Finger Lakes Times

PENN YAN — Aliceann Wilber, who built William Smith soccer into a national power over 44 seasons, has been named Penn Yan Academy’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni honoree. Wilber, a 1969 Penn Yan Academy graduate and former physical education teacher in the Penn Yan Central School District, launched the William Smith women’s soccer program in 1980 and coached it through the 2024 season. She retired with 657 wins, 37 postseason appearances and two national championships (1988 and 2013).

To the Editor: At this stage of the game, it is appropriate to ask what it will take for Gov. Kathy Hochul to endorse the New York Health Act. The act proposes a single payer health care system that would guarantee health care for all New Yorkers — no copays, no premiums, no deductibles — and would save billions of dollars in county, municipal and school district costs.

VICTOR — A local college recently announced it will offer a free, six-week training course for people interested in semiconductors. Starting Nov. 6, Finger Lakes Community College is offering a State University of New York Semi Bootcamp to assist skill development for career-minded individuals interested in the growing field of semiconductors. The free, six-week course features 12 sessions on Friday and Saturday afternoons at the FLCC Victor Campus Center, 200 Victor Heights Parkway, off Route 251.

To the Editor: When it comes to representing the people of her district, Sen. Pam Helming is someone constituents can count on. Her accessibility and willingness to listen make a real difference. When residents have concerns or encounter problems, Pam takes their calls, researches the issues, and follows through to help find answers. Whether the issue involves proposed solar farms, data centers, or other concerns affecting our communities, Pam works to ensure that constituents’ voices are heard.

To the Editor: Artificial intelligence might kill us all in six months, according to its Nobel Prize winning Godfather Geoffrey Hinton. There are international demands to safeguard against that, but Trump says, "The only control or 'guardrails' that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!" Artificial intelligence is not that gullible; when Major Garrett asked the White House's own A. I. Website, "Who won the 2020 election," it answered Biden.

To the Editor: Mr. Blakeman, I just again viewed your commercial that starts with the question of hearing about Gov. Hochul's record. The answer is yes. I have heard her tell about her record — the school cell phone ban, UPK, free meals in schools, energy rebate checks. Her commercials are also on frequently. My question is what is YOUR record. I had to google you because I had never heard of you, and I will not vote for someone with no record. So you were county executive in Nassau County.

To the Editor: I would like to strongly encourage people to consider “affordability” as more than the cost of gas and groceries when voting in the midterms. Over the past 40 years the costs of housing, healthcare, childcare and college education have outpaced inflation 1.5 to 6 times more than anticipated (I’m referencing a 10/21/26 NY Times article, “Life Feeling Too Expensive? It’s Not Just You.

WATERLOO — The Seneca County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave the green light to a program that honors those who placed themselves in harm’s way for the good of the nation and are now coming back to their communities. The board adopted a resolution designating Seneca as a Green Light for Military Service county and declared Nov. 4-11 as a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifice of men and women in uniform transitioning from active military service.

LYONS — Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby said he was “extremely proud” of the role his deputies played in the pursuit of a possible suspect in a homicide on Tuesday morning, potentially avoiding a foot chase with an armed suspect in the town of Lyons. Police said that on Wednesday, Norman E. Lohr Jr., 50, of Michigan, was the driver of a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado sought because of a possible connection to the death of Melissa K. Pelc-Lohr, 50, of Brushton, Franklin County.

SENECA FALLS — For the third time, officials at Seneca Meadows Inc. have been told a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed upward expansion application is incomplete. The state Department of Environmental Conservation Region 8 office in Avon notified SMI of its Notice Of Incomplete Application — or NOIA — on Sept. 21. SMI Regional Manager Kyle Black was told the items required before the impact statement can be deemed complete and subject to public comment and public hearings.