Editor:

The Town of Murray has a plan and it’s a good one. It’s the Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2008 by volunteer citizens committed to the future of our town. The plan describes who we are and where we would like to be in the future. An entire chapter is dedicated to implementation to achieve those goals.

Unfortunately, since 2008 no significant effort has been put forth to accomplish the goals. The future is now, we must come together to move our town in a positive direction meeting the challenges ahead with prepared confidence.

I have entered the political spotlight this year questioning civic leaders on budgets and policy that our neighbors shared with me. It has been met with entrenched opposition. Hopefully, my efforts prove that I am capable of standing firm for our beliefs and what we think is in the best interest of our community.

I believe Supervisor Morriss to be a good and honest man. Those of you who know him better than I would likely agree. It’s a tough job and he’s given it a good go.

However, our property tax rate increases are rising faster than any other town in the county. Our Water Department is losing money and showing signs of significant water loss while town spending hasn’t decreased. We seem to be stuck in the status quo.

Since 2014 efforts have been made by the town to implement local laws penalizing businesses and residents through increased code enforcement violations. You cannot attract nor maintain vibrant businesses or move a community forward by penalizing its residents and businesses with oppressive code enforcement policy or self-serving government.

I have represented the Town of Murray for over 10 years at the County Planning Board and for several years on the Town of Murray Planning Board. I believe in proper planning for things to come and taking the necessary steps to work towards goals. To date what has our town’s leadership done to move this community forward?

The Town Board discussed recently that the town doesn’t need to form a committee of interested residents to update our Comprehensive Plan. They can handle it. I respectively disagree.

Community involvement is what our town needs now more than ever. We should set aside personal differences and come together to work towards a brighter future. We have many great resources here and fine people with bright minds to move us forward. If we all give a little we will accomplish a lot.

Without action we merely exist in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat. The September 13th primary election is a very important milestone in our community. It is our chance to elect a new representative for our district to the Republican Party, a chance for us to have a new voice.

Of particular importance is the fact that representatives nominate and endorse candidates for election in our town and village. I’m proud to force this primary. I’m proud to give you a choice in representation.

Without a challenge, representatives may simply re-appoint themselves to their positions without election and continue the self-serving political government that plagues America.

I would say that is why they simply don’t want me involved. I say to you … that is why I’m running!

Kindly vote for change.

Joseph Sidonio

Murray

Posted 7 September 2016

Editor:

While my job exposes me to a lot of criticism, I generally do not respond. In this case I am responding to Mr. Lofthouse.

To clear the record, I am a civil service employee, not appointed or elected. I have worked for municipalities for over 20 years. I am very proud that I have been able to improve the quality of the housing, the quality of life and have assisted with the economic development in the communities I’ve worked in.

While I’m not universally liked, I have the respect of the professionals I work with. I do my job. I am NOT judge, jury and executioner. I am a Code Enforcement Officer.

Mr. Lofthouse seems to believe that some laws should be followed and others ignored. I enforce codes, laws written by local, state, and federal legislators. If there is a violation I let the person know and if they don’t correct it they get a ticket and go to see the JUDGE, as far as I know nobody has ever been executed.

I’ve seen Mr. Lofthouse pontificate on the Town of Murray before. John Morris (Murray town supervisor) never said the taxpayers were being overtaxed. I would venture that every Comptroller’s report cites issues or concerns. That doesn’t mean anyone has done anything wrong. Sometimes it’s just a different approach.

For a guy I’ve only seen at a Town of Murray once, Mr. Lofthouse speaks with great authority about what goes on there. One can only wonder where he gets his information.

Perhaps his issue is with the Highway Superintendent, because he is the Republican Committee Chairman. Mr. Lofthouse has never held office where he has had to make a decision and live with the consequences. As chairman of the Conservative Party he’s elected exactly no candidates. Not the first person I’d look to for advice.

He uses “scuttlebutt” as information. Whose minds have to be eased? Where in the NYS Health Code does it say where the backflow preventer has to be placed or what type has to be there? Apparently you rely on one source for your information. Thanks for your concern, but as a Town of Murray resident please take care of your own issues and let us take care of ours.

As for the “overzealous” comment, I have pictures of every violation I cite. It is my job to enforce the code, thank you for noting that I do it well. Off-street parking is required for businesses in every zoning ordinance. This is also involves the health, safety and welfare of the community.

Mr. Sidonio is running a primary to get on the Town of Murray Republican Committee. The “say no to Joe” signs are disappearing. I wonder who’s responsible for that?

That election will cost the Town of Murray +/- $1,000. Maybe you could get him on the Conservative Committee for free.

I don’t need any of your advice or comments with or without salt.

Ron Vendetti

Holley

(Mr. Vendetti is code enforcement officer in the villages of Albion and Holley, and the Town of Murray.)

Posted 6 September 2016

Editor:

A huge crowd of local residents, which some estimated to be 500 strong, gathered in the rain at Golden Hill State Park Boat Launch Facility in the Town of Somerset on Aug. 25 to voice their opposition to the Apex “Clean Energy” Project Lighthouse Wind.

This gathering was planned and promoted by the locally organized and funded grass roots organization, Save Ontario Shores (SOS).

Lighthouse Wind is a proposed Industrial Wind Turbine Complex comprised of approximately 71 monstrous wind turbines (650 feet high) to be strung along 12 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline in the townships of Somerset and Yates. These will be the largest industrial wind turbines to be sited on land.

Local leaders updated the group on their efforts to scuttle this project. The size and enthusiasm of this gathering demonstrated what is already known, and that is, Lighthouse Wind is not welcome in our community. Three prior independently conducted surveys have previously shown this to be the case. Numerous signs were displayed saying APEX GO HOME!

The Apex “Clean Energy” public relations machine has placed a spin on the public rejection of this project by alleging that we “fear the unknown” and the project “is in the best interests of the community.” These are blatantly false statements, as those of us who oppose this project have done our homework and are deeply concerned by what we do know.

As examples:

We know individuals owning property, whose value has dropped as their community became the location of industrial wind turbines.

We know and have been in contact with individuals whose houses and property have been severely damaged due to the construction and operation of industrial wind turbines.

We know and have been in contact with individuals who are forced to draw their blinds during portions of the day to avoid the annoying flicker produced by the rotating blades of industrial wind turbines.

We know of situations where electromagnetic interference from the operation of industrial wind turbines was severe enough that cable was required to restore reliable local television service.

We know individual property owners who claim the industrial wind turbines make much incessant, intolerable noise and vibration.

We know of individuals who claim sickness and distress when industrial wind turbines operate.

We know and have been in contact with individuals whose animals are affected when industrial wind turbines operate. And the list continues!

As to proposed Project Lighthouse Wind being “in the best interests of the community,” the source is someone who does not live in our community, probably never will, and draws a paycheck from Apex.

Regardless, why should we, as a community support Lighthouse Wind and gamble our future and wellbeing as a community on this project? The answer is, we should not! We have done our homework!

Project Lighthouse Wind should proceed no farther and be canceled. APEX GO HOME!!

James C. Hoffman

Town of Somerset

Posted 6 September 2016

Editor:

The Murray Town Board should place less emphasis on harassment of businesses, i.e. parking etc. and homeowners, i.e. cut your grass etc. by an overzealous code enforcement officer who thinks he is judge, jury and executioner. Instead, place more importance on the municipal water system known as the water districts, per the economics and operational aspects of such.

Since municipal water involves the life, health and safety of the people in the Town that frequent the restaurants and businesses every action should be taken with the utmost care. Even the appearance of impropriety should cause concern. It is serious business and should be treated as such.

Let’s visit the economic side first. In the spring of this year Mr. Joe Sidonio addressed the NYS Comptrollers report which stated the shortcomings of the accounting of Capital Projects mainly in the water districts. All spring Mr. Sidonio showed facts and figures supporting his claims that indeed the people in Murray were being overtaxed for the water districts.

Murray Town Supervisor John Morriss seemed to be surprised at the figures that Mr. Sidonio was in possession of and wanted to know where he had gotten his information from, continuously denying that the allegations were true. Mr. Morriss, being Murray’s Chief Financial Officer and by municipal law required to fill out monthly financial reports, should have been on top of the issues.

Maybe he relied on Mr. Edward Morgan who is in charge of the water districts to supply him with information. After 6-7 months with personal character attacks printed and vulgar names said behind Mr. Sidonio’s back, Supervisor Morriss finally admitted that indeed the taxpayers are being overtaxed by the Town.

Mr. Sidonio has maintained an adult composure while dealing with apparent adolescence. It most likely will take another 6-7 months to get answers to questions on how the overtaxation, mismanagement and the operational financial loss in the water department will be corrected. Enough of the economics.

With the picture of the firehose hooked up to a hydrant – with what looks like no water meter or backflow prevention valve – on Fancher Road being circulated and as serious a health risk as it is, Water Superintendent Morgan and Councilman Lloyd Christ (who used the municipal drinking water supply for irrigation) have put the citizens of Murray in a bad situation.

The article “Murray does not let farmers steal water” posted on the Orleans Hub mentions Councilman Lloyd Christ by name. It does not mention Edward Morgan. Why? The scuttlebutt is that Mr. Morgan loaned Mr. Christ the hose and approved the connection.

To ease the minds of the people the Water Superintendent should show the signed register showing the meter readings and serial number of the unit and the serial number of the back flow prevention device. Those items are the property of the Murray Town taxpayers have to be accounted for in the inventory.

A sheet of requirements should show the hookup procedure for the meter and backflow prevention device. Seems to me it would be asking a lot to have the meter reader traipse 300-400 yards out into a field to read the meter. To remove all doubt, the meter and backflow should have been placed on the hydrant in the first place as required by NYS Health Code.

After taking so long to address Mr. Sidonio’s concerns and immediately jumping on this situation anything that comes from the Murray Town Board I tend to take with a grain of salt. Mr. Morriss, as a side note, when Mrs. Carol Culhane first took office she inherited a complete mess in the Gaines Water Department and was able to straighten it all out with very little help.

Al Lofthouse

Kendall

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

Editor:

Frontier Stone would like to create a controversy where none exists. Recently circulating not one, but two fliers, they are attempting to get residents to oppose proposed Local Law #2.

They want you to believe the law is government overreach. In fact, the Town of Shelby, Proposed Local Law #2 is an amendment to the zoning regulation that addresses all of the concerns the town’s residents have raised at every single public hearing over the past 10 years regarding the proposed stone quarry.

The Town Board listened to your concerns and addressed them with this proposed zoning regulation amendment. They are trying to protect what you, the town’s residents, have said is worth protecting, regardless of what the DEC thinks.

All towns have a Comprehensive Plan to address where, in the town, business and industries are best situated to allow for economic growth, and at the same time, to protect the quiet, rural, residential nature of the town for the residents who live there.

Allowing business or industry to pop up wherever anyone feels like planting them, does not allow a town to maintain its identity and the very reason people choose to live here as opposed to an industrial park.

In the Town of Shelby we have the Maple Ridge Corridor which has been planned and developed with input from the Orleans County Economic Development Agency so that industries and businesses would have a place to set up shop with easy access, and at the same time, not infringe on the rights of town residents to a peaceful place to call home.

The public hearing regarding this zoning regulation is just that, an effort by the Town Board to hear the public. Please bring your thoughts and concerns to the hearing (7 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the Town Hall), but don’t allow Frontier to stir up controversy where it doesn’t exist.

Don’t allow them to divide a town that is completely united in our opposition to this quarry being placed next to our wildlife refuge.

And don’t lose sight of the fact that the refuge itself is an economic advantage to our area as well. It brings thousands of tourists from all over the state and the country to hunt, fish, hike, observe endangered species, and to utilize the restaurants and businesses in town, just to name a few.

Wendi Pencille

Town of Shelby

President of Citizens for Shelby Preservation

Editor:

I am disappointed to hear the rhetoric and misinformed claims of the people that I thought were my elected representatives: Senator Robert Ortt, Legislator John Syracuse, and Supervisor Dan Engert.

Reading the newspaper accounts of their support for the anti-wind group that has set up shop in our town, I wonder how they could have driven to last Thursday evening’s event  sponsored by Save Ontario Shores (SOS) without seeing the many signs of support on the agricultural lands being worked by us, the farmers.

Did they stop at any of these farms? No, they drove right past. That’s when I realized that it’s not about the farms. They are just fields that these politicians pass by, they cannot vote.

I guess I shouldn’t be at all surprised they didn’t stop to talk to us. Not a single one of my elected officials has ever initiated contact with me about the project, and, as far as I know, they haven’t initiated contact with any of the other larger land owners in the project area either.

I guess those people who are supposed to represent us have done the math. Given the acreage of land that we work and size of the families, it’s clear that the agricultural community does not have enough votes to count or even warrant stopping by for a discussion. This is despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of the land owners are supportive of the project, based on the amount of acres that are presently under lease by Lighthouse Wind.

We have been the rural backbone of this town for generations, and those close to the business know that we don’t want this to disappear. That’s one of the reasons we choose to diversify and to host wind energy projects. These projects not only provide us with an opportunity to improve our agricultural business, but also allow us to participate in advancing renewable energy to help improve our environment and provide new revenue sources for our community.

We have contributed to the history of this town, and we want to make sure it has a thriving future. Senator Ortt, Legislator Syracuse, Supervisor Engert, and any other of my local elected officials, my door is open if you want to stop in.

Please don’t just pass me and my fellow agricultural community by. I may be working the farm, but I can make time for you.

Ben Atwater

Atwater Farms

Town of Somerset

Editor:

I would like to make a couple of observations concerning the Lighthouse Wind Project.  In Mr. Riggi’s letter in July about the Lighthouse Wind signs being posted in The Town of Ridgeway, Riggi writes: “Has Apex now also targeted Ridgeway for Industrial Wind Turbines?” Much to his surprise, there are wind project supporters throughout Orleans County.

I have also seen Save Ontario Shores signs in the Town of Ridgeway and Village of Middleport. It’s called freedom to support for or against. However, I do find it presumptuous of Mr. Riggi to assume that Apex is targeting the Town of Ridgeway for wind turbines.

This is the kind of intimidation moves that Mr. Riggi, and SOS have pushed on a lot of people with their un-substantiated facts.

At the Yates Town Board meeting on August 11, Mr. Barth (anti-Lighthouse Wind) suggested that our town utilize the Town of Somerset’s Attorney (anti-Lighthouse Wind) as it  would be cheaper for the towns moving forward. In other words, fire the attorney who is representing us. Is this another rail road job to the Town of Yates residents who are fighting so hard for the wind project to become a reality?

The Town of Yates has done a wonderful job taking care of our town for the betterment of our town, way before Mr. Simon and Mr. Riggi were elected. I think it would be a big mistake to join forces with the Town of Somerset.

We are two separate towns with two different ideas on what is best for our Town. We should not turn over our town’s decisions to the Town of Somerset’s attorney concerning a project of this importance for the Town of Yates.

Many years ago, the Town of Yates let the Somerset power project slip through our fingers. The residents of this town should band together and not let this project slip by us.

With the rising taxes, bringing a few new businesses into the town is not going to solve our problems. Take a hard look at the towns with wind farms and how they have benefited. This could be us.

When I look out across my yard, what a beautiful sight it would be to see a wind turbine against God’s beautiful sunset.  One I truly hope becomes a reality for our town’s success.

Donna Bane

Town of Yates

Editor:

I came down the road the other day and noticed that one of my blue Lighthouse Wind yard signs was folded up like an accordion and bent over. This is not the first sign that someone has taken. Some of my friends and neighbors have had their signs stolen as well.

Not only are signs being stolen, just last week there was a sign that was defaced and publicly displayed at the SOS rally. But SOS people are trying to shift the blame, spreading more mistruths throughout the community.

The accusations that Apex Clean Energy and its supporters are stealing yard signs make me sick. We’re busy, hard-working people. We don’t always have time to make sure our voices are heard as loud as we’d like, much less have time to drive through Barker and Lyndonville stealing yard signs.

I would never take someone else’s sign. I want my voice heard as much as I want everyone else’s heard.

I want people to hear about some of the benefits of the Lighthouse Wind project. Wind turbines would bring much-needed money into our community and provide a boost for our school system and a better education for our children and grandchildren.

I ask everyone to show respect and stop stealing signs. We all deserve the chance to share our thoughts and opinions, whether that’s a letter to the editor, a chance to stand up at a board meeting, or a bright blue sign in our yard.

Sincerely,

Linda Fisk

Lyndonville

Editor:

The Orleans Hub is tremendous. It is absolutely necessary to keep people informed about their community.  I am so pleased you are better able to accommodate your paid advertisers by now rotating the ads along the right-hand side.

The no-cost access to the public to read the news is a plus insuring that ALL can avail themselves to this first-class “news” source.

I was just reading about the SOS gathering and Article 10 that has taken “home rule” away from the citizens of this area regarding wind turbines.

Our democratic values of self-governing are at stake with this SOS standing up for freedom and self-representation. This whole ordeal with the wind turbines, Apex, Albany, etc. is at the very core of our U.S. Constitution and the United States of America and how we came to be as a nation.

Thank God for the “freedom of the press” which is an outdated term to describe this electronic transmission of information but you know what I mean.

All of you at The Hub are doing a tremendous job at a terribly important task of educating the public.

Elizabeth Storch

Middleport

Editor:

For the 100th time, please let me point out to those who cannot grasp this: SOS is not funded by the fossil fuel industry!!!

SOS is not a “membership” group. We have a board consisting of three people and a treasurer. It as an entirely volunteer organization. We do not charge anyone dues nor do we pay the board members.

We make donations to the group from our own pockets to support our activities. We sell T-shirts. Sometimes we sell our signs but many of them we give away.

We have come together to fight the industrialization of our towns by outsiders planning to rape our landscape, slaughter our birds and leave us with up to seventy 650-foot non-recyclable pieces of “out-dated before they begin” wind turbines. We have come together to fight the loss of home rule and for the return of the democratic process.

Apex is a privately held corporation funded by tax subsidies, production tax credits and the selling of RECs (a totally ludicrous method of easing people’s conscience about their energy usage by purchasing something that doesn’t even exist to “offset their carbon footprint”).

Peoples’ persistence in the absurd thought that we are funded by the fossil fuel industry is laughable. If they could see our balance sheet compared to the millions of our tax dollars Apex has to spend promoting wind turbines they would be astounded. Are they incapable of understanding that some people are willing to fight for their beliefs, their property, and their future with everything they have including their own money?

Some people are equally incapable of understanding the exaggerated claims made by Apex regarding the financial benefits of a PILOT agreement. They might as well plant a few beans in the backyard and wait for that beanstalk to climb into the clouds.

The list referred to in an earlier letter accusing SOS of being funded by the fossil fuel industry is a list of participants in a meeting. They are listed in alphabetical order not in order of anything else. This meeting took place long before SOS came together as a group and the person “implicated” in the letter is not a founder of SOS.

There are lobbies for both sides of many issues in this country. This is one of them. I suspect Apex is quite generous with the pro-wind lobby groups including AWEA. I suspect Apex has an agenda on how to deal with the opposition, after all they have a full time public relations manager.

I suspect their coffers are much richer than SOS’. I suspect they solicit naïve local people to be their shills, pumping up the idea of “moral responsibility” in direct relation to installation of wind turbines.

Apex themselves appear to have no moral responsibility when it comes to the democratic process and the will of the people. A majority of the citizens of both Somerset and Yates have said via surveys that they do not want this industrial wind facility in their towns. Apex refuses to move on.

The counties of Orleans and Niagara have said they do not want this project here. Apex refuses to move on. What has happened to democracy?

For the last time, SOS is NOT funded by big oil. We are a dedicated group of concerned citizens who want to see APEX GO HOME.

Sincerely,

Susan E. Dudley

Lyndonville

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Editor:

Is there anyone in either Orleans or Niagara County that possesses the attribute of moral courage?

It is disheartening to watch young folks and even some seniors ignore the intrusion of the Apex giant whose goal is to consume these two counties with our own precious tax dollars.

Have our civic leaders failed? My guess is yes they have. Have our schools failed to teach civil discourse when the very community in which our children will eventually reside practice apathy? My guess is yes.

And what about each and every community organization that sits by and watches this horrific assault on our beautiful fruit-bearing water accessed property be compromised by carpetbaggers bearing gifts? My guess again is yes.

We are in trouble folks. Stupid cliche signs dictate a position of either support and or resistance to these monster wind turbines. Signs do not vote. Signs do not speak. It is the very few who practice pounding these advertisements into the ground hoping to change an opinion.

The project managers from Apex, the Virginia firm, specifically Sandy Reisky have a resume that exceeds $4 billion in projects. Mark Goodwin, Jim Tronsdale and Steve Vavrick likewise have a combined resume of $3 billion in projects.

Note these dollar amounts are yours and my tax dollars. Needless to say we have very little to object to how these dollars are used, distributed and mostly become the partial salaries of these CEOs.

The Lighthouse Wind Project in rural Orleans and Niagara counties will, as per their own notes, produce energy to power 53,000 homes.  None of of which are in this part of the state.

There is also a claim that these turbines will produce jobs. No number of gainful employment is indicated anywhere, and no local work is earmarked for these communities. The project is a IDA payment pilot.

Actually, a few folks will benefit from lease agreements. However there is no mention of infrastructure implications, road support for heavy equipment, land, lane access etc. All of this information is irrefutably vague for a reason.

Stand up folks and stop this insane assault on our community. Contact Gov. Coumo and request a revision to Article 10. He needs to hear that 70 percent of the residents oppose this project.

Likewise call our former Senator, George Maziarz who authored this bill and challenge his convoluted thinking about the necessity of home rule.

This community is being shortsighted. This company needs to be challenged as it has been in other parts of the country. CEOs are getting very wealthy at our expense. They are using our tax dollars to do so. It is time for this to stop.

Frank Herstek Ed.D

Lyndonville

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Editor:

I have written before about my belief that SOS (Save Ontario Shores) is backed by the fossil fuel industry. SOS has very forcefully stated they are not on numerous occasions.

Why then is Mary Kay Barton, an active SOS member, listed as the very first participant named on the list from the DC Energy Advocates Conference that was held in February of 2012??

The article, “Anti Wind Groups Coordinate with Fossil Fuel Funded Organizations” states: On February 1st and 2nd, at least two prominent advocacy groups connected to fossil fuel corporations, the American Tradition Institute (ATI) and Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), met in Washington with 32 NIMBY (“Not in my backyard”) organizations to discuss a coordinated “subversion” campaign to wreck wind energy.

The American Tradition Institute is now the Energy & Environment Legal Institute.

As Suzanne Goldenberg of The Guardian writes, “The strategy session is the latest evidence of a concerted attack on the clean energy industry by think tanks and lobby groups connected to oil and coal interests and free-market ideologues.”

Here is another excerpt from the article: The document, “National_PR_Campaign_Proposal,” authored by American Tradition Institute Fellow John Droz, Jr., indicates the meetings were called to discuss plans for a coordinated national disinformation campaign against wind energy.  The document details a series of wind energy attacks ranging from “counter intelligence,” setting up a “dummy business” and steering kids away from science projects on wind because, “it doesn’t meet the criteria we set up.”

I encourage you to read the list of names and the article for yourself: (Click here).

Barton and the other members of SOS have stated repeatedly that they are a local grass-roots group. So, this should lead you to ask questions about what else they have mislead you about?

If you would like to know some of the other things I have discovered in my research but don’t have time or just want to know, without the work, contact me.

I have a list of other misrepresentations.

Susan Campbell

Lyndonville

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Editor:

These are some thoughts on wind turbines:

“Fear not the wind” – The outer blade travels over 130 miles per hour. That is a category 4 hurricane. That is something to FEAR.

What does home rule mean? The NYS Constitution grants towns the right to pass laws that provide for the protection and enhancement of the physical and visual environment of local property.

Does home rule apply to this project? No. All local elected officials are demanding that they are opposed and should be listened to but are being ignored.

Should Article 10 be challenged in court? Yes. There is a move by the towns of Somerset and Clayton to rally many counties and towns to form a large group of opposition.

Who gives the go-ahead to this project? An unelected panel in Albany. They have no investment in the Town of Yates or Somerset.

Who is paying for all the signs and billboards in support of the project? A guess is Apex and maybe New York State. Are lease holders required as part of the lease to post signs on their property? Who knows?

Has Apex and the state government been transparent about this project? No.

There was a recent meeting between Apez, the state government and federal officials which the towns were not allowed to attend and the content of the meeting was not disclosed.

If windmills are built, are they forever? Yes. When everyone goes broke (remember the coal plant), the lease holder has the problem of removing and the time and cost will be prohibitive, so they will remain. A mistake that cannot be corrected should never take place.

Are subsidies forever? No. Those groups that receive them think they are but technology changes as well as government programs. There was a great example recently involving solar energy and the State of Nevada. Solar City has lost its shirt on solar panels and the state wants to eliminate the subsidies they have paid for many years. Subsidies are for startup ideas but each business needs to stand on its own at some point.

How efficient are wind turbines? 23 percent, max. Most of the time it will be considerably less.

How inefficient are wind turbines? 77 percent and higher, and will mostly run on fossil fuel not wind.

Most efficient green energy? Niagara Falls.

This project is a terrible idea, can’t be fixed and is unwanted by the majority of taxpayers as well as public elected officials. Does Albany care or hear that message? Let me be clear Albany: Don’t let this project move forward.

Ray Watt

Yates

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Editor:

I know that I reflect so many people in wanting to give thanks and cheers to our hometown Keeler Construction and all the men and women who worked so tirelessly on the paving of Route 98.

I watched these people work in extreme heat from sunrise to sunset to get the job done north of the canal bridge. It is wonderful that Keeler got the bid and local employees and their families directly benefit from it.

As I sat with my grandson on a picnic table last week and watched the trucks and other huge equipment working in tandem so efficiently, he said that someday he wanted to run one of those huge rollers. And I am sure that Keeler will still be in business when that time comes.

Karen Watt
Albion

Editor:

To the friends of Orleans Community Health, it has been a busy year since I last wrote to you and I have much to tell you about “what’s new” at OCH!

We are eagerly awaiting the start date for our Emergency Department (ED) and Lobby improvements. We expect to commence work in early fall.

Team Health joined OCH on Aug. 1 as the Emergency Department providers and already is receiving rave reviews for courteous, timely, expert patient care. So, if you need our services in the ED, you can count on the best of the best caring for you.

We also have a new Care Coordinator working in the Emergency Department to help patients find primary care physicians if they do not already have one and doing follow up phone calls to check on patients recently discharged. Mackenzie Smith is the new ED Nurse Manager and has done a great job in just a few months.

On Aug. 29, Dr. Ian Cole will be assuming his role as the Medical Director for the Comprehensive Rehabilitation (CMR) Unit and Transitional Care Unit. He will be joined by long time staff member, Tamara Chappius, as the CMR Admissions Coordinator.

Dr. Anthony DiBenedetto has returned to OCH and is seeing many patients in our surgical suite. We are so happy that he has returned!

We anticipate a new Certified Family Medicine Physician at Albion fulltime starting in October. We also added a new electronic health record that offers an upgraded, intuitive patient portal.

Our Navigator staff has been working hard to help our patients enroll in the New York State Health Insurance program and have already signed up hundreds of our community residents.

Our cafeteria has had some aesthetic improvements compliments of our own Facilities staff and thanks to the generous gift of the TWIGs group, providing new café chairs.

We have a new Ultrasound Unit with 4 dimensional sonographs, a new 64 slice CT scanner that offers minimal scan times with low dose, a new bone density unit that can scan the spine, hip, wrist, or entire body in less than five minutes. We are installing new Nuclear Medicine equipment by the end of September.

OCH has collaborated with community pharmacy partners at Rosenkrans Pharmacy and Middleport Family Health Center Pharmacy to help patients’ transition home with medications they need in easy to use packaging which assists adherence to often complicated regimens.

OCH Pharmacists are using cutting edge guidelines on Antibiotic Stewardship ensuring each patient receives the right antibiotic for the right infection for the needed duration as well as transitioning patients from intravenous medications to oral administration in collaboration with their physicians. Additionally, they have decreased inappropriate antibiotic usage in our nursing home by 6 percent since February.

Lake Plains Dialysis has gone through an extensive renovation and we look forward to patients and staff returning to a new and improved site!

For the first time, OCH hosted a joint training program with local law enforcement, fire and EMS to help ensure the safety of our patients and staff and develop new processes to aid in the collaboration with first responders.

Our nursing home has a new administrator – long-time employee Jenifer Maynard has accepted this new role. Staff on North Wing continues to provide an improved dining experience, “drive-in” movies, and a new electronic medical record to begin installation in October.

Thank you for your continued support of Orleans Community Health. We are honored that you allow us to care for you.

Sincerely,

Wendy Jacobson
Chief Executive Officer

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