Editor:

Try to imagine having looked forward to high school graduation in 2020 for up to a dozen years and currently contemplating a future that might go in a variety of directions.

Each senior is likely missing something she/he had been looking forward to. Even if she/he hadn’t been denied her/his final year in a softball, baseball or whatever uniform, she/he might be crushed to be deprived of that final, triumphant, top of the heap status that comes with “seniorhood.”

Sure, as a senior, she/he is putting the best face on yet another bump in the road that she/he can muster. She/he is determined it is not going to get her/him down. All the schools around Orleans County are doing what they can to call attention to their seniors’ achievements and successes.

Perhaps she/he thinks what she/he has accomplished is not such a big deal. It does represent the overcoming of another obstacle on life’s journey and a kind of transition into a world of greater responsibility.

We should, I think, hope those of us who experienced our senior year in high school are doing all we can to understand and help you seniors view this year as just a hiccup. It should be the desire of all us old geezers to want fewer distractions ahead for every one of you.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent

Albion

Editor:

Our community like many other communities worldwide has been hit hard by the coronavirus.  This has created hardships and heartache, including death of family and friends, sickness, financial concerns and the daily concern of putting food on the table.

Apparently our Yates town officials are proceeding ahead with the $2.5 million park grant,  even though local food pantries have had to increase their supply by 50 percent and the well-recognized and respected ministry Hands for Hope has now included Lyndonville in their monthly designated areas of need.

Just listen to the news and you will hear of many organizations that are answering to the hunger in our communities.  Maybe not using this grant at this time could be a consideration of the board, thinking this grant money could better serve other areas of need.

Time for common sense rather than playing politics.

William Jurinich

Lyndonville

Editor:

It is exceedingly sad to see that in our very proud community where we think first and foremost to support our local businesses that capitalism has Trumped decency and respect of those that are the source of their prosperity.

I understand that it is well within your right to act as you personally see fit and as a result potentially become one of the far too many of our community that have contracted or passed as a result of the Covid-19 virus. However, that right should not and cannot infringe upon my right to comply – as my interest is on behalf of the entire community, not just of myself.

This being not only the rule of law, but also a principle foundation upon which civilized societies have prospered and others who have failed to do so have perished. The Greater Good is simply that; what is best for the whole. Even capitalism recognizes the need for an abundance and bounty of producers AND consumers; for without one, there cannot be the other.

Thank You! And please . . . everybody stay safe and abide by the wisdom of science and the vast experience of our health professionals; not politicians who have a singular motivation – and that motivation just might not be in your best interest!

Doug Miller

Albion

Editor:

Traditionally, during the Memorial Day Service in Lyndonville, the members of the Houseman-Tanner Post 1603 take a moment to recognize those from our small town who are currently serving this great country.

The names of whom are sent to the post by their loved ones. It is kept as current as possible although unless a post member personally knows the individual, many go unnoticed by the post. Each year we get a few names to add to that list.

This year is very different though, with the cancellation of services due to the pandemic, I had thought about listing them here. However, once a serviceman, always a serviceman  (to borrow a phrase from the Marines).

I checked first. As I suspected there are regulations against this. Since I have absolutely no way to know who is deployed or is about to deploy, I will NEVER release any information that puts a brother or sister at risk . It is known that there are those who seek such information for ill will. No member of this post will knowingly aid such an enemy.

To that end,  whether you are an essential worker, a student, a new graduate about to start a new chapter in your life  or family member of those willing to raise their hand, take an oath and step up and defend this nation in whatever capacity they’re assigned, say their names, say a prayer for them and for them all.

When you see them out and about and you thank them for their service, please be a citizen worthy of defending.  Winston Churchill once stated, “Never in the history  of mankind has so much, been owed by so many to so few.”

He was referring to the men who fought the air war in the Battle of Britain. Though his quote is about another country, time and place, it is no less true today for us. Less than 3 percent of our population steps up to serve. When you thank them do so with the utmost sincerity.

Respectfully

Steve Goodrich

Commander

Houseman-Tanner Post 1603

Lyndonville

Editor:

On the 21st of May, our community has the privilege of celebrating 100 years of life. Our own Don Ross, the elder-Barre himself, becomes a centenarian. His memories tell of tales that boast of the history of not only our community, but of a man who has found purpose, adventure, but most importantly, love.

In 1920, before hospitals were the standard place for births, Don made his grand entrance into this world in his family home at 1350 West Ave. in Medina, New York. The streets of Medina were his home—he and his trusted team of horses plowed the northeast corridor to keep the sidewalks clean throughout the winter.

Don graduated from high school in 1939. Soon after, he left home and pursued a degree in electrical engineering from R.A.M.I. (now called R.I.T.). Upon his college graduation, he began working at the Niagara Hudson Power Company, now known as National Grid. His tenure in the workforce left its mark on the history of G.L.F and the Barre Canning Factory, before opening Albion Plumbing.

Although his successes were many, his greatest accomplishment was his happy marriage to the beautiful Bernie Axtell – 1942 saw the beginning of their journey through life as one. With his darling wife by his side, they built their house in 1959, and for nearly 78 years together, they created a home.

Please join us on Thursday, May 21st at 6 p.m. for the birthday party of a century, complete with cake and socially distanced fun and friends at the Ross residence on Oak Orchard Road.

The Van Lieshout Family

Barre

Editor:

Since the Covid-19 outbreak hit New York, I’ve been a strong proponent of keeping people safe and healthy. It’s one of the few things I agreed with our governor about. Now that the worst seems to have passed, we need to look back at what was done wrong and try to start making right what we can.

The Assembly Majority makes it seem like that’s what they’re trying to do too, with their most recent virtual hearing focusing on small business advocacy and small business laws. What they fail to realize, amazingly, is that the policies put forth by their leadership and their votes are why many New Yorkers are struggling so much today.

The Assembly Minority Conference, on the other hand, isn’t just now getting back to work. From day one, I’ve been on the phone with constituents, on the ground with aid and assistance, and working tirelessly wherever I could to help my neighbors push through this pandemic. I didn’t sit at home and blame Washington for not giving us more.

I didn’t vote down legislation like the Small Business Recovery Act, which would have used the state’s $890 million reserve fund and redistributed it to struggling local businesses accompanied with zero interest recovery loans. I didn’t agree or support the one-solution-fits-all regional plan that the Majority and governor introduced at the start of this crisis, which in turn stalled state response significantly. That’s what the Majority did.

The Majority sat by and let the state flounder during this pandemic. They gave unilateral power to the governor to make decisions for the entirety of the state with plans based around one city. With so much to do in the coming weeks, we can’t let this continue. For the good of everyone’s health, for the good of our nurses, doctors, police officers, firefighters, public service men and women, we followed the plan set forth by the Majority and governor in order to get through the worst this pandemic had to offer. We’re clearly past the worst now.

As we see positive cases subside and the state beginning to reopen, we need to make sure everything returns to the way it was, including the structure of power in the state. The governor did what was necessary to get us through that rough patch. He must now return power to the Legislature, and the Legislature need to get back on its A-game.

From the Department of Labor getting better at giving out unemployment checks to the Department of Health becoming more involved in local investigations of nursing homes, there’s a lot of work to be done moving forward. We are ready to get back to work. We don’t have any interest in blaming Washington. We simply want to get results for those who matter most – the people.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Batavia

Assemblyman Hawley represents the 139th District, which consists of Genesee, most of Orleans and part of the western end of Monroe County.

Editor:

A medical acquaintance, with whom we consulted about the NY Health Plan, told what he called a “cautionary tale.” Patients of his were saying that the Covid-19 scare was a “hoax.”

He contracted the disease, ran a very high temperature for 10 days. He lives by himself, his family living thousands of miles away. “I was very frightened. I’m still very weak.” “I’m here to tell you: this is not a hoax.”

According to the CDC, the US, as of 5/13/20, has 1,364,061 reported cases and 82,256 deaths. We’re about 1/18th of the world’s population. Yet we have close to a third of the cases, and more than a fourth of the deaths, world-wide.

There are those who claim we’re doing a good job. Compared to whom?

Now maybe our percentages are high, because we are testing more? And we are. But according to Worldometer, there are 41 nations testing at a higher rate per populaton. And according to another source, South Korea had done nearly a half million tests, before we got started.

Maybe, if some of us hadn’t been minimizing and calling it a “hoax,” we could have saved many lives and even somewhat spared the economy, the implications of which will take even more lives, especially among the poor and elderly, who will lose incomes and homes.

How is this “Pro-Life?”

Bob Golden

Kent

Editor:

The federal government has placed the burden of fighting the coronavirus infection on to the states. Business Insider reporter Sonam Sheth, (3/16/20), wrote “President Donald Trump on Monday told a group of governors that they should get vital equipment to treat coronavirus patients on their own.”

While the federal government has placed the responsibility for fighting the Covid-19 outbreak on the states, Republicans have balked at helping state governments recover from the financial burden. Lockport Union-Sun & Journal writer Connor Hoffman reported, (5/5/20), “Niagara County could lose up to $12 million, or 20% in sales tax revenue for the last three quarters of 2020.”

In another article Mr. Hoffman reported that “School districts across New York State might face a cut in state aid as much as 20% if further federal stimulus money is withheld from New York State, and local district leaders feel the cuts could seriously challenge their operations.”

Republican leader Mitch McConnell told Hugh Hewitt: “I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route.” I am perplexed why a “welfare state” like Kentucky would want to hurt a “donor state” like New York.

David Frum in the Atlantic, (4/25/20), explains: “A federal bankruptcy process for state finances could thus enable wealthy individuals and interest groups in rich states to leverage their clout in the anti-majoritarian federal system to reverse political defeats in the more majoritarian political systems of big, rich states like California, New York, and Illinois.”

Republicans are more interested in helping themselves than the citizens who elect them. That is why former congressman Chris Collins stated: “My donors are basically saying, ‘Get it done or don’t ever call me again.’”

Republicans feel fealty only to their rich donors. That is why many Republicans don’t respond to letters from constituents or hold town-hall style meetings. We need to hold our representatives accountable, and to do that we need to elect Democrats. We need to vote for responsible government; vote for Nate McMurray for Congress.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

I know that any time I write a letter it is going to draw out of hiding the ire of those with Trump Derangement Syndrome.

That is why I slap my knees while I’m writing thinking who will be the next leftist that peeks up from under the rock. This time it is Mr. Ballard. Mr. Ballard claims that I sound like a propagandist for North Korea. I love my country and I love President Trump. How you prove my point at how a liberal sees everything backwards.

By the way where were you when the “Messiah” was shredding the Constitution and running our economy into the ground? Not to mention the 8 years of blaming Bush for his failures.

I will agree with you that we are led by the worst of the worst and I will include some Republicans that side with Democrats. But by far it is the Democratic Party, the ideology you seem to embrace that has brought more destruction, poverty, perversion, and misery to the world. It seeks totalitarian control of the institutions and citizenry of this country and to the world in general.

The wealthiest corporations that leftists complain about are those that embrace leftist ideology. Facebook and Google, to name a couple. More people have died under far left wing control in the world than all of the world’s wars.

I agree that those senators that sold their stock should have to resign and go to jail like Chris Collins. But that won’t happen because Democrat Feinstein is involved. The Democrats will never allow her removal. I don’t expect much. You have seen how backwards the standards with Democrats are between Kavanaugh and Biden on the sexual assault charges? Probably not. Fake News.

The left wing media lies. They get their order of lies from Pelosi and all parrot the same talking points. She admits this. Is proud of it. This President actually stands up to them and their inflammatory questions that have nothing to do with news of the day. Liberals are not treated like this. The “Messiah” was never attacked, never asked hard questions. Given a total pass while he ran roughshod on the Constitution and the country.

It’s not the Presidents fault peoples’ 401ks are down. Our economy was roaring. Not in NY due to liberal policies but around the country. Blame China for its lies and secrecy. The Democrats in Congress are in control of the appropriations and put in all kinds of unrelated pork not related to Covid-19. They also held up the distribution of the piddly $1,200 checks to Americans.

The do-nothing Democrats will pay a heavy price for what they have done come November 3rd. Future generations will be paying this off for the next 50 years. The student loan lending was taken over by the “Messiah.” The banks have been out of it for years. Blame Democrats for that one. Blame the liberal education system that tells everyone they have to go to college to obtain a worthless liberal arts degree. Blame big education for the cost. They rob the taxpayers and the students blind. No one wants to touch that.

People will be back to work soon. No one in this country can be turned down for care. Hospitals are going broke because people are staying away. Yes, Mr. Ballard “God forbid” we talk about Universal Basic Income. “Messiah” appointee Andrew Yang ran for president on that and it went nowhere like him. Bernie too. We are a capitalist society not European or Globalist. You must be one of those millennials the future is fearing.

The Republicans in the House and Senate are finally acting like they are supposed to. On the other hand, the Democrats have descended to the lowest form of humanity. Thank God President Trump is on the job during this pandemic. The left will never give him credit but come election day he will be re-elected and Pelosi will no longer be Speaker of the House.

We should be concentrating on unleashing the economic stranglehold on our area and the need to get back to work. My condolences to the families affected by this pandemic. Unfortunately everything is political and when people engage in political debate the ball will keep rolling. I do enjoy debating those with TDS.

Paul Lauricella Jr.

Lyndonville

Editor:

Dennis Seekins and Jack Capurso are so right on, words fail me. I can say that this NYS policy of endless duplication of services and layers of similar government jobs is just plain idiotic.

My uncle was district superintendent in Bergen County, New Jersey for all students, all county. It amazed me when I moved here to see each tiny berg have separate government, school superintendents, highway departments, etc. No one could ever explain it to me.

At least now I can commiserate with others who see the stupidity of this, and hope springs eternal. I have to erase in my head the image of an elderly lady being interviewed regarding consolidation, saying “Medina will lose its history.”

Words truly fail me now.

Deborah Rodrigues

Medina