Editor:

With the election a stone’s throw away, I would like to recommend the Conservative Party-endorsed candidates for your consideration.

What a great job Diane Shampine has done as our County Clerk over the last year. Why on earth would we remove her from this smooth, efficient running agency and replace her with someone who has many other obligations to committees, boards and outside activities that full devotion and attention to a complicated job like the County Clerk may be in doubt? Diane has one job and one devotion: to give the residents of Orleans County the best run, efficient, fiscally responsible County Clerk’s Office of any county.

For County Coroner there is no one better than Rocco Sidari. I won’t get long winded here because he has no challengers but he possesses the qualities, empathy and personality along with much experience to do this job.

For Murray Highway Superintendent the highly qualified Dirk Lammes is the best choice. This job requires lifetime knowledge and experience. For instance and no disrespect to his opponent, but if there is a water main burst at 3 a.m. or anytime? Who would you call to repair it? The Sheriff’s Department or the guy that other large municipalities call with confidence? Who would you trust to drive a 20-plus ton, quarter million dollar plow truck in the middle of the night in blinding white outs? The guy who has done it all his life or the guy that is working on getting his CDL license?

Dirk knows how to be the superintendent of water and is licensed. His opponent would have to learn and get licensed. Dirk knows heavy equipment. He knows how to repair it and he will be a working superintendent. Not a figure head collecting a check being trained by the deputy superintendent. The taxpayers deserve to get their money’s worth and have a guy that can hit the road running especially in the most dangerous time of the year, winter, when roads must be plowed and maintained properly.

Many of us see Supreme Court Justice Candidates and really don’t know much about them at voting time. I recommend and endorse Gerald S. Greenan. He will interpret the constitution as written. He will uphold the laws of the land. He will not legislate from the bench and is a friend of the Second Amendment. He is a conservative judge.

For NY 27 Congress Chris Jacobs is the only choice. The alternative is a radical leftist named Nate McMurray. He will be a lapdog to Nancy Pelosi. An admirer of the squad – AOC, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley. All who hate this country and condone and justify the left’s violence in the streets.

McMurray is a Bernie Sanders’ supporter and is to the left of radical congressman Brian Higgins. If elected McMurray would oversee the destruction of this country with great enthusiasm. Please save the seat and our district by voting for Chris Jacobs.

For President with unanimous endorsement from the Conservative Party: Donald John Trump. One of the greatest presidents to hold office, he has done and accomplished more in 4 years than his last two predecessors. He is the John Wayne of our times and our country needs him now more than ever. The radical left will burn this country to the ground if the Trojan Horse Joe Biden is elected. All tradition, history and the constitution will be eliminated. They will pack the Supreme Court. Get rid of the Electoral College and eliminate the Senate filibuster. Biden would be removed from office because of dementia and one of the most unlikable, radical , San Francisco communists will be president: Kamala Harris.

She condones and believes that left’s violence is justified and should continue even after the election. She will hand this country over to the leftist anarchists and fill her cabinet with those who hate our country. She will be far worse than Obama. Besides Obama-Biden, Biden-Harris is one of the most crooked tickets in US history. If you love your God, freedom, and your country, please save us and vote Trump for President.

Conservative Republicans send a clear message and vote Row C on the Conservative line. That you are all these pros – life, America first, Second Amendment, strict constructionist judges, nuclear family, morality, law and order, liberty, legal immigration, English language, borders, culture, constitution as written, rugged individualism, self reliance, tradition, love of country and allegiance to our flag.

Get out and vote in person. The lunatic leftists and the Democrats will be cheating every step of the way to steal this election. Vote.

Thank you for your time.

Paul Lauricella

Orleans County Conservative Party Chairman

Editor:

I recently enjoyed reading Pulitzer Prize winning author and acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Leadership In Turbulent Times”.

In this very timely and scholarly account, Ms. Goodwin chronicles the lives and presidencies of four of America’s greatest leaders: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon Baines Johnson. She writes that their success as leaders was due to their ability to be guided by the greater good as well as possessing an uncanny political talent for bringing about consensus for a cause that was otherwise contentious.

Most would agree that while leadership may be difficult to define, it is most certainly a driving force that embodies a deep sense of humanity which is critical in bringing about civility, compassion and purpose to a nation.

Ms. Goodwin writes that leadership is found in a family of traits and patterns of behavior. Among them she cites humility, empathy, resilience, courage, respect for diverse opinions, control of negative impulses, the ability to connect with all manner of people and a commitment to keep one’s word.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ms. Goodwin’s book, I must admit in all honesty that it was very depressing to realize that for all of the greatness that was once one of the hallmarks of our democratic republic – the Presidency, we are now suffering as a nation as hundreds of thousands are dying an agonizing death. The streets are ablaze with hatred and racial and ethnic hostility, and we have become a worldwide embarrassment due to our leader’s incompetency and delusions of supremacy.

Lincoln was eulogized by Ralph Waldo Emerson for his merciful, humble and patient leadership during the darkest days of the Civil War. In contrast, our President lacks any of these traits and is a racist bully and psychopathic liar.

FDR led our nation through the trials and tribulations of the Great Depression and World War II and we are now led by a fascist who has left us without an international ally (except Putin) and for some reason totally ignores an out-of-control $27 trillion national debt.

LBJ’s Civil Rights Act (1964) was the tangible cornerstone of his vision to bring about a truly American Great Society. Our current leader is a homophobic and misogynistic buffoon whose vision of greatness is defined by how well the stock market is treating his billionaire golfing minions.

Ms. Goodwin offers that… “Leadership is a mirror in which the people see their collective reflection.”

Very sadly as we see ourselves, and the world observes this same “reflection,” current American leadership at the highest level has descended to a disgraceful low and unapologetically dishonors the legacies of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon Baines Johnson.

RBG ut vos RIP.

Doug Miller

Albion

Editor:

I just read Dirk Lammes post stating he’s running for the Town of Murray Highway Superintendent position in the General Election on November 3rd.

His opponent, Jim DeFilipps, is an honored Orleans County deputy sheriff. He is an exemplary law enforcement official and by my own personal experience a good person.

While I know and respect both of these men my vote will be for Dirk Lammes because he is the most experienced and best qualified for this position. If there was an emergency or  a water main bursts at 2 am. and you were without water, who would you want on the job?

Dirk has the experience to step into this job and we’re fortunate to have a person with his level of experience running for this position.  This shouldn’t be turned into a popularity contest.

Jim Johnson

Murray

Editor:

My name is Dirk Lammes. I’m running for the Town of Murray Highway Superintendent position in the General Election on November 3rd.

Over the past few years, I’ve been asked to consider the position and after much encouragement I accepted the endorsement of both the Republican and Conservative Parties. Humbled to be selected as their nominee, I pause to comprehend the importance of community service and the responsibilities of the position.

I have happily lived in Holley for 26 years with my wife Kathy, raising our two sons and building my business. My Dad, a union equipment operator and my hero, taught me how to operate heavy equipment while sitting on his lap.

During my school years I spent every summer break working with him and the guys doing whatever was necessary and loving every minute of it. I tapped my first water main at age 12 and became an entrepreneur while still in high school then incorporating Lammes Construction in 1995.

Municipal work requires operating within a budget. As a professional in my field, experience has taught me to do the work right the first time to minimize spending. I’ve run my business from top to bottom – bidding, payroll, insurance, staffing, trucking and excavating.

I’ve run road jobs from start to finish – paving, curbing, catch basins and sidewalks. Placed water mains, sewer mains and performed emergency repairs to both and even installed a booster pump station and master meter station right here in Murray. I plow, salt and remove snow when necessary.

My construction experience is vast. I’ve developed excellent working relationships with several area municipalities with whom I’ve worked for many years. I am confident that I can hit the ground running meeting every challenge the highway department will face. I look forward to working with the veteran staff as well as the next generation of highway crews.

I plan to continue coaching youth baseball at the Holley High School as I have for many years.  Helping kids develop baseball skills parallels the development of life skills. It’s been a real pleasure of mine to participate in youth development, sportsmanship and love of the game.

I’d appreciate your vote on November 3rd.

Dirk Lammes

Murray

Editor:

You can. Admitting you are wrong is tough, but you can. Several of my republican friends have.  Just say, “I can” and do it.

After all, you are an American before you are a republican, just as I am an American before I am a democrat.

I know many quite well informed, intelligent people who cannot bring themselves to admit they are wrong to have supported what may be the world’s slickest con man.  “I can” theoretically learn from my mistakes. As ostensibly rational human beings, we all can.

Allow me to remind your readers that Russia’s Putin wants our widely revered President to be re-elected for a reason. That reason should be apparent when you see our President undermine confidence in our institutions of government and our very elections. When words give encouragement to domestic terrorists who are emboldened enough by them to plot the kidnapping of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, it should begin to be obvious what that reason is.

Such radical domestic terrorists were thwarted by the FBI and our intelligence services the President has—unwittingly, or no—spent time undermining public confidence in, though they are important parts of our government.

These terrorists reportedly want what one prominent Orleans County businessperson told me that he/she would welcome—another Civil War!

Wake up, those who love your country, before the republic you love is lost to chaos and those who put themselves above the law. Learning from history should come before imitating it.

Alarmedly yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

As a parent of 3 children in the Albion School District, I find it disheartening the way these children are being forced to learn. The struggle for the parents and students has increased the anxiety and depression levels, not only for the students but the parents that are trying to “teach” our children.

As mentioned, I have 3 children, each one is in a different school (2nd, 7th & 10th grade), and I find my 7th grader having many of the struggles between the three of them. Last year my child was on the high honor roll, and this year he is barely passing.

Now, I do understand that the older these children get, the harder the material gets. However, this is not the case. Most of the material the first 2-3 weeks was review from the amount of school they missed last year. Again, coming from 6th grade on the high honor roll, there’s no excuse for him to be struggling. I’ve found that his struggles come from the lack of structure. These children (all children) need structure and unfortunately, New York State has deeply failed them.

Now let’s talk about my 2nd grader. He’s a typical 7-year-old boy. His attention span can become non-existent in the drop of a hat. The best way to describe his parents teaching him is “like nailing Jell-O to the wall.”

Putting him or any other elementary student in front of a Chromebook on Schoology (which is an absolute horrid platform when it works) for hours on end is ridiculous. What do you think these children are obtaining from staring at a screen? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I find myself feeling like a failure as a “teacher” and a parent. Why? Because or routine is frequently interrupted due to the high volume of students on Schoology at the same time. When we had Google Classroom while in quarantine, we very rarely had any issues. Though, I am grateful that the school has provided the built in MiFi, that also is a nightmare to work most days.

The bottom line is, our children need structure. They need school 5 days a week. They need regular teachers teaching them full time. They need their old routine back. I do understand that parents are nervous about the spread of Covid-19 and their children contracting it, but cold and flu season is also upon us.

Do we, or have we, deprived our children from a solid learning environment during cold and flu season? No. We have not. Five to 20 percent of New Yorkers will contract the cold or flu virus as 2.42% of New Yorkers to date have contracted Covid-19.

New York needs to open the schools back up. These children need to learn full time from educators in person, and not their parents/grown-ups that struggle just as much as they do. We as parents are not equipped to “teach”. That is why we pay school taxes, for educators to teach our child.

As a full-time working mom, and having to “teach” my children, I find it nothing less than a struggle. New York needs to get it together and give these children a chance to learn adequately.

Marene Donnelly

Albion

Editor:

Bullard Park on Route 31 in Albion has been closed since the beginning of the Covid pandemic crisis.

That means the amphitheater that many people worked very hard to raise the monies needed to build it cannot be used, nor could the water park, something that would have been a welcome relief for families in the warm summer months but was the entire season just sitting there with no one to enjoy it.

At the same time all the other parks opened up but sadly Bullard did not. If it is the water park that is causing concern and delaying of the opening of the park then put a fence around it.

Bullard is a very large park. It is beautiful place for being outdoors, which right now is very important when we are trying to social distance and trying to get some exercise and fresh air.  Not everyone has a space to get out and enjoy nature.

Lori Laine

Kent

Editor:

Remote learning is not effective and is detrimental to our youth. The children have been putting in more hours and learning far less.

The frustration level is at an all-time high and there are many tears flowing because of it. According to the NYS COVID-19 reopening plan, schools can open as long as they “ensure that social distancing (of at least 6 ft. or a physical barrier) is maintained between individuals while in school facilities and on school grounds, including in the cafeteria, unless safety or the core

activity (e.g. moving equipment, using an elevator, traveling in common areas) requires a shorter distance or individuals are of the same household.

“If social distancing is not possible, individuals must wear acceptable face coverings; excluding students who are unable to medically tolerate a face covering.”

I want the schools to open 5 days a week and follow the state guidelines. It’s time that the Albion Central School District started to put our children’s education at the forefront.

Click here for the link to the change.org petition to have Albion Central School open for in school instruction five days per week.

Ryan Woolston

Carlton

Editor:

Once again the local left places blame on national Republicans and ignores any responsibility on NYS Democrats.

On October 8, Mr. Joseph Gehl wrote to try to compare the President of the United States to Hitler. I don’t know where he came up with such trash. The party of “diversity and inclusion” is anything but.

I recently asked a writer 3 times the following question and never got a reply – just personal attacks and insults. Let me try again with Mr. Gehl. Mr. Gehl, why is it that Governor Andrew Cuomo is above reproach?

Why is it that NY’s deaths are double that of other states – even California? Of course it couldn’t be because “King Andy” forced nursing homes to accept Covid patients resulting in thousands of lives lost.

Who in NY has been “given full law-making and financial powers and anyone who was suspected of opposing him was shot or jailed by the Gestapo”? As a “Bible-thumping, gun-toting conservative,” Mr. Cuomo has said I do not belong in his state. What is next? What is his intention after he tries to take our weapons?

No reasonable person could argue that Cuomo does not have this state under his thumb. He completely controls the most dysfunctional state government in our nation’s history. (Yep, we beat out California on that one too).

We suffer from the highest tax burdens, We have the greatest over regulation. Cuomo’s power means that he controls what businesses can open, and which ones must remain closed. He controls where we can go and where we cannot for fear of quarantine – a list of states that seem to change daily. The list of what he now controls in our personal and professional lives is lengthy and continues to grow to the point that our freedom is very questionable.

And no, I will not be taking his personally approved vaccination. He implies that because Trump is President that any vaccine coming from the federal government is not to be trusted, and I should trust him instead.

The 6,661 nursing home patients who died had no choice but to trust him. And to be clear –  that order was 100% state government’s (spelled A.N.D.Y.’S). A state directive sent thousands of Covid-19 patients into nursing homes, but the Cuomo administration has given other reasons for the virus’s spread.

You know, those leftist “leaders” that never make mistakes. The NY Times recently published an article based on a report by the NYSDOH stating the inordinate amount of deaths in NY nursing was not government decisions (of course). It instead blames 37,500 nursing home workers.

Even the leftist NY Times adds that NY’s numbers are actually much higher because it does not include nursing home patients that contracted the virus, were transferred to hospitals and subsequently died there.

Mr. Gehl, if there were a realistic comparison to be made of current government officials to the Hitler gestapo, these nursing homes would be Cuomo’s gas chambers, would they not?

Bob Harker

Clarendon

Editor:

Nate McMurray will change directions towards a more civil society. A study by Georgia State University Professor Jennifer Lynn McCoy found that polarization of politics is stimulated by the rhetoric of political leaders. She wrote: “Since launching his campaign, President Donald Trump has vilified so-called external enemies such as ‘criminal and rapist’ Mexican immigrants, terrorist Muslims and foreign allies out to drain America’s coffers through ‘unfair trade deficits.’ Now, the president is targeting internal enemies.”

We need to stop vilifying and demonizing people of different ethnic or religious backgrounds. This has the effect of dividing and isolating people, instead of solving problems.

To overcome this polarization of politics the study states: “With a spirit of inquiry, generosity and openness, rather than blame and vilification, the U.S. can move past the bitter divisions that threaten the democratic foundations of the country.”

Chris Jacobs is emulating Mr. Trump’s rhetoric of blaming peaceful protestors on ANTIFA, and demonizing Asians and migrants.

Nate McMurray has visited everywhere in the 27th district, listened to everyone’s concerns and will bring people together.

We all want clean water, nutritious food, good schools and safe neighborhoods and good jobs. Working together, Nate McMurray, will change direction from vilifying people to solving problems for N.Y. 27th district. Let’s elect a leader, Nate McMurray.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Chris Collins did the crime, it’s time, do the time. Our ex-congressman was convicted of fraud, insider trading and lying to law enforcement.

Collins needs to go to jail, no matter who he is, no matter how much money he has, even with “connections” in high places, a Trump loyalist.

Lawyers’ excuses to further delay or eliminate his 26-week prison sentence for Collins include his age – 70, ill health – asthma and hypertension, as well as health risks.

Equal equals equal. Shall we release all 70-year old prisoners with asthma and hypertension due to health risk? The pandemic is a fact of life we all must deal with.

I have not committed any crimes, am in the same age group with the same illnesses; I quarantine at home due to the pandemic. Collins is a criminal deserving greater punishment than I. Collins is old news; the public is tired of his face, hearing his woes. Time to do the time, like anyone else.

Fast forward to the present. Who will fill that N-27 seat? We deserve better than the series of wealthy ex-congressmen named Chris who have embarrassed us, cheated or confused easily.

Chris Jacobs claims he was confused when he failed to support the USPS. Jacobs must be confused again, when he lies in his ad, claiming he fights to protect pre-existing conditions and jobs for us. Jacobs is a Trump loyalist; Trump fights to eliminate The Affordable Care Act during a pandemic.

We are desperate for leadership with integrity, someone who refuses corporate money, whose “connections” are us, supporters, met while visiting towns in N-27. That is Nate McMurray.

Carol Nochajski

Wilson

Editor:

Over the past several weeks I have been lucky enough to walk beside (often behind) Diane Shampine as she boldly knocks upon the doors of complete strangers.

Quiet and reserved by nature, Diane has managed to muster the inner strength to enter an arena of which she had previously disavowed, and even truly dreaded – the world of politics. I stand in awe at the strength required to do so.

If you have a fear of public speaking, multiply that by a factor of ten, and then you have half an appreciation for what this actually requires.

I have witnessed first-hand how this overtly polite lady (afraid to knock too loudly, step on someone’s grass where no sidewalk was present, or interrupt a Buffalo Bill’s game on Sunday) became a confident, assertive individual on the campaign trail for the position of Orleans County Clerk.

Each encounter resolved clearly in her favor yet accompanied by a small cloud of confusion as to how a citizen may clearly cast a vote intended as approval for her effort to meet, greet and present.

Her shirt is red, her sign has stars, she’s a life-long Republican, and it would seem logical that if one were to vote straight down the Republican line, she will receive your vote. No! Not correct. Diane has supported the Republican Party her entire life, but even though she was clearly the most qualified, I dare say the only qualified candidate for the position, she didn’t receive their support. The people we meet fully intend to vote for Diane, but many also intend to vote the Republican line from top to bottom. Unfortunately, that is going to end with unintended consequences, and the wrong person may inadvertently win this race.

However, from the very beginning of this campaign Diane understood the value of the Conservative Party endorsement. At the very heart of every true Republican, and deep down within every thinking person is a conservative leaning voter. Someone who honestly believes the hand of government upon the throats of the citizen must be restrained, and the coffers accrued via collected taxes should be spent as a parent balancing a limited household budget.

I witnessed Diane reviewing a multi-page questionnaire from the Conservative Party Committee as if she were taking a midterm exam, beginning at 7 a.m. and finally concluding sometime after 11:30 p.m. on a Sunday night because she was determined to submit her honest and heartfelt answers on time. Upon doing so, she not only received the Conservative Party endorsement, but also received high praise as having provided “some of the most impressive answers they had ever seen.” Because of that cherished endorsement, she is now allowed to continue on in the general election as the Conservative Party candidate.

It would seem Diane Shampine is not simply running against another candidate, but rather she finds herself in contention with a very powerful letter. The letter “R” for Republican.

A letter can be a powerful thing, one cannot debate with a letter, only a candidate. When one candidate refuses to present their competency in a public forum, the other is catapulted into a position where they must somehow convey that an “R” is not always an “R”, and quite often a “C” is truly the best option.

James Schwenzer

Ontario, New York and part-time Holley resident

Editor:

An article in the World Book Encyclopedia which was contributed to by William A. Jenks, a professor of history at Washington and Lee University, reads “Adolph Hitler was one of the most evil men in world history. He spread death as no man had ever done before and ordered anyone who opposed him to be executed or thrown into prison.”

Jenks goes on to say that Hitler hated Christianity which he said was a religion for weaklings. Many believed he was their friend and protector. He had a sick mind – but it was the mind of a genius who had a clear vision of what he wanted and had the daring to pursue it and the talent to succeed.

He had no respect for experts in any field and repeatedly ignored the advice of his generals and followed his own judgment. People who knew him described him as odd, moody and easily angered. He thought that no form of government could last if it treated persons of different nationalities equally.

Hitler was a skillful schemer, politician and organizer. He became leader of the Nazi Party and built up membership quickly – partly by his ability to stir street crowds with his speeches. He attacked the government and declared that only the Nazi party could assure jobs and greatness for Germany.

He believed that democracy could only lead to Communism and a dictatorship was the only way to save the country from Communists. He had laws enacted which wiped out individual rights in Germany and allowed the Nazis to jail anyone without a trial, outlawed freedom of the press, all labor unions and all political parties except the Nazis.

He was given full law-making and financial powers and anyone who was suspected of opposing him was shot or jailed by the Gestapo.

Do any of those character traits remind you of anyone you might know who “leads” a country?   Think long and hard before you cast your ballot.

Joseph A. Gehl

Kent

Editor:

Thank you Tom Rivers for the Orleans Hub article. Yes, it has been quite a ride but I didn’t do it alone.

During my tenure I was fortunate to have Sandra Walter as a dedicated treasurer who reported to the State in a timely manner, Agnes Recco who recorded all the minutes and motions. We were a team and I will miss our interactions but we will remain forever friends.

The vice chairs – Jeff Lewis and Darlene Rich, Pat Cammaratta and Jim Renfrew – are deserving of thanks as well and all the committee members who chaired or helped with our many projects and fund raisers.

Jan Grabowski and Eileen Aina at the Board of Elections will make sure we follow the State Guidelines.

I will miss the challenges of being the chair but Jeff and his team will lead us on.

Yes, the challenges are great in Orleans County but the Democrats are not going away.

Thank you,

Jeanne Crane

Waterport

Former Orleans County Democratic Party chairwoman

Editor:

As someone who taught U.S. History and Government and International Relations for thirty-four years and knows the Constitution and American History better than most, it is my considered opinion that the fate of this wonderful nation and our republican form of government are highly dependent on the outcome of our November presidential election.

My son was superintendent at Atlantic City Country Club when our president was having his Taj Mahal built by multi-millionaire Club members. That son personally knows Club members who were told after completing millions of dollars’ worth of work that they should get a lawyer if they wished to be paid.

American troops who fought the Kaiser’s men at Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood in WW I and are buried in France were called “suckers” and “losers” by the guy who got out of serving in Vietnam by citing a bone spur. In fact, our president called people who died in Vietnam “stupid” for not avoiding the draft.

George Fischer, one of my best friends growing up, stepped on a land mine in Vietnam and came back to Holley “closed casket”.  I have always thought of George as a patriot who died for his country.

If you value the republic so many have fought to defend, please think long and hard about this election and why Vladimir Putin, a man who kills with impunity, wants so badly for our president to be re-elected.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent

Albion