Editor:

I am Al Capurso and I am the endorsed Democratic candidate for Orleans County Legislator at-large. If you live anywhere in Orleans County, I would greatly appreciate your vote on Tuesday, November 7.

I am a life-long resident and property owner. My service to the people of Orleans County spans several decades in several county agencies. I am the first former county employee to run for the legislature. I will bring a much needed pro-labor perspective. When we attract and keep quality County employees, everybody benefits.

As a member of SPOC (Stop Polluting Orleans County) I am opposed to any new landfills. I also stand with those opposed to the proposed stone quarry in Shelby next to the National Wildlife Refuge. As a hunter and gun owner, I will work to preserve wildlife habitat and enhance hunting opportunities through conservation easements.

I will use my 25 years experience running a fishing/tourism business to work toward making Orleans County the tourism destination it should be. Visitors from all over the region are beginning to seek us out.

My work in historic preservation has taught me how to strive for the recognition our historic gems deserve on the state and federal level. Our increase in historic markers tells the public we have many special places here.

I look forward to serving for the common good.

Respectfully,

Al Capurso

Gaines

Candidate for Orleans County Legislator

Editor:

The Erie Canal towpath has always been a place of beauty and tranquility. It is a place to escape, walk, ride bicycles and enjoy nature.

We have lost something with the rapid execution of the tree line and foliage along the towpath, which gave home to wildlife, and a break from the harsh winds of fall and winter.

We understand the reasoning behind the clearing of trees and brush, but the ruthless nature that the Canal Corp. has used in clearing this scenic walkway is unforgivable.

It has been particularly harsh for residents living on the north side of the canal, where all privacy is lost. In the article on the Orleans Hub, it was stated that “The trees were not a managed forest. They were not planned and placed so as to be in harmony with the canal bank.” And the removal was “a good thing.”

We strongly disagree that the total obliteration of trees is a good thing. A true environmentalist could have, and would have, managed to leave some semblance, however small, of a natural tree line and still be able to mow and check for breaches.

Our belief and hope, is that whatever the Canal Corp. has in mind for the future, they take a more sensitive approach to management.

Elizabeth and Michael Leone

Medina

Editor:

It will be the 100th Anniversary of woman’s suffrage and my fourth term as the first woman Supervisor in the Town of Gaines.

Just like the women in 1848 through the 1920’s, I have been faced with some challenges concerning changes that were needed to be made as Supervisor.

Planning Board: We were down to 4 members the appointed board was struggling.  Through Land Use Training, an Attorney presented the benefits of appointing ZBA for PB Issues.

The Planning Board was organized by resolution and we were informed we could dissolve by resolution and so we did.  The ZBA has done an excellent job handling all planning and zoning issues.

Town Attorney: The Town Attorney is appointed on an annual basis by board approval.  As a new Supervisor, I felt it was time for a fresh start and the majority of the board agreed.  Andrew Meier has done a magnificent job and has saved us money.

Code of Ethics:  We passed a new code of ethics keeping elected officials that work for you out of Nominating Committees so political parties would not have direct influence on town decisions (My opponent, the Gaines Republican Chairman, obviously disagrees with that philosophy).

Our town has been faced with challenges but we have risen above and it is now in great shape! We have a wonderful board and we work together as a team making decisions that benefit our entire Town – not a select few.

The select few and their self-endorsed committee friends want you to believe that the list of things we have accomplished are goals they need to address. Their lack of attendance speaks volumes on their lack of information. Let’s keep Gaines in a good place.

Sincerely,

Carol Culhane

Town of Gaines Supervisor

Editor:

I am a graduate of Kendall Junior Senior High School, Class of 1977. Recently, I had the opportunity to run into one of my old teachers, out with his Mother for lunch at a diner in Holley. The first time I ran into him was several years ago at the Orleans County 4H Fair. He did not recognize me at that time. However, this time he did, and introduced me to his Mother.

We had an amiable chat, and I left. Afterwards, I felt remiss that I had not taken the opportunity to tell his Mother what an influence her son had on me, and that he was one of my most respected teachers. So much so, that when I did return to college, my chosen minor was Political Science.

My misgivings have been tempered. It seems that from his position as the de facto patriarch of the county Democrat Party, he has taken the opportunity to come out in public support of my opponent. While I defend his right to make that decision, I do feel it is for all the wrong reasons, namely partisan politics.

I am disappointed that he did not take the time to ask me about my qualifications. I would explain that I have a fresh perspective on town government, and desire to see what we can accomplish when we work together for a common purpose. Hardly the “status quo,” I want to make the Town of Murray even more accessible to the owners, the citizens. By creating an environment where we consider our collective betterment, rather than just looking out for ourselves, to be our top priority.

I want to reintroduce a Town Newsletter to keep people abreast of what is going on in their community. I am confident that this can be accomplished at no cost to the taxpayers, and provide an insight into the operations of the municipal government, but also events going on at the Community Free Library, the High School, and the Historical Society, just to name a few.

I believe the future is bright in Murray. Home sales are brisk, and I have spoken to many new residents who are glad they moved here. Businesses are expanding, and we are doing all we can to make a better environment for new businesses to call the Town of Murray home.

Were my former teacher to discuss the matter with me, he would see that I intend to be the best possible advocate for the citizens of Murray. I am proud that we have compiled a preliminary budget that holds the line on taxes this year, remaining below the tax cap. Murray currently enjoys a highly enviable score for Fiscal Stress, according the State Comptroller’s Office website, ranking much better than the average of “All Towns,” “Finger Lake Towns,” and “Medium Upstate Towns.” Please, check it out for yourself.

I am trying to operate a campaign based on facts, integrity, and honesty, traits I would imagine my former teacher values. This is difficult in light of the many falsehoods that others are hearing from my opponent. The following are some of the things I have been told are fact (if only because my opponent said them), in no particular order:

Claim – Everyone at the Town Offices has had their assessments reduced.

False. Over the past two years, anyone with tillable land experienced an increase, due to the price of such land on the current market. Four of the thirteen evaluated did not go up, and just three of these were reduced in accordance with the formulas used. My opponent knows this to be the case. Personally, mine went up 19 percent. Do I like it? No. Do I think it was done fairly? Yes.

Claim – The Town of Murray leases all of its Highway Department equipment.

False again. Everything at the Town Offices inclusive of the Highway Department is a Capital Asset, with the exception of the commercial copier. The citizens of Murray own our equipment, we do not lease! My opponent is well aware of this fact also, yet says otherwise.

Claim – The Town of Murray is overtaxing the citizens for their water.

False again! As part of the agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Agency, which is the agency who approves our grants and low interest bonds for the water districts, we are not only asked to tax and maintain an adequate fund balance in reserves, and for operation and maintenance, we are required to do so contractually. My opponent knows this as well, but strategically omits that fact, claiming we are “overtaxing.”

The explanation of why my opponent wishes only those who are connected to the town water system to pay this cost is simple. He is connected to the Village of Holley water system! On the three properties owned by my opponent or his corporations in the Town of Murray, all are agricultural exempt. Meaning he does not pay water taxes for those properties. Shifting the expense of operation and maintenance to the ratepayers would raise the current rates of $4.25 per 1,000 gallons to as high as $6.25 in some districts, and almost $18.00 per 1,000 gallons in others. This would constitute a grossly unfair system of taxation. It also totally ignores the value added to your property from having municipal water access available, as well as fire protection.

Perhaps he will want the fire departments to install a meter at the hydrant should your house catch fire? At a thousand gallons per minute, per hose, that would add up fast! Obviously, I would not allow that to happen.

I have been accused by my opponent of being a puppet for others. I assure you, this could not be further from the truth. Anyone who knows me knows that I will not hesitate to ask questions, gather all the facts, and make my decisions in the best interest of others and not myself. I will not back down when the cause is just.

Regardless of your voter registration, if you believe as I do that local municipal policies should be above partisan politics, and the integrity of the individual you place in charge of your Town is important, then I humbly ask for your vote on November 7.

Respectfully,

Robert G. Miller

Candidate for Town of Murray Supervisor

Editor:

I read Congressman Collins’ tweet after the latest and largest (not last) mass shooting in the long history of American gun violence. Collins tweeted, “Devastated to learn about the tragedy in Las Vegas. My thoughts and prayers and (sic) with the victims and their families.”

Well, Congressman Collins, your thoughts and prayers are not enough. They are not healing and they are not soothing.

One may ask if your thoughts and prayers are for each and every one of the 58 unsuspecting Americans who died and the more than 500 who were wounded; are there individual prayers for each of them or just a group prayer? Do you also pray for their families and loved ones who have lost and will suffer so much? Do you pray for the first responders and witnesses who pitched in to help and who will hurt as a result of the carnage they witnessed?

Do you pray as well for the more than 90 Americans who die each and every day from gun violence? Do you pray for the more than 33,000 who die annually? What about their families? How about thoughts and prayers for the more than 100,000 who are gravely injured by gunfire every year? What about their families? They suffer too!

We know how you feel when one of your own suffers the same fate. You arm up – after the Rep. Scalise shooting you said “I can assure you, from this day forward, I will be carrying when I’m out and about.” You introduced federal legislation to undo the NY SAFE Act which helped NY attain the 3rd highest gun safety rating in the nation and which is supported of by a wide majority of NYers and a majority of upstate voters.

So here is a better idea! Why not introduce legislation permitting guns everywhere? Allow them in government buildings, into the US Capitol and the Senate and House Office Buildings? And in the Supreme Court. All the places you can hide from the daily threat and promise of gun violence that the rest of us face. How about allowing guns around the Capitol grounds as you go and from your place of security while 7, 8 and 9 year-olds and teens run the gamut to and from school? And in their homes. How about guns in the homes of domestic abusers and terrorists?

If guns make us all safer, then you should be willing to permit guns everywhere. What could go wrong? You want guns in our churches and in our schools and in taverns and movie theaters, mandate them in NRA Headquarters too.

Quit chipping away at gun rights – go full throttle! Guns everywhere! Why restrict them from domestic abusers and the mentally ill and convicts and terrorists and children. Guns in airplanes and on school busses, in hospitals, mental health facilities and daycare centers. At Fantasy Island and Disneyland. At the Super Bowl and NRA conventions.

Why bother with metal detectors and body scanners in airports and at Bills’ and Sabres’ games? Guns everywhere!

Obviously, you are not alone in this disgrace. Your complicity is shared by the entire Republican caucus and too many Democrats. But make no mistake, the blood money in your pocket from the NRA and your fealty to them is as complicit in those deaths as if you pulled the trigger that kills our children and grandchildren and brothers and sisters, on a daily basis.

Dante wrote “The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of moral crisis preserve their neutrality.” What must be reserved for those who turn a blind eye to this ongoing tragedy at a time of real moral crisis and real domestic terror?

I live in your Congressional District, but you are not my representative.

Paul McQuillen

Upstate Coordinator New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

Member of Stop the Violence Coalition

Editor:

Town of Yates voters. You will have three choices for councilman this November 7th. All three are against the wind turbine invasion.

What do you know about each of the candidates? I attend town meeting regularly so let me help you out here. Two have been endorsed by the “Liberal Progressive” Yates Republican Committee. I can say that because it’s true. As far back as I can remember they have not produced a candidate that has not voted to raise your taxes or maintain the status quo.

The elected officials are never taken to task for this only given continuous endorsements. The incumbent candidate is a skilled career politician that will say and vote any way he has to to keep the seat. He has also voted to raise your taxes every year since he has been in office.

The endorsed challenger I can’t tell you much about other than he’s against the wind turbine project, was a Democrat before recently being sought out by the Yates Republican Committee to give their endorsement and switched parties. As far as I know he hasn’t been to one meeting or workshop this year and maybe two meetings in the last three years. So I can’t tell you where he stands on all the other town issues and apparently neither candidate has to because they have the R in front of the name. Republican voters, don’t be fooled by that R. It’s in name only. I would like you to help me change that so I can help you where it counts. Your wallet.

So here is why I respectfully ask you to elected Paul Lauricella Jr. as Yates Town Councilman on November 7, 2017.

• Expel the wind turbine giants from our town.

• Help to protect our all-volunteer fire department.

• Help to cut unnecessary spending and fight the status quo.

• Help to continue to support local farming and agriculture.

• Help to bring business and quality development to Yates.

• Help to protect our culture and way of life that residents enjoy.

• Help to reduce regulations and oppose creation of more.

• Fight to cut taxes that burden and stress the citizens of this town.

• Protect and defend the Constitution and all of its liberties.

Those of you who know me know I back up my words with action. When I commit to an endeavor 100 percent devotion is given. I am not a politician. I am an advocate for you the ordinary citizen whose voice is not heard.

When I speak, I speak for you. Government continues to operate and spend in last century’s fashion. Why not, it’s other peoples’ money they are spending. Your money, with no cares how much you have to give up and stress over how you can pay.

I will fight over every nickel spent. We must reduce spending to reduce taxes. It can be done. I will do this job for no pay as a service to my community. I respectfully ask you in Yates for your vote. What have you got to lose? Seems no matter who you elect the status quo reigns supreme. Let’s change that. Help is on the way. For true change vote for Paul Lauricella Jr. on the Conservative and independent lines.

Paul Lauricella Jr.

Candidate for Yates Town Councilman

Editor:

As is customary at quarter end, an assessment has been completed to include comments “In-Favor” and “Opposed” to the Lighthouse Wind Project as proposed by APEX Clean Energy. As you may know, APEX Clean Energy is an out-of-state wind developer based in Charlottesville, Virginia.

By way of history, APEX began approaching large-scale landowners in September of 2013 with the goal of signing leases on land for industrial wind turbines. In October 2014, APEX Clean Energy “went public” with their project and in December 2014 issued a Public Information Plan (PIP) which indicated that they were proposing to place 70 industrial wind turbines in a 24-square-mile swath of land in Yates and Somerset.

In the summer of 2015, APEX indicated that their selection of turbine size would be the largest available at the time of application. For informational purposes, the largest industrial wind turbine currently available is manufactured by Vesta, Inc. and is 787 feet high. By way of comparison, 787 feet corresponds approximately to a 79-story skyscraper.

In late 2014, APEX obtained a project number:  14-F-0485 from the New York State Government and began posting documents on their project to the NYSDPS website. Concurrently, the general public also began posting comments to the NYSDPS website both in favor and opposed to the project. It was at this point that the quarterly comments assessment process commenced.

At the end of Q3-2017, 1004 public comments had been posted to the NYSDPS site. Assessment of comments continues to show the opposition rate to the Lighthouse Wind Industrial Wind Turbine Emplacement Project at 84%.  Please see the table below for details:

It is important to note that in the 2.75 years in which quarterly assessments have been performed, the quarterly opposition rate dipped only once to 70 percent.  The overall average opposition in those same 2.75 years has settled at 84 percent.

As with previous assessments, all comments made to the NYSDPS site regarding the Lighthouse Wind Project were included in the assessment and cover the time period from Q1-2015 through September 30, 2017. All comments were read fully in order to ascertain position regarding the wind project.

In other news:

There seems to be a shift in our State Capitol of Albany toward the many Upstate and Western New York Industrial Wind Opposition Movements.  For example:

• On September 14, 2017, at a meeting of the Independent Power Producers of New York, Public Service Commission Chairman John Rhodes said that the state was not going to force wind projects on rural communities and said the Article 10 is “not a stacked process” against those communities. Mr. Rhodes stated, “Not under this governor are we going to force people in a police state mode to do anything.”
• On September 14, 2017, Lieutenant Governor Hochul spoke at the North Country Regional Economic Development Council Meeting at SUNY Potsdam. A councilmember informed Ms. Hochul that the council unanimously supported keeping Fort Drum a regional priority when siting industrial wind turbine projects. “We are aggressive in protecting our bases,” Lieutenant Governor Hochul said. “It’s the jobs, it’s the impact on the community and also … it’s protecting our nation’s defense.” Ms. Hochul was also asked about industrial wind turbine projects elsewhere in the North Country. Lieutenant Governor Hochul confirmed that addressing community needs was important. “We’re committed to clean energy and reducing our reliance on outside fossil fuels, but we’re also very sensitive to the needs of the communities, and we’ll always strike the right balance,” she said.  The extension of similar Albany attention to the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is only a matter of time.
• On October 12, 2017, Mr. Paul Agresta – Chief Counsel for NYSDPS spoke at the Alliance for Clean Energy (ACE) New York Fall Conference in Albany, NY. Agresta stated the following:  “Care must be taken by Article 10 applicants to avoid, and we as regulators must ensure against, giving in to the attitude of the pure entrepreneur,” Agresta said. “The pure entrepreneur only cares about closing the deal, its deal, today’s deal, by hook or by crook, by trickery or intimidation, close a deal, cash out, move on. That’s a dangerous attitude, which if taken too far will kill the Article 10 process.”  In relation to continuing struggle to define the term “unreasonably burdensome” in relation to local zoning law requirements, Mr. Agresta stated the following:…the better practice is to find a town that wants you and help them write an ordinance that accommodates what you want to build. That’s really what we need to have happen,” Agresta said. “We don’t want to be fighting towns over waivers. We want developers to go to a town where they’re wanted and work it out.”

While the tide seems to be turning in Albany, it is important to remember that it takes herculean efforts to effect meaningful, long term change with large governmental organizations. So, it’s right and appropriate to celebrate these victories in Albany. However, we cannot rest in the ongoing effort and fight to defeat APEX Clean Energy and the Lighthouse Wind Project. Our economy, wildlife, environment, health and very quality of life is at stake.

Thank you,

John Riggi

Councilman, Town of Yates

Editor:

I am running for Murray Supervisor to clean up our town’s financial operations. A review of water district taxes reveals that our leaders are asleep at the wheel.

At construction, each water district borrowed money to be built. This debt is repaid by district users through an annual debt service tax. Each district has its own debt and its own corresponding tax rate. The amount raised by tax levy must equal the annual bond payment. No more no less.

However, Murray continues to tax water district resident’s way too much, despite my protests over the years. Here’s the data from the 2018 Preliminary Budget:

On a per user basis, this over levying costs each household anywhere from $27 to $198 per year more in taxes than necessary. That’s real money and it adds up fast.

Where’s it all go? Defenders of the status quo tell us it goes to pay for operation and maintenance of our water system. Sound reasonable? I suppose.

Except that it’s grossly unfair and illegal.

Why should users in District 5 pay almost 7.5 times more for water system operations than their neighbors in District 1? District 11 where our water superintendent resides doesn’t even collect enough revenue to cover its own debt and pays nothing for operation and maintenance! Doesn’t it make infinitely more sense for users to pay for operation costs in proportion to their water usage??

Operation and maintenance cost must be paid from water charges rather than through taxes, precisely to avoid this unfair outcome. The more water you use the more you pay the less you use the less you pay, period.

Unless you live in Murray, that is, where the rules don’t apply.

Our town must immediately reduce water district taxes to come in line with bond payments.  If we can’t pay for our operations by selling water we are living beyond our means and must trim costs and waste.

We cannot afford blind tax and spend. We cannot tolerate covering it up by overtaxing our residents for debt service.

Our board refuses to act. Once elected Murray Supervisor, this will be among my first orders of business.

Please vote Joe Sidonio on the Conservative and Independence Lines.

Joe Sidonio

Murray

Editor:

I have been a member of the Medina-Ridgeway community my entire life. I have raised two children in this community and put them through the public school system. Additionally, I have worked, owned homes, paid taxes, and contributed on a daily basis to the economy of our town.

This letter serves as my endorsement of Tara Albone-White for the Town of Ridgeway Clerk. I have known Tara for 25 years from the time she was a small child. Tara has grown up in Medina and has strong lifetime attachments throughout the community, as well as a strong sense of what it means to live and raise a family here. Tara, as I know her, is an incredibly ethical, honest and hard-working woman who represents the next generation of our community.

Most importantly, Tara’s work with ARC, NYSDDSO and State Correctional Facility, combined with her associate’s degree in business, provide her with a deep sense of community as well as the education necessary to make and execute administrative decisions.

Given the qualifications and the education level of Tara there will be no incremental costs to bringing Tara up to speed in this position other than the required state/local training for any candidate elected town clerk.

The bottom line is that Tara is incredibly well trained and educated and able to step into this position with very limited training and a strong sense of equity in our community.

On a personal level, one of Tara’s strongest assets is her ability to be diplomatic and fairly represent the interest of all constituents.

I endorse Tara and strongly urge all the residents of Ridgeway vote for her.

Cheryl A. Tuttle

Medina

Editor:

Carlton residents on Election Day, please support our current Highway Superintendent David Krull.

Over the past eight years Dave has turned around the highway/water departments in Carlton.

He has made employees productive and accountable. He has implemented an equipment maintenance program, paved and rebuilt more roadways per year, and fixed or replaced dozens of out-of-service fire hydrants.

Our first line of defense is a safe and passable route along with an available and ample water supply – resources that first responders depend on. Dave has strived to make public safety his number one priority.

Dave is passionate about his duties and responsibilities to the residents of Carlton. Simply put, he gets the job done.

Please vote and keep a dedicated public servant in office.

Respectfully,

Rich Cichocki, Jr.

Former Town Supervisor in Carlton