Editor:

Campaign rhetoric can best be described as “that which is intended to persuade or motivate an individual to vote for a particular person or proposition.”

A prime example of this can be found in the article posted on the Orleans Hub on May 13. (Click here to see “Randy Bower stays in race to be next sheriff.”)

I’ve known Randy Bower for several years. He’s a nice guy and he’s a very capable and qualified Public Safety Dispatcher. However, he is not qualified to be the Sheriff of Orleans County.

There are 58 Sheriffs in New York State. One is a retired Army Brigadier General. Another was a Town Justice for 20 years before being elected Sheriff. The other 56 came up through the ranks in the agency they now serve or with another law enforcement agency. None went directly from civilian dispatcher to “Top Cop.” That’s not a fluke, it’s just fact.

Several states across our country have adopted minimum standards for persons to hold the office of sheriff. Unfortunately, New York is not one of them.

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association has proposed minimum standards as well, however attempts to have them legislated into law have been futile. In today’s law enforcement and correctional environment, there can be no substitute for experience and expertise.

My father used to say that “the only job you start out at the top at is digging a hole.” I’m sure he got that from another source, but the point is the same and that’s the bottom line!

Steve Smith
Undersheriff of Orleans County

Editor:

Back in 1937, our little town of Albion wasn’t a town; It was a city. There was a man who opened a school named the Santa Claus School. His name was Charles Howard, and he did a lot for our community. I believe people in Albion should know about him.

Charles Howard wasn’t always Santa; He was a farmer for his first 40 years. His side job was playing Santa in storefronts from here to Buffalo and to Rochester. That sparked an interest that he wanted all Santas to dress the same and sound or say the same thing. So he opened up his first Santa School in 1937.

Believe it or not, stores all over the country sent students to learn how to be Santas! At first, he taught the Santas in his living room. Then he made the three barns behind his house part of the school. He had three classes a year in the spring, summer and fall.

He was Santa in the winter, and he went from Buffalo to Texas. One time in 1965 he was asked to teach a class in Australia! In addition to the school he added an amusement park called “Christmas Park” that drew families to his school.

People came from all around the northeastern part the USA to see it. It included carnival rides and carnival games. It was a mini-carnival of Santas.

In summary, Charles Howard wasn’t just a teacher. He was known as “The Dean of Santa Clauses” and he’s the one who made Santa as we know him today. Charles Howard may not be alive today, but his dream still lives on.

Ben Hickman
Albion sixth grader

Editor:

The Orleans County Conservative Party would like to go on the record joining the many legislators and committee people calling for Senator Dean Skelos to step down from the leadership of the Senate Republicans.

Mr. Skelos pushed through the NY Safe Act in the middle of the night voting with a majority of Democrats to impose this unconstitutional law.

Mr. Skelos is a R.I.N.O. (Republican In Name Only) and does not represent the principles of the party and of the voters that he represents. His corruption has finally caught up with him and will be a distraction – a dark cloud over doing the business of the people.

We also do not want to see Sen. John Flanagan of Long Island as a replacement to Mr. Skelos as he is another R.I.N.O. that usurps the constitution and the rights of every New Yorker.

Paul Lauricella Jr.
Lyndonville

Mr. Lauricella is vice chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party.

Editor:

Why does the Town of Yates concede home rule to the County or State with a project that primarily concerns landowners in the Town of Yates? This is a form of eminent domain without compensation for those landowners who will be impacted by its construction. Come on town officials stand with your constituents.

I have seen many landowners oppose this project based on facts and not emotion. I have seen little support other than Apex and our disconnected government agencies. It appears the money is difficult to resist and they don’t know history. The golden goose can die, ask Barker.

Did anyone see a bankruptcy coming at the Somerset Power Plant? Solyndra? The government subsidies can go away with a new administration and the turbines will sit idle like Somerset is now.

Why is wind a bad idea? It is bad because at a maximum it is only 23 percent efficient. That means 77 percent of the time the turbines are using fossil fuel. Only the government can leap before it looks.

I read that at a scheduled public planning meeting a Mr. Freeman who is appointed as a member by the Town of Yates, allowed no public comments at the meeting. I also understood that there was no discussion concerning a tower that was apparently approved previous to the meeting. Now that is planning and deciding without public input. There must have been pressure from some other direction. I wonder who?

I also understand that Mr. Freeman made the statement, “If you don’t like what we are doing, MOVE.” If this is true, I think the Town should apologize to the taxpayers and remove Mr. Freeman from his position.

This project should not go forward. Town officials should do all they can to stop this project. Let’s watch which way they go – with the people or with the money.

Ray Watt
Peachtree City, Ga.

Watt owns property in the Town of Yates.

Editor:

I must admit that, as a career law enforcement officer, I am disturbed by this past week’s events in the City of Baltimore, Maryland though not surprised.

Freddie Gray, age 25, was a career criminal who was no stranger to the Baltimore Police Department. On April 12th, BPD officer(s) apparently observed Gray acting in a suspicious manner. When they approached him, he ran. When they caught up with him, he was taken into custody. Either during that apprehension or while in police custody, it is alleged Gray sustained injuries that ultimately resulted in his death a week later on April 19th.

Freddie Gray was buried on Monday – April 27th. Almost immediately after the funeral, people took to the streets of Baltimore and began to loot and burn homes and businesses. They were angry about Gray’s death, and their perceived history of oppression by the Baltimore Police.

So the response was to loot and burn their own neighborhoods, and throw huge chunks of concrete at police officers who may not have ever known Freddie Gray, and were tasked with quelling the disturbance. Is there ANYTHING that can justify that type of response? And to make matters worse, the police were ultimately ordered to “stand down” and let the lawlessness go on unabated.

I don’t know what happened to Freddie Gray either during his arrest or in the first few hours that followed. Six police officers have now been charged with some type of responsibility for his death and if that death occurred at the hands of one (or more) of those officers without justification, of course there will be consequences.

Meanwhile, the “so-called” protestors have already begun the celebration. Of course the facts of the case are yet to be determined, but that’s OK as long as the cops got arrested, because any other action by the Maryland State’s Attorney would have resulted in more looting and burning and God knows what else.

Make no mistake, if one (or more) of those six Baltimore Police Officers maliciously murdered Freddie Gray, then of course they should be held accountable. But what about the looters, and arsonists, and “so-called” protestors who assaulted police officers with chunks of concrete and other objects? When will they be held accountable for their crimes? Probably not anytime soon and that’s what I find most disturbing of all.

Steve Smith
Undersheriff of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

Editor:

Wake up, Lake Ontario property owners/area families/visitors/wildlife lovers – there is a huge Lighthouse Wind turbine project in the works in the towns of Somerset and Yates, and it is important that we realize the negative impact this will have along the 17 mile-area if it comes to pass.

Apex Energy LLC (Virginia-based) is intent on moving this project forward, and with our relatively new NYS Article 10 revised process for siting major electric generating facilities, taxpayers have no opportunity to vote, only to voice concerns at hearings, send letters to government contacts, and post comments on the Public Service Commission’s web site. A siting board of seven will make final decision as to whether Lighthouse Wind becomes a reality or not, with only two representatives from the community on the board.

Picture this – 67 wind turbines almost 600 feet tall, with blade spans the length of a 747 jet, within a 1.5-mile distance of Lake Ontario. These turbines will be the tallest in NYS, higher than the Washington monument.

Next, picture the construction and use of rural, country roads to bring in tons of cement/materials, plus huge blades making turns on these roads. Once in place, picture the thousands of bats, birds, and waterfowl being struck by moving blades and landing in your yard, mutilated and cut in pieces. As a result of bat kills, farmers now have to add more pesticides on farm land to deal with insects normally eaten by bats and other birds.

Also, picture relaxing on a front/back porch in your home, but hearing a constant low sound frequency that rarely stops, and the shadow flicker effect causing your child, or you, to be ill. In the winter, picture ice throws from the turbines flying in the air.

Picture a turbine that catches on fire, which rarely occurs but is caused by lightning strikes or a technical fault. Lastly, picture turbines that are “end of life” just sitting on the land and rusting, as are the 4,500 turbines in California.

You may be asking, “Why are the towers so high?” Apex answers to get the most wind energy possible from as far as Lake Erie. But, bigger also means more noise, too!

You may wonder if your property value will be impacted by the addition of turbines in adjacent farm land – Apex says no, but Google the Wolf Island Wind Farm in Canada to read about declining waterfront property values and other negative impact issues.

Am I against GREEN, clean energy? No, not at all. We recently built a NYS Energy Star rated home outside of Akron, using geothermal heating/cooling plus other GREEN energy savings. And, I agree that micro turbines that farmers install to save electric costs make good sense.

We also own a cottage along Lake Ontario that is rented by tourists from all over the country, and our visitors enjoy the sunsets, area attractions, and quiet of the lake. They bring dollars into the community by supporting area restaurants and other businesses. Will they continue to come if turbines are close by? Hard to say.

The Lighthouse Wind project has very few positives and too many negatives. Save Ontario Shores is an organization formed recently by area residents to inform and help fight the project. Go to their informational web site www.lakeontarioturbines.com for resources and how to take action.

Please join our fight to keep our Lake Ontario a peaceful, serene haven as it is now.

Deborah Arlington
Akron

Editor:

I have a year-round home on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Yates. I attended the Orleans County Planning Board meeting in Albion on Thursday, April 23, for the purpose of questioning the need for the construction of a 60-meter MET tower by Apex on property that is a half mile from my home.

I also attended the public hearing of the Yates Town Board the week prior to this where I voiced and submitted in writing my objection to the special use permit for this MET tower. To my knowledge, there was no mention at that meeting that the special use permit would have to go before the County Planning Board. It was only by word of mouth that I learned of this.

This news spread quickly the day before the county meeting, and at least 30 members of Save Ontario Shores came together for the purpose of asking questions that so many of us had regarding this tower. It was almost beyond comprehension that we were not allowed to speak.

The presiding chairman of the Planning Board asked those board members present to make a motion to allow questions prior to their decision, which, by the way, had been prepared in advance and was read at the conclusion of the Planning Board vote.

Not one planning board member offered a motion, and thus the group was silenced. To say that I was appalled is an understatement.

I came prepared to ask these questions:

1. Why must another MET tower be erected on Marshall Rd. when there is already one just 3 miles west near Golden Hill State Park?

2. What information can be gathered from a 60-meter MET tower that would pertain to a 570-foot industrial turbine?

3. How will the data secured from this tower be shared with the stakeholders, including those of us who live within the project area?

4. Who is financing the construction of this tower, and how is it funded? Taxpayer $$$?

5. How much money is paid to the landowner of the proposed tower and how much does the Town of Yates receive for permitting this?

One stakeholder, the owner of TigerPaw airport, which is located less than 1/4 mile from the proposed tower was allowed to voice a concern regarding the lighting of the MET tower as it presents a danger to planes taking off and landing at his airport. Yates Councilman, Steve Freeman stated he spoke to “someone from the FAA” that day because he did not know the regulations. No FAA contact name was provided, yet the Planning Board accepted this statement without question.

There are far too many questions that remain unanswered, and I personally believe that the County Planning Board and the Yates Town Board have a huge responsibility for protecting each and every one of their constituents before allowing an out-of-state company to advance in the direction of an industrial wind factory which will forever change our Ontario Lake Shore.

Respectfully,

Cynthia Hellert
Lyndonville

Editor:

Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We stood with our hands over our hearts, with neighbors, with friends, in a room filled with our leaders, hopeful. But that’s as good as it got at the Orleans County Planning Board meeting Thursday night, April 23.

On the agenda was a Special Use Permit Application to erect a meteorological tower in the Town of Yates, an initial component of the Apex Clean Energy Lighthouse Wind project proposed for Yates and Somerset.

When the Planning Board suggested there be brief questions from citizens in attendance, I thought, “Oh good, we have an opportunity to voice our concerns – we might get a few questions answered about the MET tower.”

But that too was as good as it got. The Board then asked for a motion to allow comments from the floor. Crickets. The leaders of our county sat mute, looking at each other. Not one person said a word. Not even the one person who could have, and who should have.

Yates Councilman Steve Freeman, the County Planning Board member with the most on the line, didn’t want to hear from his constituents. He knows us. He knows our names and where we live. That didn’t matter. We were effectively silenced. He proceeded to inform the Planning Board of the Reader’s Digest version of the site plan, and how the Yates Town Board had relieved the Yates Planning Board of their responsibility for reviewing the application and submit recommendations. The Town Board would take it over.

Then there was the vote, after just moments of discussion. Unanimously approved. And then without missing a beat, a member of the Planning Board read a prepared two-part recommendation from a typed document. How in the world did they know what the recommendations would be before the meeting even took place?

So much for open government. The matter was sent back to the Town, with the only way of overturning the County Planning Board’s recommendation would be by a 4 out of 5 member vote by the Yates Town Board.

The meeting concluded, and the Planning Board members slowly filed out, along with the Apex project managers. A few of us had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Freeman in the hallway as we walked towards the exit. Yes, we were displeased with him not making the motion to allow input and questions.

And he told us why. He said, “You wouldn’t have stayed on the topic of the MET tower.” A Yates land owner replied, “Have you got a crystal ball or something? How do you know that?”

After a brief interaction, Mr. Freeman delivered a comment as he walked out of the building that none of us will forget, a comment that proves the mindset of our elected leader. He said, “If you don’t like what’s going on, MOVE!”

Move? No open dialogue, no civil discussion? Not even pretend to listen? Just MOVE? Apparently in Mr. Freeman’s world, there is no transparent government, or the ability to discuss our differences over the largest project in the history of Yates.

His only solution for those that don’t agree with him and the Town government is to move. Sorry Mr. Freeman, I probably couldn’t get a fair market price for my house now that a wind farm project is being proposed. And it might take years to sell.

Indivisible? No. We are divided, by the actions of Board members like Mr. Freeman. Justice for all? Nope. Just for the people in power, or with large piles of cash. He, like many, has forgotten the most important thing about holding public office – that he works for us. I believe he deserves liberty in November.

And I’m not moving.

Glenn Maid
Yates

Editor:

The Orleans County Planning Board’s approval process for the MET tower in Yates on Thursday evening was an indicator of the disdain the Town of Yates and the County of Orleans has for its residents.

There were a number of citizens attending this meeting. When the person running the Planning Board meeting asked for a motion from the board to open the meeting to comments from the floor, NOT ONE member of the board would do this. Therefore, no public input was allowed.

At the close of the meeting one particular Yates board member told a resident “If you don’t like it, MOVE!”

Is this the type of government our founding fathers envisioned? Do we now gag the people because we don’t like what they have to say? Do we tell them if they don’t like the way things are run, they should move?

Many of the public attendants are among the highest taxed people in Yates – waterfront residents. Apparently their contribution to the town is considered irrelevant by some Town Board members.

I trust they keep that in mind and lower the property assessments of these irrelevant movable citizens now rather than after they allow the installation of multiple industrial wind turbines within a mile of many of these people’s homes.

What a disgraceful display of contempt by an elected official. In my opinion, refusing to allow the public to speak and insulting one’s constituents should be grounds for immediate resignation from public service.

Sincerely,

Susan E. Dudley
Lyndonville

Editor:

I am writing in relation the Orleans County Planning Board Meeting of April 23, 2015:

“About 30 members from Save Ontario Shores, a citizen group that has formed to oppose the project, attended the County Planning Board meeting, but weren’t allowed to address the board.”

“Planners said they were only looking at the MET tower and the not the overall turbine project.”

Unfortunately, it is true that 30 members from Save Ontario Shores (and each one a resident of the Town of Yates) were not allowed to address the board. These residents of the Town of Yates were present specifically to speak out against the need for a MET tower in the Town of Yates.

Had the Orleans County Planning Board simply asked the group why they were there, they would have quickly understood that it was the MET tower issue on which they wanted to speak.

But alas, the Orleans County Planning Board assumed incorrectly. Good governance is driven by facts … Failed governance is driven by assumption.

Wake up Orleans County Planning Board!!

John Riggi
Town of Yates

Riggi is president of Save Ontario Shores