Editor:

Again I read Mr. Riggi’s letter and realize that he’s expressing his own personal opinion, not the opinion of my Yates Town Board. Again I would ask him to sign his letters accordingly.

It’s very obvious to me and others that SOS’s new talking points are twisting Apex Clean Energy’s words once again. SOS is a political organization that has its own PR counsel. And, thank you John Riggi for opening a big can of worms with your most recent letter.

I ask the question, who is harvesting bank accounts with lawsuits? I’d say SOS and ambulance-chasing attorneys.  When a town board unethically denies a permit for two MET towers due to false information, I’d say the town board is at fault as well. The judge’s ruling in this case proves my point.

I find it very amusing that Mr. Riggi can quote Winston Churchill, but can’t remember that on July 6, 2015 there was a lawsuit filed against Mrs. Donna Bane and my Town Board over a MET tower. That lawsuit was filed by SOS and signed Mr. John Riggi, President. That frivolous lawsuit cost my Town Board $15,000 to defend against. Again the judge’s ruling proved Mr. Riggi and SOS wrong.

Your assertions of “continued and massive 70 percent opposition” is just baloney. There’s no way you can justify that figure. For that reason I give you two “Pinocchios.” You and SOS are the ones that have forced our towns into the “gut-wrenching conflict” that you call it. You are the ones that continuously spread fear and insults. It is you that silences others with fear tactics and call Apex the enemy, even comparing them to Nazis.  You should be ashamed of yourself to even mention Apex and Nazis in the same letter. The Apex people I know are good people.

Lighthouse Wind will bring desperately needed economic development and new funds into our towns.  As it has been shown in towns across New York and the United States, wind brings economic development in more ways than one. Case in point, the Town of Sheldon, NY has no town taxes due to their wind farm. Wind energy supports job growth and local businesses during construction and operations. With dropping enrollments at our schools and budget cuts, Lighthouse Wind can strengthen our schools and lower taxes for hard working citizens who don’t have the luxury of living on the lake.

You want to talk about enemies? Representatives that govern for their own benefit, twist information spun by a PR person and SOS has one, and don’t represent all their constitutes – now there is the enemy! John, if you worked as hard to bring sources of revenue into our town as you have against the Lighthouse Wind Project, we would be the least taxed town in the state.

Respectively,

Howard Pierce

Lyndonville

Editor:

Alternative facts are alive and well in the towns of Yates and Somerset. What is an alternative fact? It’s when someone tells a bold-faced lie to get their way.

I ask my neighbors and fellow citizens to wake up and realize that false information is being spread by people that will do anything to get their way of destroying Lighthouse Wind. If you have questions or concerns about Lighthouse Wind, you need to go straight to the source.

Lighthouse Wind has an office that has been open for two years in Barker. I would ask that you take a moment out of your day to visit and ask questions. Carmen and Taylor will take the time to address any concerns you have.

Why not take the time to educate yourself on both sides of the issue? Don’t let the opportunity that Lighthouse Wind brings pass us by without fully educating yourself. You can talk to me and to other supporters as well. There are a lot of us.

Mr. Riggi’s recent letter to the Orleans Hub talks about lawsuits and blames Lighthouse Wind for money spent by the towns on legal fees. This is an alternative fact.

If the Town of Somerset had treated the met tower application fairly, there would not have been a need for a lawsuit. Mr. Riggi was not concerned about the towns spening money when he signed a lawsuit against the Town of Yates on behalf of SOS when he was their president! Does anyone else remember SOS’s old brochures that suggested that people sue their neighbors about the turbines?

I am available to talk to anyone that has concerns. There are always two sides to every issue.

And by the way, why is the wind moratorium not being enforced in Yates? There isn’t supposed to be any discussions about the turbines but Mr. Riggi allows SOS to talk about them all the time.

Moratorium: 1. (Law) A legally authorized postponement of the fulfilment of an obligation. 2. An agreed suspension of activity.

I ask you to keep an open mind and educate yourself.

Harvey Campbell

Lyndonville

Editor:

No Quarter.

Recent APEX-sponsored billboards state: “Wind is a cash crop, let’s harvest”.

While APEX exhorts Yates, Somerset and lease holders to cash in on the wind, APEX’s true goal may be to “harvest” the cash that Article 10 is so freely allowing via the bank accounts of Somerset, Yates and the lives of its people. By “harvesting” these bank accounts with lawsuits filed when they don’t get their way, APEX attempts to bankrupt our towns and our people’s spirit.

When they can’t accomplish this goal, as is evidenced by the continued and massive opposition to this project, APEX forces our towns into a gut-wrenching conflict, all under the auspices of Article 10, where we pick the battles in defense of town funds and constituents’ lives.  While Article 10 may have been envisioned as a way to allow public input into the industrial turbine siting process, the elimination of Home Rule via the installation of a Siting Board is the perfect shield for APEX to herd this process to what they believe are the safe harbors of Albany. In my personal opinion APEX believes New York State Government in Albany will give them their project regardless of the opposition of 70 percent of Yates and Somerset constituency. I believe that our representatives in Albany are deeply concerned with the health and well-being of their constituents and will not allow this project to move forward.

However and until then, this fight is a “no-quarter” game of attrition that APEX and Article 10 are forcing us to play and we will be prepared to give “no-quarter” in return.

Winston Churchill said it best during an address on October 29, 1941, at London’s Harrow School just after the Nazi Blitz:

“This is the lesson, never give in, never give in, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty.  Never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.  Never yield to force, never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

No quarter shall be given in this fight.

Governor Cuomo:  ARE YOU LISTENING?

John B. Riggi

Councilman, Town of Yates

Editor:

In case you didn’t realize it, Orleans County has a cat problem one might expect in an area with a high poverty rate.

One of our “country neighbors” inherited a cat rescue “business” from the previous owner of her house. At one point, we counted 33 cats in the yard outside her front door.  It wouldn’t surprise me if there were more.  Needless to say, the “business” isn’t too profitable.

People like our “country neighbor” are good hearted and do what they can. Over the past several years we have even had numerous cats “gifted” to us. Our “benefactor” usually drops virile males at our place. The last one was an orange tiger with a worm problem. His initial vet bill was $270. At least five others were less costly.

But what harm could come from a few stray cats?

Anyone vaguely aware of how blessed Orleans County is with birds likely knows. Cats are particularly attracted to birds that spend a lot of time on the ground, or that nest within six feet of the ground. That includes about thirty different types of native sparrows, as well as bluebirds, tree swallows and chickadees using boxes and innumerable other birds. Bird baths can have a big downside when cats are loose.

What can be done?  Loving both cats and birds can be a delicate balancing act. Spaying and neutering are a must, even though kittens are cute. If you have bluebirds nesting in a box within six feet of the ground, consider fencing off the area immediately around it. Keeping cats inside as much as possible during nesting would help.

It would be great if our State and County leaders would recognize such realities and act to address the problem.  Why not require cats be licensed like dogs? Charge a token amount for spayed/neutered animals and, say, five times as much for those allowed to reproduce? Doing so might set an example for others.

The bottom line is that good outcomes often come at a cost. As someone who pays a lot of attention to birds, I can assure the reader that failure to adequately address Orleans County’s cat population comes at a considerable cost.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

Bed bugs are becoming quite the presence in Orleans County. We have seen the articles concerning the growing problem; case workers have seen the numerous afflicted families; schools are scrambling to protect their students and families.

Bed bugs can affect anyone, regardless of cleanliness or income. Most of us cannot help but cringe at the thought of an infestation in our own homes. It is imperative that we take steps to prevent and treat this problem quickly to prevent that fear from becoming a reality. There are things we can do to prevent the spread of bed bugs.

I am campaigning toward a bed-bug free future for Orleans County. It is my goal to provide mattress encasements to several low-income residents via local agencies and to promote the public to purchase mattress encasements for their own homes. Mattress encasements can make it easier to identify bed bugs due to the light color, but also to prevent infestation of the mattress.

Many people are quick to dispose of a mattress that has been infested with bed bugs; however, it is possible to utilize a mattress encasement to save the mattress. Additionally, simply throwing out the infested mattress, leads to the spread of bugs during the removal of the mattress and potentially could be picked up by an unsuspecting person intending to use this item in their own home. It is understandable that one would not want to sleep on a mattress that is now trapping an unknown number of pests; however, for many this may be the only option to keep from sleeping on the floor and to assist in the treatment of an infestation.

A major component of this initiative is to provide education to the community on bed bug prevention and treatment. The more we know about this problem, the better chance we have at stopping it. There was a time when head lice posed a similar threat, but we learned how to deal with it and hear about it less and less. Together, we can do the same in the battle against bed bugs.

Any donations received will be used for the direct purchase of mattress encasements. Mattress encasements and education material will be distributed by two human service agencies: The Eastern Orleans Community Center and Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern. Individuals can donate purchased encasements to these locations to support the initiative or can make a monetary donation at either agency. Find great tips and information on Facebook at Bed Bug Free Orleans!

Thank you in advance for your support.

Andrea Skowneski

Medina

Editor:

I would like to extend a word of thanks to the many businesses and organizations who create opportunities that welcome individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Employment is a critical component of community living for most adults, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Having a job is empowering and puts structure in a person’s life. It is tied to better health, longer life and greater satisfaction with life.  People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are struggling to access employment opportunities.

Employers can help in reducing barriers for those with disabilities. One example might be hiring for a single task job. There was a time when the role of stockperson meant you handled stock only. Currently many stores/employers expect an employee to know how to both manage stocking shelves and run the cash register.

A person with autism may stock shelves in a manner more efficient than the average employee does yet struggle as the cashier not being able to interact well verbally with customers.

Many businesses and organizations have stepped up eliminating various barriers that might exclude employing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  With appropriate strategies successful employment, internship or a volunteer opportunity can be a reality for those with disabilities.

Opportunities exist so that we can increase employment for people with disabilities. Improving employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities improves communities. Most importantly, they feel good about themselves as a contributing member of society. They are ready to work every shift with a smile and a great attitude. As with all people, they walk away with a paycheck and a sense of self-worth – not to mention paying taxes.

Consider, supporting unique abilities individuals with disabilities if given the opportunity. Identify solutions to increase the employment participation of individuals with disabilities.

With sincere appreciation,

Barbara Vreeland

Medina

Editor:

The car show is a great thing for Medina, and brings the community together. I have enjoyed it with my family for several years. I would like to see the car show and the business district work together toward a common goal of benefiting the community.

There has to be a middle ground where community events and the business district work together for the good of the community. Compromise is needed on all sides.

Sometimes statements out of context can cause visceral reaction.

I don’t want to see the car show come to an end. Looking forward to a great summer for the car show and business alike.

Respectively,

Tim Elliott

Medina Village Trustee

Editor:

It is with professional appreciation that we extend this note of thanks to Governor Cuomo for taking a courageous stand establishing a state-wide 30-mile setback standard for industrial wind turbine emplacements.

Clearly, he understands the adverse impacts of poorly sited industrial wind turbines on human health, the environment, property values, the economy and quality of life.

According to the transcript published in The Legislative Gazette, in his January 10, 2017 State of the State address at Farmingdale State College, Mr. Cuomo stated the following: “I’m calling on LIPA [Long Island Power Authority] to approve a 90 megawatt wind farm. It’s enough to support 50,000 homes. They will not be visible from the beach. They will be 30 miles southeast of Montauk. Not even Superman standing on Montauk Point could see these wind farms.”

To whom did Mr. Cuomo make this statement? According to the Watertown Daily Times, he was addressing: “Well-heeled Long Island summer residents who want green power but do not want their views of the ocean to be dotted with 550-foot high turbines.”

It is good to know that Mr. Cuomo is stepping forward to protect the aesthetic viewsheds of our fellow New Yorkers living in the Hamptons on Long Island. We agree with Mr. Cuomo regarding the critical importance of protecting beautiful landscapes for property values, tourism, recreation and economic development.

We, the undersigned Town Supervisors from upstate NY, represent constituents in towns on the Lake Ontario littoral and the Thousand Islands. We may not represent “well-heeled millionaires of the Hamptons” but we do represent rural NY residents who are overwhelmingly objecting to wind projects in order to protect their property values and viewsheds.

They don’t want to live next door to industrial-scale wind energy factories. They don’t want to see the red-blinking lights atop the turbines, all night, every night for the rest of their lives. Nor do they want to be subjected to the audible and inaudible noise the turbines produce. We look forward to Mr. Cuomo publicly stating that all New Yorkers are equal and that we should all be provided the same environmental justice protections, not just the millionaires on the Hamptons.

We heartily thank Mr. Cuomo for ensuring that we now have what the State of New York considers a reasonable wind turbine setback, a setback that protects people, wildlife, the environment and quality of life of all New York’s residents. A 30-mile setback from industrial wind turbines is now the standard.

Thank you, Governor Cuomo.

Very truly yours,

Daniel M. Engert, Town Supervisor, Somerset, Niagara County, NY

James J. Simon, Town Supervisor, Yates, Orleans County, NY

David M. Storandt Jr., Town Supervisor, Clayton, Jefferson County, NY

John J. Culkin, Town Supervisor, Henderson, Jefferson County, NY

Editor:

The Holley-Kendall Wrestling Team and Coaching Staff would like to thank the many people and organizations who helped organize and contributed to the growth and success of the Holley-Kendall Wrestling Program throughout the wrestling season.

Several events were conducted and without their help, assistance and support, these events would not have been successful. The following events that took place in which many volunteers were needed: Holley-Kendall JV and Varsity Wrestling Tournaments, Holley Hawk Wrestling Club, Junior Wrestling Club, Gold Force Wrestling Club Tournament, Gold Force Wrestling Club Open Mats, and the Holley-Kendall Wrestling Banquet.

All your contributions, generosity, assistance and efforts did not go unnoticed. Your loyalty and dedication to the program is the main reason why programs and student athletes achieve success.

Thank you once again!

Sincerely,

John J. Grillo

Head Wrestling Coach

Photo by Tom Rivers: Kerchak, played by Victor Benjovsky, is killed by a bounty hunter. The other gorialls, including Kala (Matilda Erakare) mourn the loss in this scene from Tarzan.

Editor:

As we watched the ACS production of Tarzan, there suddenly seemed to be a shortage of English superlatives, and it was easy to see why some who saw it Friday came back again on Saturday.

It is unlikely that anything I could say would do justice to the effort’s excellence.  In a more populated area, the show might have run for many weeks were it not for the reality of the school schedule. If there has been a better high school musical in Orleans County, I would love to know what it was.

One thing I do know, Gilbert and Sullivan it was not. Every aspect of the production was impeccably done, and the attention to detail incredible. The overall effect was essentially spellbinding. The fact that amusing lines often got little reaction was testimony to how enthralled the audience was with what it was experiencing.

If there were lines delivered without exquisite timing, diction, expression and, particularly in Jane’s case, enunciation in accent, there were very few. The characters were generally delightful. As captivated as one may have been—as I was personally within the first three minutes— one could understandably have missed a ‘hiccup’. A theater critic may have noticed one, or two. My wife and I did not.

Attempting to itemize what stood out is probably pointless. The characters were perfectly cast. It is hard to imagine their expressions, body language, gestures, deliveries and voices being much better in an academy of performing arts in a major city. Drama is hardly my thing, but, to me, the acting was superb.

The set, costuming and makeup, dance, acrobatics, music, solos and duets, and direction made Albion Central School’s performance of Tarzan a “perfect storm” spectacle, one unlikely to be forgotten by its audiences.

Congratulations to all involved for an event that had some of us so taken in as to be on the verge of tears—or otherwise emotionally engaged—from beginning to end.  As someone who loved teaching for thirty-four years, I would urge Gary Simboli to continue sharing his talents as a teacher for as long as he is able.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion