Editor:

Picture it, 2024 we live in a small rural community in western New York, 45 minutes from the closest acute care hospital. Someone in your family or yourself is having the worst day of their life…a serious medical emergency and your family needs an ambulance.

If you are lucky, one is available but if someone else in a 7-town radius is also in need of an advance life-saving ambulance you do not get one in a timely manner. Your local fire department volunteers show up to assist in any way they can. Ultimately your family sits waiting hoping another ambulance will come available.

The question is, why is it OK to leave our community with one Advance Life Support Ambulance to service the entire area of Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall and Murray? This is less service than what has ever been provided to our towns in the past for free let alone now with a $300,000 contract.

Days of the past are gone. An ambulance service for this community needs to be a top priority. You do not see one sheriff deputy serving, you do not see one fire department serving, why is one ambulance acceptable to service our entire community?

The request for ambulances in Orleans County continues to rise and the final decision being made is not an acceptable one. Fellow residents, we need to stand up and make our concerns known! It does not matter whose name is on the side of that ambulance when it pulls into your driveway as long as there is one coming to save your life!

We are this community and we deserve a say.

Lorie Soule, Carlton

Kristen Ferris, Carlton

Todd Ferris, Carlton

Amber Conner, Albion

Raquel Jones, Carlton

Emma Klaver, Gaines

Amy Luft, Albion

Rebecca Grillo, Albion

Stanley Farone, Albion

Jennifer MacFarland, Barre

Chris Standish, Carlton

Kristin Rowles, Carlton business owner

Brandi Fisher, Carlton

Danielle Ernst, Carlton

Robert Conner, Albion

Kylie Hughson, Albion

Cameron Labarge, Albion

James Fisher Carlton

Elisha Hill, Albion

Ryan Hill, Albion

Catherine Usselman, Albion

Orest Usselman, Albion

William Francis Sr, Albion

Nancy Francis, Albion

Erica Francis, Albion

Timothy Monaghan, Albion

Sabrina DeCarlo, Carlton

Christine Bloom, Albion

Nathan Bloom, Albion

Hanna Vagg, Murray

Kim Reynolds, Carlton

Karen Narburgh, Carlton

Kailee Ward, Carlton

Karli Henchen, Albion

Jennifer Stilwell, Gaines

Samantha Tillman, Carlton

Stacy Daniels, Albion

Kristen Struble, Albion

Kristin Hartway, Barre

Shirley Goebel, Albion

Cate Usselman, Albion

Chris Glogowski, Murray

Courtney Ainsworth, Gaines

Katrina Bourke, Albion

Rhonda Oliver, Albion

Lori Ferris, Carlton

Ashley Dole, Albion

Michael Stilwell, Gaines

Jessica Marks, Carlton

Jake Marks, Carlton

Sandra Patten, Carlton

Jamie Barbour, Carlton

Francis Pierce, Gaines

Ryan Brown, Gaines

Danielle LaMartina, Albion

Jeremy Graham, Albion

Nancy Maines, Albion

Walter Ferris, Carlton

Brianna Caldwell, Albion

Robert Stilwell, Gaines

Jennifer Viza, Albion

Kari Hagglund, Albion

Leslee Lockwood, Albion

Michael Babcock, Albion

Valerie Hollis, Carlton

Joni Dix, Albion

Annette Finch, Albion

Casey Jurs, Kendall

Brian J Aina, Carlton

Amy Aina, Carlton

Rebekah Tabor Beach, Albion

Austin Zobel, Albion

Chelsea Polar, Yates

Emalee Verhagen, Gaines

Eric Hackenberg, Albion

Savanna Steffen, Albion

Deborah DiMatteo, Albion

Stephanie Murphy, Gaines

Kimberly Reynolds, Carlton

Lorraine Oakley, Gaines

Garry Oakley, Gaines

Steven Jurs, Kendall

Editor:

I’m reading the county’s excuses for raising taxes 3.25 percent on the Hub and I can’t help but having sad violin music going through my head.

The tear festival of baloney – “We lost this,” “Inflation,” “The State,” “Medicaid,” “Health Insurance” – blah, blah, blah. This is the same sad song that I was hearing 20 years ago and as recent as four or five years ago when I actually would bother to go to budget hearings and the CAO would play the same somber funeral dirge PowerPoint of why they have to raise taxes. (It was like being at a funeral.)

Meanwhile the Government Industrial Complex continues to grow and grow. They know costs will rise yet they do five-year contracts. They are taking in more money than they ever have in county history, yet boohoo.

Then they go and spend $250,000 on the Bank of America building and $1.5 million on the GCC campus taking those off the tax rolls. Where did the money come from? If you’re so strapped why would you do that? No wonder people are leaving here.

Now the taxpayers have to maintain the buildings. I’m sure the legislators are all patting themselves on the back, saying this is a great budget. (Go to a meeting, back-patting is a regular performance.)

One wonders with that photo of the CAO smiling like a Cheshire Cat, is he flipping us taxpayers the bird? Nobody cares and they know that.

Paul Lauricella

Yates

Editor:

The recent article in the Orleans Hub about The Villages may sound like everything is better at the nursing home in Albion. I do not think so.

I go to see my husband, who has been a resident for five years, at least 2-3 times a week – not the same days or the same times. I see that every day is different.

There are some wonderful nurses and aides that show they care for the residents and their families. Most aides are friendly.

But, to start, my complaints are about the new aides that are hired by an agency. Some have very little training. Most wear street clothes and have no name tags. I have questioned a few who they are when they come to help my husband.

If residents need help getting out of bed or to go to the bathroom, they ring for help and when an aide comes to the room the aide will say they will be right back, only after 15-20 minutes do they return.

There are only 5-6 lifts to help residents get in or out of bed in the whole building. Aides have to go looking for one in another wing. If there is a shortage of aides on weekends, some residents have to stay in bed all day. Lately residents have been told, once you are all in and the door is closed, do not ring the bell because you should have got your snacks or drinks before you went to bed. Also you should have used the toilet before you were put to bed. Most are put to bed after supper or earlier.

The dishwasher has been broken for several weeks and they are eating off paper plates with plastic forks and knives. Sometimes the food is cold.

These complaints are made every month when there is a resident complaint meeting. I have been there for most of them.

If people would come in and stay for 3-4 hours they could see and hear what I see. The state needs to inspect this home without any notice to the owners.

Christine Yaskulski-Sevor

Albion

Editor:

Big Brother has arrived in Shelby. The Town Supervisor’s new surveillance system in the Town Clerk’s office, complete with audio recording, is not just a watchful eye—it’s a listening ear too.

The installation of a surveillance camera with microphone in a government building, such as the situation in Shelby’s clerk’s office, raises several legal and ethical considerations.

Under New York law, video recording in public areas of government buildings is generally permissible, especially if notices are posted and the cameras are overt. However, audio recording introduces more complex legal issues.

New York is a one-party consent state for audio recordings, meaning that at least one party involved in a conversation must consent to being recorded. This rule applies unless the conversation occurs in an environment where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy​.

The installation of a surveillance system with a microphone targeting a specific department, such as the Town Clerk’s office, could raise concerns about selective monitoring and potential privacy violations, especially if other departments are not similarly monitored.

Such actions may also be seen as targeting a specific individual or department, which could raise ethical questions and potentially lead to legal scrutiny if the surveillance is deemed to violate reasonable expectations of privacy or is used for purposes other than security.

While the Town Supervisor may have the legal authority to install additional surveillance cameras, including those with microphones, the decision to do so should be carefully considered in light of privacy concerns, legal implications, and the perception of fairness and equal treatment among government departments and employees.

Shrouded in secrecy, the supervisor’s decision to install a surveillance system with audio capabilities in the Town Clerk’s office was not only done without the knowledge of the employees and residents but also without any immediate disclosure to those it directly impacts.

Andina Barone

Mindful Media Group

New York, New York

Editor:

To the Village of Albion residents, it is an honor to serve on your board for the last year and half and I am looking forward to the remaining two and a half left on my term. With that being said I am asking that any of you with comments, questions or concerns to please reach out to us formally as a board so things can be addressed.

We live in a small community and it is easy to fall subject to “things will never change” or “no one cares so why even bring it up.” However, I am telling you that is not the case. Every fire needs a spark, so why not let yourself be that spark?

We need you to bring issues forward in meetings (simply call or email the Village Clerk’s office to be added on the agenda) or send the entire board an email so that we have something formal to work with and can start the necessary communication to address things.

Sidebar conversations and comments on Facebook do nothing but stir up animosity and don’t allow for healthy dialogue to happen which feeds into resentment of each other along with local officials and further restricts change.

Please remember that you voted us in to serve as your voice and to do what’s best for our village. Accountability can only be had when communication is established between the people and their representatives and that is what helps progress happen.

It is our duty to help and provide assistance when and how we can as your representatives, but we need you to come forward with the initial ask. Thank you for your time in reading this and I look forward to seeing you in future meetings on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month (typically) or hearing from you by email. My email address is Tmcmurray@villageofalbionny.com.

Tim McMurray

Village of Albion Trustee

Editor:

Tuesday’s state and local elections offered many reasons for optimism in my opinion. In Irondequoit, a teenager – Isaiah Santiago – got elected to the school board. And he is Hispanic!

When Republican Mark Assini lost his bid to unseat Adam Bello for Monroe County executive, he gave a superb concession speech. In it, Assini swallowed his disappointment, sincerely congratulated Bello, and firmly advised his followers to get behind the incumbent for the good of the community and forget political animosity to get things done for the well being of all. His speech had class written all over it.

Statewide candidates in places such as Kentucky and Virginia won decisively whether endorsed by Donald or not.

There were more encouraging indicators, but in the interest of brevity I chose to keep this short.

Sincerely,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

While out on the campaign trail I reconnected with some old friends and met some new friends.  I enjoyed our conversations, and your concerns and thoughts on our Town.

All of your words of encouragement kept me motivated to reach as many homes in Shelby as I could. I really appreciate all of you that asked me to place signs in your yard and I want to thank everyone that supported me by writing my name in on the ballot.

Even though I came up short,  I was overwhelmed by the number of people that came to vote and wrote my name in. Hopefully some of you will come and meet me at the board meetings the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

John Pratt

Town of Shelby Councilman

Editor:

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who got involved in the election by either volunteering or exercising their right to vote.

That is what is great about our election process. Opposing viewpoints, ideas, and maybe even ideologies, can crop up during elections, then we vote, and after the dust settles we move on with our daily struggles.

Now that the dust has settled, let’s move forward together, work together and maybe we can make life a little more enjoyable for everyone.

Respectfully,

Scott Wengewicz

Shelby Town Supervisor

Editor:

Even though I was unopposed for Shelby Town Justice after my appointment in June, I would like to thank everyone in Shelby who came out and exercised their right to vote.

I also appreciate those who took and displayed my yard signs, the backing of the Shelby Republican Committee, the Orleans County Republican Committee, and the Orleans County Conservative Committee, as well as the parties for their support.

Often overlooked are the poll workers who spend an extremely long day and night helping voters. A big thank you to them – we all appreciate your time making our democratic process work.

Respectfully,

Edward J. Grabowski, Esq.

Shelby Town Justice

Editor:

We would like to thank all the Yates voters that came out and voted for Steve Colon and Paul Lauricella. We thank you for acknowledging the Conservative Party platform to government.

Hopefully the Town Board will adopt some of these restraints in their approach to unnecessary spending and government overreach, which would be good for all of us.

While we won’t be able to make any decisions for you, we will continue to hold government accountable the best way we can by staying involved. That’s the American way.

Please attend meetings and workshops where you get the bigger picture. It’s your money.

Paul Lauricella Jr.

Steven A. Colon

Yates

Editor:

We truly appreciate the support of voters in the Town of Yates. It is an honor to be given the opportunity to continue to serve you.

We acknowledge that our opponents, and those who voted for them, hoped for a different electoral outcome. We will do our best to serve you as well.

We thank Tom Rivers and the Orleans Hub for once again providing an important public forum for debate – well done.

God bless America!

Jim Simon, John Riggi, Susan Hrovat

Town of Yates

Editor:

Veterans Day…November 11 at 11 a.m., 1918, the war that was to end all wars came to an end. The Germans surrendered…the battle field that had been smoke ridden by gun fire and the smell of death, cries of wounded fell to an eerie silence.

Cries filled the air, “It is over!” Yes, it was over. It did not end all wars. We still have wars…take a good look at the world today.

Not long after the end of World War I, Congress made November 11 to be Veterans Day, the day that we honor veterans, living and deceased. We pay them respect, honor them. Thank them for our freedoms and service to this country. Thank a vet!

It is sad that we are not able to have parades to honor the living and deceased veterans. Veterans’ organizations have been declining in membership. They are getting older, public interest is declining. It is time the younger veterans get off their butts (military term) and

rise up and join a veterans’ organization. You owe it to them as they are the ones that have lobbied for many of veterans’ benefits.

The citizens of this country need to wake up and show patriotism to the veterans so they will not feel serving their beloved country was in vain.

Thank a vet!

Carl Boyle

American Legion Post 1603 in Lyndonville

U.S. Army, 3rd Armored Div.

Editor:

I’m sure many of you who live in the Town of Barre, or its outlying areas, are aware of the ongoing political conflicts stemming from the alternative Wind Turbine Project.

Assuming the people who run for and are in these positions, are supposed to be educated, impartial problem-solvers, then why is it, Mr. Pogue thinks he’s entitled to verbally intimidate, and be outwardly argumentative towards the people he works with?

The body language displayed at the Barre Town Board meetings clearly shows he is not deserving of a leadership role. When a community member comes to a board meeting, to express their concerns about something that is important to them, it should also become important to the town officials.

On several occasions, I have witnessed a member of the community trying to get answers for an ongoing problem, outside of the wind project, only to be given some sort of “tell them what they want to hear response,” from the Town Supervisor.

It is not a matter of whom we like or dislike, but who has good leadership qualities. In closing, I would like to ask that the Town of Barre residents think long and hard before they vote.

Thank you,

Cindy Confer

Barre

Editor:

I am consistently amazed how people running for public office pull the “Lies” card, usually while they themselves are being untruthful. I have carefully read and re-read the letter from George McKenna to the people of the Town of Barre asking them to support his daughter, Kerri Richardson, in her bid for re-election to the Barre Town Board.

I find nothing in this letter which is untrue from my own experience. Then, a few days later, I receive a post card from the Pogue, Swan, and Mathes with the caption “FACTS NOT LIES.”  Upon closer examination all six of the items listed on the post card were in fact not true or framed in a way as to be vague and disingenuous.

For example, there is no question some of the people running have a financial interest to see this project move forward. There will always be items to vote on at the town board level regarding the wind project.

Electing a board member who is supposed to recuse themselves, and has not in the past, when voting on items which would result in their financial gain is senseless. And then, there is the amount of money the Town of Barre will make while changing the town completely forever.

That amount has changed so many times I can’t even keep track of it anymore. Lowering the amount of turbines to be built and then paying the town and county the same amount of money as originally stated is not how business works.

Please read Dr. McKenna’s letter again and then read the follow-up post card from the Pro-Wind folks and make an educated vote on Nov. 7.

All my best,

Jim Salmon

Barre

Editor:

We need to give our thanks to the extraordinary person who has given more of his commitment to this community than almost anyone.

Joe Sidonio has been working to help this community be a better place for decades. To list just a very few of the amazing things he has quietly achieved for us all:

Joe was the first to see the possibility to restore the old Holley High School. It was he who secured the initial funding for the very first study and brought in those with experience from far and wide – against much nay-saying.  It took years to realize and many other people’s hard work, but Joe brought the very possibility to us by his vision and leadership.

Joe works every day to lower our taxes and reign in public spending.

Joe breathed the life into Mr. Fiorito’s vision to restore the Fancher WWII War Memorial.

Joe organized the first Farmland Protection Plan in the entire of Orleans County – a plan guiding our resource stewardship for future generations.

And so much more.

Singularly Joe Sidonio has had the courage to be the whistleblower to call out the forces of corruption in our local government. He has had the smarts to identify mismanagement of our hard-earned tax dollars and the honest conviction to vote “no” on the 2024 Murray tax increases. Valuing fairness for one and all he has taken steps to stop the entrenched government favoritism that permeates a self described, self-serving elite.

All of these things have benefited the lives of each and every citizen of this town.

All of the voices who choose to continue to overlook Joe’s accomplishments, constantly and aggressively strategizing and concocting to hurt him or belittle him or misrepresent him, do a disservice to our entire region – and they have missed a beautiful opportunity to uplift our town.

But those negative voices do not define him, they cannot take away the years of work he has done on our behalf, nor the generosity of time and thought he has given to this community, nor his deep appreciation for the honest people who everyday give their all, nor his personal generosity and care – particularly for those who are vulnerable –  nor the remarkable, respectful working relationships he has formed with professional women and men including the town supervisors of Orleans County and myriad others across the entire country.

Thank you Joe Sidonio.

My vote will be for you for Town Supervisor of Murray.

Mine is a vote of confidence, respect and thanks.

Amy Machamer

Murray

(Machamer is married to Sidonio.)