Editor:

Election Day is upon us again. As a resident of the Town of Murray, I feel obligated to vote for the best candidate for Highway Superintendent.

I have read the social media posts and have seen the signs. “Experience” seems to be the campaign issue in this election. Experience is always important when you elect your public officials.

The ability to lead and inspire your employees is just as important. Over the past 20-plus years I have had the pleasure to witness a true leader, a family man committed to his church, wife, children and his community.

I have had the pleasure to work side by side with James DeFilipps in the fire service. He served as a firefighter EMT and was committed to fellow firefighters. He became a fire truck driver, driving each and every truck. Jimmy took a leadership role with the Explorers program, inspiring teens to become firefighters, many of whom are now in leadership roles in our community.

James saw an opportunity to again serve his community as a police officer. He served the Village of Holley Police Department and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department for over 20 years. He has been a fair and  compassionate deputy.

James was called on to do something no deputy should have to do. He did his duty and saved the lives of his fellow deputies and was able to return home to his wife and kids. James came thru this unimaginable incident and is now even stronger.

Jimmy now serves his community and department as a Marine Patrol Deputy. He teaches new boaters the NYS Boater Safety Course and is responsible for supervising 13 deputies. In addition to being a deputy, James also served as a Village of Holley Board Trustee and a Fire Commissioner, where he was tasked to assist in the writing of grants and worked on yearly budgets.

Jimmy has taken every challenge thrown at him and my hope is that the Town of Murray Highway Superintendent will be his next challenge.

Experience, compassion, integrity and leadership is what the Town of Murray needs on November 3rd. I will be voting for James DeFilipps for Town of Murray Highway Superintendent.

Eric Brett

Holley

Editor:

I fully support Nadine Hanlon for Orleans County Clerk. Nadine has a proven track record of serving the people of Orleans County, from her time as Kendall Town Clerk to her current position for County Legislature Clerk.

During her 25 years go experience, Nadine has provided exceptional administrative guidance at both the local and county level. She has demonstrated a great integrity and resolve in her duties.

Her commitment to the citizens of Orleans County goes beyond the Legislature. Since I was elected to the State Senate, Nadine has been my representative on the board of directors for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

She also has shown great leadership skills on the Kendall Board of Education, where she served as president for seven years. Under her watch, she was involved in overseeing two major phases of capital projects, all while ensuring a quality education for the students and watching out for the taxpayers.

Nadine has gone above and beyond in the various positions she has held and will bring those skills she’s demonstrated to the Orleans County Clerk’s Office. When elected, she will continue to serve the people of Orleans County with great dedication and integrity. That is why I am very proud to endorse Nadine Hanlon for County Clerk.

Robert Ortt

North Tonawanda

State Senate Republican Leader

Editor:

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and the press—freedom of expression. Signs have been an important part of such freedom of expression since The American Revolution. That was the one that first rid us of our subservience to King George.

The Ninth Amendment to our Constitution guarantees other unnamed freedoms. Could Amendment Nine have envisioned the freedom to exhibit signs expressing our political preferences even though these were not specifically mentioned in Amendment One?

Would a handful of our fellow citizens deny our right to express such political choices on our own property?

As an aside, let me point out that the politics so many people profess to hate comes with a republican form of government, like it or not. Alexei Navalny almost died of Novichok poisoning as he pursued such a form of government in Russia.

It has been my privilege to have had a hand in putting up about 70 signs supporting the Biden-Harris ticket in Orleans County. Unfortunately, about 10 of those were replacements for others which the property owners charitably, or naively, judged must have “blown away”.  Well, guess what? The wires do not “blow away”, but in each case they went somewhere.

Whether signs that “blow away” are those supporting the incumbents or the challengers, it is flat out wrong for them to be helped to “blow away” by human hands whose owners do not respect the freedoms protected by the Constitution we profess to value.

This is how it begins, and Putin loves it.

Perplexed,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

Dirk Lammes is on the ballot for the Highway Superintendent position along with a candidate that has no experience in the highway department.

Dirk is the right person for this position. He has years of experience with highway-related projects. He cares about how he performs and completes jobs. He is ready to step into the position for a smooth transition of Highway Superintendent.

If you had the opportunity to interview these two gentlemen running for the highway superintendent position as I have, you would agree Dirk Lammes is the right person for this position. The Republican Committee endorses Dirk Lammes.

The Town of Murray residents need to stop the nepotism within our town now with this election.

Kellie Gregoire

Murray

Editor:

I believe that the majority of those reading this are honest, decent and compassionate; that this majority respects family, the military and government institutions and is financially responsible.

Yet, this majority seems to enthusiastically embrace Donald Trump, who is none of those things. The reasons I most often hear for this support are that he is better than the alternative, and that Biden is a socialist. Beyond that, there are those who love Trump no matter what, and seem remarkably forgiving of, or just blind to, his many faults and poor decisions.

That blindness is dangerous. Our democracy depends on our will to keep an open mind and seek out the facts, and then, with eyes and minds wide open, draw our own conclusions based on those facts.

I believe the first step in this task is to stop watching CNN and Fox News. They provide a 24 hour a daily flow of opinions with a few carefully chosen facts sprinkled in. It is degrading to blindly adopt others’ opinions. What relevance does the opinion of some corporate, infotainment pundit have to anyone? It isn’t difficult to find a better source of news than opinion shows.

Next we have to be willing to remove the labels we attach to ourselves (e.g. liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, etc.) and think things through free of these forms, with honesty and integrity. Then, your opinion, which you worked and struggled for, will be of greater validity and value. Still, never become too comfortable with your opinion. Periodically stop, think and review it all over again. This is the antidote to media manipulation and voter gullibility.

This is a difficult process. In my struggle, I had to think without my own labels. I identified with the traditional values of what used to be conservatism and the Republican Party. I proudly served as a Republican office holder as Orleans County District Attorney and County Judge for 33 years.

It was with great sadness that I came to the realization that I could no longer support the party at the federal level and that I could not vote for Donald Trump. I knew this in 2016, and I hoped that things would change. They did. They got much worse.

I have not given up hope in the party and I am still a Republican. However, looking as best I can at the actual facts, I will never vote for Donald Trump. The choice is clear to me. No credible facts support the conclusion that Joe Biden is a socialist. He will not turn our country into an oppressive politically correct state and he will not spend us to death (any more than Trump has).

He would not be my first choice if Republicans were able to nominate a decent candidate like John Kasich or Jeb Bush. Having nominated a person lacking in  decency, intelligence and character, the Republicans leave me no choice. Thus, I will vote for Joe Biden.

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were rejected by their own party because they were a part of the far left. Biden is not. He is a moderate. People may dismiss him as “middle of the road”. Is this really a bad thing? The trend now is to embrace the extreme right or left. This is a terrible departure from what has made our country among the most successful in the world.

Historically, extremist regimes, both right and left, live a short, tortured existence followed by an agonizing death. I have faith that a vigorous democracy will never suffer that fate. Each voter’s intellectual integrity ensures that vigor. Finding that integrity is the most important duty of every American citizen.

James Punch

Medina

Editor:

If you’re considering voting for Donald Trump or Joe Biden and you live in New York State, you’re wasting your time.

That’s right, to vote for Trump or Biden in New York State is to throw your vote away. Trump has zero chance of winning New York’s electoral votes; New York City will ensure Joe Biden wins this state. Biden does not need your vote. Your vote has literally zero impact on the 2020 Presidential Election!

Or does it? There is another candidate in the race: Libertarian Jo Jorgensen. A vote for Jorgensen is not a wasted vote. A vote for Jorgensen is a vote towards the 5 percent of the popular vote she needs to secure federal recognition of the Libertarian Party as an official party.

A vote for Jorgensen also goes toward the 150,000 votes she needs to preserve the Libertarian Party of New York’s official status and ballot access. The ballot access threshold has been sharply increased this year, endangering the ballot access of third parties.

Active third parties force the Democrats and Republicans to be better parties. The Libertarian Party is America’s largest and strongest third party. It is the best-poised of all third-parties to break through the two-party duopoly establishment and emerge as America’s next major party.

Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, you probably believe your party has room for improvement. The Libertarian Party can help your party improve! A Libertarian Party of New York with ballot access can continue to help your local party become a better party, one that aligns more with your beliefs and your values.

Make your vote count this election. Force your party to be better.

Vote for Libertarian Jo Jorgensen.

Chase Tkach

Carlton

Chairperson of the Libertarian Party of Orleans County

Editor:

With the election a stone’s throw away, I would like to recommend the Conservative Party-endorsed candidates for your consideration.

What a great job Diane Shampine has done as our County Clerk over the last year. Why on earth would we remove her from this smooth, efficient running agency and replace her with someone who has many other obligations to committees, boards and outside activities that full devotion and attention to a complicated job like the County Clerk may be in doubt? Diane has one job and one devotion: to give the residents of Orleans County the best run, efficient, fiscally responsible County Clerk’s Office of any county.

For County Coroner there is no one better than Rocco Sidari. I won’t get long winded here because he has no challengers but he possesses the qualities, empathy and personality along with much experience to do this job.

For Murray Highway Superintendent the highly qualified Dirk Lammes is the best choice. This job requires lifetime knowledge and experience. For instance and no disrespect to his opponent, but if there is a water main burst at 3 a.m. or anytime? Who would you call to repair it? The Sheriff’s Department or the guy that other large municipalities call with confidence? Who would you trust to drive a 20-plus ton, quarter million dollar plow truck in the middle of the night in blinding white outs? The guy who has done it all his life or the guy that is working on getting his CDL license?

Dirk knows how to be the superintendent of water and is licensed. His opponent would have to learn and get licensed. Dirk knows heavy equipment. He knows how to repair it and he will be a working superintendent. Not a figure head collecting a check being trained by the deputy superintendent. The taxpayers deserve to get their money’s worth and have a guy that can hit the road running especially in the most dangerous time of the year, winter, when roads must be plowed and maintained properly.

Many of us see Supreme Court Justice Candidates and really don’t know much about them at voting time. I recommend and endorse Gerald S. Greenan. He will interpret the constitution as written. He will uphold the laws of the land. He will not legislate from the bench and is a friend of the Second Amendment. He is a conservative judge.

For NY 27 Congress Chris Jacobs is the only choice. The alternative is a radical leftist named Nate McMurray. He will be a lapdog to Nancy Pelosi. An admirer of the squad – AOC, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley. All who hate this country and condone and justify the left’s violence in the streets.

McMurray is a Bernie Sanders’ supporter and is to the left of radical congressman Brian Higgins. If elected McMurray would oversee the destruction of this country with great enthusiasm. Please save the seat and our district by voting for Chris Jacobs.

For President with unanimous endorsement from the Conservative Party: Donald John Trump. One of the greatest presidents to hold office, he has done and accomplished more in 4 years than his last two predecessors. He is the John Wayne of our times and our country needs him now more than ever. The radical left will burn this country to the ground if the Trojan Horse Joe Biden is elected. All tradition, history and the constitution will be eliminated. They will pack the Supreme Court. Get rid of the Electoral College and eliminate the Senate filibuster. Biden would be removed from office because of dementia and one of the most unlikable, radical , San Francisco communists will be president: Kamala Harris.

She condones and believes that left’s violence is justified and should continue even after the election. She will hand this country over to the leftist anarchists and fill her cabinet with those who hate our country. She will be far worse than Obama. Besides Obama-Biden, Biden-Harris is one of the most crooked tickets in US history. If you love your God, freedom, and your country, please save us and vote Trump for President.

Conservative Republicans send a clear message and vote Row C on the Conservative line. That you are all these pros – life, America first, Second Amendment, strict constructionist judges, nuclear family, morality, law and order, liberty, legal immigration, English language, borders, culture, constitution as written, rugged individualism, self reliance, tradition, love of country and allegiance to our flag.

Get out and vote in person. The lunatic leftists and the Democrats will be cheating every step of the way to steal this election. Vote.

Thank you for your time.

Paul Lauricella

Orleans County Conservative Party Chairman

Editor:

I recently enjoyed reading Pulitzer Prize winning author and acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Leadership In Turbulent Times”.

In this very timely and scholarly account, Ms. Goodwin chronicles the lives and presidencies of four of America’s greatest leaders: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon Baines Johnson. She writes that their success as leaders was due to their ability to be guided by the greater good as well as possessing an uncanny political talent for bringing about consensus for a cause that was otherwise contentious.

Most would agree that while leadership may be difficult to define, it is most certainly a driving force that embodies a deep sense of humanity which is critical in bringing about civility, compassion and purpose to a nation.

Ms. Goodwin writes that leadership is found in a family of traits and patterns of behavior. Among them she cites humility, empathy, resilience, courage, respect for diverse opinions, control of negative impulses, the ability to connect with all manner of people and a commitment to keep one’s word.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ms. Goodwin’s book, I must admit in all honesty that it was very depressing to realize that for all of the greatness that was once one of the hallmarks of our democratic republic – the Presidency, we are now suffering as a nation as hundreds of thousands are dying an agonizing death. The streets are ablaze with hatred and racial and ethnic hostility, and we have become a worldwide embarrassment due to our leader’s incompetency and delusions of supremacy.

Lincoln was eulogized by Ralph Waldo Emerson for his merciful, humble and patient leadership during the darkest days of the Civil War. In contrast, our President lacks any of these traits and is a racist bully and psychopathic liar.

FDR led our nation through the trials and tribulations of the Great Depression and World War II and we are now led by a fascist who has left us without an international ally (except Putin) and for some reason totally ignores an out-of-control $27 trillion national debt.

LBJ’s Civil Rights Act (1964) was the tangible cornerstone of his vision to bring about a truly American Great Society. Our current leader is a homophobic and misogynistic buffoon whose vision of greatness is defined by how well the stock market is treating his billionaire golfing minions.

Ms. Goodwin offers that… “Leadership is a mirror in which the people see their collective reflection.”

Very sadly as we see ourselves, and the world observes this same “reflection,” current American leadership at the highest level has descended to a disgraceful low and unapologetically dishonors the legacies of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon Baines Johnson.

RBG ut vos RIP.

Doug Miller

Albion

Editor:

I just read Dirk Lammes post stating he’s running for the Town of Murray Highway Superintendent position in the General Election on November 3rd.

His opponent, Jim DeFilipps, is an honored Orleans County deputy sheriff. He is an exemplary law enforcement official and by my own personal experience a good person.

While I know and respect both of these men my vote will be for Dirk Lammes because he is the most experienced and best qualified for this position. If there was an emergency or  a water main bursts at 2 am. and you were without water, who would you want on the job?

Dirk has the experience to step into this job and we’re fortunate to have a person with his level of experience running for this position.  This shouldn’t be turned into a popularity contest.

Jim Johnson

Murray

Editor:

My name is Dirk Lammes. I’m running for the Town of Murray Highway Superintendent position in the General Election on November 3rd.

Over the past few years, I’ve been asked to consider the position and after much encouragement I accepted the endorsement of both the Republican and Conservative Parties. Humbled to be selected as their nominee, I pause to comprehend the importance of community service and the responsibilities of the position.

I have happily lived in Holley for 26 years with my wife Kathy, raising our two sons and building my business. My Dad, a union equipment operator and my hero, taught me how to operate heavy equipment while sitting on his lap.

During my school years I spent every summer break working with him and the guys doing whatever was necessary and loving every minute of it. I tapped my first water main at age 12 and became an entrepreneur while still in high school then incorporating Lammes Construction in 1995.

Municipal work requires operating within a budget. As a professional in my field, experience has taught me to do the work right the first time to minimize spending. I’ve run my business from top to bottom – bidding, payroll, insurance, staffing, trucking and excavating.

I’ve run road jobs from start to finish – paving, curbing, catch basins and sidewalks. Placed water mains, sewer mains and performed emergency repairs to both and even installed a booster pump station and master meter station right here in Murray. I plow, salt and remove snow when necessary.

My construction experience is vast. I’ve developed excellent working relationships with several area municipalities with whom I’ve worked for many years. I am confident that I can hit the ground running meeting every challenge the highway department will face. I look forward to working with the veteran staff as well as the next generation of highway crews.

I plan to continue coaching youth baseball at the Holley High School as I have for many years.  Helping kids develop baseball skills parallels the development of life skills. It’s been a real pleasure of mine to participate in youth development, sportsmanship and love of the game.

I’d appreciate your vote on November 3rd.

Dirk Lammes

Murray

Editor:

You can. Admitting you are wrong is tough, but you can. Several of my republican friends have.  Just say, “I can” and do it.

After all, you are an American before you are a republican, just as I am an American before I am a democrat.

I know many quite well informed, intelligent people who cannot bring themselves to admit they are wrong to have supported what may be the world’s slickest con man.  “I can” theoretically learn from my mistakes. As ostensibly rational human beings, we all can.

Allow me to remind your readers that Russia’s Putin wants our widely revered President to be re-elected for a reason. That reason should be apparent when you see our President undermine confidence in our institutions of government and our very elections. When words give encouragement to domestic terrorists who are emboldened enough by them to plot the kidnapping of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, it should begin to be obvious what that reason is.

Such radical domestic terrorists were thwarted by the FBI and our intelligence services the President has—unwittingly, or no—spent time undermining public confidence in, though they are important parts of our government.

These terrorists reportedly want what one prominent Orleans County businessperson told me that he/she would welcome—another Civil War!

Wake up, those who love your country, before the republic you love is lost to chaos and those who put themselves above the law. Learning from history should come before imitating it.

Alarmedly yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

As a parent of 3 children in the Albion School District, I find it disheartening the way these children are being forced to learn. The struggle for the parents and students has increased the anxiety and depression levels, not only for the students but the parents that are trying to “teach” our children.

As mentioned, I have 3 children, each one is in a different school (2nd, 7th & 10th grade), and I find my 7th grader having many of the struggles between the three of them. Last year my child was on the high honor roll, and this year he is barely passing.

Now, I do understand that the older these children get, the harder the material gets. However, this is not the case. Most of the material the first 2-3 weeks was review from the amount of school they missed last year. Again, coming from 6th grade on the high honor roll, there’s no excuse for him to be struggling. I’ve found that his struggles come from the lack of structure. These children (all children) need structure and unfortunately, New York State has deeply failed them.

Now let’s talk about my 2nd grader. He’s a typical 7-year-old boy. His attention span can become non-existent in the drop of a hat. The best way to describe his parents teaching him is “like nailing Jell-O to the wall.”

Putting him or any other elementary student in front of a Chromebook on Schoology (which is an absolute horrid platform when it works) for hours on end is ridiculous. What do you think these children are obtaining from staring at a screen? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I find myself feeling like a failure as a “teacher” and a parent. Why? Because or routine is frequently interrupted due to the high volume of students on Schoology at the same time. When we had Google Classroom while in quarantine, we very rarely had any issues. Though, I am grateful that the school has provided the built in MiFi, that also is a nightmare to work most days.

The bottom line is, our children need structure. They need school 5 days a week. They need regular teachers teaching them full time. They need their old routine back. I do understand that parents are nervous about the spread of Covid-19 and their children contracting it, but cold and flu season is also upon us.

Do we, or have we, deprived our children from a solid learning environment during cold and flu season? No. We have not. Five to 20 percent of New Yorkers will contract the cold or flu virus as 2.42% of New Yorkers to date have contracted Covid-19.

New York needs to open the schools back up. These children need to learn full time from educators in person, and not their parents/grown-ups that struggle just as much as they do. We as parents are not equipped to “teach”. That is why we pay school taxes, for educators to teach our child.

As a full-time working mom, and having to “teach” my children, I find it nothing less than a struggle. New York needs to get it together and give these children a chance to learn adequately.

Marene Donnelly

Albion

Editor:

Bullard Park on Route 31 in Albion has been closed since the beginning of the Covid pandemic crisis.

That means the amphitheater that many people worked very hard to raise the monies needed to build it cannot be used, nor could the water park, something that would have been a welcome relief for families in the warm summer months but was the entire season just sitting there with no one to enjoy it.

At the same time all the other parks opened up but sadly Bullard did not. If it is the water park that is causing concern and delaying of the opening of the park then put a fence around it.

Bullard is a very large park. It is beautiful place for being outdoors, which right now is very important when we are trying to social distance and trying to get some exercise and fresh air.  Not everyone has a space to get out and enjoy nature.

Lori Laine

Kent

Editor:

Remote learning is not effective and is detrimental to our youth. The children have been putting in more hours and learning far less.

The frustration level is at an all-time high and there are many tears flowing because of it. According to the NYS COVID-19 reopening plan, schools can open as long as they “ensure that social distancing (of at least 6 ft. or a physical barrier) is maintained between individuals while in school facilities and on school grounds, including in the cafeteria, unless safety or the core

activity (e.g. moving equipment, using an elevator, traveling in common areas) requires a shorter distance or individuals are of the same household.

“If social distancing is not possible, individuals must wear acceptable face coverings; excluding students who are unable to medically tolerate a face covering.”

I want the schools to open 5 days a week and follow the state guidelines. It’s time that the Albion Central School District started to put our children’s education at the forefront.

Click here for the link to the change.org petition to have Albion Central School open for in school instruction five days per week.

Ryan Woolston

Carlton

Editor:

Once again the local left places blame on national Republicans and ignores any responsibility on NYS Democrats.

On October 8, Mr. Joseph Gehl wrote to try to compare the President of the United States to Hitler. I don’t know where he came up with such trash. The party of “diversity and inclusion” is anything but.

I recently asked a writer 3 times the following question and never got a reply – just personal attacks and insults. Let me try again with Mr. Gehl. Mr. Gehl, why is it that Governor Andrew Cuomo is above reproach?

Why is it that NY’s deaths are double that of other states – even California? Of course it couldn’t be because “King Andy” forced nursing homes to accept Covid patients resulting in thousands of lives lost.

Who in NY has been “given full law-making and financial powers and anyone who was suspected of opposing him was shot or jailed by the Gestapo”? As a “Bible-thumping, gun-toting conservative,” Mr. Cuomo has said I do not belong in his state. What is next? What is his intention after he tries to take our weapons?

No reasonable person could argue that Cuomo does not have this state under his thumb. He completely controls the most dysfunctional state government in our nation’s history. (Yep, we beat out California on that one too).

We suffer from the highest tax burdens, We have the greatest over regulation. Cuomo’s power means that he controls what businesses can open, and which ones must remain closed. He controls where we can go and where we cannot for fear of quarantine – a list of states that seem to change daily. The list of what he now controls in our personal and professional lives is lengthy and continues to grow to the point that our freedom is very questionable.

And no, I will not be taking his personally approved vaccination. He implies that because Trump is President that any vaccine coming from the federal government is not to be trusted, and I should trust him instead.

The 6,661 nursing home patients who died had no choice but to trust him. And to be clear –  that order was 100% state government’s (spelled A.N.D.Y.’S). A state directive sent thousands of Covid-19 patients into nursing homes, but the Cuomo administration has given other reasons for the virus’s spread.

You know, those leftist “leaders” that never make mistakes. The NY Times recently published an article based on a report by the NYSDOH stating the inordinate amount of deaths in NY nursing was not government decisions (of course). It instead blames 37,500 nursing home workers.

Even the leftist NY Times adds that NY’s numbers are actually much higher because it does not include nursing home patients that contracted the virus, were transferred to hospitals and subsequently died there.

Mr. Gehl, if there were a realistic comparison to be made of current government officials to the Hitler gestapo, these nursing homes would be Cuomo’s gas chambers, would they not?

Bob Harker

Clarendon