Editor:

Elections in November are less than six months away. At the national level we are hearing so many political promises, statements, and accusations from the candidates of the participating parties we do not know what to believe. The confusing part is that we need to fact check every one because so many are false or misleading.

At the state level we are at the mercy of Albany. Policies issued state they benefit all the state’s population but end up benefitting the NYC majority and the upstate area is left out once again.

We have a Republican primary in Orleans County on June 25. Promises and statements are being made on a regular basis which suggest an individual can solve all the problems that exist in the hopes of getting elected.

An example of misleading exists locally where Mr. Sansone, the Niagara County resident running for the Orleans County DA position, mailed out his latest political postcard. He states that he is the only candidate endorsed by local law enforcement. That referred endorsement comes only from the Orleans County Jail union, a very small group of employees belonging to “the old boys club.”

Our local Sheriff’s Department, all local county police departments, the NYS State Police and the corrections officers in the NYS prison system are not endorsing any candidates in this primary.

At every level of government, we want the most qualified. In the case of the District Attorney’s position show us your accomplishments, let us know of your years of experience in the field of criminal prosecution, then make your promises. Based on these facts you will earn my vote.

It only takes a few minutes to voice your opinion, so feel free to do so by your letter or your vote. Be heard!

Thank you,

Jim Pratt

Albion

Editor:

With all due respect to Mr. Capurso and Mr. Fine, yes, the immigrants who work tediously hard jobs – farming and raising our crops – must receive their due credit. Most of us don’t have the strength and endurance to do such work. All credit  and appreciation is due them.

Our forefathers, similarly, longed to live and prosper in a free land such as ours. Our forefathers did, however, enter our country legally. There was a legal process they had to enter. I think the issue here is: legal vs. illegal entry (breaking the law of the United States) even though the once national security  border has been partly removed.

Shouldn’t those entering our country be vetted for our own safety? Shouldn’t there be a better way for legal immigration, a much shorter process for them? I don’t know of any other country (and there may be) where anyone who wishes can just enter that country and become established.

I will say again, yes these workers are badly needed here and are vital for our communities.  There must be a better legal process for these people. I am not being politically minded in with my  words. I  believe that no matter what your political affiliation or no affiliation, there must be a safer and better way to enter the United States.

With all respect and sincerity,

Sandra Shingleton

Albion

Editor:

The following is my own observations and opinions. I am confident it will offend some. I make no apologies.

We are living in backwards and upside-down times. There is a lot of mental illness out there in society. The causes vary: fear, drugs, peer pressure, wanting to fit in, some of it is genuine but a lot of it is self inflicted and perpetuated by the education system, politicians and the progressive media.

Observant people have seen this for decades when a friend or family member comes home from college they are a different person as if someone washed their brain clean of common sense and traditional values and poured in a lot of garbage.

Not all, that would be saying that every young person has a weak mind. Some of this wears off when one is hit by the real world having to work and pay bills and taxes and survive but there are many cases where it stays especially in the more affluent and connected families, trust fund babies where they go from university right into high positions and take their radical authoritarian views right into the education, media and the political system.

Poisoned minds continuing the progressive poisoning of our youth K through 12 through university with the backing of poisoned politicians. Not all, but reasonable people in education and politics know who they are.

Which leads me into why I am writing this letter. School board elections are today. The decades ago and recently indoctrinated, brainwashed, whatever you want to call it are now adults, parents with children or not and some are vying to run for school board positions.

We have observed this for years with radicals taking over school boards and imposing values and a progressive agenda that does not meet the values, views or education that the parents expect. Years ago all we had to worry about was the school board member that would agree to any and all spending and the results would be a high tax bill. Not anymore.

We can no longer except the generic statements that school board candidates make in their letters they send or write to the editor. We need to know where they stand on Critical Race Theory, “White Privilege” and allowing male transgenders into the girls bathrooms, sports and locker rooms. We need to know about allowing sexually explicit books to be viewed in the school library by K  through 12 students.

Climate propaganda is another abusive poison putting fear and despair into our children when there is not one thing to worry about. The Board of Education is a reflection of the community. I know I will be having a grandson attending school soon. I want him to have an innocent childhood and protected from this kind of sickness when he is out of our hands and supposed to be learning how to competently read, write, add subtract, real science and skills useful to a self-reliant life.

He is all boy who will grow up to be a man and will at no time by our family be treated or told he is otherwise. I do not want a woke twisted board member, educator telling him or your child otherwise as no grandparent, or parent would want that.

This is all a form of delusion and mental illness. That is why it is so important to know the views of the school board candidates before you vote.

Lastly, do not raise my taxes.

Paul Lauricella Jr.

Lyndonville

Editor:

S.C.O.P.E. of Orleans County has convened with both Republican District Attorney candidates on two occasions thus far. S.C.O.P.E., a staunch 2nd Amendment Defense Organization, fervently defends the rights of gun owners in New York State to keep and bear arms.

Given that public officials are mandated to swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, prioritizing it above state laws, the candidates’ proposed actions to uphold this oath were given significant weight in the membership’s assessment.

As Benjamin Franklin astutely remarked: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” In addition to this fundamental principle, several other critical factors were taken into account:

• Empowerment of the Second Amendment.

• Dedication to the community and the people of Orleans County.

• Resistance against unconstitutional laws such as ERPOs (Extreme Risk Protection Orders) or “Red Flag” laws.

• Initiatives aimed at enhancing safety within our community schools.

• Opposition to new bail reform and discovery laws.

• Focus on addressing problem areas in the community, such as the impact of drug-related issues.

• Commitment to implementing programs that raise public awareness and promote safety.

The S.C.O.P.E. membership diligently applied standardized rating procedures and engaged in extensive deliberations to determine the following District Attorney candidate gradings:

Susan Howard – B

John Sansone – C

It’s important to note that the above grade does not constitute an endorsement. S.C.O.P.E. represents the diverse membership and gun owners of Orleans County, comprising of individuals, families, sportsmen clubs, and companies that play a crucial role in supplying materials necessary to defend our Second Amendment rights.

S.C.O.P.E. of Orleans County remains steadfastly committed to fostering ongoing dialogues with all elected and unelected officials of Orleans County. We encourage active participation in our monthly meetings, held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7 PM, at the Hoag Library, 134 South Main Street, Albion, NY. Please note that our meetings are open to the public.

With utmost honor and respect,

Mark Allen

Chairman, Orleans County SCOPE

Editor:

Ted Lewis, Steve Vann and I are running for re-election to the Lyndonville School Board. This year’s election has been very heated. When casting your vote this year I encourage you to ask questions and verify the answers you receive.

This year we have two school board members on the negotiating committee for the teachers’ contract: Steve Vann and Ted Lewis. The school board decided this was necessary to maintain a clear understanding of the fiscal workings of the school for which we are responsible.

It seems as if three issues we support – affordable health insurance, resistance to radical social agendas, and parental involvement – are considered by the leadership of the Lyndonville Teachers Association (LTA) as enough of a threat that they publicly endorsed candidates for the first time in my over a dozen years as a board member.

The three of us, Ted Lewis and I, led by Steve Vann, have spent many hours researching and learning about various health insurance programs in an effort to provide quality insurance at the most reasonable price in keeping with our responsibility to be good stewards of the financial resources we are provided by the taxpayers to utilize.

Currently, the highest paid teachers in the district have better plans that newer teachers cannot participate in. In speaking with a newer teacher in the district, she is struggling to make ends meet due to one large burden in her personal budget – health insurance. We are seeking to rectify this and find good quality options for all employees, not just the highest paid.

There has been much misinformation about the potential change in health insurance. Health insurance cannot be changed under New York State law, unless it is comparable or an upgrade. When you understand this fact, it could appear the current chaos over healthcare is simply a smoke screen for the fact the LTA does not want School Board members on the negotiating committee.

We believe schools are a place to learn critical thinking skills through mathematics, sciences, English, foreign languages and history. We strongly support music and the arts as well as the opportunity to engage in individual and team sports. Our school is not a place to introduce radical social agendas. Our children are precious and parents trust schools to teach their children, not indoctrinate them. We believe all children have God-given dignity no matter their race, religion, or any other unique differences.

We believe in being fiscally conservative and we will continue to work to represent the taxpayers by being responsible stewards of their money. We will continue to look for ways to ensure affordable and quality healthcare insurance which is equally available to all staff.

We will resist an agenda to change the school climate as stated by the LTA president (which included threats and bullying within the school as reported by teachers who have chosen not to participate). School is not created to parent your children. There are those who believe they know better and desire more and more control within the school at the expense of parental involvement.

The position of school board member takes a significant amount of time, and experience in order to gain insight to the complexity of the school board process. Feel free to contact us with any questions about this letter or comments made by others who do not feel it is important to get both sides. We are happy to back up our statements and intentions with facts. We desire to keep the school and the many employment and social opportunities it offers right here in our town for as long as possible.

Please consider voting for Steve Vann, Ted Lewis and Susan Hrovat. Keep a Conservative Board.

In your service,

Susan Hrovat

Lyndonville

Editor:

To the Lyndonville School District voters, you have the choice to sit on the sidelines like usual or you can go and vote on May 21 from noon to 8 p.m. for two reasons.

The first reason is, no disrespect to Mr. Price (LTA president), but I for one will not be voting for individuals endorsed by the teachers’ union because I am extremely uncomfortable with teacher union-endorsed candidates negotiating union contracts on my behalf. Lyndonville voters are you comfortable with teacher union-endorsed candidates negotiating on your behalf? My taxes are already damaging mine and my family’s lifestyle. I am overtaxed and don’t need nor want to be burdened with higher taxes.

Reason two to go and vote are the actions of all the candidates. Mr. Vann, Ms. Hrovat and Mr. Lewis have their past votes and beliefs exposed by their experience at the job. Mr. Vann and Ms. Hrovat, in my opinion, are sincere in their proclamation of caring for the youth of Lyndonville. That includes my two.

I have seen some disturbing public posts about alternative lifestyles, supporting a known communist organization and defunding the police made by a teacher union-endorsed candidate.

I like the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office presence at Lyndonville Schools. I know that the current Lyndonville School Board members have stopped some alternative lifestyle books from Lyndonville youth. I believe that porn is for 18 and older. Some alternative lifestyle books approved for NY youth in my opinion are pornographic and should not be allowed in NY schools, especially in Lyndonville where my two are registered.

There are laws that get broken to appease mentally challenged persons even though the United States is a republic, which means the Rule of Law governs. However, willful neglect of the law is not the topic here.

If the Lyndonville School District voters fail to show up to vote then major changes to the Lyndonville School District most likely will take place. Higher taxes, teaching alternative lifestyle sex and communism indoctrination will be coming to Lyndonville youth, courtesy of the complacent Village of Lyndonville and Town of Yates voters.

Acknowledgement: most likely alternative lifestyle sex is already being taught in Health Class. When I went to school we were taught the evils of communism and why it fails along with why true democracy leads to oppression and destroys the Middle Class.

The Rule of Law matters. Also, why you should be an educated voter.

I am voting for proven conservative Lyndonville School District Board members, Steve Vann, Susan Hrovat and Ted Lewis.

Steve Colon

Lyndonville

Editor:

William Fine on May 16 correctly criticized Congresswoman Tenney for her continual Trump-like attacks on immigrants.

She obviously believes the best way to stay in office is to adopt the hateful MAGA agenda and demonize immigrants. A strategy that will certainly backfire when Trump is sent to jail and no longer runs the GOP.

A recent item in the Washington Post suggested that without the taxes paid by immigrants, there would be a shortfall in revenue resulting in reduced Social Security benefits.

Has Tenney forgotten where her forebears came from? Has it slipped her mind that they wanted a better life, much like the Germans, Irish, Italians, Chinese, Indians etc. Of course she knows this, and believes taking the low-road in politics is the best way to get re-elected.

Maybe it is time for the voters to show her she is wrong.

Jack Capurso

Ashburn, Va.

Mr. Capurso is a 1960 Albion graduate.

Editor:

The Orleans Hub article on “Meet the candidate’s night” at Lyndonville focused on the health insurance policy currently proposed as a term of contract negotiations. The article also addressed “scare tactics” used.

Please refer to public District Policy (https://www.lyndonvillecsd.org/documents/board-of-education/board-policy-info-for-website/43016) in the citations below.

Role of the Board of Education (BOE) (#1310 and 1311 summary):  “The board manages and controls educational affairs of the district. The major role of the BOE is to hire a superintendent who is competent to manage the district. The board will support and evaluate the Superintendent.”

The board is represented and has input on union negotiations (including health insurance) but terms of contracts are not the sole dictation of BOE. Union contracts are tied up with larger entities in the county and state. Violating the terms of contracts can have legal and financial impacts to the district.

Discussing contract terms (on any subject) that are still in negotiation are not in a finalized state should not be presented in a public forum.

 #1350 e. “Represent the entire community without fear or favor.”

Rumors of bullying tactics, retaliation and accusations in this election are direct opposition to the policies the board has laid out for itself and that we as a district frown upon for our own students.

Tough issues including bullying will continue to come up with our students and our community. It is critical to come together as an educational team to face them on a united front to develop viable solutions.

All parties should have spoken about the exceptional students, teachers, staff, administrators, and the future of our district.

#1350 f. “Remember at all times that the board member is one member of an educational team.”

Taking a “it takes a village to raise a child” mentality needs to be in place. Parents, teachers, administration, Board of Education members and the community need to all come to the table to continue to foster the growth of the future generation of our country.

Lyndonville is small and has the gift of working with friends and neighbors to pave the road for future success even within NYS mandates.

There is such an opportunity to work together to get to the black and white text of how things operate. Reviewing current procedures, determining effectiveness, and providing clarity in existing documents is critical to support organization and streamlined operation.

Technology could be utilized more for condensed and efficient communication. This platform also can be used to build a conversation for all those on the educational team. The BOE can put a quick summary video of meetings on the website, grade level announcements all in one place, or utilization of text messages for upcoming events are some options to be explored.

Fostering our kids to have deep roots fed by the strong values we have and big wings grown with the education provided in our school is what Lyndonville does.

Please vote for me for the Lyndonville School Board (#2 on the ballot, #1 tiger in your hearts). I am invested and have done the work to be the most informed to perform this role. No matter what the results I want LCS to continue to be the best as a team!

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at meganbruningorangeandblack@gmail.com.

Megan Bruning

Ridgeway

Editor:

Listen up Lyndonville parents and taxpayers!

A plan is in place. The Lyndonville teachers’ union brought in experts last year to teach the teachers how to flip the board!  It’s been their goal. It is in their emails and meeting minutes. Is that OK with you? It makes me livid! It’s so wrong!

Having been on the board for 12 years, that isn’t how you get what you want! The teachers’ union is not thinking about the kids, but their needs above all else. They are in contract negotiations and have wants. They want pay increases among other things.

Why should the teachers, when maybe only about 15%  of them live in the district, choose our board?!!!  They recruited!

The board flipping idea never came about because of healthcare! That is the smokescreen used to drive teachers and community members to support their candidates. The school board was not forcing anything on them, and they agreed to let research be done to see if comparable insurance existed for less impact to the budget. (12% of the annual budget goes to staff healthcare.)

I have spoken to teachers, and they were told if they go publicly against the union….they will face a lawsuit! Many are against this move.

Nothing about this is right! The union is investing finances on two mailings to all  Lyndonville residents, and numerous signage. They are spending time on phone trees calling taxpayers, all to flip the board!  Don’t let them control this election, in order to get what they want!

In order to take back our country, we must start at the local level!  And, that means our schools! I love the small rural town of Lyndonville! LCS was my, and my children’s, alma mater. I have invested in its children for many years. I don’t want to see the indoctrination of CRT and DEI in our small school. The “Union slate” includes a candidate that promotes that! His twitter account has been public, so I have seen it myself.

Keep LCS Conservative!  Vote for incumbents Lewis, Hrovat, and Vann! It is crucial that you spread the word! Time is short! Don’t let the “Union” pick your representatives on the board!

It has never been done before and this should never be happening!  Sadly, they are dividing a strong community.

Elizabeth Carpenter

Lyndonville

Editor:

I am very dismayed at the choice of development of a new microbrewery business over the enlargement and improvements to the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

In my opinion the state was wrong in advancing an alcohol-related facility over an educational and community gathering facility. I understand the choice of housing, waterfront development and hotel space and think they were wise. The signage and storefront ideas were also needed and appreciated.

I hope the community and business leaders will support the library with the money to go ahead with their expansion plans in the near future! With the many needs in the community’s infrastructure currently in the works I am afraid the library will be left behind.

Dayton Hausman

Medina

Editor:

I recently received a couple of items in the mail relating to the upcoming Tuesday Lyndonville CSD budget vote and board election.

One item was from a board candidate and the other was the school district newsletter containing a statement by the same board candidate.

Both items were disturbing and unlike any school communication I have ever received.

The item from the candidate contains, in bold print, the following header: “Keep a conservative minded majority on this board!”

Besides pandering to a partisan political constituency, reading between the lines, the message of the incumbent candidates is clear: Books will be banned if they don’t align with the new, conservative viewpoint, and support for some segment of the student population will be withdrawn if it doesn’t align with a radically restrictive social viewpoint.

There is no room for that kind of policy in a public school preparing kids for the 21st century!

In the board newsletter the candidate tries to defend eviscerating health insurance coverage for current employees and retirees. Coincidentally, collective bargaining is now underway between the Board of Education and union leadership.

Allusions are made to significant savings with virtually no change in coverage. The facts are otherwise. Participating providers, service coverage and deductibles would all result in greater personal dollar cost and inconvenience to policy holders. The current Orleans-Niagara health insurance consortium has provided adequate coverage for a reasonable cost for years. The BOCES and seven of the smaller districts find annual cost savings in the cooperative plan. The plan is reviewed annually.

The coverage advocated by the candidate would harm employees and retirees. If the school district wants to continue to attract the most qualified teachers, it can’t provide the same level of health insurance coverage as provided to burger-flippers.

In a condescending commentary about the competency of educational administrators, the candidate claims expert qualifications in business matters. If that were the case, why go for the low-hanging fruit? Why not look at tougher issues such as extending contracted transportation services? Why not re-visit consolidation with another district? (ie: If consolidated with Barker, the new district would still be the smallest in the BOCES).

The message to me is clear: Boycott voting for the current board members on Tuesday. Educational quality and fiscal responsibility are at stake.

Ralph Smith

Lyndonville

Editor:

The Albion Betterment Committee believes this may be a good time to thank Village of Albion residents for accepting white dogwoods many years ago.

The trees were looking magnificent this past week as they showed off their gorgeous flowers. Those blossoms will be followed by stunning red berries that are coveted by many native birds.

We thank all those property owners who have taken care to prune the trees appropriately as well. Very few of the small to medium-sized trees have been left with short, ugly stumps when unwanted branches have been removed.  Cutting such limbs back to larger stems allows the trees to heal and helps assure good health.

For residents who missed out when local teens helped put about forty of the trees in years ago, we say, “Better luck next time.”

Very truly yours,

Gary Kent on behalf of Albion Betterment Committee Board of Directors

Albion

Editor:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s attacks on immigration has to be seen as an attack on small farms and our farming communities.

Cornell University reports that over 50% of farmworkers are undocumented immigrants. The lack of farmworkers is a major reason for farm bankruptcies. When the previous administration attacked immigration, farm bankruptcies drastically increased — a 20% increase in 2019. That was not an unintentional result of Mr. Trump’s immigration policy.

Indeed, Mark Krikorian, executive director for the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that advised the Trump administration, told the New York Times, (March 18, 2019), that their goal was to force small farms to consolidate.

A Study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, (published 4/14/21), reports that farm consolidation means: “jobs disappear, population shrinks, physical and social infrastructure weakens.”

Small family farms support our local schools and churches and provide economic vitality to our communities. Ms. Tenney’s attacks on immigration is an attack on our local communities.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

In several rankings, Orleans County has an adult obesity level of 50.9%. The highest in the state and one of the highest in the country.  A short review of photos in the Hub reveals the extent of the problem.

There is a simple solution the Austrians and Dutch have used to become among the healthiest and physically fit people in the world.  Walk and ride bikes, and leave the cars home.

In Amsterdam, former car ramp garages are now full of bicycles. Dutch bike riders, who are invariably slim, told us a bike ride to and from work is an important part of their fitness program. Many Dutch have two bicycles: one for commuting to work and the second for recreation.

In Vienna, Austria people routinely take their two-wheeled shopping carts to the grocery store and leave the cars at home.

I suggest Mr. Paul Pettit, the local public health director, and his Health Department set an example and start a walk/bike ride to work program. Perhaps a “Walk Around Town” program could be started by County/Village leaders.

With county/village leaders hitting the streets, perhaps the walk/bike idea will catch on and Orleans County can remove itself from that list.

I look forward to comments from Mr. Pettit’s and county/villages leaders.

Jack Capurso

Ashburn, Va.

Mr. Capurso is a 1960 Albion graduate.

Editor:

This is the first time in the history of the Lyndonville Teachers’ Association that we are endorsing Board of Education candidates because change is needed.

A change in leadership would benefit the community, district, and, most importantly, the students. Megan Bruning and Patrick Whipple will bring an opportunity for building a school district that:

• Celebrates the values and spirit of Lyndonville’s rich history
• Develops all students to their full potential by strengthening academic and emotional supports
• Ensures more efficient use of district resources by collaborating with all stakeholders
• Improves the climate in school buildings through respectful professional etiquette and the equal treatment of all
• Reinvigorates the athletic program to return to previously high numbers of participation
• Enhances communication by reporting information honestly and transparently

Please consider supporting our vision for the future of Lyndonville Central Schools by voting for Megan Bruning and Patrick Whipple on Tuesday, May 21.

Shane Price

LTA President

Lyndonville