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Hamlin Selection, Hamlin, NY (2026)

10/24/2021

HAMLIN….. Self Inflicted Polarization

This About Tells It All. [ What is WRONG with us Hamlin????]

Proof that Hamlin’s leadership either ISN’T —- OR is being lead by someone who knows little about how to unite a Town.

Why is Clarkson represented with unity - even though they may not all agree?? And Hamlin is here in about 5 different pieces and not one picture of the “TEAM”. It’s obvious —— and very sad.

They apparently don’t even get along with each other. One side maybe really does NOT want change and maybe does NOT listen to new ideas — just like people have been saying on the Hamin Community page. Hamlin leadership wants what it wants. Isn’t the Rebublican “committee” supporting anyone’s ads? Each one is paid for by themselves and their own “committees”. Do we not have a Republican committee any more? OR maybe if they supported their “other” candidates they’d have to support Austin Warner - the people’s choice. [Not theirs]

**AND our candidate for Supervisor [former Highway supervisor] is asking that we vote for him on ROW C. REALLY??? It is apparent that HE is not on board with his “team”. Is he not even Republican any more?**

It seems that Hamlin’s idea of “CHANGE” is moving someone already in elected office to a different position.

These ads were in today’s Hamlin Clarkson Herald.

Maybe we DO need new leadership. I tossed in Elizabeth Maxwells ad just so all candidates would be represented here. She’s Democrat.

10/21/2021

PERHAPS THE MOST INTERESTING CANDIDATE. Who is this guy? [I’m probably going to get myself in trouble with this one.]

Remember the Sesame Street song, “Which of These Things Is Not Like The Others”? This candidate has maybe the most different resume for this job - and maybe the most experience.

This is our former Supervisor. AUSTIN WARNER. He’s running for Town Board. Look at his work experience. He gets out and about and has been a sales person as a career. One who meets and talks with a lot of different people. Hmmm.

He has served in many capacities in Hamlin Government besides Supervisor, but what catches your eye is his 51 years of being “Santa” and managing that program at local malls. SOOOO No doubt many Hamlin parents have met Austin and maybe didn’t realize it.

Basically…. Austin is clearly “different” or “Not Like The Others” in several respects.

I don’t see any glitz in his “pamphlet” But he is the Republican endorsed candidate. Is he with them or not with them. It’s hard to tell.

I do believe Austin has gone door to door because he campaigned the daylights out of his opponent when he ran for supervisor. No lack of ambition.

This almost sounds like an endorsement. But that’s not it’s intent. My intent is to get you to read a “flyer” that is not likely to garner much attention. Not even any color. Is the Republican "Committee" helping their candidate or is he pretty much on his own because he beat the "Committee’s" candidate in the primary? Which makes me think a little about the last election for Town Clerk. If there is a more “showy” pamphlet that no one gave to me I humbly apologize. I did find a colored picture of him on line. I posted it.

You decide.

10/09/2021

AN INTRODUCTION - But it sounds like this candidate is already pretty well known.

It sounds like this candidate, Angel Male has kept her ear to the ground because her goals respond to the many issues I read on the Hamlin NY Community page. I'd have to say that if her goals are possible then I have no idea what the past government has been doing. But it was fun and inspiring to read them. Thus far the things she names have been more like dreams. So, it might be good to hear more from Angel to see what her plan to actually accomplish them is, and how it is different from those of our past elected officials who never seemed to be able to do it or didn't maybe care enough??? [Or maybe she just has some.] [Please forgive me for my judgement of past government. Everyone knows I believe Hamlin needs change. Some change might lead to more change. ]

So here is Angels campaign literature. I am hoping that EVERYONE is taking the time to read each and every posting here before deciding what you really really want from those we hire and pay. If you haven't read the last two please go back and read them. There is only one more candidate who is in any sort of race. It seems we have simply moved one candidate from one position to another in the main "race". So I will be posting about one more candidate for Town Board since this is the only contest and the only position where we have a choice.

Best of luck to you Angel Male.

09/28/2021

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.

09/24/2021

JACKIE SMITH FOR HAMLIN TOWN ANYTHING

How is it that Jackie [Monroe County Legislator] - from Clarkson - seems to see more importance in a Hamlin issue than anyone in Hamlin Town Government has ever shown? I am posting an email from Jackie to explain.

I have always been in awe of our neighbors to the south - Clarkson in their efforts to preserve their local history while still being able to carry Clarkson into the future. Hamlin can and should be able to do the same thing. We say we are preserving Hamlin’s agricultural past and that’s great but there is more to Hamlin’s history than agriculture.

Here is my point. In reading all of the info provided by the candidates - which I will soon post here - I can’t find any mention or awareness of the preservation of one of Hamlin’s most valuable treasures and contributions to the history of America.

Hamlin has a national treasure that up until twelve years ago almost no Hamlin resident was aware of. Not until Ed Evans and his team of volunteers, then under the direction of Park Directors Marty Howden and later Jay Bailey removed 75 years of dense forest, underbrush overgrowth and entanglement to reclaim the footprint of Hamlin’s historical CCC/POW site. [CCC camps were Roosevelt’s rescue of America from the depression and the German POW camp at the same site housed hundreds of German prisoners who worked the farm fields and the Duffy Motts factory in the absence of Hamlin’s young men during WWII.]

With a new park director, and the subsequent removal of the volunteers, their work was ordered to stop and the support for the project stalled. Ed Evans has given well over 200 historical tours, talks and presentations to bring and keep this history alive but the new Park Director has never taken the tour or attended a presentation. You can’t even find the CCC/POW site labeled on the Director’s Park maps so that visitors can find it or even know it is there. Even the ball that Mary Smith, former Town Historian set into motion bringing Hamlin’s CCC/POW history back to life has stopped rolling with the present Town Historian.

This is Hamlin’s history and somehow Jackie Smith, from Clarkson realizes the importance of this history, it seems, more than anyone in our own Town government. Now or maybe ever. Let me say that Mike German, new Highway supervisor also in charge of parks has indicated awareness and efforts to help the park.

So THAT is one of the things I am looking for in a Town of Hamlin elected personnel of whatever description. Not necessarily someone who fulfills the required and daily routines as defined within the government set up, but someone who sees beyond governance and reaches the people in a broader wider definition as a creative Town leader. [I did take note that Elizabeth Maxwell stated that she has the experience and training to help or direct people to help that may have nothing to do with government.] I think that every one of our candidates meets the qualifications of the office they are applying for. So, who stands out?

Here is Jackie Smith’s [County Legislator] letter to Ed regarding her efforts to ensure that Hamlin’s history is realized and proudly remembered. She has shown the interest, taken the tour and taken action…. in her very very busy schedule.

Her letter......

“Good morning Ed. I hope my email finds you and your family doing well.

I wanted to let you know I am still promoting the CCC Camp as much as I can to our residents and all around Monroe County. Last week I attended the LakeFront Revitalization Meeting in Hamlin and met the Hamlin State Park Manager Kate Gross . I told her how important this camp is to our history in Hamlin and what a great job you and your team have done there. I did make one suggestion to her and told her I could work on this with her, you and the Hamlin Town Historian. I thought it would be nice to have a Pomeroy Marker installed in front of the CCC Camp. As you know I am a Board Member of the Clarkson Historical Society and we recently applied and received a Pomeroy Marker placed in front of the Clarkson Academy on Route 104 in Clarkson. Side note: our unveiling of the marker is this Mon, Sept 27th at 6pm in front of the Clarkson Academy on Ridge Road if you are interested in attending.

The Pomeroy Markers:
One of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation’s core initiatives is to help people celebrate their community’s history. The Foundation strongly believes that historic markers play an important role in local historic preservation by serving a dual purpose. They educate the public and foster historic tourism, which in turn can provide much needed economic benefits to the towns and villages where the markers are placed. The program also fills a gap, as New York State stopped funding their roadside markers in 1939."

This is a picture of the once beautiful CCC/POW house which is also being allowed to simply fall down. The inside has been restored but it has been abandoned with the new park administration. People, now, sadly refer to it as the "Haunted House".

09/22/2021

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.

09/21/2021

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

09/17/2021

A recent Hamlin Issue.... Closing The Town Dump Site

If you don't belong to the Hamlin Community page you should, because you will get to know people and issues that are really connecting Hamlin residents. Here is a recent entry on that page that resulted in many many reactions and comments. An issue all of Hamlin should be aware of so there are no surprises.

I have not posted the many comments and discussions but I am re-posting it here for information and awareness.

POSTING FROM A HAMLIN RESIDENT:

"Thought Hamlin residents would be interested in my reply from our highway department about our dump site that is closed."

From our Hwy Superintendent:

"I am sorry for the inconvenience but it has become necessary for us to close the dumping area because of abuse from contractors and residents. In the past three years we have tried to keep contractors and landscapers out and keep the area open for our residents to dump. The towns surrounding us have closed their drop off sites in the last few years bringing their residents here to Hamlin to dump. We have installed security cameras to monitor the area but continue to have contractors dumping brush and residents dumping garbage. The cost of processing the brush has become too much to burden the residents with. The composting of yard waste ( grass, leaves, etc ) is fairly inexpensive however people continue to dump debris in plastic bags that cannot be composted or easily managed. The area has been closed and will be fenced off in the near future, with an area provided inside our yard for residents to drop off waste during business hours."
Michael German
Highway Superintendent

AND HERE IS MY POST REGARDING FOLLOW-UP TO THIS ISSUE AND DISCUSSION

More of the Town Dump story:

I think that the community had a lot of good concerns [and ideas as well] regarding the closing of the Town dump site. And someone forwarded the whole thread to Mike German, our brand new Highway Superintendent so he'd know what his Town is saying about the issue [and some about him].
Guess who showed up at my house to explain first hand what the situation was. Mike German. THAT is a first and he explained that he was grateful to me for acknowledging and appreciating that he had tried to explain the situation to the person who had posted the first article.
First of all I was truly impressed with the professionalism of Mike and his concern that we were upset about the dump situation. I got a chance to hear an explanation that sounded both reasonable and understandable. There is a problem and it needs to be addressed. And it needs to be taken down to ground zero and be rebuilt with very clear expectations of use. It's doesn't sound like it's going to disappear like other towns have done. The whole concept is being redesigned so that we will NOT have to lose the service. But I guess we need to stay calm, not panic and stay informed going forward.
I think some of us have maybe become programmed to expect the worst from our government but Mike says those who serve do it out of caring about the town [and maybe a little bit of money] because they sure get a lot of negative press. [and phone calls] LOL
I found out a couple of interesting things I can pass along. First of all we told him that volunteer NIck Kramer who is constantly trying to improve the grounds at the CCC/POW site comes and fills the back of his truck up with wood chips to fill holes at the site so people don't break their ankles. Mike told us he'd gladly DELIVER a truckload to the site whenever it might be needed. He also said those who have need of stone - they have that too, because they are constantly sweeping the edges of the roadways and piling it up. We can have that too. And much more that we don't know about.
At the end of our discussion I was feeling grateful that we had some new young blood in charge of some department in Hamlin. Mike is committed to improving communication and helping his residents solve problems. YAY!! The fact that he came to my house sort of blew me away. I can't even get a candidate running for office to come to my house.
For those who might be thinking... "Where is it? I haven't seen it", do you know how long Mike has been in office? Since the very end of June, THIS SUMMER. I think we are dragging some of our old past issues into the present. Like I said, I never got an acknowledgement of any email I sent to to the Highway dept in the past. I sure got more than an acknowledgement with this new superintendent.
I am going to post this on my own page at "Hamlin Selection" to be sure more people from Hamlin know there has been a change in leadership and over time we should come to see some real differences. Mike obviously loves his job, loves Hamlin, and this has been a good reminder to me that I need to take a breath, give it a chance to be different and be just a little patient. The dump site will open under "new management" and will have a better chance to be successful - long term - with the insight Mike has gained and his energy and enthusiasm for his job.
I, for one am very hopeful!
For those asking where I went with my "Hamlin Selection" Community page, I have gone nowhere. I've been staying home like I was asked to do. LOL That's the problem. you don't find out much that way. That's why I LOVE this page!!!

03/10/2021

They say that technology is a faster way of going backwards.

BRIGHTLY'S --- One of Hamlin's most progressive - and environmentally conscious farm families in Hamlin?

The Old And the New Merge... OR re-E-"merge"

Some Things Don't [need to] Change. [Much]

01/14/2021

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.

01/03/2021

A positive in the negative....

In all of this frustration across the nation about the USPS's perceived ineptness, comes a small town story of a postmaster who serves his community above and beyond the call of duty.

09/28/2020

Hamlin's CCC/POW Flag at Night

The book of etiquette for displaying the American flag says that flags left flying 24-7 should have a light focused on them at night. Not many people have seen it but the flag at the center of Hamlin’s CCC/POW campsite on Moscow Road is lit at night 24-7-365 by a pair of solar powered LED flashlights. The original CCC camp flagpole was 10 inches across and 70 feet tall. Soon, a local Boy Scout Eagle candidate will replace the skinny, 12 foot flagpole shown in the photo with a much taller and heftier one. The Scout will also beef-up the lighting system. Watch for it!

Hamlin Selection

10/24/2021

10/21/2021

10/09/2021

09/28/2021

09/24/2021

09/22/2021

09/21/2021

09/17/2021

03/10/2021

01/14/2021

01/03/2021

09/28/2020

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