Editor:

It’s funny how things come in unrelated streaks. I just wrote you about the unclassified intelligence assessment detailing how Russia has been feeding ultra conservative commentators and politicians’ talking points and misinformation since 2014. I think it reflects on our society which feeds on sensationalism.

Now, Sidney Powell, one of Trump’s attorneys, is defending a defamation suit regarding her claims that the election results were not accurate. Her responding papers said “no reasonable person would believe her.” She is saying no harm, no foul. What I claimed was over the top and  no one was supposed to believe her or the President!

Similarly  Trucker Carlson’s attorney said: “The ‘general tenor’ of the show should then inform a viewer that [Carlson] is not ‘stating actual facts’ about the topics he discusses and is instead engaging in ‘exaggeration’ and ‘non-literal commentary.’” His lawyers are saying all should know he is lying and no one was supposed to believe him. After all he makes his money by being outrageous.

Powell has an additional problem because she told courts the same frivolous claims. Therefore she will be subject to fines.

Carlson has a different problem. Lou Dobbs was simply taken off the air when he was sued for the same lies. Therefore Carlson will go unless Fox figures it will make more by keeping him on the air serve up an outrageous side show. Paying millions for lawsuits involving his lies would be a cost in their entertainment business.

Getting in bed with Russia is bad – so bad they have to defend themselves by saying NO reasonably intelligent person should believe them. But, it’s fair to ask, “Was any Republican laughing?” I think not.

Of course Congress has exempted itself and Trump from such suits so they will just keep on gaslighting us. Shame. So much harm. It’s just what political entertainment shows want. And it’s exactly what our enemies want.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Photo by Tom Rivers: The four-sided Fancher clock is a memorial to 10 soldiers from the Fancher area who died in World War II.

In May of 2020 I received a phone call from Dr. Frederick Fiorito of Mount Vernon NY. Dr. Fiorito grew up in Fancher on a farm at the intersection of Fancher & Telegraph roads. Over the years he would return to the homestead visiting family and friends. In doing so he took note of the deteriorating condition the Fancher Clock has endured in the more than 70 years since its dedication.

In conversations with Fred and his brother, life-long fireman Ted Fiorito, I received a personal history lesson in the significance and purpose of the “Fancher Clock”. The monument is a memorial for the 10 sons from the Hamlets of Fancher, Brockville and Hulberton who went off to WWII and didn’t return.

John Christopher, Joseph Christopher, Cosmo Coccitti, Floyd Valentine, John Kettle Jr., Leonard Licursi, Martin Licursi, Camille Nenni, Richard Merritt, Richard Vendetta. It is the amazing story of a community coming together to honor their memory and sacrifice.

The Fioritos vividly remember the Gold Star Mothers each dressed in black in the back seat of black vehicles with gold stars on the windows. That vivid experience remains to this day and the failing condition of the memorial troubles them.

It is my honor to announce that Dr. Fiorito has generously donated funding for its restoration to memorialize the men for future generations.

Without hesitation, I have enlisted Holley/Murray Historical President Danny Mawn and Murray Town Historian Marsha DeFilipps to research and develop our implementation plan. As expected, they have produced historical documents and photos to help us determine what necessary actions to take. Danny has already spent countless hours on site, with contractors and researching as only he can do.

I’m proud to say we are beginning the first phase of its restoration this Spring and hope to move to competition for a rededication ceremony on August 14, 2021 the day it was dedicated some 72 years ago.

This gift is an expression of the Fioritos love of their hometown and the importance of memorializing those sons we lost in that war. This gift is gratefully accepted with profound appreciation.

Their belief in community and willingness to give will make our Town of Murray a better place for all of us to live and will keep the memory of our soldiers alive.

With Fond Sincerity,

Joe Sidonio

Town of Murray Supervisor

Editor:

Mr. Harker said something in a recent LTE that I have found resonating through me like an electrical charge. I simply must respond.

The generalization that anyone who is homeless is so purely by choice speaks volumes as to the writer’s closed mindedness and lack of world exposure. I made choices in my life that led me to places that probably can’t even be imagined from the farmland of Clarendon NY.

People, myself included, struggle daily from closer to the “bottom” than most reading this will ever see. We reach for that “hand up” that was mentioned (without example might I add), only to see it turn into a fist to knock you right back down.

Some of you reading this and know me as whatever person I was in my past, won’t care about all the progress I’ve made.

When I made the decision to quit working because of Covid, I started putting all my energy into my eBay store. I feel my work ethic is top notch and my sales show it. We are not lazy down here at the bottom. I live in a poor section of Syracuse and I see people trying every single day. Many, myself again included, face daily struggles like unresponsive landlords who say nothing more than “We will see what happens when all this is over.” All on top of problems like circuit breakers in need of replacement and black mold.

So, if my taking the “handout” of a stimulus payment and UI payments is an offense to your political views, and before you spew your narrow-visioned opinions, I suggest you come to terms with the fact that there is a much, much bigger world than Clarendon and broaden your perspective. Just a bit.

Charlie Hunt

Syracuse, former Albion resident

Editor:

On March 25 the Georgia governor made it legal for Republicans to steal Georgia elections. This law states the Georgia legislature can remove and replace any local election official.

Our ex-president (thank heaven for the ex) Trump made two phone calls to Georgia officials asking them to steal votes for him. The most well known was the hour-long call to the Georgia secretary of state. What’s lesser known is the call he made to a local election head. Neither of these, being honorable Republicans, bowed to Trump.

If the law that was just passed had been in effect back then that Georgia local official would have been replaced by the Georgia legislature with a Trump toady. That toady would have found the votes Trump was asking for.

The right to vote is sacred and the forces that want to steal that right are forces for evil.

Dennis Seekins

Lyndonville

Editor:

A recent letter writer to the Hub made several assertions. I would like to respond to a couple of them. The writer stated: “She’ [a previous writer]’ then bashes those of us that believe in order to have a country, you must have a defined border.”

No one disputes that you have to have defined borders to have a country and no one is arguing for an open border; no one, period. That argument is a gross exaggeration of what is being stated and prevents people from listening to what is actually being said.

Everyone wants secure borders. The question is how to secure the border while allowing migrant farm workers the ability to move across the border. Without migrant farm workers we would not have food or milk on the grocery shelves. The New York Farm Bureau issued the following press release: “New York Farm Bureau is pleased to see President Biden’s immigration plan, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.” It seems to me that while Democrats are working to solve problems, Republicans like Congressman Chris Jacobs spew slogans and mis-information to confuse and obfuscate.

The second assertion the writer made that I want to address is: “I am NOT bashing public assistance recipients when I say that most people living ‘in poverty’ in the U.S. have flat screens, cars, and smartphones. They have a roof, warmth, and food unless they choose to live on the streets. Those are facts. Unfortunately today, people put more emphasis on feelings than facts.”

I couldn’t find any evidence to substantiate these claims. I did find evidence to refute them. Studies by economists Abhijit Banerjee et. al. (2015); by Levy, S. (2006); by Gentler, P. J.et. al. (2012); and many other studies refute his claims.

Locally the Orleans Hub reported (3/14/21) that the Community Kitchen in Albion was now serving about 380 meals a week up from 150 meals per week before the pandemic. Food insecurity is real and it is real in Orleans County.

It sounds to me that the writer is relying on anecdotal evidence and his feelings for his facts. When will Republicans, like Mr. Jacobs, start using actual facts not anecdotal evidence, their feelings and slogans to help solve problems?

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

My wife and I had our house built in 1973 in the Town of Barre. Because we have lived here such a long time, I believe we should have a right to vote on allowing wind turbines here in Barre.

As far as I know only Barre Town Board members have voted on behalf of Barre residents. In my opinion this is not  proper because ___ . You fill in the blanks yourself.

I know at this point in time, you may say you’re too late. I am saying let’s finally have a town vote. Then will we know  if the board members voted correctly in representing the voters in Barre. What is your opinion?

Robert G Barnard

Barre

Editor:

I can’t speak for any other towns or villages but only as a tax paying resident of the town of Yates. I do not think that rural broadband is the highest priority to be spending money on especially with all the options that are available and the cell phone technology and capabilities.

Our town raised taxes some say 11.5 to 15.5 percent depending on who you talk to. The tax hike I was told was in part of an $84,000 gap in our A account now for about 4 years that was caused by a book keeping error and other unclear forces.

I know for a fact that our cash-strapped town and over-taxed citizenry can not give up one dime at this time. I am and will always be 100 percent against the “Incompetent politician and union rescue act.”  A Democrat bailout of the failed blue states that was not voted on by one of the House and Senate Republicans, but if some of that money is coming to the town of Yates it better darn well stay in our town, for our people, for what citizens decide to spend it on.

The problems caused to the state economy and schools were caused by the failed Governor following politicized science and the partisan teachers unions. Not Covid. Most of our country’s states are now fully open that have been properly managed, also the need for fresh blood in our county’s political system is self evident There are many offices with no challenges in Orleans County for this election cycle with career politicians sitting in them. There is still time for common sense citizens to get an independent petition and carry it yourself.

Don’t be part of the problem be part of the solution. Do your civic duty. If elected set your term limits then go back to your life. As the founders intended. April 13th is the first day to start circulating that petition. Don’t let another election cycle pass with the same tax-and-spend politicians cake walking right back in to put it to you again for 2 more years. What’s that sound you hear? People moving out of the state. Stay and fight.

Paul Lauricella

Yates

Editor:

I am compelled to write in response to Nicole Zelazny’s letter.

Ms. Zelazny regards our military as “predators” of America’s youth. Apparently she believes that we do not need a military – there are no threats to the US. We play nice – everybody plays nice, right? 9/11, Pearl Harbor, Iraq’s invasion of the oil fields and other such historical facts have been “cancelled” to better fit her naive concept of national security.

Iran is not building nuclear weapons. N. Korea does not have nukes designed to kill us. There are no folks out there that would sever an American’s head without a second thought just to create terror.

She also fails to note that we have an all-volunteer military. Is she saying that 18-year-olds can decide who to vote for, choose a college, get married and have a family, but are not smart enough to make the decision to join the military, get an education, and quite possibly a career? By 2024, 16-year-olds will most likely be voting as a result of partisan HR1. I’m thinking that proponents of this never had a 16-year-old living with them.

She then bashes those of us that believe in order to have a country, you must have a defined border. The over 7 percent covid positive people illegally (by definition) crossing our southern “border” do not have to quarantine like an American citizen returning to their own country. There is no contact tracing. No shots. No restrictions. They are allowed to just join the general public. Smart.

Four known anti-American terrorists have been stopped from entering the US in the last few months. We should have let them join the others that were NOT caught? The deepening crisis at our southern “border” is going to be a problem as long as we don’t enforce our laws. I am a strong supporter of LEGAL immigration that includes background checks. Why is it so wrong for us to know who is coming in, where they are going, and how they will support themselves?

Ms. Zelany goes on to bash the US banking industry and gives no better alternative. Have the past abject failures of other forms of government/monetary systems been canceled as well? We enjoy the most generous, giving, and open economy in the history of our planet. She seems to disdain personal wealth. Without wealth there is no charity. Without wealth there are no social programs. Again, those types of governments and monetary systems are available, just not here – yet.

I am NOT bashing public assistance recipients when I say that most people living “in poverty” in the US have flat screens, cars, and smartphones. They have a roof, warmth, and food unless they choose to live on the streets. Those are facts. Unfortunately today, people  put more emphasis on feelings than facts.

I’ve seen firsthand the difference in being personally responsible for one’s lot in life as opposed to folks that have been taken care of by “the nanny state.” It’s very unfortunate that we do have generational welfare. What motivates people to earn a living and be self dependent when all they’ve known is oppressive “welfare”?

Of course there are people in need. Am I wrong for offering a hand up instead of a hand out? She favors people who have never worked receiving the stimulus, though they have suffered no loss, and in the next breath faults me for claiming charitable contributions on my taxes. I give my time or money to causes I believe in. I resent being forced to give to causes I oppose through forced charity – AKA taxes and wasteful government programs.

She singles out Walmart and faults them for lobbyist activity – just like every industry does. Our own county uses lobbyists! She either does not realize or ignores the fact that Amazon wields its power through not only having over 2000 paid lobbyists, they use their web services to squash political discourse by denying an internet platform to those they don’t “like”. (Parler and other examples).

I might add that bloated government bureaucracy, a hallmark of the left, created the need for lobbyists in the first place. Walmart makes money. Is that wrong? I’m not sure where public assistance recipients go to find food that is not being sold for a profit other than charitable food cupboards (supported by working people). Walmart does not exert its political clout to silence conservative thought and discourse. They also employ more people than any other – except the bloated and wasteful US government. Ironic.

Ms. Zelazny apparently missed all the news about prison and criminal justice reform. Prison and jail populations are dropping rapidly just as she would like – in a fairly direct proportion to the increase in crimes of all nature.

Yes, I am old and “old fashioned.” Ms. Zelazny, you enjoy many benefits of living in this country today in large part because of the conservative beliefs and work ethic of us old folk. Enjoy them while you can, and you’re welcome.

Bob Harker

Clarendon

Editor:

I read the March 24th news story about Orleans County wanting to spend $4.2 million of stimulus funds to extend broadband throughout the county. The proposal seems to be using a fixed wireless system to serve 3,600+ homes.

I appreciate the difficulty that people without good internet service must be experiencing, however I would hope that the county would share a few more details before proceeding. What is the expected speed, monthly cost, data usage limits, and name of the company that customers will be dealing with?

Though the Spectrum expansion has been much delayed, the “New York State Broadband Expansion Address Lookup” website, www.bldlkup.com, indicates local expansion within 12 months – at least for the few Orleans County addresses that I entered. On December 6, 2016 a Hub article indicated that this expansion would cover all but 77 Orleans County households.

Additionally, SpaceX Starlink is ramping up service and is primarily targeting rural areas like ours. Their website is saying that our area is targeted for coverage in mid to late 2021 for $99/month plus equipment costs. People who have been beta testing it have reported speeds already faster than what I get from Spectrum.

It would be comforting to know that any local wireless system that we invest in will be able to successfully compete for customers in the coming years.

Lastly, please do not forget us village residents when the county identifies areas to spend stimulus funds on – we pay county taxes too.

Jason Dragon

Albion

Editor:

The controversies surrounding Governor Cuomo should give us all pause as we contemplate the impacts of one-person rule over the great people of New York State.

Since Mr. Cuomo’s initial election to the governorship in 2010, he has focused the power of government and the administrative state on a full frontal attack on local home rule. The right of home rule is enshrined as the jewel of Article 9 of the New York State Constitution and, while bestowed by the State, has remained sacrosanct since its promulgation… until Governor Cuomo’s administration.

In 2011, Governor Cuomo began his assault on home rule with the enactment of NYS Article 10 of the Public Service Law. This administrative law defined a new, streamlined wind and solar renewable energy project siting process, it preempted local permitting and approval procedures, but it left local land use restrictions intact, subject to a case-by-case consideration whether restrictions were unreasonably burdensome.

Last year, when faced with continued stiff opposition to Article 10 from rural NY towns statewide, Governor Cuomo went a step farther. The Governor included a last-minute amendment to his budget proposal called Executive Law Section 94-c, which replaces Article 10 and tries to make all local land use restrictions unreasonably burdensome. Still, rural municipalities across NY fought back against this potentially unconstitutional attack on home rule.

This year, unhappy with hundreds of feisty rural towns who insist on local control of land use and property tax assessments, Governor Cuomo is again attacking our right to decide for ourselves how best to contribute to a more sustainable future.

He is proposing, in yet another likely unconstitutional action, elimination of local control of taxation of industrial wind, solar and battery storage projects and a takeover of payments-in-lieu-of-taxes by Albany. This new attack is in the form of adding Section 575-b to the Real Property Tax Law (RPTL) as a budget maneuver.

The State’s carbon reduction goals must be met by working with rural municipalities, by giving them options for actions that respect community character and environment – not by creating renewable developer fiefdoms in small towns.

I call on the NY State Senate and Assembly to immediately rescind Executive Law 94-c, and to immediately remove the proposal in the 2022 New York State Budget Bill that adds RPTL 575-b.

IT’S OUR TOWN, Governor Cuomo, not your kingdom.

Jim Simon

Supervisor, Town of Yates

Editor:

We, the school district superintendents of Orleans County, would like to express our deep thanks and gratitude to Paul Pettit, Orleans County Public Health Director and his wonderful staff since this pandemic began in March 2020.

Our relationship with Paul began on Saturday, March 14, 2020, on a series of Saturday afternoon phone calls, wrestling with the decision of closing our schools on a long-term basis. It was far from an easy decision, but Paul’s counsel and insight provided us with the valuable information we needed to make this important decision.

Paul has been literally available around the clock to answer our calls, take our individual questions, and meet with us each and every week to offer support and guidance. Paul has been a strong advocate for opening up school safely, with a full understanding and appreciation of the value of in-person instruction for our students.

In addition to his availability, Paul and his staff have been instrumental in providing Covid-19 test kits for each school, assisting our districts in securing a license for testing, and most important, providing access to our staff for vaccines for the past 6 weeks, thereby making our schools even safer for all.

As new regulations and guidance continually appear from the state, Paul is always ready, willing, and able to provide his interpretation and support as we seek to implement these for the benefit of our school communities. These include items such as graduation guidelines, athletics, extra-curricular, social distancing, quarantines, travel information, etc!

We look forward to the day when this pandemic is behind us, but in the meantime, we continue to be eternally grateful to Paul and his staff.

Thank you.

Brian Bartalo, Holley Superintendent

Julie Christensen, Kendall Superintendent

Mickey Edwards, Albion Superintendent

Mark Kruzynski, Medina Superintendent

Jason Smith, Lyndonville Superintendent

Editor:

This evening is the final Medina Village Board meeting for Todd Bensley, who served Medina honorably in his role of trustee.

Following a powerful endorsement from my neighbor, I thoroughly enjoyed the book (available locally) that he wrote about Boxwood Cemetery. Alongside his valuable contributions to the village website in the form of detailed walking and driving tours, it is clear how fortunate we are to have Mr. Bensley as our Village Historian.

It is the hope of many of us that his decision not to seek re-election offers him time to work on another excellent book. Thank you, Todd, for your work in Medina.

Jess Marciano

Medina

Photo courtesy of John Beckingham: Garbage and out-of-place objects stick out in the empty Erie Canal.

Editor:

Every time I walk the Erie Canal path this time of year I look into the Canal and say to myself, “It sure would be nice if someone would clean the garbage out of the Canal.”

These tires, garbage cans and traffic cones will eventually turn into micro plastics, travel to the lake and then end up in our food and drinking water!

There’s really no excuse for it.

John Beckingham

Holley

Editor:

Tuesday, Christopher Krebs, President Trump’s head of US Cyber Security, broke out the champagne! He had been fired for publicly agreeing with Trump’s Attorney General William Barr’s assessment that the 2020 election results were accurate. (Old news but Wednesday the first fines on the Republican Party were imposed for frivolous litigation.)

Tuesday’s final release of that federal National Intelligence Council’s multi-year investigation “Foreign Threats to the US 2020 Federal Elections” (click here) confirmed that and more! It was finished under Trump but declassified by Biden.

“Foreign Threats…” is a breath of fresh air in a stale room. Some smart people will need to change their ways and reconsider the false information they have been fed.

The report detailed Russian, Iranian, and Chinese attempts to interfere with our country going back to 2014. The Chinese, contrary to what Republican politicians were saying, decided it was not worth the risk and focused on cyber espionage. Russia which they ignored actually has been engaged in a sophisticated operation feeding disinformation to our politicians and ultra conservative commentators the whole time.

However talking points were the tip of the iceberg according to the Feds. Spies, moles and assets with direct contact are named.

Troubling as it is only willing Russian assets will continue to feed us 1. unchecked facts, 2. arguments based on supposition and fear, and 3. Russia misinformation!

Basically we are all on notice that our airwaves are full of misinformation promulgated by venial politicians, uneducated or opportunistic commentators, and second-rate experts. For some I am sure its money and power above country. For others treason. Keep that in mind if you do not change the channel.

We should have known better than to think things had sunk this low in our beloved country.   The fundamentals have never changed. The US is still a “melting pot” and a land of good will and freedom, and a land which has a traditional press reporting both sides position in context and accurately, and a land that rejects white supremacy and race based discrimination, and a land that believes in access to the polls and the freedom to vote, and a land where with good intentioned government workers, and a land welcoming people, and a land that prospers because of science and technology, and a capitalist country where the objective is to create opportunity for all, and a land with carefully considered sophisticated and fair laws, and a land that is always trying to do all the above better.

Those that reject those basics are no better than the insurrectionists and murderers who  seized the capital Jan. 6th.

These standards were undermined by Russian propaganda. The declassified report shows the extent of the lies.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Joe Sidonio has been raising concerns about the Town of Murray water loss long before he became the Town Supervisor. He said 40 to 60 percent of water in town hasn’t been billed since January 2018. That cost Murray water customers tens of thousands of dollars a year in water we paid for but didn’t use.

If Joe hadn’t been elected this would never have been addressed. After reading “Murray votes to refinance water district debt,” I’m grateful for Joe’s efforts saving us $631,000 in interest payments.

After watching the YouTube video of a town meeting, I wish that some of the town employees would develop a better working relationship with Joe and realize they work for the town’s people. The goal should be to work together to reduce our tax burden, not create a toxic work environment.

Also, as stated on the Murray website’s February 2021 Supervisor’s Corner, the town board voted against health care reforms they agreed to during the budgeting process. “By far the most significant development in February was the repeal by the town board of the 2021 health care reforms which had been worked on so hard last year. The projected savings and health care policy agreed to during the budgeting process were in exchange for the across the board, expected pay raises. This reversal results in a 23.7% increase in health care costs from 2020. (Motion by Bower, Second by Hendel, Town Board Yes, Supervisor. No.”)

Joe goes on to state, “In Murray our healthcare priorities are 2-fold: – Our top priority is to provide the best health care for our employees and officials. – Our next priority is to balance the best health care coverage with our ability to pay for it now and into the future.”

Here’s another example of Joe working to save the taxpayers money while being fair to everyone.

As a veteran on fixed income, I appreciate your hard work, Joe.

Jim Johnson

Murray