Editor:

Now that winter is fully upon us, it is important to be reminded of a few things in regards to snow removal and winter driving:

1.) During and after snow events, highway agencies, in the course of plowing, receive phone calls regarding damage to mailboxes, either from snowplows directly or from the force of snow being thrown by plows.

If such damage is indeed caused by snow removal, it is not done intentionally. It is, however, an unfortunate consequence of snow removal. As far as the particular agencies replacing damaged mailboxes, it must be pointed out that there is no statutory or legal authority requiring them to do so. In fact, under Section 319 of the New York State Highway Law, mailboxes are considered highway obstructions and are only “allowed” in the right-of-way as a convenience to the owner as it is understood they are required for mail delivery.

Additionally, an opinion issued by the Attorney General on February 28, 1966 stated, “When the necessity of keeping the highway open conflicts with an individual’s reception of the mail, the later must stand aside.”

Highway crews do their best to avoid mailboxes, but often times visibility, oncoming traffic and heavy snow work against them. The best method to protect your mailbox during the winter months is to ensure it is properly attached to the post and to keep the mailbox assembly simple to limit impact surface area for plowed snow.

2.) Over the last few years, the practice of plowing or depositing snow from private driveways or private property onto the highway has increased significantly, especially after roadways are cleared and snow has been pushed back behind the shoulders by highway agencies.  This is a dangerous practice and it is strictly prohibited under Section 1219 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law and Section 214 of the New York State Highway Law.

Depositing snow or ice onto the roadway or shoulder may result in a serious accident and the person or persons responsible may be liable to a fine of $1,000 per day, per occurrence for each day the occurrence remains uncorrected. Police agencies and highway agencies will usually issue written warnings prior to issuing tickets.

3.) “Slick Roads Cause Accident” is often a frequent newspaper headline during in the winter months. The truth is that slick roads may contribute to an accident but they are not the sole cause of accidents. Accidents are generally caused by drivers who fail to drive appropriately for winter conditions. Sections 1180(a) and 1180(e) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law state, “No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.”

Accepted safe winter driving practices include, but are not limited to, slower driving, increased braking distance, and increased vehicle separation. Following these guidelines will significantly reduce your chances of being involved in an accident on slick roads.

4.) Highway agencies spend a considerable amount of tax money to ensure the roads are cleared in an efficient manner after snow and ice events.  Snow removal efforts do not guarantee bare or dry roads.  The cost to provide these conditions would far outstrip what most tax payers would be willing to pay.

Even when bare roads can be obtained, weather conditions such as wind and rapidly dropping temperatures can alter highway conditions dramatically from one area to the next.  The best course of action for anyone traveling during the winter months is to adjust your driving to meet the conditions present.

5.) Highway agencies have contingency plans in place to handle employee illness and quarantine due to Covid-19, however, if the virus becomes more widespread than current conditions, there is a significant likelihood that plowing capability will be impacted. This may result in fewer plows on the road and as a result longer routes and longer cycle times. Please be patient. Roads will be plowed, but levels of service may vary from previous years.

Please drive safe, be patient and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Timothy J. Hens, PE

Genesee County Superintendent of Highways

Genesee County Town Highway Superintendents Association

Todd M. Gadd, PE

Wyoming County Superintendent of Highways

Wyoming County Town Highway Superintendents Association

John M. Papponetti, PE

Orleans County Commissioner of Public Works

Orleans County Town Highway Superintendents Association

Editor:

Make no mistake. Retired American History teacher, Doug Miller, is right on point. The current President is a threat to the Republic. The parallels between his actions, attacks, lies and rhetoric and those of Goebbels, Hitler and the rest of the Nazis are unmistakable.

The person who won the electoral college vote while losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes in 2016 is a real threat to our Constitutional democracy.

We should all be thankful in my view that even the members of the judicial branch appointed by our wannabe dictator have had the wisdom lacking in most of the Republicans in Congress and rejected his goofy lawsuits aimed at overturning the results of our recent presidential election.

Many good Americans have fallen for this President’s con. A few have had the courage to admit they were wrong. How long it will take the rest is anyone’s guess.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent

Albion

Editor:

Livingston County News reported that Congressman Chris Jacobs hasn’t acknowledged Joe Biden’s victory (LCN 12/3/20). If Mr. Jacobs is concerned about security of our elections he should work with Democrats to strengthen our voting security.

Democrats have passed three bills, with bipartisan support, that improve voting security but have not been given a hearing in Senate. Mr. Jacobs, as a representative, needs to impress upon Senators within his own party how important it is to secure our national elections.

Instead of solving a problem, Mr. Jacobs casts aspersions and blame. The same is true of Covid-19 relief. Small businesses are closed to prevent the spread of the virus and need federal money during this difficult time.

While Democrats in the House have passed legislation to address the issues, Republicans have only begrudgingly begun to talk about the issue. Press releases that Mr. Jacobs has issued feign concern while citizens of the district suffer. Many people in the district could go hungry, become homeless or face other hardships.

Mr. Jacobs wasn’t worried about adding billions to the national debt in 2017 when he and his family businesses took a large tax break without adding to the economy (NPR 12/20/19, and Business Insider 12/22/19). Supporting Main Street businesses will boost our economy.

Mr. Jacobs, be a leader, call on your party’s Senators to push for voting security and monies for small businesses and stop feigning concerns for issues if you are not going to do something about them other than blame someone else.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Please consider this brief summary of the basic principles of fascist Nazism which ascended in Germany preceding WWII and very sadly appears to bear a contemporary relevance in the United States today.

DER MASTERPLAN

Blind obedience to The Party based upon the fear of reprisal and abandonment by the leader and his servile minions.

Propagation of nativist xenophobia which is embraced by the emerging generation who are vulnerable, naïve and under-educated.

Reliance on both the threat and reality of a “folk” militia which lacks moral, ethical or constitutional authority.

Identified as enemies of the state, racial and ethnic minorities are to suffer the most severe atrocities as the “undesirables” of society. They are to be victimized as scapegoats for all national failures.

In order to vilify these groups, construct walls which are social, physical and psychological; isolate, consolidate and dehumanize.

Abusively disparage easily identifiable ethnic and racial groups as “nichtmitglieder”.

Popularize racism as a unifying force for the formation of a new aristocracy based upon illusory superiority.

Reject democratic ideals and flagrantly violate constitutional mandates and reject all political, historic and cultural norms.

Promotion of jingoism as means of amassing political supporters based upon an induced paranoia and a fictionalized reality.

Abrogation of international alliances which is intentionally designed to intimidate, isolate and fracture international enemies and allies.

Violate and discredit previously authorized international agreements and disregard long held historic and diplomatic precedents and practices.

Suppression and repudiation of contrary views to the extent that credible news sources are labeled as felonious and treasonous. Free speech is the enemy of the State.

Use of large public rallies that are dominated by falsehoods which are consistently repeated without validation or authentication.

Consistent use of stereotypical phrases which are easily popularized via the State controlled media and a contrived narrative of falsehoods. Simplify, lie and repeat.

Continuously criticize all opponents, never ever acknowledge failure.

GENERALPLAN OST – Der Masterplan of Himmler, Goring, Goebbels, and Hitler (January 30, 1933 – May 8,1945)

TOTALE AUTOKRATISCHE KONTROLLE, Der Masterplan of Trump June 16, 2015 – present.

Doug Miller

Albion

Editor:

Many here have recently diagnosed one another with one political ailment or another ranging from “Democrat/Progressive Mental Disease” to “Delusional Trump Syndrome”.  And now (when we thought things couldn’t possibly get more absurd) increasing evidence of conservative “E-double-D” (Electile Denial Dysfunction) seems rampant.

It appears some people out in Orleans County have their masks strapped on a little too tight. Let’s talk serious illness.

Sick: AIDS. Since the very beginning of this epidemic 40 years ago, nearly 700,000 people with AIDS in the United States have died. Still, after spending billions upon billions of dollars and despite the collective efforts of the greatest scientific minds on Earth, there remains no vaccine. Today approximately 13,000 people with AIDS in the United States die each year joining over 32 million already dead world-wide.  Have we learned nothing?

Sicker: Covid-19. As of this writing, nearly 300,000 Americans have died of Coronavirus since this newest biological threat has been first identified. It has taken less than 10 months. In just this past week alone there have been more than 1.2 million new cases of Covid-19 in the U.S. with over a week to go until the first official day of winter. Pretty impressive for a hoax don’t you think?

Sickening: Our President. Since losing the election Donald Trump (in nothing more than a middle school sore-loser-hissy-fit) has responded to this public health emergency how? By blowing off a critical G20 meeting on Covid vaccine preparedness in order to play golf!

Followed by yet another manic tweet rant to Republican state officials in an attempt to formulate yet another corrupt conspiracy. The hope was to convince party weaklings to collectively violate their oaths by coercing existing or even changing state electors to those who would favor overturning our, yes OUR, democratic election.

Wait – I thought Donald Trump was the first to whine that election rigging is “not cool and so unfair”? How unfortunate that Chris Collins (an expert in election manipulation himself) couldn’t be available to help out due to an ongoing “previous engagement”.

It was little more than two months ago when Trump publicly stated in conservative media: “I was in pretty bad shape” following his own diagnosis with the disease. Think about that. This guy not only knows better, he knows better up close and personal.

The most guarded human being on the planet couldn’t even protect himself and negligently risked exposure to his own family and others. Now think about this: astonishingly, Trump hasn’t even met with his own Covid-19 Task Force in nearly six months! I mean, what the lame-duck is up with that?

Sickest of all: Us. What if this had been something really scary?

Like Ebola, Marburg virus or even a completely new lethal pathogen that kills in hours or days instead of weeks? Something where we wouldn’t have time to bury the dead let alone whine about toilet paper or argue about wearing masks?

The fact that there will soon be a vaccine when nearly half the country still thinks our elected leaders have properly done their jobs means simply one thing: that we have dodged a bullet.  This time.

Meanwhile, this butcher’s bill rises exponentially and out of control with barely a whimper from Republicans elected to serve their constituents.

Tom Graham – Albion High School ’78

Rochester

Editor:

Seventy-nine years ago, America was attacked by Imperial Japanese forces. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was the day that officially forced the hand of the United States into the conflict that would come to be known as World War II.

That day saw much tragedy, as did the months and years of conflict following it, which is why we remember it now. Being so far removed from the attack, it can be challenging for current generations to reflect on why exactly this day is so important.

In a time when global war was once again on the rise, and recognizing America’s strength and influence, our enemies had coordinated an attempt to prevent us from pushing back against their own plans of expansion and domination. And in a time when the world was truly just beginning to open itself up, to globalize in the political, social, and economic sense that we know it today, many world powers were making their claim for dominion wherever they could.

Reflecting on the Attack on Pearl Harbor today can bring up many diverse and confusing feelings, especially with where the country is today. Despite the clear, distinct, and harsh rivalry America and Japan had as a result of this attack, today, we remain some of the strongest allies to each other.

Despite America’s commitment to the freedom and prosperity of its citizens, there was a period following this attack that many American citizens of Japanese descent saw their freedoms stripped for the sake of aggressive security measures, such as with the case of Fred Korematsu. Tensions rose within the country as a result, leading to a lot of social strife, which was only exacerbated with America’s entry into the war and joining the fight on the Western Front.

This is a day of remembrance: for what followed, absolutely, but also in recognition of the brave heroes who fought in the face of true adversity, in the face of a complete surprise, in the face of losing everything in an instant. Wartime tactics like these aren’t seen often, and aren’t publicized the way Pearl Harbor was; and to know that there were still soldiers, sailors, airmen, nurses and civilians fighting through those wee hours in the morning to get to another day, to save their fellow American, and to push back against aggression, is something worth remembering.

In the aftermath, 15 Medals of Honor were given. 51 Navy Crosses. 53 Silver Stars. Four Navy and Marine Corps Medals. One Distinguished Flying Cross. Four Distinguished Service Crosses. One Distinguished Service Medal. Three Bronze Star Medals. And following the attack, the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal was given to all veterans of the attack. These tokens of recognition serve as but a small way to show to America, and indeed to the rest of the world, the courage, bravery, and sacrifice those men and women gave all those years ago. Because that’s what we think about when we remember Pearl Harbor.

Steve Hawley

Batavia

Assemblyman Hawley represents the 139th District, which consists of Genesee, Orleans and parts of Monroe County.

Editor:

Ed Urbanik wrote there will be fewer letters from people with “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” I was surprised he may be writing less as I thought it would take time for normalcy, consistent and considered policy, and good will in politics to bounce back. But November was big! Bigger than I thought.

First, Trump’s Courts 37 times reaffirmed what the 2017 Trump Voter Fraud Commission found – our election officials run clean elections.

Also people were certainly upset that he made yet another concession to his pal Putin when he pulled out of the decades old, Open Skies Treaty. It permitted us to monitor Russian military and nuclear activities from the sky. To deal with the fact he, Donald, did it without required Congressional approval, he simply ordered the destruction of all the West’s (our) specially outfitted spy planes.

Then when all of us are hurting still, his Treasury Department tied up .5 trillion in stimulus money. It was earmarked by law until 2016 to let the Fed prop the economy up – money the Fed says it needs immediately.

And I suspect he gave Putin another gift  when he closed down the Agency in charge of hunting down terrorists. It was specifically tasked to root out and eliminate ISIS.

And, it would make me mad if I contributed, to find out that no gift less than $8,000 goes into his bogus “recount fund.” About $200 million is going to the RNC and to a Trump “leadership” PAC.

Today, China got its gift with a pull out of Somalia.

And more to come.

In sum it will take time with some but the contrast of not being dragged down by outlandish, immoral and illegal antics will prevail just as the Jerry Springer show gets boring.

Now, as we put things back together “better,” we need to plan how to make the Republic  better yet to face the next two centuries of work. As Jefferson said the pursuit of happiness is never perfect but it never stops either.

Forward not back; the US goes forward, detours notwithstanding.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Hello, Town of Barre residents, property owners and surrounding community members. This evening is scheduled for a public hearing in regards to the proposed changes to our Wind Ordinance.

I wanted to share the specifics of what I shared with my fellow Town Board members in regards to the decision to continue to hold the public hearing this evening, and ensuring transparency, effective communication, and serving the residents and property owners of Barre to the best of our abilities.

I understand that we have met most of the minimum legal requirements to hold the public hearing this evening; however, I do not believe that we have done what is in the best interest of the residents of our community to enable them to feel that they are being heard, and have the opportunity to share with us as their elected officials their support and/or concerns in regards to the proposed changes to our Wind Ordinance.

The notice was posted solely in the Batavia Daily News on November 17th (we know that many of our community members do not get the Batavia Daily, but this helps to meet our legal obligation) and on our Town website (however, we know that about 50% of our community does not have internet access).

No notice was posted in the Pennysaver, despite us telling the community at our last Town Board meeting that it would be there.

No notice has been posted in the Orleans Hub at the time of me writing this letter.

With the Town Hall being closed no in-person comments will be accepted.

The public hearing will be held online – however, communication may only be submitted in written form via text or email during the meeting. What about our community members who do not text and do not have internet access?

What about community members who would speak but are not comfortable writing down their comments?

We as Town Board members know that this is a controversial topic, one that our community is passionate about on both sides. By not doing what we said we would, and by going about this in the manner that we have, we are giving a poor impression.

Town of Barre Definitions 350-98 – PUBLIC HEARING

A meeting announced and advertised in advance, and open to the public, with the public given an opportunity to talk, participate and express their opinions, support or concerns.

In our local law (see excerpt above), specifically the Wind Ordinance, we define a public hearing as where the public is given an “opportunity to talk”. However, in the manner that we are holding this meeting we are not allowing this opportunity to our residents.

In conclusion, this excerpt taken from “NYS Conduct of Public Meeting” expresses my objective in that proper procedure “results in proper accord for the rights of all parties, a better airing of public opinion on community issues, and ultimately greater public confidence in the decisional process.”

Kerri Richardson

Barre

(Richardson is a member of the Barre Town Board.)

Editor:

Some folks just can’t seem to let things go.

The left has kept the House, apparently taken (some would say stolen) the Presidency, and has a real good chance of taking the Senate. Yet the attacks on Trump continue ad nauseam.

The most recent attack is in Mr. Conrad Cropsey’s letter to the editor dated 11/30/20 in which he takes President Trump to task for granting a pardon. He states that “Innocent people do not need pardons” and “the people who receive them are guilty!”

Mr. Cropsey evidently does not believe that innocent people are sometimes found guilty. I disagree. My point is illustrated by the conviction of General Michael Flynn. If we knew then what we know now about the prosecutorial underhanded and sometimes illegal tactics, Flynn would have never been convicted.

That aside, let’s assume for a moment that Mr. Cropsey is correct: Every person that receives a Presidential Pardon or Clemency was indeed guilty. To date President Trump has issued 38 (including Susan B. Anthony and Sheriff Joe Arpaio). In 8 years Obama granted 1,927 (including Chelsea Manning and the reduction of 504 life sentences for particularly violent offenders). I do not recall Mr. Cropsey faulting Obama 4 years ago. This is just another example of the left’s blatant double standards.

As far as the left taking control of our government: I did not see any conservatives out screaming at the sky, vowing to leave the country, or any of the other types of emotional breakdowns we saw four years ago.

Though certainly disappointed and concerned for the future of our country under control of what used to be the Democratic Party, we will just sit back, pray that we make it through 4 years of Biden/Harris/Pelosi and maybe Schumer, and be content with the knowledge that we will correct it in 2024.

One task the next administration and its supporters are already hard at work on – finding a way to blame Trump and we deplorables for everything that goes wrong over the next four years – and I can guarantee lots will go wrong. They advertise “unity” and “inclusiveness” – as long as you share the same views.

If king Cuomo had his way there would be no “gun-toting Bible thumping” conservatives left in this state. Liberals, after all, make no mistakes. Only conservatives do.

Just ask the three writers Mr. Urbanik refers to below.

Bob Harker

Clarendon

Editor:

I’m absolutely astounded that Orleans County plans a budget that increases taxes. Unemployment is up and food distribution is up.

Where do legislators believe the people will come up the money? Citizens live within the budget they currently have. Why can’t our local government? Will they feed people and pay their bills?

We suck it up, so should Orleans legislators.

Kris Welles

Barre

Editor:

It is nice to see Congressman Chris Jacobs taking an interest in the district, listening to the suffering of restaurants and small businesses.

However, Mr. Jacobs voted against $2.2 trillion package that would offer relief of those restaurants and small businesses. In terms of the $138 billion being held up in the Paycheck Protection Program, Congressman Bob Gibbs (R-Oh) wrote in The Hill (10/5/20): “I signed the discharge petition which, if having received enough signatures from congressional representatives, would force the bill to the House floor for a vote. Right now, there aren’t enough Republicans in the House for that to happen.”

If there aren’t enough Republicans in the House signing the discharge petition, how is that Democrats’ fault.

It is true that small businesses and restaurants are financially suffering as well as government at all levels. Mr. Jacobs and his family business received millions in tax breaks from the 2017 Republican tax bill.

It is now time that small businesses, restaurants and local and state government get help from the federal government. Stop blaming Democrats for your failures to help the district; do your job.

Let’s get government working for the constituents of the district and support small businesses and local government.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

President Trump has some large hurdles to clear to overturn a stolen election.

I see one benefit from the passing of the Presidential torch. Three writers to the Hub with some serious Trump Derangement Syndrome will maybe focus on some other subject matters.

Ed Urbanik

Lyndonville

Editor:

As the President hands out pardons one thing is important to keep in mind – pardons are not only “conferred” but also presumed to be “accepted.” Innocent people do not need pardons.

What I mean is that as the President confers pardons, the people who receive them are guilty!  Over the next few weeks we will learn how many Trump Administration people committed crimes while he was President or were crooks in the first place.

So, Trump party members, you will soon learn how many crooks – and crimes – you have been blind to.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Congratulations to the New York State Republican Party on becoming New York’s largest third party! With the incoming Democratic supermajority in the State Senate, the NYGOP has officially ceased to have any relevance whatsoever in state politics.

There is literally nothing they can do, now that the Democrats will be able to pass any and all legislation they want, including tax hikes on the middle and working classes, gun rights restrictions, and job-crushing regulations, all without fear of the Governor’s veto.

Democrats will also be able to redraw Assembly, Senate and Congressional districts however they please, since Republicans will no longer be able to obstruct the process or ensure a fair outcome, meaning more extreme gerrymandering to cement the Democrats’ gains and ensure Republicans never retake the State Senate.

The policies and tax burden driving residents away in record numbers will only get worse, forcing ever-increasing numbers of residents to move to other states.

How did this happen? It’s quite simple, really: the Republican Party has no values and nothing to offer this state. They have no ideas, no solutions, and no spine. They trot out a sacrificial lamb every four years to run against Cuomo and complain about how bad things are, then they disappear until the next election.

Worse yet, they voted with Democrats to give King Cuomo unlimited emergency powers to address the pandemic, which translated into a months-long lockdown that decimated small businesses and destroyed thousands of livelihoods. Republicans are just as responsible for this travesty as Democrats. If that’s how they legislate, then they deserve to be relegated to third-party status with zero influence on state politics.

Who then can stand in opposition to the Democrats’ disastrous policies that are driving New York State on a road to ruin? There is another party: the Libertarian Party, which is actually committed to making New York a better place to live.

America’s third-largest party is ready to emerge as the next major party and work with Democrats and Republicans alike to implement policies that will increase everyone’s access to the American Dream and achieve liberty and justice for all Americans.

Learn more about the Libertarian Party by clicking here or email ocnylp@gmail.com to get involved today.

The Libertarian Party is New York’s best and last chance to avert a calamity unparalleled in this state’s history, so what are you waiting for? The Republicans aren’t going to save you!

Change your party, change your vote. Join the Libertarian Party today!

Chase Tkach

Carlton

Chair of Orleans County NY Libertarian Party

Editor:

Another Thanksgiving is upon us. Truly one of the most American holidays, it is a wonderful day to help us remember the good things life has given us. Amidst dropping temperatures and fewer daylight hours, it is a great  time to get warm and gather with loved ones safely, eat well and fill your spirit.

This year is obviously different. We’ve been fighting this pandemic for nearly nine months now, and I, like many of you, am growing more and more concerned with the restrictions placed on us.

But I think it’s important to remember why these guidelines are in place. With the colder weather comes the cold and flu season, which will further strain our healthcare system and threaten our more vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly. Obviously, the state is in no position to make demands and requirements about how citizens choose to gather in their private homes , but please be sure to follow guidelines where you can.

Among the many things to be thankful for this year – friends, family, health, comforts, joy – is the fact that this state, our communities, have stood together through these trials and tribulations, and we worked together for the betterment and well-being of our loved ones and neighbors. That is something to be truly thankful for. And now that we’re reaching the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s as important as ever for us to remain vigilant in our fight against this pandemic.

Stay safe, stay well, and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Batavia

(Hawley represents the 139th District, which consists of Genesee, Orleans and parts of Monroe County.)