Alfred NY’s namesake and modern history intertwined
A OPINION By Frederick Sinclair
Alfred NY is host to Alfred University, and a State University of New York (SUNY) College of Applied Technologies. The institutions offer a unique blend of science, art, trades, liberal arts, and related fields of study, providing opportunities for educational excellence. The namesake of the community and surrounding township is Alfred the Great. (849 – 899). Leading the Anglo Saxons from 871 until his death in 899, Alfred is considered to have been the first King of England and a successful defender of the realm from Danish Viking invasions. The defining moment of his greatness, however, came as the result of King Alfred ordering the translation of books from Latin to English so the population as a whole could read them and become educated.
Alfred is a tight knit community that hosts a cosmopolitan student population from myriad nations and locals. It is the perfect modern era reflection of its namesakes’ vision of ‘making the unknown known’. In the thousand years, that has passed since Alfred reigned, lifestyles, educational opportunities and learning environments have evolved into sophisticated curriculums, utilizing high technology, modern facilities, with research and internet access to unlimited information in all languages. There is, however, a precious resource that King Alfred sought, and even today is the underlying goal of all of the advancements in learning and technologies. That resource being the development of an informed populace and nurturing the youth of our nation, the gene pool, and enhancing the health and well being of their learning environment and surrounding community.
Modern technologies and telecommunications have grown to be heavily relied upon to deliver the modern era educational experience. It has resulted, however, in an unfortunate exposure to multiple sources of radio frequencies and microwave radiation. Scientific studies and published medical reports are revealing that Electro Magnetic Radiation (Electrosmog) exposure, is cumulative and can be biologically harmful to all forms of life. See link to, https://bioinitiative.org The entire Alfred community is being saturated with microwave emitting electric service ‘Smart Meters’ with microwave emitting gas and water meters not far behind. There are 11 towers with telecom antenna arrays blanketing the Village alone. The federal government is considering multiple laws, that will clear the path, for unlimited telecom expansion. Industry is pushing our federal representatives to prevent any local interference from zoning or local regulation. The very fabric of our potential as a safe and healthy educational community is being eroded away by forces that we are ignorant of, afraid of, or, in some cases promoting. We, as an education based community, should be well suited to eliminate the ignorance, quell fears, and help educate residents, students, administrators and decision makers alike.
Looking back only a few decades, in the 1990s, the Alfred community was a leader in driving back the invading NYS Commission that wanted to dump all of New York’s radioactive waste nearby. The Town Board also protected aquifers by enacting a local ordinance forbidding the use of high volume hydrofracking in natural gas extraction, NYS followed suit with a statewide ban several months later. The Town also banned the installation of windmill farms and protected our hilltops from monstrous 600 foot high windmills. The Town of Alfred enacted a Battery Storage law to protect against dangers of battery (lithium) fires and potentially deadly air pollution. The Town Planning Board initiated a full Environmental Quality Review of impacts, from proposed modifications to the Jericho Hill Crown Castle telecom tower. Enough threats from electromagnetic radiation were identified to require a full Environmental Impact Statement. The Department of State and DEC officially accepted the Town determination and formally published the findings. The Town Board of Alfred was advised, however, to cease challenging the microwave tower modifications, under threat of lawsuit and probable a loss in court to telecom industry giants. The permit was begrudgingly issued.
These are examples of what can be done by our community and leaders, when they became informed on the issues and are supported in taking action to protect public health and safety. Some were successful, some not, but in the end the community was informed and had a say that was acted upon by our chosen leaders. Town elections are coming that will change members and leadership on the Town Board. Our community needs to come up to speed on issues and proposals that are coming up for review. We need to communicate our concerns to the current and future Board members at the Town and Village level. Do your homework, seek out information and reaffirm the vision of King Alfred the Great. Make the unknown known !
