Editor:

I must admit that, as a career law enforcement officer, I am disturbed by this past week’s events in the City of Baltimore, Maryland though not surprised.

Freddie Gray, age 25, was a career criminal who was no stranger to the Baltimore Police Department. On April 12th, BPD officer(s) apparently observed Gray acting in a suspicious manner. When they approached him, he ran. When they caught up with him, he was taken into custody. Either during that apprehension or while in police custody, it is alleged Gray sustained injuries that ultimately resulted in his death a week later on April 19th.

Freddie Gray was buried on Monday – April 27th. Almost immediately after the funeral, people took to the streets of Baltimore and began to loot and burn homes and businesses. They were angry about Gray’s death, and their perceived history of oppression by the Baltimore Police.

So the response was to loot and burn their own neighborhoods, and throw huge chunks of concrete at police officers who may not have ever known Freddie Gray, and were tasked with quelling the disturbance. Is there ANYTHING that can justify that type of response? And to make matters worse, the police were ultimately ordered to “stand down” and let the lawlessness go on unabated.

I don’t know what happened to Freddie Gray either during his arrest or in the first few hours that followed. Six police officers have now been charged with some type of responsibility for his death and if that death occurred at the hands of one (or more) of those officers without justification, of course there will be consequences.

Meanwhile, the “so-called” protestors have already begun the celebration. Of course the facts of the case are yet to be determined, but that’s OK as long as the cops got arrested, because any other action by the Maryland State’s Attorney would have resulted in more looting and burning and God knows what else.

Make no mistake, if one (or more) of those six Baltimore Police Officers maliciously murdered Freddie Gray, then of course they should be held accountable. But what about the looters, and arsonists, and “so-called” protestors who assaulted police officers with chunks of concrete and other objects? When will they be held accountable for their crimes? Probably not anytime soon and that’s what I find most disturbing of all.

Steve Smith
Undersheriff of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

Editor:

Wake up, Lake Ontario property owners/area families/visitors/wildlife lovers – there is a huge Lighthouse Wind turbine project in the works in the towns of Somerset and Yates, and it is important that we realize the negative impact this will have along the 17 mile-area if it comes to pass.

Apex Energy LLC (Virginia-based) is intent on moving this project forward, and with our relatively new NYS Article 10 revised process for siting major electric generating facilities, taxpayers have no opportunity to vote, only to voice concerns at hearings, send letters to government contacts, and post comments on the Public Service Commission’s web site. A siting board of seven will make final decision as to whether Lighthouse Wind becomes a reality or not, with only two representatives from the community on the board.

Picture this – 67 wind turbines almost 600 feet tall, with blade spans the length of a 747 jet, within a 1.5-mile distance of Lake Ontario. These turbines will be the tallest in NYS, higher than the Washington monument.

Next, picture the construction and use of rural, country roads to bring in tons of cement/materials, plus huge blades making turns on these roads. Once in place, picture the thousands of bats, birds, and waterfowl being struck by moving blades and landing in your yard, mutilated and cut in pieces. As a result of bat kills, farmers now have to add more pesticides on farm land to deal with insects normally eaten by bats and other birds.

Also, picture relaxing on a front/back porch in your home, but hearing a constant low sound frequency that rarely stops, and the shadow flicker effect causing your child, or you, to be ill. In the winter, picture ice throws from the turbines flying in the air.

Picture a turbine that catches on fire, which rarely occurs but is caused by lightning strikes or a technical fault. Lastly, picture turbines that are “end of life” just sitting on the land and rusting, as are the 4,500 turbines in California.

You may be asking, “Why are the towers so high?” Apex answers to get the most wind energy possible from as far as Lake Erie. But, bigger also means more noise, too!

You may wonder if your property value will be impacted by the addition of turbines in adjacent farm land – Apex says no, but Google the Wolf Island Wind Farm in Canada to read about declining waterfront property values and other negative impact issues.

Am I against GREEN, clean energy? No, not at all. We recently built a NYS Energy Star rated home outside of Akron, using geothermal heating/cooling plus other GREEN energy savings. And, I agree that micro turbines that farmers install to save electric costs make good sense.

We also own a cottage along Lake Ontario that is rented by tourists from all over the country, and our visitors enjoy the sunsets, area attractions, and quiet of the lake. They bring dollars into the community by supporting area restaurants and other businesses. Will they continue to come if turbines are close by? Hard to say.

The Lighthouse Wind project has very few positives and too many negatives. Save Ontario Shores is an organization formed recently by area residents to inform and help fight the project. Go to their informational web site www.lakeontarioturbines.com for resources and how to take action.

Please join our fight to keep our Lake Ontario a peaceful, serene haven as it is now.

Deborah Arlington
Akron

Editor:

I have a year-round home on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Yates. I attended the Orleans County Planning Board meeting in Albion on Thursday, April 23, for the purpose of questioning the need for the construction of a 60-meter MET tower by Apex on property that is a half mile from my home.

I also attended the public hearing of the Yates Town Board the week prior to this where I voiced and submitted in writing my objection to the special use permit for this MET tower. To my knowledge, there was no mention at that meeting that the special use permit would have to go before the County Planning Board. It was only by word of mouth that I learned of this.

This news spread quickly the day before the county meeting, and at least 30 members of Save Ontario Shores came together for the purpose of asking questions that so many of us had regarding this tower. It was almost beyond comprehension that we were not allowed to speak.

The presiding chairman of the Planning Board asked those board members present to make a motion to allow questions prior to their decision, which, by the way, had been prepared in advance and was read at the conclusion of the Planning Board vote.

Not one planning board member offered a motion, and thus the group was silenced. To say that I was appalled is an understatement.

I came prepared to ask these questions:

1. Why must another MET tower be erected on Marshall Rd. when there is already one just 3 miles west near Golden Hill State Park?

2. What information can be gathered from a 60-meter MET tower that would pertain to a 570-foot industrial turbine?

3. How will the data secured from this tower be shared with the stakeholders, including those of us who live within the project area?

4. Who is financing the construction of this tower, and how is it funded? Taxpayer $$$?

5. How much money is paid to the landowner of the proposed tower and how much does the Town of Yates receive for permitting this?

One stakeholder, the owner of TigerPaw airport, which is located less than 1/4 mile from the proposed tower was allowed to voice a concern regarding the lighting of the MET tower as it presents a danger to planes taking off and landing at his airport. Yates Councilman, Steve Freeman stated he spoke to “someone from the FAA” that day because he did not know the regulations. No FAA contact name was provided, yet the Planning Board accepted this statement without question.

There are far too many questions that remain unanswered, and I personally believe that the County Planning Board and the Yates Town Board have a huge responsibility for protecting each and every one of their constituents before allowing an out-of-state company to advance in the direction of an industrial wind factory which will forever change our Ontario Lake Shore.

Respectfully,

Cynthia Hellert
Lyndonville

Editor:

Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We stood with our hands over our hearts, with neighbors, with friends, in a room filled with our leaders, hopeful. But that’s as good as it got at the Orleans County Planning Board meeting Thursday night, April 23.

On the agenda was a Special Use Permit Application to erect a meteorological tower in the Town of Yates, an initial component of the Apex Clean Energy Lighthouse Wind project proposed for Yates and Somerset.

When the Planning Board suggested there be brief questions from citizens in attendance, I thought, “Oh good, we have an opportunity to voice our concerns – we might get a few questions answered about the MET tower.”

But that too was as good as it got. The Board then asked for a motion to allow comments from the floor. Crickets. The leaders of our county sat mute, looking at each other. Not one person said a word. Not even the one person who could have, and who should have.

Yates Councilman Steve Freeman, the County Planning Board member with the most on the line, didn’t want to hear from his constituents. He knows us. He knows our names and where we live. That didn’t matter. We were effectively silenced. He proceeded to inform the Planning Board of the Reader’s Digest version of the site plan, and how the Yates Town Board had relieved the Yates Planning Board of their responsibility for reviewing the application and submit recommendations. The Town Board would take it over.

Then there was the vote, after just moments of discussion. Unanimously approved. And then without missing a beat, a member of the Planning Board read a prepared two-part recommendation from a typed document. How in the world did they know what the recommendations would be before the meeting even took place?

So much for open government. The matter was sent back to the Town, with the only way of overturning the County Planning Board’s recommendation would be by a 4 out of 5 member vote by the Yates Town Board.

The meeting concluded, and the Planning Board members slowly filed out, along with the Apex project managers. A few of us had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Freeman in the hallway as we walked towards the exit. Yes, we were displeased with him not making the motion to allow input and questions.

And he told us why. He said, “You wouldn’t have stayed on the topic of the MET tower.” A Yates land owner replied, “Have you got a crystal ball or something? How do you know that?”

After a brief interaction, Mr. Freeman delivered a comment as he walked out of the building that none of us will forget, a comment that proves the mindset of our elected leader. He said, “If you don’t like what’s going on, MOVE!”

Move? No open dialogue, no civil discussion? Not even pretend to listen? Just MOVE? Apparently in Mr. Freeman’s world, there is no transparent government, or the ability to discuss our differences over the largest project in the history of Yates.

His only solution for those that don’t agree with him and the Town government is to move. Sorry Mr. Freeman, I probably couldn’t get a fair market price for my house now that a wind farm project is being proposed. And it might take years to sell.

Indivisible? No. We are divided, by the actions of Board members like Mr. Freeman. Justice for all? Nope. Just for the people in power, or with large piles of cash. He, like many, has forgotten the most important thing about holding public office – that he works for us. I believe he deserves liberty in November.

And I’m not moving.

Glenn Maid
Yates

Editor:

I am writing in relation the Orleans County Planning Board Meeting of April 23, 2015:

“About 30 members from Save Ontario Shores, a citizen group that has formed to oppose the project, attended the County Planning Board meeting, but weren’t allowed to address the board.”

“Planners said they were only looking at the MET tower and the not the overall turbine project.”

Unfortunately, it is true that 30 members from Save Ontario Shores (and each one a resident of the Town of Yates) were not allowed to address the board. These residents of the Town of Yates were present specifically to speak out against the need for a MET tower in the Town of Yates.

Had the Orleans County Planning Board simply asked the group why they were there, they would have quickly understood that it was the MET tower issue on which they wanted to speak.

But alas, the Orleans County Planning Board assumed incorrectly. Good governance is driven by facts … Failed governance is driven by assumption.

Wake up Orleans County Planning Board!!

John Riggi
Town of Yates

Riggi is president of Save Ontario Shores

Editor:

The Orleans County Planning Board’s approval process for the MET tower in Yates on Thursday evening was an indicator of the disdain the Town of Yates and the County of Orleans has for its residents.

There were a number of citizens attending this meeting. When the person running the Planning Board meeting asked for a motion from the board to open the meeting to comments from the floor, NOT ONE member of the board would do this. Therefore, no public input was allowed.

At the close of the meeting one particular Yates board member told a resident “If you don’t like it, MOVE!”

Is this the type of government our founding fathers envisioned? Do we now gag the people because we don’t like what they have to say? Do we tell them if they don’t like the way things are run, they should move?

Many of the public attendants are among the highest taxed people in Yates – waterfront residents. Apparently their contribution to the town is considered irrelevant by some Town Board members.

I trust they keep that in mind and lower the property assessments of these irrelevant movable citizens now rather than after they allow the installation of multiple industrial wind turbines within a mile of many of these people’s homes.

What a disgraceful display of contempt by an elected official. In my opinion, refusing to allow the public to speak and insulting one’s constituents should be grounds for immediate resignation from public service.

Sincerely,

Susan E. Dudley
Lyndonville

Editor:

Yes, Sen. Ortt, by voting for the bloated NY State budget, you lied and are a big disappointment to those of us that are working to get rid of NY SAFE ACT, and Common Core, both bordering on communistic and Nazi ideology – my opinion.

The budget expanded the monies available to certain areas of the NY Safe Act, and also funded Common Core, all the while assuring the people in your district that you were opposed to both issues.

Sen. Ortt, being a Republican, can you lay out for the people in your district, the exact Republican Party Platform that you subscribe to? I believe that you make up the platform as you go along, to suit yourself as well as a majority of your party cohorts. “Higher taxes and larger government” instead of the opposite.

Knowing that you come from the same political family as your predecessor, that you voted for the “Message of Necessity” and the budget, does not come as a surprise to me. Unlike your predecessor, subtlety is not your strong virtue, it seems to be one of arrogance and “in your face” and if you don’t like it, “tough.”

Sen. Ortt, you most likely will be banking on the mindset of the apathetic, and forgetful voter in your district between now and your next election cycle, that all will be forgiven. I will do my best to see that your name, and the negativity of your acts will be kept current in the minds of all that I associate with.

Keep in mind, Sen. Ortt, that you cannot serve two masters – the voters that hired you to do the job that they thought they could expect you to do, and the party hierarchy that would use you to further themselves personally.

Also, Sen. Ortt, please remove my name from your “mailing list” of “self-graded report cards,” because I make it my business to stay in tune to the “antics” of the elected in my district and area.

I also will be working in my small way to find someone who would be willing to primary you. I have a couple of good Americans in mind!

Most Sincerely,

Allen Lofthouse
Kendall

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

Editor:

News of Emil Smith’s tragic death slammed both my wife and me when we saw the headline in the Hub. I did not know him as well as Paul Lauricella, but I knew the heart of a man with great soul and precious little, if any, spiritual downside. Paul’s loving tribute to him was, to me, right on point.

I met Emil in late spring, 2013. A few people had told me what a decent guy he was. The Orleans Conservatives were running him for the County Legislature. I went to his home to assess where he stood on local issues, particularly the impending sale of the County Nursing Home. My thought was that he might be someone The Concerned Citizens could run on the Save Our Nursing Home independent line.

Emil’s trademark Ford Ranger pulled into his driveway as I arrived. Within minutes, his heart and engaging genuineness were apparent. Many conservatives seem to take the virtues of privatization as a “given.” Not Emil. Just as so many other thoughtful Orleans residentsincluding most conservatives I knowhe was not having any of it where the vulnerable elderly were concerned.

Emil perfectly illustrated how stereotyping people based on labels is a fool’s errand. His conservatism was a family values oriented belief system with appropriate doses of common sense and fiscal realism. Spending other people’s money was, to Emil, something that should be taken seriously.

Emil was convinced that making equipment last was consistent with representing those who, like him, had to keep things working out of basic frugality and economic necessity. But honoring the many sacrifices made by our parents and grandparents on our behalf was not negotiable.

Emil loved getting to know people, because he cared about others and what they thought. As someone else mentioned, he was a talker, but he was also a listener with loads of compassion. He was an endlessly fascinating mix of interests and values.
It is our loss that Gregory Emil Smith was snatched from us too soon. In the very best sense, Orleans County has lost an American original.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent
Albion

Editor:

This is in memory of Gregory Emil Smith.

I would always run into Emil all over the place in Orleans County. Whether it was at the gas station, McDonalds, Tops or other establishments you could count on running into Emil and be prepared to get into an in-depth conversation.

We would always talk politics, what was going on locally with the towns or villages or just whatever was on our minds. Emil talked to a lot of people so he knew what many in the community were doing and what was going on in their lives.

He always had a good ear for what you were saying and had sound advice. I was lucky to have been able to be a part of his life. Emil was a very active and core member of the Orleans County Conservative Party. You could always count on Emil to come to the meetings and come to the events that we would set up to get our party out in front of the people.

Photo courtesy of Paul Lauricella – Emil Smith, left, and Al Lofthouse man the booth for the Orleans County Conservatve Party at an event last year.

Emil ran for County Legislature last time around and made us all proud that we had a Conservative in the running. He was going to run again this year and was very excited about doing so. We had been meeting up regularly at McDonalds and discussing our plans.

I was going to run with him and we would have the two Conservatives running, something this county lacks desperately. I saw Emil on Monday and we talked for about an hour or so and I saw him Tuesday night at the party monthly meeting. We talked after in the driveway about what we were going to do next.

During our conversation he mentioned a guy’s name that had for some reason just popped up in his head. He said I don’t know why I thought of this guy it just came to me. He was a good guy and a really smart guy. He quoted something he said to him years ago. So I asked him does he still see this guy? He said no he was killed in a car accident years ago. So I said, not thinking anything of it, “Well it was nice of you to think of him and say his name after all these years.”

We talked some more and probably would have talked even longer but I had to go. The next day he died in that horrible truck accident. It is a real shock. I am very thankful that I got to spend time with him the last two days of his life. I will miss him forever.

This is a big loss for our community and a setback for our party. We have lost two committee members in the last two years to tragedy, my son and Emil. I will always think of this man when I am in all these places.

I won’t forget his laugh, smile and personality. I will truly miss the conversations. He was one of a kind. This is not good-bye, my friend.

I will never forget you. Until we meet again. I know we will have a lot to talk about. RIP Brother.

Paul Lauricella
Lyndonville

Editor:

Emil Smith was/is the kind of person who I would like to be like. He was/is sincere, talented, smart, soft-spoken, but opinionated, positive, honest, and honorable. He was so pleased about the amount of votes he received during his bid for the legislative election, and very pleased about the overall amount of people who got out to vote during a debated election.

He also was enthusiastic about his participation in the Celtic games and his sculptures. I only wish I had taken a picture of him in his kilt because I remember his happy face when he was competing. I do have one of his sculptures which I will treasure. His family and this community was/is blessed to have him in our lives.

Cynthia Troy
Albion

Editor:

There may be some who are unaware that Albion native, Charles Howard, established the world’s first Santa Claus School in Orleans County. Those who are aware of that piece of the past that belongs to us may not see it as such a big deal.

The genius of Albion’s Charles Howard may have been to realize how important Santa Claus could be in the development of children and how much it mattered that Santa be “done” right. The omniscient, loving and kind Father-figure in the red suit had to be convincing and the Santa “experience” indelible.

Mr. Howard recognized how important a belief in Santa Claus could be to the growth of a child’s conscience. Santa had the capacity to reinforce the importance of good behavior in very young people.

Santa Claus can certainly convey some of the best impulses of Christianity. How many of our parents and grandparents used him to help teach the magic of Christmas? Santa knew when you had been naughty or nice. He still is a Christ-like figure that a child can connect with, a means to understanding that it really is better to give than it is to receive. Santa Claus is the embodiment of good, and the mystique of Santa can be an important piece of a child’s emotional and social development.

I cannot help but think that the Santa my Grandma took me to visit at Sibley’s and McCurdy’s in the 1940’s was the real Santa, perhaps one of Charlie Howard’s protégés. In a wonderful way, some of us can say we still believe in Santa Claus thanks, in part perhaps, to Charles Howard.

For the Albion Betterment Committee, honoring Charles Howard’s work and place in local history makes perfect sense. A generation of local residents took understandable pride in having known and worked with him. Residents such as Mary Dreisel and many others helped him realize his dream. Macy’s acknowledged his work and featured him in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for many years.

We, too, have every right to feel positive about what he adds to our sense of who we are.

The Albion Betterment Committee believes that a monument dedicated to the memory of this extraordinary and nationally known figure would be an entirely appropriate tribute to his vision. Such a statue would make it clear that we are about what he was about. The Santa Claus “world” has recognized the significance of Charles Howard and so should we.

Gary Kent
Albion

Mr. Kent is one of the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee.

Editor:

I read with disappointment Senator Rob Ortt’s response to comments critical of his voting for the 2015-16 state budget.

Specifically:

“I disagree with the sentiment that we should have shut down government and defunded State Police, counterterrorism, and emergency services. The effects of such a drastic action would have been incomprehensible. I simply wasn’t willing to put people’s lives at risk in order to score political points with the governor.”

Please. There may have been sentiment to shut down government, but when is the last time that ever happened in New York State? Even in recent years, if a budget was not passed by March 31, almost all New York State government funding for State Police, counterterrorism and emergency services remained intact. People’s lives were not put at risk, and there were budgets that were not passed until the summer.

Concerning political points, what are the chances of bills you co-sponsored for either outright or partial appeal of the SAFE Act being passed by the Senate, the Assembly and signed by the Governor? How much political courage does it take to sponsor such bills versus working within the budget process (such as it is), to make meaningful changes to a law that you or your constituents object to?

And it’s pretty weak gruel to mention in your response to unhappy constituents legislation that includes micro-stamping, mandatory storage and a new CoBIS database. Such legislation has little more chance of getting passed into law than your sponsored/co-sponsored legislation to repeal the SAFE Act in whole or in part.

When you voted to provide funds for an issue that you spoke out strongly against in the campaign and then portray unhappy constituents as wanting to first and foremost make political points, it makes me wonder if you really understand those constituents or the issue.

Add to that little mention by you about the truly dysfunctional “three men in a room” concluded budget process, or that you had only a few hours to read the printed bills prior to the budget vote, and one is left wondering how Albany turns roaring lions into mewing kittens. The problems in Albany transcend issues or parties – and that is the problem.

Finally, it’s telling that Assemblyman Steve Hawley voted No on the budget along with most (if not all) of the Assembly Republicans, yet all Senate Republicans present voted Yes on the budget.

Rightly or wrongly, Assemblyman Hawley asserted what are traditionally thought of as conservative principals when he explained his No vote. Perhaps you’re not as conservative as you portrayed yourself while campaigning. Time will tell.

Tom Klotzbach
Waterport

Editor:

The Holley Wrestling Team and coaching staff would like to thank the many people and organizations who helped organize and contributed to the success of the Holley Wrestling Program throughout this wrestling season.

Several events were conducted and without their help and support these events would not have been a success. The following are the events that took place in which many volunteers were needed: Holley JV and Varsity Wrestling Tournaments, Holley Hawk Wrestling Club, Holley Junior Wrestling Club, Holley Wrestling Club Tournament, Gold Force Wrestling Club Open Mats, and the Holley Wrestling Banquet.

All your contributions, generosity, assistance and efforts did not go unnoticed. Your loyalty and dedication is the main reason why programs and students athletes achieve success.

Thank you once again!

Sincerely,

John J. Grillo
Holley Central School
Head Wrestling Coach

Editor:

Tom Rivers’ 04/09/15 article on New York’s persistently high tax environment (Click here to see “Study puts NY dead last in economic outlook”), I have no doubt was motivated by his concern for our community’s increasingly crushing tax burden. He has been consistent in his concern about this, as has been evidenced, for instance, by his advocacy in spurring local governments to insist on a more fair formula for distribution of State monies to communities of Albion’s size (yet unrealized).

However, I am concerned about his using ALEC’s report as his sole authority in this article. Though he identified them as a conservative organization, in fact, they are much more than that. They are a most powerful right-wing political lobby, primarily funded by multibillion dollar, mega companies like Exxon Mobil and Koch Industries.

They promote and write anti-tax policy bills for lawmakers, with the underlying notion that all taxes are bad. These policies support the shrinking government to drown it in a bathtub mentality of Grover Norquist, a frequent ALEC speaker. This is having a paralyzing effect on our government’s ability to devise appropriate tax and spending policies (crumbling infrastructure, anyone?). Also, I must point out, that the quoted assemblyman, David Di Pietro, is a Republican, though not identified as such. In this regard, it is no surprise that his views align with ALEC’s.

I understand that the Hub usually attempts to address issues on their own merits without politicizing them, but presenting this data without explaining its partisan bias inadvertently does just that. Having said this, other more objective findings, such as the Congressional Quarterly, also rate NYS near last in this category (No. 49). I am in agreement, our taxes are too high and reform is needed. So, what am I complaining about?

My objection is that a more honest and discerning discussion needs to be had about not only whether and how much to tax, but of whom and for what priorities. ALEC’s nihilist approach currently in vogue with conservative politicians does not allow for this, but instead encourages cookie-cutter tax policies that favor the rich and weaken the rest of us.

In fact, it is tax policy like theirs that is contributing to the widening wealth gap recently acknowledged by both sides of the political spectrum as a threat to our future prosperity and stability. We deserve a more nuanced discussion of this complex issue than ALEC’s biased findings provide.

Pat Cammarata
Albion

Editor:

Do people’s lives and property matter in the Village of Holley, NY?

It’s election time coming up in June. Village of Holley has two positions open on the Village Board.

Village budgets for DPW, village electric, Fire Department, Police Department are also being done.

But how many of the village residents know that one village trustee, Skip Carpenter, is pushing to cut the budget to the Holley Police Department, cut down on daytime patrols, and also stop overnight patrols? With a goal to eliminate the entire police department within the year altogether.

Yes, at first I thought this was just a rumor. But after doing several checking around I found out this is NOT a rumor. This is facts.

It takes on a average response time of 2 to 5 minutes for Holley Police to show up to your house after calling 911. If Holley PD needs back up, it takes an average of 15 to 20 minutes for Sheriff’s Department or NY State Police to respond – possibly longer based on were they are responding from. They could be coming from Albion, Medina, or Lyndonville.

On an average night, the Sheriff’s Department has two patrol units on, NY State Police has one patrol on. These three patrols cover all of Orleans County, handling calls. From drunk driving, accidents, shootings, domestic disputes, fights, break-ins, drug trafficking, etc. The list goes on.

Village of Holley handles over 300 calls a month. This does not include speeding tickets. That is 10 plus calls made to 911 a day on average. Response time is 2 to 5 minutes. If we cut the hours, and do away with the police department. Do you feel if you are being held at gun point, or a robber is in your house that you can wait 15 to 20 minutes for someone to show up, and that is based on if a car is available at the time and not on another call?

Is Skip Carpenter more worried about a budget, that village residents and property is not worth protecting. Look around people, the Village of Holley has one of the highest drug trafficking areas in the county because Village Board members like Skip Carpenter don’t want extra patrols on. He would rather cut the budget and cut patrols before putting your life and property first.

We need people in the Village Board that care about the safety of this village and NOT their own pocket.

If you have the time, I encourage you to run against Skip Carpenter for Village Trustee and let’s worry about the safety of this community.

No one likes budgets. But I would rather have a suitable budget and 24/7 police protection than no budget and no protection because a Village Board member doesn’t want a Police Department.

Steven Gergely
Village of Holley