Provided photo: Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti, Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Angelo Morinello and Assemblyman Michael Norris.
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
LOCKPORT – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Assembly Members Angelo Morinello and Mike Norris, and Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti today called for changes to the state’s bail laws after two alleged scammers – who are in the country illegally – were released back into the community yesterday, and also reiterated their calls for changes to the disastrous criminal justice “reforms” pushed by Democrats that have led to increased crime in communities.
In this case for example, judges were unable to set bail under the new law. However, since the culprits were in the country illegally, they were held temporarily under a federal detainer.
Last week, the North Tonawanda Police Department received a call from a resident about a potential scammer pretending to be a law enforcement official who was attempting to get her to pay $40,000. Thanks to the quick work of the NT Police Department, they were able to set up surveillance and arrest the scammers, who were charged with a class D felony.
Unfortunately, due to New York’s bail laws, these individuals were only eligible to be given appearance tickets under state law. Thanks to the quick thinking of the presiding judge, a federal detainer was able to be implemented, allowing law enforcement to hold these individuals while federal paperwork was processed. After the processing of the paperwork, the two individuals, who reside outside of Philadelphia, were released on their own recognizance.
“This incident is a perfect example of how our state’s bail laws have failed the residents of New York State,” Ortt said. “The presiding judge being able to hold these individuals on a federal detainer for a short while, but now these two men that are here illegally to begin with, have been released back into the community to potentially do more harm.”
“For quite some time I have been calling for change to bail reform along with other criminal justice reforms in New York State,” Filicetti said. “Law enforcement needs to have a seat at the table and have input when criminal justice reforms are being considered. Thus far, drastic changes have been made without considering the impacts on public safety. The time is now to put our victims first and have serious discussions on reforms that work for all of us.”
The officials also issued a word of caution to help residents from being victimized by potential scammers. They advised the community to never give out personal or financial information over the phone, and to contact the local authorities if they are suspicious that they may be the target of a scam.
“The governor and state legislature must repeal these ‘so-called’ bail reform laws and implement the dangerous standard now so judges and law enforcement are given the tools again to protect our communities,” Norris said.
MEDINA – The next Medina Lindy in the Village will host a “Swing Pink” themed Lindy Hop swing dance with proceeds from the event on Thursday going to support breast cancer research.
DJ Tommy Sprinkles of Swing Buffalo will serve up romantic jazz hits of yore for area dancers in Bent’s historic opera space, decorated in a pink theme symbolizing breast cancer awareness. All dance levels including beginner and spectator are welcome from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
The “Swing Pink” dance event is the first of this year’s Medina Lindy in the Village themed dances. While Lindy Hop swing dances have become a regular monthly fixture at Bent’s since their August inception, this event is the first to use dance to raise money for a cause and the first hosted solely by Medina Lindy in the Village.
A free beginner lesson at 6:30 will be included as part of the evening’s festivities, with the dance itself immediately following at 7:30. Tickets for the dance are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and $30 for family households, all of which include the free lesson before the dance.
Medina resident Phil Berry formed Medina Lindy in the Village to spread Lindy Hop social dancing through monthly dances and free group and one-on-one instruction, and to keep social dancers informed of learning and practice opportunities in the Niagara-Orleans area.
“When Medina Lindy asked me if I would provide the music for a dance with such an important cause, it was an easy decision,” said DJ Tommy Sprinkles, who is donating his services for the benefit dance. “We’ll have a lot of fun on the dance floor while doing some good.”
“In response to the strong turnout we’ve seen from the younger community and families, we are offering reduced pricing for students and families,” Berry said. “The number of youth and families that have started to join us for these dances has shown us there is a great interest in wholesome community activities for all ages, such as swing dancing. We hope our adjusted pricing will allow these new dancers to keep on attending, and will attract even more students and families to join in the fun.”
Bent’s has modified its role in these monthly swing dances. Rather than functioning as the host, Bent’s now provides advantageous pricing to Medina Lindy in the Village so they can better execute on their dance- and community-centered vision.
Medina Lindy plans to continue holding these monthly dances on the third Thursday throughout 2023 in addition to offering additional free group lessons at Bent’s on the first three Mondays of each month.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2023 at 4:13 pm
Village officials open to exploring fire district to oversee fire protection for Albion, Gaines
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Albion Fire Department ladder truck was utilized on Jan. 29 for a chimney fire in Gaines at a house at the intersection of Route 279 and Route 104.
ALBION – The Village Board is mulling how to pay for two new fire trucks that together could be close to $3 million.
The Albion Fire Department has been strongly urging the village in recent years to prepare for replacing a ladder truck from 1996 and a pumper from 1992. Another pumper is 16 years old.
Former Fire Chief Harry Papponetti said current estimates for a new ladder truck are $1.7 million and $900,000 for a new pumper. And it could take three or four years for a new truck to get built because of a shortage of materials.
Papponetti and the fire department leaders have suggested a ladder truck with pumper capabilities and a new pumper. Those two truck would replace the ladder truck and the two current pumpers.
The fire department is funded by village taxpayers, with the towns of Albion and Gaines also paying a fire protection contract.
Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said too much of the department’s budget is on village taxpayers. She would like to see the village pursue Papponetti’s suggestion of a fire district that would include the village and two towns. The contributions to department’s budget would be based on the tax base in each municipality.
Riley thinks it would be a fairer way to finance the department.
The Village Board would like to hear more on the pros and cons of the fire district. It would operate under oversight of elected fire commissioners, instead of the Village Board. The board of commissioners could be set up so each municipality has representation.
The Village Board is looking at the costs of financing the trucks through bonds, including what the annual debt payment would be depending on the duration of the bond and the amount.
Papponetti said the older fire trucks have diminishing value but increasing costs for repairs and maintenance. The ladder truck was recently out of commission for three weeks for a $22,000 engine repair. Papponetti estimated the 27-year-old truck is only worth about $30,000 now.
The cost of the fire trucks has escalated in the past generation. Papponetti said the ladder truck was $525,000 in 1996 and now would be three times that price or even more.
He sees as fire district as a way to expand the tax base in supporting the fire department, giving the volunteers the needed equipment to respond to fires and other emergencies.
MEDINA – A Medina man is facing drug and weapons after search warrants on Wednesday by several law enforcement agencies.
Xavier Hand
Xavier Hand, 26, has been charged after an investigation into the sale and distribution of fentanyl pills disguised as prescription oxycodone pills, disguised Xanax bars and high-grade marijuana, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported today.
The Task Force, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, the Medina Police Department and the Medina Police K9 executed search warrants at 11655 Million Dollar Highway storage units in the town of Ridgeway and at Hand’s residence at 510 West Ave., apt. 5a in the village of Medina.
Law enforcement seized 114 fentanyl pills disguised as Oxycodone pills, over 2,000 disguised Xanax bars, over a half of pound of Psilocybin mushrooms, over 14 pounds of high-grade marijuana, over $ 156,000 in cash, a loaded .40 caliber semi-auto pistol, scales, numerous packaging material and other drug paraphernalia.
Hand has been charged with 1 count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (class B felony), 1 count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (class D felony) and 1 count of criminal possession of weapon in the second degree loaded firearm (class C felony).
Hand was arraigned in CAP court by the Murray Town Justice Ted Spada Jr. and was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $2,000 cash bail. Hand is currently on Orleans County probation and a probation violation warrant was filed with the Orleans County Jail.
He was again arraigned in CAP court by Albion Town Justice Gary Moore on the probation violation and was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.
Assisting in the investigation was the Orleans County Probation Department, the State Police, the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Agency and the Albion Police Department K9.
This investigation is ongoing, and further charges pending lab results and further arrests are pending, the Task Force said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2023 at 10:09 am
ALBION – Several Democrats, including the party’s chairman and vice chairman, asked the Orleans County Legislature to try again with a redistricting proposal, and eliminate three at-large or countywide positions.
The Democrats’ leadership said the current makeup of the Legislature – four district positions and three at-large posts – should be changed to seven district positions with no at-large legislators.
“At-large districts, due to their larger size, tend to make it much more difficult for a candidate with limited resources to prevail in an election,” said Jim Renfrew, vice chairman of the Democratic Party. “We believe that at-large districts look too much like a strategy to marginalize minority views.”
Jeff Lewis, chairman of the Orleans County Democratic Party, speaks during Thursday’s public hearing at the legislative chambers of the Orleans County Office Building. He asked the Legislature to eliminate the three at-large positions and instead have seven districts of the same population.
Democrats, which are outnumbered by registered Republicans by a 2-to-1 ratio in the county, are at a competitive disadvantage in county-wide races. Having smaller district positions would make the races less daunting for Democrats and other candidates. In some elections, the entire seven-member Legislature is unopposed. Rarely do more than two legislators have opposition.
“Orleans is the only county in New York that has at-large legislative districts,” Renfrew said. “While there may have been a reason for designing them this way fifty years ago, they diminish democracy in the present time. I think there should be seven districts of equal population, and none of them at-large.”
The redistricting proposal keeps the three at-large positions. There is an at-large legislator from the east end (currently Ed Morgan of Murray), one from the central (currently Don Allport of Gaines) and one from the west end (currently Skip Draper of Shelby.
The county’s population in the 2020 census was 40,343. For redistricting, the 1,456 population in the two state prisons is taken out. That puts the county total at 38,891 for redistricting. Dividing that by the four legislative districts puts the ideal district at 9,723.
With the current district boundaries there would be an 11.7 percent population variance, which is above the 5 percent threshold allowed.
The county worked with Skyline Demographic Consultants, Inc. to bring the four legislative districts within an acceptably close size.
Courtesy of Orleans County Legislature: This map shows a plan for four of the districts for the Orleans County Legislature.
David Schaefer, vice president with Skyline, went over the changes in the districts to bring them within an acceptable size.
The county is looking to add part of western Murray to a district that currently is the towns of Albion and Gaines (currently filled by Fred Miller, the lone Democrat on the Legislature). That gives the Albion-Gaines (District 3) more people and also takes away from District 4 that includes Murray, Kendall and Carlton (currently filled by John Fitzak). The Murray section that is added to District 3 includes 522 people from Murray’s election district 5.
During the last redistricting about a decade ago, the county added a small part of Shelby to District 2 that included Yates and Ridgeway (currently served by Lynne Johnson). This time the county is looking to move more of that area back into District 1, the Shelby-Barre-Clarendon district (represented by Bill Eick). That represents a shift of 418 people.
The three at-large countywide positions don’t legally require any changes because they represent the same population – the entire county.
The Legislature is expected to vote on the redistricting changes during its 4:30 p.m. meeting on Feb. 21. The county is under pressure to get the changes approved because candidates for the position are already going through the endorsement process and soon will be circulating petitions to run.
The Orleans County Democratic Party in December filed a lawsuit to demand the county move forward with redistricting. County officials said the process was already under way before the lawsuit was filed.
“Why a lawsuit?” Renfrew said during the public hearing. “It shows that we are very serious about our concerns, and it gets your attention.”
Jeff Lewis, the Democratic Party chairman, asked the Legislature to “go back to the drawing board” and have a Legislature with seven equally sized districts. He said those districts would be more “community centric where people would know their representative.”
Jason Dragon of the Village of Albion said the current Legislature pushes projects outside the villages. He would like to see districts with a stronger voice for villages. The county, for example, does little to assist villages with their very high tax rates, Dragon said.
Dennis Seekins of Lyndonville urges the Legislature to change the makeup into seven legislative districts instead of the current four with three at-large positions.
Jess Marciano, a Medina village trustee and Democratic Committee member, said eliminating the at-large districts and having more legislative districts would result in smaller areas for the legislators. Instead of districts with an ideal size of 9,723 with four districts they would be 5,556 with seven districts. Marciano said eliminating the at-large positions and having more districts might result in smaller populated towns, such as Barre and Clarendon, having a legislator from that town.
The current makeup includes two legislators from Shelby, two from Gaines, and one each from Yates, Carlton and Murray. Renfrew said it’s odd with the current setup that some towns can have two people on the Legislature while one end of the county (the east side) has one person total.
Marciano asked that there be a non-partisan commission with county residents to determine the lines for the districts, without the county relying solely on a consultant.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2023 at 7:52 am
Stacey Kirby Steward has completed several projects at library
Photos by Tom Rivers: Stacey Kirby Steward was up high on scaffolding in the Hoag Library on June 20, 2020, working on a mural of three swans flying over the countryside in Albion.
ALBION – Stacey Kirby Steward’s artwork has been a part of Hoag Library since it opened on July 7, 2012.
On Feb. 17 at 4:30 p.m., the library will host a reception to celebrate Steward’s artwork and give the public a chance to meet the artist, an Albion native who lives in Spencerport.
Stacey Kirby Steward designed a stained-glass window for the library with a swan.
Her first project was designing a stained-glass window featuring a swan, a gift to the new library from Bill Lattin. The window paid homage to the public library’s first 112 years as the Swan Library, in a former mansion.
The library moved into the new 14,600-square-foot building just over a decade ago. The building is about 2.5 times the size of the former Swan site. It has lots of room for art, and Steward has filled some of those spaces.
In June 2020, she completed a 23-foot-long mural in the Curtis Room at Hoag Library. The library’s main meeting room displays the large painting of three swans soaring over the Albion countryside with the Gaines Basin Road bridge in the background.
The family of the late Marion Moore paid the artist fee for the mural of the swans in flight over Albion. Moore served as director of the Swan Library from 1961 to 1973.
Besides the three swans flying over the Erie Canal, the painting also highlights the farm fields, Lake Ontario and a cobblestone schoolhouse. Steward used a drone to get aerial views of Albion, looking down on the area near the Gaines Basin Road canal bridge.
In her latest project, Kirby painted six paintings of different animals reading well-known books. She showed the animals in their environment, reading the books for inspiration. There are raccoons consulting a cookbook while making a concoction of soup, for example. In another painting, a skunk reads Dale Carnegie’s self-improvement book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.
A grant from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) funded the project.
Hoag Library executive director Betty Sue Miller, left, and Stacey Kirby Steward last week hold her painting of a beaver building a dam. The beaver consults “Cathedral” by David Macaulay. In this critically acclaimed book, Macaulay uses pen and ink drawings to show the construction of a great medieval cathedral, the imaginary Cathedral of Chutreaux. It is one of six new paintings created by Steward at the library.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 February 2023 at 11:11 pm
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health celebrated a milestone Thursday in the life of a patient at Medina Memorial Hospital.
Harold “Nick” Nickson was born Feb. 9, 1923 in Preston, England. Upon learning it was his birthday, the nursing team at the hospital’s patient care unit picked up balloons to help him celebrate.
Harold “Nick” Nickson celebrated his 100th birthday at Medina Memorial Hospital with his wife Linda, left, and daughter-in-law Becky.
He is a British veteran who served in the Navy during World War II. He moved to the United States around the age of 35.
“I loved America because the people were always so kind and good to me,” Nickson said.
He would later meet his wife, Linda, who he worked with at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. They were married in 1985.
Nick was also an avid soccer “football” player, something he enjoyed until he turned 50. He played in the UK, Boston, California, Mexico and New York. In addition to his career, he was part of the Bedford Hills Fire Department.
Nick and Linda moved to the Medina area to be closer to family, especially their daughter-in-law Becky. Becky and Linda described Nick as a “kind man who never asked for anything in return – a true gem.”
Amanda Luckman from Orleans Community Health asked Nick what it took to reach 100 years of age. He replied, “To be with the one you love and the one who loves you.”
“I just hope if I make it to 80 I look as young as Nick does at 100,” said Scott Robinson, director of Marketing at Orleans Community Health.
Provided photo from GLOW With Your Hands: dan Ireland, president of the United Memorial Medical center in Batavia, speaks during a news conference today at GCC about the upcoming healthcare exploration event.
BATAVIA – The success of GLOW With Your Hands in workforce recruitment in the manufacturing sector and the urgent workforce need for healthcare providers has once again brought businesses, educational organizations, and economic development agencies from across the region to collaborate to provide an incredible opportunity for GLOW region students to learn about the careers in their own backyard in the healthcare sector.
Approximately 600 students in grades 8-12 from 28 schools will gather at Genesee Community College on March 24 to connect with various healthcare businesses and organizations to learn about the multitude of gratifying jobs in healthcare and science-related fields throughout the GLOW region.
“Our collaboration once again focuses on supplying GLOW region employers with the resources that will facilitate the ongoing development of our future healthcare workforce,” said Karyn Winters, director of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance Director and Co-Chair of GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare. “We are very excited to provide another hands-on career exploration experience for students across the GLOW region.”
Healthcare is an essential component of the regional economy as evidenced by various developments and expansions across the GLOW area. GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare will provide the healthcare sector with the opportunity to meet and recruit its future workforce as these projects are completed and start operations.
“The GLOW region gives United Memorial Medical Center access to an educated, well-trained workforce because of our partners in the private sector, which is why we continue to make significant investments in the area,” said Dan Ireland, president of United Memorial Medical Center. “These investments will create hundreds of new jobs and we need the next generation of workforce candidates to fill them.”
“We are all aware of the current challenges in the healthcare sector, especially in rural areas such as the GLOW region,” said Angela Grouse, Education to Employment Director at the Livingston County Area Chamber and Co-Chair of GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare. “Our goal is to showcase local healthcare organizations and businesses to our students as they plan to start their careers so they can be a part of the workforce solution.”
“We are always trying to find new strategies and services that prepare our students to enter the workforce upon graduation,” said Justin Dueppengiesser, Executive Director, Wyoming County Business Education Council. “The GLOW region is special because we have so many organizations working together that passionately want to find job and career opportunities for our youth to keep them here.”
Students will also have the opportunity to interact with colleges, universities, and secondary and post-secondary training programs to learn about the career pathways offered through these academic institutions.
“It means so much to our GCC community, as not only do students get to interact with local healthcare organizations to learn about different careers, but this also gives us a chance to expose GLOW region students to affordable options available at our college that can lead to good-paying careers in the healthcare sector,” said Maureen Welch, Director of Respiratory Care at Genesee Community College.
Various healthcare businesses and organizations have demonstrated their appreciation of the value of this event with generous support including: ESL Federal Credit Union, Livingston County Area Chamber Of Commerce: Education to Employment, Wyoming County Community Health Services Skilled Nursing Facility, Rochester Regional Health, M & T Bank, UR Medicine | Noyes Health, Workforce Development Institute, Lifetime Assistance, Blossom Modern Home Care Solutions, Batavia Downs, Episcopal Senior Life Communities, VNA of WNY, and the Iroquois Job Corps.
There are still sponsorship opportunities for the March 24th event at the Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($2,500), Silver ($1,000) and Bronze ($500) levels.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 February 2023 at 3:58 pm
Flowers, murals would help soften blighting effect from jail
ALBION – What were they thinking? In 1970 the leaders of the county government put up perhaps the most unsightly building in these parts, and they put it in the heart of the Courthouse Square – some of our best real estate.
The Orleans County Jail, a concrete monstrosity, sits on the Square with the County Courthouse, the Clerks’ Building, seven churches, the U.S. Post Office, the former Swan Library and other impressive sites. The Courthouse Square with its 34 buildings is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Courthouse Square represents the best of the community’s creativity, wealth and ambition in the 1850s to early 1900s. We were a community daring to dream big back then. For example, the Presbyterian Church, with a steeple reaching 175 feet high, is the tallest building in the county. It was built in 1874.
This photo from a drone was taken in February 2017 by Elliott Neidert. It shows some of the Courthouse Square, including the county jail in the lower left.
But, about 100 years later, the county leaders put a giant turd among our best buildings. No effort was made to fit in with the other neighboring structures. We didn’t need an opulent jail. But the county couldn’t have missed the mark more with this building. They put a blight on the landscape with a building that resembles a big boring box.
The Courthouse Square is an amazing achievement by the residents in the 19th Century. Buildings constructed with flourishes – columns, arches, even a dome. There are 43 Tiffany stained-glass windows at one church and a large rose window at another facing Main Street. The folks back then didn’t do the cheapest thing or most cost-effective possible. And they didn’t build with a “sameness” that is so typical in small towns and suburbs today.
Photo from Orleans County Department of History: The previous county jail was built in 1903 out of Medina Sandstone and was demolished for a new jail in 1970.
The jail was done in an architectural style dismissively called “brutalism” by former County Historian Bill Lattin.
In retrospect, the county leaders would have better served the community by keeping the jail built in 1903 from Medina Sandstone. It could have been repurposed as an administrative office for the Sheriff’s Department, or other county offices. The new ugly jail could have been built elsewhere in Albion – away from the masses.
Yes, it is terrible. But what can we do to make it better, to give something back to the Courthouse Square, to not be such a scourge?
I would suggest at the minimum some landscaping with flowers, bushes, shrubs or small trees on front side of the building facing Platt Street, especially on the north half closer to State Street. The other half of the building closer to Park Street has a few small trees, but that side could use an uplift as well. I would mobilize the master gardeners and have them work some of their magic.
I’m a big fan of public art and I think murals would make a dramatic difference on this building. There are long walls of concrete on the first floor of the building. Two long murals on each side would make the site far less depressing and soul-crushing. Or it might be better to have four or five smaller murals rather than two long ones.
Photo by Tom Rivers: These fruit trees are in blossom in the spring of 2018 at Watt Farms in Albion. A mural of an orchard in bloom would enliven the exterior of the county jail.
There could be an Erie Canal theme on the one side. I would suggest a tugboat with a lift bridge in the background. The other long mural could be an agricultural scene. You can’t go wrong showing fruit trees in blossom. The murals would highlight part of the Albion landscape.
The county should seek proposals from the artist community. They may have better ideas on how to make the building better blend in with a historic district and not stick out like such a sore thumb.
The county will officially be 200 years old in 2025. These murals could be part of a bicentennial celebration.
The residents from more than a century ago embraced creativity and wanted the buildings to inspire the community. It’s not too late for the jail to give off some positivity.
Dr. Jeffery Kelly, a 1978 Medina graduate, won a prestigious award for his work in chemistry. (Photo from Scripps Research)
LA JOLLA, CA — Jeffery Kelly, PhD, the Lita Annenberg Hazen Professor of Chemistry at Scripps Research, has been awarded the distinguished 2023 Wolf Prize in Chemistry.
The honor recognizes Kelly’s research developing therapeutic strategies that amend misfolded proteins that toxically aggregate in the body—a hallmark of many severe diseases, including Alzheimer’s.
Kelly shares this award with Chuan He, PhD, University of Chicago, and Hiroaki Suga, PhD, University of Tokyo, for “pioneering discoveries that illuminate the functions and pathological dysfunctions of RNA and proteins and for creating strategies to harness the capabilities of these biopolymers in new ways to ameliorate human diseases.”
“Receiving the Wolf Prize was a genuine surprise and is an immense privilege, especially considering all the incredible scientists who could have been chosen and who have been chosen before me,” Kelly says. “I am grateful to the remarkable scientists who selected me for this award, to numerous gifted trainees in my laboratory for their creative experimental contributions, and to my Scripps Research colleagues for cultivating the discovery culture that has made me a better scientist.”
In the award citation, the Wolf Foundation highlighted Kelly’s work in “developing a new and clinically impactful strategy to ameliorate disease caused by pathological protein aggregation.” Kelly has had a significant impact in understanding how proteins fold, misfold and aggregate in toxic quantities in the blood, the foundation noted, which leads to a host of severe diseases affecting both the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
With these key insights, Kelly and his lab have focused on translating their discoveries into therapies that can help alleviate these conditions. This includes the FDA-approved drug tafamidis (Vyndaqel® and Vyndamax®): a treatment that slows the progression of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (a neurodegenerative disease), and familial and sporadic TTR cardiomyopathy disease (a condition that ultimately causes heart failure).
“Kelly’s foundational research into protein folding homeostasis and novel therapeutic discoveries have made a global impact, which this award helps showcase,” said Peter Schultz, PhD, Scripps Family Chair Professor and President and CEO of Scripps Research. “His pioneering, multifaceted work—which is at the intersection of chemistry, biology and biophysics—has not only transformed the scientific world, but more importantly, has shaped the lives of countless patients.”
Kelly has won numerous additional awards and honors for his groundbreaking research in protein folding mechanics and multi-disciplinary therapeutic strategies. This includes the 2022 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the 2021 Royal Society Robert Robinson Award in Synthetic Organic Chemistry–SuFEx team, the Edward E. Smissman Award from the American Chemical Society and the 2016 American Institute of Chemists Chemical Pioneer Award, among many others.
Kelly earned his PhD in organic chemistry at the University of North Carolina and went on to Rockefeller University for postdoctoral work. He also graduated from Fredonia in 1982. He joined Scripps Research in 1997 and served as dean of the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences from 2000 to 2008.
“I thank the Wolf Foundation for celebrating humankind’s quest for basic scientific knowledge and for creating an awareness in young people through this award that pursuing fundamental knowledge is fun and wholesomely addictive,” Kelly said.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Kelly is a 1978 graduate of Medina High School. He is the son of Janice Kelly-Mack and the late John W. Kelly. He heads The Kelly Laboratory at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif. He was recognized in 2003 in the inaugural group of distinguished alumni at Medina High School.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today introduced the Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act. This bill would exempt $3,000 worth of firearms from bankruptcy proceedings, allowing Americans to maintain their Second Amendment rights through tough financial times.
Current bankruptcy law allows debtors to maintain items to support a base quality of life, including a primary residency, car, clothing, household appliances, and even musical instruments.
But there is no current exemption for a firearm that can be used for self-defense, a constitutional right. This important piece of legislation ensures that Americans can keep their firearms to defend themselves, no matter their financial state.
“No American should ever have to sacrifice their constitutional rights because of their financial situation,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The Second Amendment is a constitutional right for all Americans, even those experiencing financial hardship. I am honored to lead this important legislation that protects the rights of gun owners everywhere, no matter their financial situation.”
Additional co-sponsors include Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-9), Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14), and Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-5).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 February 2023 at 9:35 am
The Erie Canal water levels will again be about a foot lower for the 2023 navigation season, the Canal Corp. announced on Wednesday.
This is for the area between Lock E-30 in Macedon and Locks E-34/35 in Lockport.
This is the second year that levels have been reduced as the Canal Corporation continues to monitor more than 200 known seeps along the canal’s earthen embankments, the Canal Corp. said.
“Levels may vary slightly depending on the location,” the Canal Corp. stated. “The reduced water levels should not impact vessels transiting the canal within the navigation channel but may impact some docks and boat launches.”
In addition, water levels in the Glens Falls Feeder Canal will be approximately two feet lower than historic levels as seeps continue to be monitored there as well.
The Canal Corporation said it monitors and inspects these earthen dams on foot via daily and uses advanced technologies like drones and thermal imaging.
The 199th navigation season opens May 19 and closes Oct. 11.
Press Release, Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center
WARSAW – Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center (R-AHEC) is excited to announce a federal award in the amount of $497,736 over the course of four years through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Mental Health Services (SAMHSA).
R-AHEC will offer no-cost mental health first aid training in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. R-AHEC has been providing the mental health training since last year with funds from Wyoming Foundation and the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation. So far, R-AHEC has trained 221 youths and adults.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an international, evidence-based program that teaches people to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.
Just as CPR helps even those without clinical training assist with minor and/or major medical issues, MHFA prepares participants to interact with individuals experiencing mental health challenges and crises. Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step Action Plan that guides them through reaching out and offering appropriate support.
“Never has it been more important for our communities to talk about mental health and substance use,” says Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, which helped bring Mental Health First Aid to the U.S. in 2008. “This program is breaking down barriers and stigma so that together we can learn how to better support one another. Without mental health, there is no health.”
R-AHEC will offer MHFA to approximately 200 individuals annually through this funding, providing them with the skills and resources they need. Training will be offered to the public and focus on participants from specific groups such as veterans, law enforcement, educators, parents, caregivers, first aid responders and healthcare workforce.
R-AHEC has six partners for this project: Clarity in Allegany County, Spectrum in Wyoming County, and the Departments of Mental Health/Hygiene in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, and Orleans counties.
“Since taking the Mental Health First Aid training with R-AHEC myself and my staff have utilized the skills we were taught numerous times,” said Jessica Hibbard, Associate Dean of Library and Academic Support Services at Genesee Community College. “Having these skills and knowing how to seek more help if needed give us peace of mind and confidence as we go about our day-to-day, knowing that we have the tools we need should we encounter a mental health challenge or crisis. The instructors were informative and engaging and the curriculum was designed with inclusivity in mind, which was very appreciated. This training should be mandatory for anyone working with the general public.”
95% of participants Strongly Agreed or Agreed that they could now identify common Mental Health challenges.
99% of participants Strongly Agreed or Agreed that they could now identify common signs and symptoms of Mental Health challenges.
95% of participants Strongly Agreed or Agreed that they had a better understanding of worsening signs and symptoms of Mental Health challenges.
97% of participants Strongly Agreed or Agreed that they would share the knowledge, skills, and resources presented during this event.
99% of participants Strongly Agreed or Agreed that they would be able to use much of what they learned.
If you are interested in more information, taking MHFA training, or partnering to provide the training, please contact Krysta Smith at (585) 786-6278 or via email at ksmith@r-ahec.org.
Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Inc. (R-AHEC)’s mission is “to improve health and healthcare through education.” R-AHEC is part of the National Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program.
R-AHEC serves a predominately rural 12-county region, headquartered in Warsaw in Wyoming County. Counties include Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates. R-AHEC addresses the health needs of its rural and underserved communities by focusing on: Workforce Development, Housing, Education and Health Information Technology Support. For more information, visit R-AHEC’s website at www.r-ahec.org.
