Editor:

Elmira in the 1970s: Retired Police Chief Eugene “Gene” Golden, my father,  walked up to Karam’s Corner Grocery Store.  A newly formed SWAT team, in armor, were deploying to rush a home. Dad approached the officer in charge, “What’s going on Joe?”

“John Smith (alias) is threatening to shoot up the neighborhood with his shot gun.”

“I know John. He’s mentally ill. Let me try to talk with him.”

“Are you sure?” responded Joe. Dad assured him that it would be OK.

Dad knocked on the door, “John, it’s Gene Golden.”

John opened the door.

Seeing an open beer on the table, “John, are you going to invite me in for a beer, or what?”

John reluctantly did. The shotgun was on the table. They talked.

After a few minutes, John had surrendered the gun to Dad and walked outside with him. He       went peacefully with the police.

Several months later, in Elmira, the SWAT team surrounded a housing project in center town. The situation was similar. They sent in a robot. Then they stormed the place. One police officer was shot and killed.

It came out, after months of investigation, that the officer had been killed by “friendly” fire.

My father, admittedly was a big man, great athlete in his youth and had arrested many violent people, including, forcibly a famous serial killer, Freddie Wood. He contended that  “a police officer shouldn’t have to draw his gun more than a few times in his career.”

Interestingly in about 1993, Jerry Orbach, a police detective on Law and Order, said much the same thing. (By the way, I see Law and Order as being the most fair, respectful and realistic show on police and prosecution. In my opinion, most others are not respectful to police.)

It’s hard to know how many police officers are injured and killed by “friendly fire.” (There are innocent bystander victims as well.) Not all police departments share statistics with the FBI.  And like the banks, schools, Catholic and other churches, Boy Scouts, there’s a tendency to hide problems. Example: with NFL footballer/soldier Pat Tillman, the Army withheld that he’d been the victim of “friendly fire.”

I worked in criminal justice from 1959 to 2007 for 2 counties, NY State and Genesee Hospital Domestic Violence Program. I disarmed several violent men and physically intervened in domestic violent instances, among most dangerous for police to answer. In all instances, I controlled the situations without needing to use force. Police and Probation were called “Peace Officers.”

I recently heard a speech by the head of Police Training for New York State. He calls police “warriors.”  Who are we at war with – fellow citizens and humans? Fellow police? Studies show that police commit crime at about the same rate as average Americans.

We now know that to be true about priests, other clergy, bank and school employees.  Various studies show that major corporations have committed at least 5 felonies, another that 91% have committed at least two, that they were caught at.

The upper classes and connected get different results than the poor and worker classes.  Quality of defense lawyers and ability to afford expensive defense and get bailed out makes a huge difference, as well as preferential treatment.

In my opinion we expect the impossible from police and fail to support them.

In the past, our current president blocked many safety procedures that would have protected police and made their job safer and more doable:

1. He illegally purged 500,000 violent fringe folks from justice records.
2. Suspended rule that would have prohibited mentally ill from having guns.
3. Barred Social Security from sharing info on mental illness.
4. Halted required child safety devices on guns.
5. Deregulated exportation of “assault” weapons.

“Warriors” or Peace Officers?  I asked my sister, Rosanne Leach, who’s worked as a mental health nurse in the community and at Rochester State Hospital, whether she’d ever worried about our father coming home from work in his 34 years. We both agreed we hadn’t.

Police training now seems to make a mantra out of its dangers. Police work is more dangerous than a lot of jobs. But many other jobs are more dangerous, notably construction and farming.

By the way, Eugene F. Golden was named “New York State Police Chief of the Year” in 1962, among other awards for his leadership in the field.

My father and I say “Peace Officers.”

Robert E. Golden

Kent

Golden, a former Orleans County Director of Probation and member of NYS Probation Commission, worked 43 years in criminal justice. He plans to follow up with a series of articles on police, including the difficult and even impossible expectations we, the public have.

Editor:

District members, please take note that it is my intention to run for the office of Fire Commissioner for the Albion Joint Fire District, which has a term of 5 years.

I would like to highlight my qualifications for this position. I served on the Executive Board at the Town of Niagara Active Hose fire company for four years, along with holding the Fire Lieutenant position for two years simultaneously.

I have over 400 NYS fire training hours and served six years as an active status firefighter for one of the busiest fire departments in Niagara County. After 7 years in Niagara County, my family and I purchased our home in the village of Albion and returned to Orleans County. I am a local native, born and raised in Albion, and graduated from Charles D’Amico High School in 2011.

As the position fire commissioner is an unpaid elected position, I will be maintaining my full-time role as I am a Project Manager/Estimator for a fire protection company. My duties as described entail people and project management, inventory management, contract review, contract negotiating, sales, and estimating based on NFPA requirements and NYS Fire codes/Building codes.

Additionally, I am also responsible for finding material and items needed at fair pricing, working with subcontractors, assembling purchase orders, working with our billing team to ensure invoices are accurate, and reviewing our division’s operating numbers month to month. All the above will translate well into the fire commissioner role.

I hope to have your support in the election, on Tuesday, December 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hoag Library 134 S Main St., Albion.

Derek Howes

Albion

Editor:

On December 13th at 5:30 p.m., the heart of Barre will once again glow with a warmth that no winter chill can diminish.

Now in its 8th year, the Barre Tractor Parade has grown into a charming holiday tradition.  A celebration not just of the season, but of community, creativity and the rural roots of Barre.

At a time of year when holiday events can feel increasingly commercial, Barre’s Tractor Parade stands proudly apart. It doesn’t rely on a grand budget.

Instead, it draws its magic from the hands of local farmers, families and businesses who transform their hard working tractors into rolling works of art, draped in twinkling lights and bursting with personality. A reminder that the most meaningful traditions are often the ones we build together.

More than a light parade, it reflects the heart of Barre itself. Neighbors gathering, children and adults bundled up and generations sharing stories of their favorite tractor.

Join us at 5:30 pm on December 13th for another year of bright lights, shared laughter and a town that continues to shine from the inside out.

Respectfully submitted,

Betsy Miller

Barre Betterment Committee

Editor:

I read with grave interest your recent article, “Central Hall will be vacated by county and put on market – County Historian to move to space next to Subway in Albion.”

As someone who served as Orleans County Historian from 2015 to 2020, and who worked extensively in Central Hall during that time, I feel compelled to provide additional context about the building, its history of use, and the implications of this relocation.

When I began my tenure, Central Hall was fully occupied. The County Treasurer occupied the main floor, Information Technology used the second floor, and the Historian’s Office was relegated to the basement. That basement space was barely temperature controlled; winter workdays often meant running space heaters to reach the low 60s. There was no humidity control.

These conditions—combined with the historian’s cramped “office” and lack of proper storage—resulted in collections being scattered between the basement and the attic. Decades of inadequate environmental controls inevitably led to damage to those resources.

Over recent years, the county has had several opportunities to correct this. The addition to the County Administrative Building could have provided a more secure, accessible space for the Historian’s Office—either within the new footprint or in the vacated third floor of the County Clerk’s Office, which offered elevator access and immediate proximity to other historical records.

Later, thanks to the unwavering support of Legislators John DeFilipps and Ken DeRoller, the unused second floor of Central Hall was slated for renovation for the historian’s use in late 2019. COVID-19 delayed progress, and my departure in 2020 meant I never saw that effort reach completion. Legislator Fred Miller also deserves recognition as the lone dissenting vote in the recent 6–1 decision and for his support of local history.

Another chance came when the County Treasurer moved to the old Bank of America building on South Main Street. That transition could have allowed the Historian’s Office to shift into the main floor of Central Hall—a far more accessible space that included a secure vault, an invaluable asset for preserving rare and fragile collections. Even the entrance ramp would have offered a meaningful improvement over navigating the building’s stairs.

It is understandable that maintaining Central Hall—a building once fully occupied and now housing only one of its original three departments—represents a financial challenge. I was once told the deteriorating brickwork alone carried estimates north of $100,000 for repairs, and officials now project annual savings of $90,000 to $110,000 by selling the property. Those costs are real. But so is the opportunity.

Orleans County has long lacked a centralized, fully resourced hub for its municipal historians. Many municipal historians operate without offices and receive only modest stipends, leaving valuable local collections scattered in basements, attics, and closets across the county.

Central Hall, with thoughtful investment, could have become a collaborative, inclusive space—an accessible home for preserving, organizing, digitizing, and sharing the county’s history with residents and researchers far beyond our borders. Our heritage is uniquely rich and deeply connected to the broader story of New York State, the United States, and the world. It deserves a home that reflects that significance.

Perhaps a small gesture to offset sales tax gains?

Instead, the County Historian’s Office will now occupy a strip mall—a site built atop land once home to some of Albion’s most stately mansions. The symbolism is hard to ignore. At a moment when the county is celebrating its Bicentennial, and when our local historians remain among the most active, dedicated and community-engaged in the state, this decision feels particularly short-sighted.

Important questions also remain unaddressed:

• With historically significant collections housed in a plaza with food establishments, who will handle pest mitigation should mice, insects, or other pests be drawn to the paper-based materials?

• Will the county invest in appraising and insuring rare or valuable artifacts now that they are being moved into leased space?

• What assurances exist that the property owner will maintain the building if a roof leak, sewer issue, or fire in an adjacent unit threatens the collections?

• What are the projected property tax breaks for commercial properties that are partially “leased” to governmental agencies?

• And with projected savings from the sale of Central Hall, will the county reinvest even a portion of those savings (or proceeds from the sale) into better resourcing the Department of History, including appropriate compensation for the extensive off-hours work the role of County Historian requires?

Orleans County has benefited enormously from the dedication, expertise, and passion of its historians—often without providing the support and infrastructure such essential work deserves. As the county turns the page on Central Hall, I hope leaders will reflect on the broader cost of undervaluing the stewardship of our shared history.

Matthew R. Ballard

LeRoy, NY

Former Orleans County Historian (2015–2020)

Editor:

The nation needs more energy and something needs to be done. The current permitting process can take a decade to bring new energy sources online.

There are many solar, wind and battery storage projects waiting to be connected to the grid, but can’t be for lack of transmission capacity. Congress needs to update the permitting process through a comprehensive permitting reform bill.

This legislation would not increase the size of government, but it would reduce energy costs and increase the size of the economy by increasing the energy supply. I am hoping Congresswoman Tenney will co-sponsor a bill to do this.

We at Citizen’s Climate Lobby support real solutions that favor jobs, economic growth and enhance our global competitiveness.

As a lifelong Republican and a member of Citizen’s Climate Lobby, I know that Conservation is Conservative!

Rob Johnson

Medina

Editor:

I want to thank you and reporter Ginny Kropf for promoting and often attending our many programs scheduled each year to benefit the Cobblestone Society & Museum.

Ginny recently posted details of our upcoming December events before including responses to some additional questions she posed. She encouraged me to use this forum to share the answers, which she felt held merit for an additional communication with your followers.

Our “Simply Christmas” event scheduled for Saturday, December 6 at 11 a.m. is the third holiday program we’ve offered to the public in consecutive years. They have always included Christmas music, readings and/or stories.

Current trustee and treasurer Maarit Vaga initiated this holiday event with its deliberately chosen title so that from year to year the theme of the event could change.  Our first “Simply Christmas” program allowed Maarit to share traditions and customs from her Scandinavian heritage, with an emphasis on St. Lucia.

Last year St. Nicholas Day was the focus. This year in “Simply Christmas: A Community Musical Quilt” the spotlight is on locally talented individuals. Just as a beautiful quilt is the result of piecing together individual bits of fabric to make its design, the program’s variety of music – vocals, instrumental and sing-along – plus readings, will come together to kick off the Christmas season for the audience in a delightfully entertaining way!

I am super excited by the skill level of the various performers that will participate. Of note, Aaron Grabowski (baritone, Director of Music/Holy Trinity), Susan Walders (alto, flutist with E-Yah-Pah-Hah Wind Quintet), Bradeen Walders Erakare (soprano) and husband Sebastian Erakare (tenor) are teaming up as a quartet to perform Riu Riu Chiu, a Spanish Renaissance Christmas madrigal, sung unaccompanied.

All are welcome at the Cobblestone Church to celebrate the season.

Sue Bonafini, Assistant Director

Cobblestone Society & Museum

Editor:

News of the My Lai incident broke in November 1969, during my tour of duty in Vietnam.  The My Lai incident happened March 16th, 1968, in Quang Ngai province when members of the 23rd (Americal) Division killed between 347 to 504 women, children and elderly unarmed civilians. It was a war crime.

While some in the military tried to white-wash it, the Vietnamese knew what had happened. It made winning the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese citizens more difficult. And it contributed to the American public’s attitude in opposition to the war.  Returning soldiers, such as myself, were shunned and tainted as drug-addled murderers.

My tour of duty in Vietnam was from July 1969 to July 1970 with the 101st Infantry Division in Thua Thien and Quang Tri Provinces. Most of our operations were in the jungles of the Annamite Mountains, with very limited operations around villages.

My unit did not kill civilians, nor did we kill friendly soldiers, (South Vietnam soldiers). However, I know the intense hatred of the enemy, the rage and anger and desire for revenge. I know how atrocities happen. I also know the moral injury suffered by those of us who killed enemy soldiers.

The oath taken by members of the military includes: “I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So, help me God.” The Uniform Code of Military Justice states explicitly that this requirement does not apply to “patently illegal orders.”

In Nov. 1969, when news of the My Lai massacre broke, my unit commander called us together and made it clear to all of us, officers and enlisted, that orders to kill civilians are illegal and not to be followed. Furthermore, he made it clear that orders to kill unarmed P.O.W.’s is illegal.

It is also manifestly unlawful to issue orders or follow such orders to kill unarmed fishermen. While the administration has stated that those targeted are drug smugglers, they have offered no evidence to support that claim. They have offered no evidence that they are armed, or intend to smuggle drugs, if they have any, into the U.S.

There is no evidence that the occupants of those boats threaten in any manner, shape or form the U.S. We are not at war with Venezuela. Following “patently illegal orders,” and killing without due process diminishes how our allies view us and gives our enemies fodder.

It shakes the foundations that America stands for ideals and that the law is king not arbitrary capricious whims of those in power. Finally, it diminishes how we feel about ourselves, as citizens living in a democracy.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

During the recent visit of Saudi leader Salman to the White House, a reporter asked Trump about the brutal murder of Washington Reporter Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018. Trump’s reply was “….things happen.”

The CIA had concluded in late 2018 that Salman had ordered the murder of Khashoggi by luring him into a trap. At the White House, Salman stated “…we are doing our best that this doesn’t happen again.”

Khashoggi was a US journalist and a U.S. citizen. Instead of outrage, we get “things happen.”  It is a revealing statement by a narcissist who values self importance, and power over the welfare of US citizens whom he pledged to protect.

John Capurso

Albion High School graduate in 1960

Ashburn, Va.

Editor:

The Jewell-Buckman American Legion Post 529 in Holley sponsored another oratorical contest on November 18 at Kendall Central School. Five Kendall juniors took part in the competition. Each of them put together an 8-10 minute speech related to the United States Constitution.

Several people helped give these teens the opportunity to compose and deliver their sentiments.

As one of four people given the opportunity to judge the contest, I can say that listening to them was uplifting.

But the beneficial event would not have taken place had it not been for the folks at Jewell-Buckman Post 529 along with the encouragement of Kendall Central staff.

Thanks to Ron Boyd and those from the post as well as Kendall staff for pulling this off. And thanks to the students who overcame their reservations and accepted the challenge of participating.

With sincere appreciation,

Gary Kent

Albion

Kendall Class of 1962

Editor:

When Democrats don’t vote, Republicans win.

Shame on the Clarendon and Carlton Democrats. You had two well-qualified candidates and you chose not to vote.

You had a choice and if had you voted, these two would have been elected.  We also had a write-in candidate. These individuals worked hard yet you chose to not vote on a beautiful sunny and warm day. Stop telling us that you do not have a choice.

Jeanne Crane

Carlton