Hamlin Selection

Ask and Ye Shall Receive....

A couple of posts ago I claimed that I could not get candidates to come to my house. [I want to say that Jackie Smith DID come to my house in the last election and I am proud to say she got my vote.]

But I can't claim that any more because as a response to my claim Jennifer Voelkl DID come to my house..... and sadly I was not home. In fact she even wrote a personal note to us and left the information in our door. Unfortunately it was a door that we seldom use and it took us a couple days to find it. So I apologize for not responding faster.

Jennifer has held her seat on the Town Board for some years now so I am thinking she might be able to answer some of the many questions we might have about things she might have a plan for. Things we'd like to hear her plan for.

If you look at Jennifer's Goals you will see some issues that I have seen mentioned many times in the Hamlin NY Community page. Some of the concerns residents talk about often are not necessarily, specifically addressed... But mentioned.

There is a lot we residents don't know about what CAN and CAN'T be done that we tend to hold the Town accountable for.

Here are two questions I'd like to see addressed.

1. Jennifer is liaison to parks. Does this include the Hamlin Beach State Park? If so and if NOT how can Hamlin Residents have some of their concerns addressed. We seem to get no answers or explanations from the park and many of us are frustrated about the deteriorating condition of our formerly beautiful park. It is becoming unhealthy with ticks due to lack of mowing and garbage strewn about.

2. Jennifer mentions infrastructure and balancing growth and development... What might be specific plans for this? Also where does solar and wind power regulations fit into your vision for the future of Hamlin?

Anyone can add to this list of questions because it looks like Jennifer does read the Hamlin Community page. I really appreciate that she is reading the concerns of the residents. It would be nice for her to engage in some of the discussions in order to also be a little more closely in touch with her residents. That would make a big difference to me. I realize she has her own page and we can find it. But I'd like to get to know people as one of us.

Good luck Jennifer.

That's what I have to add.

Who is Elizabeth Maxwell?

As signs have gone up around Town I noticed one that I was not familiar with. In a "One Party Town" that stands out. So we asked for some information about this candidate for Hamlin Town Board.

I am going to post what Elizabeth sent to us and although this is all new to me I have to point out one BIG thing about Elizabeth that snagged my attention. That is her affiliation with Jackie Smith. Jackie Smith impressed me immensely in the last election when she ran for the seat in the Monroe County 2nd legislative district, [OUR district] and won by a landslide. Jackie, since, has shown great interest in Hamlin and Hamlin's interests. [Or maybe she always did but I am aware of her efforts now.]

So I am posting information about Elizabeth Maxwell that, especially, will show her involvement in issues that have concerned us for quite some time. I like to read what people have actually done and what their issues will be going forward. [Hamlin has some issues.] It says a lot about who they are. So here is Elizabeth's information.

Hi Ed,
> Jeanine gave me your email so I could follow up and talk with you. I'm pretty much an open book on where I stand with serving the community. I have been advocating for Early Intervention for a few years now that it has gained traction. Things are moving at the state level to help address provider shortages; Hamlin is one of the most under served zip codes in the county. I have been working on issues for the town and surrounding area with Jackie Smith for two years because I believe working together on issues increases likelihood that problems will find solutions.

I was able to get two traffic studies to commence following the 7/25 near fatal accident at Drake and 18. I listen. I've lived in smaller areas with fewer services and mostly dirt roads. I know economic investment is needed and residents want some items that are likely to never happen (based on corporate study).

I hold a bachelor's degree in public policy and am currently working on my masters in Social and Public Policy. I have experience in other areas such as understanding conservation, as I used to hunt yearly (with kids its gotten harder). I understand the need for keeping the wetlands habitable for the ecosystem as it acts as a filter for other waters. I also have listened to the concerns residents have over issues the town has no role in, but give advice on contacts they can make and share concerns with. I also have connected relationships to the Rochester Delegation and I do work with Steve Hawley. I might not always agree with some positions, rhetoric, or proposed legislation but I research my arguments when I am fully against some. I am committed to serving all residents regardless of party affiliation to make change in Hamlin.
>
> Scout park is in disrepair and I have attempted to get the ball moving for safety reasons for going on almost a year with nothing accomplished by the parks dept. We proposed having a walking trail put in the Hamlin Town Park for residents to enjoy and gradually add exercise equipment.
>
> I am aware of concerns over a dispensary and the smoke shop. These are two points of big interest for residents along with the other items mentioned.
>
> I am a member of Friends of Hamlin Rec and will be volunteering and participating in a few Halloweenathon events. My kids love the rec department and one of my children loves Patty Jo and gymnastics.
>
> I am aware that this town has been a one party town forever but I feel giving a choice to the voters is good.
>
> If you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly.
> Thank you,
>
> Elizabeth Maxwell
> 585-623-6968
> Greater Rochester Parent Leadership Training Institute(PLTI)
> Monroe County LEICC

I have added a couple pictures Elizabeth sent to us upon request. If you see her maybe you could introduce yourself.

ALSO - AND VERY IMPORTANT, I'd love to post for the other candidates so that we can know what specific issues each one believes are important or even urgent for Hamlin.

CHANGE IS GOOD:

I had almost forgotten this was an election year. I'm sure there are some things people would like to say about that. Unfortunately it seems that Hamlin is still a one party town. But I see some different names going up around Town.

Sherry Dobson sent this to me. It isn't about an election but it is in regard to an issue that has recently come to light and what change might begin to do in our Town.... a recent change of Highway superintendent.

It is actually exciting information if it becomes a pattern Hamlinites might come to expect. I'd also like to caution that we might begin to expect more than anyone might be able to do quickly since change is a slow - but in this case, hopeful process.

Here is Sherry's contribution.

"I was told about the comments on closing the dump. I first got anxious about how I was going to dispose of the 25 bags of leaves I take over every year from my neighbor's trees. I only have two pine trees. During my inquiry I was told the court can't do anything about the information with business dumping even though it is posted, no commercial dumping. What about a law with teeth???

The new Highway Superintendent has made so much progress with left undone items by the previous Park Superintendent, who is running unopposed in this year's election for Town Supervisor. The cost for that clean up was very high. The Huntington Park playground is finally to be replaced after many years with repeated requests to do something. We have a line item on our taxes as a district. The 300 + houses pay a line item for that district. We now have three swings for older children and one kiddie swing and two benches We once had a playground that was great and just grew old and needed replacing. We even had a flying saucer. Recently trees were even trimmed. Maintenance has to be done. Parks were created for everyone of all ages to enjoy. Welcome and thank you Mr. German to the job and all the Highway employees for taking care of our parks. We can now embrace the thought "I Love Our Parks". The lowest form of entertainment you can be given to enjoy."

Thank you Sherry---- And thank you Highway Superintendent, Mike German

WHAT’S IN THERE?

Once upon a time a sad kiosk at the east-most end of Hamlin Beach State Park stood leaning severely to the East. Neglected and abandoned it stood as a conversation piece and people wondered why it was leaning so badly and why a large white document entitled “NEW YORK CORRECTION LAW ARTICLE 23-A” was stapled over the top of what was once a beautiful Audubon - type picture of different species of birds. Another window held aging curled up documents stapled over pictures of fish. And the middle was covered with stapled documents of various laws.

This kiosk needed love - it needed someone to care…. And mostly it needed to contain something that enhanced the park and the beautiful area it was blocking from view - instead of those scary laws.

That’s what this post is about. Someone finally cared and cried loudly enough that apparently someone heard. Ed Evans walked the trail often. He is a visionary with a camera, and a cane and a gift for creating and writing. You can see him in one of the pictures trying to right the leaning kiosk.

And Ed has an undyingly loyal friend who will help to fix and improve anything having to do with the park and CCC/POW camp. He is a volunteer - NICK KRAMER - but he is maybe more dedicated to that park than a lot of the rest of the interested people put together.

Nick did the promotion for a change in the Kiosk and Ed did the photography, the captions and created what is now on full display in that poor forelorn kiosk. But one more resourseful person was needed to assemble the new display inside the Kiosk. And that was the job of “Connor” who I understand is an intern to the Park Director. From the looks of it I’d say that new young blood is maybe what has been missing all these years of neglect.

KUDOS to Nick and Ed and Connor for a now beautiful and functional display to guide visitors in strolling the new and improved nature trail.

I had asked Ed to write something up for me to post and inform park visitors that this display was now available to enhance everyone’s experience at the marsh end of the park and this is what he wrote.

The Yanty Marsh Trail Kiosk

There’s a new display in the kiosk at the head of the Yanty Marsh Nature Trail. In the center is a large map of the entire trail with numbered locations marked on it. The descriptions of what can be seen at each of the numbered locations are in a list to the right of the map. Surrounding the map is a collection of photographs showing what can be seen at each of the numbered locations.

Nick Kramer has been working with Kate on the project and a park employee - Connor - was in charge of putting it in place. Nick has some Yanty Marsh brochures with the map of the entire nature trail folded inside that can be consulted on walks along the trail. The plan is to make the brochures available to anyone who wants one.