Editor:

It may surprise at least one of your “What, me, Worry?” readers that people can be “bright,” or intelligent, without being well-informed, or educated, on a particular issue. It is also true that those who are both informed and intelligent can disagree. In the interests of education, I would point out the following to people who are ill-informed, or, dare I say, misinformedthough obviously “bright.”

Contrary to an assertion made in a recent opinion piece, not all incumbent Orleans County Legislators were re-elected. Three, of seven, were not.

The only legislators who are on record (Callard and Johnson) regarding the Nov. 5 local election have admitted that the election tasked voters with sorting out several issues that required prioritizing.Though I prayed it would be a single-issue election, it is only through simplification, intellectual laziness and/or convenience that one could reduce the November election to a single issue.

Chairman Callard set aside transparency, public opinion, and democracy, itself, by arguably violating the spirit of the State’s LDC law and misusing an LDC device to dispose of “the Villages” Nursing Home. Its “business” has been conductedfor the most partbehind closed doors.

One Legislator indicated he was surprised that the nursing home sale would go forward without Legislative approval, and he didn’t even know what the bids were!That is what passes for Constitutional, representative, government in Orleans County.

Avoiding any involvement by CGR (The Center for Governmental Research) has been a given with Chairman Callard. This has come at a cost to the taxpayers. CGR was never contacted about doing a feasibility study as it had for the more responsible, Mary Pat Hancock-led, Genesee County Legislature.

That suggests that either the Orleans County Legislature had made its collective “mind” up without due diligence and wasn’t interested in the truth, or didn’t want CGR finding out how important a county-owned nursing home was in Orleans, as well as how uniquely positioned “The Villages” was to being a break-even operation.

One example of how much Chairman Callard’s hand-picked LDC Board cost the taxpayers may be found in its choice of Marcus and Millichap, over CGR, to market “The Villages.” Doing so cost far more tax dollars. At an assumed selling price of $8,000,000 (perhaps 60% of appraised value), Marcus and Millichap would receive a $200,000 fee. CGR would have performed the exact same service for a minimum of 100,000 fewer tax dollars. (Though Marcus and Millichap was thought to be more of a “team” player, even Marcus and Millichap blew the Legislature’s cover on the 2012 Nursing Home “losses” and occupancy in August 2013.)

For some reason, spending $100,000 more of someone else’s money makes “business” sense to Chairman Callard’s LDC Board.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent
Albion

Editor:

As we go into the New Year and I think over the blessings of 2013, I want to express my appreciation for The Hub and all who contribute to its success, especially Tom Rivers.

Since The Hub has made its debut, I find I am much more knowledgeable about the goings on in Orleans County, from news to weather to human-interest stories.

Whenever I check The Hub, articles are more than up-to-date, they arein real time – the Strawberry Festival parade photos were posted right after the last band note was played; the big fire was reported as it burned; and the story of my family’s Hot Air Balloon ride was up almost before we landed! (Click here to see balloon story.)

Our community is lucky to have such a resource available and to have such dedicated people making it possible.

With sincere thanks,

Peggy Bropst
Kent

Editor:

According to the articles in the both the Orleans Hub (click here) and The Daily News on Dec. 26, 2013, Medina, Ridgeway and Shelby residents will soon receive a letter regarding the possible dissolution of the Village of Medina.

I surmise, from what I gleaned from the articles, that the Town Boards of Ridgeway and Shelby are going to show us how said dissolution will end up costing us all more money.

My question is: What happened to the original idea of CONSOLIDATING the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby and the Village of Medina into the City of Medina?

Instead of trying to spilt and therefore duplicate services (wasn’t that what we were trying to eliminate in the first place?), we would consolidate them. One set of taxes = one set of services. What is so hard about that?

Oh… that’s right… all the little bureaucrats that run our little towns and village are trying to protect their individual jobs and fiefdoms.

Orleans County is one of the highest taxed areas in the country and Village of Medina residents, whether Town of Ridgeway or Shelby, are right at the top of the list.

Why are our elected officials trying their darnedest to keep the status quo? For themselves, dear neighbors, not for us.

Patricia Moss
Medina

Editor:

Local organizations – ranging from the Lions Club to Rotary to Chamber of Commerce, to the Business Assoc. and a hundred others – make village life stronger with events that “light up our lives.” As president of the Medina Sandstone Society I just witnessed one of these. Three men have my long-lasting gratitude. They have created local history. I won’t forget their hard work.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Bob Waters, president of the Medina Sandstone Society, gives a rousing speech during the first Hall of Fame program on Dec. 12 at Medina City Hall. Six inaugural inductees were named to the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame that day.

I give public thanks to Jim Hancock, Dave Miller and John Slack, the committee that agreed to send Orleans County history into an adventure the size of a space walk. Acting on Tom Rivers’s suggestion, they gave birth to the Sandstone Hall of Fame. They knew it would entail a summer of hard work. They said, “We’ll do it.” They ran with the idea and scored a hit.

On Dec. 12 at a remarkable ceremony in front of key officials at Old City Hall downtown, these men unveiled the Hall of Fame. It will serve for years to come to put the story of Medina sandstone and Orleans quarries on news pages all over the east. Six fabulous historic structures were highlighted and Medina’s new growth industry, Takeform Architectural Graphics, donated stunning award plaques for dozens of out-of-town visitors that day.

Early in 2014 there will be a special program to enable the general public to view the Hall of Fame shrine at City Hall. When that time comes I hope friends and neighbors will recognize the work of Hancock, Miller and Slack. They even surprised themselves. By resurrecting some undying local history they won over thousands and thousands of hearts. This spotlight will shine for years.

Bob Waters
Medina

Editor:

My son plays youth hockey out of Brockport. There are some very talented players from Orleans County playing there as well.

As they are approaching their high school years, I think it would be great for Orleans County to have their own high school hockey team. It would be great for the kids, as well as for our community.

Linda Gamble
Holley

Editor:

I propose that muzzle-loading season in the NYS southern hunting zone be extended by six days. This year it would have taken the season end date from Dec. 17 to Dec. 23.

I am calling on hunting clubs, conservation groups and interested parties to discuss and hopefully support this proposal. I feel the overabundance of the deer population could be answered in part by this simple extension. It would give muzzle enthusiasts more opportunity to enjoy their particular sport and to put meat on the table.

A petition in support of this change is available for signing at the at most town clerk’s offices in Orleans County. For inquiries or more information, contact Kenneth Capurso at (585) 590-0628.

Right now muzzleloader hunters only get eight days to hunt and bow hunters get one month to hunt but they both pay $21 to hunt. I don’t think that is fair.

Muzzle loaders should get a little more time to hunt and have at least two full weeks, starting the day after the regular season which is the shotgun season. This would apply for deer hunting in the southern zone of NYS.

Kenneth J. Capurso
Albion

Editor:

In reference to your article titled “Albion names winners of downtown decorating contest,” I would like to compliment the contestants as well as the photographer.

I see beautifully lit Christmas displays in every photo except the one of the “winner.” Under close scrutiny, I don’t see one bit of evidence to suggest that this photograph was taken during Christmas or any other holiday season.

What did I miss?

James Anderson
Knowlesville

Editor:

I would like to thank Mr. Al Capurso for pointing out a flaw in the plan presented to concerned citizens outlining the purchase of the county nursing home.  I neglected to capitalize properly. To quote the Confiteor, an ancient prayer in Catholicism “mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.” (Click here for earlier letter from this writer.)

The plan should have been presented to the Concerned (upper case c) citizens. The concerned (lower case c) citizens, aka the voters in Orleans County, had already expressed their desire to sell the nursing home.

This desire was expressed in an election, years ago, in which they chose a responsible group of legislators who realized that in order to continue to provide essential care to our elderly residents in the future, difficult decisions had to be made. They made those decisions. The decision was challenged in court not once but twice by Concerned (upper case c) citizens at a cost to all citizens (Not case sensitive).

Then, in the most recent election, the concerned (lower case c) citizens re-elected the same responsible legislators. My sure-fire business plan should have been suggested to the Concerned (upper case c) citizens.

And speaking of concerned (not case sensitive) citizens, I read with interest Mr. Kent’s analysis of the election results. It would seem that the Concerned (upper case c) citizens lost the election, not due to a flawed concept, or poor presentation. The election was lost, if I am reading this correctly, because the voters were not bright enough to differentiate between national, state and local issues. These same voters were also compared to an ill-informed fungus.

At the risk of sounding contrary, I beg to differ. Unfortunately, the election was reduced to one issue. There were a number of issues that should have been highlighted in this election cycle that were not discussed. It seems to me that the concerned (lower case c) citizens weighed the information provided, considered the manner in which it was provided and made a decision based upon these factors. I cannot think of a better definition of  “endorsement by the public” than the results of this particular election.

And finally, Mr. Kent made a reference to the iconic front man for Mad magazine. I had to think about how this fit into the political theme of his letter. Then I remembered that Alfred E Neuman runs in the presidential race every cycle. I am still somewhat confused. I am trying to think of a local candidate who, like Mr. Neuman, runs in every election cycle, presents questionable proposals and loses every time. I will have to give that a little more thought.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all citizens, upper and lower case c, a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Joyous Kwanza or simply to enjoy family and friends at this special time of the year.

May the new year be both happy and prosperous for every one in Orleans County, the state of New York and the most amazing country in the history of the world, The United States of America.

Paul J Blajszczak
Medina

Editor:

I would like to remind the citizens of Orleans County of some facts regarding our nursing home, The Villages of Orleans, which the County Legislature is trying to sell off.

It was established in 1830 by County Resolution, authorizing the funding and committing to responsibility to those in need of residential care. In 1905, the hospital portion was dedicated. The 1922 Proceedings of the Orleans County Board of Supervisors reports the nursing home served 86 patients and even had a maternity ward. In 1960, a new infirmary was dedicated by our County fathers as the old facility on County House Road could no longer suit the needs of the citizens.

This proud history of a public owned, quality care facility is about to change. Contrary to County Resolution (the 1830 Resolution was never rescinded), our single-party County Legislature is about to wash its hands of the nursing home and allow it to be run by a profit-oriented business.

They have deemed the original resolution “irrelevant.” I am not a lawyer, but common sense would dictate that only a judge can make that determination. I sincerely recommend this case be re-opened and the legality of the sale be examined in court. Buyer beware.

Al Capurso
Gaines

Editor:

After reading the article regarding the possibility of requiring candidates for Albion positions to be from independent parties, I wonder, what difference will it really make? (Click here to see that article.)

The same wolves (and I apologize to the wolves of the world) will be running in new sheep’s clothing.The same tired faces will be there, promising the same tired themes and Albion, along with Orleans County, will still be mired in obscurity.

Until the people of this county finally realize that the only way change willcome about is through their actual involvement instead of sitting on the sidelines, waiting for someone else to “take care of it,” nothing will change, no matter what party line the usual suspects run on.

Mark H. Vosburgh
Albion

Editor:

It has often been said that today’s youth are the future of tomorrow. Indeed, young people of our nation will soon become society’s parents, employees and contributing members. With some positive direction we can guide our youth toward creating lives that are fulfilling and productive.

However, today’s youth are faced with a number of influences that have the potential to affect their lives in negative ways. The behaviors of peers and the messages broadcasted through the media often impact the way that a young person decides what a desirable lifestyle is.

Children and teens especially tend to source much of what they believe regarding what is right and wrong from what their friends demonstrate. In addition, the media’s scope of influence on young people is enormous, ranging from promoting an unhealthy body image, to normalizing violence and crime, and encouraging kids to make a life out of chasing fame and excessive wealth. Indeed, impressionable young people are particularly at risk to develop lifestyles that don’t put to use their astounding potential.

Involvement in youth-based organizations has been shown to reduce the likelihood that kids and teens will make poor decisions regarding their health, safety, and general wellness. A 2010 study from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction found that effective afterschool programs can improve classroom behavior, school attendance, academic aspirations, and can reduce the likelihood that a student may drop out.

Additionally, researchers out of the University of Chicago and UCLA found that participation in afterschool programs has been associated with reduced drug use and criminal behavior. Individuals, families, and communities stand to grow in positive ways through participating in and supporting these programs.

Luckily for residents of Orleans County, the area is home to an active and successful 4-H Youth Development program. The program is the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization and provides participants with opportunities for positive personal development in the home, in the classroom, and within society.

4-H produces research-driven programming with proven results for its members in the areas of science, citizenship and healthy living. Within Orleans County, 4-H members gain valuable life skills through fun projects that are challenging yet rewarding.

In an annual program called “Grown in New York,” local 4-H’ers demonstrated their ability to cook a healthy dish that contained locally produced ingredients. In another project, youth members raised turkeys for a holiday-season market auction for members of the community.

Through these projects and multiple others throughout the year, Orleans County youth involved in 4-H have had the opportunity to gain skills and experience essential to positive personal development while giving back to the community as well.

If you are interested in enrolling your 8-18 year old youth in this exemplary program, contact the Orleans County 4-H office at (585) 798-4265, or visit the offices on the local fairgrounds at 12690 NYS Route 31 in Albion. Volunteer opportunities for adults as 4-H leaders also exist if you wish to contribute your time to building confident young leaders.

Candace Coniglio
Springwater

(The writer is a former intern with Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension and the 4-H program. She is a senior at Brockport State College.)

Editor:

At a reception in late November, one of our Orleans County Legislators expressed appreciation to me for our spirited campaign and its lack of personal attacks. I viewed it as an indication that the 2013 local election was one that we could now put behind us and continue with “business as usual.”

A group of Concerned Citizens attended the November Legislature meeting to question the ongoing disconnect between our legislators and the people they still appear to feel they represent. When Adolf Genter rose to, once again, insist that selling the Orleans County Nursing Home was not in the interests of County residents, at least one legislator smiled and shook his head as if to suggest that Mr. Genter was sadly misinformed.

Countywide, the campaign we spent three times as much on as is normal in a county election resulted in convincing 46.3 percent of the voters to vote for an at-large candidate. Eight months of weekly Pennysaver ads, nine demonstrations of up to 65 people, attendance at Legislature and LDC Board meetings, and numerous letters to the editor failed to achieve our goal. That goal was to put four people on the Legislature who would vote to derail the sale and most likely make several other changes that would benefit Orleans County.

No doubt, some portion of the 53.7 percent who voted for our opponents countywide had been misinformed sufficiently to really think selling “The Villages of Orleans” was a good idea. Having spoken with several of them, I am convinced they honestly did. To say it was encouraging, as Legislator Johnson did, that people had “informed” themselves sufficiently to return four of five incumbents to office is flattery without foundation.

What really appears to have happened is that a majority got “played” in spite of a selfless effort by The Concerned Citizens of Orleans County to prevent the public from being conned. The year 2013 provided a perfect political “storm” for a legislature – which hadn’t done its “due diligence” – to pull off the “heist” of two centuries.

Frustration over events 42,000 people in Orleans County likely cannot control in Albany and Washington, to some extent, was reflected in voting locally. The sad part is that Orleans County voters can control what happens in Orleans County. A significant number of County voters appear to have prioritized registering their disapproval of Obamacare and the S.A.F.E. Act over their disapproval of selling “The Villages of Orleans.”

In case those two things didn’t provide a sufficient smokescreen locally, the three fliers full of lies voters received in the two weeks before the election certainly appear to have sealed the fate of one of Orleans County ’s greatest institutional assets. Though every one of us evaluates “information” based on its source, it went unnoticed by many that nowhere in the scary fliers was their source indicated.

At the end of the day, what are the 3,000 people who voted for Concerned Citizen endorsed candidates left to conclude?It appears to me that our legislators view this as a game.It is a game in which secrecy and deceit are used liberally to cover incompetence that costs taxpayers dearly.

The one “What, me, worry?” citizen who defended the Chairman’s grand experiment with the future of Orleans County is employed by Mr. Callard!That was a well-kept secret no one thoughtor knewto tell you before Nov. 5. Landfill interests have donated to the County Republican committee.That was just another oversight. In this game, if you spend enough money, tell enough lies, and have two great “smokescreen” issues, you can convince people to sell their souls and feel all right with it.

When all is said and done, you “win,” and that is all that really mattersto the people who continue to run Orleans County like a mushroom factory.

Sincerely yours,
Gary F. Kent
Albion

Editor:

In the article about the vote on the Orleans County budget I was drawn to this incredible quotation from County Legislator Don Allport:

“If people on welfare have to stand an extra hour or two in line that’s not my problem.”

There are so many things to say about this that I don’t know where to begin, but I will try.

We have a legislator who says that the problems faced by some citizens of our county are not his problem. I thought he was elected to represent all of his constituents. Little did I know that he actually represents some group of elitists who don’t have any problems.

We can extend Legislator Allport’s line of reasoning to other arenas of life. People who don’t have enough food – not his problem. People without adequate health care – not his problem. People on disability or with serious mental health issues – not his problem. Children failing in school – not his problem. Trash in the parks – not his problem. Corruption in Albany – not his problem. The impact of selling the Villages on employees, families and the elderly – not his problem. Wounded veterans – not his problem. Unemployed people unable to find jobs – not his problem. People displaced after a fire – not his problem. Victims of crime – not his problem. Makes me wonder if there is anything that actually is his problem?

I find the quotation deeply disturbing. I take seriously the things I learn in church, like “as you did it for the least of these you did it to me” and “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

I suppose in a perverse way it is refreshing to find a politician who actually admits to holding a position of utter disregard for others, though I find it hard to imagine an election campaign based on it. (“Vote for me, I don’t care about the problems people have.”) But who knows, in our current political environment there may be people who want candidates like this? Do you? I don’t.

By the way, the last time I was in the line at Orleans County Social Services there was hardly room in the small office for people to wait. People in wheel chairs, people with children, elderly people, people struggling to walk, and not enough chairs or even places to stand. But that is not Legislator Allport’s problem.

Maybe he hopes that by making the experience as miserable as possible people will move to Batavia or give up on getting assistance. I bet he wouldn’t even stoop so low as to suggest that some folding chairs be set up in the hallway for all the people he’s happy to have waiting even longer, because, after all, it’s not his problem.

Rev. James R. Renfrew
Clarendon

Editor:

Mr. Rush, please do one last thing before you leave office for the people of Orleans County. Vote “NO” on the budget vote. You would be remembered for “doing the right thing” for Orleans County.

Blaming the state is not the answer. The Legislature needs to take responsibility for getting us in this “mess.”

Jeanne Crane
Carlton

Crane is chairwoman of the Orleans County Democratic Party.

Editor:

I am not surprised that on Nov. 15 the LDC announced the finalization of the sale of The Villages to one of two bidders. Interesting though, how it transpired during election season, but was not announced until a week after the election. The election only put one good man, Fred Miller, into the Legislature.

Sincerely,

Timothy Good
Albion