Editor:

Getting an LDC “Board” to handle the sale of our County Nursing Home was “perfect.” None of the Board members could possibly have much understanding of how services provided by “The Villages” are financed. They might not even know the actual bottom line cost. But the decision to sell was not theirs. They were just executing a directive without public scrutiny.

Whether the decision was a good one, or not, was not for them to decide. Managing the sale would be just another “public service.” They could do the Legislature’s “hatchet” work with a relatively clear conscience. The actual decision to sell our county nursing home had, after all, been made by Orleans County “leaders.”

Just as the rest of us, the LDC Board members have been led to believe selling this particular county nursing home makes “business sense.” Does it?

In what was arguably a good business decision, Orleans County borrowed about $10,000,000 to “renovate” “The Villages of Orleans” about seven years ago. The “renovation” was really more new construction than renovation. As promised and anticipated, this legislative decision resulted in a massive increase in Medicaid reimbursement (about $2,000,000/year) to Orleans County for an indeterminate number of years. That reimbursement has helped offset a $900,000 annual bond payment due through 2026.

The decision to sell “The Villages” deprives the county of at least $4,500,000 in annual Medicaid reimbursement. It makes the 2007 renovation seem foolish. Selling “The Villages of Orleans” will send even more public money – earned at taxpayer expense – to a private owner of a facility we no longer own.

Making the decision even more costly is the fact that Orleans County is eligible for Intergovernmental Transfer program funds because it currently owns a public nursing home.This is our compensation for accepting Medicaid-eligible and other “hard-to-place” residents.

Once our Legislature-created LDC Board sells it, the million or more of Intergovernmental Transfer dollars Orleans County receives annually because it owns a county home will “go away.” Even if the program as currently constituted ends, a preferable, performance-based alternative would work to our advantage (if we retained ownership) because our County Nursing Home has long had relatively few shortcomings/deficiencies and is very highly rated. Advocates are pressing for a performance-based alternative to the unrealistic IGT program.

Do you have an idea why you haven’t heard what the complex known as “The Villages of Orleans” is appraised for? Certainly it must have been appraised. Could it be that we haven’t heard what it is likely worth because the selling price of your property is likely to be, perhaps, 50-60 percent what it is worth – if we are lucky? Of course, some may naively think it is worth whatever it sells for.

Finally – and this is especially hard to swallow – our LDC Board chose to spend a minimum of $100,000 more taxpayer dollars on realtor fees (than necessary) by choosing the realtor it chose (based on an assumed selling price of $8,000,000)! Figure that one out.

All this comes with assurances by legislators who insist that they prefer to run the county in a “businesslike manner.”

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent
Albion

Editor:

Leave it to the backwards, self-serving Republican Party in Orleans County, to even consider endorsing Trump for anything.

While Cuomo may very well be vulnerable in a re-election bid, and I certainly don’t agree with many of his policies, I hope to God that the state Republican Party settles on someone other than Donald Trump. But, then again, maybe he can drive the state bankrupt, like he has so many of his own businesses.

Mark H. Vosburgh
Albion

Editor:

These are dark times for the historian. All around us history is under attack. We are stripping it from the curriculum in the public schools, or making it subordinate to other disciplines. In the colleges, history classes are being stripped from program requirements left and right. In fact, where once a student would have to take two or three history classes for a four-year degree from a SUNY school, now a student can graduate without any history at all.

Outside the academy, history is doing little better. Recent surveys of historical knowledge in the general public are truly disturbing. Historic buildings are being pulled down faster than ever. Small historical societies are being forced to close down and the artifacts sold or distributed to other organizations. History, it seems, does not matter in modern society.

In the GLOW region, however, there are gleams of light to gladden the heart of the historian. These counties are exceptions to the bleak national picture, perhaps Orleans County most of all. Here, it seems, the people are aware of the darkness elsewhere and are determined to preserve their heritage and take stock of the history of the area.

Energetic organizations like the Sandstone Society, the Orleans Renaissance Group, the Cobblestone Society and local historical societies are bucking the national trend. Orleans County is also fortunate to have Bill Lattin, their tireless county historian leading the way.

Driving these organizations is a cadre of folks who are determined to transmit their heritage to the succeeding generations. When you survey the membership of these organizations, you cannot but notice that they are made up of many of the same people. But there are also numerous stories of individual citizens of Orleans County acting on their own to save a building, maintain a cemetery, or commemorate the past in their own way. In some cases this means a considerable financial investment.

In recognition of the unique atmosphere and the dedicated people of Orleans County, Genesee Community College and Tom Rivers, editor of the Orleans Hub news site, have teamed up to create annual awards to celebrate the individuals who work so hard to preserve the history of the area.

The Orleans County Heritage Heroes program will kick-off by soliciting nominations for the first round of awards through Jan. 31. The awards will be presented in a ceremony at the annual GCC Civil War Encampment in Medina, April 26-27, 2014.

By devaluing history, American society is really cutting off its nose to spite its face. History provides the context with which to understand the world. We are now raising generations of young people without that context. By subordinating history to lesser status than other disciplines, or eliminating it entirely, we are placing our young people at a significant disadvantage.

Think about a person with amnesia, for example. Without the memory, the world does not make sense. You do not recognize friends and, worse, you do not know who your enemies might be. You are left to the mercy of others who might be willing to provide the missing information, but that information will be shaped by the perceptions and perhaps the agenda of those providing it.

Of course, in my opinion, everyone who attends college should be required to complete – at bare minimum – both an American history and a World history course. It is not enough in today’s world to know the history of your own country. With modern communications technologies, it is extremely important to know how the world came to be as it is and to have a baseline understanding of culture.  Moreover, while there is an emphasis on math and science to compete in the world, those too have historical context. In fact, there is no professional discipline, no academic major and no occupation that ought to be without grounding in history! NONE!

We can certainly celebrate the fact that people in Western New York, especially Orleans County, value their history and seek to maintain their heritage. These wonderful folks are examples that the country, as a whole, should recognize and emulate! The Orleans County Heritage Heroes Awards are just one way we can say “thank you” to the treasured few swimming against the current. Now we need to work on changing the direction of the current.

Derek Maxfield
Assistant Professor of History at Genesee Community College
Batavia

Editor:

There were changes in tobacco prevention throughout New York State and the U.S. in 2013. Below are some significant milestones:

On Jan. 1, 2013, a NYS law took effect which prohibited the sale of electronic cigarettes to individuals under the age of 18 years of age.

On Oct. 10, 2013, a state law was enacted prohibiting smoking on playgrounds, between sunrise and sunset, when one or more persons under the age of 12 are present at the playground. Playgrounds constructed upon one, two and three family residential real property are exempt from the requirement.

On Nov. 1, 2013, another NYS law came into effect prohibiting smoking on hospital campus grounds and residential health care facilities and within fifteen feet of the property lines.

On Nov. 19, 2013, New York City Mayor Bloomberg signed a bill into law raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.

Why are these laws to protect and preserve the public health important? Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability and death across the United States. It is imperative that local citizens, health experts and government leaders take this issue seriously. In New York State alone, the death toll from tobacco-related illnesses reaches more than 25,000 every year and more than 430,000 nationally. Moreover, another 8.6 million live with a serious illness caused by smoking.

Despite the risks and costs there are still 46.6 million adults in the U.S. who smoke cigarettes and use tobacco products, and yet only a fraction of the CDC recommended budget for tobacco prevention is earmarked by the NYS Legislature.

What can you do? Contact your state legislator to let him know how important this work is to you and the community you live in. You can also partner with Smoke Free NOW, a program of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse to effect change.

Kevin Keenan
Smoke Free NOW coordinator
Batavia

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 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:

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:

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.)