Editor:

Having visited the Orleans County Board of Elections office numerous times since 2010 for the lists of registered Conservative voters’ names and addresses and other current information related to the “Political Calendar” etc., I very seldom saw the Republican or the Democrat election commissioners because it was later in the day after they had left.

The position is considered part time. We, my wife Beverly and I, are greeted and helped by the first person on the left side of the room as we enter the office, and that would be the Democrat Deputy Election Commissioner Mrs. Eileen Aina. She is very professional and knowledgeable in performing her duties, thus making it a pleasant experience.

One of President Donald Trump`s previous accusations was, “The American election system is rigged,” and nowhere else could it any truer than right here in our own Orleans County with a little touch of Murray. Just has to be something in the water in the central and western water districts.

Recently our Orleans County Legislature, with apparent contempt for our political process and possibly to avoid jeopardizing a future appointment for some glorified nonessential high-salaried position which would be handed them by the current Republican Hierarchy, chose to boot the Republican Election Commissioner for wanting to make her own appointment for a suitable deputy, which I believe was her legal right.

Mrs. Sylvia Shoemaker, having been in that position for one year and 2016 being the busiest election year in Orleans County since the 2015 OC Sheriff`s race, was removed to make room for Kathy Case, a Town of Murray Republican Committee member, and as it is understood a close friend of the Morgans. (Ed Morgan is Republican Party chairman and his wife Dorothy is the Republican deputy election commissioner.)

The OC Legislature lacked the courage to stand up to the Orleans County Republican Chairman, and to protect the integrity of the political process. Being that Mrs. Shoemaker’s deputy was Mrs. Dorothy Morgan, wife of Mr. Morgan and that problems existed, Mrs. Shoemaker chose to exercise her legal right and appoint her own deputy, an act which resulted in Mrs. Shoemaker getting the boot. The legislators – cowards all of them – with conduct unbecoming of a Republican Legislature and worthy of getting the boot themselves.

One formal complaint filed with the OC Board of Elections in 2016 was against Dorothy Morgan, who was accused of using her position to pass on sensitive information to her husband, thereby trying to influence the outcome of the primary election in the Town of Murray. This a blatant example of corruption at the highest levels of Orleans County government. Nepotism to say the least.

I have never heard of an election commissioner getting fired to protect the underhanded activity of a husband and wife team that compromised the credibility of a Board of Elections, have you?

There sure is comfort in knowing that we now have an unbiased Republican Elections Commission. Desperate for survival, the OC Legislature shamefully made their decision. This episode will not be swept under the carpet anytime soon.

As our Commander in Chief stated: “It’s Time to Drain the Swamp.” And every man, woman and public sector employee in Orleans County ought to drain the swamp in our backyard of Orleans County.

The people in Orleans County should influence the vote by urging good individuals to run for positions in the county and hopefully ones with not just their self interests at heart.

Say no to the status quo.

Al Lofthouse

Kendall

(Mr. Lofthouse is chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party)

Editor:

The State budget is coming. Senator Ortt you have gotten away with voting for this governor’s horrendous budgets loaded with pork, insane green schemes  and destructive progressive policies now for two years.

Maybe it’s because you enjoy seeing your picture in the paper giving away tax payer money like Santa Claus at every turn. Your excuse has been “there are too many good things in this budget not to pass it.” Really?

Giving in to this progressive governor at every turn seems to be the norm for you. I am ashamed at the Republican and Conservative parties for endorsing you.

Republican committees need to stop endorsing these puppets that hurt the constituency. I am also sick of the high taxes that burden the county taxpayers all over this state. Sir, don’t you dare vote for the budget this year unless there is meaningful mandate relief with teeth for the counties and municipalities.

You hold that budget up until next April if the 3 crooks in a room – Cuomo, Heastie and Flanagan – try to twist arms without mandate relief. MANDATE RELIEF or no budget pass. If not, then you vote NO. Nothing else matters. NOTHING. This goes for all of you.

All the feel good laws that you pass and freebies that are given away ensure one thing. That NY State will always be the nanny welfare state. A place to run from.

Paul Lauricella Jr.

Lyndonville

Photo courtesy of Amber Hainey: About 500,000 people attended the Women’s March in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 21, 2017.

Editor:

“Organize, agitate, educate, must be our war cry.” Those words spoken by Susan B. Anthony were what resonated with me during the march in DC on Saturday.

The day before, I watched the inauguration and felt like I was attending a funeral for my country.  Maybe I’m being dramatic, but that is genuinely how I felt. It just didn’t seem right that this man would be leading our nation. A man who has said such horrific things about women. President Trump’s most consistent position, is how horribly he treats women.

The following day, I got ready to attend the march and was filled with a sense of purpose and power.  When I arrived, this feeling continued and dread I felt the previous day had dissipated.

My aunt and I were able to get really close to the stage for the rally while people poured in behind us.  We stood for hours watching celebrities, politicians and activists take the stage from all walks of life. I had never been to anything quite like it.

It was raw and emotional. Susan B. Anthony’s words stayed with me through the day, “organize, agitate, educate.”  While the rally went on, it became more clear to me as to why we were doing this, the most important part of that mantra, “agitate.” You must agitate to get attention of people, so that you may have an opportunity to educate.

What I found most helpful about the rally and march was that for the first time, I was exposed to other groups that I did not feel I had commonality with.

The march helped me to see that we all have a common goal and platform.  It was an opportunity for all of us to come together and commit to helping others.

The big question now is what are we supposed to do? The most consistent advice I have received is to join up, make connections and get involved.

I recently joined a motivated group called GLOW Progressives who are looking to activate and motivate progressive minded people in the GLOW region. Our goals are to resist President Trump and his policies.  We also want to identify potential candidates who will represent our positions and also support those who are of progressive thought.

Thank you.

Amber Hainey

GLOW Progressives

Editor:

January 1^st marks the start of a new year but in 2017 it brings to end and organization that has provided more than 50 years of dedicated “volunteer” services to non-profit organizations and police departments in and around Orleans County.

The County Legislature has made the decision to disband the Orleans County Auxiliary Police, siting a potential for liability and a lack of training, even though there has never been an incident involving the organization and they long in over 1,000 hours of service a year.

Unfortunately, we are in an era that any kind of police work is becoming more dangerous and liability is on the increase. Rather than assisting the Auxiliary Police to help reduce the potential for liability, they elected to disband this all-volunteer organization that assisted with public functions such as the Strawberry Festival, the 4-H Fair, the Parade of Lights, the Fourth of July and the Squirrel Hunt, just to name a few.

Craig Wilston

Albion

(Mr. Wilston was a member of the Auxiliary Police.)

Editor:

My Declaration of Party Independence: after almost 50 years as a Republican, I invoke Will Rogers saying that I don’t belong to an organized political party, I’m a Democrat.

I had joined a wide-spectrum party with room for Conable, Keating, Javits, Goodell and Nixon.  GOP politics has shifted far right and abandoned those closer to the center.

The last insult was Congressman Collins and Orleans Chairman Morgan endorsing Trump.  President Trump says he has the highest confidence in his own ability.

I would have hoped that any President would have higher allegiance to the Constitution, American political institutions, democracy or even the Lord Almighty. “In Trump we trust” is not an acceptable motto.

Rep. Collins has led a “Millionaires Club” with hot stock tips for investing overseas (“Australia First”?). I sincerely hope that our local Republican officials were included in these hot tips and will spend their riches locally.

If they were NOT on the insiders list, why not?  I am sure that under Trump era rules, Collins is considered ethical but his overseas stock schemes stink.  Even “alternate facts” do not excuse him.

I have no illusions that my new party is somehow superior or more ethical but at least they oppose Trump.  Perhaps we could fire Rep. Collins and find a less wealthy candidate who would cherish an American job.

Sincerely,

Gerard M. Morrisey

Albion

Editor:

As a taxpayer and constituent in the Town of Yates, I find it offensive that you, John Riggi, continue to put out misinformation about the Lighthouse Wind Project and sign your letters Councilman, Town of Yates.

As my Councilman, I would prefer that you check and get the facts correct before stating them in a letter to the editor. John, your nose is growing faster than the height of the wind turbines. For this reason, again I give you four “Pinocchios.”

It is true Apex has proposed a 200 MW Wind Farm in the towns of Somerset and Yates. I have checked with Project Manger, Taylor Quarles, as well as several other helpful Apex employees, and they all confirmed that the final turbine model and tower height will be provided in the final application.  I have been completely unable to determine where the minimum height of 700 feet as you stated in your letter dated Dec. 21, 2016 came from.

Once the turbine size, layout and underground collection routes have been determined, the other major cost of the wind farm would be the height of the towers.  I assume most of the readers would know, the higher you go the greater the cost.  If you can get the productivity that you desire at 400, 500, or 600 feet, you surely wouldn’t build to 700 feet, especially considering there are not any onshore turbines available at that height!  I ask you John, “What reason do you have for perpetuating this made up 700 feet number, other than fear mongering.”

As a former Air Force military man, I place much more faith in the DOD Siting Clearinghouse, Retired Col. David Belote, and the present Base Commander of NFARS, then a misinformed Past President of SOS turned Town of Yates Councilman.  As a past military man, I also know that The Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), that Mr. Riggi claims to know so much about, is the most political Committee in government.  I’m confident with our new President, being a fellow New Yorker, there will be much opposition to closing NFARS. This is another example of your fear mongering.

In my opinion, the more the public is informed of the many benefits of wind power, (clean green energy, lower or no town taxes, farm income not dependent on weather or commodity prices, more computers and classroom aids for our schools, lower school taxes, lower county taxes) to name a few.

Remember back when everyone opposed the Somerset Power Project.  I have observed Somerset residents enjoying many of the above benefits and more for over the past decades.

Respectfully,

Howard Pierce

Lyndonville

Editor:

It’s hard for me to believe that once again the county elected officials have decided to shoot themselves in the foot. Why would you decide to take a perfectly good for the county volunteer organization like the Orleans County Auxiliary Police and dissolve them?

I truly cannot understand what they were thinking. These dedicated well-trained officers haven’t cost the county anything for their hours of service and the protection of all of us at many of the big county events. Are you kidding me!

At a time where we are all debating on just how to pay for our law enforcement, this is what we decide! Go figure! Only in Orleans County!

Jim Vale

Albion

Editor:

Right now, we have an energy policy that is rigged to boost the profits of big oil companies at the expense of average Americans.

CEOs are raking in record profits while climate change ravages our planet and our people — all because the wealthiest industry in the history of our planet has bribed politicians into complacency in the face of climate change.

Town governments who fear powerful, yet misinformed “citizens groups” oppose wind and solar projects. Retirement pensions are heavily invested in big oil companies.

I’m sick of conservative nonsense and lies about green technology being worse than oil, coal and nukes. The gloves are off.

Al Capurso

Gaines

Editor:

My fiancé, Sgt. Michael Landauer of the U.S Army National Guard, is a true hometown hero. He is heading off to Afghanistan for his second tour along with a group of soldiers from his unit. He is part of Detatchment 1, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th general support Aviation battalion based out of Rochester.

We are expecting a child during this deployment. Our hearts are heavy but we stand very proud! He selflessly serves our country with outstanding character and we are very lucky to call him our own!

He comes from a long line of service men and proudly serves our country like his father, uncles and grandfather before him.

Seen behind us in this photo are the CH-47F Chinook helicopters he flies on as a flight engineer. You may have seen or heard them buzz around town!

We ask for your prayers and well wishes to bring our men home safe.

Ashtone Cooper

Albion

Editor:

Potential customers of the Albion Betterment Committee’s 13-year, uninterrupted, weekly senior gas pumping service have said, “No, you won’t!” and “Why would you do that?” when volunteers tell them they will pump their gas and give them a rebate if they do. Such exchanges are not uncommon with first timers being offered the service.

ABC’s effort to establish a fitting memorial honoring Albion’s Charles W. Howard is quite similar and might prompt the same reaction. That is because the contributions being made to establish the memorial are not used to promote the memorial project.

The advertising, signage, and other expenses connected with the promotion and fund raising needed to complete the project are paid for by ABC’s operating budget. They are kept entirely separate from contributions to complete the actual work on the memorial.

To reiterate, what has been contributed toward completion of the project is earmarked for building the memorial itself. Additionally, any amount offered through GoFundMe (www.GoFundMe.com/2cv9z84) goes entirely to the project as well. ABC pays the the GoFundMe fee so that 100% of what is committed by the giver through the site will be used on the memorial.

Fortunately, nearly all contributions have come by check sent directly to me at 14487 Baker Road, Kent, New York 14477.

It should be added that ABC has no paid staff and contributions to the Charles Howard project are entirely tax deductible.

Of course we gladly accept tax deductible contributions to our general operating budget as well.

Sincerely yours,

Joe Gehl

ABC co-director/treasurer

Editor:

I’d like to thank former Murray Supervisor Mr. Hank Lehning for nominating me to the Orleans County Planning Board over 10 years ago.

It was the beginning of my commitment to community service and during the past decade I’ve enjoyed working with my colleagues and staff at the county for the betterment of all our wonderful communities.

Thank you to the Murray Town Board for the privilege to serve on the town’s planning board and for your support over the years in both capacities. I learned so much about zoning, planning & development in those important roles and the knowledge gained is an invaluable asset that I carry forward in my resume.

Congratulations to Elaine Berg, Mike Mele and Bob Miller for your appointments and I look forward to hearing your ideas as we embrace the challenges ahead on our town’s continued path to a bright future. Fresh ideas and new faces keep government healthy and wise.

We accomplished a lot in 2016 by questioning Murray tax rate increases, bringing to the forefront our water districts operational and long term sustainability. We highlighted the exorbitant fringe benefit packages provided to select officials. Today town hall meetings are very well attended by interested citizens and it’s the place to be on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. But our work is not yet finished.

In 2017, I’d like to see a change in policy with less emphasis on code enforcement and more focus on community outreach. After years of the code enforcement department cleaning up our town and zero significant growth one would assume the town is in a reasonable state of compliance.

Now it would be great if our councilmen would make an increased effort to reach out beyond the walls of the town hall and hear firsthand the voices of families, farmers and businesses that make up our community.

There are businesses within our town that have achieved national, state and local awards without any recognition from our town council. In November at a packed town hall meeting residents, farmers, business owners and professionals spoke out in a unified voice over a common concern.

All were discounted and referred to as bullies. How can that be justified? There is an obvious disconnect.

Our community is a very special place. We have great people, beautiful architecture, a riveting history, wide open spaces with room to roam along with the best farmers providing the finest crops for our tables.

There are animated conversations filled with laughter and the best home grown stories you’ve ever heard. It’s a rare piece of authentic rural America. It’s a great place to live and let’s not take it for granted and lose what we have.

Best to you,

Joe Sidonio

Murray

Editor:

My name is Robert Miller, and on January 10, 2017, I had the distinct honor of being appointed to fill a vacancy on the Town of Murray Town Board. Former Board member Kathy Case is an example of an extraordinary public servant, whose knowledge and dedication will be missed on the Town Board, but appreciated at the Orleans County Board of Elections.

I write this letter as a means of introducing myself to the community. I am recently retired from over 31 years of service with the State Police. I have made the Town of Murray my home for the past 11 years. My wife, Beth, was born and raised in the Village of Holley, and we currently make our home in Fancher.

After years of public service, I felt compelled to seek other opportunities to serve my community. I am a member of the Holley Rotary Club, and currently serve as one of five fire commissioners in the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire District.

Receiving the endorsement of the Murray Republican Committee to be considered for the Town Board, then being appointed by the board, is an honor I take very seriously. It is my understanding that there were several other fine candidates interviewed, and I know to put oneself up for such consideration requires a dedication deserving of praise.

I would ask these individuals, and all residents of the Town of Murray, to continue their involvement in assuring that the Town Board serves the needs and addresses the concerns of all involved.

As this online publication is a popular forum for opinions, suggestions, grievances, and occasionally praise, I appeal to the residents of the Town of Murray to continue with constructive discourse, both in this venue and at Town Board meetings in the future. I look forward to seeing and hearing from you then.

Respectfully,

Robert G. Miller

Murray

Editor:

Over the past couple of years, New York State and in particular, Central and Western NY, have become overwhelmed by the heroin overdoses and are scrambling daily to contain it.

It’s hard not to notice articles in the newspapers about drug overdose deaths, usually heroin/fentanyl related, exclaiming the horror of the increase in these overdoses – especially when they mention that people, some in their late 40s and early 60s, are for the first time in their lives, being convicted of drug related offenses involving opiates.

Mothers write obits now flagging their 20-30-year-old children as another “case of addiction-related death from the heroin” they became hooked on. (Remember when scores of suburban kids were dying from overdosing on cocaine in the 70s? Neither can I, and that’s my point*).

I have been steeling myself for months before finally having had enough of the nonsense finger pointing, cause and effect relationship (erroneously) between these deaths and the doctors who “started it all”  with their willy-nilly kneejerk reaction to prescription painkillers.

Somehow, these doctors who have been prescribing these pills for decades are now to blame for the “Opiate Epidemic” plaguing our communities.

Please allow me to retaliate on their behalf as I’ve grown sickened by the blame game and the policies of our government, which has “valiantly” come to the forefront of public health, to address this opiate crisis they themselves have created.

Ever since the liberals began to control our country in 2008, the prescription drug problem has gotten worse.  It has less to do with prescription pain medicine than the abundance of heroin flowing across our southern border. They claimed that heroin addiction starts with painkillers and then patients look for a better high in illegal narcotics.

These self-enlightened “know-it-alls” decided that they knew better than the medical community, put together barely comprehensible “evidence” tying the two together, and over the last 7 years or so, accomplished only one thing:  They created a heroin problem.

They put forth “usage” dose laws prohibiting the prescriber from tending to the same patients they’ve been seeing for years for chronic pain, putting some of them out of business or reversing their ability to prescribe, because they loosely tied the sadistic drug, heroin to the innocuous hydrocodone.

And what do they have to show for their interference in doctor/patient care?  An out-of control drug epidemic.  And as always, these liberal control freaks are like the kid in the dam trying to plug his fingers and toes into the cracks to stop the leaking.

Because liberal thinkers are always right, and they always know what is best for society due to their “incredible brilliance,” they are kicking in denial of the fact that they themselves broke the dam in the first place; They hamstrung doctors, wagging their academic fingers at chronic pain patients, demoralizing them of their dignity by accusing both the doctors of being drug pushers and the patients of being drug addicts.

I have older friends, some in their 70s who have survived crippling car wrecks, debilitating injuries and even cancer, who have been told in the past 2-6 years that, despite their chronic pain, they have to “wean off” their low dose Percocet & Vicodin because, well, the Glorious State of New York Said So… And not only did our ever-so sophisticated lawmakers SAY so, they instituted concrete, no-nonsense dosing guidelines that do not take into account the human person’s needs (I can’t help but think that this is how Socialism starts).  Indeed, regardless of age, issue or circumstance, our doctors are being threatened from the liberal left government; That they are now under the watch-full eye of Big Brother;  Self-righteous torch bearers of the old “Just Say No!’ marching  band of the ’80s. And by golly, if you prescribe one more Hydro, you better watch out because Uncle Sam will revoke your license to practice medicine.

I know of an old woman in her 80s, who has taken low dose hydrocodone for years for her arthritis, and was kicked off her meds because the “doctors were overprescribing.”

And the 70-year-old person I referred to earlier? She valiantly battled cancer almost a decade ago, and despite still having chronic pain, was told by her internist that she needs to wean off her 5mg Percocet and move to the kidney killing Motrin (a cousin of ibuprofen) for her lingering pain…   I mean, C’mon.

So now the local, state and national newspapers are littered with stats of people being:

1) Addicted to heroin in middle to old age,

2) Dying from heroin in middle to old age, and/or

3) Being convicted of a drug offence for the first time in their lives because they grabbed an opiate painkiller from a small time dealer or even a friend, because their doctors have been forced to cut them off of their legal prescriptions; and the replacement pain relievers are doing NOTHING to stop real pain.

Henceforth, the liberal left are now trying to desperately not acknowledge that they caused this epidemic by opening up 800 number call centers and day rehabs to deal with opiate addicted addicts, both heroin and Rx related.

“Why is heroin so popular?!?” Our smart, liberal friends exclaim, beating their breasts with convincing bewilderment. “Why,” they scream, “are record numbers of opiate based products coming over our boarders in 2016 and into the New Year?!?” “Why” (tsk, tsk) “are so many people dying from ADDICTION???”

… And the Left is so busy organizing night courses on distributing Narcan, they can’t face the writing on the wall, or are too stupid to recognize what the Nanny State has done yet again:  Made a small problem a super big, killer one which is out of control.

Well now, our dear destructive liberals in La La Land, Ivy League educated and idealistically driven, guess what: You thought you knew better than the doctors and hospitals. And as always, you knew how to keep society safe using someone else’s money (i.e.: the taxpayer’s). And as always, you were 100% WRONG.

Nice going, Liberals… You are killing off the most vulnerable of Middle America.

*Cocaine wasn’t flooding the streets killing thousands in rural areas in the 70s, like heroin is doing so today thanks to the demand vacuum filled by older folks getting kicked off their painkillers and looking for an alternative.

Kimberly Kennedy

Medina

Editor:

Recently Governor Cuomo has been in the local, state and national media for his tuition “free” public college proposal. I am a college-educated millennial and I feel as if the proposal is deeply flawed.

The first flaw is that “free” college is not free. The cost of tuition is simply shifted from the student to taxpayers. The amount of money institutions will spend per student likely will not change. In fact, if recent trends continue, institutions will likely continue to spend more per student. This will create a demand for more state and federal aid. In addition, “free” college will lead to an increase in applicants to public colleges, leading to increased enrollments, which further increases the cost of “free” college.

The second flaw is the idea that this proposal will help the middle class and low-middle class. If public college is made “free”, we will see more students applying to public schools. My instinct is that this increase in applicants will weight SAT and ACT scores more in the admissions process. Students that perform well on these tests tend to be from upper-middle class families that reside in suburban areas. Rural and inner-city students make up the middle class and low-middle class. They do not perform as well on these exams. In essence, the proposal would hurt the very segment of the population that it is aimed to help.

The third flaw is the governor’s failure to consider the impact on private institutions. My belief is that private schools would see a decline in applicants leading to a decrease in enrollment. These private institutions rely heavily on tuition to pay professor salaries and other overhead costs. A decline in tuition would force these institutions to layoff professors and ultimately eliminate programs, reducing opportunities for students.

There is no denying that student debt is crippling my generation. I can confidently say that we all believe a solution needs to be reached. However, I do not believe that this is the solution. After successfully pushing for five consecutive years of SUNY tuition hikes, it seems as if Gov. Cuomo is using this proposal as leverage for a potential 2020 bid for President, or to win over the more liberal base of the Democratic Party for a potential gubernatorial primary in 2018 against Zephyr Teachout. This is an issue that I have thought long and hard about and I strongly believe that Gov. Cuomo and the Democratic Party is wrong on this proposal.

Respectfully,

James C. White

Gaines

Editor:

Gov. Cuomo’s theatrical and unnecessary State of the State Tour is an abuse of taxpayer money and alienates us as legislators who will be ultimately responsible for vetting and voting on important legislation.

It is shameful for the governor to ignore the Legislature and plan these speeches on session days due to a pay raise battle with members of the Assembly Majority, demeaning all legislators in the process.

Nearly 200,000 residents have left New York for more tax-friendly states in the past year and a half, and that is embarrassing. Still, Gov. Cuomo’s State of the State speeches so far have done virtually nothing to address our outrageous tax burden, failing infrastructure and struggling small-business community.

Clearly, Gov. Cuomo cares more about his 2020 presidential ambitions than his own constituents.

State Assembly Steve Hawley

Batavia

(Hawley represents the 139^th Assembly District which includes most of Orleans, all of Genesee and a portion of Monroe counties.)