Editor:
What a great effort and example by Mr. Todd Eick, a Medina teacher who donated two years growth of his hair to Wigs 4 Kids.
Both a lesson for his students and a wonderful gesture for children who need the boost and many things to help them. Thank you, Mr. Eick.
Norma Huth
Medina
Editor:
It’s time to stand straight and true.
Roman authors utilized the ritual slaughter of a person to signal to the audience that the literary world the reader has entered is suffering from a deep social crisis that has caused a perverse inversion of normative systems of human society, which brings into focus the norms and standards of human culture. (The Poetics of Human Sacrifice in Virgil’s Aeneid by Bill Gladhill)
Is that very different now in the US when 800,000 have died here while other highly vaccinated countries are opening up with far lower death rates? Statistically, looking at 84 countries, the major difference between highly compliant counties with low death rates and non-compliant ones with high death rates like us is the degree of trust we have in our country, the degree to which we have built in structural economic inequality and how much trust in each other! (Click here for article in Science Direct.)
It is indisputable that our current rate of human sacrifice to Covid is far higher in alt right communities that voted for Donald Trump. (Click here for article from NPR.)
So we know: 1) The communities with more Covid suffer more income disparity at the hands of their neighbors and political leaders. 2) They are being bombarded with bad information about their own society so they do not recognize, in our case, a) the science of vaccines, b) the benefits increasing government investment in opportunity, and c) trust in traditional normative news sources which impartially report on the real multifaceted world we live in.
Alternately stated we can not move forward when people listen to alt right news sources promoting people so craven that they extoll extreme alt right positions including Covid noncompliance and death. (Couched in lies of course to hide the power grab.)
The moral is to listen to traditional news and evidence-based life saving measures and also reject trading on fear of the person sitting to the right or left of you; to calm down and use common sense; to read the election documents ourselves or trust the Courts that have; to take top experts and numbers seriously; to understand it’s always been true that doing something that others find works well is better than continued failure.
As the Romans understood, when we stand by and do not fight human sacrifice we are in a period of perverse inversion.
I repeat, 800,000 US deaths later, it’s time to stand straight and true. President Bush is contributing to Republicans who voted for impeachment, perhaps you should too.
Conrad F. Cropsey
Albion
Editor:
In a recent letter Congressman Chris Jacobs asserts that bail reform is responsible for an increase in crime. He cites a number of national crime statistics to support his claim.
So, Mr. Jacobs is saying that a New York law is causing a nation-wide crime spree. That is a remarkable claim. Let’s think about this. Bail is set to ensure the individual, who is accused of a crime, would appear in court at a later date. This person is still innocent.
Those who could afford bail were then released those who could not afford bail were then detained. This system criminalized being poor. Furthermore, studies and real world experience in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Buffalo have shown that bail reform, like New York’s law, do not increase crime or recidivism.
Where is the evidence to connect bail reform with this nation-wide crime spree? There is none, period. This is just another example of Mr. Jacobs using fear-mongering to get his base to vote for him because his policies do not help his constituents.
William Fine
Brockport
Editor:
The national homicide rate approached a 25-year high in 2021.
346 law enforcement officers shot in 2021.
115% increase in ambush-style shootings of law enforcement officers in 2021.
These numbers are the face of the nationwide crime crisis putting every American at risk. Politicians around the country, especially in areas hardest hit, are starting to play the blame game. But the fact of the matter is irresponsible anti-police rhetoric, the defund the police movement, and New York’s reckless bail reform laws championed by elected Democrats and activists have been a windfall to criminals and contributed to the surge in violence we are seeing now.
Especially here in New York, nearly 100,000 individuals have been released under this flawed bail reform program. How many more stories do we need of someone being released without bail only to go back out and commit another violent crime within hours? How many more people need to be injured and terrorized by a criminal who should be behind bars before the Democrats in charge of this state wake up and realize this misguided idea pushed by the radical left has put the communities they serve at the mercy of violent criminals?
As a former state senator who fought this reckless law, I have seen firsthand how dangerous this policy truly is; and that is why I am working in my federal capacity to protect the communities partisan state lawmakers have chosen to neglect.
Last year, I became a cosponsor of the SERVE Act. This legislation would make federal incentives available to states who give their judges the responsibility to determine what danger a defendant poses when making bail or pretrial determinations.
With recent attacks on police and crime surges weighing heavily on the minds of every New Yorker, it is time for the Governor to swiftly repeal this reckless law and put the people of this state ahead of her party’s political gamesmanship.
Along with my Republican colleagues in New York’s congressional delegation, I recently sent a letter to the Governor reminding her of the dangerous impact bail reform has had and the solutions we have offered in our proposed legislation to help combat crime levels and support our officers.
New Yorkers have suffered under lawlessness fostered by Democrats for far too long. It is reprehensible that the legislature will not admit the failure of this law and repeal so-called “bail reform.”
I call on the New York State Legislature to repeal these policies immediately and for Congress to pass legislation like the SERVE Act to better support our law enforcement officers and the safety of our communities.
Congressman Chris Jacobs, NY-27
Orchard Park
Editor:
The ongoing Covid pandemic has shed new light on infectious disease and underlying health conditions.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention explains individuals who currently smoke, or who have a history of smoking, and those dealing with underlying health conditions have an increased risk of developing severe outcomes from Covid.
Covid impacts many of the same organs of the body that smoking does, including negatively effecting the lungs and weakening the immune system.
The dangers of tobacco use are well-established, killing more than 22,000 New Yorkers every year. In New York State, 650,000 adults live with underlying health conditions and or chronic illness.
According to Health Day News, if you vape and catch Covid, you may feel a whole lot worse than people who come down with the virus but don’t use electronic cigarettes. This study also found higher rates of labored breathing and more emergency department visits when they contracted Covid.
If you are a smoker, and would like information on quitting, please talk to your healthcare provider. If you are a healthcare organization in need of evidence-based assistance with helping your patients quit, please contact Health Systems for a Tobacco Free Western New York at (716) 845-8246.
Shannon Waddell
Tobacco Control Specialist
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Buffalo
Editor:
As I drove down Route 31 on the way to Buffalo the other day, I saw a bunch of signs that said “No Solar Energy.” I decided to do some research on it to see what all the hub-bub was about.
Do we really need solar and other renewable energy? Is this whole global warming thing real or is it just a bunch of propaganda that people are feeding us? As I read numerous articles from reputable sources, I made my independent decision based on the facts.
First, is climate change real? According to NASA (an independent/non-political agency) an average of 1.2 trillion tons of ice is melting in the Arctic each year! Current estimates are that the entire Arctic ice sheet will completely melt by 2035 and that will raise the ocean levels by 20 feet. That would put most of New York City, Florida, and Louisiana underwater.
If/when the Antarctic melts that will raise ocean levels another 200 feet. That would put 130 million Americans underwater and bankrupt insurance companies and our country.
We can still slow the progression of global warming. How? Electric cars and trucks for starters. Transportation makes up 29% of global warming. Since most major automotive manufacturers plan to stop selling internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030 to 2035, that will help. It will also help our people because EV’s by that time should get 1,000 miles per charge and cost much less to run, purchase, and maintain.
The bigger part of the equation, making up 61% of the problem, is electricity use and emissions from power generation, homes, and businesses. The energy sources that contribute the least to climate change are hydroelectric, solar, wind and nuclear.
Unfortunately, hydro is limited to having powerful rivers and lakes to dam (we are fortunate to have Niagara Falls and two small hydro plants in Orleans County in our area). Nuclear plants cost about $10 billion to build and risk leaking of radioactive materials. It is reported that 45 of the existing 61 nuclear plants in the U.S. have been leaked radioactive materials, and we could still have another (or worse) 3 Mile Island, Chernobyl or Fukushima.
That leaves wind and solar as our best options. I’ve heard the argument that industrial solar farms are ugly and they ruin the landscape. There is a simple fix for that – town ordinances requiring a fence around them with plastic sheeting to obstruct the view. Out of sight, out of mind.
There is no one-size-fits-all perfect solution. But if you want your kids to have a habitable planet, pick your (not so) poison option. I’m going with solar.
Walter E. Dunn
Medina
Editor:
At about 10 p.m. on the night of December 11th, a windstorm blew down a huge 150-year-old tree in our front yard knocking out power and crushing my wife’s car. No one was hurt and it didn’t damage the house. It could have been a lot worse, especially if it had been blizzard conditions.
What was awe-inspiring and truly heartwarming was the immediate response from the Medina community and our friends and neighbors. All offering to help in any way.
The fire department and sheriff checked in on us, which was nice. The next morning the electrician Eric Heveron cut a live wire off that was laying on the ground and moved it safely away. WGW Landscaping was absolutely amazing. Bill Wolter brought in five guys Sunday afternoon with a bucket truck, chipper, tractor and four different types of chainsaws. They worked until dark that day and had everything cleared the next afternoon, so National Grid could restore power. Zacher Construction brought in a huge forklift to take the massive stump and tree trunk away.
NYSEG guys came when all my carbon monoxide alarms were blaring because my gas generator was pouring exhaust fumes into the house through the basement door. Advance Technology company had to overnight parts from Texas to fix my furnace, which had been blown out with a power surge.
A very nice Spectrum guy came to get my wife’s TV back on. Of course, our insurance agent, Libby Pollard arrived early, and all the claims were quickly processed. We are truly thankful for everyone’s concern and help.
We are constantly exposed to bad news headlines, crime reports and divisive commentary, so sometimes we might lose sight of how kind and warm hearted most people are. The storm event strengthened our faith in mankind.
Paul & Patricia Hartigan
Medina
Editor:
I have seen several letters in newspapers expressing the opinion that Democrats are overreacting in their push for voting legislation.
So I thought I would review the facts. The Brennan Center for Justice reported, (12/21/21): “Between January 1 and December 7, at least 19 states passed 34 laws restricting access to voting.”
Last April the New York Times examined the new Georgia voting law and found 16 specific provisions that make it more difficult for some people to vote. In general this law limits polling places and makes access to ballots more difficult in order to frustrate people trying to vote.
Much more concerning though, The Brennan Center also reported; “And in a new trend this year, legislators introduced bills to allow partisan actors to interfere with election processes or even reject election results entirely.”
PEW Charitable Trust reported (7/28/21), that 14 states have enacted 23 new laws that empower state officials to take control of county election boards. Laws such as Arizona’s H.B. 2720 or Texas’ law S.B. 7 or Georgia’s S.B. 202 for example would allow for partisan officials to reject the results of an election.
Republicans have already tried to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia and four other states. For example after three re-counts, including hand recounts, of every legal ballot in Georgia and Arizona, confirmed that Joe Biden was the winner, Republicans sent into the federal government forged documentation falsely claiming Mr. Trump as the winner.
Our own Republican congressman, Chris Jacobs, along with over 100 other members of Congress voted to disenfranchise millions of voters just on the some claim of irregularities with absolutely no evidence. (No evidence has been found to date either).
Voting is the foundation of our democracy. Passing laws that allow only one party’s votes to count is not democracy. That is why these voting rights bill are needed to protect our democracy.
William Fine
Brockport
Editor:
Did you ever notice that politicians always seem to come up with an “emergency” that somehow permits them to limit individual liberty? It seems that the greater the “emergency,” the greater the need to limit individual liberty.
Where it is written that the Constitution only applies when “emergencies” don’t exist? The Constitution is not a “fair weather, non-emergency, good times only” document. As long as the United States of America exists, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land – emergency or not.
Ben Franklin once opined that “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
What safety have we purchased with our loss of individual liberty? Have the limitations placed on our individual liberty made us safer?
The President’s attempted mandates prove that, as Lord Acton wrote in 1881, “All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The obvious truth of Acton’s observation is precisely why government operated from the top down always results in a complete loss of individual liberty.
America was created based on the self-evident truth that “all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…” Yet our President insists that the need to preserve “democracy” outweighs self-evident truth, liberty and the Constitution. Apparently what the Declaration of Independence accepts as being self-evident to every American isn’t to our President.
The President insists that we give up individual liberty and do whatever he says is best. According to the President, this is necessary because of an “emergency” created by a contagious and sometimes fatal virus that man has been unable to prevent, let alone eliminate. This despite the fact that the President promised to eliminate the virus if we elected him. The President destroys liberty in order to “save democracy.” Quite a feat considering “democracy” can’t exist without liberty.
Where does the President get the right to revoke what the Declaration of Independence says is endowed by God? One thing is certain, the President doesn’t get that right from the Constitution.
While our Constitution guarantees that the minority is always entitled to a voice, it does not allow the minority to govern. The Constitution reserves the right to govern for the majority. This principle of government by the majority is the very definition of democracy. In spite of what a very vocal and emotional minority professes today, this is still America, not Joe Biden’s basement.
Either the majority governs or America doesn’t exist. The choice is still ours.
Em Seefeldt
Medina
Editor:
I had the opportunity to review the article recently posted in the Orleans Hub (GCC Symposium will Focus on Climate Change and Sustainability in WNY) regarding Genesee Community College’s 2022 Wolcott J. (Jay) Humphrey III Symposium on Leadership and Community Life Symposium to be held on April 21, 2022 at 9 a.m. in The Richard C. Call Arena.
The keynote speaker at the symposium will be Mr. Peter Boyd, currently an Executive Fellow at Yale University’s Center for Business and the Environment and leader of the Time4Good group which “allows sought-out leaders to optimize their time so that they have more energy to dedicate themselves to the environmental and social causes they care about”.
Mr. Boyd is an interesting person. Prior to his current responsibilities, he worked as Launch Director and COO of Richard Branson’s “Net-Zero by 2050” global initiative, as well as chairing The Energy Efficiency Deployment Office for the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change.
Mr. Boyd’s views are also interesting. He has stated that:
“There is no Planet B,” a statement that indicates we only get one Earth, as well as “This is a decisive decade to get on a sustainable path. Fortunately, there are multiple benefits from action, but also a huge cost of inaction.”
Clearly, we only get one Planet A. Bravo Mr. Boyd! However, your pitch to the people attending this symposium is wrong-minded. Your view that wind, solar and battery storage energy modalities are the future is off-axis. The symposium does not seem to be scheduled to discuss the benefits of the only effective future energy production technologies: Nuclear and Hydro. Unfortunate, as the effort to save our planet from the unsettled science of Anthropogenic Climate Change via the use of unreliable wind, solar and battery storage energy modalities will actually destroy Planet A, not save it.
Regarding Mr. Boyd’s “Decisive Decade” comment: Remembering that the planet operates on geologic time, not human life-time, I’m hoping there will be mention of the mini-Ice Age we’ve been coming out of since 1850 as a naturally occurring reason for the overall increase in global temperatures.
Is the purported warming we’re seeing anything more than the conclusion of 1850 mini-Ice Age? We don’t know, because that study has either not been performed or is not published. In fact, the 861-page New York Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (ie: CLCPA) Draft Scoping Plan makes no mention the mini-Ice Age in its chapter on “Scientific Evidence of Our Changing Climate (Chapter 2.1). It only uses a 50-year (1970-2020) temperature, natural disaster data set, which is a statistically insignificant sample to make the case for the tectonic, economy-destroying changes needed to feed the CLCPA goals of:
While Mr. Boyd’s, statements on the cost of inaction are admirable, he is mute on the cost of action. Will there be any discussion on the cost of destroying the planet to “save” it? Doesn’t seem so.
I’m fairly confident that CLCPA will be a cornerstone of the symposium presentation to show how “ahead of the wave” New York State is in fighting climate change. By the way, CLCPA is a plan developed by appointed Albany insiders and wind/solar/battery developer’s lobbyists with absolutely no meaningful input from the citizens of rural New York where the environment, prime farmland, wildlife, quality of human life and property values will be under full attack. This should concern every Western New Yorker.
I did find it curious that the focus of the symposium is Climate Change and Sustainability in WNY. We, in Western New York, are the beneficiaries of Hydro and Nuclear electrical generation. In fact, Western New York is 90% carbon free in electrical power generation. Why is there this need to focus on Sustainability in Western New York?
It is the Downstate areas that are “destroying the planet” with dirty, mixed fuel, coal-burning electrical generation. Which brings up an interesting point: If New York’s Downstate area is the bad actor in carbon generation, why is 90% Clean Western New York the target of the wind, solar, battery storage build out?
Clearly these projects will never be sited in the well-heeled areas of New York State like Albany, The Hudson Valley, Westchester County, The Five Burroughs of New York City or Long Island. This Planet-A-destroying hardware will be located…you guessed in…In our towns, our backyards, our farmland, our National Wildlife Refuges and our Great Lakes freshwater supply.
In fact, Mr. Boyd and GCC, via the subject of “climate change and sustainability in WNY” seem to be initiating a flank attack on the industrial wind, solar and battery storage project opposition of so many Western New York towns. Is this symposium being held to vilify and cancel any Western New York Town or Constituency that opposes ill-sited wind, solar and battery projects? We’ll see.
What we hear from Albany in this part of the state is, “Industrial Renewable Energy projects are for the common good”
“We just need to educate you country folk that live “up there and out there” or “You upstate rural folks don’t have enough money, influence or votes for us to really care about your opinion or input. So, we’ll do what we need to do and you’ll just have to deal with it.”
As a lifelong Western New Yorker, I would be a rich man if I had a nickel for every time I heard these types of statements from our leaders in Albany.
If you don’t think that this is how these people think… think again. They are hell-bent on implementing their agenda at the expense anyone who gets in the way of their particular view of a sustainable future. Is this symposium a shot across Western New York’s bow or the first salvo in the battle for Western New York? We’ll see.
A final and key point. GCC seems to have overlooked the time-honored reasons for symposiums. While it is admirable for our institutions of higher learning to drive discussion and discourse in the effort to educate, the GCC-sponsored symposium does not seem designed for an open, complete treatment of the subject matter.
Will there be discussion on the real costs of the proposed build-out of wind, solar and battery storage projects such as:
This symposium seems more an indoctrination than an academic exercise.
Rest assured the wave of “get on the train or get out of the way” is nigh upon us.
You can do better GCC.
Thank you,
John Riggi
Councilman, Town of Yates
Editor:
Thanks to the Orleans Hub for your recognition of our programs at the Hoag Library and Pullman Universalist Church on the “impact of racial injustice.”
Tom Rivers called me the “driving force,” but the “driving force” behind me (and us) is Kim Remley.
Further, all of our committee members, which is meant to be a “working committee” of the coalition of 6 church and civic organizations, have contributed with planning and materially: Sister Dolores Ann O’Dowd, Joyce Riley, Rev. James Renfrew, Kae Wilbert, Diana Dudley, Diana Reed, Gary Kent and Mike Magnuson.
Rosanne Leach, Gerard Morrisey, Elizabeth Haibach, Margaret Golden and others have also helped with the actual programs.
Again, thank you,
Bob Golden
Carlton
(Editor’s Note: Mr. Golden was named an Outstanding Citizen by the Orleans Hub in 2021 for his efforts with the Community Coalition for Justice.)
Editor:
In 1982 President Ronald Reagan signed legislation designating the third Monday of every January a federal holiday celebrating the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King’s 1963 famous speech describing his dream of having his children judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin was shared by millions.
For years, the King Holiday served multiple purposes: It focused us on the issue of civil rights, stressed the use of nonviolent protests, and called people to public service. Now it’s just a day off for bankers and government workers. And teachers, of course.
Gone are the days when we hoped and strived for continually improving race relations. Everything is now based on race – first and foremost. As a society, we are further divided racially than we were in the early ’60s – and I lived through those riots up close and personal, a white kid living in Rochester.
I place the blame on the left in general and the educational system specifically.
Former Premier Nikita Khrushchev of the USSR was quoted as saying in the ’60s that “You Americans are so gullible. No, you won’t accept communism outright; but, we will keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you finally wake up and find you already have communism.” There is some controversy regarding the authenticity of that quote, but regardless, so true those words ring. Our educational system was federalized in 1979 and has undeniably been under the de facto control of the left since then. The results are obvious, and Khrushchev would be smiling.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand,” as Lincoln so brilliantly told us.
Parents are being labeled domestic terrorists if they dare disagree with radical CRT. Black or Hispanic Only groups are common and accepted on most campuses. Students are told that referring to America as a “melting pot” can be deemed offensive and be interpreted as saying “you should assimilate to the dominant culture.” If I say Black lives matter I’m enlightened. If I say All lives matter I’m racist. Nobody dares to suggest that White lives matter. Some are even saying that teaching math and science is racist!
Universities are re-segregating departments at the request of minorities. School Boards across the nation are holding what once were public meetings behind closed doors. Covid is the excuse. Avoiding public involvement is the reason.
I have no doubt most individual teachers want to nurture their kids and teach from the heart. The policy makers and their own unions stifle that.
Extreme violence has taken over our major cities due in no small part to defunding police and bail “reform.” Black on Black crime far exceeds any previous times yet it is not addressed (if even mentioned). We instead blame some loosely defined “systemic racism” and leave it at that. Are we to just accept that and sit back while people are slaughtered?
The media seems to think so with its silence on the matter. BLM raised over $90 million in 2020. There are no public records of where the money went. Most localized chapters complained of no financial support. “To the best of our knowledge, most chapters have received little to no financial support from BLMGN,” reads the letter from the BLM 10.”
On 12/31/2021 we were greeted with the headline “New York Says It Will Prioritize Non White People In Distributing Supply of Covid Treatments.” Attached in that article was a tweet from a NY official stating “white people need not apply.”
Will America ever realize Dr. Kings dream? Not the way we’re headed.
Bob Harker
Clarendon
Editor:
To the Village of Albion residents, it is with much thought and consideration that I am seeking one of the two Village of Albion trustee positions that are up for election on March 15.
Being a life-long resident with a couple of stints away I’ve watched as this community has been on a roller coaster ride while hearing those around me talk about change they want to see. No longer wanting to just watch and hear, I’ve decided to become active and to begin pushing for the changes that residents are seeking, while looking to help it grow and develop back into a beautiful welcoming community.
My biggest objective in this endeavor is to take what’s been learned over 13-plus years of youth coaching and help shift the village to one of opportunity with development of businesses (existing and new) and jobs as well as a resurgence of the feeing and belief of a community bond.
I am seeking both the Democratic and Republican nominations because when it comes to our community, division and political gains is something that should never be a factor. It’s about “we” not “me” and I am looking to walk that aisle of common ground to help bring things back to focus.
Democratic caucus will be held Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church at 10 E. Park St.
Republican caucus will be held Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Hoag Library, 134 S. Main St.
I live by the creed of today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday and feel it’s time that we all come together to be the change that we want to see. With that being said I am open and available for any dialogue with everyone so, if there are any questions please do not hesitate to reach out and I will do my best to answer them or let you know where my intentions are on the particular topic. My Facebook page is @mcmurray4trustee.
Thank you all in advance for your time, love and support as we begin this journey and I ask that you help share along with spread the word around. It’s not about me, it’s about we so let’s join up, get motivated and most important vote.
Respectfully,
Tim McMurray Jr.
Albion
Editor:
I am the retired town clerk for the Town of Ridgeway. Over the past 10 years it has been my honor and privilege to serve the people of the Town of Ridgeway, first as your deputy town clerk with Barb Klatt for 6 years and then the last 4 years as the town clerk.
I loved having the opportunity to serve all of you. I will miss all of you. Many of you have become my good friends over the years. I want to thank each and every one of you.
I also want to thank Laurie Kilburn and Joelle Brown who served as my deputies. I would have been lost without them.
I look forward to seeing you around the beautiful Town of Ridgeway. Please stay safe, healthy and happy in the New Year.
God Bless!
Sincerely,
Karen L. Kaiser
Ridgeway
Editor:
I am writing this letter to put out my thanks and the thanks of my family to the wonderful Tillman family and their legacy in Orleans County: The Village Inn!
It is a sad start for the year of 2022 that one of the county’s most treasured businesses had to close but we have been blessed to have this family keep their doors open for the many years that they have been here!
My parents, Bob and Margaret Golden, don’t hold back any emotion in helping us remember that one of their first memories of Orleans County, near the year of their marriage in 1959, was that of stopping in the area at the Village Inn for dinner.
Since then, me, their oldest son, had his first job given to him by Bill and Lynn Tillman as a dishwasher/busboy. The work was hard and it taught me a lot about responsibility and dedication. I remember the disappointment in not being able to make it to an all-county concert because I was scheduled to work and couldn’t find a replacement in time.
But Bill made it clear to me and made sure I got the message that my job was priority. Bill and Lynn were such generous employers, as well. We would get “free cokes” to drink while on the clock. The brightest “light at the end of the tunnel” on each shift was clearly lit by the promise of a “free dinner” when finished, however.
The cooks hired were always fantastic! Ellie, Maxine and Debbie were there at the time and I would always look forward to those meals, even when I wasn’t working! (I remember getting extremely upset with my parents showing up for dinner while I was working and thus taking up a “night” where I might not be able to go there in the future.)
They had the best fish fries on Friday and the fried chicken dinner or the gravy-smothered hamburger steak dinners were always my favorites. My sister-in-law started as a waitress there and joined a classic line of waitresses who were always courteous and efficient!
As a patron, I was always amazed and noted that it was never duplicated in any restaurant I ever went to how big the salads were and how fresh. Finishing up the night as a dishwasher, I would get the meal break and then have to go back to scrub the pots and pans before getting off work many times no earlier than 2 a.m. But, I was able to keep entertained by the loud jukebox playing songs I will always remember as life has gone on.
The Village Inn, at that time, in the late ’70s, was also the gathering spot for 18 year olds and up in the social realm. I saw a lot of my good friends there, while bringing the washed glasses back to the bar for Tom or Mark to serve up again to customers.
And then, when I was scheduled to work on an early Sunday morning to get the place ready for Sunday, my co-worker and I would be able to turn the jukebox back on and listen for free to the songs that had to be turned off the night before at closing…
When Tom and Mark took over, nothing lacked despite the tough shoes they had to follow in from their parents and grandparents. I was chairman of the United Way in my older years and when I would call on the Tillman brothers for a donation, they never disappointed. They knew how important they were to the community and how the community was important to them. That’s the way it’s supposed to work! The banquet room was always the best place I could think of for any large gatherings or small weddings in the area; the dining room the best for entertaining people from out of town!
Thank you, Mark and Tom, and your families, for all you have sacrificed to keep your family’s legacy alive all these years! We have been truly blessed to have the Village Inn in our great county of Orleans for as long as it has been!
I will have a tough time finding a better prime rib than at your establishment! I might never see that opportunity as it will be hard to beat! God bless the Tillmans and the Village Inn!
Gerry Golden
Rochester
