Schumer seeks to end statute of limitations that shields sexual exploitation abusers
Current federal law doesn’t allow claims 10 years after the abuse
Photo from Schumer’s Office: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer speaks on Monday at a news conference at the Willow Domestic Violence Center. That center said there were more than 4,500 reports of domestic violence made in Monroe County in 2023.
Press Release, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
ROCHESTER – Standing alongside Rochester survivors and advocates at Willow Domestic Violence Center, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer on Monday announced Virginia’s Law, new landmark legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations that has shielded traffickers like Jeffrey Epstein and denied sexual exploitation survivors their day in court.
“Justice should not expire. No survivor should ever be told that the law failed them, and time mattered more than the truth,” Schumer said. “That’s why I’m proud to introduce Virginia’s Law to eliminate the federal statute of limitations barriers that have kept too many survivors from pursuing justice.”
Schumer explained that, currently, federal law allows a federal claim to proceed by an adult survivor if it is brought within 10 years of the abuse, which has allowed criminals to escape justice by running out the clock.
Virginia’s Law removes the federal statute of limitations for adult survivors to bring civil claims and hold their abusers accountable at a time that is right for the survivor – when they are strong enough and mentally healthy enough to be able to face the significant challenges of civil litigation.
The bill also creates new causes of action, without a statute of limitations time bar, to create new legal avenues for survivors to pursue justice and ensure survivors can bring additional claims against abusers. In addition, the legislation also helps ensure this applies extraterritorially without negatively impacting ongoing cases, so abusers can’t take victims to regions outside the United States and avoid civil liability.
The bill is named in honor of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s early accusers who came forward about her experiences and advocated for years to strengthen current law to better protect survivors. Schumer first announced the legislation this past week with Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) and standing alongside Virginia’s family and other Epstein survivors.
“This bill carries Virginia Giuffre’s name because she spoke when so many were told not to,” Schumer said. “The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have waited long enough. Virginia waited long enough. We can’t let abusers hide behind their power and the clock. Virginia’s story and the stories of so many other survivors in Rochester and beyond demand more than sympathy; they demand action. The time for justice is now.”
Schumer explained this bill will support survivors in places like the Willow Domestic Violence Center. According to the Willow Center, there were more than 4,500 reports of domestic violence made in Monroe County in 2023. City of Rochester rates of domestic violence reporting are 2.5 times statewide rates (excluding NYC), while Monroe County rates of domestic violence reporting are 1.6 times statewide rates outside of the NY City metro area.
“Virginia’s Law restores power to survivors by removing arbitrary time limits on civil justice,” said Meaghan de Chateauvieux, Willow President and CEO. “Accountability should not expire because trauma takes time to process. This legislation sends a clear message: when survivors are ready, the law will be ready.”
Melanie Blow, Board Vice President, Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking said, “We know victims of sexual violence rarely report their abuse when it happens. This is especially true for trafficking victims, who tend to fear law enforcement and face so much instability when they are free from their traffickers. Ten years is not enough time for someone to put their life back together and completely change their world view. Statutes of limitation ensure that most traffickers and sex-purchasers are above the law. We strive for a world where victims, not traffickers, are safe, and we see Virginia’s Law as an important tool to make that happen.”
Dense fog advisory issued for Orleans, WNY
Kimberly Stawicki, a frequent photo contributor to the Orleans Hub, took this photo of a farm on Maple Ridge Road in Medina on Monday evening. The site is across the road from Mariachi de Oro.
It’s going to be foggy today in Orleans County and Western New York.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a dense fog advisory until 7 a.m. Wednesday for Orleans and 14 other counties. “Greatest duration of dense fog expected across hill tops, and near the eastern Great Lake shorelines,” the Weather Service said.
The high temperatures in the forecast include 40 today, 33 on Wednesday, 35 on Thursday, 41 on Friday and 35 on Saturday.
Kendall romps to win over Tigers
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Vinnie D’Agostino gets bumped by Lyndonville’s Quincy McClinsey as he puts up a shot during the Eagles home court win over the Tigers this evening.
Setting the tone with an 11-2 run at the outset, Kendall went on to romp to a 50 point, 73-23, win over visiting Lyndonville in a Genesee Region League boys basketball make-up game this evening.
CJ D’Agostino scored 21, Noah Morehouse 19 and Vinnie D’Agostino 12 to lead the Kendall attack as Ryan Gaesser added 9, Sammy Conte 8 and Jonny Conte and Caleb Opalecky 2 each.
Atticus Mack had 8 to lead Lyndonville as Devon Babcock had 5, Colton Smith 4 and Lane Woodworth, Lyric Raduns and Quincy McClinsey 2 each.
CJ Agostino scored 9 and Morehouse 6 in the opening period to spark Kendall out to a 21-8 lead.
Up by 16, 29-13, at the half, the Eagles broke the contest wide open in the third period by outpointing the Tigers 29-6 to race away to a 39 point, 58-19, advantage.
Morehouse had a pair of twos and a three, CJ D’Agostino two twos and a three-point play, Sammy Conte two threes, Vinnie D’Agostino a three, a two and a free throw and Gaesser a three during that uprising.
Improving to 13-6, Kendall will close out the regular season at Notre Dame on Wednesday.
Lyndonville, which is 4-15, will visit Lima Christian on Wednesday in the regular season finale.
Lyndonville’s Quincy McClinsey goes in for a shot as Kendall’s Noah Morehouse defends. Andrew D’Agostino moves in to support.
Kendall hopes for big crowd for alumni basketball game
More activities added to game on Tuesday in benefit for Senior Class
KENDALL – An alumni basketball game on Tuesday at Kendall is a chance for the community to gather and cheer on some Kendall graduates while also raising money for the senior class.
Kendall grads will tip off at 6:30 p.m. in a game at the junior-senior high gym. There is a $10 admission that includes a Gatorade and car decal.
The event will include more than the basketball game. The senior class has added more opportunities to have fun for the evening.
Karter May, a member of the Senior Class, wants to see a big crowd come out for the game and festivities. Proceeds will help the Senior Class which is planning a senior trip on June 9-11 in the Poconos. The fundraiser also helps with flowers at graduation and prom decorations.
Besides the game, the activities include:
- Bring a blank shirt and get a customized design for $5 to create your own Kendall Spirit Wear
- Halftime events include a chance to launch a rubber eagle from the bleachers. The three closest to the center of the gym floor win a prize basket
- Alumni cheer performance
- Mascot Photo Booth with the Kendall Eagle mascot
- Kendall temporary tattoos that are free to kids 10 and younger
- Limited edition Kendall merch – attire, drink ware, keychains, car decals, stickers and more
Doors open at 6 p.m. Spectators are urged to wear either a white or blue shirt.
Those interested in playing in the game can contact Phil Kludt through Facebook or call/text at 585-733-0240.
Undefeated Lady Hornets down Lady Rams
Building up a 30-12 half-time advantage, undefeated (19-0) Oakfield-Alabama downed visiting Roy-Hart (7-13) 70-33 in a non league girls basketball game this afternoon.
Hadley Hicks scored 16, Allison Harkness 13 and Emma Moeller 10 to lead the way for the Lady Hornets.
Adella Dukes scored 13, Courtney Aquilina 8 and Brooke Corser 4 for the Lady Rams.
Kendall will start ‘Hometown Heroes’ banner program the year
KENDALL – The Town of Kendall this year will start displaying banners celebrating veterans in the community along Kendall Road.
Kendall is joining other communities with “Hometown Hero” banners. Albion, Barre, Holley, Lyndonville and Medina all have been displaying banners of veterans for several years in Orleans County. Those banners are typically up before Memorial Day in May and on display until just after Veterans Day in November.
Kendall welcomes families to purchase a banner to recognize a loved one who has been in the military or is currently serving. The banners are $300. The Kendall Highway Department will hang the banners and they will be out in three cycles until the end of 2028.
Dave Bentley, a Kendall town councilman, said the town wants to honor veterans and also promote patriotism in the community, especially with this year being the 250th anniversary of the country’s declaration of independence.
Kendall is planning a big celebration for the 250th anniversary that will coincide with the Kendall Firemen’s Carnival. There will be a fireworks show on July 11 to conclude the milestone anniversary celebration for the country.
The banners will go from the four corners in downtown Kendall to near the intersection at Route 237 and Route 18. If there is more demand than spots available on Kendall Road, Bentley said some banners may be displayed on Route 18 going towards the junior-senior high school.
Those interested in a banner will need to fill out a one-page application at the Kendall Town Hall. For more information, call the Town Hall at (585) 659-8721 or email Bentley at dbentley@townofkendallny.gov.
2 charged, 1 wanted in self-storage burglary investigation in Clarendon
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
Erin Starkweather, left, and Antonio Suarez
CLARENDON – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is announcing significant developments in an ongoing investigation into a series of burglaries at Brockport-Clarendon Self-Storage, located at 4510 Hall Rd. in the Town of Clarendon.
On January 4, deputies responded to the storage facility following a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, patrol units observed numerous storage units that appeared to have been forcibly entered. As the investigation progressed, additional burglary and criminal mischief complaints were reported by multiple victims.
Erin Starkweather, 43, and Antonio Suarez, 38, were each arrested on a total of 23 charges, consisting of 13 felonies and 10 misdemeanors, including:
Felonies (13 total):
- 9 counts of Burglary in the Third Degree (Class D Felony)
- 1 count of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree (Class D Felony)
- 2 counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class D Felony)
- 1 count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (Class E Felony)
Misdemeanors (10 total):
- 3 counts of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree (Class A Misdemeanor)
- 6 counts of Petit Larceny (Class A Misdemeanor)
- 1 count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (Class A Misdemeanor)
Both Erin Starkweather and Antonio Suarez were processed at the Orleans County Jail and held for CAP court arraignment. They were subsequently released on their own recognizance.
Phillip L. Martinez
Phillip L. Martinez, 22, remains wanted by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and has an active arrest warrant for the same charges.
Anyone with information regarding Martinez’s whereabouts or related to this ongoing investigation is encouraged to contact the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office at (585) 589-5527.
Medina approves art installations for 2 parks, but holds off on Gulf Street site for now
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has given its blessing for the Medina Triennial to have art installations at State Street Park and Rotary Park, but the board is holding off approval for sculptures at Gulf Street Park.
Those sculptures would be close to the playground equipment at Gulf Street, and might be taking away too much of the play area for kids, two of the park’s neighbors told the board recently.
The board has asked leaders of the Triennial to see if other areas of the park farther away from the playground, or perhaps even a different site would work for the sculpture.
Two nearby residents, Jim Hibbard and Ron Stork, both spoke during a recent board meeting, saying they didn’t think the sculptures should be so close to the playground.
Stork said there would be several tall sculptures that would take up a big footprint at the park. He suggested the Triennial put the art installation at State Street Park. He also wondered inf the installation would stay after the Triennial, which runs from June 6 to Sept. 7 and is expected to bring 50,000 visitors to Medina.
Organizers have said some of the installations could stay long-term, but that is up to the village or the host property.
The debut of the Medina Triennial will feature works from 35 different artists at 12 sites in the community. Organizers are trying to keep the locations within a 15-minute walk of each other.
At State Street Park, the Village Board approved a project that will have barnacles resting on top of four slate boulders. Barnacles are strong indicators of water quality and the sculpture symbolizes the power of natural materials to filter and purify water. The sculpture will be created in Buffalo and transported into Medina.
The artist making this sculpture created a similar piece for a biennial in the United Kingdom, said Triennial co-artistic director Karin Laansoo. She spoke at the Jan. 15 board meeting.
The artists’ names haven’t been officially announced yet. The Triennial expects to announce the artists and their projects in March and April.
At Rotary Park, the Triennial wants to feature a shed-like sculpture filled with handmade objects for birds, including nesting materials and perches.
The shed is 7 feet tall and about 4 ½ feet wide. The sculpture will have a protective plexiglass screen attached to the front to protect the contents inside. Laansoo said this sculpture is whimsical and shows the artists’ sense of humor.
At Gulf Street Park, an artist wants to create a sculpture stacked with stone pillars. The artist is working with students from the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning. They want to locate unused Medina Sandstone, scan that in 3D and assemble the stone into precise sculptures through computational processes.
Mark Prawel, a Medina village trustee, said the sculpture will result in extra work for the DPW to mow around the objects.
Matt Hollenback, the Triennial’s head producer, said the Triennial is looking to finalize sites to showcase this art installation and others.
“We want to do something that makes sense for Medina,” he told the board. “We want something that people can interact and connect with.”
Gillibrand seeks to modernize WIC program
Legislation would allow certification through secure phone or video appointments
Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the 21st Century WIC Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at modernizing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) while strengthening safeguards to ensure benefits are delivered to those who need them.
The legislation allows WIC participants to complete certification and recertification through secure phone or video appointments, while still requiring at least one in-person visit to ensure personalized support and necessary health screenings.
Through the use of technology, the legislation expands access for busy families, reduces barriers like lack of transportation and time off work, and brings WIC into the next generation for moms and their children.
“No child in America should go hungry. Making WIC work better for families is one of the most effective ways we can help children and mothers get the nutrition they need to thrive,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Families shouldn’t face unnecessary barriers when we have the technology to improve WIC participation. By providing greater flexibility for WIC participants, we can ensure red tape doesn’t stand in the way of parents working to put food on the table. I’m proud to partner with Senator Marshall to introduce this bipartisan legislation and support families across the country.”
The two waivers proposed to be codified in this bill would:
- Allow participants to get WIC certification or recertification through video, teleconference, or phone.
- Allow participants to receive their WIC benefits on WIC EBT cards through mail or remote issuance instead of physically picking up or reloading benefits in person at a WIC office.
The legislation also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress outlining the uses of remote technologies, the impact of remote technologies, and best practices.
“For families in rural Kansas and across the country, repeated trips to a government office can be a real hardship,” said Senator Marshall. “This legislation keeps an important in-person safeguard while using modern technology to cut waste, prevent abuse, and make sure WIC works the way it should — efficiently, responsibly, and with compassion for the families it serves.”
“21st century families need 21st century care. Virtual WIC services are critical to lowering barriers so families can access healthy foods, breastfeeding support, and health referrals. Research by the National WIC Association and the Nutrition Policy Institute found that 80% of participants surveyed said virtual services reduced preexisting barriers like transportation. The 21st Century WIC Act will help ensure families, especially in rural areas, can continue accessing WIC while maintaining the highest standards of program integrity. We are so grateful to Senators Marshall and Gillibrand for their leadership on this key issue,” said Georgia Machell, President and CEO, National WIC Association.
Natural gas leak prompts precautionary evacuation of 20 homes at Applewood in Medina
Photo from Medina FD: Medina firefighters evacuated more than 20 homes after a natural gas meter was damaged by falling ice.
MEDINA – A residential gas meter that was damaged by falling ice from a roof resulted in an uncontrolled gas leak at Applewood Mobile Home Estates on Sunday afternoon.
Medina firefighters were dispatched at 4:48 p.m. for a reported natural gas leak at 1 Pebbleridge Drive, with the caller noting a strong smell and sound of gas outside.
Upon arrival Medina firefighters detected a strong odor of natural gas. Medina firefighters notified Orleans County dispatchers and requested an expedited response from New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG).
At the same time, firefighters conducted door-to-door notifications and safely evacuated more than 20 nearby homes as a precaution, ensuring the immediate area was cleared until the hazard could be mitigated, said Steve Cooley, the Medina fire chief.
Due to the extent of the damage to the meter, firefighters were unable to shut off the gas supply and were required to await NYSEG personnel to secure the leak, Cooley said.
Medina firefighters kept Engine 11 and Engine 12 strategically positioned on either side of the incident scene and supplied by a nearby fire hydrant as a precautionary measure to ensure immediate fire suppression capability if needed, Cooley said.
NYSEG representatives arrived on scene and worked to safely stop the flow of natural gas, he said.
Albion and Roy-Hart/Barker have state wrestling championship qualifiers
Albion’s Stryker Sanders has earned a return trip to the state Division 2 wrestling championships by placing second at the Section VI state qualifier which concluded this evening at SUNY Fredonia.
Rebounding from a narrow 1-0 loss in his championship match, Sanders scored a 9-5 decision victory in the “True Second” match to advance to the states.
Sanders opened the tournament with a pair of pins and then scored a decision victory in the semifinals.
Albion also had Justin Mengs (110) place third and Jaxon Lynch (150) fourth.
Roy-Hart/Barker’s RJ Townsnd likewise rebounded from a title bout loss by pin to score a pin of 5:26 in his “True Second” match to advance to the states.
Townsend advanced to the final with two pins and a decision win.
Medina’s Luke Duffina (138) also placed third.
Roy-Hart also had Luke Fay (138) finish sixth.
Akron’s Joey Burg won the 165 lb. title scoring a technical fall, a pin and two decision wins in his four matches.
Akron also had Alex Brandl (138) place fifth.
Newfane had Jake Morello (150) place second and Jonah Morello (103) and Rian Czaja (126) sixrh.
Wilson had Victor Cusatis (150) place third and Roman Zarbo (110) fourth.
Albion Rotary serving up all-you-eat pancakes for Shrove Tuesday
ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club is trying a new fundraiser and community event on Tuesday and people are invited to gorge on all-you-can-eat pancakes.
The Shrove Tuesday or “Fat Tuesday” eating fest has been popular in many churches, a time to partake in very sweet food just before the start of lent on Wednesday, a 40-day fasting season.
The pancakes will be served by the Albion Rotary from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church, 29 East State St. in Albion. There will be options for fruit toppings, chocolate, peanut butter, and different flavored syrups.
The pancakes also come with sausage, bacon and applesauce. Tickets are $10 presale from Rotary members, $12 at the door, and $5 for kids 12 and under.
Marlene Seielstad, a Rotary member, hopes there will be a big crowd eating at the church fellowship hall. There will be Mardi Gras decorations and a fun atmosphere, a nice break from the recent brutal winter weather, she said. People can also get their pancakes to go.
The Shrove Tuesday event will replace Rotary’s St. Patrick’s Ham Dinner in March.
“We wanted to offer something different to the community,” Seielstad said. “We hope people will bring their friends and neighbors. Everyone wants to have some fun in February.”
Too few jobs with data center despite big tax breaks, consumption of resources
Editor:
Several years ago, the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) decided to place an industrial park next to the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation’s Reservation Territory, right on the border of its biodiverse old-growth Big Woods.
The GCEDC said it would create 9,000 good-paying jobs. But to date, they have created zero.
Recently, Stream Data Centers is proposing to build a 2.2 million square foot, 500 megawatt data center. And how many jobs would they create? 125. And how much in tax breaks are they asking for? $810 million. Which translates into roughly $6.4 million per job.
This is so outrageous that even our state environmental conservation agency has put GCEDC on notice.
In a recent letter to GCEDC, DEC set forth rigorous and meaningful requirements for GCEDC’s environmental review of the monster data center.
For the first time, the DEC is directing GCEDC to conduct a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the STAMP site as a whole and for data centers specifically. This guidance represents a meaningful turning point for environmental review at STAMP and answers the Nation’s decade-long call for a robust SEIS for STAMP.
Moreover, DEC points out numerous gaps of information and inconsistencies in the plans that STREAM has submitted so far, and raised numerous important additional details that STREAM and GCEDC will have to provide in order to complete SEQR review.
And: DEC states that GCEDC must analyze how a massive data center providing just 125 jobs (they say 120, the number listed in the original application) jobs is consistent with the original goal of the STAMP site to provide 9,000 jobs.
Well done, DEC! I’m glad to see the agency calling out GCEDC for their failed promises and challenging them to justify how building an environmentally harmful, energy wasting data center using taxpayer subsidies is good for the public.
Nationwide opposition to data centers is growing. According to datacenterwatch.org, $64 billion of data center projects have been blocked or delayed.
Nobody wants them in their back yard and yet the GCEDC and other organizations are offering huge incentives for the companies to bring data centers to their communities.
Most of these communities are rural and important agricultural areas.
We oppose this monster data center and ask GCEDC to rethink STAMP. Why not build a Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary and a native plant nursery?
People are wanting more native plants and more protection of our food and water sources.
Join the Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation alliesoftsn.weebly.com and tell GCEDC and Stream absolutely not!
Evelyn Wackett
Buffalo
Medina officials split on moving village elections to June
Board may vote Feb. 23 on whether to put it as a referendum on March 18
MEDINA – Will the public get a say in whether the village moves its elections from March to June?
The Village Board is expected to vote on Feb. 23 whether the issue will be a referendum in the March 18 election.
During Monday’s board meeting, Mayor Marguerite Sherman and Trustee Jess Marciano said they favor putting it to a public vote.
Trustees Deb Padoleski, Mark Prawel and Scott Bieliski all said they favor keeping the election in March.
Marciano has led the effort to move the village elections back three months. She said the timing would be better for incoming board members who could ease into their roles of the running the village government.
With the election the third week in March, the elected board members start their terms on April 1 and then are tasked with putting together the village’s budget by April 30.
Marciano said that isn’t a good fit to have inexperienced people developing the village’s budget and setting the tax rate.
Other forms of local government – town boards, county legislature, fire districts and school boards – all have their elected officials start terms after the budgets have been developed.
Padoleski, a retired Medina village-clerk treasurer, said she is “hesitant” to put the issue to a public vote on March 18. She said the election would add more work to the clerk’s office in June during what is already a very busy time in the office.
Padoleski said it is beneficial for the new board members to have a say in the budget process. If the election was the third Tuesday in June – after the village fiscal year starts on June 1 – the newly elected board members “work with a budget you had nothing to do with.”
Prawel also said new board members gain a deeper understanding of the village government by being part of the budget process and working with the department heads on the spending plan for the village.
“I think you should be part of the budget process,” Prawel said. “It certainly helped me.”
Mayor Sherman said the public sits in many of the budget discussions and often offers feedback. But Prawel said that is different than having a seat at the table and making budget decisions.
Moving the election back would also mean warmer weather for the vote, and when candidates are out securing signatures for their petitions and campaigning. The candidate petitions – signed by at least 100 registered voters in the village – currently are due in early February.
Bieliski acknowledged the winter season is tough on candidates for getting signatures and going door to door. But he said he wouldn’t want to take office and have to work with a budget put together by the prior board.
“I’d rather work with a budget I created than one handed to me,” he said.
Marciano said she believes village residents ultimately get a better budget product with experienced board members working on the budget.
She said she will introduce the resolution on Feb. 23 to move the elections to June. If at least three of the five board members back that resolution, it would be on the March 18 ballot and would take effect in 2027.
“Let’s see how the residents feel and put it on the ballot,” Sherman said.
RBM hockey team bows in playoff opener
The Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina Club Hockey Knights made their way to Jamestown Saturday evening in their opening game of this season’s playoffs and suffered a 4-1 defeat, ending their season.
Getting on the board first at the 9:11 point of the opening period, RBM’s goal was scored by Ryan Felicetti (Wilson) with the assist from Connor Woodward (Wilson).
That lead lasted for a short period of time before Jamestown tied the score which saw the opening period end at 1-1.
That was the closest RBM would be for the night.
Jamestown scored two goals in the second period and a shorthanded goal in the final period.
Jamestown outshot RBM 45-29 for the entire contest.
The Knights ended the season with a record of 5-11-1.
