Editor:

A concern is now being clearly voiced by Town of Yates residents regarding the potential negative impact of the Lighthouse Wind Industrial Wind Turbine project on economic development in the Town, should this project be approved.

Clearly, Yates is in need of continued and ongoing economic development and it will come from taking advantage of appropriate economic development opportunities as they arise. However, in order to take advantage of these opportunities, Yates needs to be ready to market itself to those that might choose Yates as a place to reside or locate businesses.  The more residents and businesses we can attract to Yates, the healthier the Town is now and into the future.

More residents moving to Yates means a full school enrollment and the need for businesses to service those residents. This is all possible via appropriate economic development. The key phrase here, however, is “appropriate economic development.”

The risks to town growth come from many directions and are very real.  Not the least of which is anything that could upset the delicate balance between agricultural and residential areas, as well as the environment, wildlife and human quality of life.  An economic opportunity that would endanger that balance is simply the wrong economic opportunity.

When considering a Wind Turbine Project as a potential economic opportunity, we need to put ourselves in the shoes of those considering relocating family or business to Yates and ask, “Would I want to live north of Ridge Road and in the Town of Yates, amongst those turbines?

I believe the answer for most potential residents or business owners might be a resounding NO.  The looming view of a wind turbine project as they crest Ridge Road driving north may give them pause.  Whether or not they were for or against wind turbines, they might not choose to buy property or locate their family and/or business in and amongst the Yates turbine field.

Given this scenario, there is a probability that a Wind Turbine Project in the Town of Yates could effectively backstop any significant economic development at Ridge Road. Result: The Town of Yates receives no economic benefit from projects such as Pride Pak in Medina, the STAMP Project in Alabama or others to follow. People won’t move to town, the schools won’t fill up and businesses would see no benefit in initial or increased investment in the Town of Yates.

Economic development would remain unattainable in the Town of Yates and that would be a travesty.

Thank you,

John B. Riggi

Councilman, Town of Yates

Editor:

For those who are unaware, the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge in the Town of Shelby, Orleans County, is in danger. Frontier Stone is proposing to put a stone quarry on farmland at the northern border of the refuge.

The DEC, surprisingly, finds no problem in putting a quarry right next to this valuable wetland area. The Town of Shelby is currently attempting to protect the refuge from industrial encroachment and is trying to preserve the natural environment of the refuge for the creatures that live in this habitat as well as preserve and protect it for the thousands of people who visit each year from near and far to enjoy its natural beauty.

This will affect hunters, fishermen, bird watchers, educational facilities and others, and may set a precedent for parks, refuges, and wetlands in other areas of the country.

Our wildlife refuge and animal habitats must be preserved for future generations and we need to ensure that our stewardship of the earth is undertaken responsibility so that more species of wildlife do not become extinct.

If this concerns you, please write a letter of support to the Shelby Town Board (4062 Saltworks Rd. Medina, NY 14103) and to your elected representative in your area.

Sincerely,

Richard and Melissa Maurer

Town of Shelby

Editor:

I am shocked regarding the Wiki-leaks dump and the reaction of the mainstream media, the Democratic Party’s response to it, and the hypocrisy of not only the “liberal left”, but of the people who still, unbelievably, support Hillary Clinton.

It was recently revealed that not only did the Clinton campaign collude with the media on debate questions and slanting of coverage by The NY Times, MSNBC, Univision, and ABC “journalists” as well as other supposed “trusted” media outlets, but the Justice Department, the DNC Chair and even the Obama Administration itself.

And yet, readers of this Hub as well as zombies addicted to the MSM (Mainstream Media) still believe that Donald Trump is a “threat” because of lewd comments from years ago, despite the obvious desensitization of our country regarding basic principles such as morals, decency and religious liberty.  Do any of you hear yourselves?

Clinton and her campaign detest religious freedom. Her entire reign as “Princess” of the Democratic Party has been revealed in such a way that the book, “The Emperor has no clothes on”, does not give the phrase the justice it sought to warn us against.

I am disgusted.  And the fact that regular people, my own neighbors even, still support this corrupt system scares me to death.

News flash to anyone who relies on NBC, CBS, ABC and CNN:  They are in the tank trying to keep her on the offence of the Trump campaign.

You are not aware of social media and the outcry of the rest of us citizens who are appalled by what it really going on here. Want to know what that is? Check out Fox News, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  There, you will find an army of people who are also scared to death that Clinton may become our worst president ever, corrupt to the core, owned by every country and for sale to anyone who wants a favor.

She favors globalism. George Soros is financing a huge part of her campaign. And the globalist agenda extends all the way to the Vatican, which has been infested by anti-life, “climate” experts and anti-religion heretics hell-bent on destroying not only our country, but religion and the world itself. Because control is all they want.

Indeed, distract everyone by “climate change” and BLM, to “anti-women” and anti-choice policies, and the least informed will simply pull the Democrat lever at the polls.

Hey church goers: elect Clinton and your choice to go to church will be considered a “hate crime”.

How about abortion at 8 1/2 months of gestation? All fine by Clinton, and in fact, pull out the babies even if they are still viable.

Climate change a problem? Get ready to pay quadruple for gas and servicing for the car in your driveway.

If Clinton, God help us, is elected, the country we know will be in the hands of the UN. They hate religion, the struggling middle class, and of course, CHOICE of how you want to live in peace.

They are all about CONTROL. And I cannot believe that my own county is falling for it.

Kim Kennedy

Medina

Editor:

Many of us complain about “the do nothing politicians” and “the over-paid Congressmen.”

Well, we have right here in the 27th Congressional District such a politician. Chris Collins was the first to endorse that embarrassment Donald Trump. Over the past several years I have personally written to Mr. Collins on a range of issues such as Social Security, habitat protection, prescription costs, minimum wage, closing tax loopholes for millionaires, gun safety, and clean energy.

Each and every time Mr. Collins came out in favor of privatizing Social Security, allowing big oil to drill in sensitive wildlife habitat, placing faith in big drug companies to keep costs down through competition (how is that working for you?), and against a fair living wage for full time workers.

He favors tax breaks for the rich, no incentives for clean energy and supports unlimited access to any type of gun by anyone at any time. Chris Collins is a man who wants us to vote against our self interests.

No thank you, Mr. Collins. We are not buying your rhetoric any longer. Your voting record and conduct show you could care less about the workers and taxpayers of this country.

Chris Collins favors the closing of clinics that benefit low-income women. These clinics provide mammograms, pregnancy and HIV testing as well as birth control. And make no mistake; being Pro-Choice does not mean Pro-Abortion. It means such decisions should be left between a woman and her doctor. Thanks to our Constitution, no one has the right to push their religious beliefs on to others. Let me restate it: A woman’s right to choose is a protected Constitutional Freedom.

Diana Kastenbaum, business owner from Batavia, is mounting an effective campaign against Chris Collins and his conservative cronies in Washington. She understands the struggles of senior citizens, working families, small businesses, single parents and the middle class.

Diana knows that clean, renewable energy creates jobs, lessens our dependence on dirty fuel, addresses climate change and protects our planet. Diana knows closing tax loopholes like the ones that enabled the likes of Donald Trump to pay no taxes for decades will help our disabled veterans, low income working families, family farmers, keep our military strong, promote good roads, safe food, safe travel and health care.

Diana is Pro-Choice. Do your homework, compare these candidates. Remember, not all Republican or conservative candidates deserve election. Some are actually down-right deplorable.

On Nov. 8, we have an opportunity to kick Chris Collins to the curb. Join me in doing precisely that.

Al Capurso

Gaines

Editor:

This letter is to address Save Ontario Shores’ claims that wind turbines coming to Yates and Somerset will have a “devastating impact” on the local bird population. Although I have asked numerous times for the information on exactly what birds from our area will be “devastated,” I can get no answer from them. They just keep repeating the same old answers.

These are facts that need to be made public to counteract the vague “devastation” claims made by this group. Although, these still do not answer many questions about the turbine/bird issue raised by their group (such as which specific birds they are claiming this about), it does put into perspective the biased claims that turbines are the worst thing in the world for birds.

Cell and radio towers kill 6.8 million birds a year. I suggest SOS members give up their communication instruments and save those birds and leave the turbines to counteract the pollution caused by fossil fuels that kill, according to the US News and World Report, in numbers that follow: (Each has a low and a high estimate, except coal and nuclear.)

• Wind Turbines: Low, 140,000 to high, 328.000;

• Oil/Gas: Low, 500,000 to high, 1,000,000;

• Nuclear: 330,000;

• Coal: 7,900,000.

The high estimate for Wind Energy is less than the one for the article that was posted (in the article the numbers were 20,000 to 573,000) but I am sure that SOS members are as horrified as I am by the numbers of birds killed by other forms of energy. I am sure they will cease and desist what in my opinion is a witch hunt against the wind industry and focus their energies against the fossil fuel companies and the cell and radio industries. That is if the birds are the real reason for this travesty you call SOS.

Susan Campbell

Lyndonville

Editor:

Ha Ha Ha! Silly Democrats condemning Trump for behavior that would be an enhancement on any Democrats resume. Hypocrites!

The Party that embraces one of the most corrupt, unlikable, nasty, user, liar candidates in my lifetime. The party, its candidates, and voters that welcome with open arms: deviancy, abortion, infanticide, illegal immigration, open boarders, globalism, multiculturalism, terrorism, destructive economic policy, destructive education policy, promote dependency, environmental insanity, vile political correctness, lawlessness, rioting, looting, violence against the police, socialism, communism, judicial activists, violation of our constitution, male feminization, and every other thing that has dragged this country down to the pits that it is at now should take a good look in the mirror. The monster that you see is pure evil. You!

Mr. Trump’s locker room comments are made by men and women all the time in private. Men and woman fantasizing, worshiping about celebrities, it’s part of the culture that you and your media allies helped to create. Sport stars, Rock stars or the hot-looking guy or dolly at work. That kind of talk and action is alive and well, privately.

Have you not heard a woman say, “He can put his shoes under my bed anytime?” Women objectify just as much as men do, especially the celebrity. So get over it like you have for both Bill and Hillary Clinton – America’s highest deviant crime family. Trump 2016.

Paul Lauricella

Lyndonville

Editor:

The 8 Democratic county chairs of New York’s 27th Congressional District unite to denounce Donald Trump’s demonstrated sexist and vulgar attitudes towards women and Rep. Chris Collins’ continued support of Trump’s candidacy in the face of blatant proof that Trump’s attitudes are demeaning and derogatory towards 51% of this country and this district.

While Republican leaders and elected officials throughout the nation are abandoning Trump in droves, Chris Collins has asserted, “There is no change in my support of Mr. Trump as our nominee.”

To be clear, Mr. Trump bragged about repeatedly committing sexual assault without consequence because he was a “star.” That Collins did not join his colleagues who have concluded that Trump is unfit and unqualified to be president casts grave doubt on Collins’ judgment and ability to represent all of the voters, especially the women, of the 27th District.

We hope that the many people offended by Mr. Collins’ lack of spine in standing up to his party’s nominee will join us in supporting Diana Kastenbaum for Congress.

Jeremy Zellner, Erie County Democratic Chair

Nick Forster, Niagara County Democratic Chair

Jeanne Crane, Orleans County Democratic Chair

Michael Plitt, Genesee County Democratic Chair

Cynthia Appleton, Wyoming County Democratic Chair

Judith Hunter, Livingston County Democratic Chair

Jamie Romeo, Monroe County Democratic Chair

John Hurley, Ontario County Democratic Chair

Editor:

What makes Donald Trump’s 2005 comments so despicable is not that they are lewd but they are admission of a crime.

He is describing sexual assault, plain and simple. If the statue of limitations has not passed he should be arrested and charged for this transgression.

David Newman

Brockport

Editor:

I write this letter to you and your readers because I am sickened by the comments that have been made by Donald Trump regarding women. They have also been reinforced by his surrogates who continue to defend him and his misogynistic old boys’ club. Even my opponent, Rep. Chris Collins (R), stands by his man.

There is a particular type of ugliness when women are made fun of, degraded and dismissed. However, we shouldn’t be surprised because we’ve seen it before throughout Donald Trump’s campaign. What is most disturbing though is the merry band of men and women who support him and echo his words. Some may not say it out loud, but their very support of him speaks volumes.

He crossed the line years ago when he accused President Obama of not being a U.S. citizen. He crossed the line when he called Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers. He crossed the line when he mocked a disabled reporter. He crossed the line when he said John McCain was not a hero and that POWs were not heroes because they allowed themselves to be captured. He crossed the line when he disparaged a Gold Star family.

And yet, his defenders tried to tell us how we misinterpreted or misread his statements. We waited patiently for the press and media to question him, call him out on his bigotry and prejudices, but the lies kept coming and his surrogates kept getting their sound bites.

Now the attack is on all women – our daughters, our mothers, our grandmothers. Finally people are getting angry and saying they have crossed the line for the last time. But have they? Mr. Collins has not. In spite of the now growing list of Republicans saying they cannot support a President who says such things, Mr. Collins has said “there is no change in my support of Mr. Trump as our nominee”.

This latest degradation of women should offend everyone, even Chris Collins, and it is amongst a long list of abusive behavior. I am a Mom who has a daughter. My instinct is to immediately try and shield her from these horrible comments, just as my mother would have done for me and my grandmother before her. I ask myself, “who brought this man up?” Who raises these people to hate women so?

Mr. Trump and Mr. Collins, women are 51% of the population and we vote. We are married to men who respect their wives, their mothers, their daughters and they vote. We have sons and daughters whom we have brought up to be fair, open, non-prejudiced, wonderful human beings who want a better world without bullies, bigots and misogynists and they vote too.

The time has come for all the voters in NY27 to take a long, hard and unbiased look at the candidates and when you cast your vote I hope you take into consideration the kind of country you want to leave to your children. It has to be about issues, but it must also be about a person’s character as well. We should all keep in mind the words of Billy Graham, “when wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”

Diana Kastenbaum

Batavia

(Kastenbaum is the Democratic-endorsed candidate for Congress against incumbent Chris Collins for the 27th District.)

Editor:

In regards to Mr. Watt’s letter that was posted on Oct. 3rd. There are several things I would like to address.

Only Mr. Simon and Mr. Riggi, on the Town of Yates board, have made it known they are against the Lighthouse Wind project in our Town. Mr. Simon and Mr. Riggi do not represent ALL residents of the Town of Yates. They only speak on behalf of SOS and the residents against the project. They really don’t care about the people who have signed a lease and numerous other residents who are for the project and what it can do for the growth of our town.

This is a way to revitalize our Town. This project will help all residents. I truly believe that the Town Board would find a way to reduce our taxes with the monies that the Town and School stand to receive when this project becomes a reality.

As I am a former elected Town Board councilwoman, I know the pressure that the remaining three board members are under. I commend them for their patience in getting all the facts and willingness to work with all of the residents of the Town of Yates. I am confident in them to remain open-minded until Lighthouse Wind releases a final application, because only at that time will we have ALL of the project details necessary to make a fact based decision.

Many of the residents, who have signed leases, are farmers. The taxes on tillable farm land is outrageous. Farmers are some the smartest people I know. They would not put their farm land in jeopardy if they stood a chance of losing thousands of acres, as SOS has often stated.

Mr. Watt would like to know if all leases will receive the same amount of money. My answer to that is this. It is not his or anyone else’s business. I really don’t care what my neighbors receive. That is not my business. If they get more than me, that’s great. I am not a greedy person, as SOS has called us, because we chose to sign. I have not been told I cannot talk about my lease. Whether I do or not is my choice and my business.

As far as Mr. Watt’s question about suing your neighbor. He should be asking board member Mr. Riggi. He can tell you how it is done. The previous board members approved a met tower to be erected on my property. On June 22, 2015, I was issued the building permit. On July 6, 2015, Mr. Riggi, President of SOS, did not like the decision made by the board and sued me and the Town of Yates. Absurd.

Mr. Watt commented, “We don’t know what we don’t know.” Taylor Quarles and other representatives from Apex have invited persons to stop by their office in Barker to ask their questions and to talk about the Lighthouse project. Apparently Mr. Watt has not taken advantage of the invitation, because he doesn’t know the answers to his questions, many of which I have seen answered by Lighthouse Wind publicly. Furthermore, any remaining questions he has will surely be answered in the final application, if only he can be patient.

From the majority of the letters in the Orleans Hub, against Lighthouse Wind, the residents who are against the project, do not want answers to their questions. Are they afraid of getting facts, or do they choose to believe false statements from the opposition?

I have two questions for the Town of Yates residents: Are you satisfied the way the Town of Yates is today, on the road to becoming a ghost town? Personally, I am not. Why don’t you want to see improvements in our town that Lighthouse Wind Project cans bring us? Seems like a no-brainier to me and to other residents that know this project will help our Town grow.

Donna Bane

Town of Yates

Editor:

The vice presidential debate laid bare a grave reality in America today – a reality described so well by Mother Teresa in February 1997 at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC attended by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton.

“What is taking place in America,” Mother Teresa said, “is a war against the child. And if we accept that the mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? Any country that accepts abortion, is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what it wants.”

In 2003, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act came before the US Senate, and then Senator Hillary Clinton defended the gruesome late-term procedure, opposed by a majority of Americans. In the procedure, a fully formed unborn baby is delivered from its mother, feet first, with only the head remaining inside the birth canal. The abortionist then punctures the child in the back of the neck with a pair of sharp scissors, and then sucks out the baby’s brain to collapse the skull and deliver the dead baby.

In 2015, all but one US Senate Democrat voted to defeat a bill that would have de-funded the Planned Parenthood abortion business after it was caught in a series of undercover videos selling aborted baby body parts.

In 2015, the US House approved the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. The measure would have ensured that any child who lives through an abortion be given the same medical care as any other child born alive. When the legislation came before the current Congress for a vote, all 243 Republicans present, and only five Democrats, voted for the bill. 177 Democrats voted against providing basic medical care to babies who were already born.

Historical facts are powerful things: Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party do not recognize the right of the unborn baby to live. They support a business that sells aborted baby parts. They support the murder of the baby if born alive after an abortion. Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party support infanticide.

Mother Teresa got it right when she said, “The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child – a direct killing of the innocent child – murder by the mother herself…. How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love…”

A woman with a child in her womb needs our support and our compassion and, most importantly, our love.

Love them both – the mom and the baby – for as Saint Paul tells us, “Love never fails.”

Jim and Paula Simon

Lyndonville

Editor:

Tim Kaine’s performance in last night’s Vice-Presidential debate was disappointing. Though he was much stronger on content, he otherwise was as rude and almost as goofy as Trump was in the first Presidential debate. Of course, Trump lacks substance as well.

But if likeability counts for anything, Mike Pence was the winner based on his more reserved and dignified style. Just as with the Kennedy-Nixon Presidential debate in 1960, one VP hopeful was strong on style and likeability (Pence, like Kennedy); the other was stronger on substance (Kaine, like Nixon).

The problem for Republicans is that Pence is not at the top of their ticket. Trump is not only rude and obnoxious by most reasonable standards, but his knowledge of all but a handful of issues facing the country is superficial.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

The recent charges brought concerning pay-for-play business throughout the State of New York is very troubling. We all would hope our government is honest and trustworthy and working for the good of all citizens. Any project that involves millions or even billions of dollars should be suspect. The man who sits closest to our governor, according to The Buffalo News, has been charged involving this crime.

Our area is involved with a large wind farm project. Both the Federal and State governments and millions of tax dollars are involved in the process of determining if this project will move forward and where. One of the major problems with this project to start with is that HOME RULE has been tossed out the window. That is being done regardless the fact that our State Constitution gives the HOME RULE protection to local towns and villages to determine how its land should be used. Both towns of Somerset and Yates as well as many other local government agencies have rejected the Apex wind farm and yet the project moves forward. That should get everyone’s attention.

The governor has set up a very ambitious goal for wind farms by 2030 and they are all going to be set up west of Albany, to keep the lights on in Albany and New York City. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. All local jurisdictions west of Albany better be ready. How did Apex get the right to pursue this project in the towns of Yates and Somerset? Was it a State or Federal government bid project?

The developers like Apex are supposed to be transparent. Apex was seeking lease holders for close to a year before they notified the Town of Yates that this project was going on. When they saw that the folks were against this project they hired union workers to attend a town meeting to give the appearance that many people were for this project. Apex has had meetings involving both State and Federal authorities but local Town authorities were not invited or allowed to attend. Local authorities requested but were not informed, on what the topics or purpose of these meeting.

Has Apex been transparent with lease landowners? Are all landowners receiving the same amount of income? Do contracts contain an escalator clause or profit clause? Why are lease holders forbidden from discussing terms with other potential land owners?

If this and other similar projects are so important why not take the property needed under eminent domain and remove the lease holder from liability? Can neighbors sue the lease holder for the nuisance they cause? If the project goes forward and fails, who takes down the towers?

We don’t know what we don’t know. The land can never be returned to what it was, but does big government care? We will see the answer down the road.

Ray Watt

Town of Yates

Editor:

I attended the Town Board Hearing on Local Law #2 and have been reading the letters on the Hub with comments on both sides of the issues.  As with every issue, there are those for and those against, and both sides need to be heard in order to come to a solution to the problem.

As the former Town Clerk of Shelby, I didn’t always agree with all of the decisions made. I think this is one time that the Town Board had very good intentions in presenting the Local Law #2 for the Overlay.

I sincerely believe that it wasn’t the Board’s intention to upset or infringe on the rights of the farmers in attendance, who expressed their concern about the far reaching regulations of government.  I understand the concerns of these farmers and would suggest that perhaps they schedule a meeting with the Town Board and try to achieve some type of understanding about the Overlay.

Mr. Zeliff had the most genuine concerns I heard and should talk to the Board about a possible adjustment.  The Town Board, in their attempt to protect the wildlife refuge, and their residents in close proximity to the proposed quarry, have inadvertently upset other residents who feel the Overlay oversteps boundaries. It’s the age old rule of thumb that you just can’t make everyone happy, and it’s a difficult decision to decide which group you make happy and which group you anger. I do not envy the Town Board with their decision – it isn’t an easy one.

Basically, the meeting was to discuss the Overlay Law. However, we all know the elephant in the room was the stone quarry. Those of us who will be affected directly by the proposed quarry do not wish to have our  country area disturbed with what the quarry would bring. We are also concerned with the damage it could do to the wildlife refuge. Living so close to Swallow Hollow, I have taken my children and now my grandchildren to walk the path and to enjoy nature. I fear that down the line that will disappear with the allowance of the quarry to move forward.

It is certainly confusing to me how the DEC refused to let the Town of Shelby dig water lines alongside the road near the wildlife refuge until a certain point in the calendar year because it would disturb the ground owls, and yet they turn around and say that blasting all year long will not be detrimental to the refuge habitat. I have to agree that the DEC failed to protect the Wildlife Refuge and I can only wonder … why?

Mr. Mahar said that they are working with the STAMP project and the Refuge people to manage the concerns in regards to the effect the quarry would have on them. They say they will pump water in to replace water that is drained out by the quarry. Will it be good clean water for the wildlife to drink….or water filled with residue from the quarry?

They say they have a seismograph meter to keep blasting so it won’t affect STAMP, but what happens when a worker is careless and the blast doesn’t meet standards of what is allowed…whoops!

Many of you talked about government regulations overstepping –

and I agree, they often do – but so do big businesses like this one.  I would like to see proof in writing of these agreements with the STAMP project and the Wildlife Refuge. Words are easily spoken – written proof would have been better.

What is really sad is the friends and neighbors that are now enemies.  Our children grew up and went to school together – we attended gatherings together – and now we’re battling.

I am especially saddened because before my husband, Jim, passed away, he sold the bulk of our farm land to the Zelazny family. Jim said he knew he wasn’t going to be around to protect his family but knew the Zelazny family had always been farmers and wouldn’t let anything other than farming in this area. He thought they would never sell for commercial business or development to come to the area and disturb the countryside we grew up in. Jim was a great person who trusted everyone – it seems this time his trust was misplaced.

I hope the farmers concerned will take a moment to talk to the Board.  I understand how you feel, and I can only hope you understand how those of us in the Fletcher Chapel area feel and have some compassion for us also.

And, to the Town Board, I hope you take time to talk with the residents concerned about the overlay and can make some adjustments that show you are acting in good faith for all the residents in the Town of Shelby.  The decision you have is not an easy one and it needs all the input you can get and still accomplish the goal.

Gerry Zinkievich

Fletcher Chapel Road

Shelby

Editor:

The primary election on Sept. 13 for the Town of Murray’s Republican District #4 Representative is much more significant than my winning the top spot. To me it confirms the absolute power of the voter. It restores faith in the American political system.

When voters turn out in great numbers, politicians sit up straight and realize it’s the voter who has the final say. Please don’t take for granted what was accomplished by your turning out in such great numbers and voting for your candidate. Town of Murray District 4 had the highest voter turnout in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties on the day.

I am humbled to have been the top “vote getter” in this election. Your courage and confidence has propelled me into the political arena with great expectation. I promise to do my best for you as your Representative.

As Representative to the Republican Party for our district we should be in touch with one another, after all it’s your voice I carry upstream at this most fundamental level of government.  Please know I am always available to listen to and carry on your message.

Most importantly I wish to extend my most sincere appreciation to all of you who supported me throughout this most spirited primary. Those who took the time to alter their schedules to vote, those who stopped by the road to encourage me, advise me, invite me into your homes embracing me and not wavering in the face of adversity instilled in me the will to work for our community.

Please, let us not forget those 52 people who came to vote but were turned away at the polls. Their efforts were not in vain but added remarkably to the tenor of the election. Their voice was not silenced but heard just as clear as the others and they too deserve a great big thank you for their patriotic effort.

If we all give a little we can accomplish a lot!

Best to all,

Joseph Sidonio

Murray