Editor:

The Orleans Hub ran an article on September 23, 2022, featuring Town of Shelby Supervisor Jeff Smith and Deputy Supervisor Ryan Wilkins discussing the “benefits” of two giant wind turbines proposed for Smith’s land on the outskirts of the historic village of Medina.

These turbines would stand 633 feet and are the biggest in New York State. Taller than the St. Louis Arch. Taller than the Washington Monument. Unfortunately, the article included many inaccuracies and omissions we wish to address. As members of the Shelby and Medina communities, we are writing to shed light on some of these issues.

This Tuesday, October 4, at 6 p.m., there is a budget meeting at 4062 Salt Works Road, followed by the Town Board’s work session immediately after and, reportedly, a Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m.  Both are likely to address the wind turbines and related issues. Please come to this meeting and future meetings and speak up. Let the Shelby elected and appointed officials know that you, too, insist on transparency, objectivity, and ethics.

We ask the Shelby Town Board to issue a year-long minimum moratorium on any Industrial Wind Turbine vote. This moratorium must include the as-yet-unfinished SEQR document filled with discrepancies and inaccuracies at the Sept. 14 meeting.

We ask the Shelby Town Board and all appointed officials to listen more closely and be transparent with their constituents.

We ask the board to conduct a community-wide survey and hold additional and better publicized public hearings. The June 14, 2022 public hearing was a small advertisement in the Pennysaver on June 5th, one week before the meeting. While they met the legal minimum for notification, nothing prevents them from publicizing the meeting in other formats to reach more community members—for example, they could have utilized the Orleans Hub, the most widely read online periodical in the town. At the June public meeting, Deputy Supervisor Ryan Wilkins reassured us that “Borrego would be responding to questions in writing and wouldn’t give answers during the public hearing” (June 15, 2022, Orleans Hub).

Some of us wrote to Borrego after the hearing. They never wrote back. Sending us to the wind turbine company for answers to our questions is the opposite of transparent. Did the company even tell the Board about our emails, about any of our concerns? Why were we not directed to our own Town Board with our questions?

We ask the Shelby Town Board to insist on ethical decisions and issues involving conflicts of interest. Supervisor Smith may have recused himself from public discussions and voting on actions before the Board relating to the wind turbines on his property. However, as a public officer, he is placed in a position of public trust. It is his responsibility to ensure public resources are used in the best interest of the public. The interest of the municipality and its constituents must come before his own personal interest.

As for other issues of concern: In the September 23, 2022 article, Mr. Ryan Wilkins, Deputy Supervisor, stated that they “wanted to use the numbers approved by Barre as a starting point for the discussion” and that “there are no numbers yet.” Mr. Wilkin’s statement is not factual.

According to the minutes of the Shelby Town Board meeting on May 10, 2022 (minutes linked here), “[T]he town will receive a Community Host Agreement, approximately $200,000 per wind turbine for a total of $400,000.” In addition, the “town gets a $200,000 onetime payment or spread over time 15 years per turbine.”  Numbers were clearly discussed.

Please take note of this excerpt from those same minutes: “Borrego covering all legal fees, so it lets the town off the hook. An escrow has been set up. Borrego pays all the fees and has set up escrow.” “Unforeseen legal snags will be completely covered.” While in no way should the Town of Shelby taxpayer funds be used to push this project forward through “snags,” – is this a conflict? And, off the hook for what, exactly? What legal issues do they imagine the town is likely to face?

At the most recent Sept. 14 contentious board meeting, approval of the SEQR was on the agenda. A representative from the engineering firm reviewed, line by line, the “Full Environmental Assessment Form: Part 3” or “Evaluation of Project Impacts and Determination of Significance” with Town Board members. Each board member was allowed to agree or disagree. Please watch that board meeting here to hear this process.

When asked where he got his data, the engineer responded, “Borrego.”

Borrego? Yes, Borrego is the same company that proposed the turbines on Supervisor Smith’s property, and they are the ones providing the research to the engineer studying its safety. Borrego is the company that profits from this project. Borrego is influencing the engineer hired by the Town of Shelby to assist in the review/approval of this project.

In the Hub’s article on September 23, Mr. Smith stated that he “took issue with speakers who implied the board was ‘too dumb’ and wasn’t qualified to review the environmental impacts of the project.” And he continued, “They have an engineer and land use attorney to assist the town in reviewing the projects.” Both statements are disingenuous at best, especially when we look more closely at Borrego’s influence.

Those who spoke at the Sept. 14 Town Board meeting spoke against installing the turbines at the specified location. We asked for a moratorium on a vote. We asked for the opportunity for people to become informed and share their thoughts.

Why is this not up for a referendum in Medina or Orleans County? Does everyone understand the height of these turbines and their proximity to many homes and businesses? Do they know the effects on the wildlife, such as the fact that our region is the country’s second-largest migratory bird path in the country? Do they know the impact of shadow flicker?

We ask our fellow community members to be present, witness, and speak before and after public meetings and work sessions. Let them know you are watching. You are listening. And you are involved. We hope to see you Tuesday, October 4th, at 6 pm and 7 pm, at the budget hearing, the work session, and the planning board meeting. We hope to see you on October 11th at 7 p.m. for the regular Shelby Town Board Meeting.

Sincerely,

Christine Griffin

Ric and Karen Jones

Brian and Debbie McCarty

Wendi Pencille

Shelby

Editor:

“Fascism” (as distilled by political philosopher Dr. R. Maddow): “If a politician does not need your vote to hold power, they do not have to use power to serve you. A party and laws serving the needs of politicians and their donors is the fundamental on which fascism is built.” Fascism starts as a shell game whipping up fear and hatred to distract us while grabbing power.

Hitler distracted Germans by whipping up hatred of Jews. Mussolini did it by blaming  foreigners.

Our MAGA’s shell game relies on a broader coalition: focusing on a questionable wall rather that the 2012  comprehensive bipartisan plan to control our borders and enact immigration procedures we know work. Spreading rumors of ruling cabals. Whipping up racism – slavery was poor racial labor conditions in Florida text books this year. Spreading the KKK myth of white replacement theory. Claiming Democrats are blood-drinking pedophiles. And within the last month playing QAnon music and pandering to its myths at Trump rallies.

This shell game hides that long overdue problems are getting addressed. Things you wanted that got passed over Republicans’ objections even though they have no proposals of their own but instead pic, pic, pic.

We finally have: A jobs bill to fix decayed infrastructure. A bill to bring jobs home and create new jobs. NATO defense budgets are being dramatically raised by our partners. We have united support of Ukraine’s successful resistance to Russian invasion.

The developed world is ready to stop large international corporations from cheating us out of tax revenue. And next year our drug costs will be coming down as Democrats have put an end to manufacturers’ price fixing.

It took Roosevelt a few years to refocus the power of capitalism to create a middle class so we, the middle class, in turn could turn our agriculture nation, ranked 20th, into the world’s economic powerhouse.

Roosevelt had to fight the old “Robber Barons” the whole way. Their progeny fight now after setting us back by sending too many jobs overseas, enacting too many tax cuts heavily biased for the rich, and encouraging this shell game of fear mongering.

Now – despite Covid, Chinese chip shortages, a major war in Europe, people afraid of freezing this winter in England, and no Republican cooperation – we have the lowest rate of inflation in the western world and the lowest unemployment rate this country has ever seen!

It will take two or three election cycles to stop self-interested politicians’ and their bosses’ power grab to nullify the popular vote.

The Democratic Party is still small “d” democratic. If you are frustrated but believe in capitalism and democracy, remember Roosevelt (D) and Eisenhower (R), among others, proved democracy and capitalism can be harnessed to work for you.

Vote for yourselves – not because you are told to be afraid of something in the dark.  Those that say that ARE dark.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

The abrupt and shocking close of 810 Meadworks last week in Medina was felt throughout the region. 810 Meadworks had a  business philosophy built on owner Bryan and Larissa DeGraw’s artisan approach to mead-making combined with community building by creating a unique event and gathering space in Medina’s historic district.

One of the harsh realities of owning a small business, especially one with employees, is that the owner is the last one to be paid, after employees, insurance companies, landlords, the government, and vendors take their piece of the pie, there isn’t much left to scale up.

In recent press releases, Mike Norris, and our other local representatives, Robert Ortt and Steve Hawley, acknowledge the “distinctive industrial circumstances” surrounding ag, and are fighting for reform in that sector, but fail to acknowledge those same types of seasonal challenges and labor regulations faced by micro- and medium-sized businesses, especially in the hospitality sector.

Moreover, we have witnessed mass subsidy programs offered by the state to build a huge stadium for a football team that has no trouble selling out home games, and little in the form of real help for small ventures. The justification is that sports teams are cultural institutions crucial to the identity of a region.

Ironically, our current governor Kathy Hochul was a patron of Meadworks, I personally waited on her multiple times. In a small way, that demonstrates that 810 Meadworks had become as important a cultural institution to Medina as the Buffalo Bills are to the region-because clearly the governor was directed towards Meadworks by somebody who knew the community.

So where is the disconnect? Simply stated, we have minimum wage laws so that employees will be paid a reasonable amount of money, but there is zero protection for a small business owner who goes without pay for months, or even years. It has become an expectation that in order to build a business from the ground up, you cash out retirement accounts, take on debt and then build up “sweat equity.” Unless you are independently wealthy, or have a spouse that brings in a decent income, it is unrealistic to expect someone to work for little or no wages for an extended period of time.

Then we have the aforementioned dispute over farm labor laws. As much as I understand why our local representatives are fighting hard against the overtime threshold for migrant workers, why hasn’t there been the same type of advocacy for businesses that employ three or four people and are getting crushed with employee-related payroll, insurance and tax requirements? In simplest terms, the negative impact of labor regulations go well beyond the ag sector.

In Bryan’s case, he had a marketable product – and I can vouch for the fact no one ever questioned the quality of his work. While there are a myriad of reasons why Meadworks shut down, if Bryan was compensated to the level he deserved, shutting it down would never have been a consideration.

In the process, the ripple effect is that other people lost jobs, including myself. That means more money is taken out of the local economy, and while it may not seem significant, it certainly doesn’t help.

So where are our priorities, as a state or a nation when we can’t figure out a way to reward master artisans and keep them in business? This is not a partisan issue, both parties need to find common ground, and work together to solve this problem.

While there is no magic bullet, there are viable solutions such as loosening the restrictions on independent contract employment – like we have done for ride-sharing and grocery shopping services. That would go a long way to help small businesses scale.

Consider this, Uber’s gross revenue for 2021 was $25 billion dollars with a profit of around $5 billion, and they can operate almost exclusively without paying for the types of insurances and benefits afforded to the small business sector or agriculture. They are only one of the many gig economy companies afforded those benefits.

If small business owners were able to pay part-time workers as independent contractors, it would discourage them from hiring workers under the table, which usually isn’t done because of owners evading the law, it is an economic necessity. Part-time employees would likely be paid more, and business owners could scale, much like Uber did on the backs of independent contractors.

In addition, creating a small business owner earned income type credit for hours worked, would encourage business owners to continue to build their business and provide hurdle help. No owner of a business should feel obligated to work for little or no pay for years, while being required to pay employees wages and benefits. Even if that earned income credit kicked in after a year or two in business, we could potentially save businesses and create more local jobs.

It all comes down to leveling the playing field and expanding benefits already afforded to mass corporations to small- and medium-sized businesses. Basic economics tells us that increased competition benefits the consumer. The state simply cannot afford to continue to ignore this disparity.

Thom Jennings

Oakfield

Editor:

After reading the Shelby wind turbine piece in the Orleans Hub with Jeff Smith, I felt it important to respond to a couple of statements.

I’ve gone back and reviewed the notes for every town, planning and public meeting. By putting together a timeline, with context, it is easy to understand why people feel like this is being “shoved down their throats.”

The problem stems from four main issues.

1) Few people pay attention to the workings of their local government. Most of the issues that arise are of little interest unless you are personally impacted.

2) Limited means of effectively notifying the public. Typically, notifications rely on notices in the Batavia newspaper, the Pennysaver and on the town’s website. Unfortunately, we no longer have a Medina newspaper. There is a mailing, but it only goes to those people who own property within 500 feet of the Smith property.

3) The original application in November 2019 was for a 197-foot Meteorological Tower (MET) for the purpose of measuring wind speed. Not something most people would see or make note of.

4) COVID. As this progressed into 2020 public gatherings were highly discouraged and few of us ventured out.

The first public meeting for the MET permit was scheduled for June 9, 2020. According to the board minutes, notices were sent out late so no public hearing occurred. Instead at this town board meeting the town supervisor resigned and Jeff Smith was appointed as acting supervisor.

A new public meeting is scheduled for July 8. Due to the combined issues listed above, it is no surprise almost no one shows up and according to the minutes, there are no questions or comments.

The permit for the MET is issued at the July 14, 2020 meeting.

On September 14, 2021 Borrego submits an application two 633-foot turbines. The town hires MRB Group as engineering consultants, sends the application to the county board and the town takes lead agency in the SEQRA review process.

Nothing much happens until May 10, 2022 when Borrego makes a presentation to the Shelby board. They set a June 14, 2022 public meeting. Even though this is a much bigger deal than the MET, they use the same notification methods, meaning few in the community knew or understood what was being proposed.

It is a bit of surprise that as many people showed up for the June 14th meeting. It’s here you get a sense of how this seems to be getting rushed through, with virtually no input from the community. This led to the contentious meeting on September 13th and the frustration many feel.

The job of serving on a town board is pretty thankless, but very important. I, like many, have not been willing to put forth the time and effort it takes. No one at the last meeting was calling anyone “dumb” but these are highly complex issues and I am not sure they have been adequately served by the engineering consultants. But more thoughts on that in my next letter.

Jim Heminway

Medina

Editor:

For the first time in 41 years the lights were off and the doors were locked at COVA overnight this weekend. Last week we were lucky to have volunteers that tried to cover the overnight but that is no longer the case.

We are heartbroken, discouraged and beaten down. The lack of urgency from our town and county officials has been unlike anything I would have ever believed. I have been told to “behave.” I have been told that I am “cutting off the hand that feeds me young lady” (from someone who hasn’t given us a dime) and  scolded like a child instead of the educated and intelligent person that I am.

We as an organization have been treated like the black sheep of the family instead of a vital  piece of our EMS system in this county. It will take a death in this community for us to see the true impact of what will happen by losing our community-based ambulance and people will continue to die (unless there is a hidden ambulance somewhere that we aren’t aware of).

In a last-ditch effort our community has come to us with petitions for our towns to get us a tax district. The outpouring from local residents has kept us going and we are grateful for this last effort you have asked for.

I carry those petitions now. They will be at the Olde Dogge Inn in Gaines, at Toyz n Kandy in Albion, COVA base in Albion, Gilligan’s Galley in Carlton. If you can’t get to any of those places please call us at COVA at 585-589-4163 or call me directly and we will get the petitions to you to sign.

We have one week to get as many signatures as possible. We also encourage everyone who is concerned to go to your town meetings in October and voice your concern and support to get us a tax district. This would raise your taxes approximately $43 per year or less per household. That is not per person! That is per taxed household!

A very small price to pay for the security of your community-based ambulance.

Jennifer Stilwell

President

COVA Board of Directors

Editor:

Agriculture remains our number one industry in New York State. Our land and small family farms produce an abundant yield of crops and products, and we are very fortunate here to have such access to them.

A few weeks ago, the Farm Laborers Wage Board recommended to lower the overtime threshold for farm workers over a ten-year period to 40 hours per week. This issue has been adamantly opposed by farmers and farm workers alike since it was first conceived at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic’s food shortages. Farm workers have even testified that if they cannot get the work they need here in New York, they will relocate to states without such burdensome regulations.

I opposed the creation of this Board from the beginning and recognized the devastating impact it would have on our agricultural industry. Farm work is unique and unpredictable based upon weather and seasonal conditions. There’s the harvest and planting season, both necessitating longer hours and you make hay while the sun shines.

Despite these distinctive industrial circumstances, the board submitted this recommendation to the state labor commissioner for her final approval. I urge the commissioner to reject this recommendation to save our family farms.

You also have an opportunity to share your voice on this important issue, but the window is rapidly closing.

To submit a comment, you can email regulations@labor.ny.gov or write to New York State Department of Labor, W. Averill Harriman State Office Campus, Building 12, Room 509, Albany, NY 12240.

Though the state was required to publish notice of this public comment period in at least 10 newspapers in the state, they could have done more to get the word out. That’s why I want to make sure constituents of the 144th Assembly District are aware and have a chance to have their voices heard. She will make a determination in October.

Assembly Mike Norris

Lockport

Norris represents the 144th Assembly District which includes portions of Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties.

Editor:

The fact is we have a problem at our Southern Border and a broken immigration system. The fact is Republicans refuse to work to fix the problem and they refuse to help Democrats fix the problem.

To pass anything in the Senate there needs to be 60 votes which means that Democrats cannot pass legislation alone. The problems are complex and solutions will require compromise.

In 2013 the Senate passed a complex and compromised bill that would fix or at least alleviate, our immigration problem. Republican leadership in the House of Representatives refused to bring the bill up for a vote.

President Biden proposed sweeping immigration reform on his first day in office, however without Republican support no legislation will pass. Republicans decided that they could use the problems of our broken immigration system to scare the public and gin up votes. That is, the problem is more valuable to Republicans than a solution.

That is the reason Republicans refuse to work with Democrats to fix our immigration system. Blame immigrants for every problem and Democrats for allowing immigrants and you can scare people to vote for you.

I encourage everyone to vote for Democrats and solve our immigration problem.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

I’ve been walking/riding my bike on the canal towpath since 1995. Just recently, as I was walking home (heading west) near the Ingersoll Street bridge, I encountered two pit bulls (I don’t know if they were strays).

Subsequent to the initial eye contact, one of the dogs commenced chasing me without any provocation whatsoever on my behalf. Fortunately, I was able to avoid being attacked.

As a result of this harrowing experience, I no longer feel comfortable on the canal (to say the least). To all the cyclists, runners, and walkers, my message is quite simple: be alert, be careful, and stay safe.

Respectfully,

Gennaro DiGirolamo Jr.

Albion

Editor:

Giant wind turbines in Shelby. Let’s be clear, these are not the windmills seen on family farms or the wind turbines seen while traveling through the southern tier.

These giant wind turbines would be 633 feet tall, located less than ½ mile south of the Tops Plaza, on a ridge line 75 to 100 feet higher than most of the Town of Shelby or the Village of Medina. That means to observers they will appear be over 700 feet tall.

As a matter of scale, the Statue of Liberty is 305 feet tall, mature maple trees 50 to 75 feet tall and those wind turbines in Sheldon, NY are under 400 feet.

These turbines proposed by Borrego Energy would be taller than anything in NYS and only Texas has anything this size. A large Texas turbine that is not located anywhere near a populated area. Google map it at 3700 East Nance Rd, Canyon, TX 79015 and click here to see a construction video.

Impacts:

Visual – Most of us have chosen to live in this area because of friends, family and the small-town rural setting, beautiful country side, free from high rises and massive industrial developments.

Some have been fortunate enough to find jobs locally while many commute to Rochester or Buffalo, but remain here to live. Thanks to the hard work and vision of some, downtown Medina has seen a resurgence, becoming a destination for its quaint architecture, wonderful restaurants and shops. These industrial giants will intrude on everyday living and stain the quality of life here, for the benefit of one family.

Wildlife – We have the great fortune to live in a place of natural beauty and resources. Many of us hunt, fish, photograph, hike, canoe or kayak or otherwise enjoy our surrounding. A few miles to the south, is the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge the Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas, home to a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, listed as threatened by the DEC and not the only species of concern that reside here.

We are part of the Mid-Atlantic flyway, a major migration path for geese, swans, cranes and the occasional golden eagle. Make no mistake, these turbines will be responsible for bird kills. It’s a shame to think that when our eagle population has grown and stabilized, we choose to put a rotating blades, up to 633 feet high, in their environment.

Noise – Wind turbines make noise that changes with wind conditions and blade angle. I don’t know how loud these will be, but I can tell you that the town supervisor in Sheldon said that it sometimes drives him and his wife off their patio, retreating indoors.

Flicker – Located south of town the turbine blades will cause a flicker at certain times of the year and day. In a previous letter to the editor Karen Jones included a link to a YouTube video.  The company has done a flicker study which I’m hoping to see. However, using a SunCalc software it would appear that some residences on 31 and on Furness Parkway will be in the flicker zone.

I’ve reached the word limit allowed here. My next letter will outline thoughts on a way forward.

Jim Heminway

Medina

Editor:

We live in a changing world. I was never against coal electric plants but our state closed the one we had on our Lake Ontario.

To make up for it we either have to use less electricity or find other sources.

The two tall wind turbines purposed in south Shelby will help us all with electric power for the area.

Ross Thompson

Shelby

Editor:

A big shout out to Mr. Cropsey’s view on the immigration situation.

In 1960, my father paid the boat fare, from Italy to NYC, for him, my mother, myself and my three sisters. We were allow one suitcase each.

Paid for the train trip to Rochester where my uncle had immigrated earlier. He “sponsored” my whole family …meaning he took sole financial responsibility that we would not, could not, be on any public relief for the next five years.

US government checked to be sure Dad was not affiliated with the Communist Party. My uncle paid for the required physicals/X-rays to assure we were all “fit” to be in the States or get sent back.

My mother won a ten-year work contract designing men’s suits for Bonds, showing a needed skill to be allowed to enter the USA. She worked alongside of Tom Golisano’s mother. Dad worked with Mom, us girls worked in sweatshops. I sewed the front pocket on the “Johnny Carson” sport coats at Hickey Freeman. The other sisters worked at Hickok Leather, Bausch & Lomb and the younger one to public school.

We rented a house and all of us paid Dad to help out. At night after work, us girls walked to Jefferson High School to learn English. I, at 47, received a masters’ degree from Brockport.

Rosanna Woodworth

Englewood, Fl

Editor:

Florida and Texas just dumped Venezuelan immigrants in Martha’s Vineyard. These people, including children were given a map that directed them to a parking lot and not the job site they were promised when they boarded. Ha. Ha.

The  people who laughed at this proved that real MAGA and their inside joke calling things “woke” really stand for the same thing – cruel racism.

The people of Martha’s Vineyard responded wonderfully. The residents there weren’t expecting or prepared for these immigrants but immediately mobilized to do the human – the right – thing for fellow human beings to take care of them.

U.S. Immigration was bypassed to pull this publicity stunt at the expense of real people’s lives. It made a mockery of our motto: “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free.”

This stunt is very like taking every Black student at Brockport State College and dumping them to live in a Walmart parking lot in Kansas with no money rather than let them stay in the prepared dorms in Brockport. That is actual immigration procedure. There are  predesignated places the government has prepared with transport, housing, judges to review cases, social workers and everything needed to manage what the law requires.

Florida chartered a private plane to fly these people to Martha’s Vineyard. Arguably it was criminal misuse of taxpayer’s funds – not legal, not funny, and misguided. Cruel to the core! It proved that “woke” means racism and MAGA members who laughed at this are racist.

People who laughed also showed they do not understand or appreciate what our Constitutional Democracy has given them! Social Security, Medicare, our economic miracle that created the middle class, employer-provided health insurance, expanded higher education, majority rule, our victory over fascism, guaranteed freedoms for all, and last (but not least) the equality of all people which was settled in our Civil War, the traitors who started it lost.

Marie Antoinette said “let them eat cake.” Her distain started a revolution there for the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution here.

On the one hand Martha’s Vineyard is a harbinger of the atrocities that will come under MAGA and mean-spirited minority rule. On the other hand the real moral here is the power of ordinary people to do the right thing. It’s still strong when called on. This year it requires we must all turn out and vote to reject this evil brewing among us.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

The Town of Albion Planning Board and GCASA did not consider public safety when it approved a new recovery center for women on Butts Road. There will be the possibility of increased vehicle accidents, including the possibility of children being involved.

I went to the Town Planning Board meeting on Sept. 7 to bring up my concerns about GCASA’s plan. My mother and my fiancé were also in attendance. We discussed the way Butts Road is treated as a speed strip by people who do not obey traffic signs,  by speeding, or downright reckless driving. This goes from the canal to the corner of Butts Road and Route 31.

We also discussed the issues involving the railroad underpass and how people hit it by not paying attention. The town could change the signs or the speed zone.

We also brought up Clover Hill being vacant and could offer more bed space, better location for residents being close to village amenities

None of our concerns were addressed, and none of our concerns were even taken into consideration.

So my biggest concern now is for public safety, and to the possibilities of relapses in residents staying at this center. The easiest way to disappear would be taking off on the railroad tracks which would be 200 yards away from the center.

We were told by the Albion Planning Board president and the executive director of GCASA that traffic should be minimum from this center.  How can you keep traffic to a minimum when your adding vans, buses, semi-trucks, employee vehicles and construction equipment to a part of road that already has semi-trucks, garbage trucks and waste transport vehicles, school buses that transport special needs children home from school and residents that live on this road, coming and going?

How can traffic be kept to a minimum when just that one time a serious/fatal accident that could involve children occurs could have been avoided by simply changing the entrance to Route 31 because of the added and planned traffic?

I’m saddened to see how a local town planning board just simply can take a blind eye to concerns of people that live on the road, who witness the craziness that happens especially when it comes to public safety.

Now we have to look into the possibility of moving either somewhere else in Albion or out of the Albion entirely to provide a safe home for my family of 6.

Aaron Vosburgh

Albion

Editor:

Back in 2001, I was driving to work when I heard a radio report that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. Soon after arriving at my job, the radio said that a second plane had struck the other tower.

I decided to go back home, and watch TV coverage. Turned on the television and VCR (remember those?) at around 9:37. Of course, I could watch, and record, only one network at a time. I had on CBS right before 10:00 – its coverage was below par to say the least, and I switched channels again and again.

I recently discovered that YouTube has nearly complete recordings of the different networks, and even local NYC and Washington stations available for viewing; many from 7 a.m. on.  I wondered whether CBS’s other coverage was as awful as what I had watched, as I had rotated through ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and Fox News till around 11 that morning. Being long retired now, I’m free to spend my time as I please, and I decided to watch as much as I could of those recordings.

At 8:51, Matt Lauer on NBC’s Today Show was about to wrap up an author interview. He cut it short to announce “breaking news,” but the expected “live” shot of the North Tower wasn’t ready, so they went to commercials.  When the show returned, Katie Couric said “Apparently a plane has crashed into the World Trade Center,” and began taking calls from witnesses.

Matt said he thought it had to have been a large plane, judging from the size of the hole it made. He was about the only broadcaster to make that correct observation. (A 767 has a 156 ft. wingspan, and the towers were 208 ft. wide. A 737 is only 93 ft., and a 757 is 125.) Katie soon wondered “Could this be an intentional act?”

One call-in witness had been in a car blocks south when the plane struck, and was nearly hit by a large tire that came at him from the sky. NBC’s Jim Miklazewski was stationed at the Pentagon, and was reporting from there by 9:20. At around that time, Katie mentioned a phone call that a news service had made to Cantor-Fitzgerald, whose offices were in the top floors of Tower One. The person who answered said “We’re (blanking) dying” and hung up.

When the third plane crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37:45, Mikazlewski was again heard from in less than 2 minutes – he was luckily on the opposite side of the Pentagon, and only knew that “the building shook and the windows rattled,” and didn’t yet know what had occurred. NBC had “live” video of the Pentagon by 9:41.

Over at ABC, Good Morning America reported “an explosion at the World Trade Center” at 8:51. Diane Sawyer said that “a plane may have hit.” Correspondent Don Dahler called to say he had heard what sounded like a missile, or perhaps a jet. Their “live” camera angle showed the second plane strike the South Tower at exactly 9:03. Anchor Peter Jennings took over at around 9:10, and reported at 9:13 that “a plane was actually hijacked.” He managed to stay calm and professional throughout.

At 9:42, ABC had a view of smoke rising from behind the “old Executive Office Building” near the White House – they had no idea that the smoke was 2 miles beyond it, and did not report a fire at the Pentagon until 9:44, and didn’t have a good camera angle until 9:50.

The South Tower fell at 9:59. It had completely collapsed before any ABC reporter noticed it.  “Maybe something has fallen off the building.” Dan Dahler, who was near the scene, reported that “The whole building has collapsed.” An incredulous Jennings asked “A whole side has collapsed?” I can’t understand how he couldn’t see what I saw, on my screen, on his studio monitors.

CBS was airing its “Early Show.” Their special report began at 8:42 with “a plane has crashed into the World Trade Center.” This was not Bryant Gumbel’s finest hour. A doorman at a nearby hotel called in. He had “sort of” witnessed the first plane.

Bryant asked him “Do you know how many people were on board?” Other later callers got a bit upset with him, as they insisted that they had seen the planes hit the buildings “intentionally.”  Even after the second plane, he was asking “What makes you think it was intentional?”

Back when I was watching and taping the events “live,” I had the CBS network on at a few minutes before 10. As I could see the South Tower crumble and 10 a.m. approached, Gumbel started to turn things over to Dan Rather in his studio. The last thing he said was “We understand there’s now a secondary explosion on Tower 2.”

Dan Rather might as well been reporting from a dark closet with a blanket over his head.  He started by saying “The word of the day from nearly everybody (???) is ‘steady’.” At 10:01, he still hadn’t noticed that a very large building was missing entirely. “There ARE known injuries; whether there are any DEATHS or not, it’s too soon to know. There are NO confirmed fatalities.”

It was 3 minutes after the collapse before he said that there were reports that “a portion of one of the towers has collapsed.” At 10:04:45 – “Portions of one have collapsed may be true.”

At 10:14, a CBS Washington correspondent reported that “Osama Bin Laden is suspected.”

Even at 10:16, Dan Rather was saying “The top half of one has collapsed.” In fact, up until after the second tower fell, the message at the bottom of the screen still said “the top half.”

Fox News had the best “reporter on the street” coverage, if only because it had the closest coverage of people on the street escaping the carnage. It included a brief, touching interview of a construction foreman talking from his car about what he had witnessed.

Local NYC and Washington stations did an excellent job. “Regis and Kelly” went on at 9 as usual – knowing something awful was occurring, they still tried to go on with several minutes of their usual “happy talk about nothing,” until they finally cut away to network coverage.

You may or may not want to view what happened 21 years ago yourself – it was the first time that such “history” was recorded “live.”

Let us hope we see nothing like it again in our lifetimes.

Tom Taber

Albion

Editor:

I’m writing to implore as many people as possible to attend the upcoming Shelby Town Board meeting this coming Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. on Salt Works Road in Medina, and I’m also asking that all who attend be brave enough to speak before the meeting begins.

This is an incredibly high ask, I know, but please hear me out. I truly believe everyone in Orleans County will be impacted by this, and especially people who live in the Town of Shelby and the Village of Medina.

I’ve haven’t attended not enough local meetings, for all sorts of good reasons, just like I suppose many of my fellow citizens. And on those occasions when I do make it to one, I sometimes feel really out of place, and I’m afraid of looking foolish and of being misunderstood. So sometimes, I don’t speak up. Part of this is because formal, official meetings usually begin with a firm and decorous reminder that no one may speak at the beginning of the meeting unless it is about an Agenda issue; public comments of a general sort are accepted at the end.  This is proper, and it’s understandable. In the last few years in our country, public meetings have become fraught with tension and escalations, and decorum and orderly rules help keep things…well, orderly. So I understand meeting formats.

Sometimes, however, decorum is democracy’s undoing: Agendas are sometimes bafflingly confusing: a list of officers and the word “report” next to the name. Or, a policy being discussed…listed by its policy number. And if you are like me and rusty on the “participate in the process” process, it is hard to discern what they are about to talk about, or even what a particular person’s job entails.

There is something even more frightening part about not speaking up, though, and that’s showing up determined to do something and then doing nothing at all because you can’t. The board votes before the open comment period. Talk about discouraging…

Well, the way around this, I’ve learned, is to attend more meetings, especially by attending the more tedious meeting that precedes the regular meeting: the work session. This is where they hash out all the particulars, and where board members can ask each other follow up questions. The public can’t speak or offer opinions at a work session – but that’s okay. Because by attending, they get to find out exactly what the board plans to do in a few days. If you know what’s actually on the Agenda, you find out when it’s necessary to talk right away, at 6 p.m.; and, you’re covered! It is allowed speech, because it’s about an Agenda item.

I attended the Shelby Town Board work session this past Tuesday night, and found out that this coming Tuesday, an engineering firm will discuss the Environmental Report (the SEQR) regarding the two 630-foot wind turbines that Supervisor Smith is requesting the Town approve for his property.

According to a timeline from Borrego, our board is voting this fall on the project, and they’re beginning construction by 2023. So even if you hear that it’s no big deal to miss this upcoming meeting, or you’re told that it’s only one step in the process, please believe me when I tell you that it is more like a sprint than a step. Every part of the process is a big deal.

I heard about this for the first time last June. There was a public meeting, and then just 14 days to respond, officially.

If you don’t know anything about it, here are the basics: the question before the Board is, should two 633-foot turbines be built on land just south of the village of Medina? The plan needs approval because it far exceeds what is allowed by local law, which calls for nothing larger than 500 feet.

The plan is to build the turbines directly (about three miles, maybe less) south of Medina Junior-Senior High School, located in an apple orchard between Salt Works Road and South Gravel Road (Route 63).

The properties most impacted are those in a few miles radius of it. The company identified 166 locations that will experience shadow flicker. Here’s a link to the July Orleans County Planning Board meeting where they talked about such details, if you’re curious. Speaking of curious! Did 166 families in Medina get a survey asking how they felt about whether or not two 633-foot wind turbines’ shadow flicker would adversely affect their quality of life, health, and happiness? I’m betting not.

Does everyone in the county realize how such gargantuan turbines will dramatically change everything, from the view of the entire town and county, to the very appearance of a sunset on at least 166 families’ properties? If you have a sunshine-facing window, do you know how shadow flicker could impact your daily life, or your pet’s life, every day the sun is shining? If you don’t know what I mean by shadow flicker, here’s a glimpse of what it could look like, a really short 2017 YouTube video that helps to clarify exactly why you should care.

This might not be enough to get you to the Shelby Town Meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

You know what will? Blinking red lights you’ll see from all around, every direction. All night long. Every day.

Two wind turbines of 633 feet are taller than anything in this region. Nearly double in height the size of those giant turbines you’ve likely seen in Sheldon in Wyoming County, dotting Route 20. Drive down there around 10 p.m. if you’d like to see those blinking red lights they’re required to have and think about how it’ll look from a turbine facing window or yard.

There’ll be those who call me a NIMBY, I’m sure. Well, my response is, a person isn’t a NIMBY (a “Not In My Backyard”) if they’re defending everyone in the county’s front yard, back yard, or side yard, depending on where your house is situated from the turbines. Plus, I’m defending everyone’s view of the sky, not just our yards.

What one person builds on their property is, most often, their own business. But when it’s all of our view of the very sky? Taller than six Elba water towers, rising like Jack’s beanstalk, straight up to the clouds? Taller than every building in Rochester and Buffalo? Then, it’s everyone’s business.

Please make it your business by showing up on Tuesday at the Shelby Town Hall at 6 p.m., ready to share your thoughts about how the environment could be impacted by this decision, because that is the matter at hand, and it’s on the Agenda.

Please ask the board to use Tuesday to hear our concerns and not just their Engineer’s Report, and to issue a moratorium on any future voting until all the environmental questions are answered.

Please ask for another public hearing, one with much more notice than the two weeks we got last June.

Please ask for a community survey, something we’ve done in the past for other projects, and Yates did for their community, but ours did not.

Sincerely,

Karen Jones

Medina