s office to let her know that conservatives care about the environment as conservation is conservative! We asked the Congresswoman to cosponsor the Big Wires Act and thanked her for her support of nuclear energy.

The Big Wires Act is needed to enable NY to connect to clean energy in the mid-west and nuclear energy is needed to provide carbon-free constant power.

These are important steps, but more needs to be done. We are hoping Congresswoman Tenney will support us in our journey towards a carbon-free future.

Rob Johnson

Medina

Editor:

Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP)s are programs used to assess, restore, protect and monitor the health of each Great Lake and its connecting river system. The Lake Ontario LAMP is reevaluated every five years, and priority objectives are decided upon, along with a plan of action created by New York State government and non-governmental organizations.

This plan of action should be promoted and followed by individuals in Niagara County because water pollution is a major problem for the Great Lakes, especially Lake Ontario. The Lake Ontario LAMP is an all-inclusive plan that addresses issues from the public and over twenty agencies, which means it has the public’s best interest at heart. It also conducts extensive research to guide its plan to restore the Great Lakes ecosystem, making it an effective plan to restore Lake Ontario’s polluted water.

There are many reasons why we should make cleaning up Lake Ontario a priority and follow the guidelines of this plan:

1.) Lake Ontario provides drinking water for over nine million people, making it an important resource for residents that live nearby.

2.) Lake Ontario provides services to support other ecosystems. It provides a habitat for several species of fish and plants. The lake also cycles nutrients and gas through

the soil, which provides plants with the food they need to thrive.

3.) Lake Ontario is a popular place for boating, fishing, swimming, wildlife viewing, for locals and tourists alike. Tourism contributes tremendous value to the basin economy,

 but also enhances the quality of life for residents.

4.) Lake Ontario is important for industries such as agriculture, transportation, shipping, and manufacturing. Hydroelectric power is also prevalent in the Lake and St. Lawrence River, and produces 25% of the energy in the surrounding area. These industries together generate 226,933 jobs in the US and Canada and generate billions of dollars in revenue, personal income, and direct spending in the regional economy.

The plans for improving water quality in Lake Ontario have been laid out based on scientific evidence, but everyone has to play their part to ensure our lake is prosperous.

Individuals can take part in the Adopt-A-Beach Program, which is organized by the Alliance for The Great Lakes Program. Teams of volunteers go to their local beaches, collect data and pick up litter, and then submit it to the database for experts to analyze pollution in the Great Lakes.

Another option is to donate or help out with the Buffalo Niagara WaterKeeper. This group has eight long-term projects in the Buffalo Area aimed at protecting freshwater quality in the Great Lakes region. To learn more, click here.

Sincerely,

Emma Evans

Twelfth Grade

Barker Central School

Editor:

The Orleans County Legislature is proposing a district court to all but replace the local courts in the towns of Orleans County.

The Legislature convened a committee that produced a 36-page proposal in favor of a district court.  The Legislature has been holding meetings to present this document in its various forms.  The document has been edited, I believe, three times and will continue to do so up to the election.  In reading the document there are several issues that need to be addressed before voting on the measure.

The Legislature has not come up with a price tag for a district court. What I’ve seen in emails from Legislators and the Chairwoman of the Legislature, the project, if approved, is still 3-4 years down the road. A lot can happen in 3-4 years. How can the legislators expect the public to vote for the measure without knowing what it will cost the taxpayers.

Second, for many years, all of our local courts have taken advantage of state-funded grant opportunities, securing funding through the Justice Court Assistance Program (JCAP). JCAP grants are exclusive to courts and are used to make both interior and exterior capital improvements that benefit both the court and the town buildings that host them, with a focus on ADA compliance.

The improvement projects funded by JCAP benefit not only the courts, but also anyone working in the town halls or residents who visit them. Many of the projects approved for state-funded JCAP dollars would not have been possible without the efforts of the local courts in securing these state grants.

Some examples of projects funded by JCAP include major interior and exterior building renovations, replacement generators and septic systems, new doors, renovation of office space, computer servers, security cameras, metal detectors, defibrillators, updated furniture including courtroom/boardroom seating, hearing assistive devices, and televisions for the courtroom that are also used for board meetings, just to name a few.

JCAP funds are available to towns with local courts. What happens to those funds to the towns if the County takes the courts out of local hands? Will they be taking those funds from each town as well? These, and several other questions, need to be answered before anyone should consider voting for a district court.

Sincerely,

Wendi Pencille

Shelby

Editor:

The Community Coalition for Social Justice met Tuesday, April16th and heard an impassioned presentation from Nyla Gaylord about homelessness in Orleans County.

An important factor in this largely unrecognized issue is that people on fixed incomes have little recourse for dealing with the reality of ever-increasing rents. Lower income tenants expect rents to increase and experience anxiety in anticipation of it happening.

As a low-income renter you may be forced to decide between spending your limited resources on food, clothing, transportation, or heat—on the one hand—and shelter on the other.

Property owners attempting to meet the expectations of a code enforcement officer, as well as satisfy people interested in making their community more attractive to prospective residents and business people, are up against it as well. If they put effort and money into addressing problems, and need a short-term payback, their rents and selling prices must rise. Homeowners who take good care of their properties also have their hands full.

The Community Coalition for Social Justice believes that viewing such matters as a short-term issue jeopardizes our community’s prosperity and health long-term. We believe showing restraint whenever possible and taking the long view is ordinarily better for all concerned.

In short, the Community Coalition is convinced that what happens to the less fortunate does make a difference to all of us.

Sincerely,

Gary Kent – on behalf of the Community Coalition for Social Justice Committee

Albion

Editor:

Photo from Aaron Vosburgh: A FedEx hit the underpass on Butts Road in Albion today.

There was another impact accident involving the Butts Road railroad underpass this afternoon in Albion.

A driver of a FedEx truck either did not understand the height of his vehicle, or missed the road signs  that clearly show 7 feet, 2 inch clearance to go under the bridge, or was just simply not paying attention. The truck hit the railroad underpass about 2:45 this afternoon and got wedged under the underpass. It shut the road down for almost an hour.

It’s just another case of someone hitting the underpass. It happens frequently every year.

Those are the impact accidents. But don’t forget there are even more near-misses of people realizing that there attempting fate and they turn around in my driveway.

I tried to voice my concerns about the situation on this road, that the underpass is hit frequently, and that people have to turn around to avoid fate of hitting it.

Also that underpass is on a blind hill. I have watched my neighbor while getting my son off the bus after school pull out of her driveway heading south and almost get rear-ended numerous times by people flying from the underpass in the same direction.

Many people have  commented that UConnectCare’s recovery center on Butts Road is going to be great. I agree it will be good for the community, but how are you going to feel when the next accident could involve you?

The reason I say that is during today’s accident involving the FedEx truck I was out waving down traffic to avoid them crashing into the FedEx truck before the police arrived. I was almost clipped by numerous vehicles flying to the underpass from 31 heading north.

The recovery center being built here on Butts Road was built in a very bad location because now it’s like adding fuel to a fire.

You go from simple impact accidents with an underpass to the possibility of it involving more vehicles, and that in turn is people, children and property.

I tried to mention that to the town planning board during a hearing about the recovery center and simply got told you will be fine.

Aaron Vosburgh

Albion

Editor:

For those who are interested in saving the lives of mothers and babies as well as the unborn, there will be an exciting opportunity on Saturday, May 4,  to participate in the 2024 2xWalk for Life, either as walkers or those who would rather pledge financial support and watch the progress of family and friends.

This Walk for Life is sponsored by Compass Care of New York State, an organization devoted to providing pregnancy counseling, prenatal healthcare services, emotional support as well as providing food, formula, clothes and follow up ministry to mothers following the birth of their precious babies.

Compass Care has facilities in Rochester, Buffalo, Albany and New York City, as well as Tele-Health conferencing services offering total confidentiality and professional medical care through registered nurses and doctors at absolutely no cost to clients seeking assistance with unplanned  or difficult pregnancy situations.

For more information about their services simply go to 2xWalkforLife or CompassCare.org These sites will have full information on how to participate in the walk, pledging financial support for local walkers, organizing a local walk group or learning of the many services offered to mothers and babies through Compass Care’s  free programs. You will also learn of an online pre-walk rally on Friday evening, May  3.

Remember, every service is free and confidential.

Please support this very worthy cause as your heart directs. Every life is precious!

Wayne and Belinda Lemcke

Waterport

Editor:

With the large number of charges against Trump, it is likely he will be found guilty of a number of them.  After his appeals, which will likely fail, he will go to jail.

Where to send him will become a problem. Once in jail it is logical Trump will continue to incite his followers-perhaps to the point where they would try to free him.

Any effort to forcibly free Trump from jail would be resisted by his Secret Service detail which could result in casualties. I recommend the US Bureau of Prisons send Trump to the US military base at Guantánamo Bay (GITMO) Cuba.

GITMO is an isolated American base with only a few military flights in each week. It has room for Trump’s Secret Service detail, excellent medical facilities, good housing and a McDonalds. The only way his MAGA followers could try to free him would be via amphibious assault.

Keeping him free from harm is important.

Jack Capurso

Ashburn, Va. – formerly of Albion

Editor:

As a resident of the Town of Barre community, and former Town Board Member, I have been trying to keep informed about the Heritage Wind project for our family and for our neighbors.

In reviewing the daunting modified application, I learned that my home is one of the non-participating receptors that will potentially be receiving above the 30 hours of shadow flicker and possibly up to 100 hours according to the Heritage Wind Shadow Flicker report.

We are located at Heritage Wind identified receptor 327 Tax parcel 107.-1-12.1. The report states that we could have a maximum of 1 hour and 9 minutes of shadow flicker at our home for 131 days of the year for a total of 114:05 hours “worse case scenario.”

I know that there are 52 of my non-participating “receptors” (aka people) that are predicted even after taking all other considerations into place in phase II and 43 even after taking into account passed wind speeds etc. that are predicted by Heritage Wind to receive over 30 hours of shadow flicker.

I would like to just note that the local ordinance for the Town of Barre states a maximum of 25 hours of shadow flicker, and the states has already deemed that to be unduly burdensome and overruled to a maximum of 30 hours. With this significant, and I believe major modification, that is being proposed by Heritage Wind, more people, myself and my neighbors will be negatively impacted.

My husband and I understand that the applicant is saying that there will be new technology, shadow flicker detection software in the wind turbines. However, this use of technology leads to many more questions, especially because of the significant number of homes, residents, receptors that will be impacted. Questions like:

• How does this shadow flicker detection software work on homes or buildings that are receiving flicker from multiple turbines?
• Where will the light sensors be located?
• How will the light sensors be maintained and ensure proper function?
• In the winter will snow cover deem them useless?
• How long has this technology been used? How has this technology been proven to be effective and actually work as they suggest?
• Where else in New York State is this sort of technology being relied on so heavily?
• Where else in the United States is this technology being used?
• Where is the supporting documentation for the effectiveness of this technology?
• What happens if a light sensor is not working and shadow flicker is greater than 30 hours annually? How will a resident be able to ensure that they, their property, their quality of life is protected?
• Majority of Appendix F is redacted and does not provide any proof of operation, how can this be relied upon? And why is this critical public health information being withheld from the public in the first place?

Table 4 is alarming because it shows some homes will receive over 3 times the maximum shadow flicker at their property with the other considerations already taken into place. For the 42 receptors listed in table 4 on average there are 22.5 hours over the annual maximum per receptor. The applicant’s “conservative assumptions”, still show a significant and major 967 hours of shadow flicker for residents that are non-participating of Barre that will need to be monitored with unproven technology.

The information above seems eerily similar to the information that the applicant (Heritage Wind) presented in regard to the proximity to the Iroquois wildlife refuge. In public comment #31 David Stillwell, Field Supervisor for the United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Services stated the following:

“We believe that the closer the turbines are to these unique biological habitats, the greater the impact is to species which frequent them. We recommend ORES deny the draft permit for the project and direct Heritage to design a project with less risk to wildlife.”

In response, ORES required the elimination or relocation of a handful of turbines. My question for ORES is, shouldn’t health risks to actual people require the same response? Does our health matter, or is ORES only concerned about impacts to birds? Does New York State’s energy policy demand that we be driven from our homes by incessant flashing light lasting over an hour a day, for a significant portion of the year!

Through the proceeding of this case, the applicant argued for unproven technology to be used to evaluate the impact of the industrial wind turbines on the unique biological habitats of the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge, and ORES ruled that this was not practicable and that those turbines would need to be removed or much more stringent environmental monitoring would occur.

As the unique biological habitats that are being more drastically and negatively impacted because of this new redesign are my neighbors, their children, their families, I ask you that you please protect them, as you did for the migratory birds and inhabitants of the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge.

Our residence is our home, our place of rest, and where we are raising and homeschooling our 4 children. The timing of the anticipated shadow flicker for homes that would need to be monitored by the sensors and everyone else is in the morning and evening, important gathering and activity time for our young family. These are times we often try to be outside enjoying the wonderful rural property that we have chosen to invest in.

We ask that ORES please maintain that the applicant has to keep the design of the project to have shadow flickers under the 30 hour maximum for non-participating receptors. This requirement was/ is a known requirement, and the modification of the project should meet this requirement; without the use of unproven technology.

Should the developer want to add this technology as a secondary measure to ensure that all non-participating receptors do not receive over the 30-hour maximum of shadow flicker, that could be beneficial. However, to use this unproven technology to ensure the maximum shadow flicker is not exceeded puts many Barre families like us at risk. What are our options if this latest technology goes awry? You are talking about our home, our biggest investment, and where we are schooling and raising our children.

We recommend ORES deem the modifications to be a major modification and work to ensure that the 30 hour maximum shadow flicker is maintained without the reliance on unproven technology and that Heritage Wind look to design a project within the scope of the law.

Kerri Richardson (former Barre town councilwoman)

Barre

Editor:

Is Mr. Trump acting in the interest of the United States or in the interest of Russia?

Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign accepted help from Russia. The Republican-controlled Senate investigation, (Select Committee on Intelligence on Russian Active Measures Campaign and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Elections), in 2020, determined that the Russian government disrupted an American election to benefit Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump’s campaign manager, Paul Manafort, owed a Russian oligarch millions of dollars and he shared information with Konstantin Kilimnik, identified as a Russian intelligence officer.

Mr. Trump refused to allow U.S. reporters to cover a meeting in the Oval Office in 2017 but he did allow Russian state-run media to cover the event.

In Helsinki, Finland, Mr. Trump told the world that he took the word of Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence.

Mr. Trump shared classified intelligence with Russia in the Oval Office which put a close ally of the U.S. in harm’s way.

In 2018, President Trump saluted a North Korean General, (an ally of Russia), while he refused to visit the WW l grave site of American Heroes at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France. He called those heroes, “losers and suckers.”

Indeed, when U.S. troops were injured by an Iranian missile attack at Al Assad Air Base in Iraq, Mr. Trump dismissed those injuries as mere headaches, even though over a dozen soldiers were injured badly enough that they had to be flown to Germany for treatment. These soldiers were injured in the line of duty defending the U.S. Constitution, something Mr. Trump seems dismissive of.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars called for a Presidential apology, which never came. These are some of the ways Mr. Trump demonstrated, on a daily basis, how unfit he is to be Commander in Chief.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

The need today is real and Catholic Charities is, as it has been for the last century, here to meet the challenge. HOPE is central to the work we do every day. HOPE for our neighbors when they are homeless, hungry, in need or troubled. Everything starts with HOPE, thanks to the generosity and support of those who give through the annual Appeal.

Now underway through June 30, Appeal 2024, the agency’s 100th campaign, helps fund many programs and services administered by Catholic Charities along with several ministries through the Fund for the Faith.

In just the past year, nearly 1,900 neighbors of all ages, faiths or no faith throughout Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties were given HOPE by the programs and services offered by Catholic Charities. These include basic emergency assistance such as support for food and finding housing resources, working with domestic violence offenders for systemic social change, and parents who want to reduce conflict and parent effectively for their children. In Genesee and Orleans counties, our home visitation and friendly phones programs bring a sense of connectivity and quality of life to homebound seniors.

Thank you for choosing to give HOPE by supporting this year’s Appeal. Please visit ccwny.org/donation.

And if you or someone you know needs HOPE in Genesee, Orleans or Wyoming counties, call us at 585-343-0614. We have offices in Batavia, Albion and Perry.

Katelyn DiSalvo

Tri-County District Director, Catholic Charities

Editor:

As I woke this morning and checked my phone, I was greeted with the sad news that a resident of our village lost his life in a horrific house fire overnight. As I kept reading, I further learned that two more heroes of our state made the ultimate sacrifice in Syracuse.

First and foremost, on behalf of the Village of Albion Police Department, we offer our condolences to the family, friends and neighbors of the gentleman that tragically lost his life this morning. I know our officers, our Fire Department personnel, our dispatchers and all first responders in our county were ready and willing to put their lives on the line to save his life.

To the family, I know that no amount of sympathy will fill the void, but we are sorry for your loss. We are sorry we couldn’t save him. Know that we all stand here ready to help, ready to talk and ready to listen if you ever need anything. Do not hesitate to ask.

What I would like to say next, I say to all those willing to listen.

Who will you call when there is nobody left to answer?

One month ago we said goodbye to a hero, Sgt. Sanfratello of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. Now a month later, we must lay to rest two more heroes of the Syracuse Police Department and Onondaga Sheriff’s Office. That is three families forever changed, forever broken.

For those out there that say, “You knew the risks” or “That’s your job,” we know. And for those of us that are left, we will continue to fight. We will continue to roll out of bed, kiss our families goodbye, and do our best to serve and protect, knowing that it may be the last time we ever get to. We will continue to sacrifice our weekends; we will continue to lose our holidays; we will continue to miss our children grow. We will do all of this, day in and day out, until we no longer can.

But I say this, not as a threat nor a dire warning, but rather as a harsh reality of the world we live in. Police recruitment is at an all-time low. Police retention is at an all-time low. Departments all over our area, our state and our great nation are understaffed and struggling to keep up with crime. And those of us that are left, we are tired. We are so tired. We are ridiculed by the media, we are claimed to be “overpaid” by those in charge. We are vilified because of the actions of one bad cop. We are condemned, cussed at, spit on, attacked and murdered.

But we continue to fight. We continue to serve and protect, whether we are supported or not. Because “we know the risk,” and we do not care. But eventually we will be gone. And I don’t know if there will be anyone left to take our place and pick up that shield. So again I ask, Who will you call when there is nobody left to answer?

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9

Daniel J. Baase

Police Officer

Albion Police Department

Editor:

In this little town of Albion, there’s a champion. My mother raised me while fighting rheumatoid arthritis. It crippled her hands and her feet. There were many days growing up I would wake up to her screaming in agony from being in pain from it. She would take Tylenol and Ibuprofen to barely take the pain away before going off to work.

Later on she discovered a small lump that would ended up being early stages of breast cancer. She fought and went through radiation and was cancer-free in the early 2000s. That same cancer returned with a vengeance when she was diagnosed stage 3 in 2019.

She fought that battle undergoing a partial mastectomy in early 2020 before the pandemic, while also undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and chemo pills. She finished radiation the summer of 2020 and was declared cancer-free again in 2021. She had told me by the time of her partial mastectomy the cancer was slowing progressing into stage 4.

I tell her almost every day to be proud of the warrior she is and the fact for not just being a two-time cancer survivor is that she gets out on her three-wheeled bike and rides all over town. She goes from her home here on Butts Road at her age of 72 after dealing with cancer and fighting crippling arthritis that has severely affected both her hands and her feet. If anyone has seen her around town riding she is the little lady that rides the red and white three-wheeled bike with the basket on the back with the dark-colored helmet.

The end of this little story is that same warrior that is my mother is currently in the hospital at her age fighting a battle with sepsis and some other serious issues. She has been in United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia to being transferred to Rochester General. She needs all the thoughts and prayers she can get it so she can come home to a family that misses her including a 5-year-old little boy that misses his grandma.

She’s got a heart of an eagle, that always finds a way to survive.

Aaron Vosburgh

Albion

Editor:

Orleans County residents, your complacency has and will affect your wallets and mine.

I have been to County Legislature meetings and, God as my witness, said I am over-taxed. I put on record that I don’t agree with the purposed District Court, which I believe will raise taxes eventually.

I have been to my Town Board meetings and my town workshop meetings and expressed my desire for law & order and Conservative spending. I at least read my Village of Lyndonville meeting minutes and Orleans County minutes. Where are my neighbors?

Where are those that tell me they feel the same as me? In November 2023 was a chance to make a change in the Legislature and none was made, no change of the Town of Yates Board neither. Voter turnout  was low.

March 19, 2024 there were village elections and voter turn-out was again low and no change. You must judge your employees better. If they do things that you disagree with, vote them out of office.

It bothers me that I read and hear, “Well that does it. I moving out here.” I was raised that to the coward there is no glory or remembrance. Let us band together and demand lower taxes.

Let us make term limits if not by law then by the ballot box.

I am working on something that I will hold secret for now. Know this, fraud spoils everything. The truth always comes out. You can always tell a man or a woman’s character by their actions. Words are meaningless.

Join me at county meetings. Join me at town meetings. Join me at the polling station. Check every box for a candidate, if you don’t like one of them write in someone who shares your thoughts. Let your voice be heard.

June 25 is Primary voting. Don’t like the candidates, talk to other voters and pick someone who shares your values. Don’t keep voting for the same people, that is insanity. Obviously, they don’t care.

November 5 is the day for federal elections. Setting a time and date for grievances then not giving you a chance for grievances is unconstitutional. Public servants work for you.

First Amendment is the right to petition and state your grievances and demand redress of those grievances. We can also demand a grand jury to investigate suspected misconduct by public servants.

Join me, let us work together to fix our local governments and make Orleans County, NY great for families and businesses.

Steve Colòn

Lyndonville

Editor:

Perhaps if the Orleans County Legislature would cease hoarding sales tax revenue and provide a fair share to localities, residents might be more inclined to agree to a consolidation of town courts.

Governance is (or should be) the art of compromise, is it not?

Richard Moss

Medina

Editor:

With all due respect, I am submitting my opinion on a recent article written on the Hub. I refer (my own personal) thoughts on the presentation and distribution of the book “Mediums at Large.”

Mike Fisher, an educator at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, was awarded a grant to present his book to Roy-Hart Middle School students, giving these students personal copies. Is this really stories or mysteries? Not in my opinion, I believe this grooming/or the introduction  to these young students to delve into the world of Spiritualism and the occult.

Lily Dale is Spiritualism – palm reading, psychic readings, crystals all of which smack of the occult and demonic realm. I strongly feel that none of this should be  allowed and  introduced into the public schools. This is not the first time this has occurred at the R/H school system.

Years ago my youngest daughter in grade 4 came home telling me “a psychic” was part of the school assembly that day. It was introduced as a candy fundraiser for the school, and yes included a representative from Lily Dale. She told the students to “close their eyes, envision waterfalls and ‘I can read your minds.’”

I was/am livid that parents weren’t/most likely aren’t aware of these controversial programs coming into the schools. Parents, wake up and ask questions. Approach the school board as to “what do you expose our children to without parental permission?”

I personally have grandchildren in that same R/H Middle School. I am furious!

Sandra Shingleton

Albion