Editor:

This is regarding Susan Campbell’s letter posted in the Hub on Oct. 28, “SOS accused of undermining wishes of majority of full-time Yates residents.”

The law is the law. You can not vote with just a post office box – you have to have a residential address. The regulations are clear and stated on the NY voter registration website. Ms. Campbell needs to do better research.

If the people of Yates and Somerset don’t understand that this wind turbine project is the BIGGEST & MOST IMPORTANT issue in these two towns right now, they are living in Fantasy Land. The outcome of this potential project, if it continues, will have a negative effect that will last for years.

I sincerely hope that Simon, Riggi and Maid are elected. The town of Yates needs new leadership with new ideas. These men have them and are willing to work with ALL citizens.

I have heard NO ideas from the other candidates.

As to the “wishes of the majority,” the SOS survey clearly showed a majority AGAINST the wind turbine project. The survey promised by the Town of Yates board has yet to materialize and clearly will not be put out before the election.

Susan Dudley
Lyndonville

Editor:

After reading my opponents’ statements in last week’s Pennysaver, I was not happy. I filled out a ‘Freedom of Information Law’ (FOIL) form to collect the numbers. I looked at tax bills on different properties in Barre over three years, tax information and the bond issue in water district #1.

There is a 7.8% tax increase. There is a rise in state retirement and health insurance for town employees, courtroom equipment, contractual costs and maps for the water districts.

Remember last winter? Added salt purchases alone totaled $43,480 plus overtime, maintenance and fuel. Now if you compare your 2014 tax bill to your 2015 bill there is only a change of a few cents. The reason is that the reassessment for National Grid’s power line increased and offset our tax increase.

The water district #1 bond issue is a 23-year bond that started in 1994 and will be paid off in 2016.

The Town of Barre has a website (click here) that posts the minutes of all board meetings. Anyone can view the minutes, see the issues and who was present.

I encourage all to check the web site regularly, attend board meetings on the first and second Wednesday of every month and exercise our right for information.

I want to know the facts, not just half-truths, as I am sure you want. I believe in an open door policy and will work for you as your next Barre Town Councilman.

You want someone that will work for you and not just make promises then vote for Sean Pogue on the Republican line.

Sean Pogue
Barre

Editor:

Recently, it has come to the attention of several SOS members that an APEX Wind Turbine supporter has been passing around a comment that was made on a Buffalo News article in August.

This person is supposedly attributing this comment to SOS. He claims because it was posted on their Facebook page it represents their position. He contends that SOS is saying that people should shun the farmers who have signed a contract with APEX, that you should run them out of your businesses and set up protest lines in front of their homes while continuing to pressure them to rescind their contracts from APEX.

Actually, it is far more toxic than I am writing here it is downright disgusting. But wait a second, let’s not let the truth or fact get in the way of a good story!

Fact: This was never a quote by SOS. It was a comment by an unknown person with no ties to SOS.

Fact: This was posted on the SOS Facebook page by a visitor, not by a member of SOS and does not represent the position of SOS in any way. (In fact, this visitor is pro-Apex. Was this post intentionally done to create these untruths about SOS?). This post has been removed.

Fact: No one from SOS ever said or wrote those words to anyone!

Please know that cryptic emails, quotes and asking for residents to rise up and malign the farmers of this community does not represent what the members of SOS are about. They are our neighbors, friends and family.

If anything they would like to keep the lines of communication open so that they can continue dialogue with our farm community as to what they perceive as the “downside” of wind turbines for them and us.

When you see assertions go too far and overstated together with what seems a little far from the truth, it probably is.

Tanis C. Bolick
Lyndonville

Editor:

This is an open letter to the people of the Town of Yates. I am writing this letter to ask for your support in the upcoming election, Nov. 3 in the town of Yates.

Many of you have known me for years but, for those of you who don’t, let me tell you a little about myself. My wife of 41 years and I grew up in this community and two of our children are raising their families in Yates.

I have been a Town Board member since 2004 and have had the privilege of serving as your Town Supervisor since 2010. Being active in the Lions Club and sponsoring the Little League in the town has kept me actively involved with many of the residents here.

Needless to say, I LOVE THIS TOWN. I want to see it prosper.

During my time on the board I have worked beside the other board members to protect our town and improve it. We were instrumental in helping new businesses establish themselves here. Two examples would be Medina Window and Millers General Store. We have always done everything we could to support the farming community in our town.

Unfortunately, we have also had businesses that have closed due to retirement as well as family and financial issues. As unwelcome as these closings have been for all of us, the circumstances are beyond the control of the board.

Just like you, I want this town to blossom and regenerate. We, (the Town Board and I) will continue to do everything we can to keep existing businesses here while also providing new businesses tools to open and succeed.

I have always worked hard to support the whole town and the majority wishes. I believe that together we can bring back the vibrant, thriving Main Street that so many of us grew up with.

I am asking for your vote on Nov. 3. Again, thank you for your support to ensure that our children and grandchildren will be able to grow and succeed without having to leave our beautiful town.

Thank you,

John Belson
Yates Town Supervisor

Editor:

I am writing to encourage the voters of the Town of Yates to support Jim Simon for Town Supervisor and John Riggi & Glenn Maid for Town Board.

I have been a resident of the Town of Yates for 33 years, a member and past president of the Lyndonville Lions Club, a past member & president of the Lyndonville Area Foundation, past chairman of the Lions 4th of July and former Superintendent of Schools. I started attending the Town Board meetings in January 2015, and I was dismayed at the way our Town Board conducts its business.

First of all there was a lack of professionalism among the board. Several members dress as if they are going to a summer picnic. On several occasions, members of the audience who were speaking were belittled and disrespected by the board members. There is a lack of understanding of parliamentary procedure and there is no discussion on the issues. Everything seems to be rubber-stamped. To the public, there is a lack of transparency.

The upcoming election is not a vote on the Lighthouse Wind Project, but on the ineptness of the Town Board to represent its citizens. The Lighthouse Wind Project will be worked out by the process set up by the State of New York. The Town Board is a different story.

Our Town Supervisor has been aware of this project since July 2014. Yet the town has not sent out any informational letters or newsletters to the residents. There is very little information on the Town of Yates website. Most of the information provided to citizens has come from SOS in the form of presentations, workshops and their website. Where are our leaders?

The Town Board has not responded to the many questions and presentations made to the board about this project. They have not discussed the issues in public and in some cases they have not even read the materials presented to them.

The issue this Tuesday is not if you are in favor or oppose to the Lighthouse Wind Project, the real issue is the ability of this board to represent all the citizens of Yates, to be leaders on this and other issues, to keep the public informed and stop burying there heads in the sand and saying we have no part in the decision.

As a major steakholder in the project they have a great deal of input. As County Legislator Lynne Johnson stated, “The role of government should not be to harm the very citizens it is charged to protect.”

It is time for change.

Richard P. Pucher
Lyndonville

Editor:

Years ago, I worked at a community college that was trying to meet the needs of disabled students. Accessibility was just becoming mandatory, and whether the students were capable or not, the college had to accept them. Our task was to make sure they were able to get through their courses.

All these students knew they had to work three times as hard to get half as far, and they all knew by the time they graduated that they would have a difficult time getting jobs. The interviewer would see the white cane, the hearing aids, the walker, or the wheelchair before he would see the person’s capabilities.

One profoundly deaf student was enrolled in Automotive Technology, and his teachers had misgivings that he would be able to get through because he couldn’t diagnose engine noises. One day a car came in with an engine tick. All the students took turns using an automotive stethoscope in the attempt to figure out, unsuccessfully, which lifter was bad.

As a joke, the last one handed the deaf student the ‘scope.’ He waved it aside and placed his fingers on the exposed rocker arms. Within 30 seconds, he had pinpointed the problem. Nobody else even considered tactile sense as an option.

Because accessibility is not 100 percent anywhere, disabled people have to think outside of the box. This is Mr. Bower’s trademark. Mr. Drennan has a tag line of “Experience Matters,” meaning on-the-road, behind-the-badge experience. Both he and Mr. Organisciak have insisted that physical experience is most important, because Mr. Bower can never achieve that. This is why, whether he anticipated or it was in response to this, Mr. Bower has had an undersheriff from the very start. It was never really about the undersheriff. It was about having an answer to his opponents’ claims.

It is also not about “having the undersheriff do all the work for the sheriff.” The sheriff’s job is to coordinate the different aspects of his office (jail, animal control, etc.) and to keep everything moving smoothly. It is the undersheriff’s job to do the daily assignments and to manage the road patrol. So while it is not necessary to pick an undersheriff before an election, it has been a bonus for the public to know exactly with whom they will be dealing directly.

As for me, I would like to have a sheriff who can anticipate and be pro-active, rather than reactive. I would like a sheriff who can postulate all the contingencies and be prepared, with a solid plan in place.

Before this race, I never imagined any county could have a sheriff who happens to have his own personal wheels, but after having watched and having talked to many people, I can’t imagine anyone better than Randy Bower to meet the needs of the people of this county.

Judith Larkin
Ridgeway

Editor:

As we approach Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, I would like to take this opportunity to ask the people of Orleans County to join me in supporting Randy Bower for sheriff.

My name is Christopher M. Bourke and Randy Bower has asked me to serve as his Undersheriff, should he be so privileged to win this election.

I began my career at the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office in 1984. I was hired as a part-time correction officer in the Orleans County Jail. In 1985 I was promoted to corporal.

In January 1986 I was appointed to be a deputy sheriff in the criminal division of the Sheriff’s Office. I was then an acting sergeant in the late 1980’s due to the absence of a shift supervisor on the midnight shift.

In 1997 I was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. I successfully completed Police Supervision and Command School, FBI Hostage and Crisis Negotiators Certification and Criminal Investigator School. In 1997 I researched and created the first full-time K-9 unit in the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

More recently I was appointed by Sheriff Hess as the commander of the sheriff’s marine division and supervisor to the Stone Garden grant project. This grant consists of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Homeland Security money secured to protect the citizens of Orleans County and its infrastructure.

It has been an amazing experience working with Randy Bower for the last 30 years. I have witnessed the knowledge, passion and kindness Randy demonstrates in his job on a daily basis. Everyday, Randy Bower brings his leadership skills and problem solving abilities to work to keep the citizens and first responders of Orleans County safe.

I can say, with absolute certainty, that Randy Bower is a leader and person that can bring people together to get the job done. Randy and I have traveled across Orleans County for the last several months meeting people and listening to their concerns.

We reached out to people without regard of their political affiliation or social economic status. We had a message that I believe resonated with people. We want to make the Office of Sheriff as “The People’s Sheriff,” which is unique in Orleans County.

Our message isn’t about serving a political party, special interest group, or a few powerbrokers. It is about the people of Orleans County.

Together Randy and I will train and equip our men and women so they can serve the public in the best way possible. We will treat all employees with respect and dignity and demand professionalism every day. We will move the Sheriff’s Office forward, always keeping the citizens and taxpayers’ best interest in mind.

I ask you to join me in voting for Randy Bower, your sheriff, on Tuesday Nov. 3rd.

Thank you and God bless the people of Orleans County and the United States of America.

Christopher M. Bourke
Waterport

Editor:

The results are in on The Batavia News Survey on Wind Energy Support, as included in the Oct. 27 article (Vote Now: Lighthouse Wind: Supporters growing, feel underestimated).

Interestingly, the News Survey results (72% Opposed, 28% Support), closely correlate to the SOS survey results as performed in Yates (77.9% Opposed, 19.5% Support, 2.6% No Opinion).

By design, the survey respondent pool was not limited to only Somerset/Yates Town Residents, but was open to anyone to voice their opinion.

It is gratifying to see that the general population is, in fact, opposed to the specter of APEX’s Lighthouse Wind Industrial Wind Turbine Emplacement Project.

The positive survey result is welcome news. They serve to increase SOS’ resolve to defeat the APEX Lighthouse Wind Industrial Wind Turbine Emplacement Project.

Thank You,

John Riggi
Endorsed Republican candidate for Yates Town Board
President, Save Ontario Shores, Inc.

Editor:

As I made clear in a recent article in the Lake Country Pennysaver, industrial wind turbine zones like the one Apex is proposing in Yates and Somerset, would have a negative impact on flight operations.

As a former U.S. Air Force helicopter pilot, I can assure you that aviators – from C-130 military pilots from Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station to Mercy Flight and State Police helicopter pilots – will have their flight operations restricted in and around wind turbine zones.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not require wind turbine zones to depict each and every wind turbine. Therefore, pilots will not know exactly where each wind turbine is actually located in their mission planning phase.

Also, each turbine does not operate its own anti-collision strobe light. In most cases, every third or fourth turbine operates a strobe light. Also, the strobe lights are on the nacelle (hub) of the turbine, while the tips of the spinning blades could be 150-feet above that height.

So what does this matter? In daytime and good weather, it is not difficult to see and avoid wind turbines. However, in marginal weather – especially at night – these wind farms are very difficult to navigate around (or land near in the case of a helicopter) in order to accomplish the aviation mission.

If Apex builds 70 of these massive 570-foot turbines in Yates and Somerset, there will be a negative impact on aviation. I don’t know about you, but I love the roar of the C-130s flying low-level in the unrestricted airspace above our town. That would be eliminated if the Apex turbines are built.

What impact would that airspace loss have on the viability of the air base in the next round of Congressional base closure proceedings? Additionally, these wind turbine zones would make it more difficult for medivac or police helicopter pilots to accomplish their important work.

Respectfully,
Jim Simon (Lt Col, USAF-Retired)

(Editor’s Note: Simon is a write-in candidate for Yates town supervisor.)

Editor:

Plenty has been said about two of the three highly qualified candidates for Orleans County Sheriff.

Little has been said about Don Organisciak, the candidate with the most experience. If experience matters, Don’s law enforcement tenure of 30 years exceeds that of both Tom Drennan and Randy Bower. Furthermore, Don’s Medina Police Department service was gained outside the Sheriff’s Department. It includes 13 years as an investigator.

But his experience extends even beyond those 30 years. Don was a school resource officer at Lyndonville High School for two years. In that capacity, he interacted regularly with teens as counselor, mentor and disciplinarian. LC.S. personnel (plural) have praised him for the respect he demonstrated toward all students. My sister-in-law, Lisa, was just one of them.

A few years ago, Arizona was embroiled in a controversy over the so-called “Papers, Please” law. It was Constitutionally-flawed, to say the least, if it permitted law enforcement to ask for documentation with no more “probable cause” than someone’s appearance. Nonetheless, while such a law is on the books, law enforcement is obligated to enforce it, as determinations of Constitutionality belong to the courts.

As professionals, sheriffs certainly should understand such things. Picking and choosing what laws to enforce in not an option. For a sheriff, publicly defying the law is not an option.

Don Organisciak knows that, of all people, a sheriff must operate within the law. How can the general public be expected to respect the law if their sheriff doesn’t?

For these reasons, I urge the voters of Orleans County to support Don Organisciak for Orleans County Sheriff.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent
Albion

Editor:

After speaking with the fire chief of Lyndonville Fire Department, who has spoken with Mercy Flight crew members and flight directors, I am writing this letter in response to the concerned citizens of the Village of Lyndonville and the Town of Yates concerning the Letter to the Editor on the Orleans Hub.

The article topic was windmills and Mercy Flight. The person who wrote the article stated that if the windmills come into our area that our community’s safety is at risk because Mercy Flight will not come into the area. That statement is false.

The fire chief has spoken to Mercy Flight personally and they stated that they have actually landed in between windmills in other areas. The biggest concern they have with any upright structures is lighting. The biggest problem they run up against is cell towers not being lit up, not windmills.

When Mercy Flight is called in to transport patients, the fire company and ambulance crews are in contact with the aircraft to establish landing zones. The pilot prefers they land on a hard surface such as a road or parking lot.

Rest assured, Mercy Flight will always be here when the weather and availability allows them to whether or not the windmills or any other towering structures come into our area.

Linda Fisk
Lyndonville

Editor:

I’d like to say one last thing on the race for Orleans County Sheriff. There has been much said, over and over and over again, about the fact that Randy Bower has not spent any time behind a badge.

If you think it is all that is needed to become the Orleans County Sheriff, maybe people should know a few things about some former sheriffs. First of all, our former Sheriff David Green was not an officer and spent no time behind a badge or in the Sheriff’s Department whatsoever prior to being elected.

Secondly, our neighboring county, Monroe, had a sheriff (Andrew Meloni) that served over two decades as probably the most successful elected official in Monroe County (a quote from the Democrat & Chronicle). He started at the Sheriff’s Department as a part-time clerk.

So, just because you have a badge doesn’t mean you’re automatically qualified or entitled to the job. Just a little food for thought.

I support Randy Bower for sheriff whole-heartedly and will be proud to call him our next sheriff.

Margo Passarell
Holley

Editor:

Throughout my adult life, I’ve mostly worked for non-profit organizations. As a teacher, hospital and college administrator, health center and animal shelter fundraiser and the like, the mission was to improve lives in the communities I served.

Almost 20 years ago, I stumbled upon many teachers and guides who encouraged me to work on my own issues, physical, emotional and spiritual. So began the path of my own healing work and eventually the founding of a healing center in Albion, Paradise Healing Arts.

My weekly column, Making Choices, some may recall, was published continuously for over 15 years across the northeast in many Free Community Papers like our own Lake Country Pennysaver. Over the years, thousands wrote to share how this column had helped them in some way. It was also a way I helped myself heal.

And next I embarked on becoming a licensed massage therapist. For 17 years now, the skills I have developed in this field through continuous training and practice have helped people of all ages in my community and far beyond to heal and become more vital in their lives.

Last, but certainly not least, I was challenged with a very difficult job as a single parent of a child who didn’t fit into any mold. Now a very intelligent and creative 32-year-old, he told me about 6 months ago, “Mom, thanks for staying in my life. If you hadn’t believed in me, always been there for me, when no one else was, I wouldn’t be so happy now.”

So what does any of this matter for a candidate running for town office? If I had not learned how to take care of my own physical, emotional and family matters, I could not devote creativity, time and energy to my community like it deserves and is in dire need of.

Albion deserves better. As a child, I remember a thriving, safe, enjoyable community; the smell of Hunt Foods processing tomatoes in the autumn, Lipton’s making soup for the whole country, Santa Claus School and Park where people came from around the world to learn and enjoy the magic, Bird’s Eye foods growing and shipping vegetables nationwide.

Main Street was full of retail shops, grocery stores, a movie theater, soda shops, shoe repair and newsstands, etc. Shopping on my bike for a three-dollar Mother’s Day gift was an adventure for a 7-year-old to be remembered forever.

If our neighboring town of Medina can be reborn, we can do it too! We can’t just imagine a thriving Main Street but more importantly, economic development and shared services that encourage sustainable growth; a place for our youth to come back to with their higher education or skills to make a difference.

Let’s work together, not complain together at local coffee venues, to make Albion better. Let’s clean up the landfill problem, the apathy, nepotism and misuse of our tax dollars and get to work. I have hundreds of people, young and old, across all political lines, who are on board with this way of thinking. Together we can do it!

Just as I have recreated my life and helped the lives of my clients and son, I can help recreate Albion to be economically, environmentally and socially vital once again. We can do it if you vote on Nov. 3 for Darlene Benton, Albion Town Board. Please vote. Your voice matters to Albion and the future of our children and community.

Respectfully,
Darlene Benton
Albion

Editor:

Back in September, I wrote a letter to the editor explaining the importance of the process of electing our next sheriff. The election of a sheriff in each county is the equivalent of allowing each voter the opportunity to check the qualifications and experience of each candidate and select your next “Chief Law Enforcement Officer.”

I compared this process to a government body, like a city council or village board, interviewing and selecting their next police chief. In both cases, you are choosing someone to lead, in most cases, the largest law enforcement agency in the county. That is certainly the case in Orleans County.

Much has been said over the past couple of months about experience. Experience matters. In fact, experience is the most importance aspect of choosing our next sheriff. The problem is, that experience needs to relevant! We are choosing our next chief law enforcement executive.

In order to demonstrate what relevant law enforcement experience for a sheriff is, I decided to embark on a research project for all of the voters in the county. What qualifies you to be sheriff? What experience do other sheriffs in New York State have?

In New York State, there are no formal, legislated qualifications for sheriff. The New York State Sheriff’s Association, which is the professional organization of sheriffs across the state, supports standards that include background checks and relevant law enforcement, public safety, legal, or military experience. You can learn more about the association’s support of these standards by clicking here.

Across New York State, there is a very clear pattern of what qualifies you to be sheriff. Being a police officer is a start! There are 57 sheriffs outside New York City. I reviewed their experience and career path and found they fell into distinct categories.

Thirty-four sheriffs worked their way up through the ranks of the Sheriff’s Office. The average number of years of experience the sheriffs in this category have was about 33 years.

The second category I found was former New York State Troopers. Eleven sheriffs fall into this category, and all of them worked their way up through the ranks of the State Police at some level. The average experience in this category is 37 years.

A third category were former municipal police chiefs. Five sheriffs in New York State have served as the chief of a local agency before becoming sheriff. Another five sheriffs were municipal police officers who worked up through the ranks of their agency. These two categories average 33 years of experience.

Lastly, there were are a couple of sheriffs who don’t fall into these categories – and yet they are still have real experience – one with 20 years’ experience as a judge and another who retired from United States Army as a brigadier general! Now that’s leadership experience!

The point of all of this is simple. Voters across New York State expect their sheriffs to be experienced law enforcement officers. Not only do they expect them to be law enforcement officers, they expect them to have “been there, done that,” working their way through the ranks during their career in whatever agency that may have been with. During their career, they learn to supervise. They learn to manage. They learn to lead. Without that professional growth, they would not be capable of performing the duties of the Office of the Sheriff.

In the Sheriff’s race in Orleans County, there are three candidates. The candidate who won the Republican endorsement has absolutely no relevant experience. He is not, and never has been a police officer. He isn’t even qualified to be a recruit officer at a local police agency. Why would we elect him sheriff?

The Democratic Party candidate was a police officer, but has no command or management experience, and has been retired for over seven years! Think about how much things change in seven years and about how relevant any experience he has remains so today.

Only one candidate for sheriff has committed his entire life and career to the citizens of Orleans County, and has taken the necessary career steps to establish himself as the most qualified candidate. Tom Drennan has worked hard to improve himself and work his way through the ranks of the Sheriff’s Office – gaining the real world experience you need to lead a modern day law enforcement agency.

Not only is Tom the most qualified to be our next sheriff from his law enforcement experience, he has dedicated his entire adult life to public service through his over 33 years of service to the Kendall Fire Department. He is the ONLY candidate that adds that experience to his resume.

The choice is simple and clear. Tom Drennan is the best choice for sheriff. He has the best qualifications. He has the most relevant experience. He is the most dedicated to our public safety. He has made public safety his life’s work. He is MY choice for sheriff and he should be yours, too!

Joseph Grube
Gaines

Editor:

On October 17, the Orleans County Republicans held a “Fall Rally.” This was a very nice event put on by the Ridgeway Republicans.

A wonderful meal was furnished by the Ridgeway Fire Company’s Ladies Auxillary. Former State Sen. George Maziarz, current State Sen. Rob Ortt and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley were in attendance, as well as local officials endorsed by the Republican Party.

However, a dark cloud was cast over the evening. A night of unity among Republicans was overshadowed by a few (supposedly) Republicans. These few supposed Republicans made it very obvious that they were supporting a man endorsed by another party! Blatant disloyalty!

They apparently feel that the Republican choice for sheriff is not theirs. They feel that they don’t need to follow their party’s choice! What happened to party loyalty!?!

These same people will come up for re-election and will want an endorsement! Well, guess what, vote for who you want! Don’t publicly display signs for the opposition candidate while you are an enrolled Republican!

The NYS Sheriffs Association and NYS Corrections Union have both endorsed Randy Bower for sheriff. These two state-wide law enforcement organizations evaluated all of the candidates for sheriff and selected Randy Bower to endorse.

Republicans, stay loyal to your party! Vote Republican! Vote Randy Bower! Your Sheriff!

David Wells Sr.
Medina
“Enrolled Republican for 57 years”