I enjoy reading the Orleans Hub from time to time, as much for the history that I was never taught in school as for finding out what is going on these days.
Your recent article about honoring the Sheret brothers reminded me of the Whiting brothers who perished in WWII.
I “commuted” by school bus from the Bridges in the early 1950s and never got immersed in village history but I occasionally got a small sampling of it when when I stayed in the village after school and when a classmate would invite me to stop by for a snack on my way downtown.
Kenny Whiting was the source of one such invitation and as we approached his house on West Bank Street, I noticed two gold stars affixed to the front window of his home and asked what they signified.
He explained that they were for his brothers who were killed in WWII. I was so embarrassed at my ignorance that I didn’t pursue the matter other than to offer my heartfelt condolences. Your article prompted me to look on the Internet and I found reference to the following WWII fatalities: Lester Harry Whiting (Navy) and Victor E. Whiting (Army).
Dyckman T. Poland – Albion High School, Class of 1955
The Republican Party your mothers and fathers, and even you, knew is dying.
This where matters now stand, according to US Representative Madison Cawthorn (Rep. N. Car.) speaking on 5/19/22: There is an “enemy to defeat” (in the Democratic Party) but first “cowardly and weak” Republicans members need to go… “The time for genteel politics as usual has come to an end. It’s time for the rise of the new right, it’s time for Dark MAGA to truly take command!”… “Their (Republican members) days are numbered. We are coming.”
Zealots like this take everything down with them – including their own. Their weapons are false narratives spread by high-priced commentators and leaders. They trade on hatred, the economic collapse of the lower and middle class they created, failed and contradictory policies, and spreading distrust between neighbors of a lifetime.
Cawthorn makes clear the MAGA and these far-right Republican politicians will come after everyone who are savvy enough to see through them or has something else to say.
The truth is when both parties talked about complex problems – and the world is complicated – we prospered!
Judged by that standard – the freedom to talk and vote – MAGA and the present governing Republican coalition doesn’t want that for either party anymore. It wants all to goose step as it gains raw power.
I write to you today with a heart ladened with sadness in response to the evil act of abhorrent malice that took the lives of our beloved citizens this past Saturday in Buffalo.
For those who lost immediate relatives and friends, who are most heart-stricken in this loss that we all have sustained, I offer my most affectionate sympathy in this time of afflictive bereavement; may He who tempers the wind look down upon the widow, the orphan, and the shattered soul with infinite compassion in their despair and desolation; and that the God of mercy will fold the arms of His love and protection around them.
Let us improve the anguish of this moment. Now is not the time for severing what binds us together as a human family. Now is the time to cement the bonds of friendship and union with wise employ of reciprocal kind and friendly acts that promote the welfare and happiness of each other.
Now is not the time for proclamations. Now is the time to recognize that there are those among us who are empty vessels, who hunger for certainty and meaning, who yearn for enduring steadfast human commitment.
Let us all, lay down the vengeful words and images of endless ideological struggle and embrace each other as we are, as one people.
May 30 is a day to honor those who sacrificed their life for the United States. As a combat veteran I knew some of those who gave their last measure of devotion, defending the ideals that are embraced in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
Men like Lieutenant Aaron Kingfisher, a Mormon from Utah, who had a wife and twin daughters back in the world. Service to his community and country was paramount. He believed communism was a grave threat to our democracy and he chose to fight in Vietnam before it came to our shores.
Men like Sergent Jesus Rodriguez from Mexico who joined the Army to prove his loyalty and become a citizen of this country. He dreamed of the economic opportunities and political freedoms afforded to citizens of the United States.
Men like Spec 4 D’Shaw Andrews, a black man from Detroit’s inner city where civil rights, afforded to most Americans, were denied. Yet he still defended the Constitution with his life in the hope of creating a more perfect union.
These men differed politically, morally and spiritually but the idea that all men are created equal and can come together and create a more perfect union transcended their individual differences.
They sacrificed themselves for the ideal of America.
This Memorial Day please remember to honor those who supported, defended and honored the Constitution of the United States.
This is a rebuttal to “There are many medical reasons for abortions.”
Yes, there are a lot of medical reasons for abortions as stated. The current movement however is “My body my choice.”
That tells me that these women want to end a pregnancy by their own choice. Is it because the guy doesn’t want the responsibility. This is about aborting a baby just because it is not wanted.
Those babies are not unwanted. Due to other medical reasons some people can not have children and are eager to adopt. Based on that alone is a viable reason to have the child and give it up for adoption.
In other words, let the baby live!
Mike Lynch
Former Holley resident who now lives in North Carolina
In 1961, Congress asked the President to designate May 15th as National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day to honor federal, state, and local law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. President John F. Kennedy signed that designation into law on October 1, 1962.
On Sunday, please take a moment to remember New York State Police Sergeant Harry Adams and Orleans County Sheriff’s Deputy David Whittier, both of whom made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the citizens of Orleans County.
John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down their life for their friends.”
Conservatives frame the debate about abortion as that of killing a baby. Of course they do because the debate is much more nuanced.
Abortions happen because placenta abruption happens, abortions happen because of extrauterine pregnancy happens, abortions happen because incomplete miscarriages happen, and abortions happen because of a host of other complications during pregnancy happens. Abortions are a medical procedure and until medicine can guarantee that none of these circumstances happen (and it is a long way from that guarantee) the need for abortions will continue.
I am not addressing the social-economic issues around abortions, I am just outlining some the medical reasons for abortion. I suppose it would be possible to write a law with exclusions for all these medical conditions but it would be filled with a lot of exceptions, to the point of making the law useless.
But if you could write such a law it would require women to have to report to the government private intimate details of their pregnancy.
Ending Roe v. Wade means ending women’s privacy and perhaps their life. Ending Roe v. Wade means ending their participation as full citizens of the United States. Ending Roe v. Wade means nothing less.
I applaud Justice Alito for truth and accuracy. You can always count on him to interpret the constitution as the founders intended. A great man in place at the right time.
This disgusting practice has no federal bearing in the founding documents and should have never been heard by the high court as it is a 10th amendment decision that is a state’s right and the right of the people of that state to decide. What I find appalling is the leak of this pending decision and the reaction from the violent left.
The unimaginable reaction from our democrat state officials is nothing short of derangement and severe mental illness. Rent-a-mobs marching in the streets displaying absolute insanity in favor of infanticide and murder leaves sane people with their jaws hanging. Especially since nothing has been passed yet.
The response from the completely failed Biden administration has been one of condoning while the violent Marxist left breaks federal law trying to intimidate federal justices at their homes.
No woman who wants to murder her unborn child will be denied. There will not be murders performed with coat hangers in the back of seedy bars. There will not be any other rights based on actual constitutionality repealed.
Thank you Justice Alito and the other justices for standing up for life against the communist left that seeks to destroy God and country. May this barbaric unconstitutional decision made so many decades ago be overturned and returned to the states and the people of those states where it belongs.
Maybe now we can have a real debate of just when life begins.
Spring greetings from the extended Arc GLOW family!
For those of you who may not know me, I am a mother, a retired special education teacher, and currently the Board President of Arc GLOW. Over my 40-plus years on the Arc Board, I have met many remarkable people from when my son first began receiving services from KidStart until today where he continues to be supported by the great staff in residential and day habilitation programs.
As we hope the month of May brings us sunshine and flowers, we look forward to getting back into the community for entertainment, experiences, and feelings of normalcy.
As we come out of the Covid-19 “fog” our organization is excited to return to many normal activities for the people we support with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their families. We won’t be able to provide important experiences like Special Olympics, trips to sporting events, and the things we collectively miss as a community.
We currently are looking for more professional kind-hearted people to help those in our community reach their desired level of engagement and reach their dreams. We need you to please speak to families, friends and everyone else to join our organization so we can continue to provide the best services possible to our folks with the best professional and dedicated staff.
From a mother, a retired special education teacher, and current board president I thank you for taking the time to read this. If you do know someone who is looking for employment or to volunteer please take a look at our website www.arcglow.org.
If you are in Livingston or Wyoming counties, please call 585-658-2828. If you are in Genesee or Orleans counties, please call 585-949-1123.
Roe v. Wade affirmed that women had a right to abortion was based on the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of liberty, which the court interpreted as right to privacy, free of unreasonable government interference.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. claims that abortion isn’t rooted in the country’s history and tradition. Let’s get real, abortions have always happened as long as humans have inhabited the earth. They happened in the 1700 and they will continue to happen in the future. The only real question is: are abortions going to be legal, safe and regulated or are we going to assign them to unsafe back room, black market operations?
Honestly, no one likes abortions. They are messy, bloody, smelly and ugly. There is nothing to like about abortions. But abortions happen because there is no guarantee that placenta abruption won’t happen; or that extrauterine pregnancy won’t happen; or that fetus won’t develop without vital organs need to survive outside the womb; or a thousand other problems.
Abortions happen because it is part of the human condition. Do women really need to justify their pregnancy to the government? Judge Alito says they do.
What other privacy rights and individual liberty is Judge Alito willing to take and assign to big brother? Justice Alito’s opinion is an assault on the liberty of all free people and all Americans.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 May 2022 at 6:25 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Jonathan Doherty walks in Holley’s parade in June 2016 with the Self Advocate All Stars. In 2016 he was named Volunteer of the Year for the western region of the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State.
Friendly and tenacious. One of Orleans County’s most active volunteers. An integral part of the Albion landscape, often seen walking along Main Street holding a cup of coffee. That was Jonathan Doherty – who, at age 38, passed away during his sleep last Thursday.
A strong force for good in the community, Jonathan was involved in numerous organizations – the Boy Scouts, Orleans County Historical Association, the Albion Lions Club, Albion Alumni Association, the Self-Advocate All Stars, Albion Strawberry Festival Committee, the Albion Summer Music Festival (Rock the Park) – and more.
He wasn’t shy about selling tickets, flowers, popcorn and other items to benefit these groups. The man could be pushy, and I say that in a good way. I may have received more text messages from him than any other Orleans Hub reader. He wanted his groups to be featured and wondered why there was a delay at times in getting the articles out.
The Hub posted an article about Jonathan on July 2, 2016, after he received the Volunteer of the Year in the western region of the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State.
“I’m never home,” Doherty said then about his busy schedule. “I like to get out in the community and support the community because I live here. It’s fun to help the different groups.”
He could be bold about big issues, too. He spoke at County Legislature meetings in 2010, asking the county lawmakers to support a ban on the “R-word,” a slur that some people use to describe people with disabilities.
Provided photo: Jonathan Doherty won first place and $75 for his performance of “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion during a talent show on Dec. 6, 2019 for the Arc of Genesee Orleans. There were about 25 acts from Genesee and Orleans counties in the talent show, which was held at the Medina Theatre.
The County Legislature followed his prodding and made an official declaration, telling local, state and federal governments to no longer use the word “retarded” in describing people with developmental disabilities. The R-word is a “vicious slang” that is insulting and hurtful to people with developmental disabilities and their families, legislators said in their resolution.
Don Colquhoun was the executive director of The Arc of Orleans back then. He has been retired for 10 years now. Jonathan was well regarded as a leader locally, regionally and statewide for his advocacy for people with disabilities.
“He was a quiet leader who had a lot of good things to say,” Colquhoun said. “He was fearless. He deserves a real place in the hall of fame.”
The success of the Self Advocate All Stars in getting the resolution against the R-word was noticed state-wide.
“It encouraged other ARCs to make some noise,” Colquhoun said.
Jonathan was the spokesman for the Self Advocate All Stars in that push against the R-word. He kept the All-Stars together in the 12 years since, meeting often for coffee at Tim Hortons in Albion, hosting car washes and fundraisers so they could attend conferences, and stepping up for community service projects. The All Stars were out on April 22 for the Day of Caring in Orleans County. Jonathan and his friends painted a shed for Community Action.
After fighting use of the “R-word,” the All-Stars set about other missions: increased public transportation and job opportunities for people with disabilities. They also wanted funding restored for a recreation program at the former Arc of Orleans County, a program where people with disabilities could go to the movies, bowling and sporting events. (Jonathan worked on an Arc cleaning crew for the past 15 years and also was a substitute cleaner at Albion Central School.)
Jonathan wasn’t just busy. He was a great friend to many. He made sure people felt connected. Over the years, he was often the first one to send me a text on my birthday.
Randy Bower, the retired Orleans County sheriff, would meet Jonathan and the All Stars for coffee often at Tim Hortons – though Jonathan never lingered too long because he had a schedule to keep.
Today was supposed to be a coffee day with Jonathan for Bower at 10:30 in the morning.
“Jonathan was about community,” Bower said. “He was the kindest man I ever met. He was always there for us. Anytime somebody needed a hand, he was the first one to reach out.”
Bower received many texts and Facebook messages from Jonathan in recent years. Sometimes Jonathan was selling tickets to the ham loaf dinner for Christ Episcopal Church or some other organization. But often he sent messages to Bower just to check in.
“He really helped me to grow as a person,” Bower said. “He really thought the world of the community and the people that were part of it.”
Self-Advocacy All Stars painted the shed for the Main Street Store in Albion on April 29. Pictured include Tyler, James, Duane, Jonathan Doherty, ARC GLOW employee Karen Appleman and Mike Woodard.
Jonathan may have had the most fun of anyone living in Albion. Besides his work and volunteerism, he took dance classes at Gotta Dance by Miss Amy and performed in the recital on April 30 before a packed middle school auditorium. He also sang country songs during the Rock the Park festival in Albion, taking the stage to a delirious crowd while he sang, “Achy Breaky Heart” and other tunes.
Zack Burgess, one of the organizers of the festival, wanted Jonathan to get a song on stage in appreciation for all the help he did with the event. Jonathan hand-delivered letters, asking for support from local businesses, and helped clean up after the concerts.
Jonathan was a little shy his first time singing on stage, but his confidence grew, Burgess said. Jonathan performed three times on the big stage at Rock the Park. After his song, he then introduced Burgess’s band, Zero.
“He put in a ton of effort, not only for our event but other aspects of the community,” Burgess said. “He was one of the most big-hearted people I knew. He was very active and I can’t thank him enough for that.”
Bower said he remains in shock about the loss of a friend who was so involved.
“You don’t see it coming from a person so full of life,” he said. “It’s a huge loss for the community, it really is. He wouldn’t want us to be down. He shined bright. He really did. He was such a friend to everyone.”
Jonathan Doherty performed during the May 5, 2018 dance recital for Gotta Dance by Miss Amy in Albion. He was back on stage on April 30 with the dancers at Miss Amy’s.
You may have noticed that young people seem to be maturing physically at younger ages. A few generations ago average age of first menstruation in girls was about 16 years of age, an indicator if sexual maturity; marriage often happened within the next year or so. Just ask grandma.
Today the average age for first menstruation is 12.4 years. There is concern if menses haven’t occurred by 15 years. Early sexual maturity is a problem. Sexual activity or early marriage is not socially acceptable in this society. Minimum marriage ages are set to prevent child marriages in the US. Parental consent is required until age 18. Social maturity and education are prerequisites to parenthood.
Before abortion legalization (1973, Roe v. Wade), thousands of teens and preteens in America died at the end of a coat hanger. Girls and women died regularly from illegal abortions, a dire public health issue. According to the CDC the number of legal abortions in the US peaked in 1981 at 29.3 abortions per 1,000 females of childbearing age. By 2019 the rate was 11.3/1,000 females of childbearing age, a reduction of approximately two thirds.
Today, more parents talk to their kids about sexuality. Research-based, comprehensive secular sexual education has been developed; it’s more than biology, assertiveness, refusal and goal setting life skills are vital components.
Age-appropriate HIV/AIDS education was mandated; young people needed to know the risks beyond pregnancy that come with sexual behavior. Abstinence and delay of sexual activity have always been key concepts.
Cheap, effective birth control and improved access to women’s health care have become more widely available. Reproductive choice has empowered women, their role in society has evolved in the last 50 years.
Criminalization of abortion will not stop desperate women; it will threaten human life again. Reversing an established fundamental human right is a direct threat to democracy. We will not quietly go back to the 1950s.
In the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, there were four parks in Albion: St. Joseph’s, Bullard, Lafayette and Linwood that had recreation programs during the summer months, the latter two had wading pools for the younger kids.
These provided more than just a place to drop off your kids on any day, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Games, contests and the camaraderie of all kinds were the primary object to help these kids during the summer.
But Bullard Park was a special piece of property. It had open land and endless vision for many activities. Archery, golf lessons by Rochester’s Babe Urzetta, baseball games and many more attempts to bring kids and people together as a community.
Our dad, Ed Stackwick, acquired a grant from New York State to beautify the tapestry of Bullard Park. From East Avenue you couldn’t see into Bullard Park. It was overrun with fallen trees, unkept brush and the like.
The view of Bullard Park should be open and inviting to all. Alec Sherman was hired to supervise these activities that needed hard work filtering the banks of the gorge running through Bullard Park but also on the hillsides heading toward the train tracks. Two new pavilions were built so everyone could have a picnic, an outing for groups or just to sit and watch nature.
Ed Stackwick fostered an event for senior citizens to enjoy a chicken barbeque every summer, free of charge with transportation provided. He built a basketball court just opposite the rest rooms and the water fountains. Groups of kids played there almost all year round.
How were these resources obtained, the park upgraded for all to use and the vision even considered? It was the passion inside of one man who tried to give everyone, young and old, a better way of life. He wanted the kids to stay off the streets and give them hope that if you work hard you can make something of yourself.
He wanted the parents to see that their kids could learn respect and honesty from a community based venture. He wanted the adults to use the park in many ways to enjoy Albion’s quality of life.
So the article about the basketball court a few weeks back about Roosevelt Bouie and how kids from all towns went to Bullard Park to play against each other, calling it the “Basketball Mecca” of this area reminded us of our dad, Ed Stackwick.
That was exactly what he envisioned when he beautified and upgraded Bullard Park for all to use, including the “Basketball Mecca” basketball court.
Reportedly the Supreme Court will overrule Roe v. Wade which will prevent abortion when a fetus becomes viable. It was not the best written decision but it was grounded in – justified by – the right of privacy.
The theory underlying that right to privacy is called “substantive due process” or the doctrine that the constitution protects both the procedures of due process, such as how criminal law is applied, and “substantive” guarantees of life, liberty and property.
There are the rights spelled out in the text of the constitution, such as rights to bear arms or against unreasonable search and seizure, and there are other rights, like the right to marry and even the right to parent that are not in the text of the constitution
Other “substantive due process rights” include birth control for married couple (Griswold v Connecticut) (Loving v Virginia) did away with bars on interracial marriage, (Eisenstadt v Baird) protected birth control for people not married. Gay marriage and in vitro fertilization are unwritten fundamental substantive due process privacy rights.
Marriage and procreation themselves are included as basic civil rights having no written protection as civil rights. My prediction in that contraception will be next.
This decision tries to limit itself to abortion – and this writer will be honest that abortion as a means of birth control bothers him – but in fact it opens Pandora’s Box on everything from who you can marry to how many children you can have.
The legal basis for what we thought were immutable human rights are now out there to be challenged and reconsidered by generations of activists with different points of view.
