Editor:

Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, or moral uprightness; being whole and not divided.

As we come into a new year, I think it’s important to evaluate ourselves. Finding ways where they can better themselves for the upcoming year and years ahead of them. A self-inventory on our performance over the past year in all aspects of our life.

With strong divides in our country, state and areas close to home; I would like to urge others, as I am, to look at our performance when it comes to integrity. Are our goals to benefit ourselves more than others or benefit others as well as ourselves?

I feel that often, many lose sight of the reasons they are doing something or being with someone, more than not something or someone they love. Each day we should be planning to make the most of it and making it better than days past. We are all faced with challenges daily, some greater than others and some more plentiful than others. Our integrity should be that one thing that helps direct us and allow us to benefit other and ourselves, rather than ourselves alone.

Life is a challenge and that is what makes life so rewarding. All that we have today is not promised tomorrow. Let’s not focus on what wrong with something or someone but what we can do to make it or them stronger. What can “I” do with another or others to make it better than it was yesterday for us all? In 2019, let’s choose our thoughts and actions based on honesty and morals, rather than personal gain and drive our country, state, community, job and home to be better than it was yesterday!

Happy New Year!

Peter D. Hendrickson, Jr.

Kent

Editor:

I take Mr. Kent’s blazing fast response to my LTE published Friday evening as a compliment.  There were no “clever, selective [or] obfuscating” motives behind my submission, only that the myths spread by Mr. James C. Hoffman are often repeated, but never disputed, and far more is in play in NY and regionally, than just the Niagara Hydroelectric plant.

I did not prod a Hornet’s Nest intentionally, nor did I insult the intelligence of any of these communities’ residents – 99.99% of New York state residents have very little recognition, nor understanding of the complex energy systems within which we live. Unfortunately for me, I do not gain an income for sharing my knowledge of our energy landscape, it’s my passion like others love cars or horses or …

Mr. Kent’s response and viciousness however does appear to any moderate and rational reader as though I just kicked the Hornet’s Nest… so much anger. Over what? Helping all readers to better understand our energy needs and how they can directly benefit in their pocketbooks through advances in technology, such as electric cars and heat pumps? That is a cost-benefit analysis in itself, not a presumption of “hicks from the sticks” intelligence. Your local car dealership salesman is not going to tell you electric cars are cheaper in fuel and more importantly maintenance costs. I would hope local HVAC providers would be offering the option of heat pumps for residents to perform their own cost-benefit analysis… however, I suspect they are not.

While I was pushing for my LTE to be published, my niece informed me Barker Central School announced it will need to consolidate, closing down part of it in a plan yet to be fully detailed to students or teachers alike. All just before Christmas! I graduated from BCS over 20 years ago, back during the days when we lived “high on the hog” off the Somerset Power Plant $20 million a year tax base. Something I have acknowledged in appreciation openly in several open letters to the local communities. Something I have also made clear… even though our resources back then were the best in Niagara or Orleans counties, it didn’t stop rival students from calling us “stupid pig farmers.”

It is starting to appear, as the $20 million per year long ago dried up, and Supervisor Dan Engert blows Somerset’s “rainy day fund” on subsidizing residents’ garbage collection, and Save Ontario Shores saddles the towns of Somerset and Yates under mountains of legal fees, the lipstick has started to wash off the pigs that we were all along, and the reason I like many after me got the hell out as soon as we could.

If Mr. Kent, like Mr. Hoffman, like Mrs. Bronson, like Mr. Riggi, like Mrs. Barton, want to continue throwing the proverbial cow manure at the wall that is Apex, hoping any of it will stick, then please do. I have no vested interest in Somerset or Yates or Barre, none in Apex either. I could give two cow patties. I have no children, nor will I have any… business as usual suits me just fine, I’ll be dead before the impacts hit us. Can all those in opposition to Lighthouse, Heritage or Galloo Island say the same about their children’s and/or grandchildren’s future?

I actually support natural gas pipelines and new, highly efficient combined cycle plants… something most do not. I support the governor’s efforts providing ZEC – Zero Energy Credits to our upstate nuclear fleet, something replicated in Illinois, but not anywhere else in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and all other states with nuclear plants. I even support downstate Indian Point, contrary to most downstate residents.

There is no potential for new hydroelectric power plants in the Northeast US, especially nothing of the scale of the Niagara or Robert Moses projects. Quebec is offering us a lifeline, with the new Romain project coming online in stages. But of course, NIMBY – Not In My Back Yard, is fighting against new transmission in Vermont & New Hampshire too, just like in New York.

Mr. Kent suggests distributed “rooftop solar” as a solution to Orleans and Niagara residents. I have done the feasibility study… and the numbers are not there. Sure residents can benefit from NEM – Net Electric Meter, accounting, but on a cost basis for New Yorkers, they don’t solve our energy need problems.

Mr. Kent, is not throwing out a viable alternative to the situation New York faces as a net electricity importer and a far greater net ENERGY importer if we consider oil and natural gas.  He like many of his cohort is sowing discontent, moving people to react emotionally, and sadly, not by their own personal best interests. Keep the old ways going, don’t change anything and just leave us alone.

I encourage readers to look outside the Facebook echochambers where Mr. Riggi, Ms. Barton, Ms. Bronson, Ms. Atwater, Mr. & Mrs. Nacca operate and spread their vicious vitriol like a Hornet’s Nest just kicked. Information is available that is not so twisted and distorted by a very select group of people. All might just find, there are real direct benefits available to each of us.

Respectfully,

Hans Hyde

Lockport

Editor:

Instead of my usual pro-wind speech, this is what I shared at the Dec. 13, 2018 Town Board meeting:

Tonight I would like to speak to two points. With your permission Jim (Simon – Town Supervisor), I would like to address everyone in the hall, not just the Town Board. Again tonight finds us in the Christmas Season.

We opened the meeting tonight with the Pledge of Allegiance to this beautiful flag! There were differences of opinions during the meeting and throughout the year. The reason we can do these things at town, state, and national levels is because of one thing, our military.

This month we lost a past commander in chief and a true World War II hero. President George Herbert Walker Bush was a true patriot. The four days of TV coverage of his funeral was a great history lesson.

At age 17 Mr. Bush signed up for service in the U.S. Navy. At the age of 18 he became the youngest Navy Pilot. He flew 58 bombing missions over Japan, being shot down once and was rescued at sea.

My father also signed up and was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corp which is known as the U.S. Air Force today. Dad was a tail gunner on a B29 Bomber stationed in Guam. He too, flew many nighttime missions over Japan. He told me when they returned to their base in Guam in the early morning, they would go to the Chow Hall and pray that all their fellow airmen would return safely. Like most World War II vets, dad didn’t talk much about the war. We also lost many Army and Marines in Germany, France and the rest of Europe.

Because many young men and women signed up for military duty and the country backed them, we won the war. Shortly before dad’s passing I took him to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Looking up at the cut-away of the B29 it’s hard to believe how these men carried out their missions in this equipment. One of my dad’s favorite quotes was, “better to fight over there than here at home.”

One of the most moving moments of the Bush funeral coverage was when he was in the Capitol Rotunda. Former Senator Bob Dole was rolled in, in his wheel chair to pay his last respects.  They stopped at the head of the casket and the man pushing the wheel chair stopped and helped Senator Dole stand up so he could salute President Bush. To see that was a reminder of the meaning of “World War II Heroes.” If these men hadn’t fought the war that they did, maybe we would be speaking German or Japanese tonight. That’s a scary thought.

During the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s in order to fill the military ranks, the government used the draft. During that time we fought the Korean War, the Vietnam War and Desert Storm.

Then it happened. In 2001 we were attacked on our home soil, so we ending up fighting the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. What I think is so great is that so many people, me included, questioned our younger generation. One thing we must remember is that today’s military is the strongest fighting force in the world and most importantly, it’s all volunteers. To me that says a lot about our younger generation.

I would like to ask everyone here, not just at Christmas time, but all year long if you see a veteran please extend your hand and say, “Thanks for your service.” Without our veterans we wouldn’t have all the freedoms we have today. Having said that, would all of the veterans here tonight, please stand so we can say “Thank you.”

My second point is the same as last year. There are 75 beautifully decorated trees in the village park. Again, I’m partial to two, the tree decorated by Save Ontario Shores and the tree decorated Lighthouse Wind. To me this shows that beside all of our differences we can have something in common. We all like to celebrate Christmas. I would ask that we remember the true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We can all agree that things have gotten pretty contentious this year!

At this year’s end and during the Christmas season, I would ask everyone to take a deep breath, take a step back, and for the next month or two enjoy this Christmas season.

Howard Pierce

Lyndondonville

Editor:

The Town of Gaines is for sale. If you have a political chip from the last election to turn in please see Supervisor Joe Grube immediately, because he has given away most of the Town and there’s not much left. Are you concerned about the Cobblestone, solar farms or farm labor housing? – Joe’s your man (if you have one of those magical chips). If you attended the last Steering Committee to address proposed changes to the Towns zoning ordinances you know exactly what I am referring to.

In addition to Joe, the meeting was attended by two other town officials – Councilman Tyler Allport and Councilman-elect Corey Black. Supervisor Grube added Mr. Black to his committee along with hand selecting 10 members from the Gaines community. Interestingly none of these members were ever interviewed by the Town of Gaines Board to create a committee that fairly represented the concerns and views of the entire Town or to work within the goals and policies of its comprehensive plan, they were just presented by Joe for inclusion – no discussion required.

If you didn’t know better you might think you were attending a Cobblestone Society meeting. Let’s call this Joe’s “VISION” for the Town. Looking back the comprehensive plan and former ad hoc committee had this fair representation overall – a concept foreign to this supervisor and his desire to make unilateral decisions for HIS board. As I’ve previously stated the purpose of this committee is to propose changes to the Town Board to revise its zoning ordinance so it does not conflict with its revised comprehensive plan. It’s important to note that a committee had been previously working on this same task for 18 months prior to Joe became supervisor – a body work that was NEVER provided to a highly paid professional consultant, again hand selected from a short list of one by Joe – a part of his “VISION”. You might ask why, but it will be clear as you read on.

As Chairman of the Town’s Zoning Board of Appeals that Supervisor Grube is attempting to dismantle, I attended the last “STEERING” committee meeting and sat and listened to a consultant most of the night. At one point I addressed a question to Joe’s consultant, and before she could even address my concern, Joe jumped up to confronted me, saying and I quote “I’m going to throw you under the bus”, redirecting the conversation and did not allow the consultant to address or answer. No comment from the other town officials or other committee members present. It’s not the first time I have been verbally assaulted by Joe, but it really summarizes how this Supervisor runs the Town and his tunnel  “VISION” and his integrity as a person.

I personally found his actions to be insulting and not worthy of the office he holds. It should be clear that Supervisor Grube’s actions are yet another example of his desire to “STEER” the steering committee. But it doesn’t end there. Joe has directed the consultant to include items beyond her professional obligation and expertise to include bringing back a planning board and redefining the goals and policies of its comprehensive plan – sounds like more chips for everyone!

Another incident that should be made public is at that same meeting Joe did not find it necessary to follow any parliamentary procedures such as Robert’s Rules of Order in the election of a committee chair, instead choosing to follow “Joe’s Rules of Disorder”, and for that he and his fellow Councilmen and paid consultant should be embarrassed and held accountable for. This above all should highlight Joe’s “VISION” for the town and his integrity as a person. Truth be told Joe wanted to appoint the Cobblestone’s Executive Vice President as the chairperson of the committee, again a part of his “VISION”, A fact that can be substantiated by any current councilperson.

If you do attend the next “STEERING” committee you may want to introduce yourself to the Supervisor and ask him his role in the approximately $250,000 (that’s, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollar) water billing overpayment by the Town of Carlton that he is refusing to return.

It is well know by officials of both towns, Carlton civic leaders and U.S. government officials – speaks volumes to Joe’s integrity as a person. Who knows, maybe it was his “VISION” to use this found pay for the highly paid professional consultant or other expenses and items he has included in the Town’s budget.

You may not feel you need to get involved because this issue does not concern you, but I warn you to see for yourself and get involved before it’s too late, and you have no voice. You may want to attend the next “STEERING” or Town Board meeting and make Joe and the other town officials responsible for there actions and decisions. The next meeting is scheduled for December 17th at the Gaines Town Hall.

Michael Grabowski

Gaines ZBA Chairman

Editor:

Hans Hyde undoubtedly makes some important points in his clever, selective, obfuscation of matters related to renewable energy.

For example, he is likely correct that there will come a time when we will require greater amounts of electrical energy. Renewable sources such as wind, water, and solar—especially the latter—are arguably better for the planet than energy generated by coal, oil, gas, and nuclear.

As he denigrates opponents of 600’ wind turbines in Somerset, Yates and Barre, he conveniently avoids the “on-the-ground” and “in-the-air” realities associated with the actual erection of properly sited and set back monstrosities far better suited, for example, to abandoned oilfields in Oklahoma and Texas. Has Hans calculated the amount of land that must be clear-cut for each turbine and otherwise set aside for crusher-run access roads?

Although I suspect we are sometimes presumed to be ignorant and desperate “hicks from the sticks,” in fact, we were not “born yesterday” and many of us are not interested in selling our souls for the presumed “advantages” of inappropriately located industrial wind turbines unsuited to our lush rural landscape.  As noted before, at this juncture, Orleans County’s farmlands, wetlands, and woodlands are valuable assets to be protected from those who have no “skin in the game.” The game being played by proponents of turbines here is pure and simple exploitation.

Has Hans Hyde ever heard of a cost-benefit analysis? My guess—and that is all it is—is that roof-mounted solar panels make far more sense for Orleans County than even properly set-back, 600 foot-high wind turbines marketed as “harmless,” even though locating them appropriately would do a lot to wreck much of what our county has to commend it.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

The NYS Sierra Club’s Atlantic Chapter Executive Committee unanimously endorsed the Apex Clean Energy, Inc. wind project as environmentally sound. Apex’s October 2 presentation outlined issues of property values, siting, environmental questions, jobs, tax benefits to localities, and the lengthy approval process itself. These studies are available on the Apex website.

Some 47 Vestas 4.2 megawatt turbines are proposed for a capacity of 197 megawatts. Farmers and landowners will be paid substantial royalties for turbine leases which will help keep farming profitable and maintain the agricultural nature of the region. The agrarian productivity will be maintained up to the turbine towers. Apex must maintain a bond to cover the unlikely event that the turbines would need to be removed.

There have been over 10 major studies in the United States and Canada of property values near wind turbines, including a review of 122,000 home sales in densely populated Massachusetts. Wind farms are without effect, or a slightly increased home values. Wind farms expand the local economic pie driven by their tax and community benefit payments.

Setback distances of homes and businesses of non-participating landowners will be at least 1/3 mile, and their property lines will be more than 650 feet from a turbine. The Barker School would be located more than a mile from the turbines.

Non-participating landowners will experience – at most – a sound level equivalent to that emitted by an air conditioning system in a large school hall, or a babbling brook.

Apex is regulated by NYS requirements of Articles 10 and 11, the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Apex is using the results of over 250 studies – including their own 2-year study – of avian migration and habitat, to minimize impacts. These include reducing or halting operations during migratory periods, and continuous avian monitoring. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation are coordinating with Apex’s studies. The National Audubon Society reports that climate change is by far the greatest threat to birds. Independent studies find that fossil fuel production causes many more bird losses than wind turbines per generated megawatt of electricity.

The Sierra Club sees the development of sustainable, renewable energy as necessary. With the threat of climate change highlighted by the National Climate Assessment – written by 13 Federal agencies including the Department of Defense – Apex’s wind project is one of many important pieces to the solution.

Bob Ciesielski

Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter

Energy Committee Chair

Buffalo

Return to top

Editor:

Enough of this insanity and complete distortion of easily verifiable facts by members of Save Ontario Shores and Mr. William Nacca, who has buried the NYS DPS website with CAPS LOCKS ON “public comments” when it comes to electricity generation and needs within NY.

As posted on Nov. 29, 2018 by Mr. James Hoffman… “With respect to the project itself, the power is not needed. Western New York is not short of power. The Niagara hydroelectric power plant is under-utilized. An examination of the record reveals this. With a source of clean renewable power at our door step, why is Lighthouse Wind and other industrial wind turbine projects even being considered?”

There is not one credible power generation managing agency or energy reporting agency that would consider the Niagara Hydroelectric power plant to be “under-utilized.” Its capacity factor (hours that it generates electricity against 8,760 hours in a year) is 100 percent dependent upon the Great Lakes watershed above it.  NYPA, NY Power Authority, has the ability to pump water into the reservoir during the nighttime, then release it during the day when demand is higher.  That is the extent of how it can be controlled, which is also dependent upon international agreements with Canada over how much water flows over the falls itself… a loss of electric generation potential, but one Americans and Canadians agree is “worth it” due to the tourism potential it offers. We could increase the capacity factor by “draining the falls,” but no one wants that do they?

Any reader or interested party can go on the NY Independent System Operator’s (NYISO.org) webpage and see in real-time what the generation mix is within the state. More savvy observers can see real-time wholesale power prices as well as the status of imports/exports to our grid from Ontario, Quebec and Pennsylvania.

This can also be verified through the US Energy Information Agency, who keeps detailed records of all power plants within the US. This information is accessible online, with over 20 years of data available to all. One can also find the instantaneous capacity and capacity factor of all power plants across the US.

As far as local generation for local use is concerned, significant substation improvements were recently completed in Gardenville. NYISO has recently approved the addition of 345kV high voltage substations in Lockport and Alabama.  The former will fix the constraints and congestions that were built into the system when the Somerset coal plant was built almost 40 years ago. The latter will facilitate the local generation, local use aspect of Genesee County’s STAMP – Science Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park.

As residents of NY increasingly discover the direct economic benefit of electric vehicles via lower fuel costs and far less costly maintenance, as well as finding it cheaper and more comfortable to heat their homes and hot water with heat pumps, NY electric power needs will increase, not decrease. Economics will drive these changes, and New Yorkers will increasingly be able to source more of their energy needs from within NY… not from foreign or distant energy providers. New generation resources are required for all New Yorkers to benefit from this transition, not less. And thanks to technology advancement, new generation resources like wind and solar are becoming cheaper than fossil coal plants, and even high operating costs of our aging nuclear fleet.

NY is currently a net importer of electricity. That some upstate residents do not care for upstate having a generation surplus against our needs is regardless of the fact that it has been this way for decades, and communities like Niagara Falls, Somerset, Oswego and Ontario, NY have economically benefited from this relationship. Simply put, if we don’t want to have surplus generation and no longer benefit in jobs, tax base and economic development from sending electricity to downstate and NYC, we could shut down any of the nuclear reactors along Lake Ontario… end of story.

Sincerely,

Hans Hyde

Lockport

Editor:

The Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association wanted to write a letter to just express how lucky we, as police officers, are to be in this community. It is a great feeling when you’re walking out of a store after a call and someone thanks you for your service or smiles and tells you to be safe. The amount of respect and caring that is shown to us by Orleans County residents is nothing short of wonderful.

That being said, we thought that it was especially important to share something that has been happening more often, especially as the Christmas season approaches. Multiple times now, our officers have finished a meal or pulled up to pay for their coffee and sandwich and someone has already covered the bill and continued on without saying a word.

We wanted to just let those people know that a handshake or a hello/thank you alone makes our day; to have someone spend their hard earned money to buy us dinner or coffee is unnecessary, but truly appreciated. Some days in law enforcement can be tough, given the types of calls we respond to or the volume of calls that keeps us away from dinner until well after others have gone to bed.

The selfless acts of kindness by the members of the community we serve need to be recognized. Since we didn’t have the chance to tell most of these people in person, a heartfelt thank you to you all for your kind words and deeds.

We appreciate all the community does for us and we would like to wish everyone the happiest of holidays.

Sincerely,

The Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association

Editor:

The real danger in the Town of Gaines of “intrusion” is the resident’s future! The people that live in Gaines gave their vision for their Town’s future and that was put into a legal foundation called a Comprehensive Plan.

That “vision” or “Comprehensive Plan” provides guidance for land use and zoning in the Town of Gaines. Zoning must be changed to match it. For a period of 18 months that was happening with another committee; but now that  has been altered. All of that hard work was ignored and the present Gaines town supervisor has hired an outside firm and hand-selected an 11-person “Steering Committee” to be your voice or should I say their voice.

The firm and Steering Committee seem more interested in changing the community’s vision to their own vision so future land use and zoning matches their own personal desires. Some of the changes include bringing back the “Planning Board,” changing farm labor housing outside of agricultural districts, and allowing solar farms without public input or information. With this firm and committee anything seems to go.

It is time for all the people to that live in Gaines to stand up for your vision and speak up before it is too late. The next Gaines Steering Committee meeting is on December 17th at the Gaines Town Hall at 7 p.m. The next Town Board meeting is Dec. 10th at 7 p.m.

Oh…and that other committee I mentioned? Not only did that committee follow the vision Gaines residents said they wanted in their town’s future, they also  protected historical buildings and promoted travel and tourism per the peoples wishes. How do I know? I served on that committee as liaison to the Board. It needs to be looked at.

Sincerely,

Sue Smith

Gaines

Former Town of Gaines Councilperson and former AD-HOC Committee liaison

Editor:

Apex, which is proposing 39 towering industrial wind turbines in the Town of Somerset and an additional eight in the Town of Yates for its Lighthouse Wind project, has a well-documented history of attempting to place industrial wind projects in environmentally sensitive areas.  Citizen oversight of this out-of-state developer is essential to protect our environment, economy and our health.

In Maryland, citizens discovered potential environmental and tourism impacts of a proposed Apex project in Kent County. Citizen concerns and persistence led Apex to pull the project and instead develop a smaller solar project in that area.

In Nevada, citizens and environmental groups discovered that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) studies regarding eagles were inadequate for an Apex project proposed on public lands. A lower court sided with the citizens. Instead of working with USFWS to get the studies done properly, Apex appealed. The lower court decision was upheld, and Apex, likely not willing to pay for new studies, withdrew the project.

More recently and much closer to home, citizen vigilance showed that Apex is not to be trusted when it comes to providing relevant data. The Apex project proposed on Galloo Island in eastern Lake Ontario is located in a bird, bat and raptor flyway, just like our southern shore of Lake Ontario. Residents know the volume of birds in these areas.

New York State requires that the developer conduct studies to determine the appropriate placement of these huge turbines. Apex failed to tell the appropriate State agencies that its studies revealed a bald eagle nest!

On October 26, administrative law judges for the Department of Public Service (DPS) ruled that Apex should not have withheld information about an eagle’s nest in the Galloo project area.  Administrative Law Judge Michael Caruso stated that this withholding of relevant information “raises serious questions about the applicant’s character and fitness.”

Also related to the Galloo Island wind project, the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency (JCIDA) strongly challenged Apex’s statements regarding a potential PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement as indicating that the process is farther along than it is. David Converse, board chairman of JCIDA, stated that the “Applicant (Apex) infers that the status is far more advanced” than it is and “that the PILOT agreement is almost guaranteed,” which it isn’t.

Developers like Apex are lured into New York State by tax incentives and subsidies. They anticipate large profits by placing these industrial wind turbines at bargain rates on inexpensive land. No thought is given to whether the site is environmentally appropriate, or whether the community impacts would be tolerable.

Apex withheld critical information in the Galloo Island Wind project. What are they withholding in the Lighthouse Wind project in Somerset and Yates? No one should believe their self-serving statements about benefits and lack of harm. We demand assurance that all the needed studies were completed by reputable third parties and that relevant data is publicly available.

The fact remain that Lighthouse Wind is proposed in an environmentally sensitive area. The project has been met with unprecedented opposition on many fronts – locally, statewide and nationally. Apex should walk away, just as they’ve done with other projects.

Kate Kremer

Yates

Vice President of Save Ontario Shores, Inc.

Return to top

Editor:

This piece is meant to convey genuine appreciation for a truly great American who embodied the best of what makes this country what it is.

George Herbert Walker Bush should be revered as a role model for a nation that benefited from his life in ways difficult to comprehend. The facts speak for themselves in terms of his service, incredible modesty, restrained leadership, concern for the well-being of others, commitment to the environment, respect for the Presidency, and willingness and wisdom to craft a post-Cold War order based on dignity even for our bitter adversaries.

Dismiss these words as nostalgic sentimentality if you choose, but we would be wise to reflect on what our 41st President’s life has to teach us.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

The recent endorsement of Apex’s proposed Lighthouse Wind by the Sierra Club, Atlantic Chapter, is ill-timed, ill-conceived, self-serving, highly biased and smacks of elitism.

The Sierra Club has clearly joined the Apex propaganda blitz in the hope forcing the Somerset-Yates community to accept a project that has already been resoundingly rejected by those that must live among the proposed industrial wind turbines. This endorsement was not unexpected, however it was exceptionally premature as the information presented at the October “forum” upon which the endorsement was based, was preliminary in nature, and by Apex own admission, left much yet to be disclosed.

It is also at variance with what was presented to the Yates Town Board on October 11 in a written statement from the Sierra Niagara group, which read in part “Sierra Club will not endorse or approve any large-scale project until a site plan is finalized presented and can be reviewed.” Apparently, this decision is not as unanimous as we were led to believe.

With respect to the project itself, the power is not needed. Western New York is not short of power. The Niagara hydroelectric power plant is under-utilized. An examination of the record reveals this. With a source of clean renewable power at our door step, why is Lighthouse Wind and other industrial wind turbine projects even being considered?

It seems as though the Sierra Club with its historically deep involvement in environmental issues would be aware of this underutilization of a clean renewable power source and promote its full use. Sadly, the Sierra Club has aligned with Big Wind and Big Government, a convenient alignment that will assure them of financial and political support in the future.

Sierra Club!! Rethink your support for Lighthouse Wind. The proposed 47 industrial wind turbines at 590 feet in height would be scattered along 12 miles of the pristine Lake Ontario and be an environmental disaster.

In addition, those most affected are being neglected. Help promote the clean renewable energy we are blessed with in Western New York. Sierra Club! Regroup! Help us in Yates and Somerset reject proposed Lighthouse Wind and send  Apex “Clean Energy” home.

James C. Hoffman

Somerset

Editor:

When people embark on a vacation to New England, their destination is not a Dollar General store. Rather, the road trip is to quaint, charming, historic towns and villages with well-preserved architecture of the 19^th century.

In travelling the Ridge Road (Route 104) from Greece to Lewiston, the best-looking, best-preserved and most historic hamlet is Childs, at the intersection of routes 104 and 98.

Since 1960 the Cobblestone Society, through its not-for-profit efforts, has made every attempt to preserve historic architecture. The society has not only saved original buildings in the community, but also moved in structures that would have otherwise been destroyed.

Likewise, Tillman’s Village Inn has maintained its historic character. More recently, Ray Burke has established Fairhaven Treasures. It utilizes an historic dwelling, this upgrading its aesthetic appeal. It’s also obvious that home owners in this community take pride in their property. This is progress!

In 1993, the United States Department of Interior designated the Cobblestone Church, the Cobblestone Ward House and the Cobblestone Schoolhouse as a National Historic Landmark.

The aforementioned properties are all located in a commercial/historic district. Certain “powers that be” feel the code is too stringent and inhibits business. In my opinion, a box store, no matter how it is disguised, is not the right fit.

If Dollar General is allowed to build in this district it will only allow for other similar corporations to also come in and take up residence. This creeping sprawl is consequently going to lead to a strip mall across the road from a National Historic Landmark.

This is not progress, but rather an intrusion. As a former Cobblestone Museum director and retired Orleans County historian, I certainly hate to see real progress and preservation, sometimes through government grants, diminished by a huge corporation that doesn’t understand the quaint, charming and historic value of this district.

C.W. Lattin

Gaines

Editor:

Holy Family Social Justice Committee voted unanimously on Nov. 21 to support a bi-partisan Congressional and Presidential proposal for a beginning of criminal justice reform.

The First Step Act will reduce sentences for non-violent drug offenders, for thousands of 183,000 in federal prisons, and future offenders.

It also gives earlier release incentives for those who successfully participate in treatment, educational and vocational training and increases funding for those.

The experiences of 22 states, 10 of which are fully Republican-controlled, have been convincing. Even though they reduced sentencing terms, reduced prison populations, their crime rates went down. The conclusion: lengthly sentences had little impact as crime deterrence.

They’re tagging this as “Smart (rather than “tough”) on Crime.” They also point out that it’s “Smart” on taxpayers’ pocketbooks. (Interestingly the Reagan administration had Rand Corp. do a study of those in prison. They concluded that 90 percent of those in prison should serve shorter sentences. They suggested that quick and certain punishment was more effective than long sentences. For the 10 percent they pegged as “violent predators” – longer sentences. Our society and politicians didn’t pay attention then. They are now and we should encourage them.)

Recent national studies show that 90 percent of US drug users are white and 74 percent of drug dealers of white. Yet minorities represent about 90 percent of those imprisoned for drug offenses. Numerous earlier studies, including by the American Bar Association and Monroe BA, came to similar conclusions.

Given the prejudiced way we enforce crime, primarily against the poor and minorities, and especially with drug crimes, it’s a matter of justice as well.

Bob Golden

Waterport

Mr. Golden is a retired Probation director in Orleans County, and chairman of the Holy Family Social Justice Committee in Albion. Golden also served on former Bishop Kmiec’s Peace and Justice Commission. Several members of the Social Justice Committee worked in the criminal justice, health and social works fields.

Editor:

Heritage Wind LLC/Apex Clean Energy is not-so-green energy for our towns of Barre, Yates and Somerset.

Do you know it takes tons of copper, steel, electric wires, underground cables, over-head cables, high-voltage tension towers made from steel, tons of concrete, steel mesh for the base of the wind turbine, access roads made of stone that have to be trucked in by the huge dump trucks that burn fossil fuel and heavy equipment to grade the areas of the wind project?

And please do not forget about the incidental permits that Heritage Wind/Apex Clean Energy need for construction and operation of wind turbine projects in New York State. Two of their permits will make it okay for Heritage Wind/Apex Clean Energy to kill endangered, threatened, migratory birds including eagles, owls, blue herons, bats, ducks, gulls, crows, hawks and more. Is that green energy?

It is time to call our elected town officials and tell them it is time to stand up for the health of our residents and wild life before the money of Heritage Wind/Apex Clean Energy.

Thank you.

William Nacca

Barre