Editor:

President Trump is accused of using taxpayer-approved foreign aid for his own personal profit and to subvert U.S. national interest. Republican supporters of Mr. Trump are critical of the testimony by witnesses under oath claiming that the witnesses are “never Trumpers.”

The witnesses include career diplomats Marie Yovanovitch, and William Taylor as well as career military personal Lt. Col Alexander Vindman, have all sworn allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. They did not swear allegiance to Donald Trump.

None of the President’s supporters are disputing the facts. The testimony that has come out shows that the President has used his position to profit personally, hamper our ally (Ukraine) and promote the Russian agenda.

The President has tried to suppress evidence by claiming executive privilege on all evidence and testimony. It is interesting that two indicted witnesses, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, are being extended executive privilege because they did work for Rudy Giuliani.

Republicans need to explain their support for subverting our foreign policy for personal gain of the President and I would like them to explain their loyalty to Donald Trump over our Constitution and rule of law. Thanks.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Barre residents, I’m Sean Pogue and I want to be your Town Supervisor for another term. This past term has been very exhilarating.

Starting with our Bicentennial celebrations, followed by water district #8, the starting of water districts #9 and #10, upgrading technology in the town hall (computers, phone system, motion and fire alarms), completed negotiations with the highway department with a new 4-year contract, connecting and working with state and federal agencies.

The conversion of our street light fixtures and the whole town garage to LED has shown a significant savings to the town. The completion of a successful contract between the Highway Department and the town also shows savings for both parties.

My opponent seems to be concerned about only one item and that is wind turbines. There is more to being responsible for the daily operations and budget management of our town than wind turbines.

On two different occasions I asked my opponent specific questions. The first time he had no idea or how to respond other than on the topic of turbines and that was he has a dislike for them but could not give specifics.

Now don’t get me wrong, my opponent is a nice gentleman but the second time we met I asked him the same basic questions about operations of the town. That time he had some vague answers but kept saying that for more information I should speak with one of his party members that are running for town council. “That is the person I should talk to?” Wait a minute, who’s running for Town Supervisor? This other candidate did walk over to me as I was talking to a couple of town residents and rudely interjected into our conversation, changing the topic and controlling the discussion.

When I decided to run for Town Supervisor I attended the majority of the Town Board meetings for three years, spoke with the Councilmen, Supervisor and Town Clerk. Did I have all the answers or the inner workings of the office? No! But I did my homework.

My opponent has attended very few board meetings and only since he decided to run and only has one item on his agenda. No Turbines! Very much like the rest of those on his party line. They have only one item on their agenda – stop Heritage Wind from coming to town.

If you want representation with blinders on with only one purpose for running for office then they are your candidates. If you want someone that looks at the whole picture, not just Heritage Wind, for all the residents of Barre and the future of this town then vote for Sean P. Pogue for Supervisor, Margaret Swan for Councilwoman and LuAnn Tierney for Councilwoman.

Sean P. Pogue, Ed.D.

Town Supervisor

Barre

Editor:

Shelby voters, November 5th is around the corner and I would like to remind you how important your voice and vote are for our small town of Shelby. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself in case you do not know me.

I am Dale S. Root, the Republican and Conservative endorsed candidate running for Shelby Highway Superintendent. I am a  40-year resident of Shelby. Husband to Helen, father to Kathy, Jess and Joe. Proud grandfather of Haylie, Lexi, Major, Barrett and Owen.

With my wife, we are co-owners of Dale S. Root Trucking LLC and Dale S. Root Farms LLC, two vertically integrated businesses that my daughter Jessica and son Joe will be taking over at the end of this year.

I will be retiring and stepping down from the day-to-day operation. I have sound business experience in budgeting, labor management, a good knowledge of machinery and truck maintenance. I know I will be able to give the Town of Shelby a new and much-needed perspective as the highway superintendent. As a business owner, I know what it takes to do more and work with less.

A few issues I have come across that I would like to see changed:

• Repair a fractured relationship between the highway superintendent and the Town Board.  When elected, I will work together with the Town Board to analyze issues and create a plausible plan.

• The Town of Shelby should incorporate the use of our local Iroquois Job Corps, and the Sheriff’s Prison worker program. Both of these programs are free and come with supervision, which will free up town personnel to do much needed service on the water districts, road and machinery maintenance, etc. Individuals from these programs would be able to mow and maintain the cemeteries along with roadside cleanup.

• Water meter reading issue. We as taxpayers are paying the town twice to read the meters. Each water district has a $6.75 per meter fee allocated for meter reading that is paid to the appointed water supervisor (highway superintendent), but the meters are read by a town employee at the hourly wage of $25.78. At times, two employees are on the job at the superintendent’s orders. This costs the taxpayer the meter fee of $6.75 (that goes to the water supervisor) plus the two employees’ hourly wage. I would work with the town employees to find a fair solution.

• The town purchased a $30,000 GPS system four years ago to map all the water districts, main valves and hydrants so in case the need arises. This would give fire personnel, town employees, or contractors have precise coordinates.  Currently, this system is not being used.  It is sitting idle in the highway building. It would be a good resource to have all junctions, fire hydrants, valves marked out for local fire companies and highway workers.

• I will opt out of the pension program saving the town $4,000 in annual contributions.

These are a few things I have discovered in a short period of time, mostly from reading the budgets. These are really not Town Board issues. They represent some of the mismanagement of the current highway superintendent.

We need to save tax payer money – there is plenty to work with within the annual budget.

I would like to enterprise some aspects of the town’s jobs to see how much is spent. One thing would be to corral compensated overtime hours. In the month of July, basically no one was working as they were all awarded vacation days at the same time. So if you wonder why little was fixed on the roads – you now know.

Currently there are 4 full-time employees and 2 part-time employees. Within the last few weeks there has been a budget request for another part-time employee to mow – I do not believe we need 3. The current part-time employees are used for mowing. On days that are not suitable for mowing they are still allowed to come in, given hours for other odd jobs that are made up for them taking work away from the 4 full-time employees.

In the last 9 months the people that live on East Shelby Road have had three water main ruptures due to the line not being bedded on sand. The current superintendent was the lead inspector on the line. This is not the area to try and cut funds to save money. Do the job right the first time.

As a business owner for 35-plus years, I have learned how important it is to be well organized, and available to all. You cannot expect your workers to excel in the job if the tools and ideas are not put in place.

I will be accessible to all Shelby residents, day or night, that have concerns or issues they may see. I will respond to the issues once I have received all the facts and take action in a timely manner.

On the farm we need to “make hay when the sun shines,” I do not see where “hay” was made while the sun shined in the Town of Shelby this year. Change can be scary, but change is also good.

I ask for your vote and support on Nov. 5.

Dale S. Root

Shelby

Editor:

I am a Democrat but next Tuesday, I’ll be casting my vote for a Republican in the race for Orleans Country Sheriff.

It’s a name you’ve heard, but won’t see on the ballot, because Brett lost the Republican Primary and he was not willing to appear under another party’s ballot. I respect that kind of loyalty. But I also respect that Brett was not so blindly loyal as to endorse his opponent, a candidate from whom “he is too far apart, on almost everything,” according to his own Facebook post.

So I will have to write Brett Sobieraski in, as I have encouraged anyone who will listen to do as well.

Because the kind of loyalty I’m not a fan of is the “my turn” mentality that at best breeds complacency and at its worst, harkens to the party boss days of corruption and cronyism. It shouldn’t be about time-in-grade. It should be how you spent that time. What you have accomplished, inside and outside of work. In your community.

This is one position that should transcend the fiefdoms, cross the aisle, and break the party lines. Public Safety is not a partisan issue. Alongside the DA, this is the top law enforcement official in the county and it should be our best and brightest—with the broadest perspective and most diverse experience.

If the primary was the election, and it were open to all voters, I believe Brett would have carried his primary supporters and enough Democrats and Independents to win the day. Likewise, if he were on the ballot against his Republican opponent on Election Day, because I believe he is the best man for the job.

He is from a family of law enforcement officers. He may be from outside the closed loop of the current regime, but contrary to what I keep hearing, he is “from here” and has been for decades and is well aware of the issues that face our community.

I, for one, have seen far too many friends and family members succumb to the opioid epidemic and Brett takes that issue as a top priority. The fact that he has not only supervised a narcotics task force, but served on the board of a substance abuse counseling clinic for almost two decades is a testament to his belief in both drug law enforcement and addiction recovery.

No, he hasn’t spent his entire career in the Orleans County Sheriff Department, bobbing slowly up the ranks until he was at the top. Instead he joined the military, led drug task forces and SWAT teams – sharing that experience with wave after wave of new recruits as an academy instructor. He raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity and above all, he has been a highly commended and decorated law enforcement officer for over 30 years, winning the highest community award available to a Rochester Police Officer.

So I don’t care whether he won his primary. Primaries are functions of the process, but largely perpetuate the status quo and in this case, I don’t think the results allow the community as a whole to have a say. I don’t care that he’s not from my own party. We don’t need a “business as usual” leader. We don’t need dogma. We need leadership, integrity and compassion.

We need Brett.

Jeremy Hogan

Medina

Editor:

Hearing that the County Legislature has taken a pass on the relative merits of 671’ high wind turbines in Barre is not surprising. Leadership is not the Legislature’s strong suit—or trump card for that matter. But, heck, it is another opportunity to bad mouth the governor.

To me, the 10 towns in Orleans County are a team. When one (Barre, in this case) struggles, the entire team can suffer adverse consequences. And there will be plenty in my estimation.

Our intrepid Legislature doesn’t constitute an official coaching staff for the 10-member team, but isn’t it logical to expect the head coach to help one of his/her team members with a problem that might well adversely affect the entire team (County)?

While wind turbines make sense on the great plains and abandoned oilfields in Roscoe, Texas, they do not make much sense in the Town of Barre, Orleans County, New York.

To me, it is up to the Legislature to act in such a manner as to serve the interests of the entire County. While doing so, they will be positively affecting the habitat diversity of an environment that almost literally has it all.

Anyone who thinks too much of our woodland habitat cannot be lost to wind turbines is thinking wishfully, especially when one considers the many other factors contributing to its decline.

“You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” We are not exactly talking about paving paradise, but you may get the picture.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent

Albion

Editor:

As we near the upcoming election I am personally looking forward to seeing the Ridgeway Republican committee ads for the winners of the primary races.

I am hoping they will run as often, and as numerous as the ads of the committee’s endorsed primary candidates. I also expect next time there is an opening for any local position it is advertised (according to election law) in case there are others who are interested in the position, with sufficient notice.

From the outside looking in, I still find it disturbing it appears the position of Highway Superintendent, Councilperson, and Supervisor seemed to be hand-picked by the committee. It appears the Orleans County Republican Committee hoped this would all go away or be forgotten after the primary election.

These acts were asked to be investigated, and they were not. I would thoroughly enjoy hearing the explanation for what transpired under their watch, and how it will be prevented in the future.

Please do not play us as fools. We do remember. We are the people who to sign your petitions, and push in lawn signs for every election.

Andrew Bale

20-year Ridgeway resident

Medina

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Editor:

Outlawing gun prizes for raffles is about the funding of organizations not about the guns. The organizations will suffer monetary loses. The raffles that organizations hold is for the organizations to be self-sufficient and help the community.

I honestly believe it is to strap fire companies, American Legions and other non-profits that raffle off firearms to raise money for themselves. I do not believe it has anything to do with firearm misuse. It is to force his ideas of green energy down the throats of rural areas.

Banning Firearms as raffle prizes is abuse of power by NYC Democrats and Gov. Cuomo against rural organizations. It has nothing to do with firearm misuse. It is to financially hurt helpful and necessary organizations. You must ask yourself? “What type of person would hinder a Fire Department? The answer is a bully full of self-righteousness and discrimination in the heart.

Rural living and all civil liberty fighters need to know 18 U.S. Code Sections 241 & 242,N.Y. Constitution Article I, and the Constitution of the United States. They also need to be educated about candidates and true intentions. Look at voting records. Track pending bills in State and Federal Legislatures. If you do not know how, learn how. It is easy and you can have input on proposed legislation.

Steve Colon

Lyndonville

Editor:

Since its inception, there have been many volunteers that have given generously of their time to create an organization whose goal it was to build an historically accurate replica of the original Oak Orchard Lighthouse.

In 2010 that lighthouse became a reality. A nucleus of those original volunteers still serve as trustees on the 7-member Board of Trustees taking care of day to day business of maintaining a facility that remains open for visitors from April 1 to Oct. 31 each year.

They also see to it that the lighthouse is maintained in a responsible manner and that funds are raised to take care of related expenses. Due to changes in their availability from time to time those serving as trustees are unable to continue serving in that position.

Currently the Board is composed of the following people: Dick Anderson of Oak Orchard On The Lake, Larry Albanese of Albion, Diane Blanchard of Hilton, Neil Johnson of Albion and Chuck Podgers of Brockport.

Two of the seven Board members have had to resign due to personal reasons, leaving the Board two trustees short of the prescribed number of seven. In order for the Board to conduct business, a quorum of four must be in attendance.

Duties of the Board involve attending seven or eight meetings a year to conduct business. Meetings are held at a location within 10 miles from Albion and usually near the lake. Meetings usually start at 6:30 p.m. and last for approximately an hour to 1 1/2 hours.

We are looking for individuals willing to help the OOLH continue to serve the public as a source of historical information and the opportunity to “step back in time” to experience what it was like to visit an historic lighthouse.

If you are interested in serving on the Board of Trustees, or would like some additional information, please contact Dick Anderson at 585-682-4383 or email oolhdick@aol.com.

Dick Anderson

Carlton

Editor:

I would like to inform the voters in Barre that even though I am still listed as a Republican candidate for the Barre Town Board Councilman, I will not be able to fulfill my duties if were to be elected.  I regret the short notice.

However, I would like to give my support to LuAnn Tierney and/or Margaret Swan. I feel either of these candidates would serve the town of Barre very well.

Sincerely,

Bradlee Driesel

Barre

Editor:

Should you step up and stop your friend from an oncoming train and save his/her life? Or should you mind your own business and let him/her get crushed?

Should we allow our friends in Barre to be run over by the Apex train? Allow a few people to chase the Golden Goose and blow caution to the wind?

Let the construction and devastation begin and not warn them? Once the damage is done and the sad residents file for lawsuits, we can tell them that we knew, but decided to remain quiet?

Some residents of Arkwright in Chautauqua County are unable to live on their own property due to ill-placed industrial wind factories. Check out the lawsuits and testimonies from people who unfortunately have first-hand experiences on what happens when “Big Wind” wins.

Agnes LaPorte

Barker