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

Editor:

Each year about one in five women are raped or experience an attempted rape. About one in four women are beaten by an intimate partner and one in six are stalked.

The statistics were taken from a study done by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

If these numbers surprise you, you’re not alone. I was also surprised to learn from Jean Kilbourne’s film “Killing Us Softly 4” that about one-third of the women murdered in the U.S. is by their male partner or husband.

I never paid much attention to how many women are really affected by acts of violence by men until I started taking a Sociology of Gender class. I have learned so many things that are so eye-opening. Now, I’m not going to sit here and bash all men for violence against women, because I know that not all men are violent and that men experience violence from women and other men as well. However, the facts show that the majority of the acts of violence against women come from men.

Now, here is my thought about how we can stop all of this violence. Stop letting the media degrade women! Have you paid attention to some of the ads, movies, or music videos that are out lately? They’re disgusting. It seems like an easy job to be in marketing because apparently all you have to do is show the product for a second and spend the next twenty-nine seconds showing a half-naked woman.

It’s obvious that women have been used as objects for a long time, especially in advertising, but it has led to so much violence that it just seems logical to stop objectifying women and maybe the amount of violence will decrease. However, I don’t think that only changing the way women are shown in the media will solve everything. The way men are shown in the media needs to change too.

Men in the media are shown as these macho, powerful, manly men, which is great until they are shown harassing women like it’s an acceptable practice. Music videos show men slapping women, pouring their drinks on them, and just treating them like a piece of meat and not like another person. Advertisements do the same thing when they show men controlling a woman and saying that it’s the manly and right thing to do.

I think it is great when men are portrayed as successful and independent, so why can’t women been portrayed the same way? I would be more inclined to buy a product if I saw someone in a power suit using it, because I want to be successful too. I don’t want to be dressed scantily clad with men pouring champagne on me.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to the violence that women experience, but the harassment in the media is seen by many people of all ages. Most people say that they don’t even pay attention to the commercials or ads that are all around them on a daily basis, but Rance Crain, who was a Senior Editor for Advertising Age says that, “Only 8% of an ad’s message is received by the conscious mind. The rest is worked and reworked deep within the recesses of the brain.”

This just goes to show that the media has more control over our mind than we would think. If the advertisements are promoting violence against women, which most of them are, then it is very obvious as to why there are so many acts of violence against women.

The powerful men and women in advertising need to realize all of the damage that is being caused by their ads. I know that not all acts of violence are due to what was seen in a commercial, but it’s quite clear that the media plays a large role in the way we act. It’s in our subconscious to do what is being done in the media. If the media would change the way they portray men and women, I believe that we would see a decrease in the amount of violence towards women. Maybe the media is a societal devil in disguise.

Rebecca Reigle
Medina

Reigle is a student at Stony Brook University.

Editor:

People in our area tend to respond to need when they are aware of it. Many just do it without wringing their hands about how much they might be inconvenienced in the process.

On Monday, Nov. 11, the Medina Fire Department responded to a fire at 228 Park Ave. Forgive me if there were volunteer companies that responded as well. Had the MFD failed to respond, there is no telling how much of Medina might have burned to the ground.

Fortunately the Orleans County Legislature doesn’t decide whether or not fires should be fought. You see, you cannot make money fighting fires either.Is taking care of those who have taken care of us any less important than doing what needs to be done when it comes to fighting a fire?

That is crazy one might say.Obviously we have to fight fires.How much more obvious is the need to fight fires than the need to take care of our responsibilities where our elderly are concerned?

According to 2014 budget reporting, the cost of garbage disposal is rising to $190 next year.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent
Albion

To the Editor:

With all due respect to Mr. Paul J. Blajszczak, the Citizens of Orleans County already own the Nursing Home, as we have for the past 183 years.

It was first formed as a service to The People in 1830 as a “County charge” (a legal way to say a county responsibility) and has continued as such for the past 183 years. It was never intended to be “a business.”

It was a guarantee that in the later stages of life, or when a citizen needed care, it would be there for them. This enduring public and sacred commitment to the people was reaffirmed in 1960 during the dedication of the “new infirmary” on Route 31 in the Town of Albion – the building the current County Legislature is trying to sell off to a private bidder.

During the dedication on that Sunday afternoon of August 28, 1960 the County Board of Supervisors (County Legislature) said: “We take pride in dedicating this new County Home and Infirmary to the people of this County, and especially to those who, through no fault of their own, may find it necessary to avail themselves of its services.”

How far we have come in 53 years. Unfortunately, we seem to stand ready as a county in allowing a private profit-oriented company to dictate to our citizens who will be able to be cared for there and who will have to go elsewhere. This is not a scare tactic but the truth.

Obviously the original intent of the creation of the infirmary was to keep it a publicly owned institution of quality care for all the people regardless of ability to pay. Thus it has remained for several lifetimes. We need to keep it that way.

Once it goes private, what do you have for yourself or your loved one? Of course you could go elsewhere, maybe Buffalo, Albany, who knows? They will not have to accept who they don’t want.

Call your legislator and tell them to stop trying to privatize the nursing home. If you don’t know who that is, call the clerk’s office at 589-7053.

Thank you.

Al Capurso
Gaines

Editor:

I have always believed that words mean things. At this point in our civilization, we have not yet arrived at the Orwellian projection of Doublespeak, Newspeak or governmental manipulation of recorded reality, be it past, present or future.

Therefore, I believe the campaign literature I have read. In light of this belief and reviewing all the information presented in relation to the county nursing home, I offer the following suggestion.

A group of citizens, published to be “thousands,” have the unique opportunity to exercise their expressed desire to “save” the county nursing in a uniquely American way. They can buy it!

I have read editorial after editorial, pamphlet after pamphlet and even viewed a professionally produced DVD telling me that the county is inept in their approach to selling the nursing home to a “for profit” or “ not for profit” organization. They simply cannot be trusted.

I have been told that these companies are “not concerned” for the residents of the nursing home and that their business practices will create a toxic (my word) scenario for county tax payers, residents and their families.

I have also been informed that following some simple steps, as outlined by the group of concerned citizens, the nursing home will not become the huge tax consuming burden projected by the present legislative body in Orleans County, but could become profitable. I do not personally believe this, but this argument points to a Capitalistic approach to solving this dilemma.

A rough business plan could go as follows. I will use the number 2,000 because of the published estimate of “thousands “of concerned citizens. If every concerned citizen could invest $1,000 in this plan, that would produce two thousand, thousand dollars or $2 million.

I know that $1,000 is a lot of money, but according to money saving suggestions proposed during the campaign, it could be reimbursed in a timely manner. These initial investors would form a corporation and the $2 million could be borrowed against, in conjunction with the money saving suggestions, into enough money to compete in the bidding process proposed by the LDC.

The proposed bid would include all the suggestions outlined in the campaign. Those, which I recall, include the renovation of the empty wings, greater scrutiny of governmental payments and better utilization of governmental transfers of money. How much can asbestos abatement, code enhancement and forensic accounting cost?  I am sure I am leaving out dozens of campaign-fueled money saving suggestions, which would absolutely save millions of dollars! I have not forgotten the rosy projections of reduced future costs associated with running the home.  It cannot lose!

After the nursing home ceases to lose money, I’m sure a short period of time, the corporation could sell stock. The profit generated could be cleansed of its evil nature by being redistributed to community in the form of grants for worthy projects. This plan cannot miss!

I humbly offer this idea free of charge. I consider it win/ win/win in the sense that the future of the nursing home will be secured, the residents will be protected by the same governmental regulations that are now in force and, with a little luck, the concerned citizens will be successful in the bidding process and be able to implement all the changes upon which they based their campaign.

Paul J. Blajszczak
Medina

Editor:

The Orleans County Conservative Party would like to say thank you to all our endorsed candidates that participated in the 2013 local elections. I believe we have made an impact on the political scene. I believe that our party gave people a choice and is one of the reasons why those four elections came down to the absentee ballots.

The people now have on their team two proven Conservative town supervisors: Carol Culhane of Gaines who just produced a budget that cuts the tax rate for 2014 and Matt Passarell who voted in a budget that cut taxes 9 percent in one year as a councilman.

Sue Smith, a councilwoman for Gaines, along with the Town Board voted against pictometry, protecting their constituents’ 4th amendment rights. Fred Miller voted against a tax-increasing budget as trustee for village of Albion. Fred is an independent thinker, now legislator elect.

Don Allport voted no on the tax cap override, supporting the wishes of thousands of county residents.

To those of you who lost, myself included, my advice to you is never give up. Lick your wounds and get ready for the next election. For those of you who have never run but have been inspired by the fight, I say jump in – fresh blood and ideas are sorely needed.

I want to thank all of you voters that voted on Row C. You made an impact and it will only get bigger as time goes on and you put in place more fiscally responsible elected officials.

Here’s to a 2014 Conservative Revolution.

Thank you all.

Paul Lauricella Jr.
Yates
Vice Chairman OC Conservative Party

Editor:

Why am I free? I can only begin to imagine the reasons, as I have never had the honor or courage to serve. But I can only begin to express my thanks for those brave men and women who have taken the ultimate sacrifice, to risk their lives, to protect my own and my children’s.

I have always had the utmost respect for those that have served and are serving, but it has grown so much in the past year as I have been fighting to preserve those freedoms.

The exact rights we are being stripped of as a state and as a country, the rights that so many across the world are not lucky enough to have, the rights that these brave heroes have done unimaginable things, spent countless hours doing, to protect these rights for us.

How dare we as a nation jeopardize any of these rights that these men and women have fought so hard to protect. We are failing our veterans, those that have served, those that are serving, and those that will serve.

It is time we the people show our gratitude, appreciation, and admiration for these people, and stand up to remain free. Thank you to all who have played a part in the freedom I experience, the freedom my children experience. I will never be able to fully express the gratitude I feel towards you and your daily sacrifices. And may I continue to fight back home to protect our freedoms as America, in your honor.

Gia Arnold
Holley

(Arnold is a state coordinator for New York Revolution.)

Editor:

The Lake Ontario State Parkway is a resource that we should not let go to waste as we have been for the last several years. While it never achieved its original goal of spanning from Rochester to Niagara Falls, it does serve residents of northern Orleans, Niagara and Monroe counties as a reliable and hassle-free alternative when traveling into and around Rochester.

Commuters of this road enjoy particularly beautiful scenery, low traffic volume and travel uninterrupted by control devices (no stop signs or traffic lights). It is truly one of the few roads in WNY where you can set the cruise control and ride for nearly 40 miles.  Yet many do not choose this route. It is ill-maintained, rough-riding and now plagued by failing bridges causing detours.

DOT’s own statistics justified their seasonal closure of the Lakeside Beach portion of the Parkway. I suspect that it is also their own statistics which account for why monies are not being allocated to repair the road surface and spans. Paving completed this fall is a wonderful step in the right direction but seems senseless as it dead ends into a portion of road which has been completely closed due to the Hamlin Beach span.

Is there any timetable or plan for the reopening of the Hamlin Beach span? Can it be safely reduced to one lane like the Point Breeze span has been? Can monies spent mowing be reallocated to road surface repair?

Without an aggressive management and maintenance plan the volume on the Parkway will continue to dwindle until it is no longer feasible to maintain it at all. Or is that, in fact, the plan?

Robert Shaw
Lyndonville

Editor:

Though he was a World War II veteran of five amphibious assaults in the Pacific, Joe Licurse never asked anyone for anything, not even a pat on the back. Joe never required long term care either. Would it have been asking too much for us to provide it, had he needed it?

As Veterans’ Day approaches, the impact of the decision to sell “The Villages” seems all the more tragic. What many people may not know is that many veterans needing long term care get the best around at “The Villages of Orleans,” our County nursing home. There is very little to assure us that such excellent care will continue, once we’ve passed the responsibility on to those who are in it for a buck. For us, quality care has meant honoring and respecting our elders.It is unfortunate that we’ve lately indicated we’re willing to put a price on that.

Just as all our seniors, veterans have spent their lives paying taxes to build, maintain and staff “The Villages” what Linda Rak refers to as a kind of “insurance policy.”

Isn’t maintaining it under County control a fitting way to honor the sacrifices of our eldersincluding veterans? Might it be one of the best indications that we truly value what they have provided us?

The values we share as Americans include defense of those least able to defend themselves. The qualities of loyalty and doing the right thing are a large part of how we see ourselves. The Pledge of Allegiance ends with a commitment to “ justice for all.” Our flag symbolizes all these and more.

Deciding that we cannot afford to continue a 183-year commitment to our elders is a sad comment on where we are headed as people. Joe Licurse’s life defined loyalty. How will our lives be defined? I, for one, do not believe recent events locally should be taken as an indication that the people of Orleans County approve ending the commitment that “The Villages of Orleans” symbolizes.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent
Albion

Editor:

Orleans County legislators sure lowered the boom on the “Concerned Citizens” and “Save Our Nursing Home” supporters.

At the close of the Orleans County Legislature’s meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013, Chairman David Callard, for his non-gavel-pounding finale, stated that a referendum to be held for a vote in favor of or against The Villages Nursing Home remaining under county control, is against a New York state law.

Was this law put into effect at 4 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2013? How long did the Orleans County legislators know about this? If they had been in possession of this information for the past year, without releasing it, and have allowed the “Concerned Citizens” and the “Save the Nursing Home” supporters (one and the same, I suppose) to march, carry signs, and cling to the hope that in some fashion, The Villages could remain under county taxpayer control, they should all be voted out of office taking the CAO with them. If it was a case that the county attorney had not researched this until lately, he had not done his job, and likewise should be replaced.

Also, at this meeting my friend Paul Lauricella brought up his concerns, and I might add that they should be every U.S. citizen’s concerns, about Resolution 335-1013 authorizing the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office to apply for the FY2103 Tactical Team Targeted grant “through the New York State office of Homeland Security.”

This $86,000 is to be used to fund equipment for the Orleans County SWAT team. “What!” With Homeland Security buying hundreds of thousands of rounds of hollow-point ammunition, and most police agencies assuming paramilitary characteristics, and in that respect dealing unconstitutionally with American citizens (my opinion), notwithstanding the passage of the bill H.R. 347 “Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011.”

This bill passed Feb. 27, 2012, in the U.S. House of Representatives and unanimously in the U.S. Senate on March 1, 2012. Not a single Democratic politician voted against this bill and only Ron Paul and two other Republicans, despite their posturing, voted in lockstep with the Democrats. We can thank our unrepresentative for stripping us of our First Amendment rights, and the news media for creating a blackout to keep us in the dark as to the U.S. government’s efforts to destroy the Bill of Rights.

The Orleans County legislators, with Chairman Callard in the lead, just roll their eyes, and lack the patience to listen to my friend Paul’s concerns. Without any solid U.S. representation in our area, we are on our own. Everyone should show their concerns by attending the local meetings and pay attention.

With the bill H.R. 347 in place, the individual who called President Obama a traitor twice, as Obama was speaking in Buffalo, was eligible for a fine and up to one year in prison, or both. Where is that person now? Google H.R. 347, and check the restrictions.

Have a good day.

Al Lofthouse
Kendall

(Lofthouse is chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party.)

Editor:

I am proud of our local artists who produced so much high quality art for the recent Palette Project organized by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. The arts are a natural resource of an area and we are rich with talented artists. The arts should be cultivated and supported by the businesses.

In this case however, the artists are supporting the businesses. Artists were asked to paint palettes that would be auctioned off for a scholarship for young artists. Yet the stated goal of the project was to promote the businesses.

The Palette Project was modeled after the successful Palette Program in Keuka. But it was not structured like it. When they auction off the palettes in Keuka, the artists get 50 percent of the sale of their art and 50 percent goes to the scholarship program.

The businesses involved each pay $150 to support overhead of the Keuka project. In the local Chamber’s case, the operating expenses are being paid from the sale of artist’s work. What is left over goes to the scholarship.

Operating expenses include salaries and mileage for those who worked on it, supplies, the reception, printing and advertising. Why are the artists are paying for that? Isn’t it the purpose of the Chamber to promote businesses?

Generally speaking, artists are generous and support causes. But when asking artists to donate to your cause, whatever it may be, please consider their value. Offering them free publicity alone is not sufficient for most artists. That doesn’t show you place a value on their work.

It’s called “artwork” for a reason. Artists aren’t magicians who wiggle their noses and a painting, a sculpture or a song suddenly appears. Many have spent a fortune on education. All have spent a significant amount of their lives training themselves. They often put their whole heart and soul into their art with no guarantee of success or financial gain. Is there any other profession where you would suggest free publicity in exchange for work?

If $1,250 was raised from the sale (that’s the amount set aside for art scholarships in Orleans) our artists’ work averages out to $18 per palette. Not much value there.

An artist may have spent many hours or days working on the palette. The artists were asked to donate art for a scholarship for young artists and I would like to see ALL sales of the art work go directly to the scholarships. Let the artists support the artists.

Arthur Barnes
Millville

(Barnes is a local artist and former Executive Director of the Orleans County Council on the Arts.)

Editor:

There is no doubt that the people of Orleans have spoken. Let’s consider for a moment what they said

Countless no, that’s not quite right “just” a couple thousand residents and voters lined up at the polls to protest the unnecessary sale of the County nursing home. That is a FACT. Thousands PLURAL came out to tell their Legislators that it wasn’t necessary, and the fact is that it isn’t.

Thousands believe that better management and responsible accounting are what’s called for. It’s just plain unfortunate that even more thousands take a more pessimistic stand on what this County is made of.

But it was “only” a mere couple hundred that dedicated literal sweat and tears to the effort and a few less who would likely have given their blood for it as well, as clearly a battle as this has been. And mark those words, thus far this has been merely a battle.

On the other side, we have Legislators who freely suggest, after the election, that voters came out for other reasons. That this was not a one-issue election. If we can be proud of this County, I would say that we can be proud of it more for the willingness of its people to come out in such numbers as to drain some polling places completely of regular ballots rather than be proud of the final outcome.

But lest you think that’s a loser crying of sour grapes, reflect that a single-party Legislature still effectively remains, and that is inarguably to everyone’s disservice in a democracy. Where dialogue fails to thrive, democracy also withers.

And lest you think the side with fewer votes are losers at all, reflect on this:

In the wake of his discouraging “loss” my father first sadly reflected that the solitary win we had in Fred Miller came at the cost of what my dad said was “the hardest working one of the bunch of them (in Henry Smith, Jr.)”

If that’s what you call a loser then I’d suggest you get your definitions sorted out. You don’t become a winner by making your decisions in spite of what people think and without performing the due diligence expected from you in a jobparticularly not when it’s a job you were elected to for the express purpose of performing that diligence so everyone else doesn’t have to.

You become a winner by going the extra mile whether you’re in office or not, by plugging away as hard as you can at every chance you get even when you’re not getting paid for it. Riding the wave of over $30,000 of campaign spending to spread misinformation is not winning, and voting for such spenders instead of voting for workers is about the most tragically losing approach that I can imagine.

In two years, you’ll have another shot at voting against taxing, spending and cutting services. Hopefully, next time around people will be less “informed” by colorful fliers bought with garbage money and more informed by paying real attention to what’s going on right under their noses.

Brian Kent
Batavia

(Kent volunteered with the Concerned Citizens of Orleans County. His father Gary Kent was a candidate for the County Legislature.)

Editor:

I am honored that the best so-called Republican attack dogs can come up with is a sour grapes response about some of our endorsed candidates supporting keeping the nursing home public. Some members of the Conservative Party support it, some don’t. I don’t.

This is a representative republic andthose candidates also support the bill of rights, lowering taxes, limiting government, defending the second amendment (the 4th for which our current Legislature has a very poor record of doing.)

Some have even voted against tax increases, others have cut taxes 9 percent in one year, showing it can be done if you’re serious. We are looking for fiscal conservatives, period. Something the Rinopubilcan party forgot about a long time ago.

We include other parties and give select candidates a chance, unlike the Rinopublican party that picks and chooses who will be the next best “yes man.”

My critique of the Legislature is long going and has nothing to do with the nursing home issue. I’m sitting here laughing as I write this, getting a lesson on conservatism from attack dogs that defend the Tax and Blame Legislature.

The very Legislature that has NOT produced a budget that hasn’t raised taxes in the 10 years I have gone there. The tax and blame county Legislature that slipped in an added amendment last year giving the county CEO a 5-year contract extension when he has never put together a budget that doesn’t raise taxes in his entire career.

Has the Legislature made some cuts? Yes. Because it has been forced to, not because it chose to. Remember this is the same group that grew and grew government when times were good. Very conservative of them wasn’t it? Very Republican?

I attend allthe county meetings with the Conservative Party chairman. We speak on spending and hiring cuts, tougher negotiations, protecting privacy, things going on in the national scope that effect us locally, slowing down the scope and power of Homeland Security, and these guys give us nothing. They grow and expand government at every meeting. Read the county minutes at the website. It’s all on record.

They are more in tuned with Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi than Ted Cruz or Rand Paul. Republicans? If I was head of the Republican Party in OC, I would be so humiliated from all the tax raisers and regulators that continue to get endorsements in this county.

Whenever OC sets a record, it’s for the highest taxes, unemployment, poverty and jobs leaving. Who keeps endorsing these people? There is the problem that needs fixing.They have cheapened the brand to a laughingstock.

Republican? Chairman Callard cuts me off almost every time I speak. Pounding his gavel, pointing at his watch or even threatening to have me removed by the sheriff if my regresses strike too closely to a nerve. He changes the rules as he goes along. The first amendment only applies to those who give praise or say what the Legislature wants to hear.

It’s healthy that some of you are nervous that “your” power grab and stranglehold on this county may soon becoming to an end now that you finally have some competition in the arena of political ideas.

Some very uninformed voters are questioning the ideology ofthe Conservative Party when these Republicans don’t live up to anything they are supposed stand for: limited government, low taxes, respect for the constitution (selective), private property rights, privacy, and trust in the citizen over government.

The Conservative Party consists of former Republicans that are ashamed of what has become of that party and you better get used to us because we aren’t going away. You don’t have a monopoly anymore.

Paul Lauricella Jr.
Lyndonville
Orleans County Conservative Party Vice Chairman

Editor:

In regards to the upcoming election, I can’t hold my silence any longer. Being the husband of Legislator Lynne Johnson, I have witnessed first hand the time and effort Lynne has dedicated to her job as legislator. I have also witnessed the long hours of countless meetings along with the many phone calls she receives day and night seven days a week.

What is most troubling to me is the published misconception or misunderstanding of the facts regarding the Nursing Home called “The Villages” that has caused her a lot of anguish. I am writing to set the record straight.

The Fund Balance or in other words the set aside cash reserves for “The Villages” is approximately $4 million. The expenditures to offset the loss of “The Villages” is approximately $2 million per year. The fund balance will be exhausted in two years.

The IGT (Inter-governmental transfer) of money from Albany that is used to supplement Medicare and Medicaid payments to “The Villages” will no longer be available in two years because the New York State government is cutting the program.

These two major sources of funding on the revenue side of the budget gives you the false impression that “The Villages” is breaking even or profitable. Nothing could be further from the truth. If “The Villages” had been retained by the county, in two years the deficit of over $2 million per year would have to be raised through the local taxpayers with the cash reserves depleted and the IGT non-existent. This would lead to a double-digit tax increase.

The other important misconception is that by electing a new Legislature body, you can stop the sale of “The Villages.” You can’t! The ownership of “The Villages” was contractually transferred to a separate entity called an LDC (Local Development Corporation).

Twice this transfer was argued in a court of law and both times the judge ruled the transfer was legal. The contract between the County and the LDC is to sell “The Villages” to the best bidder that would meet preset conditions of retaining the current staff and residents along with it being used as a learning center for the Albion Central School.

It is a binding contract and cannot be rescinded.€¨So, in closing, with regards to “The Villages,” it will be sold no matter who you elect and the people who are running for a seat on the Legislature that say “they will stop the sale” are either misinformed or, if they do know the facts, are purposely misleading you, the voting public.

As for me, I WIN either way. If Lynne is elected, the county will retain a very smart and dedicated legislator. If she loses, I get my wife back and she will make far more money in business with less hours spent away from home than she is making as your legislator.

Jeff Johnson
Lyndonville

Editor:

I will make this short and sweet. There are too many unanswered questions to sell the County Nursing Home in Albion, known as The Villages. The citizens of Orleans County need to know:

What might the tax impact of selling “The Villages” be? Hint: Taxes will not go down if “The Villages” is sold.

How are taxpayers going to pay what is still owed on the renovation project through 2026 without the Intergovernmental Transfer funds (IGT), Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements to significantly offset this payment?

Hint: The County treasury only qualifies for this money if the Nursing Home is county-owned.

How can bids start at $5.5 million when renovations alone cost $10 million? Hint: Would you sell your home for a fraction of what is worth?

Will the sale give back to the taxpayers the true value of the facility and the services provided?

It is premature to sell The Villages without answers to these and many other questions. Give the new candidates two years to try to save it or at least give the public accurate information so an informed decision can be made. Your current legislators have given this power to a three person LDC to make decisions and sell it behind closed doors.

If the current Legislators are correct, we will find out for sure in two years. If the Concerned Citizens are correct and it is sold, a tragic mistake will have been made. Orleans County citizens will pay for that mistake for years to come. And we still have to pay for Medicaid residents no matter where they reside!

There are ways to raise revenue by renting empty space, resubmitting Medicaid and Medicare claims for additional reimbursement, collecting back private pay accounts and forming co-ops to increase buying power to name a few.

The “Save Our Nursing Home” candidates have energy and a new perspective to serve the people of the county and save the nursing home or at least give the citizens the answers to these vital questions.

Linda Rak
Lyndonville

(Rak is a candidate for County Legislature, running as a Conservative and also under the independent “Save Our Nursing Home” party.)