Editor:
Last night was a big loss for the 24th congressional district. With a Republican like Claudia Tenney in charge of our district for another two years, I see nothing but further decline for not only us but the entire country.
I found it very disrespectful the comments she made in the email she sent out announcing her victory, but that’s the Claudia way.
Paul Lauricella
Lyndonville
Orleans County Conservative Party Chairman
Editor:
Thank You to all the voters in Orleans County who took the time out of their busy schedules to vote in yesterday’s Republican Primary. With time being such a rare commodity in today’s world, you achieved a feat that was noteworthy in itself.
Observing the big picture of all candidates running for office I saw an enormous effort put in by each and everyone of you and your supporters. The hard work that was put forth was significant for those participating, either as a candidate or supporter, yet I see the hardest work still ahead. That would be the ability to accept the results of the voters and work together now, in a bipartisan manner.
Words were spoken, letters written and feelings hurt, to say the least.
In a true democracy everyone should now be able to move forward, work together and do their job to the best of their ability. The past is the past and tomorrow is a new beginning. Acceptance of the results and the ability to move forward is difficult but necessary.
For those who won, you are now indebted to those voters who believed in you.
Thank You
Jim Pratt
Albion
Editor:
Since 1961, Arc GLOW has been serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in our region.
It started with the Arc of Livingston Wyoming in 1961, followed by the Genesee Arc in 1966 and Arc of Orleans County in 1970. In 2016, Genesee Arc and the Arc of Orleans County merged to form Arc of Genesee Orleans. In 2021, the Arcs of Livingston Wyoming and Genesee Orleans merged to create Arc GLOW, which we are known as today.
Yet across all iterations, our mission has been the same; empowering and support people of all ages with a broad spectrum of emotional, intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Today we serve over 2,000 individuals with IDD across the GLOW region and employ over 1,100 staff dedicated to our mission to help our individuals in realizing their full potential and finding happiness and meaning in life through programs such as vocational, educational, residential, clinical, recreational, and day habilitation.
Yet in order to help individuals with IDD, we need you, the community’s support.
The best way you can do that is through membership, which is open to everyone over the age of 18. While any amount of donation for membership is welcome, the base cost is as little as $1 per person. And this $1 goes a long way.
The higher membership we have, the more power we have in our advocacy at state and national levels, giving Arc GLOW and the families and individuals we serve a more influential voice in legislative matters. Your membership has a direct impact on our federal and state funding. Membership contributions also help to fund programs that government funding does not provide.
Investments in services over the past 10 years have increased only 10.5 percent in comparison to 30 percent inflation. This has caused a critical staffing shortage, especially considering that the Arc Direct Support Professional (DSP) staff receives a fraction of the salary of staff working in facilities operated by the state for the same work.
Finally, membership is a statement that you believe in the importance of what Arc GLOW does and you support our mission.
I am writing to you as a parent of a son who has lived in an Arc GLOW group home since 2006. I can honestly say how happy he is in his home as well as with the day program he attends.
We as parents are so very thankful for this as well as the sense of security it brings to us. I have also been a member of various Arc GLOW committees and then the Board of Directors for about 15 years now. I know how deeply members care about our individuals and spend a great deal of time to guarantee what is the best possible life for them in all respects.
Arc GLOW is truly a family to join, and you can do so by visiting our website at ArcGLOW.org and clicking our membership button. While you are there, please check everything we are doing between programs and events.
Diane Armbruster
Geneseo
Editor:
The time to vote on our Shelby Republican Committee Representatives is upon us. The voters of the Town of Shelby in Districts 3 and 4 will have a choice to vote on their new representatives on the Republican Committee. They must decide whether they want to stay with the old system or bring about change that would benefit all the people.
I decided to seek a position on the Republican Committee as I am retired and have the time to attend all meetings and all functions which I feel is your responsibility when elected to any committee.
I believe that anybody that receives any wage from the Town of Shelby should not be on any political committee as it is a conflict of interest and brings up the question of the ethics of these members.
Government for the people has to start at the town level and that is why a change is needed.
So on Primary Day, voters living in District 3 and 4 will have a choice to move the committee credibility forward by voting for Alana Koneski and Bruce Schmidt in District 3; and John Pratt in District 4.
Your vote would be greatly appreciated.
John Pratt
Medina
Editor:
To be a coroner takes a special person. Scott Schmidt is that person and has been for the past 33 years. He has many years of dedication and loyalty, but most of all he has the experience!
Orleans County residents are very fortunate to have someone like Scott, therefore I am asking you to join me and vote for Scott Schmidt and keep him as our Orleans County Coroner.
Sincerely,
Sharlene Pratt
Medina
Editor:
I have known Sue Howard for many years, from when our kids were in 4-H riding horses, to boarding our horse at her barn. Sue is thoughtful, trustworthy and knowledgeable.
I have worked with Sue in many different areas. She helped me with the first Orleans County Drug Treatment Court, which I helped establish.
As the years passed, I knew I could rely on Sue for sound advice. At one time I needed information on how to handle a criminal complaint, and I called ADA Sue Howard and she advised me how to handle the situation. Her advice was right on the mark concerning everything that the court could do for me.
She made a difficult situation much easier to handle. With all the interactions I have had with Sue Howard, I have found her to be very direct and right to the point. I would and will trust her, because of her knowledge and her integrity to do the right thing. Sue Howard has my vote and deserves your vote.
Sincerely,
Ruth Ann Bane
Lyndonville
Editor:
It’s truly embarrassing that it has taken this long for a woman to be elected as Orleans County district attorney especially when the woman in this race is the most accomplished the most qualified and the only candidate that’s actually from our community.
We have enough carpet-bagging candidates sliding into government positions based on politics. It’s high time that the most qualified, skilled and community-minded candidate has the opportunity to serve based on merit.
We need someone who knows the ins and outs of our local community in Orleans County because she grew up in our local community. We need someone who knows how to hold criminals accountable because she’s been doing it at the highest level for the past two decades as 1st Assistant District Attorney.
Sometimes the obvious choice is also the best choice. The only choice for Orleans County District Attorney in this primary election of Republicans is Susan Howard!
Gerry Golden
Rochester
Golden is retired after working 30 years with the Orleans County DSS.
Editor:
What started as an honest attempt to support good people getting involved in things that actually affect our community has devolved into a classic political attack. There was no mudslinging or personal attacks, just support for three brave residents who want to invest in the community and commit to public service.
The crux to the matter is that any challenge to the status quo is taken as a personal affront by the establishment figures, who reveal their true colors by resorting to divisive tactics rather than constructive dialogue. They cannot help but show their true colors because they’re too fragile to engage in positive discourse. That’s the root of the problem.
Shelby’s Republican chairman should take a lesson in fact checking before launching into unhinged tirades. Allow me to quickly address some of his attacks.
Back on March 16, 2018, Dale Root wrote a letter criticizing the process of filling a Town Board vacancy, alleging bias due to family ties, saying the Shelby Republican committee didn’t give him an interview because “… my daughter is married to a member of the Zelazny family.”
Mr. Root would even chastise the committee for transparency and ethical concerns. Click here to see “Resident feels Shelby did not have fair process for filling vacancy on Town Board.”
Now that Mr. Root leads the committee, these issues still persist unchanged, revealing a flip-flop among those now beholden to support the establishment. If only this were the end to the story, but the root causes persist.
In a 2016 public commentary, the current Shelby Republican chairman supported the quarry project he criticized in this publication just days ago. Mr. Root stated, “There is no evidence showing that there will be wildlife destruction. The experts show there will be no problems with the proposal so why can’t it go forward?” Click here to see “Many residents praise Shelby for pushing to protect refuge with overlay district.”
The only change since these statements is that Mr. Root, once a private citizen, now holds elected office and chairs the same party that endorsed him – a textbook example of entrenched establishment politics.
Mr. Root knows better than anyone that I did not receive the party’s endorsement, yet I secured the election with the highest vote count against two incumbents. Voters want a voice, not a puppet, and demand tangible results over maintaining the status quo. I’m not bought and paid for.
Despite personal attacks against me and my family, I remain committed to the people of Shelby, rooting out corruption, and fighting for what is right.
Always respectfully,
Eddie Zelazny
Shelby Town Councilman
Editor:
As the chairman of the Shelby Republican Committee I write to you for the purpose of setting the record straight. I would be happy to answer any questions about my statements.
In response to the article written by Eddie Zelazny. He states, “now seeing the shadows of corruption in our local system.” If there is corruption as he states then he and his brother have been a part of that corruption for the last four years. One is a town council member, and the other sits on the Shelby Republican Committee.
Mr. Zelazny continues with, “the committee has never strayed away from their ‘friends and family’ program of power.” Again one brother town council member, and one brother on the Republican Committee. Currently no one is related on the committee or to an elected official in the Town of Shelby excdept Mr. Zelazny and his brother.
Mr. Zelazny further states, “Why can’t we have a stringent code of ethics that prevents people from serving on the political committee and serving town office?” As Ed stated in his letter “because absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Which is apparent as he vehemently opposed and voted against the current Town Board’s passing a code of ethics (vote held on 12/12/23 resolution 103-23), holding elected officials to a higher standard. According to NYS Board of Elections lead council, it is illegal to strip the rights of residents who wish to participate in either aspect and or together.
If you connect the dots, not long ago there was a lawsuit in our town over a mining proposal and the town won. Shortly after, one brother became a council member, the other was already a committee member. Maybe if they flip the committee with their “new friends and family program of power” this “new energy for an old system” being proposed could shape future endorsements for Town Council candidates.
I can understand supporting candidates, but the prior council member Mr. Zelazny is supporting was also a member of the Shelby Republican Committee – John Pratt is not a new beginning. Mr. Pratt insisted all possible candidates running live in the district they were to represent.
When John was not endorsed for re-election as Town Council member, he immediately resigned from the Republican Committee. Now all of the sudden he wants back on the committee in a district he doesn’t live in. All of this after he and Mr. Zelazny violated town law in not following the proper budgetary process by pushing for and voting three times to give the ex-council member’s sister-in-law a raise.
Where is the corruption you are alluding to Eddie? How are committee members “elitists”? Right now the committee conducts interviews and votes on endorsements prior to the passing of petitions. How will you change the vetting process?
In conclusion, come up with the proof right now, or publicly apologize for your false, irresponsible and slanderous comments about current Shelby Republican Committee members.
Thank you,
Dale S. Root
Chairman of the Shelby Republican Committee
Editor:
We all know Tuesday is primary day and I hope you exercise your right to vote in the Republican primary because the office of DA is, perhaps, the most important office in Orleans County when it comes to keeping our families safe!
When I decided to seek the office, and when I was named the Republican candidate, I chose to run a campaign of talking to the voters, telling them what I would do as DA, and trying to do it in an honest and respectful way. I am pleased that my campaign has been one of substance and truth.
I can tell you that, sadly, I have learned that this race has had way too much negative and misleading messaging, but I am pleased it has not been from my campaign and I am proud that we are not part of those negative ads.
Above all, I have faith in you, the voters, to choose someone who represents your values, not the values of my opponent’s Broome County negative messaging specialist. While it is hard not to be upset at false and distorted messaging, I believe that I am the best choice on Tuesday to be your next DA.
I ask for your vote and promise to make you proud!
John Sansone
Holley
