Editor:

President Trump issued the Alien Enemies Act on March 15, 2025. The reason for issuing the Alien Enemies Act, according to the White House proclamation, was an invasion by the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang directed from Venezuelan government. (Note, if we are being invaded by Venezuela why did the Trump administration send troops to Los Angeles?)

The Administration alleges that the gang is engaged in “undermining public safety and supporting the Maduro regime’s goal of destabilizing democratic nations in the Americas, including the United States.”

Mr. Trump’s own intelligence disputes these claims, meaning there is no supporting evidence for the Alien Enemies Act. Mr. Trump is using this act to detain and deport citizens of foreign countries especially citizens from Central and South America or Africa, (except white Africans), without due process, in violation of the Constitution.

The immigration officers used to detain and arrest immigrants use full military tactical gear and facial coverings to hide their identities like a secret police force. The reason given for the masks is to avoid being doxed by bystanders.

But they are operating more like a secret police force of an authoritarian regime. For example, they targeted legal residents Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk for their constitutionally protected free speech in opposition to Israelian action.

Further, despite a court order preventing the deportation of alleged migrants to a prison in El Salvador, they were deported without due process; also, in violation of the Constitution.  Recently, agents have detained and handcuffed officials without a warrant for doing their mandated oversight, in violation of the Constitution.

Contrary to official explanations, video and audio recording show that the officials were not interfering with agents’ official duties. These violation of the Constitution should concern all citizens.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

It appears Washington political tactics have arrived in the Town of Shelby.  The far left liberal agenda of attack, mislead, and accuse has arrived in Shelby.

Never in my life have I seen a Conservative Party chairman endorse a life-long liberal Democrat without even giving the Republican-endorsed candidates an interview, let alone endorse the other two liberal candidates.

I thought being a Conservative or Republican meant core values of truth, honesty, respect.  But as is apparent by the political flyers and Facebook posts, that is not part of their plan.

Mr. Zelazny voted against joining with Orleans County in fighting the advancement of the STAMP plant (resolution 74-23). He also voted 3 times to give a raise to the town clerk who he rents farm land from. He also voted against the Town Code of ethics law holding elected official to high standards. (Why is that?)

Mr. Zelazny refuses to publicly state his family will not allow a mine to open on his family property. Is that because he knows he just needs a board majority to overturn the protective overlay? Mr. Zelazny can make all the false accusations he wants. He can make political video character assassinations against me, it doesn’t matter.

Mr. Waters falsely accused councilman Schiffer of tax evasion. No need for evidence, just make it public and let the news travel. Doesn’t matter if it’s true. No need to apologize, damage is done.

The statements on Mr. Heminway’s political flyers and rhetoric are pure fiction. If you attended the candidate debate, you witnessed everything he said was “Medina”, “Medina”, Medina”.  Not once did he stand up for Shelby.

If you want to know the truth come see me at town hall, or get ahold of me, I’ll answer any questions you have.  I am not going to slander or falsely accuse anyone. Do I want you to vote for the endorsed Republican candidates, yes, but the important thing is to vote on June 24^th. It’s a right many veterans fought for you to have.

Scott Wengewicz

Shelby Town Supervisor

Editor:

Did you see that?

Me neither! The Barre Republican endorsed candidates are not disclosing who is paying for their campaign. This is not transparent and maybe illegal!

“Effective January 1, 2020, all political communication must identify the political committee paying for the advertisement or communication in a clear and prominent manner to read or be spoken as follows: “Paid for by [the name or the political committee making the expenditure].” (EL 14-106(2))

I look at these candidates and wonder “who has funded the postcards, the banners, the yard signs, the ads?”  I noticed candidates are using the same designs as past candidates that were financially conflicted in the Heritage Wind LLC project. So then I checked the Heritage Wind LLC NYS required Code of Conduct disclosure list and voila! I find that Steve Coville is listed as a conflicted member. He has an easement and setback waiver for his property being paid up to $5,000 annually. And so here we are left to wonder, who is actually paying for this campaign?

Before you vote in this primary please ask yourself:

• Who is paying for their campaigns?
• Are these candidates transparent about who they are representing?
• Do these candidates understand the laws? Will they try their hardest to abide by them?

The other side of this primary – three individuals whose transparency is the most important aspect they are running on. Who spend countless hours, their own money and time to find out what Barre residents actually think, and strive to protect everyone.

They recognize that the turbine project has been approved at the state level, yet they know the project has continued to change (drastically) after the approval, and in order to protect the residents of our community they need to stay aware and vigilant. This race is not just about industrial wind turbines. This race is about the future of Barre, water districts, future projects and our community.

• Remember a few years ago when two candidates sent out personal letters, paid for by themselves with a stamped return envelope included (for ease of return) to all residents of Barre so that their thoughts and opinions on Industrial Wind in our community could be voiced? An overwhelming majority did not want the wind ordinance to be changed in favor of taller wind turbines (87%!) and had big concerns about the project overall. The Town Board at the time thought they knew best so they did not take the time and energy to find out. Iva and George did – dedicating time and money for their community! Truth first!
• Post-Covid Water District 10 costs came back significantly higher than when the resident signatures were obtained. George said, “I am all for this but only if the residents still want it at the higher cost.” So what did George do? He went to every home in Water District 10 and asked them if they still wanted it with the higher numbers. The truth was they did not even know about the financial increase. The Majority of them said that they would not be able to afford the significantly higher annual amount that they would have to pay. George put the residents first!
• He fought for your right to vote (combat war veteran). He has been serving our community on the Comprehensive Plan Committee and is dedicated to serving the Town of Barre. Scott Burnside believes in doing what is right and truly cares about our Barre!

Please vote Scott Burnside Supervisor, George McKenna and Iva McKenna Councilman; they have given of their own money, and paid for their own campaign. They research and ask questions to make sure that they do things the right way.

I am proud of all that they have given, and continue to give, to our community. They genuinely care about you, and want to help move Barre in a positive manner.

Be sure to vote on June 24th for our future!

Thank you,

Kerri Richardson

Barre

Editor:

Being a first time person heading up the food for the Strawberry Festival, I would really like to thank the following people: Aric Albright, Kyle Piccirilli, Will Malone, Kevin Kelly, Jay Pahura, Scott Bradshaw, Vance VanSkiver, Shaun Stephens, Ron Ricker, Steve Borowczyk, Rob Lightning, Charlie Ricci, Don James, Shawn Diebel, Pete Mathew and Jon Rissinger.

If it was not for all these hard working people I would not have had everything I need to get the job done. I really don’t think the community knows what these great people do behind the scenes from the electric to the garbage cans, closing down roads, putting picnic tables up, cleaning the streets and making sure everything is taking down and village is back to normal.

They also gave their cell phone numbers and said whatever you need, call.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you very much.

Thanks.

Jeff Holler

Albion

Editor:

If there was ever a time for change that time is now!  The people of the Town of Shelby deserve better and can’t afford to let any more time go on under the same leadership that we have been under the past few years.

We went over 18 months without a Supervisor’s Report. We finally received one at the June 10 board meeting. How can our budget already be over in two areas and we are not even half way through the year?

Legal fees with a budget of $80,000 this year and already we find out there has been $95,000 spent! For what? Is this why we weren’t seeing Supervisor Reports? Does he even know or have any idea how to do them or know anything about budgeting? Maybe he was just too embarrassed to show us how much he is spending!

Some of you received a letter in the mail from Supervisor Scott Wengewicz. Don’t be fooled! Unless you have attended board meetings (because the town’s YouTube channel doesn’t always work) you would know that most of these things on the list that he said he has accomplished while being Supervisor were not even done by him. But here he goes again doing what he does best…… trying to get credit and make himself look good for something that someone else did! (Reference June 10 board meeting public comments on YouTube).

The overspending and wasting of your tax dollars can be stopped by getting out and voting for new leadership. Both Jim Heminway and Larry Waters have been attending the Shelby board meetings for many years. Voting for them and re-electing Ed Zelazny only makes sense as they are all honest, hardworking and strive to do what is best for the town.

Linda Limina and Ed Zelazny have been a great team but they need the voters help, they can’t do it alone.

So please vote in the Town of Shelby June 24 primary: Jim Heminway – Supervisor, Ed Zelazny – Councilman, and Larry Waters – Councilman.

Together they can make Shelby great again!

Thank you.

Sharlene Pratt

Shelby

Editor:

At this month’s Shelby Town Board meeting, a non-Shelby resident made a political statement or joke – not sure which way he meant to go with it – about an event that happened to the highway supervisor, Mr. Dale Root.

I’m not sure how you take a life-and-death situation and turn it into a political joke, but hey you just keep riding that big man power trip. Maybe you should go to church on Sunday and check your moral compass.

For I was there working the 3.5-ton jack to try to stop 8,000 pounds from coming through the block holding the secondary lift support. I did not find it funny at the time as words and phrases race through my mind that might be the last words that I speak to him.

Even with his wife, grandchild, daughter and son all there and 8,000 pounds determined to come through the block, Mr. Root was able to keep a cool level head to assist us in placing the jack in the correct spot and to assist first responders.

A cooler leveler head than if your favorite flavored whipped cream for your Frozen latte at the local Tim Hortons was suddenly out of stock. But I’m glad that somebody can laugh about it for that means that his grandchildren still have a grandfather.

With that the Root family would like to again thank the first responders and neighbors that came to assist. Also the local NAPA store for not weeks before selling us the new Carlyle 3.5 ton jack that could lift more than 7,000 lb.

In conclusion I would like to end with a public service announcement. Careful what you lay under it could hurt you.

Joseph Root

Shelby

Editor:

Good day Shelby Republican voters! Primary election is here and it is important to get out and make your voice heard.

Please utilize early voting at the County Office building (Rt 31 Albion) if you are unable to vote at the Shelby building June 24, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Your endorsed candidates are incumbent Scott Wengewicz for Town Supervisor, Mike Moriarty and Vassilious Bitsas for Council member.

As we gear up for another week of slander mailings and Facebook posts let it be known that before the Republican interviews for endorsement, Mr. Heminway (life-long Democrat), Mr. Zelazny (failed to attend interviews for a Republican endorsement or debate on 5/22/25) and Mr. Waters went to the Conservatives to be endorsed, making a Republican endorsement a secondary need. So, are they behind Republican values or seeking to be elected as Republicans in Name Only?

Mike and Vassilious are new to local government involvement. Both have voiced that the constituents of Shelby deserve better than what they have had the last 2-4 years with the bickering and finger pointing from council members who find fault, offering no solutions.

When interviewed to garner endorsement, Mike presented with confidence and spoke well on topics of personnel, budget and business. He is open minded and able to think for himself.

The committee agreed with his thoughts on the direction the town should be going in. He owns a small business and manages a multimillion dollar international produce company. Mike would like to see more business come to Shelby, but that is hard when a board is unwilling to work together.

Vassilious, while soft spoken, processes thoughts before speaking – a rare skill to some most days. He is very astute about his families business. He has the ability to function under pressure, multitask – think outside the box and is a team player showing leadership quality.

We found him engaging and what we thought a council member should bring to our town. Both would be fresh eyes and ears in bringing new ideas to the table. They do not have hidden agendas or a history of grudges with other town council members or supervisor.

Scott has been on an uphill battle since day one as Shelby Town Supervisor inheriting the 2023 budget. Extinguishing problems of personnel issues, harassment complaints, financial software problems, working with department heads & budgeting ARPA funds. Stood up for residents and looked for solutions to water rates while being ignored from Village of Medina and when members of both boards met to negotiate 2 hours later nothing was resolved.

He does the best he can with the limited support from his council members. He is looking forward to and continue working for the residents of Shelby. Scott would like to explore renegotiating the municipal agreement with the Village of Medina so Shelby receives the taxes from Maple Ridge merchants, research funding to rebuild the park in Shelby Center, and continue working on the water lines to form a loop so more dead end areas will no longer need to be flushed.

As we approach voting day June 24th, remember these individuals are our neighbors. Respect their rights to seek a public office. The amount of slander and bullying needs to stop. The residents of our amazing town deserve better.

Thank you,

Dale S. Root

Shelby Republican Chairman

Editor:

Dear Shelby residents, your voice is important, especially for this primary. It needs to be heard loud and clear so our Town can succeed.

As a council member for just over a year, I unfortunately cannot endorse the current course of action that we are taking, a tax-and-spend approach. When I decided to run for office it was with the intent to help my fellow neighbors, be sure Shelby’s best interests were being represented, and frankly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t voice my concerns.

Too many meetings have come and gone where critical information has been missing, my questions go unanswered, 42 years of experience in finance is dismissed, and all our research is disregarded by the current majority. This is unacceptable going forward.

The lack of transparency throughout the Town Board majority is appalling. It’s frowned upon to inquire about the simplest tasks, let alone major projects like changing our water supplier!

The majority, led by the Supervisor, fails to promote collaboration and shuts down any discussion from board members like myself and Mr. Zelazny. I like to think that we all decided to run for office to better our town, so our actions should speak louder than our campaign promises.

It’s unacceptable when the current majority purchases water at a cheaper rate and six months later, still has no plan to pass the savings onto residents! That’s poor leadership and it happens every day which hurts our families. Our Town deserves better.

New leadership is desperately needed. We need representatives like those who have shown up to Town meetings for years, and stayed up to date with issues, not ones who just take marching orders at a meeting.

Council members are not supposed to be “yes” people. A culture change is needed, a new majority without ties to the status-quo should be our path. Town government should work by being professional, inclusive, and fostering discussions which lead to solutions – values our current town supervisor does not promote.

Shelby needs us to raise the bar for Town Government. We need more people like myself and Mr. Zelazny to take a deeper look into the financials and make sure they get sorted out. We don’t have a revenue problem in our Town; we have a spending problem. Every budget this Supervisor has done has been riddled with financial mismanagement that sets Shelby deeper into chaos.

Residents of Shelby, please read these words and help change our town for the better. It takes a new majority and new leadership, not an endorsed status quo.

Councilman Zelazny and I need help to fight against this mismanagement. Return him to office with other new faces who have come to Town meetings for years, offer a fresh perspective on Town issues, and did this before some committee handpicked them to run for office. We need a better plan than the current tax and spend.

You have a chance in the upcoming June 24th primary to make a choice for change. Respectfully,

Linda Limina

Shelby

Editor:

I don’t have a horse in this race as I’m not one of the 4,800+ people that live in the Town of Shelby. However, I do know a strong manager and have worked with Jim Heminway for over 9 years, initially as a colleague when he was the Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Digital Alert Systems (formerly known as Monroe Electronics) in Lyndonville and currently with his continued efforts as a board member for our company.

When considering someone for the position of Town Supervisor for Shelby, the ability to work with people is key. I’ve seen Jim work in a professional manner, remain calm during tense situations, have the intellectual strength to work through complex laws/rules governing our industry, understand the need for strong fiscal responsibility and hold the trust of our employees.

All these attributes will make him an excellent Town Supervisor, yet please allow me to describe the man beyond the manager.

Jim is excellent at listening to people’s points of view, whether he agrees with them or not. He is willing to listen and consider if he is missing a particular point that would improve a decision. He is not a “my way or the highway” kind of guy.

He is quick to ask, “How is your day” and mean it. If someone is struggling, Jim steps up with an attitude of cooperation, listening to their needs, offering alternative paths to move forward and rolling up his sleeves to assist.

Jim is quick to share a story and interacts with individuals with ease. He is sharp-witted but never sharp-tongued. He genuinely cares about the people he works with and seeks to elevate people rather than tear them down.

Jim is able to hold people accountable for doing their jobs but with a tone of guidance and respect.

The role of Town Supervisor is one of management but also one of heart. Jim Heminway has both.

I hope you will do Jim Heminway the honor of casting your vote for him as Town Supervisor of the Town of Shelby.

Anne Wakeman

Executive Vice President

Digital Alert Systems, Inc.

Lyndonville

Editor:

The Town of Barre has a Republican primary this year.  We need all registered voters to turn out as in a small town, every vote matters.

We are the candidates endorsed by the Republican party: Steven Coville for Town Supervisor; Dave Allen and Wes Miller for Town Board.

We seek to represent our community with integrity, commitment and common-sense leadership.  While there are other Republicans in the race, we believe our priorities, vision and dedication to practical solutions set us apart as the best choice  for our town’s future.

Our many years of voluntarily serving on the planning and grievance committees and serving on the zoning committee demonstrates our commitment to serving this community.

Agriculture is the backbone of our community and we fully support our local farm businesses and ag-related businesses. We understand the challenges they face from regulations to marketing and we will be a strong advocate for protecting and expanding our ag economy.

Clean reliable drinking water should never be a luxury. All residents should have safe and secure access to clean drinking water. This is a quality-of-life issue. Portions of our town are without public water or internet access.

We also believe we are stronger when we work together. That’s why we will actively seek partnerships with neighboring communities to tackle challenges to the benefit of everyone.

Fiscal responsibility is not a campaign promise for us, but it’s a guiding principle. Every dollar must be used wisely and transparently. We will prioritize budgeting that reflects the needs and values of our residents, not waste or politics.

Mostly we will listen. We believe in hearing from all sides, considering every viewpoint and then making a decision that is truly in the best interest of our entire town.

This election is about who can lead with clarity, fairness and a commitment to all residents.  We are ready to do the work and ask for your trust and vote on June 24th.

Thank you.

Your Republican candidates,

Steven Coville

Dave Allen

Wesley Miller

Barre