Editor:

The healthcare workers on the front lines are truly the heroes of the day today. Getting out of bed early in the morning, working through the nights, and braving the virus to ensure citizens get the help and support they need during this crisis is nothing short of extraordinary.

I, like many of you, have constantly been thinking about ways we can show our gratitude and support to these extraordinary individuals. I have some ideas I wanted to share with you today.

The simplest thing we can do is follow instructions to make their jobs easier. That is, stay home if possible, practice social distancing, and help to flatten the curve. I’ve seen that this habit is being practiced with seriousness and great regularity, and I want to encourage those who haven’t done so to try to implement it into their daily lives for the time being. The fewer cases these healthcare workers have to worry about, the better.

Another way to show support is through social media. Even if we can’t say our thanks to these heroes in person, the beauty of the modern world allows us to connect virtually, across entire continents. Find your local hospitals on social media, like that of Medina Memorial, United Memorial and Summit Medical Center, among others, and feel free to leave uplifting messages and videos for the staff who continue to work day and night throughout this crisis.

Lastly, continue this habit after the crisis ends. It’s true that with all this free time, many people have the opportunity to give thanks and give back to our healthcare workers. But these heroes continue to work even after health crises like the one we face now are resolved. Being able to show kindness and support to our health officials is a small way we can continue to support them. I will be taking these steps, and I invite you to do the same.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Batavia

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

Editor:

Town of Barre offices are still open and doing business. Unfortunately the doors are closed to the public.

Payments, letters, notices or applications may be placed in the drop box to the left of our front door. For any inquiries please leave a message at the appropriate extension and calls will be returned if no one is there.

We do have a copy of the application to the DPS submitted by Heritage/APEX in our foyer area. As posted on our website, anyone wishing to look over the five, 8-inch-thick binders and maps just need to call the Town Hall and make an appointment. Yes there is a bottle of hand sanitizer there as well.

Sean P. Pogue

Supervisor

Town of Barre

Editor:

Upstate New Yorkers are familiar with how downstaters think at this point. With this year’s state budget, it shows that things haven’t changed.

The only new element was that Gov. Cuomo was calling the shots because downstate liberals didn’t meet the budget deadline. Nevertheless, this budget was filled to the brim with bad policy and further restrictions on the liberties of New Yorkers.

I voted no on every single budget bill. Throughout this budget debating process, I pushed back against more unconstitutional gun control. I pushed for supporting local institutions like libraries during a time when children and teachers will rely on them more than ever. While I fought to support small businesses during this healthcare crisis, they decided to spend $100 million in taxpayer dollars on funding political campaigns.

The acceptance of Gov. Cuomo’s reign during this crisis greatly concerns me. It sets a dangerous precedent during this healthcare crisis. The legislators, elected by the people of New York, should be legislating on behalf of the citizens.

The last thing our state needs is to give more authority to its executive. No matter how well-intended the budget might have been in places, I couldn’t, in good conscience, vote on budget bills that were filled with policy and pushed by an overreaching executive.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Batavia

(Hawley represents the 139^th Assembly District which includes most of Orleans, all of Genesee and part of western Monroe County.)

Editor:

It is heartwarming to read and hear about the great deeds being done by the community during this current period of uncertainty. Communities in Orleans County have a long history of responding in times of need and despair.

Recently each correction officer and staff member at the Orleans County Jail received a handmade facemask to aid in protecting against the Covid-19 virus. On behalf of Council 82 – Local 2966, I would like to express our gratitude and publicly acknowledge Kim Lockwood (her brother Terry Weaver, a retired Sergeant from the Orleans County Jail) for donating the materials and Lynda Standish for making the facemasks.

Their thoughtfulness and generosity provide hope and encouragement during these dubious days. Thank you for thinking of us, your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Sgt. Chris Caufield

Local 2966 Union President

Editor:

In this time of crisis it is more important than ever that we, as a community, pull together in order to support each other and those that go to work every day to provide essential services.

These folks include doctors, nurses, first responders, those that work in grocery, drug, and other essential retailers, mail delivery personnel, and everybody else that is still going to work to provide services. They are putting themselves at risk in order for our lives to continue as “normally” as possible.

Genesee County had a “Corona Convoy” in which more than $4,000 was raised for Crossroads House. I happened to be driving through there and every street corner and country road intersection had people showing support – all while following social distancing guidelines.

I am soliciting ideas as to what we can do here in our community to pull together, support one another, and show our gratitude for the efforts of those mentioned above. Be it online, safely out in the open air, or whatever platform comes to mind.

I can be reached at OrleansBridge@gmail.com or The Orleans Bridge on Facebook.

Thank you.

Bob Harker

Clarendon

Editor:

I don’t get it.

Mr. Hawley says that his Legislative Survey was mistakenly sent out for reasons beyond his control, but then he doubles-down and asks people to take the very same survey, even though it completely avoids asking any questions about the Covid-19 virus. I don’t get it.

James Renfrew

Clarendon

Editor:

Isn’t it kind of defeating the purpose having a parade when we’re supposed to be staying home and distancing.

What I saw on the news was a lot of people standing on the sidewalk, shoulder to shoulder.

Where’s the common sense in that?

C. Brabon

Middleport

Editor:

Many of you may have recently received my survey in your mailbox. This survey was supposed to have been sent in early January prior to the start of our 2020 Legislative session to help me understand constituents’ views on issues.

It was held up for reasons beyond my control and was released, erroneously, as we face one of the most difficult times in our state’s and nation’s history with the Covid-19 Virus.

Please practice social distancing, stay home and wash your hands over and over and over. We will get through this.

Take the 2020 Legislative Survey online by clicking here.

Steve Hawley

Batavia

Member of Assembly, 139th District

Editor:

I want to go on record as endorsing Mike Sidari for the office of Mayor for the Village of Medina, as well as Village Trustees Marguerite Sherman and Timothy Elliott.

Mr. Elliott was my first point of contact in the Village government when I began the pursuit of funding a new concrete public skate park in Medina in early 2018. Tim provided a wealth of information to set myself and the Medina Skate Society on the proper path for gaining local support and fundraising for a new skate park.

Mrs. Sherman has been a proud supporter of the efforts of the Medina Skate Society both on the Village Board and out at our local events over the past year of fundraising. Marguerite has spoken positively of the Skate Society and the new skate park during Village Board meetings and has attended many of the skate park fundraising events even with family members in tow.

Mr. Sidari has been most helpful to the efforts of the Medina Skate Society and has been integral in progressing the project forward over the past two years. Mike has voiced his support for the project to other Village Board members even before the Village secured the Tony Hawk & Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Skate Park Grant. Mike has kept the lines of communication open, answering calls, providing documentation and keeping correspondence between Medina Skate Society members, the Tony Hawk Foundation, the Department of Public Works and the Village of Medina to ensure the skate park project is on track to become a reality.

Mayor Sidari has also made it a point to attend every event he was able to and has been a familiar (and friendly) face to our local skaters and Skate Society members.

I would encourage any and all Village residents to cast a vote for positive community engagement and development and re-elect Mike Sidari, Marguerite Sherman and Timothy Elliott.

Sincerely,

Alex Feig

Medina Skate Society President

(Editor’s Note: The village election was moved back from March 18 to April 28 and now has been moved again to a date to be determined in June.)

Editor:

I read that Apex Heritage Wind LLC submitted an application to the state February 26, 2020 for an industrial wind project in the town of Barre.

However, I can not access it because all the libraries and the town hall are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

My internet access is limited to my phone which will not download a lot of pages. I am sure that there are many others with little or no internet.

Is New York doing anything about this? Has the government suspended the process while we are dealing with closures and social distancing?

Nancy Blank

Barre