Editor:

I have been reading the Western Orleans County Comprehensive Plan for a while now and here is what I get out of it. There were 5,553 surveys sent out and 740 were returned – 13.4%.

There were 167 pages of comments and most of them probably were negative, my opinion. That tells me nobody is really interested in this update except government officials, the people that were picked to go over it and those interested in getting their hands on the taxpayers’ money. So why even go ahead with this at all? Because what you want doesn’t matter. What you say at the hearings won’t matter. This is going to go through unless you pack those rooms and in all probability will still be passed.

There were pie-in-the-sky fantasies from 2002 that were removed but there was a bit different thinking back then. What’s new is the aggressive seeking of grant money, more control through zoning and sustainability. You hear that word a lot now days. Sustainability is basically what are the causes of the hoax – man-made global warming (the science is far from settled) or pollution.

So what is or isn’t sustainable will be what determines what you can do on your property, types of businesses, how your home can be upgraded or built from new. It will also be determined by who runs your County, Town or Village board.

This is straight out of United Nations Agenda 21 or what is now Agenda 2030. If you have people with a globalism leftist ideology educated in the progressive higher learning institutions, you’re in for a rough ride with your freedoms. I’m not saying this lightly or to be mean. I am just telling you the truth.

Our colleges are brain-washing institutions with all this garbage. This is happening world-wide. Global. Facts and truth be damned.

From the CP Executive Summary: CP plan is the foundation for all subsequence and zoning action, which must be in accordance with the document.

The CP update incorporates planning ideologies where applicable, such as sustainability and efficiencies in our communities. What does that mean? Just what is or isn’t sustainable? The purpose of the CP planning is to view and examine a community from a “global prospective.” To develop a strategy and course of action to achieve those goals. Strategies consist of land use policies including but “not limited” to zoning which must be in accordance to the CP plan.

I live in the USA. I am American, not a global citizen. Minions were sent out to inspect your property. There were 4 categories. The perfects, the nice, the needing work, and the dilapidated. Where do you fit in and who’s business is it? The answer to bringing up your shabbiness was to get grant money and nudge you into a loan to fix up your house. So they can raise your taxes, my opinion but that’s what will happen.

They know the population is declining and the young are fleeing for lack of opportunity. The school enrollment is declining and the population isn’t going to pick up in the next 20 years. So why not concentrate on making this a more free, low-tax place to settle?

The CP plan is the DNA of our western end. Everything is mapped out to the square inch. You name it they have it down in this document. It recommends to make the downtowns historic and protected. That means lots of restrictions and control. Even that group of “smart people” that goes around planting trees right under the power lines in Medina is listed. I could go on and on. They recommend a “Central Grant Writer” for all the towns and villages. Grants, Grants, Grants, Control, Control, Control over every aspect of your property and your natural rights.

The IDA will continue to bribe businesses to come in with taxpayer money. Jobs with low and medium pay so far. Continue to keep the storefronts full with hobby businesses that when the grant money runs out and the owners can no longer keep them open with money from their main job, fail and close and we fund the next group with unachievable fantasies for this area to do the same thing. All the while patting the program heads on the back and lining their pockets with taxpayer money. They tout over 400 businesses to date. How many are still around? Probably the same percentage as the people who did the survey and I bet it’s less.

Don’t take my word for it read the CP plan. Do research on sustainability. You will be surprised just what is not sustainable. More than likely what you are doing for a living falls into the unsustainable category. Be very, very careful of who you elect to public office. There are a lot of poisoned minds. People you may believe to be highly educated and reasonable until they have power.

The comprehensive plan is a living document and rife with the ability to abuse power. Educate yourself and get involved in what your government is doing while your back is turned. Attend meetings and workshops.

Paul Lauricella

Lyndonville

Editor:

I would to thank the many people and organizations who contributed to the growth and success of the Village of Albion Recreation Summer Parks Program.

The following organizations visited the parks with great messages for the youths attending: GCASA, Genesee Orleans Youth Bureau, Orleans Health Department, and other volunteers.

Thank you to the following who contributed to the Annual Senior Citizens Picnic: Orleans Community Action, Wal-Mart of Albion, Crosby’s of Albion and Tops of Albion.

The 13 Park Supervisors did a wonderful job of providing a fun, safe and exciting time at the parks each day. Well over 150 park children signed up for the Summer Parks Program at the two village parks throughout the summer, which started on June 20 and ended July 27. This was another banner summer for the Parks Program.

Special thanks to Orleans Community Action for busing the children on the field trips and for the Annual Children’s Carnival. Thanks go out to the Albion Central School District for being the host of several sport clinics this summer.

Thanks to the Batavia Daily and the Orleans Hub for their coverage of the summer program.

Thanks to the Village of Albion Trustees, Mayor, Village Office Staff, Parks Maintenance Department and the Recreation Committee all for their support throughout the summer.

In addition, thank you to the parents whose children participated in the summer program. Hope to see you next year.

Thank you,

John J. Grillo

Village of Albion

Recreation Director

Editor:

New York all-time record peak demand from July 2013 was 33,956MW. Peak demand from 2016 was 32,075MW. Peak demand from 2017 was 29,699MW, a 7.4 percent decrease in one year

New York State annual electric energy usage in 2016 was 160,798,000 MWH, and then was down 2.8 percent in 2017 at 156,370,000 MWH.

Energy efficiency programs and “behind the meter solar” are slowing the growth of energy supplied by the grid. The declining usage trend is expected to continue, however it is making operating and dispatching operations in the grid much more complex.

The Niagara River and hydroelectric facilities along the river are the most reliable, inexpensive unsubsidized source of renewable power in NYS. The same Niagara River water generates power from three locations: Niagara Power Project with the Storage Reservoir at 3,100 MW and the St. Lawrence Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project at 1,088 MW.

 Niagara Power Project                         St. Lawrence F. D.R. Power Project

2013                                   2,441 MW                                                   800 MW

2017                                   3,100 MW                                                 1,088 MW

Increased MW                      659 MW                                                   288 MW

2016 Capacity Factor             63.5%                                                       98.3%

NYPA has increased power on the Niagara River by 947 MW since 2013. NYISO Power Trends 2018  “Transmission constraints affect Niagara Power Project generation and Ontario imports.” And “AC Transmission constraints affect efficient flow of power from upstate resources to downstate demand.”

It is impossible for the PSC to justify the need for APEX’s 52 MW when the Niagara Power Project has 3100 MW available but operating at only 63.5 percent. The same transmission constraints affecting Niagara Power would affect Apex in moving power from upstate to downstate.

Niagara Power – 3,100 MW at 63.5 percent =1970 MW utilized with 1130 MW sitting idle but available.

Apex Wind – 201 MW at 26 percent  = 52 MW utilized with 0 MW available.

Deny the Apex certificate of public need.

Gregory G. Woodrich

Williamsville

Editor:

I must take issue with Congressman Collins’s justification for President Trump’s proposed 11 billion dollar assistance plan for American farmers. The assistance only became necessary as a direct result of the President’s harmful trade practices.

American farmers don’t want Government Welfare. They want free access to world markets. They can feed the world. They want to feed the world. China wants our pork and beans. Mexico wants our corn.

Farmers make a living. Taxpayers don’t have to fund a short-term bailout. Everybody’s happy.

Ronald Mathes

Albion

Editor:

At Somerset and Yates Town Board meetings held on July 11 and July 12, respectively, residents heard from the newest face of Apex Clean Energy, Mr. Paul Williamson, who allowed questions about what lies in store if Apex receives permission from the NYS Department of Public Service Siting Board to proceed with forty-seven 600-foot industrial wind turbines in our towns. Allow me to describe what he said.

From the outset, this Apex representative used the phrases that indicate that the project is about money: money for leaseholders, money for the towns and villages, money for the school districts, discretionary funds from host community agreements, and much more. I heard repeatedly “economic resource,” “flexibility to use the money,” “highly attractive investment,” “influx of investment,” etc. And, of course, there would be fabulous profits to be reaped by Apex, the bottom line. Those profits are the reason that our towns now enter year four of this occupying siege by this unethical developer.

Despite the questions lobbed at Mr. Williamson, the theme of his responses kept returning to the idea of money. Residents demanded to know about the eagle kill permits Apex will be applying for from the federal government, construction wastes that will empty into our sewer lines, road restoration, buried and leaching concrete into our streams leading to Lake Ontario, bonds for decommissioning in twenty years, baseline community health studies (if there are no issues from infrasound as Apex insists, why not?), noise, local laws, and so many other concerns. The sessions at both town meetings totaled almost five hours.

Mr. Williamson said that Apex would be still seeking to override our local laws when Apex files its application, since setbacks, noise, and tower height regulations would impede this project that would shower such economic benefits on Somerset and Yates.

Over and over residents repeated the same idea: that we are not interested in the money that would turn these beautiful lakeshore towns and the Golden Hill State Park perimeter into an industrial area, sacrificing the sum total of what people live here for. One by one residents who stood up to ask questions sought to reinforce to Mr. Williamson that we live here for the quiet, the night sky, the rural atmosphere, the sounds of birds and lake waves, and so much more that cannot be bought, and once destroyed, cannot be replaced by any “influx of investment.” We are on guard to protect our own health and safety.

Why is it that as residents in the State of New York, we are reduced to begging a corporation not to destroy us with a project of such enormity that it will forever alter these towns for generations to come?

The Siting Board must realize that it is both demoralizing and devastating that despite two election cycles here – now with ten town board members firmly opposing Apex in Somerset and Yates – with several surveys indicating well over 70% resident opposition, environmental groups’ outcries, our towns must outlay precious taxpayer dollars to fight off this company from erecting these monstrous IWTs close to our homes.

This is a moral outrage: wrong for citizens that they must accept the ruination of their town by a subsidy-driven project, funded by their own federal and state taxes, and ratepayer charges and surcharges. We are attempting to fight this off with all of our might and our monies, through official means like taxes, and through voluntary measures like donations to grassroots groups like Save Ontario Shores. Rallies, basket auctions, information sessions, and continued presence at monthly town board meetings have been a way of life here since the fall of 2014, when Apex announced its intention to build Lighthouse Wind.

At the conclusion of the Yates town meeting, Mr. Williamson was asked by the board to communicate to Apex CEO Mr. Mark Goodwin, a message from our towns that we oppose Apex’s imposition. We continue to be stunned and appalled by the arrogance of interloper-Apex’s proceeding as if there was no opposition to Lighthouse Wind. It is a slap in the face to all here who want to preserve what we have. The message is: it is not about the money.

Christine Bronson

Councilwoman,

Town of Somerset

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Editor:

In response to Town Supervisor Joseph Grube, I would like to thank him for making sure that the Zoning Ordinance is back up on the Town Website. I would also like to point out to him that the 2012 minutes were always on the previous website.  The entire board at that time had access to the website and I did read them both in hard copy and on line.

I am confident that the ZBA will be very professional and vigilant in their process of reviewing the Dollar General application. Thank you for your kind response.

Sincerely,

Sue Smith

Gaines

Editor:

My name is Joseph Gangi Jr, not Sr. as was written in the article on the Hub about the September 13^th Primary in Gaines, NY. Since it was put out there, yes, the Republican Nominating Committee did endorse my opponent. Now, it doesn’t really matter who received the endorsement because the winner of the Primary on September 13th will be the Republican candidate for the Town of Gaines Councilperson seat in the General Election this November 2018.

This is in the hands of Gaines residents now and no one else. Remember, this is not an election about us against them or me against you, this election is about you, our town, and all of us.

Our elected officials should be concerned about all the residents of Gaines, not just a handful. We all live in this community together.

If you want an objective voice as a member of the Gaines Town Board, Vote Gangi for Gaines.

If you want someone who will be here and is in it for the long haul, Vote Gangi For Gaines.

If you want someone with no hidden agenda, a free thinker who has the best interest of our whole community, Vote Gangi For Gaines.

If you want someone who will be accessible to listen to some of your concerns, Vote Gangi for Gaines.

It is imperative that Gaines residents let their voices be heard. Come out and vote on September 13th in the Republican Primary. Do not vote for me because we’re friends, vote for me because you believe in my message for our town. I will not lie to you and say “I have all the answers” because I don’t – no one does. But what I do have is the sense to do what’s right.

I know I have a lot to learn and I’m willing to take the time to do so. I also know you can never please everyone, sometimes, as hard as they are, tough decisions have to be made.

Now, take a good look at the letters of our town, Gaines, you will see that the letters of my name “Gangi” are in our town’s name – Gaines – so you see, Gangi really is for Gaines.

We will talk again soon, thank you and God bless you,

Joe Gangi, Jr.

Gaines

Editor:

As Town Supervisor, I’d like to respond to the July 20th letter of Susan Smith. Firstly, thank you Susan for reminding me to put the zoning ordinance on the new Town Website! As we transitioned to this great new design and resource, I failed to realize the zoning ordinance wasn’t on the previous website. You see, when it was built, everything that existed previously was moved over to the new version.

You’ll also find that we’ve placed all the minutes from 2012 on the website. This is the year the last changes were made to the zoning ordinance. Up until a few weeks ago, the minutes outlining the elimination of the Gaines Planning Board and other zoning actions taken in that year were missing from the old website. Those are now available for everyone to read.

As an update related to Dollar General, you can review the minutes of the previous meetings and learn that the Town has engaged with our engineering firm, Chatfield Engineers (now a part of MRB Group), to advise the town on the actions to take and to ensure all applicable laws, rules, and regulations are being met. This is being done at no cost to the town, since the developer involved in this project has provided the town with funds to hold in escrow for the costs of the site plan review.

We’ve also added the information that I have been provided thus far regarding the Dollar General project to the website on our “Announcements and Information” page. That is located on the website under the “Announcements” link. As more information is provided to me, I’ll add it to the website in the same place.

Lastly, I’d like to make sure it is clear to everyone that the Gaines Zoning Board of Appeals is responsible for the review of the proposed Dollar General. There are very specific processes they must follow, and I have every reason to believe they will be diligent in their duties as they work through that review process. I would encourage anyone who has an interest in the project to attend the Zoning Board meetings, ask questions, and stay informed. The Town Board and I will do all we can to make sure the information gathered is available in a timely manner on the website.

Thank you,

Joseph Grube

Town Supervisor

Town of Gaines

Editor:

Misinformation or putting the “cart before the horse” seems to be the new way of thinking in the Town of Gaines, especially concerning the proposed Dollar General store.

I would strongly suggest to anyone that is concerned to please read the zoning ordinances section 525 “Permissible Special Uses” citing Convenience Stores on page 24 added in 2002 by local law as a permissible use; and section 401) CH Commercial/Historic District, which has remained un-changed since 2002. Please note that you will have to FOIL this, seeing the Town Board has not included the Zoning Ordinances on their new website even though it was posted on the old website. It may also be beneficial to foil 2002 minutes from the “Planning Board” and “Town Board” to gather a better understanding of the former policy makers who have become some of today’s biggest naysayers.

Please do your own homework before you make presumptions on anything in your town.  There is a lot of misinformation out there.

Sincerely,

Sue Smith

Gaines

Editor:

With the untimely passing of our respected friend and councilman Ed Bower, Murray is faced with an unforeseen election. The town board may appoint someone to fill the vacant seat, but only until the next election which is in November.

I have submitted petitions to run for election to this seat to work with the board and our newly elected Supervisor towards continued improvement for our Town.

I’m no stranger to politics. When the absentee ballots were read in the Murray 2017 supervisor election, we came up short by 6 votes in the largest voter turnout in memory. I congratulated my opponent and offered to help in any way for the betterment of our community. He appreciated that and said he would work to earn our respect.

Throughout the 2017 campaign I spoke of the difficulties of bringing about change when the status quo has been unchallenged for decades. The campaign for change was difficult, but when the dust settled, the community had made significant progress.

• Our town tax rate remained flat.

• The mysterious four-year ongoing water leak on Ridge Road ended.

• The water department enacted new policies for bulk water users connecting to hydrants.

• The double dipping health care stipends ended.

• Elected officials are being held accountable.

Our work is not finished. Water district users are still being over taxed for their bond repayments. Water operation and maintenance costs are not spread evenly to all users. This system is not sustainable, is grossly unfair, and must be fixed.

That’s detail stuff. The big picture? The Town of Murray is poised for bigger and better things, but so long as power remains concentrated in the hands of the few who profit from the status quo, we simply won’t reach our potential.

We all have a voice that needs to be heard. Our future should not be determined by a small group in a back room. By working together, we can build the future that is meant for all of us.

Joe Sidonio

Murray

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Editor:

Andrew Cuomo continues to waste state resources on litigation which is frivolous at best. A Federal judge today tossed New York’s lawsuit which blamed climate change on five major oil companies. Cuomo can join his friends form California which had a similar suit tossed last week.

Both states have also filed suit regarding the recent tax law changes attempting to reverse federal tax legislation as discriminatory. These states only have themselves to blame for their wasteful spending which have created their fiscal mess.

Edward Urbanik

Lyndonville

Editor:

Thank you Bob Golden for your letter to the Editor on July 13, 2018.  I do not know you and am not familiar with the Social Justice Committee at Holy Family Parish. However, I am the daughter of an immigrant who was fleeing Nazi Germany.

My father’s family was not Jewish but young German boys were forced to join the Nazi Youth Group if they stayed in Germany. He was about 19 years old when he came to America.   Luckily, my father and other family members were welcomed to America via Ellis Island with the Statue of Liberty standing tall.

The anti-Jewish, anti-German sentiment starting to spread through America had not reached its fever pitch yet. I would not exist today to write this letter had his ship been turned around at the New York Harbor.

My father did not speak much if any English. He had little money and only an 8th grade education. My father worked at low-income labor jobs throughout most of his life. I have a copy of his citizenship papers. He married an American girl. His son, my brother, and I both excelled in public school and college. We turned out to be hard workers, never in trouble with the law, and productive American citizens.

My story has been replicated millions of times for America has been and should always be a “nation of immigrants.” I find in Mr. Golden’s letter a lot of effort to research actuality and not just blurt out “fears” and “assumptions.” Mr. Golden also exhibits common sense and compassion. Mr. Golden comprehends the true meaning of America and American values.

Thank you, Mr. Golden for taking the time to express your views publicly.

Elizabeth Storch

Middleport

Editor:

Kudos to Crosby’s who is now selling gasoline without ethanol at their store at Orchard Street and North Main Street in Albion, just north of the canal.

Ethanol-free gas is best for small gas engines and may be necessary for some of them, especially on older equipment. Ethanol-free gas is easier to store for the long term, so that it makes equipment that is not frequently used (like a standalone generator) more reliable in operation. In some situations, ethanol-free gas makes for easier starting, especially in cold weather.

I’m glad to see this available locally. I had been travelling to Batavia to get it. Thank you!

Gary Katsanis

Albion

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Editor:

First, allow me these three asides:

This summer might be the perfect one for getting into providing water for “your” birds.  Once begun, changing the water in a bird bath should be a daily ritual.

Representative Trey Gowdy of South Carolina may not know the Constitution as well as he thinks he does. During the farcical interrogation of Peter Strzok, Gowdy spoke of impeachment as though he was confusing “indictment” by the House of Representatives with conviction by the United States Senate.

Wouldn’t it be special if the Orleans County Legislature helped the Towns of Barre and Yates with the costs of their efforts to navigate the specter of 600-foot-high wind turbines being erected in otherwise pristine wooded areas of each as Niagara County Legislators have done for Somerset?

When Iowa governor Robert Ray died earlier this week at age 89, the nation gave up another shining example of the decency that defines who we are as a people. As governor, Ray welcomed Southeast Asian refugees at a time when many others refused.

Governor Ray had much in common with politicians such as John McCain (the guy the Trumpster thought was only a hero because he got captured), Jeff Flake, Bob Corker, Charley Dent and our 16th President.

Among other noteworthy red staters was Senator Bob Dole. Dole nagged Mr. Clinton until he took a stand against the thugs who often hid behind a veil of sanctimonious religion to systematically subject Bosnian Muslim families to the unspeakable (make Hitler proud) horrors visited upon them by “don’t confuse me with the facts” nitwits like Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. At his trial at The Hague, one of them insisted he was innocent of war crimes because he didn’t actually execute anyone. He just gave the orders that resulted in the slaughter of thousands.

But choreographed executions were major improvements over the far more imaginative, depraved acts of horrific barbarity done in the interests of the ethnic /religious purity some seem to so prize.

Ray and Dole had an arguably better understanding of what the United States of America is all about than many of their contemporaries.

While it is safe to say that this writer will never have an (R) beside his name, the people alluded to above (unlike many of today’s enablers) would help make it possible for me to be proud to call myself one.

Regards,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

Some unwarranted criticism has been levelled against Somerset Supervisor Dan Engert for his claim that 70 percent of residents oppose the installation of industrial wind turbines in our community and are thus opposed to Lighthouse Wind.

Supervisor Engert is entirely correct, as not one, but three independent surveys have shown this to be the case. The high response rate to these surveys, over 60 percent participation, is the justification. If you care to ignore the statistical justification for this, as some are doing, there is other irrefutable evidence that supports the claim.

Consider the NYSDPS Lighthouse Wind website where over 1,000 entries oppose the project.

Consider the 30 organizations that are on record with significant concerns about the project or totally oppose it.

Consider the Save Ontario Shores organization and their hundreds of active supporters.

Consider the Power Coalition group of 12 organizations in opposition to the project.

Consider the numerous ordnances written in the Townships of Yates and Somerset with overwhelming public support that protect our Towns against the industrialization that project will bring.

Consider the numerous Town Board meetings over the past four years, most recently in the past week where those opposing the project have vastly outnumbered supporters.

Consider the political landscape, where through two election cycles, town board candidates in opposition to Lighthouse Wind in both Yates and Somerset have run unopposed or handily won. Supervisor Simon of Yates, a solid opponent of Lighthouse Wind, was elected to his original position on a write-in ballot. Quite a feat!

Those who question the overwhelming public opposition to Lighthouse Wind are in deep denial. There may be 10,000 or more acres under lease but acres do not vote, people vote, and they have spoken loudly and clearly that Lighthouse Wind is the wrong project in the wrong place. We do not want our quiet lakeshore community industrialized. The risks are too great. The benefits are nil.

The project must be cancelled.

James C. Hoffman

Somerset