Editor:

Art has a unique way of bringing a community together. In the Town of Barre, a new mural will hang as a reminder that even small towns can express big stories through creativity and pride.

The mural will be a community paint by number by local artist Stacey Kirby. It will reflect the history, character and spirit of the town. In a rural community like Barre, where generations of families have lived, worked, farmed and built their lives, the mural becomes a visual celebration of that shared identity.

When the artist contributes her talents, the mural will help shape the visual landscape of the Town of Barre and leave something meaningful for future generations.

This mural at the town hall is more than a painting on the wall. It is a statement that art belongs everywhere, including the heart of Barre.

This mural is sponsored by GO Art! and the Barre Betterment Committee.

Cyndy Vanlieshout and Betsy Miller

Barre Betterment Committee

Editor:

“As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this single question: How much money will it bring in?” – Alexis de Tocqueville, circa 1840

The French aristocrat de Tocqueville traveled around America in the 1830s and wrote the classic and still popular book, Democracy in America. After nearly 200 years the above quote is still relevant.

Today, a few ultra-rich corporations have a tremendous influence on our economy and culture. As every business student learns, the sole criterion for corporate success is the generation of wealth for the shareholders. That’s it.  Anything else – equitable distribution of wealth, concern for nature and the environment, concern for employees and customers, basic human empathy – is only important if it helps increase shareholder wealth.

A consequence of this philosophy is the raw capitalistic ethos that dominates 21st century America: phenomenal wealth but savage inequalities, material well-being for some but hardship for many others, and emotional and spiritual desolation for nearly all. A change is needed.

A microcosm of the whole cultural picture is being played out locally, in the form of a proposed data center in Genesee County.

It will be huge, around 37 football fields.

It will use far more electricity than the combined total usage of Genesee, Orleans, Livingston and Wyoming counties.

It will cost over $19 billion to build, and will employ only 125 people.

The builder is asking Genesee County for over $1.4 billion in tax breaks.

It will be noisy – constant, 24/7 noise.

It will burn large amounts of polluting diesel fuel to run its backup generators.

Its wastewater will be handled by an awkward, heavily criticized plan to discharge treated waste into an already impaired Oak Orchard Creek.

It will be nearly surrounded by government protected land (e.g., the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and others) and by the Tonawanda Seneca reservation. Spills of diesel fuel or cooling fluid could cause great harm.

It will be used by an undisclosed corporation, almost surely for artificial intelligence computations.

If America can avoid a bubble-bursting AI crash, the data center could be immensely profitable. Where will the profits flow? Essentially all the profits will flow out of our area, most to fabulously rich high tech corporations on the West Coast.

Data centers are, in essence, extractive entities. They use resources like land and electricity, and do not return meaningful wealth to the area, mostly because they employ very very few people. Granted, PILOT payments and fees paid to the GCEDC stay local, but remember that there’s also the proposed $1.4 billion in abated tax revenues that the state and county will never see. Finally, to make the whole situation worse, residential electric bills will go up. Please ask yourself: Is this what we want?

Perhaps more important than the economic issues are the social and environmental risks that come with data centers. Those risks are all borne locally. The Big Woods of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation gets the unceasing noise, the diesel exhaust, and groundwater pollution from any spills. We believe that it is neither ethical nor moral to subject the Nation to such risks.

Moreover, the buildings themselves will lie along the border of the reservation – looming, noisy reminders to the TSN that for 250 years our government has taken advantage of them.  Again, is this what we want?

Beyond the TSN reservation, the protected wildlife areas will be subject to pollution risks, the magnitudes of which are very difficult to quantify, but are not zero.

In summary, we contend that the local economic case for a data center in Genesee County is weak. We also contend that it is fundamentally wrong to base the decision on economics alone, and that arguments based on the lifestyles and well-being of local people and the health of the environment should be given more weight than they have been given. From  humanistic and environmental points of view, the risks of the data center outweigh any benefits.

Though our culture tends to channel us toward a narrow view, the value of everything in our beautiful world cannot and should not be reduced to economics alone. If you agree with us, please consider making your voice heard. We urge you to come out explicitly against the data center. You can start by contacting your local and state elected officials. This is not just a Genesee County issue; it affects all of western New York and beyond. Other communities around the country have come together and successfully stopped data center projects. We can too.

Sister Dolores O’Dowd (Chairperson, Green Orleans)

Kim Remley

Gary Kent

Dennis Seekins

Sharon Cassidy

The Reverend Joseph Kozlowski

The Reverend Robin Kozlowski

Holly Manaseri

Chris Manaseri

Charlie Manaseri

Tracy Panczyszyn

Frank Panczyszyn

Cheryl Giacherio

Dave Giacherio

(all signatories are from Orleans County)

Editor:

Whether I’m writing an endorsement letter or a love letter to my community, this feels like the right time to share what I’m feeling as we enter another village election.

I didn’t grow up in Orleans County. But in 2020 as so many of us were passing each other on the sides of the roads (notably not the sidewalks!), I know I wasn’t the only one who suddenly found myself paying closer attention to the five miles or so closest to home.

Through that experience, and through the mentorship of Mayor Sidari, I was introduced to the people who quietly keep this village running: department heads, employees, volunteers, and neighbors who care deeply about this place.

Serving on the Village Voard has revealed the secret to the magic here: Medina works because its people work together. Our school district, village departments, surrounding towns, businesses, volunteers, and faith communities constantly collaborate to get things done. In a community our size, that kind of partnership is something special. It’s the delicate balance of those entities that keeps our community alive.

Some of those partnerships extend beyond the village – because imaginary lines don’t void out the need for life-saving responses. I’m not the first, and won’t be the last to talk about MFD.

However, I will use this opportunity to briefly say that the firefighters protecting this community, career firefighters and volunteers alike, care about making sure the folks keeping us safe have what they need to do their jobs. These folks have looked into the face of hell. They aren’t moved by the absolute fact that the village residents pay more than town residents for near-identical service. They know a lot of things I don’t know. They know what it looks like when the right equipment didn’t get there in time.

When I think about this election, I think about the representatives who will help keep our community safe, affordable, and connected. Our experts know what they need, but we can’t afford to send out blank checks. It’s our job to figure out those details.

We need to elect representatives who are prepared to share decision-making with the voters and are able to see a complete picture of what the majority of the residents need from the village.

For Mayor, that candidate is Marguerite Sherman. Marguerite cares deeply about Medina and understands the balance required to lead a community like ours. I trust that she will always act with the best interests of the village at heart.

For Trustee, the candidate with the most to offer is Courtney Henderson. Despite her briefer period of residency, Courtney has made it her mission to learn about our community. Her commitment to listening to residents and understanding issues before forming opinions is exactly what local government needs. Her website, Your Voice Your Village, is already set up for village residents to submit their thoughts and desires for the village’s future.

If you live within the village limits and have never voted before, I hope March 18 will be your first of many trips to the Senior Citizens Center to remind our village that every voice deserves to be heard. Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m., and the firefighters’ union is offering free rides to and from the polls to any resident who requests them, no ballot questions asked.

And I hope you’ll fill in the bubble for Marguerite Sherman for Mayor and write in Courtney Henderson for Trustee.

Jess Marciano

Medina Deputy Mayor and resident

Editor:

Tomorrow the village of Albion will vote for a new mayor and two trustees. I hope this election is decided by more than the approximately 200 to 400 people who always vote in each election. Some thoughts on the candidates:

Some say they have past experience on the board, however, previous administrations did a very poor job of planning for the future. They seemed to concentrate only on keeping the tax rate under the tax cap. This led to poor budget planning and no planning for future needs.  We now find ourselves faced with higher water/sewer rates because of this lack of foresight. Kicking the can down the road does not help the village prepare for the future.

This lack of planning also led to the issue with the Albion police department. The correction attempted by the new board was not a “defund the police” issue but an issue of incorrect pay accounting by a previous administration. See Orleans Hub, July 18, 2022 article for complete explanation.

Now the two candidates for mayor, as well as the trustees, must contend with increasing the tax rate to bring the village back to a budget that includes planning for the future in a responsible, proactive manner.

Joyce Riley is the kind of mayor that Albion needs to get this job done. Joyce is not afraid of doing what is right and best for the village and its residents. She is not afraid to speak her mind on issues. The people of this village needs someone who is honest, straightforward and willing to do the hard work it will take to bring Albion back to the vital, vibrant community it once was.

Please vote for Joyce Riley for mayor and let her continue her good works for Albion.  Remember to get out and vote tomorrow, March 18th, from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Albion Village Hall, 35-37 Main St.

Sandra Walter

Albion

Editor:

Genesee County has long struggled with water problems, including contaminated and insufficient groundwater and devastating droughts in 2023 and 2025. Despite piping water in through the massive, expensive Genesee County Water Supply Project, we still suffer persistent water scarcity. People in Pembroke and Bethany have dealt with dry taps in the past two years.

Yet the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) is considering a proposal for a hulking data center the size of eleven Walmart Supercenters in our rural Town of Alabama. This monster would be built at the STAMP (Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park) failing boondoggle, harming local public protected lands and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation’s territory with its noise and pollution.

The GCEDC will tell you the data center would use “only” 20,000 gallons of water per day. They will also tell you that it is needed to solve the County’s water problems– that data center proceeds will help fund the infrastructure needed to bring up to 10 million gallons of water per day to the County from Lake Ontario via the Monroe County Water Authority.

This nonsensical plan would hinge our water “solutions” to multinational corporations and their financial backers who have no care or concern whatsoever for Genesee County and its people. And we’d have to accept all the data center’s unacceptable energy, environmental, and aesthetic impacts.

There are other ways to fund water infrastructure that don’t hold Genesee County hostage to GCEDC and its for-profit tenants: for example, the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Giving billions in tax breaks to a data center in order to generate far less for our water problems is dangerously short-sighted: taxpayers and local governments will be on the hook to maintain this infrastructure forever, long past the data center lifespan (10-15 years) and even the length of the proposed 30-year PILOT (Payment-In-Lieu-of-Taxes) agreement.

And how helpful will the data center be if it opens pipes to future thirsty industrial tenants at STAMP? Genesee County has already committed 200,000 gallons of water per day to STAMP, and claims this will have “no adverse impact.” But this would be 200,000 gallons going daily to STAMP instead of to people, households, and farms.

Who loses here? People suffering from water crises–the same people who will foot the big bills for much of this boondoggle. The $1.4 billion in taxpayer subsidies sought for the data center would dwarf what it ever would contribute to water infrastructure.

GCEDC also wants you to believe that agriculture and food industries are the real water gluttons in Genesee County, not data centers. Yet agriculture has long been top-priority for our economy and way of life. It’s simply unjustifiable to use any water for data centers, AI, and future far-flung STAMP Big Tech and multinational corporation tenants – instead of for people and food.

For all its massive demands and impacts, this data center would provide only 125 jobs –likely to include non-local construction laborers, given GCEDC’s history of local labor waivers. The per job public cost for each job? A shocking $11.4 million. GCEDC once promised that STAMP would create 9,000 advanced manufacturing jobs. An AI data center does the polar opposite: it would provide a pitiful number of jobs while guzzling 410,000 homes’ worth of electricity every year, and generate nothing of social value. This is more proof that STAMP is failing: that the site is untenable; and that GCEDC is desperate.

So, who wins? US STREAM Data Centers, financial backer Apollo Global Management (one of the world’s largest private equity firms, with ties to the Epstein Files), and the data center operator – a Big Tech company whose identity is secret thanks to a non-disclosure agreement. And GCEDC, which would make a sweet $145.9 million in fees from the deal.

We cannot allow any water to be siphoned away by developments like data centers, or be fooled by the GCEDC’s claims that a data center will solve our water problems. We call on Monroe County residents to oppose the data center, since Monroe County Water Authority supply and infrastructure would be tapped for STAMP. We encourage residents of Genesee County and Monroe County to weigh in on this plan: there is a legally required public hearing this Thursday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at the Town of Alabama Fire Hall, and GCEDC is accepting written comments through March 31.

A mega data center complex is the polar opposite of a “savior” for the physical and financial realities of our dire water situation. It would hurt our rural and agricultural communities, and be a deep, deep injustice to the next-door Tonawanda Seneca Nation. And it is being leveraged to attract even more resource-sucking development to STAMP.

RaeAnn Engler

Batavia

Christine Zinni, Ph.D

Batavia

Evan Lowenstein, MUP

Rochester

Editor:

I don’t usually comment on the race for Mayor, and unlike some others, I’ve always preferred to keep a low profile on issues involving the Village. Many of you know me from my years teaching high school science at Medina High School and coaching baseball. One thing I always tried to instill in my students was that their voices matter. At a time like this, I feel it’s important that I use mine.

Marguerite and I have shared a life together for many years, and long before she ever held public office, I saw the kind of person she is. From the start of her career in education, she has always gone above and beyond to make sure things are done the right way and that people are treated the right way.

When the cheerleading team didn’t have a coach and it looked like the girls might lose their season, Marguerite stepped in to coach because she couldn’t stand the thought of those students missing out. She also took on class advisor roles so students would have someone guiding and supporting them.

Throughout her teaching career, both as a teacher and later as a department chair, she fought for special education students and their families. She believed deeply that those students deserved every service and opportunity available to them, and she worked hard to make sure they received it.

That same sense of responsibility is what led her into public service. Her involvement began on the Planning Board, where she spent years helping guide thoughtful decisions about our community. Following that, she continued serving Medina as a trustee and now as mayor, always focused on moving the village forward.

All of this happened while we were raising four children. She was there for band and chorus concerts, YMCA sports, Scouts, and high school athletics. Today she brings that same love and energy to being a grandmother.

We chose to buy our home in the Village of Medina 26 years ago because it was where we wanted to raise our family. Medina had everything we hoped for – great schools, a paid fire department and police force, and a walkable community with shops and restaurants nearby. It was a wonderful place to raise our kids, and in many ways it has only gotten better.

Elections can sometimes bring out the worst in people. I’ve read some of the comments and accusations, and they don’t solve the challenges Medina faces. What I know is this: Medina means the world to Marguerite. She has given countless hours of her time to this community because she truly cares about the people who live here.

I’m proud of the work she’s done, and proud to stand beside her as she continues working for the Village of Medina.

Sincerely,

Marguerite’s husband

Jon Sherman

Medina

Editor:

To the residents of the Village of Medina, the village needs a Mayor who is a good leader.  The Mayor is the Chief Executive Officer.  The Mayor represents the directives of the majority vote of the remaining four Board of Trustees.

The Mayor has no authority over the other four Board members other than their authority to supervise the police and other subordinate officers.

A good leader needs the respect of all members of their team and of those which they supervise in order for there to be progress. Respect is earned when respect is given. A good leader is honest and transparent. A good leader recognizes the strengths of the members of their team and uses those strengths towards the achievement of the goal.

The last two years have unfortunately spiraled into chaos and dissention on our Village Board. Leadership skills on many fronts have been severely lacking. Differences of opinion have resulted in a debilitating absence of transparency on the Board. Focus on one loud, disrespectful department has prevented much needed attention on other departments.  Our Village has suffered.

I was not raised to point fingers of blame or toot my own horn. I had also not intended to be running for the position of Mayor. But I see the direction of this Village, financially and quite frankly, ethically, and I cannot sit idly by.

I do not have all of the fancy words to promise all of the wonderful things I plan to do for this Village. I will say that my lifetime of experience in Village government is actually unparalleled. My experience working with budgets and finances should be a huge asset to our Village Board. My leadership skills will hopefully provide an example to follow. I will be honest and transparent and recognize the skills and experiences of others to move this Village forward.

If you elect me Mayor, I will not do this alone. I will include my fellow board members, department heads, committee members, community leaders and hopefully surrounding elected officials to make Medina a comfortable, affordable place to live. We all love Medina. Please take advantage of this turning point in our Village. I would appreciate your support. Thank you!

Please vote Padoleski, Prawel and Wagner on March 18, 2026!

Deborah Padoleski

Candidate for Mayor in Village of Medina

Editor:

Things Joyce Riley has left off her accomplishments list:

Approximate Result of attempted Police Defunding: $7,500 to PBA attorney, $30,500-plus in village attorney fees, and $20,000-plus for auditor, plus monies resulting from back pay due to the unauthorized and illegal pay change.

Three police officers quit with one as a direct result of the defund attempt and another two resulting from fear of no growth (loss of SRO because of inability to work with school on negotiating) or further hostilities from the board.

The water plant operator and an employee quit as a result of verbal berating and constant micro managing including comments to the effect of “they knew what the job was and if they don’t like it then they can leave.”

Several personal harassment and other investigations.

Pricing a not-for-profit out of a rental unit then saying good luck finding a new place cheaper than what we’re offering. And ridiculing other board members when attempting to correct the situation. And the rental unit is still empty, costing the village to continue on missing out on income.

Constant rhetoric of just cutting services and leaving them fall to the county with zero concern about their budget or impact on county-wide constituents.

Overly aggressive communication to the point where unless you agree you’re wrong.

We don’t need to continue with those accomplishments.

Please get out and vote for Tim McMurray on March 18th for mayor.

Geno Allport

Albion

Editor:

It was voted yes to construction of another Dollar General next to Cone Zone and across from the school in the village of Albion.

Why?

There was already a Dollar General on West Avenue near Tops from 2006-2019 that closed because it couldn’t compete with Dollar Tree, Walmart and Family Dollar even Save-A-Lot and Tops. The lease had expired and Dollar General left which was the easiest way to when it was the least performing store in the area during those years.

Why attend public hearings? When I’ve attended public hearings in the past and had valid concerns, I was told by elected officials that everything will be okay and to just deal with it, and brush us off.

So here we are its 2026 and the change certain people ran on to bring change to Albion and were bringing back something that’s already failed and the competition that led to it leaving is still here.

You drive down Main Street in Medina and see a street full of businesses and people and you go down Main Street in Albion and you see well a lot less then Medina.

So whoever thought this was a great idea bringing back Dollar General for a second time, the only thing you brought back what could be in the future is another empty store front, an empty parking lot, or another bottle can return. I say give it 5 years.

I don’t see change when it comes to this idea. I just see a band-aid fix to losing to another village that’s flourishing.

Aaron Vosburgh

Albion

Editor:

It is a privilege for me to write this letter of support for the re-election campaign of Mayor Marguerite Sherman in Medina. She is an exceptional individual and a public servant of the highest caliber. As a long-time resident, I have seen many mayors and trustees come and go – Marguerite Sherman is one of the best.

She possesses an impressively sound command of the issues and takes a wide-ranging, creative approach to seeking common sense solutions. Over the years, I have come to see that what makes a truly exceptional public servant – what sets her apart from others is what she possesses beyond those basics.

She is a professional, competent, and capable individual, and is also a good and decent human being. She is energetic, passionate, dedicated, creative, empathetic, collaborative, communicative, engaging. In short, she is everything a good public servant should be.

Further, Marguerite understands that good governance demands a broad perspective. She understands that when politics becomes fixated on a single issue, it turns destructive – pushing a narrow agenda at the expense of the many complex needs of a community. The result is dysfunction, deepened division, and the complete erosion of any realistic chance for meaningful compromise.

Medina needs people who engage, cooperate, and communicate. People like Marguerite Sherman.

I could write far more at the risk of losing the most important part of what needs to be said:

Marguerite Sherman is extremely dedicated to her office, public service and this village, and has proven herself to be an invaluable asset to the community. The Village of Medina is indeed lucky to have her.

Sincerely,

Darlene Rich

Medina