Editor:

I’m writing to let everyone in the Village of Albion and the surrounding town know that I will be in the Village of Albion board room every other Tuesday starting Sept. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The reason for this is to let anyone who would like to come in and talk on how we can improve the village. This will give you a chance to be heard, ask questions, get your suggestion heard.

I know we have work to be done and it is going to take some time so we have to start someplace and all of your suggestions will be a great help. I know one thing is we need to work on getting more businesses downtown. This is a time for you to vent so please come and talk to me.

Stanley Farone
Albion village trustee

Editor:

Dear Orleans County residents, make your voice heard!

You’ve seen the signs. You’ve heard the talk around town. You’ve read numerous editorials.

Orleans County will be electing a new Sheriff in November. The Sheriff is the only elected law enforcement officer. Their responsibility is to protect us not just from crime, but from violations of the Constitution.

It is your responsibility to vote wisely! It’s not too late!!

You have until Oct. 9 to register to vote in the November election. You can go online and get all the information you need to do so by clicking here. (If you need to do a change of address with the board of elections, you have until Oct. 14.)

Then, once you are registered to vote, get educated about the candidates! A great opportunity to meet and learn about the candidates will be at the Orleans County Sheriff Candidate Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. The event will be held at the Albion Elks Lodge #1006 located at 428 West State St. in Albion. Doors will open at 6:30 pm.

Orleans County SCOPE and New York Revolution are proud to be working together to bring this educational event to the citizens of Orleans County. We hope you will take advantage of this incredible opportunity to hear from the candidates in person and get answers to any questions that you may have.

Be an informed voter when you head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3. We look forward to seeing you at the forum!

Sincerely,

Mattie Zarpentine, Regional Director, New York Revolution
David Thom, Chairman, Orleans County SCOPE

Editor:

This letter is meant for the high school student that I saw today (Sept. 24, 2015), driving a dark Malibu or Impala into the Albion Middle School driveway.

You had a friend with you, and were attempting to cross East Avenue and turn left into the school driveway at about 3:30 this afternoon. That in itself doesn’t seem so bad, but you were clearly looking at your phone and trying to either read or send a text. It clearly made your attempt to make your turn that much more difficult.

You see, I was in a school bus and witnessed your turn. I could see very clearly what was going on as I was trying to turn left onto the avenue myself from the school.

How would you feel if you had a little brother or sister on that bus and we were involved in an accident because you were texting while driving? And lastly, what would be your parents reaction to an accident of any kind be?

In the future, wait until you are parked, or give your phone to your friend.

Peter Toenniessen
Albion

Editor:

As a longtime resident of the Town of Somerset, I have watched for months as numerous yellow signs against the proposed wind turbine project have gone up in front of concerned property owners’ homes.

Within the last several weeks, white signs supporting the project have appeared primarily on open farm land leased by Apex Clean Energy. One phrase on these white signs includes “Fear Not the Wind”.

I don’t fear the wind; I fear the potential health and environmental impacts, the slaughter of migrating birds and bats, and property devaluation with the loss of our bucolic landscape.

Another line reads “Harvest the Wind”. I support harvesting the wind by micro turbines with smaller footprints and I support the use of solar panels, geothermal systems, hydropower, and actually conserving energy so less power needs to be generated. The only thing to be harvested by these proposed 570-foot-tall monstrosities is our tax dollars. They are not profitable to construct and operate without tax subsidies.

I noticed a new version of these white signs a few days ago that I find offensive. They include the phrase “Support Our Farms”. Seriously? If we don’t support industrial wind turbines, we don’t support farms?

In 2005 the Town of Somerset adopted a policy which made this a Right-to-Farm community. A portion of this policy, as posted on the town’s website, reads “It is the purpose of this article to reduce the loss to the Town of Somerset of its agricultural resources by limiting the circumstances under which farming may be deemed a nuisance and to allow agricultural practices inherent to and necessary for the business of farming to proceed and be undertaken free of unreasonable and unwarranted interference or restriction.”

The town’s Comprehensive Plan states repeatedly how important agriculture is to our area and I support the town’s efforts in this regard. Does “Support Our Farms” imply that our local farms cannot be successful without wind turbines?

It is wonderful to see that several local farms have enjoyed dramatic expansions in recent years and represent a bright spot in our rural economy. I understand that farm commodity prices are very volatile but that has always been inherent in any agriculturally based business.

I don’t know who is responsible for producing these white signs but if it’s Apex Clean Energy, I suggest they hire a new PR firm. They’ve really missed the mark on this one.

Pamela Atwater
Barker

Editor:

“My plan is much better than his plan.” What plan? It doesn’t matter, because all of my plans are better than any of their plans. Of course, you have to take my word for it, as I haven’t really said how I will do much of anything.

But I will be great on national security, amazing on the military, better than any of our generals. I will have the best negotiators. All of our leaders are stupid. The deal with Iran is weak, because the negotiators were incompetent. What do you mean? Well, I know them, and they are incompetent. I see. Thanks for clearing that up.

Ending birthright citizenship? “A lot of people think it can be done.” Without a Constitutional amendment? “A lot of Constitutional scholars disagree (that an amendment would be required).” So, you have found some “Constitutional scholars” who think the 14th amendment can be undone without amending the Constitution? “Oh yeah, a lot of people agree.” Do any of them know anything about the Constitution? Or, did they take a course on the Constitution and put out a “shingle?”

Donald Trump makes “simple” believable. We all like “simple.” Why wouldn’t we? It is great when things are “simple.” When someone with his money asserts something is “simple,” it can have believability. Just as when Glenn Beck made one ridiculous statement after another on his television program. At times Beck appeared to be doing his best to incite frustrated and gullible people to revolution. He had a microphone and corporate sponsorship on a television network. Wow, there must be something to what he says. He has since been on a bit of an “apology tour.”

Mike Huckabee is taken seriously when he compares the “tyranny” of the unelected justices of the Supreme Court of the United States under the Constitution to King George III’s tyranny before the American Revolution? Same sex marriage is not the law? It is not Constitutional?

Sorry, Mike, same sex marriage is Constitutional if the Supreme Court says it is Constitutional. The Founding Fathers provided a Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution and decide exactly such matters. They provided that federal justices would be unelected in order to insulate them to some degree from politics.

About two weeks ago, I got a call from a person advocating a “Constitutional sheriff.” After a few minutes, I asked her if she was familiar with Article Six of the Constitution. She would like sheriffs to be required to take a course on the Constitution. Amen to that. Understanding the implications of “probable cause” should be a primary focus of such a course.

Based on many news reports, equal protection of the laws should be another point of emphasis. She wants sheriffs to be accessible to the public. Amen to that. She also suggested that, since they were elected, and presumably somewhat independent, they should be able to decide which laws they should enforce and which laws they should not enforce. Huh?

Though the local woman I spoke with at length does not, we have a boatload of people with microphones and, hence, perceived credibility, telling people all sorts of questionable things. I do not care if Donald Trump can find 250,000,000 Americans who think the Constitution can be changed by passing a law, it cannot. The fact that Colorado tried to pass a law imposing term limits on United States Senators in the late 1990’s did not mean it had any chance of “flying.” The Constitution would require amending to make term limits possible.

With the election of an African-American President, Constitutional amnesia has risen to a level more akin to dementia. Our Constitutional system is something we are stuck with regardless of an election’s outcome. It says what it says, whether we have read and understood it or not.

One of the things the Constitution provides for is elections and respect for the will of the majorityeven if we are not part of it. Elections have consequences. Those of us who were in the minority (evidently) suffered through eight years of utter incompetence while Cheney ruled. We are still paying for it. Though we haven’t lost 5,000 Americans in a disastrous war, Obama hasn’t succeeded in undoing the damage done by his predecessor’s Pollyanna policies.

The bottom line is that, regardless of what you may want to hear, believing something because of who says it can have its pitfalls.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent
Albion

Editor:

We need new leadership on the Town Board of Yates. Having narrowly missed winning the Republican primary, I am compelled to run a write-in campaign for town supervisor. I am willing to do it in order to serve all Yates residents regardless of party affiliation.

A significant majority of the residents of Yates are against Apex’s Lighthouse Wind project. I am convinced that Yates is opposed to Apex and loss of home rule after hosting a debate for and against industrial wind turbines at Genesee Community College; by going door-to-door the past eight weeks and speaking to hundreds of residents about the Apex proposal; by closely reading the hundreds of comments on the Public Service Commission website about the project; by seeing the hundreds of no-wind-turbine lawn signs across our town; and by listening to the public comments made by concerned residents at town board meetings these past 9 months.

Our Town Board found out about Apex in October of 2014. If I had been the town supervisor then, I would have been shocked to learn that Apex had secretly signed leases before the Town Board even knew they were in town.

I would have pushed for a resolution declaring a halt to all further discussions with Apex until they signed the NYS Wind Ethics code. For our town supervisor to claim there is nothing that can be done is very troubling. Meanwhile, Apex continues to sign leases behind our backs and refuses to sign the wind ethics code.

The Yates Town Board agreed on Aug. 13 to conduct a survey in order to gauge the will of the people. This was a welcome step, but long overdue. Our neighboring Town of Somerset decided to do a survey and had the design, development, implementation and publication of the results completed within 4 weeks.

In Somerset, 67 percent of respondents are against Apex’s proposal! That was in May. Had I been the town leader with such a monumental decision facing our town, I would have immediately launched a parallel survey effort to match Somerset.

No action was taken in Yates for 5 months. Now, over a month has passed since the decision was made to do the Yates survey, and we were told on Sept. 9 that it could be several more weeks before the survey is even written and months before the results are available. This is unacceptable.

If elected, I will establish a Business Development Committee to help us seek ways to attract businesses. I will institute a community-wide Renewable Energy Task Force to explore alternative energy sources like solar, geothermal, micro-wind and other forms of clean energy. I will seek grant funding to enhance our town park with restrooms and a playground. I will try to leverage USDA Rural Development funds to extend clean water to all town residents.

I will stop Apex and the State from industrializing our town against our will.
My town is worth serving. I ask for your vote.

James Simon
Yates

Editor:

I am concerned about the dysfunction in our Sheriff’s Department. The nasty airing of laundry from active employees in support of one candidate or the other was just plain inappropriate.

How can these men continue to work together for the good of our county if there are such differences between them?

Two points I wish to make here.

1) I think that it would be more appropriate for candidates to step away from their positions to campaign for elected office. I also think that government employees should not be allowed to campaign for any candidate. The only candidate that should not have to step away from current position would be an official running for re-election!

2) I am glad that there is a third candidate that has no previous relationship to the current department. Perhaps a breath of fresh air is needed to rehabilitate a department in disarray.

Sincerely,

Dayton Hausman
Medina

Editor:

Regarding the effort by State Assemblyman Steve Hawley with the Lake Ontario State Parkway: I would like to commend Hawley on his interest in improving the Parkway.

Sounds like the assemblyman was provoked into action by irate constituents. While I’m not a constituent, my family and friends pay property taxes in both Monroe and Orleans counties. We use the Parkway weekly three seasons a year, and monthly over the winter months.

But Hawley’s solution for the deterioration the Parkway is misguided. Perhaps he should read the state Moto “EXCELSIOR” (Ever Upward). By shutting down the northbound lane (west bound), it would remove the most scenic parts of the parkway in Orleans County – not to mention, making it private lands for the few, not the many, as first intended by Robert Moses.

Instead the assemblyman should use his levers of power to make sure proper funding for maintenance is in the State Budget. So we, New Yorkers, continue to enjoy the Seaway Trail, a National Scenic Byway in this jurisdiction, as a world-class byway.

This could be accomplished by Hawley and other Western New York state legislators, lobbying for proper maintenance and improvement funding, such as adding a few scenic rest stops close to the lake, with fishing piers and benches to watch sunsets.

With those improvements maybe more tourists will head to Point Breeze, and other Orleans County destinations while on a wonderful scenic drive.

Respectfully,

Timothy J. Flavin
Rochester

Editor:

Just recently I had a letter to the editor published expressing my disappointment with how law enforcement leaders handled the situation at the local mosque.

Now I would like to say that I applaud our law enforcement officials for bringing the Hate Crime charges against the individuals for the terrible acts that they committed. I believe that these charges are appropriate and send the message that these crimes will not be tolerated in our community.

I hope to see the individuals convicted and I also hope to see the World Sufi Foundation and their community grow stronger in the face of adversity, as they have done many times before.

To our law enforcement leaders – thank you for sending a message.

To the World Sufi Foundation – keep being great!

Sincerely,

James White
Gaines
Candidate for Orleans County Legislature

Editor:

Though Hollywood producers seem obsessed with films focusing on apocalyptic events, in the real world the human race has to take a longer view.

It is either take the long view, or act in such a short-sighted manner as to help fulfill the predictions of doomsday prophets.

The Sept. 15 “Sustainability Fair” at Holy Family Parish’s Lyceum (5:30 p.m.) will provide numerous perspectives on better securing our long-term future as residents of “Mother Earth.”

The first thing I wrote alerting people to the “Sustainability Fair” focused on economic sustainability in food production. Some may have concluded from that discussion that individual self-sufficiency in food production might be ideal. For most people who live in the “developed” world, the concept of individual self-sufficiency is unrealistic, even if one thinks of it as ideal.

Sustainability of food production systems is directly related to the impact of those systems on the environment humans have to live in. Forcing crop cultivation into areas too arid to support it backfired in the 1930’s Dust Bowl.

Growing the same crop on the same ground indefinitely is a risky proposition. Failure to strip crop or, in more hilly tropical areas, failure to terrace fields can be a recipe for food shortages and failed farms. Agricultural experts at Iowa State University have suggested severe flooding in the Midwest may be related to over-reliance on corn as a cash crop.

In deciding how we go about producing the food that we must have, we certainly benefit from considering the effect food production methods have on our environment. An approach which devastated the biological allies we depend on would be short-sighted and, ultimately, catastrophic.

There are areas where so-called “second-generation” rodenticide use is prevalent enough that, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology publication, “Living Bird,” raptors consuming poisoned rats, voles and mice die as a result. Without the aid of raptors, environmental deterioration would be inevitable.

One of the premier “mousers” is the red fox. Having too many fox(es) certainly has a big downside. Without a healthy raptor population and no foxes, the result might well be far less agricultural productivity due to rodent-related losses. Habitat preservation is vital to maintaining needed balance.

Any practice that upsets a reasonable natural balance can result in unacceptable alternatives whether they be greater reliance on poison, or reduced food production, either of which would be unsustainable.

Often overlooked allies in the struggle for sustainable food production are the lowly amphibians. A single garden toad was estimated to be worth almost 20 1947 dollars! While that raised my eyebrows when I read it, there is no doubt that toads and frogs can be invaluable allies to anyone attempting to grow food.

As an amphibian admirer since the age of 4 (we make special provisions for them), I can say without equivocation, that 2015 has to be number one in leopard frog reproduction in my experience. There is, nonetheless, reason to be concerned about the long-term viability of our amphibians.

The health of Orleans County’s raptor population (kestrels, hawks, eagles and owls) and, perhaps, its amphibians as well, suggests that, at least here, we are doing pretty well. The healthy coexistence between people and some of their more important allies on the food production sustainability front seems relatively intact.
The challenge is for us to sustain that coexistence for the long-term.

Gary F. Kent
Albion

Editor:

I was reading the Sept. 6 issue of the Lake Country Pennysaver. Amongst the myriad of political advertisements in the sheriff primary race was the column, “To Protect and Serve”. The fifth section down was a story of a 42-year-old man arrested for a variety of DWI charges of the most serious type.

He allegedly was drinking in the vehicle, scoring a BAC of more than three times the illegal limit. State Troopers observed him driving recklessly (changing lanes unsafely, and failure to keep right). This means as he drove he was heading right for you, your family, your teenager, your friends. Thank God no one was hurt.

He was processed by law enforcement and given appearance tickets to return to Barre Town Court on September 17. Yes, I said “appearance tickets.” Nothing will stop this man from drinking and driving in the mean time except his good judgment and common sense, which he seems to possess very little of.

One of my best friends was killed by a drunk driver while that driver was waiting for a court appearance. I would like to know why this man was not jailed right away pending court. Remember, the title of the news column was “To protect and serve”. Hardly.

As we get wrapped up in the excitement of upcoming elections, let us not forget we have a responsibility to make sure those already in elected office are doing their jobs. Letting a public danger drive around drunk doesn’t make it. He should have been jailed pending bail. That would have been the safe thing to do.

With all respect,

Al Capurso
Gaines

Editor:

Chris Bourke and I have the knowledge, experience, and desire to serve the people of Orleans County. The time is now to give the Office of Sheriff back to the people.

For those of you who have witnessed our campaign over the past eight months, I pledge to you that we will have the same work ethic, drive, and accessibility as your sheriff and undersheriff that has been present in our campaign efforts.

It is a team approach I am bringing to the Office of Sheriff, and you are a part of the team. As the People’s Sheriff, I will focus my service on the people and be an effective advocate for Orleans County. When necessary, I will lobby Albany and our local governments for our public safety needs. We don’t work for the State of New York or any special interests; we work for you, the people of Orleans County. We are a team opposed to the SAFE Act.

Chris and I will work as hard for you as we have with this campaign for sheriff. As lifelong Orleans County residents, coupled with our 60 years of experience, we have a keen awareness of your public safety needs. It is that awareness along with our transparency, availability, and responsiveness that set us apart from my opponent.

My opponent, who is third in command of the department, along with Steve Smith, who is second in command, have occupied these leadership roles for the past eight-plus years. I ask you this – how are they doing? Are they approachable? Are you satisfied with their effectiveness or is it time for a change?

There are two unions that comprise the department’s workforce, and I am proud to have garnered the endorsements of both. It means a lot to me that those hard-working men and women, with their boots on the ground daily, have put their faith in me.

The team is in place to execute our comprehensive plan featuring attainable objectives that will improve all five divisions of the department, at no additional cost to the taxpayers.

In response to a question posed to me many times, “will the county have to buy you a special vehicle at a high taxpayer expense?” The answer is no. I drive a Chrysler minivan. The hand controls are $800 paid for by Chrysler Mobility Program. My vehicle costs less than a patrol car.

I have absolutely loved the entire process of this campaign and meeting all of the great people of Orleans County. Over the past eight months you have inspired me, motivated me, and encouraged me that change for the best is possible.

In closing, I am truly blessed to live a life with great family, friends, and co-workers. I am running for sheriff to serve you, the people of Orleans County, and together we can make our public safety great.

Randy Bower
Holley
Candidate for sheriff

Editor:

Yes, it’s a heated race, both weather wise and temperament wise.

Has there been any finger pointing, or demeaning remarks about anyone from Lt. Chris Bourke? I rest my case. The race for sheriff of Orleans County, the most important election in the county this year, is what I am referring to, and is closing in fast.

The Republican Primary is Thursday, Sept. 10, from noon to 9 p.m. Don’t forget.

The two Smiths, Orleans County Undersheriff Steven Smith and his son Todd Smith from Churchville, which is not in Orleans County, have been hasty in rendering disparaging remarks about our Orleans County deputies, and Sheriff candidate Randy Bower’s campaign.

Todd Smith from Churchville made remarks about Randy Bower’s campaign gestures at the St. Rocco’s Italian Festival held in Hulberton on Sunday. I can understand that some folks may have taken issue with some of the campaign rhetoric, such as red shirts with the slogan “Randy Bower Your Sheriff” imprinted on the back. I was proud enough to have worn mine!

For Todd Smith to have written that the attendance was way off because of that incident is a bit over the top. The weather, and the economy had more to do with a lower attendance, if that was the case. People seemed to be coming and going all the time while I was there.

Myself, I like the heat, bring it on, but my wife literally hates it, and I think some people that could afford to support St. Mary’s and St. Mark’s of Kendall stayed home in the air-conditioned house or in the pool.

At events that I have attended, there certainly haven’t been people in the numbers that there has been in previous years. I didn’t see people driving in, and abruptly turn around to go back out, because of the red shirts. I also didn’t happen to notice people on their cell phones calling their friends, and neighbors, and telling them not to bother coming because of the red shirts. People could not form an opinion unless they were physically there.

This is the scenario that I will throw out to you. I believe it possible that if Tom Drennan is elected Sheriff of Orleans County that Steven Smith will remain the Undersheriff. I could be wrong, but I think Tom Drennan is not naming him beforehand because it may have a detrimental effect on his chances to be elected.

How would a person like to work as a commander in a department with personnel that he has literally run into the ground?

Vote for Randy Bower and his Undersheriff Chris Bourke, and give the Orleans County Sheriff deputies some peace of mind while putting their lives on the line protecting all of us, and our families.

Al Lofthouse
Kendall

(Mr. Lofthouse is chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party, which has endorsed Bower for sheriff.)

Editor:

Voter apathy. It isn’t the way that our founding fathers had in mind, but it is the way it has been done for years in Orleans County.

The leaders of the Republican Party hand pick candidates to fill the available positions up for election. No need for a primary because there is no opposition. The general election comes along, the Republicans get the majority of the votes and victory is declared. End of story! Nothing changes.

Don’t blame the party leaders, they know voter apathy when they see it. They have been doing what must be done to keep the local government running. It does not get the best person into office. Your voice isn’t heard. But now there are signs of unrest and change!

Something new is happening in Carlton Township. Status quo is being challenged. Frank Lauta has successfully collected the number of signatures on petitions to have his name appear on the Primary Ballot for Sept. 10 for the position of Town Board member. Party leaders in the mean time of course picked their candidates with the minimum of fanfare . For the first time in memory we have a horse race, not just a rubber stamp election.

Lauta has forced a primary. Lady Luck is on his side. In a drawing at the election office he won the first slot on the primary ballot.

Lauta is not a radical.

He is not a Tea Party candidate.

He is only a man who has lived here for 14 years, looked at the system that is in place and has decided to improve it, for the benefit of all the citizens of Carlton Township.

He wants to be a servant leader. (Visit his website www.Franklauta.com to see examples.)

He is proposing to be an ally of Gayle Ashbery (Town Supervisor) to bring better government to the town. If you want to be part of it, put aside voter apathy and vote on Sept. 10. Vote for Frank! This will get Frank’s name is on the ballot for the general election in November.

How will the voters respond? Will they ignore the primary on Sept. 10 and allow for more of the “same old-same old” or will they cast their vote for change and a brighter future? The clock is ticking, time will tell.

Paul Zeppetella
Kent

Editor:

The fight against the Industrial Wind Turbine Emplacement Project known as “Lighthouse Wind” has proven enlightening to the residents of Niagara and Orleans counties, especially as we have educated ourselves about the risks and dangers of siting 60 to 70, 600-foot tall industrial wind turbines in and around the citizens of Somerset and Yates.

“Enlightening” is the appropriate descriptor for the current “Pro-Wind” quips: “Fear Not the Wind” and “Harvest the Wind”.

Fear of the wind is not what is concerning the vast majority of those who may be dealing with the resulting Health, Environment, Wildlife and Property Value issues arising from the siting of these massive structures. In fact, the wind is not a concern in the least. Our concern centers around what is actually harvested with the siting of a Industrial Wind Turbine Emplacement Project in Niagara and Orleans counties.

To restate a comment made to the Niagara County Legislature during the August 2015 session, which saw the Legislature unanimously oppose the Apex Lighthouse Wind Industrial Wind Turbine Emplacement Project:

“While leaseholders have a right to farm their property, the concept of harvesting wind as synonymous with farming is a weak argument justifying the destruction of this unique part of Western New York … Leaseholders fail to realize that they do not live on an island, regardless of how many generations they have lived here.”

It is clear that the leaseholders are not the only citizens who have skin in this game. In fact, those with the most to lose are not the leaseholders who want to “harvest the wind.” They will be garnering profits from their leases.

Those with the most skin in the game are the non-leaseholders who are in danger of industrial wind turbines harvesting their very quality of life … Industrial Wind Turbines sited with the approval of our neighbors, the leaseholders.

We don’t “fear the wind.” We fear the “harvesting” of the health and quality of life of Niagara and Orleans counties.

Thank you,

John B. Riggi
Candidate for Yates Town Council
President, Save Ontario Shores, Inc.