Editor:

Thank you to the more than 200 folks in Murray who welcomed us into their homes this petition season. And a special thank you to those officials and employees at the Murray Town Hall who have pledged your support and encouragement to carry on. It means more than you will ever know.

Today we announce our candidacies for the June 27^th Republican Primary. Eric Collyer for Murray Town Council and Joe Sidonio for Murray Town Supervisor. Together we promise to represent our community to the best of our ability while being fiscally conservative stewards of your tax dollars coupled with good old fashioned common sense.

Eric Collyer for Town Board. A graduate of MCC and SUNY Brockport, born and raised here in Murray, carving his livelihood out of the earth with sweat equity working his family farm. Eric has contributed to our community for over a decade on the Zoning Board of Appeals, currently Chairman of the Board.

A member of the Murray Agricultural Advisory Committee Eric has a solid understanding of our farming heritage. As a young man he worked part time in the Murray highway and water department providing another practical understanding of our Town operations. His direct, common-sense approach will serve the community well by calling it like it is, keeping government small and spending in check. Eric can stretch a dime into a dollar.

Supervisor Joe Sidonio, currently in his second term has a proven track record. As the Town Chief Financial Officer his education, accounting background and tough conservative budgeting policy has led to reduced town and water taxes each year.

As a Marine Corps veteran he is not afraid to call for ethics reform or stand up to those who do not choose to represent our community. A decade of County Planning Board experience and member of the Town Master Plan Committee adds to his resume of community service. Joe is uniquely qualified to face the financial and socio/economic challenges of tomorrow.

Change is a difficult thing to bring. No one said it would be easy. It takes commitment. It takes courage and common sense. We answer to you, the citizens of Murray. We will continue working for you as we have done every step of the way. We care about you, our community and want to make Murray a better place to live.

We do not claim to be perfect. We are stepping up to the challenge because we feel in our hearts we can make this community a better place to live.

Keep it simple. Keep it small. It’s common sense.

Eric Collyer ZBA Chairman

Joe Sidonio Supervisor

Murray

Editor:

Gun violence in schools has become an alarmingly common occurrence in the United States of America and has created division within the country. Some Americans feel that teachers should be armed. Others believe that could worsen the problem.

Arming teachers is controversial, but the risks of teachers carrying guns outweigh the benefits. The safety of every person in school would be compromised. There would be more opportunities for shooters to take advantage of the situation. Weapons in school would create a hostile learning and teaching environment.

Most teachers do not want to be armed. Numerous studies show that most teachers were in favor of stricter gun laws to prevent school shootings while few supported arming teachers. Many teachers believe that guns would create a negative learning environment.

Guns will increase the likelihood of shootings in schools. An argumentative piece comprised by lawyer and advocates Allen Rostron and Brian Siebel contends: “Teachers would be forced to carry weapons into classrooms filled with children… opening more opportunities for the guns to fall into the wrong hands.” A student could find a way to sneak the gun out of the teacher’s possession or attack the teacher to gain control of the gun.

If someone has not been violent in the past, that does not guarantee a lack of violent behavior in the future. Investigative journalist Jacquelyn Mitchard of the New York Times speaks to this point: “…I have a problem with the presumption that all gun owners are responsible, respectful, disciplined people, even if they have no criminal records.” This statement aligns with the opinions of many parents. Knowing how to handle a gun and having the responsibility to handle a gun are not coincident.

In closing: Would guns in schools be beneficial to the safety of those attending school? Although there are many nuances concerning this issue, the simple answer is no. Teachers, for the most part, do not want to be armed. They worry that adding more guns to the mix will worsen the issue. It is not any teacher’s responsibility to be an armed guard.

We need to work together to figure out a solution to gun violence. Talking about this topic may seem daunting, but it is the most effective way to make people think. This goes for all issues, not just gun violence. You can also write to members of Congress and other political officials. Effort is pertinent to reformation.

Julia Scroope

Holley High School student

Editor:

We are again seeing the confluence of forces which resulted in significant social, economic and racial progress in the ’60s.

Tennessee, the home of the KKK, ousted just the two involved Black state legislators due their “temper tantrums” while outside and in the gallery children were begging for their safety – for action.

Morning will come again for these “uppity blacks”.

Democracy solves problems. It does not make them worse by resurrecting hate, racism and shopworn simplistic ideas that derail progress.

The scene on the floor of Tennessee Legislature – shown in real time – was as gripping as the   photos of confrontation at segregated lunch counters in the ’60s of the photos on the bridge showing the great John Lewis being beaten senseless, and photos of blacks left hanging in trees as a warning to all.

The only ones who do not see this do not read history and content themselves to watch TV stations and read sources who pedal propaganda.

Editor, an entire younger generation now also clearly sees the issues. The losers will again win. The shame in Tennessee will not be ignored in the cities, the suburbs or the country. With contraception under attack and voters being suppressed, the majority is being stirred to act – to again focus all on the principles on which democracy is based.

Progress can not be denied.

The Tennessee Three’s ouster was not a solution. it was a call to action for all who love democracy.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Two thousand years ago a Roman governor asked an angry mob a question. The mob demanded that Jesus be put to death. They thought that would be the end of Jesus but they were wrong.

Jesus was put to death and buried, but three days later He rose from the grave and proved He was indeed the Son of God. His bloody sacrifice on that Roman cross and His resurrection from the dead provided the means for every person to be forgiven of sin, washed clean and be restored to a right relationship with God.

Today, each one of us is asked the same question: What will you do with Jesus who is called Christ? We can either accept His sacrifice for us personally, repent and be forgiven for all of our sins and follow Him for the rest of our lives, or like the angry mob reject Him and push Him out of our lives dooming us to eternal torment when we die. There is no neutral ground. If we make no choice, we are rejecting His offer of eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Satan is real, and he is always trying to get us to follow his sin-filled way of life and keep us from the blessing of  salvation through Jesus Christ. Satan may also try to convince us we can always make a choice later, but then it will be too late.

Today, during this sacred season celebrating the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, make the life-changing decision to follow Jesus! He died for you personally.

Wayne Lemcke

Waterport

Editor:

I have followed Trump since ’75 when he got $886 million in tax breaks to convert the Commodore Hotel into a Hyatt. After 12 years or so the Industrial Development suit for misuse of the money got dropped when all the records were mysteriously lost.

Then Hyatt sued claiming he did not put in the $100 million he promised. That second suit settled with Hyatt buying him out. But then Hyatt got stuck redoing bad materials and work by scab labor which Trump had sourced from the mob.

If the current indictment sticks, it will mean Trump got careless 1) with records,  and 2)  recharacterizing his payments in a way to isolate them from scrutiny – as in his huge bankruptcies. I assume using the National Enquirer to hide his sex life was just penny-ante stuff to him.

Getting jammed criminally where he can not outspend and threaten the other side into submission is a new experience.  Some people are attracted to strong men who act like capos.  It angers prosecutors. It will be interesting to see if they made any legal errors or missed any details Trump can jimmy up into reasonable doubt.

Of all the pending cases this seems the most likely for Trump to convince his tribe to stick by him, Rule of Law be damned. Top Security documents has national implications and are harder to turn a blind eye to.

Trump’s biggest problem is the National Enquirer and he was insane enough to try it not once but three times. The pattern could be a huge problem. Also having a judge who used to audit much-larger corporations is also a big problem as smoke screens will not work.

I finally have to guess NYC has a few more small surprises that  were not spelled out is this rather bare bones indictment. When lawyers get lied to defendants get trapped.

It will be interesting to see what comes.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s hysterical response to the indictment of former president Donald Trump is beyond the pale.

She writes: “Alvin Bragg’s witch-hunt targeting President Donald Trump is a political persecution.”

First, Mr. Trump is not the President. Second, Mr. Bragg presented evidence to a grand jury which found sufficient evidence of a crime and then the grand jury voted to indict the former president. Mr. Trump can now present his evidence of his innocence, (if he has any). That is how our justice system works.

That is the system Ms. Tenney swore an oath to defend and protect. Her remarks are an attempt to discredit the justice system, and the rule of law. Her claiming that Mr. Trump, because of his former position, exempts him from the rule of law, undermines our justice system and our democracy.

What I find most disturbing is her racist and anti-Semitic dog whistle: “Soros-backed District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s witch-hunt.”

George Soros conspiracy theories follow the centuries-old pattern that Jews are running an evil international cabal. There is no evidence that Mr. Soros donated directly to Mr. Bragg’s campaign or in any other way supported Mr. Bragg.

Is Claudia Tenney a racist and an anti-Semitic? Her paroxysm response to Mr. Trump’s indictment would indicate that she is both.

At the very least her frantic agitated response shows how little she understands or respects the rule of law.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Medina residents, thank you so much for electing us to the Village Board. We’re grateful for your vote of confidence and we are looking forward to the next two years.

As always, please reach out to us if there’s anything we can do to help make our village a better place.

A special thank you must be extended to Owen Toale for his countless contributions to the village, including his offers to continue to support us with his wisdom going forward. We’re all better off because of his willingness to share his experience.

Thank you,

Jess Marciano

Diana Baker

Medina

Editor:

In addressing one (and more) issues left unaddressed due to partisan paralysis, Pastor Barry C. Black, Chaplin to the United States Senate, said it perfectly.

“Lord, when babies die at a church school, it is time for us to move beyond thoughts and prayers”….. “Remind our lawmakers of the words of the British statesman Edmund Burke: ‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.’”

“Lord, deliver our senators from the paralysis of analysis that waits for the miraculous. Use them to battle the demonic forces that seek to engulf us. We pray, in your powerful name, amen.”

Other western countries’ citizens have guns. But the US stands alone with its rates of murder and mass murder – particularly apparent in the slaughter of our children.

Of the different approaches found elsewhere there are three sure differences that work in concert to prevent the gun plague. 1. They have uniform background checks nationwide. 2. They do not permit hobbyist and hunters to have military-style assault weapons. 3. Violators are delt with severely.

Pastor Black  sees our country being dragged down by “demonic forces” behind the current paralysis. Spelled out these are the forces of hate, conspiracy fantasies, lies, easy answers and the wages of greed – and to him the very conception of God.  All pollute minds and feed extreme positions.

On the gun issue the manufactures, leaders and followers have blood on their hands, share and share alike.

Honor, goodwill, respect for law, respect for each other, respect for real evidence-based knowledge and a willingness to cooperate with all reasonable people(s) are the hallmarks of true (godly) Patriots who can solve this problem and more.

With a mass murder a day no candidate should be nominated who will not commit to tackle the problem with evidence-based solutions.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Drug ads should be removed from television. Almost every other commercial on TV is an advertisement for a new drug.

The integrity of drug ads has long been questioned. The only two countries in the world that allow drug ads on television are the United States and New Zealand.

Other countries such as the U.K., France and Germany have banned them due to high pharmaceutical spending and negative health outcomes. Additionally, the advertising companies that create the pharmaceutical ads are only required to state at least one approved use for a drug, the generic name of the drug, and any potential side effects.

Therefore, advertisers can leave out the cost, how the drug works, and whether a condition is treatable with a change in behavior.

Drug ads also cause distrust in doctors. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine conducted a survey of 1,744 adults, which found that 16% of the adults questioned their doctor’s advice after asking for a drug and could not receive it. This can cause people to stop visiting their doctor, which may cause more health issues.

Pharmaceutical ads have a negative impact on the public and should not be legal in the United States. We must speak to our representatives and advocate for the removal of drug ads on TV.

Sarah Kelly

Holley High School student

Editor’s note: Nick D’Amuro, Holley social studies teacher, said the student essay is completed by a student seeking the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness. The Seal of Civic Readiness is a formal recognition that a student has attained a high level of proficiency in terms of civic knowledge, civic skills, civic mindset, and civic experiences.

The Holley Central School District is an institution that offers students the opportunity to earn this designation on their diploma upon graduation. Students must complete a variety of tasks surrounding a particular research topic that is of interest to them.  A crucial element of this project requires students to inform citizens in their community about their topic and call for citizens to take action. This article serves as the basis for this requirement, D’Amuro said.

Editor:

The Hoag Library and Community Coalition for Justice last month reviewed “The Burning,” where in 1921 Tulsa  300-plus Blacks were killed and 1,130 houses, 12 churches, doctors’ and  dentists’ offices and numerous businesses were burned to the ground. Blacks were executed in the streets, with one Black woman hung from a lamppost.

The ferocity of the dark of the night attack and its aftermath were incredible. (Denial, the lack of appearance in history books and even current electronic Tulsa history is shocking.)

The flip side: restraint of Tulsan Blacks.

Two times, caravans of cars full of many Black World War I veterans drove to the jail, where a Black man, accused of accosting a white women, was being held. One Tulsa newspaper had headlined “Lynching Tonight.” The black caravan leaders met with Sheriff McCullough, who assured there would be no lynching. They returned home.

As the white crowds and tumult at the jail grew, they went back a second time. A white man, incensed at a Black man having a gun, tried to wrestle it away. The gun went off, killing a white bystander. Both sides began firing, with some people killed. The Blacks, better armed and battle-ready by their WWI service, again, reassured by the Sheriff, returned to their neighborhood.

A white man was employed as projectionist in the Black movie theater. He got caught there as the whites massed into Greenwood at 5 a.m. At great risk to himself, a Black theater employee, drove this man to an area south of the attack, so he could safely get back to the his home in the white area

By midday, some Blacks had assembled in a new stone church and were defending themselves.  But a white man came forward, waving a white “truce” flag. They ceased fire, and let him approach. He lit a kerosene fire bomb, threw it through a window, catching drapes and wood interior on fire. The Blacks fled and were fired upon.

By Christmas time, 7 months later, some Blacks had returned, and living in tents, began to rebuild. They gathered for a Christmas celebration. A Black minister climbed onto a truck. “Let us remember an old Negro tradition,” he preached. “There is no room in our hearts for hatred.”

Sheriff McCollough, who successfully prevented the lynching, was motivated by a personal incident 2 years before. A 19-year-old Black lad had been accused of accosting a white woman.  McCullough questioned it. The Sheriff got to know the young man and believed he was innocent. He sadly presided over the public hanging.

The young lad asked to speak to the crowd. He cleared his throat and spoke in a loud voice,  “Now I want to say that all people should tell the truth when they come to the courthouse. And I hope God Almighty blesses each and every one of you.”

For more on such incidents and business and government policies that restrain Black middle class, come Tuesday, March 28, at 6:30 p.m. to the Hoag Library to see the film, Against All Odds, The Fight for a Black Middle Class.

Bob Golden

Waterport

Editor:

Happy Birthday to the Orleans Hub. Newspapers are an integral part of the community; they inform the public about important issues, encourage political participation and social cohesion.

Local journalism, like the Orleans Hub, provide trusted independent reporting to hold government officials and public policy makers accountable through necessary oversight. Local journalists, like at the Orleans Hub, in a real sense roll away the stones of societal sins, and let the sunshine in.

Furthermore, local journalists provide social and cultural content of hard-to-reach audiences which helps our understanding of our neighbors. Newspapers also provide a place for readers to express opinions in a respectful manner.

While social media sites allow for rude, demeaning, bullying and intimidation with little facts or evidence to advance a policy or argument; newspapers offer opportunity for thoughtful arguments.

It is appropriate that we celebrated the Orleans Hub’s birthday the same month we celebrate Easter, a spiritual rebirth. I encourage readers to donate and support the Orleans Hub.

William Fine

Brockport

(Editor’s Note: The Orleans Hub will be 10 years old on April 1.)

Editor:

Residents of the Village of Medina: Diana Baker and Jess Marciano ask for your vote on March 21st.

From Diana Baker:

I have lived in Medina most of my life; I’ve grown up here, I’ve worked here, and I’ve been fortunate to raise my daughter here. I hold the position of AVP Project Manager at M&T Bank, and I am the Assistant Director/ Color Guard Caption Head for the Medina High School Marching Band.

I have worked with this group for 14 years, designing routines and coordinating students at practices that develop into bigger shows for both performances and competitions. I strive to help students find their passion and develop skills to allow them to grow, learn, and overcome obstacles they may encounter.

My goal as a Trustee is to encourage the involvement of the younger generation – to learn, to understand in order to contribute to the continued growth of our village. Our community has been blessed to have many positive contributors.

From Jess Marciano:

Having moved to Medina after years of living in urban areas, I am energized by living in a community where a resident can be so closely involved in decisions impacting our daily lives. During my incumbent term on the Village Board, I’ve had the opportunity to work hard at balancing much needed services with the cost it requires to facilitate them and to lead a few initiatives to bring residents closer to the decision making process.

Some of those measures include helping to implement a mass notification system (click here) and creating a public Facebook page (search MedinaJessMarciano) with frequent updates and ways to get involved.

We love this community and the collaborative process working in this village entails. We look forward to serving this village with honesty and respect, and to be a voice for all residents. Thank you for your support.

Diana Baker

Jess Marciano

Medina