File photo by Tom Rivers: A woman fishes off the end of the western pier at Point Breeze on March 20, 2021.

Press Release, Congressman Joe Morelle

ROCHESTER – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle (D, NY-25) introduced the “Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act,” legislation to stop President Donald Trump’s attempt to rename Lake Ontario and protect the historic names of all five Great Lakes.

The legislation, co-led by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D, MI-06) and Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26), comes after President Trump issued an executive order on Aug. 27 attempting to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”

“Lake Ontario is Lake Ontario. No executive order, proclamation, or presidential temper tantrum is going to change that,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “Families are worried about paying their bills. Businesses are looking for certainty. Communities like ours are asking Washington to focus on the challenges that actually affect people’s lives. And Donald Trump is spending his time trying to rename a lake.

“This is ridiculous, it’s embarrassing, and it’s exactly the kind of unserious distraction Americans are tired of. President Trump can play games with a map all he wants, but I’m not going to stand by while he wastes the authority and resources of the federal government doing it.

“Here in Rochester, we’ll keep calling it Lake Ontario. And in Congress, I’m working with my colleagues to make sure it stays that way.”

The Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act would prohibit the President, Secretary of the Interior, or any other federal official acting under presidential authority from changing the official geographic names of Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, or Lake Superior.

The legislation would also specifically nullify Executive Order 14422, issued by President Trump on Aug. 27, and prohibit the federal government from implementing or enforcing the order—or any substantially similar action. It would further prohibit federal funds from being used to carry out the attempted renaming.

“The Great Lakes are a shared treasure that generations of Americans and Canadians have worked together to protect. Canada is not our enemy. It is our neighbor, our ally, and one of Michigan’s most important economic partners. It is a friendship that no stroke of a pen should be able to erase,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “By preventing President Trump from trying to divide us with distracting public relations stunts, maybe then he will turn his attention to his reckless trade war that is raising costs and threatening American workers.”

“Americans are struggling to afford groceries, housing, and everyday essentials, and yet this President chooses to pick petty fights with our closest ally,” said Congressman Tim Kennedy. “This unserious, unacceptable attempt to rename the historic, shared Lake Ontario adds insult to injury as Trump’s tariffs drive up costs, making an already difficult situation worse. Our families, workers, and businesses need an administration focused on lowering costs and strengthening our economy, not distractions. Renaming a lake won’t put food on the table, lower anyone’s bills, or create a single job. It is a pathetic attempt to distract from an affordability crisis that this President has failed to fix.”

Photo from GoFundMe: Darrel Gray and his daughter Nora were killed in a Friday morning car accident in Oneida County while on the way to swimming practice for Nora.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established for the family of an Albion native and his daughter who were both killed in a car accident on Friday in Oneida County. Click here to be directed to the GoFundMe which will help the family with memorial expenses.

Darrel Gray, 52, and his daughter Nora, 17, both died in the collision with a tractor-trailer.

Gray graduated from Albion in 1992 and was a member of the school’s high-powered football teams. He was the modified football coach at Adirondack Central School. His daughter was involved in swimming and gymnastics.

The Gray family lives in West Leyden in Lewis County. The accident occurred in the town of Ava.

Gray is survived by his wife Marion and their son Mitchell.

The organizer of the GoFundMe posted this message:

“We are overwhelmed by the kindness that has surrounded Marion and Mitchell in such a short time. Every donation, every share, every message, every memory, and every gesture of love has been felt so deeply.

“Thank you to each of you who has helped carry this family in whatever way you can. The generosity of this community is incredibly moving, but even more meaningful is the reminder that Marion and Mitchell are surrounded by so many people who care for them.

“Please continue to hold them close in your hearts as they navigate the days ahead. We are so grateful for all of you.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Crosby’s in Gaines was selling regular unleaded gas for $4.41 a gallon on Sunday.

Gas prices jumped 8 cents in the past week in Orleans County from an average of $4.30 a gallon to $4.38, according to AAA.

The national average price for gas is at $4.08 today, which is down 2 cents in the past week. A year ago, the price was $3.19.

The New York State average is $4.21, up 5 cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.18.

“For the first time ever, the national average gas price in August has been above $4 per gallon every day,” AAA said in a news release today. “This month is poised to set a new record as the most expensive August at the pump, surpassing the previous August record set in 2022. There’s been little movement on the crude oil front. Due to continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, crude oil prices remain elevated. This morning, oil prices range from $85 to $90 per barrel.

“Despite elevated fuel prices, Labor Day travel is expected to be strong with travelers taking advantage of the last long holiday weekend of the summer season.”

The average prices among Western New York counties includes:

• Orleans, $4.303
• Genesee, $4.179
• Monroe, $4.205
• Niagara, $4.201
• Erie, $4.206
• Wyoming, $4.252
• Livingston, $4.271
• Chautauqua, $4.275
• Cattaraugus, $4.073
• Allegany, $4.224

Hamilton County in the Adirondacks is the highest in the state at $4.671 a gallon, while Chemung has the lowest average at $4.073.

The national average for diesel prices is down a penny to $5.60. Last year at this time, the national average price was $3.70. The New York average for diesel fuel is $5.74, up 4 cents from last week, and up from $3.90 last year.

‘All Native Nations need to stand united to vocally and forcefully reject this change. We are also calling on all federal, state and local representatives – regardless of political party – to stand with the Seneca Nation and oppose the President’s Executive Order.’

File photo by Tom Rivers: These sailboats race as the sun comes down on Lake Ontario on Aug. 12, 2021. Ten sailboats raced for 4 miles, having to change directions frequently. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to rename the lake to “Lake America.”

The leader of the Seneca Nation says Donald Trump’s executive order on Thursday, renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” shows “blatant disrespect” toward the Seneca people and all Indigenous people.

Provided photo: J.C. Seneca is president of the Seneca Nation.

J.C. Seneca, president of the Seneca Nation, said the executive order goes against the United States’ historic commitment to the Seneca people and other Haudenosaunee nations. The executive order is “starkly un-presidential and demeaning to his office,” Seneca said in released statement.

Trump made the order after trade negotiations fell apart with Canada. The president on Tuesday posted on social media that the United States was giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” because the US doesn’t “expect to doing much business with Ontario any longer.”

Canada pulled out of trade talks with the U.S. Trump announced 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods. Canada then announced retaliatory tariffs.

Trump last year announced an executive order that gave the Gulf of Mexico a new name – the Gulf of America.

Trump’s executive order compels the Secretary of the Interior and the Board on Geographic Names to rename the body of water to “Lake America” and update federal databases to reflect the new name. Google Maps also made the change for U.S.-based users.

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York, Canadian Prime Minister John Carney and other political leaders said the name will remain Lake Ontario.

J.C. Seneca said the Seneca Nation will always call it Lake Ontario. He issued the following statement:

“Lake Ontario derives its name from Indigenous roots. In our traditional Seneca language, its name is sga:nyodai:yoh, meaning ‘beautiful lake.’ Long before the United States existed, and before settlers brought the English language to our lands, our Seneca and Haudenosaunee ancestors traveled Lake Ontario and surrounding waterways for many reasons, including diplomacy among our nations. Now, we are seeing the exact opposite of diplomacy.

“The action that President Trump is taking is starkly un-presidential and demeaning to his office and his standing as the leader of the free world. His blatant disrespect toward the Seneca people, other Haudenosaunee nations, and all Indigenous people is unacceptable.

“The President cannot assert ownership over our culture or erase it through irresponsible political action. His order should be rescinded, and the name Lake Ontario should be left as it is, reflective of the Seneca people, other Haudenosaunee nations and all Indigenous people surrounding the lake.

“To us, Lake Ontario is not a political pawn. It does not separate the countries of the United States and Canada. It is all Indigenous land, which has been occupied by Indigenous people since time immemorial.

“In 1794, President George Washington and the Seneca and other Haudenosaunee nations signed the Treaty of Canandaigua, promising to live in peace and friendship with one another. The United States also promised our people the free use and enjoyment of our lands forever. President Trump’s aggression toward our culture with his Executive Order violates that peace, friendship and commitments of the Canandaigua treaty. This is the latest in a long history of willful attempts to disregard the United States’ commitments to the Seneca and other Haudenosaunee nations. President Trump needs to be reminded of those commitments.

“I would also remind the President of the tenets of the United States Constitution, where Article 6 clearly states that treaties are the ‘supreme Law of the Land,’ and need to always be honored as such.

“We will always call Lake Ontario by the name derived from the language of our ancestors – the name that, like the strength and influence of the Seneca people, will live on forever, long after the intrusive political tirades of individual men.

“All Native Nations need to stand united to vocally and forcefully reject this change. We are also calling on all federal, state and local representatives – regardless of political party – to stand with the Seneca Nation and oppose the President’s Executive Order.”