WOMEN IN POLITICS

NOT ENOUGH PARKING

There were very fine people on both sides, the 2020 election was stolen, January 6, 2021 was a tourist event and there was not enough parking. If the last of these comments is unfamiliar to you, you should read on.

On June 22, 2022 during a Henrietta Town Board meeting, the Republican majority of the town board, after two public hearings, rejected a proposal to open a Planned Parenthood facility in Henrietta. The proposed site was in the Jefferson Plaza, across Jefferson Road from Southtown Plaza. The basis for the denial cited by that majority was a lack of parking and potential traffic congestion caused by emergency vehicles as a result of anticipated surgeries and an influx of out-of-state patients.

Much of the public opposition to the facility voiced at the public hearings was the result of opposition to abortion, beliefs also held, and recited, by the majority of the board in its decision. Planned Parenthood explained it performed no surgeries on site and provided several services in addition to chemical abortions; including contraception, breast exams, HIV testing, prevention, education and counseling, gender-affirming hormone care and other services.

BY TERRY DANIELE

the town of Henrietta seeking to annul the board’s decision on the grounds that the decision was arbitrary and an abuse of the board’s discretionary power.

On October 21st, the court ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood and sent the matter back to the Town Board and directed the board to issue the special use permit to Planned Parenthood. So far, no further appeals or proceedings have been taken. Absent that, the

permit will be granted.

Rochester Woman Online Magazine reached out to several people to try to get some feedback on the issue. We asked Town Board member Millie Sefranek, who voted to approve the proposal what she thought might happen. She said she really had no idea what the three town board members would do, but also said “You have to follow the rules, that is what we signed up for, making good honest decisions that reflect the community we live in!” In fact, the Court in its decision said that the board members’ personal opposition to abortion could not justify its action.

RWO expanded its reach to other community members in various circumstances. Each of these people agreed Planned Parenthood is a necessity for the community. Rob Barley, past town board member, believes no one person or group of people has the right to tell others what they can or cannot do with their body. Rob has nine brothers and sisters and would not choose abortion as an option. He also has a daughter, granddaughters and nieces, he wants them to have access to health care when and where they need it and at their own discretion. Rob made another observation; some want to force birth on people but are not willing to support the parent or child after that. He questioned what will happen if abortion becomes illegal or towns refuse to allow entities like Planned Parenthood to operate.

Another person willing to sit down with RWO was Kate Jarvis. Kate is married and has 6 children. She works as a registered nurse at a local hospital. Her concern was the scarcity of healthcare not only in Rochester but countrywide. Kate knows firsthand exactly how shorthanded the medical community

“RWO expanded its reach to other community members in various circumstances. Each of these people agreed Planned Parenthood is a necessity for the community.”

is right now. “The medical system was fragile before COVID, COVID hit and it became overwhelmed!” she said. Many medical professionals left their profession for a variety of legitimate reasons, including the stress of hospital work. Some nurses went to work in private medical practices to avoid that hospital stress and exposure to COVID and its effect on them and their patients.

Kate talked about the importance of having an additional healthcare resource in her suburban community. She shared a story about her own daughter who attends college out of state. Her daughter needed emergency medical services. Kates told her to find a local Planned Parenthood, knowing her daughter would be welcomed. The daughter was given advice and a referral. While Kate spoke of health care generally and Planned Parenthood in particular, the subject of abortion was not broached. We mentioned that to Kate and she said she was more concerned with Planned Parenthood as a welcome additional healthcare resource for the community.

For a different perspective, we talked to a young woman, Javannah Davis. Javannah is the founder of WAVE WOMEN INC., a non-profit organization that supports transgender/gender non-conforming people of color. Javannah said that the decision to make the transition and the actual transition itself can be difficult. It often happens that men who have started the process of becoming a woman go without healthcare because and safe place for patients. According to Davis, Planned Parenthood is well versed in seeing a human being as a whole person and can address the issues of our transgender and gender nonconforming population in a safe and respectful way. The support provided by Planned Parenthood helps to avoid the perils of suicide, drug use and inflicted violence.

The action of the majority of the Henrietta Town Board members to promote an agenda over their obligation to the law was wrong and the recent court decision proved that. At the end of the day January 6, 2021 was an insurrection, the 2020 election was NOT stolen, white supremacists are not very fine people and there is plenty of parking in the plaza.

they struggle to find a provider. Lack of understanding the process or the training to implement it can be obstacles. So can outright bias. The transition must be closely monitored and requires counseling as a component as well. Planned Parenthood is a valuable ally

{ SHIFT+CONTROL }{ A SPECIAL TRIBUTE }{ FINANCIALLY SPEAKING } YOU ARE ENOUGH. SPENDING (AND SAVING) FOR THE HOLIDAYS

BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO BY DAWN KELLOGG

One of the biggest causes of stress during the holidays can be money. No matter how much we have saved and have budgeted, sometimes we still stress about it. This year especially, when the cost of everything seems to have skyrocketed, we should be increasingly conscious about how we are spending during this “most wonderful time of the year.” We want to avoid waking up one morning in January and realizing that we got swept up in the holiday spirit, overspent, and now have a pile of bills that might be challenging to pay back in a timely manner.

Here are some tips to help you navigate through your holiday expenditures!

Have a Spending Plan and Stick to It Its so easy to overspend on gifts for the holidays. But actually, if you keep track of your budget and expenditures, you are more likely to spend less than you have budgeted for. Make a list of your holiday expenditures from food, décor, travel, gifts, gift wrapping supplies, holiday greeting cards (and postage), etc. Pad it a little with a cushion for those unplanned expenses. Attach a dollar amount to each line item and stick to it. Make gift list with all those whom you want to buy gifts for and focus on how much you want to spend for each person. If the list is too long, think about where you can pare down. One of the easiest ways to cut down on your holiday expenditure is to cut down on the number of people for whom you purchase gifts. Bring your gift list with you on every shopping trip – you never know when you can grab a bargain! Save Money from Each Paycheck Put a specific amount aside each pay period to cover your holiday costs. If you start saving early in the year, by the time December rolls around, you will have saved enough to have a more worry-free holiday. Open a separate savings account for your holiday fund and watch it grow!

Cut out Non-essential Spending

That daily stop for coffee adds up! The dozen donuts every Saturday morning also adds up. Sometimes we spend money on non-essential items that don’t necessarily increase our quality of life. Cut down on some of those luxuries and discover how much you can save!

Give Homemade Gifts

People love homemade gifts! If you are creative, there are an infinite number of presents you can make to add a personal touch to your gift-giving. From food items to home décor or clothing and jewelry, you can give truly special gifts this holiday season!

Shop Smart

Smart shoppers plan ahead, shop early, compare prices, and never pay full price for anything. Keep an eye out for coupons and sales (both in-store and online). If you wait until the last minute, you might not get the items you want and you certainly might not get them at a good price. There are some great online tools that help you compare prices from the comfort of your home – check them out before you make purchases. The same goes for travel. You might not get a great fare if you wait to book travel two weeks before Christmas. Book early for the best rates!

Use Credit Cards Wisely

The holidays are a great time to use those cards that offer rewards or points that will rack up fast with each purchase. Many credit cards offer extra points during this time of year, so take advantage of those offers while you can. These points can be used for travel, merchandise, and more. For example, The Summit is currently offering members who have a Platinum or Signature Visa Card up to three times the reward points on all purchases through December 31st*.

There’s enough to stress about during the holidays without adding financial worries into the equation. With some discipline and pre-planning, you can have a stress-free holiday, knowing that you have gotten the most bang for your buck and shopped smart.

* Membership eligibility required. Subject to credit approval. Must be 18 years of age or older to apply. 1. November 15 through December 31, 2022, Visa Signature® Credit Cards are eligible for 3X points and Visa® Platinum Cards are eligible for 2X points. Bonus points will be awarded on all purchases posted to account, November 15 through December 31, 2022. Points rewarded will be based on net purchases (sum of eligible purchase transactions minus returns and refunds) posted to your account at the close of each billing cycle.

Dawn Kellogg is the Public Relations and Community Engagement Specialist for The Summit Federal Credit Union.