Editor:

Sorry, Kim Kennedy, climate change is not a “hoax”. The data is in, and it doesn’t look encouraging for our progeny. “Wind” is only a “farce” when improperly sited in an area (specifically, Lakeside Park) Nature Conservancy researchers described a few years ago as “dripping with warblers”. The significance of that observation may only be apparent to a few outside the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

On an abandoned oil field “moonscape” in Texas, a wind “farm” may be a perfect fit.

It is difficult, at least for me, to conceive of a scenario where “solar” isn’t a plus for planet earth and all of its living things.

You may be right on target with some of your observations, but please get over the idea that wind farms can be reduced to some liberal/conservative dichotomy. Is an appreciation for wildlife part of a liberal/conservative divide? Am I a conservative because I support D.U. and The National Wild Turkey Federation?

Many people have me pegged as a liberal whack job (although I am, among other things, fiscally conservative and see our current economic policy as all about short-term gain and . . . ), and I have unequivocally stated on numerous occasions that wind turbines do not belong in Orleans County, period. Few people pay attention, but what else is new?

You may have a few things goofed up in my opinion, but you are still on the right side of this issue.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

I would like to share information on two commonly-misunderstood terms often used in local government: shared services and consolidation.

Shared services occur when municipalities agree to work together on tasks to benefit both at a lower cost. An example might be if one municipality owns a lift truck, which can be used to trim trees. In a city like Rochester, the truck might be in use all the time every day. In a small town or village, the truck is likely to be idle some of the time.  Both municipalities might use the truck for tree trimming in both communities. Road crews from both municipalities might work together to use the truck for large jobs in either location. The result saves both communities money and provides better services to all involved.

Consolidation is both simpler and more complex. In consolidation, tasks or missions that are the same in both communities are combined: location, staffing, equipment and immediate management all occur in one organization. This can only happen when both communities have the same need, both communities can work together, both communities support the work, and both communities are close together.

An example might be salt storage for treating roads in winter.  Specifically, both the Town of Albion and the Village of Albion use salt extensively. Both maintain salt sheds within a mile of one another, and both have front end loaders to load the salt.  If they combined salt storage, they would need to maintain one shed and one loader.

It seems simple, but it is not. Neither existing shed is large enough for salt storage without paying for more salt in mid-winter when prices are high, or even worse running out when we need it most. Where do they put a new salt shed? Who operates the loader? Village and Town roads are different: if one road crew uses salt more intensively than the other, how do they make sure that cost for salt falls on taxpayers fairly? How do they deal with increased truck traffic in one location, especially if it is near a school? How do they make sure trucks are filled efficiently, without lining up and having to wait? The hardest question of all is how do we pay for the new shed and loader, and who owns it afterwards?

Consolidation always costs money up front. Good, well-chosen consolidation efforts will save money in time. Consolidation merely for consolidation will cost us money up front and will provide us with worse and more expensive service over time. Consolidation is a truly difficult task and requires effort from our best and brightest, but if it’s done right we all benefit. Shared services are easily arranged, can be easily modified, and usually provide savings from the day they’re implemented.

Our local leaders should pursue both shared services and consolidation to get the best use out of every single dollar of our local taxes.

Thank you,

Gary Katsanis

Albion

(Mr. Katsanis is a candidate for the Albion Village Board)

Editor:

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the Lake Country Media/Orleans Hub for organizing and presenting the Village of Albion Candidate Forum this past Thursday.

Thank you to the Albion Central School District for the use of the Elementary school cafeteria and also to the people who helped make the Forum a success by serving as Moderator, Question Scanners and Timekeeper. This was a great way for village residents to meet the candidates and hear their views and we hope these forums will once again become a part of our village election process.

The forum was video recorded and can be viewed on YouTube (click here). If you were unable to attend please take the opportunity to view it in its entirety prior to the election on March 20th.

For those of you who did not get a chance to speak to us or ask your questions please consider attending our Meet & Greet on March 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hoag Library where we will be happy to address all your concerns.

Joyce Riley

Jason Dragon

Sandra Walter

Editor:

With the upcoming Village of Albion election on the horizon I thought it would be an appropriate time to look back at the tenure of outgoing Mayor Dean London. After years as police chief, Dean decided to serve the community as mayor, and entered his term unopposed and endorsed by both political parties.

We were fortunate enough to have Mayor London at the helm when we decided to organize the Metro 10 race in the Village of Albion. He has always been incredibly supportive of all of our efforts and has also supported other events and initiatives that have resulted in him leaving Albion a better place as he leaves office.

I attribute Mayor London’s success to the simple fact that he is a good person, always approachable, willing to listen and has never been the type of leader that will ever stand in the way of progress. Our village has had its share of challenges, and will continue to have them, but Mayor London has sent us on a good trajectory.

In closing I would like to say that on behalf of the Metro 10 race committee, I would like to thank Mayor London for all his support, and for his dedicated service to the Village of Albion. We also wish him good luck in his future endeavors.

Best,

Thom Jennings

On Behalf of The 2018 Metro 10 Race Committee

Editor:

I am interested in having a dog park here in the Medina area. We now travel to Bark Park on Tonawanda Island – Ellicott Creek Park on a regular basis. A long way to travel for our dog to socialize but it is invaluable and would be a community asset.

Perhaps our newly hired director of tourism could help us out with this idea as well. Many folks travel with their pets.

Pat Parucki

Medina

Editor:

(This letter has been sent to Gaines Town Supervisor Grube, Councilperson Kirby, Councilperson Neilans, and Councilperson Allport.)

I am writing in regards to the removal of the safety window in front of the Town Clerk’s desk, which was discussed at our February Town Board meeting. I would like to present some considerations:

The installation of a safety partition in front of the clerk’s window was in direct response to NYS Department of Labor’s inspection of the Town Hall for workplace safety. The evaluation cited the clerk’s window as a potential workplace hazard due to the exchange of money with the public. To remedy the hazard, the Town Board contracted to have the bulletproof glass partition installed, at a cost to taxpayers of $8,000 to $10,000. Since NYS Department of Labor conducts periodic inspections, removal of the partition will necessitate a replacement safety feature, at additional cost to the taxpayer. The cost to remove the window was said to be $1,500. The cost to replace the window with another safety feature isn’t yet known.

There were several other suggestions offered by Department of Labor including: widening the counter between the clerk’s desk and the public (that alone won’t stop a bullet), posting a security guard (at what cost to the taxpayer?), exchanging money with the public in a different area (would the clerk have to leave her desk area to traverse with each resident to a different room?)

Members, I hope you are considering fiscal responsibility to the Town as well as preventing violence to staff. Removal of this partition has the potential to open the Town to a very costly lawsuit, should, God forbid, an armed robbery occur. Since this Town Board is only three or so months into learning about the Town and its specific needs, and learning about the State and its requirements for Towns, doesn’t it make fiscal sense to take the time to look at all the repercussions for the Town that removing this window could bring about?

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Marilynn Miller

Gaines

Editor:

Several military veterans recently ate breakfast at a Medina restaurant. When they went to pay, the bill had been paid by a local businessman, Tim Elliott. Thank you, Tim! Medina strong! Semper Fi!

Dave Wells

Medina

Editor:

Walmart and Dick’s now will not sell any gun to anyone under the age of 21. In New York State a 16-year-old can legally purchase a big game hunting license, and now because of the New York SAFE Act it is against the law for a father to purchase a shotgun for his son.

James Recco

Albion

Editor:

In response to Tom Graham’s letter regarding arming teachers, Mr. Graham outlined six different things that a gunman thinks or wants. He also ends with do we want armed umpires at little league games, clowns at the circus, grocery clerks, etc.

Arming teachers may not be the perfect answer, on that we can agree. I will tell you that there is potentially a concealed carry holder standing in line at the grocery store behind you, setting next to you at the circus and probably at the baseball game as well.

What and who protects our kids at school? Is it a sign on the doors or at the entrance to the property saying no guns allowed? Seriously? That is a joke! Chances are actions speak louder than words. It may not be the best solution out there, but making more laws for those that do not follow the law in the first place is not the best solution either.

Enforcing the laws that are on the books is a start! Mandatory sentencing for using a firearm in the commission of a crime is a start! There are thousands of people out there that think by changing the law it will protect us from this from happening again. I wish that to be true. Not all gun owners are criminals. Yet!

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Atwell

President, Barre Sportsmens Club

Editor:

I don’t even live in Somerset or Yates, but I’ve been following the Apex Wind encroachment with some interest. It appears they now have petitioned Albany, the cesspool of corruption that is the Cuomo Administration: He who is pining to be the next president of the US but is also so dirty that everyone close to him seems to be on trial for something illegal. But I digress.

These wind turbines which the Apex representatives want so desperately on our shorelines are not only a menace, but dangerous to not only wildlife (James Dellingpole called them “bat-chomping, bird-slicing eco-crucifixes”), but to humans as well. They haven’t been around long enough to study the long-term effects of harm on the local populations’ health.

But of course, our liberal (and bought and paid for) politicians in Albany are pushing them on us, the rural population who didn’t even vote for them to be in power to control our own land, into erecting these disgusting, property value-harming, and inefficient power “saving” monstrosities anyway; Because they have the money and resources to do so, whilst we, the local population, do not.

Let me be frank:  “Wind and Solar” is a farce. It’s a phony enterprise which exists on government subsidies to stay alive all because some voters and the politicians they voted for want to “feel good” about doing something about “climate change” (formerly called Global Warning which has lost its credibility entirely after real scientists finally admitted that it was a complete hoax).

My advice is this: Get enough public rebuke and lawyers on board to fight this thing, period. I personally will donate to any organization who will help out our neck of the woods and fight these liberal, globalist tree-hugger politicians who are hell bent on disrupting our way of life out here just so they can get elected again. Don’t stop fighting the good fight, we out here in the “woods” support you, no matter what the corporations or legislatures want you to believe.

Kim Kennedy

Medina

Editor:

Gary Kent. I respect you and can somewhat agree with your feelings on feral cats. This subject boils my blood though. Here’s the problem. I have gone to county meetings and publicly mentioned to the Legislature about not having any programs in Orleans County. Then Chairman Callard said they would look into it. They have done nothing so far.

I am a true cat lady. I have had cats all my life. I saved many lives of many cats. I have fixed all my cats, keep up on shots, give them flea medicine, antibiotics, worm medicine, whatever they need.

It’s hard to keep up when you have irresponsible, heartless humans literally pulling up at your house throwing them out of the car windows in your driveway. I’m constantly in a battle with Mr. Lauricella over money spent on cats. So what do we do. I can’t fix them or adopt them out as fast as they come and travel down the road. We need a program in Orleans County. They waste all kinds of money on everything else, why not have something for cats? Just my opinion.

I am against licensing cats for this reason. They come and go, a lot of them. I spend enough money on trying to save and feed them. I don’t need a license fee on top of that. I love all animals but nature is nature and they are going to go after some of the birds and other small animals in the food chain.

Licensing is not the answer. The Legislature has to get serious and do something positive. The next thing you know we will have to license our children because a lot of them are feral. Just joking.

Cat lover forever.

Sandy Lauricella

Lyndonville

Editor:

We would like to take this time to thank the Albion Police Department for their dedication and service to the community.

Sincerely,

Louis, Megan, Dennis, Sheila and AnnMarie Monacelli

Albion

Editor:

I thought the Rural Broad Band expansion was going to be done by cable? Hughes Net is a satellite delivered Internet. Hughes Net has been available here in Orleans County for over 10 years. How do I know that? I have been a subscriber for that long. I had to pay out of my pocket to have the hardware installed at my house. It was really not cheap back then but we went without other things to be able to afford it. I’m not rich yet we bought our own.

So why should anyone be getting their installation for free at the tax payers expense when it’s already available to buy? This is also not providing it for everyone like promised. So don’t anyone dare take credit for it.

If you’re going to waste tax payer money at least let everyone who is being robbed partake in it if they choose. Another reason why Cuomo’s got to go. Another reason why the Empire State is the Welfare State. I want to know who is getting this, how they are being chosen and they better be dirt poor.

Paul Lauricella

Lyndonville

Editor:

Doug Domedion’s recent Pennysaver column on feral cats should have been an eye-opener. Now-neutered, drop-off cats account for seven of our eight felines (the eighth is from P.A.W.S.).  My Mom’s numbers are similar.

Those who have no concept of what havoc unwanted cats are doing to beneficial birds in Orleans County might consider what might be done about it. Addressing the issue positively is another way Orleans County could put itself on the map and improve matters for all of its living creatures.

Someone with Doug’s credibility might even suggest an imperfect “solution”. My admittedly cynical guess is that, “Oh! That is such a shame” will be the extent of our response.

As a starting point, I would suggest licensing them as we do dogs. Fees for spayed and neutered cats might be considerably lower than those charged for felines which haven’t been “taken care of”.

Or, we could just surrender as we so often do.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

After reading the letter about the environmental impacts of wind turbines, I found the writer’s information was very misleading. As the writer suggested, I did my own research. The truth is that wind energy has some of the lowest impacts of any form of electricity production. The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (https://www.nrel.gov/analysis/life-cycle-assessment.html) points out that wind energy’s impact is 98-99 percent lower than fossil fuel sources of electricity.

Once turbines are constructed no fuels extracted from mining are needed to generate electricity, nor is any water needed as a coolant, which both fossil fuel and nuclear plants use in abundance.

It is true that wind turbines are built using mostly concrete, steel and copper – the same materials used at every type of power plants. Turbines don’t need any special materials that aren’t used by other sources to generate electricity.

The writer is also incorrect in her statement that wind turbines require rare earth materials and create radioactive waste from the mining of those materials. Truth be told, many products from across our economy use rare earths, from iPhones to computers to flat screen TVs. In the U.S., only about 2 percent of the more than 50,000 operating wind turbines use rare earth materials, which are needed for direct drive turbines. The other 98 percent of the U.S. wind fleet uses electro-magnet turbines, which don’t use any rare earth materials.

Fossil and nuclear power plants also use massive amounts of water in their cooling systems – 22 to 62 trillion gallons of water annually and consuming over 1 trillion gallons (http://blog.ucsusa.org/john-rogers/how-much-water-do-power-plants-use-316). In fact, the power sector currently uses more water than any other sector in the United States – much more than farming and ranching.

Wind energy uses no water for cooling when generating electricity, so by displacing water – intensive sources of electricity, wind energy in the U.S. saved 73 billion gallons of water in 2015.  So the environmental impacts the writer is concerned about are either overblown or simply incorrect. The truth is you can’t only be concerned about concrete and steel use in turbines when those same materials make up the majority of the build world around us. And if you’re worried about rare earth impacts, the computer you’re reading this on is an exponentially  larger problem than a wind turbine.

For the reasons stated above, I would give the writer three Pinocchios!

Howard Pierce

Lyndonville