By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2022 at 8:26 pm
MEDINA – The Village Board will take comments during a public hearing on Jan. 9 for making the intersection of West Avenue and West Oak Orchard Street a 4-way stop.
The village currently has a traffic light there. But resident Mat Mosher told the Village Board on Monday that light doesn’t seem to be needed, especially since the school district put in a road linking the campus, keeping some traffic off village streets.
Board members think many in the community may agree with Mosher and set a public hearing for 7 p.m. on Jan. 9.
The board changed one of the intersections nearby from a traffic light to a 4-way stop. The board in October 2020 made Gwinn and West Oak Orchard a 4-way stop, making the traffic light blinking red and adding stop signs.
ALBANY – The New York State Senate Republican Conference today re-elected Rob Ortt as Leader of the Minority Conference. The leadership vote was held at the New York State Capitol ahead of the 2023-24 Legislative Session.
Rob Ortt
“It is incredibly humbling to earn the support of my Senate Republican colleagues to continue serving in the critical role of Minority Leader,” Ortt said. “I thank my colleagues and the New Yorkers they represent for their continued trust and faith in my leadership. As we approach a New Year and new session with eight energetic new members and our outstanding returning members, our expanded Conference will continue to be a leading voice of reason and common sense in Albany. There is much more work to be done to make our state safer and more affordable for all.”
Rob Ortt was sworn in as State Senator for the 62nd District in January 2015, and elected Minority Leader in June 2020. His Senate district includes Orleans, Niagara and part of western Monroe. From 2010-2014, he served as mayor of North Tonawanda. Prior to becoming mayor, he was city treasurer and then, clerk-treasurer of North Tonawanda.
Ortt enlisted in N.Y. Army National Guard in October 2001 in direct response to the terrorist attacks on September 11. He is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, where he served from March 2008 until December of the same year. His mission was to serve as a combat mentor/advisor to the Afghan National Police in Kandahar City, the second-largest city in Afghanistan. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge in recognition of his service.
“Since becoming Leader, I have heard from countless New Yorkers who are fed up with rising costs, rising crime, and a lack of checks and balances in our State Capitol,” Ortt said. “Our state’s rapidly declining population reflects that sentiment. It’s time for a change from the political establishment’s failed policies that have left families and businesses behind. My Senate Republican colleagues and I will not stop fighting for that change and the people we represent.”
Republican Leadership and Committee assignments will be released in the near future.
Ortt lives in North Tonawanda with his wife, Meghan.
Provided photo: Pictured from left include Ben Converso (Medina), Wyatt Zelazny (Medina), Devin Kirkpatrick (Lockport) and Tom Lewis (Branch Manager of Monroe Tractor in Batavia.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Over a dozen recruiters and company representatives spent a day talking to the Diesel Technology/Heavy Equipment students in Mike Schultz’s class at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.
Students spent their classroom time walking through the stations set up by the following companies: Hunter Peterbilt, Milton CAT, Bobcat of Buffalo, Landpro Equipment, Monroe Tractor, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, New York State Department of Transportation, Regional Equipment, Inc., Empire Tractor, Relco Systems, Reid Petroleum, Trucking Association of New York, Henrich Chevrolet and NAPA.
“It was a great experience for my classes to be able to talk to these representatives,” said Mr. Schultz. “These are potential employers for them and it gives them a chance to talk to them directly and do some informal interviewing. It is good for them to see the career opportunities that are available to them and what kind of benefit packages they offer.”
Samuel Kusiniski, Service Manager for Milton CAT, said, “This is an excellent event. I like doing this kind of stuff. Mr. Schultz has given his students a great experience having all this representation here. As a perspective employer it is good for us to see what kind of skills the students have and how they interview.”
Chris Birner, Service Director of Heinrich Chevrolet, added, “I think the event was really great. There was a lot of good interaction with the students and many of them have great qualifications. There was a lot of talks about careers and what we are looking for to be part of our team. We want them to have fun, but be safe and hard working. It is great that places like BOCES exist because the future is really skilled trades. It is what our economy needs.”
Joining Mr. Birner was Raymond Gorski, one of his employees and a graduate from the Diesel Technology/Heavy Equipment program.
“I graduated from here in 2019,” Gorski said. “Going to BOCES really made me grow up. Mr. Schultz taught us what we needed to know and pointed us in the right direction. My senior year, I capstoned at Heinrich and it was a great experience. It got me on track to where I wanted to be with my career. I ended up attending Monroe Community College and then Heinrich sent me through GMASEP (GM Automotive Service Education Program) which was amazing. They also provided me with great training and a great mentor. I love being part of the Heinrich team.”
Mr. Schultz said he was very proud of how his students handled themselves.
“A lot of the people who were here told me how impressed they were with the students,” he said. “They said they had been to a lot of schools and our students were some of most mature and well-mannered they had ever encountered.”
Julia Gaiser, Customer Support with LandPro Equipment, said, “The kids were very sweet and very polite. Many of them want to go right into the workforce after graduation. It helps us to see what they want out of a career and helps us to align ourselves to what those needs are.”
It is obvious that Mr. Schultz, his students and the company representatives felt the day was a huge success.
“As an educator is very rewarding to see that what we are teaching them in the classroom is giving these students opportunities to learn job skills and events like this give them a chance to hone their interpersonal and interview skills as well,” he said. “I am very grateful to the companies that participated at the event and gave the students such a positive experience as they start thinking of their future career plans.”
Press Release, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
ALBANY – New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced that the state will convene a series of roundtable discussions with county fair representatives from across New York to further strengthen these community events.
Stakeholders will meet twice annually, in the spring and fall, with the initial dates to be chosen at the annual meeting of the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs (NYSAAF) in January 2023.
Representatives from NYSAAF and additional stakeholders will be invited to participate in the discussions, which will generate ideas to further the fairs’ growth. This announcement comes as a part of Governor Hochul’s commitment to evaluating ways to increase the marketing and promotion of county fairs, as well as opportunities to improve youth and agricultural programming initiatives at all fairs statewide.
“County fairs are the foundation of agricultural education and tradition for families across New York State,” said Commissioner Ball. “The more we can work together to grow these important cultural and educational touchstones, the better off our state will be. These roundtable discussions will be a great opportunity to continue coordinating and strengthening our fairs’ agricultural initiatives statewide.”
Participants will be the NYSAAF’s Board of Directors, which includes managers from county fairs across New York State of all sizes, as well as vendor representatives and members of agricultural groups that have experience and insight into the operation of exhibits at fairs.
Topics for the first roundtable discussion will include:
how to enhance fair marketing and promotion through existing programs such as Taste NY and I Love NY, as well as the creation of new programs to increase awareness of fairs statewide;
plans for enhancing agricultural competitions at fairs, including ways to encourage county fair winners to participate at the Great New York State Fair; and
other initiatives, including capital planning, emergency management, and commissioning an updated economic impact study.
“The NYSAAF Board looks forward to participating in a series of round table discussions,” said NYSAAF President Ed Rossley. “We will continue to promote agriculture at the county and state levels. Open communication is necessary to expand the county fair’s promotion, infrastructure, and financial stability. All these areas are necessary to provide a venue for youth and agricultural programming initiatives in New York State.”
In 2021, Governor Hochul directed a review to assess support, growth, and revitalization opportunities for all fairs in New York. As part of this initiative, the State created a new position, Agricultural Fair Development Director, which was a significant step forward in streamlining the State’s work with county fairs and facilitating increased opportunities for funding and growth.
In addition to the Great New York State Fair, New York is home to more than 50 county and youth fairs that operate from July through the middle of September, with the Long Island Fair closing out the season.
Local fairs provide visitors with family-friendly fun, great music, and delicious food. They also offer a unique opportunity to learn about local agriculture, including where our food comes from, and how it is grown, harvested, and marketed to the public. According to a 2013 economic impact study, the State’s fairs generate $6 million in economic activity and over 4,000 jobs in New York each year.
Kaitlin Bennett, left, gets ready for the dairy show on July 27, 2022 with other 4-Hers. Zack Welker, one of the dairy leaders at the fair, helps to get everyone organized.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2022 at 1:35 pm
ALBION – An Albion man was sentenced to 8 years in prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.
Prince Z. Wilson, 23, of Albion pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He could have faced up to 15 years in prison for each charge.
As part of a plea, his sentence was capped at 8 years with the sentences to be served at the same time.
Wilson in August 2021 exchanged gunfire with another man in Albion, and wounded the victim in the leg. He was charged a second time after that arrest with having gun.
Wilson didn’t speak when given a chance by the judge during sentencing today. Wilson will face five years of post-release supervision when he is out of prison. He also was fined $2,000.
In other cases in court today:
Jacoun Harden, 35, of Holley and formerly of Medina, was sentenced to six months in the county jail and five years of probation.
He pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree for having a loaded firearm. Harden admitted in court in a previous appearance that he had a loaded 9 mm handgun when he was arrested and was intending to use it but didn’t fire it at anyone.
Brennen D. Callara, 24, of Medina pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted robbery and petty larceny. He could face a maximum of 4 years in prison as part of a plea agreement.
Callara admitted in court that on July 20 he threatened a cashier at Crosby’s in Medina by displaying a knife and demanding money.
Callara also admitted to stealing a chain saw sharpener from Tractor Supply in Medina on Aug. 30.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 25.
Today’s plea would satisfy other charges he is facing in Shelby and Ridgeway courts.
Richard J. Capen pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the third degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree.
He admitted in court today to stealing a rifle on July 17, and selling it. He also admitted to damaging laundry machines on July 26 that were owned by Richard Colonna, causing about $3,000 in damage.
He will be sentenced on Feb. 1.
Austin Buzzard, 23, of Carlton pleaded guilty to criminal trespassing in the third degree and petty larceny.
He admitted to entering a garage without permission and taking a four-wheeler that wasn’t his.
He could face up to 364 days in the county jail when he is sentenced on Feb. 1.
Mikel Love of Kendall was arraigned of charges of course of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child. Love rejected a plea offer and pleaded not guilty. An order of protection was issued for the alleged victim of the crime.
Dale Shawver, 60, of Albion was assessed as a level 1 sex offender, the lowest level. He currently is serving a six-month sentence in the county jail for first-degree sexual abuse and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. He will be on probation for 10 years when he is released from jail, and also will be on the sex offender registry for 10 years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2022 at 9:47 am
MEDINA – The annual Parade of Lights, which drew several thousand people to Medina’s downtown, was more than a popular community event.
The parade also showed a community with lots of pride, and that display is noticed by developers looking to come into Medina, said Gabrielle Barone, vice president of business development for the Orleans Economic Development Agency.
She commended the village – its officials, employees, the organizations, businesses and residents – for Saturday’s Christmas festival.
“It is very important,” she said about well-run and well-attended festivals. “For some of the companies, it is very significant. You can tell they are impressed.”
Mahar Excavating & Septic in Gasport was back with another big effort with its parade float.
The parade was an hour and 15 minutes. It was preceded by fireworks and a full day of activities in the downtown, as well as the popular Polar Express train rides at the Medina Railroad Museum.
Barone spoke at Monday’s Village Board meeting and said the entire package in Medina was impressive and will help the EDA in its pitch to prospective businesses considering Medina.
“They see the sincerity of it,” Barone said about the parade and the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration. “I know it takes a lot of effort, but you should be proud of yourselves.”
Several fire departments, including East Shelby, decorated trucks in lights.
Mayor Mike Sidari said he received compliments “all over Western New York” about the parade and events on Saturday.
He said the village employees put in a long day’s work, setting and cleaning up, and also providing traffic control and other services.
Trustee Owen Toale said Saturday’s events, in 50-degree weather, showcased a busy downtown.
“It was magical with people going from store to store during the day and with the parade,” Toale said. “I only hope we are building even more for next year.”
Toale praised Jim Hancock, the parade committee chairman, and other volunteers for all of the work.
Beyond Mobility in Medina was among the businesses that decorated floats for the parade. Beyond Mobility installs wheelchair ramps, lifts, grab bars and other equipment to help people with mobility.
MEDINA – On Thursday, Dec. 1, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Bent’s Opera House, Medina Lindy in the Village will offer free group Lindy Hop swing dance lessons to any interested learners.
These lessons will be offered the first two Thursdays of every month. On the third Thursday of each month, as with previous months, a lesson at 6:30 will be included as part of the “Lindy Hop Swing Dance” event hosted by Bent’s at 7:30, giving would-be swing dancers three opportunities to improve their moves prior to each month’s dance.
All ability levels are welcome at these beginner lessons; plans are underway for an intermediate class forming soon. No signup required; simply drop in.
Medina Lindy in the Village is a nonprofit organization formed by Medina dance organizer and Lindy Hop dancer Phil Berry, who spearheaded the monthly dance series that has been operating at Bent’s since August. The organization’s purpose is to spread Lindy Hop Swing dancing through free group and one-on-one instruction, and to keep social dancers informed of learning and practice opportunities in the Niagara-Orleans area.
“We’ve seen a lot of local interest in swing dancing since this dance series began,” explained Berry. “Dancing once a month isn’t enough to help beginners make the kind of progress it takes for swing dancing to start to feel natural and fun. Bent’s has been a wonderful hosting venue, but they’re not in a position to field people’s day-to-day questions about swing dancing. I put together Medina Lindy in the Village as a resource providing both classes and information to area dancers and students. There’s definitely room for others to get involved.”
This month’s “Lindy Hop Swing Dance” event at Bent’s Opera House will have a “Cool Yule” theme, featuring holiday swing dance tunes set in a gorgeously decorated space. Holiday attire is optional but encouraged.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2022 at 9:28 pm
ALBION – The Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern is seeking sponsors for the agency’s “Christmas Wish” program.
“We’ll need your voice and your generosity to continue our mission,” according to a letter seeking support from GOMOC. “Make a difference in child’s life by donating, adopting a family, or sharing with a local family. Please let your friends and local businesses know how they can help as well!”
The “agency of last resort” assists people throughout the year with personal care items, bedding, prescription co-pays, vision and dental assistance, utility bill disconnect notices and emergency shelter.
During the holiday season, GOMOC tries to help families have gifts at Christmastime.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2022 at 3:38 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: The snail at Pine Street Park, and another one at Butts Park, were sold through an online auction with the bids accepted on Monday by the Village Board.
MEDINA – The Village Board accepted five bids on Monday through an online auction, including one for the snail jungle gym that was at Pine Street Park.
The snail sold for $2,025. It was purchased by an undisclosed buyer from Medina, village officials said.
An online auction run by Government Deals also sold a 1990 Vermeer 1250 brush chipper for $4,550; a straight blade snow plow for $651; another snail jungle gym that was at Butts Park for $310 (this one didn’t have its eyes); and the merry-go-round at State Street Park for $111.
The total for the five items was $10,472.
The village moved to sell the snails from the playgrounds after the village’s insurance carrier said any claims from people who were injured on the snails would not be covered by insurance. The snails were removed in the summer.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2022 at 1:42 pm
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Orleans County from 10 a.m. Wednesday until 4 a.m. Thursday.
The advisory also includes Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming and northern Erie counties.
There will be westerly winds from 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 mph expected, the Weather Service said.
“Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects,” the Weather Service said. “Tree limbs could be blown down and a few isolated power outages may result. Travel will be difficult at times in high-profile vehicles.”
‘The abject failure of The Villages and its owners to uphold their duty under the law caused residents to suffer inhumane treatment, neglect, and harm.’ – Letitia James
Press Release, Attorney General Letitia James
File photo by Tom Rivers: The owners of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion are accused by the state’s attorney general of inhumane conditions for some residents at the 120-bed facility on Route 31.
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed a lawsuit against Comprehensive at Orleans LLC doing business as The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, a nursing home in Albion, for years of financial fraud that resulted in significant resident neglect and harm.
Following an extensive investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General, the lawsuit — filed against the owners, operators, and related companies — demonstrates how the owners took advantage of the state’s Medicaid program to increase their personal profits, rather than use those funds for the intended purposes of staffing and patient care.
“Every individual deserves to live out their golden years in comfort and with dignity,” said Attorney General James. “Yet the abject failure of The Villages and its owners to uphold their duty under the law caused residents to suffer inhumane treatment, neglect, and harm. Instead of investing in staffing and resources, the owners allegedly disregarded laws designed to protect residents. I will continue to monitor nursing homes and residential care facilities statewide to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable communities. I encourage anyone who has witnessed alarming conditions, resident neglect, or abuse at a nursing home to contact my office.”
Under New York law, owners of nursing homes have a “special obligation” to provide a high level of care and quality of life for residents, and to ensure the facility is sufficiently staffed so as to provide that care. The Villages’ owners failed in their duty to residents by engaging in a scheme to divert funds away from the facility to increase their own personal profit, drastically cutting staffing at The Villages to do so. With this lawsuit, OAG seeks to compel the owners to return all funds fraudulently received, to appoint a receiver and financial monitor to stop the self-dealing and a healthcare monitor to improve care, and to require The Villages to stop admitting new patients until further notice.
The owners wove a complicated web of fraud, using their ownership stakes in multiple companies to turn The Villages into a profit machine. The named respondents in the complaint are The Villages of Orleans LLC; Telegraph Realty LLC, which owns the real property where The Villages is; CHMS Group LLC, which provides administrative services to The Villages; and ML Kids Holdings LLC, which received over $1.5 million in cash transfers from Telegraph.
Also named are individual owners, including the sole official owner of The Villages, his three sons-in law, his daughter-in-law; three undisclosed owners of The Villages; and the owners of Telegraph Realty LLC. Together, these individuals are referred to as the “owners.”
Financial Scheme
In January 2014, the owners formed Telegraph for the sole purpose of buying the real property on which The Villages sits, which they did a year later in January 2015. The Villages has since paid “rent” to Telegraph. CHMS was formed in January 2015, and The Villages has since paid CHMS for administrative services, including accounting, insurance billing, and payroll.
From 2015 through 2021, The Villages received $86.4 million in funding, including millions in taxpayer dollars from Medicare and Medicaid, intended to provide quality healthcare to vulnerable residents.
Instead, the owners cut staffing to increase their personal profits. By making payments to Telegraph and CHMS, and by making other transfers to themselves directly and indirectly, the owners were able to divert $18.6 million — more than 20% of The Villages’ operating budget. When the Villages was owned by Orleans County, the facility’s nursing home rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) was three out of five stars. In April 2015, just four months after the owners purchased The Villages, CMS decreased the rating to one star, the lowest possible rating.
Devastating Consequences
The OAG asserts in the suit filed today that The Villages’ reprehensible history of insufficient staffing and low quality of care is directly traceable to the owners’ financial scheme. Residents were subject to repeated abuse and neglect as the most basic functions of care were abandoned.
Residents were forced to sit in their own urine and feces for hours; suffered malnourishment and dehydration; developed sepsis, gangrene, and other infections due to gaping bed sores and inadequate wound care; endured medical toxicity and unexplained doping; and sustained falls and other physical injuries. Some of these abuses, including other unmonitored or undocumented circumstances, resulted in hospitalization and even death.
The lawsuit’s allegations include:
A woman was admitted to The Villages in January 2021 with a Stage II bed sore which was not treated for more than two weeks. Six months later, in June 2021, she suffered from two Stage III bed sores and an external wound care consultant ordered a new treatment, which The Villages did not implement until a week later. By July, both wounds had advanced to the point of being “unstageable.” A friend of the woman told OAG she received more than 1,000 texts asking for help with basic necessities like using the restroom or getting food and water. One text reported she had been “lying in a dirty diaper for hours,” and another lamented, “I just need a glass of water.” The Villages gave the resident psychotropic medications for severe anxiety, though there was no such diagnosis in her medical records. She was found unresponsive on July 13 and sent to the hospital, where she died.
A woman admitted to The Villages in January 2020 for rehabilitation of a broken leg soon began refusing her food and medication and spoke of wanting to die. An external psychological consult determined she was at high-risk for self-harm, and ordered staff check on her every 30 minutes. The Villages failed to monitor the woman, and she was found dead in early February 2020, less than a month after she was admitted. Her death was not reported to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) as required by law.
A man was admitted to The Villages in November 2020 to rehabilitate after a leg amputation, so he could gain enough strength to use his prosthetic and live independently. During his three months at The Villages, he had only a handful of physical therapy sessions, during which he was often left to sit without exercise or assistance. Due to his amputation, he required help with cleaning and caring for himself, but staff frequently failed to change his diaper in a timely manner, leaving him to often spend hours sitting in his own urine. He now resides in a different facility and is making great progress.
COVID-19 Pandemic
Residents’ low quality of life and unacceptable level of care further worsened with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as The Villages’ already stretched thin staff was forced to work even longer hours. Notably, management at The Villages tried to keep positive COVID-19 cases secret, and either delayed or entirely neglected to enforce proper protocols for quarantining infected residents. The owners forced staff to report to work even when they were sick, provided little to no personal protective equipment, failed to implement infection or isolation protocols, and did not report positive COVID-19 cases, resulting in unnecessary and preventable deaths.
A Licensed Practical Nurse at The Villages disclosed that the facility had its first COVID-19 case on March 30, 2020. Though the individual’s chart noted he’d had a fever for three days before he tested positive, nothing was done to prevent further spread of the virus.
The Villages was so short staffed that employees were caring for residents who were both positive and negative for COVID-19 without following any quarantine protocols. As the pandemic progressed, COVID-19 positive employees, forced to report to work despite being sick, mixed with COVID-19 negative residents, and all residents intermingled regardless of infection status. Employees were told that if their temperature check indicated they had a fever, they were to go outside for an hour and come back to take their temperature again.
Rather than hire enough medical staff qualified to deliver the level of care that nursing homes are required to provide, the owners instead expected Certified Nursing Assistants to perform work they were not licensed to handle. Staff and other witnesses reported times when The Villages was dangerously understaffed, such as an overnight shift where just four employees were on hand to care for all residents in the 120-bed facility. Despite this, the owners prioritized increasing resident admissions at The Villages in order to drive up revenue — even when the facility was providing substantially fewer hours of nursing care per resident than the state’s safety average, adding to the dangerous environment.
Remedies
The OAG found that the owners engaged in repeated and persistent fraud and illegality in operating The Villages, including a systemic, intentional pattern of understaffing. These actions stripped residents of their dignity and caused physical and emotional harm, while enabling the owners to reap enormous profits. In her lawsuit filed today, Attorney General James seeks to:
Remove David Gast, Sam Halper, and Ephram Lahasky from their ownership and managerial roles at The Villages;
Prohibit The Villages from admitting any new residents unless and until staffing levels meet appropriate standards;
Require The Villages to engage and pay for a receiver and a financial monitor to oversee the facility’s financial operations;
Require The Villages to engage and pay for a healthcare monitor to oversee the facility’s healthcare operations and ensure residents’ outcomes improve;
Direct each respondent to fully disgorge any and all funds wrongfully received as part of the scheme; and
Order all respondents with the exception of The Villages to reimburse New York state and the United States for the cost of the investigation.
Respondents
The named respondents in the complaint are Bernard Fuchs, supposed sole official owner of The Villages, his son and daughter-in-law Gerald and Tova Fuchs, and his sons-in-law Joel Edelstein and Israel Freund; David Gast, undisclosed owner of The Villages; Sam Halper, undisclosed owner of The Villages; Ephram Lahasky, undisclosed owner of The Villages; Benjamin Landa and his son-in-law Joshua Farkovits; and Teresa Lichtschein and her daughter-in-law Debbie Korngut. Together, these individuals are referred to as the “owners.”
Also named are Villages of Orleans LLC, which is controlled by Gast; Telegraph Realty LLC, which owns the real property where The Villages is; CHMS Group LLC, which provides administrative services to The Villages; and ML Kids Holdings LLC, which received over $1.5 million in cash transfers from Telegraph and is controlled by Ephram Lahasky.
Though all official paperwork associated with The Villages represents the facility is owned entirely by Bernard Fuchs, OAG’s investigation revealed he had a very limited role. In reality, David Gast, Ephram Lahasky, and Sam Halper owned, managed, and controlled The Villages.
Attorney General James has been investigating nursing homes throughout New York state based on concerns of patient neglect and other conduct that may have jeopardized the health and safety of residents and employees, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, Attorney General James released a report revealing that many nursing homes were ill-equipped and ill-prepared to deal with this crisis because of poor staffing levels and a lack of compliance with infection control protocols. Today’s lawsuit is a direct result of those investigations, some of which are still ongoing.
Attorney General James encourages anyone with information or concerns about alarming nursing home conditions, resident abuse, or neglect to file confidential complaints online or call the MFCU hotline at (833) 249-8499.
The investigation was conducted by a multi-disciplinary team from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, including Assistant Attorneys General Maura O’Donnell, Soo-Young Chang, Kathryn Heim Harris, Jared W. Goldman, and Thomas Schlief; Medical Analyst Jennifer Cronkhite, RN; Detective Supervisor James Zablonski and Detective Jaimie Krzyskoski, supervised by Deputy Chief William Falk; Principal Auditor-Investigator Milan Shah and Regional Chief Auditors Mary Henry and Dejan Budimir; and Research Analyst Brandon Andrews; the investigative teams were supervised by Assistant Attorneys General Alee N. Scott and Thomas O’Hanlon; MFCU is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney. MFCU is a part of the Division for Criminal Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
Attorney General James thanks the New York State Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary T. Bassett; the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (Special Agent Kirin Hage); and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance in this investigation.
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 is $65,717,936. Of that total, 75 percent, or $49,288,452, is awarded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $16,429,484 for FY 2023, is funded by New York state. Through MFCU’s recoveries in law enforcement actions, it regularly returns more to the state than it receives in state funding.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2022 at 10:26 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion fourth-graders in the Student Leadership Council are in the village office this morning, decorating the Christmas tree.
Students in third- fourth and fifth grade made ornaments for the tree in their art classes. About 360 of those ornaments were placed in the big tree in the foyer of the village office, and on another smaller tree in the board room.
Heberle Farms in Hamlin donated the tree, a Douglas Fir.
Ma’hari Goddard, a fourth-grader, picks out ornaments for the tree.
Marty Zwifka, an Albion DPW employee, gets the ornaments up high on the tree.
Photo from Albion Central School: The students and their teachers pose with village officials after the tree was decorated. The students then went on a tour of the village office, including the police station.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2022 at 9:11 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A portrait of Evelyn Lyman was displayed prominently in Hoag Library in Albion on Monday, a day after the death of Lyman at age 97. The painting was donated to the library by Lyman’s son, Nathan. Linda Bucklin of Lyndonville is the artist who created the portrait.
Lyman served as the director of the former Swan Library for 25 years, leading the local public library from 1973 to 1998.
“She saw her mission as providing for the community,” said Betty Sue Miller, the current Hoag executive director. “She wanted to bring out the best in the community.”
Lyman pushed the make the former Swan Library more accessible and appealing for the community. Swan Library was in a former mansion and was cramped for space. A new library opened in July 2012.
Lyman had an elevator installed in the former Swan Library, and added summer youth programs. She welcomed GED classes and promoted arts and culture events. The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council honored her in 2010 with a Community Arts Award “for her passionate contributions to the cultural life in the community and for her preservation efforts at the Swan Library.”
Miller said Lyman served the community in many ways. Miller remembers her presence at the library, and also at the First Presbyterian Church with the choir and as an elder and deacon. Miller and Lyman attended the same church.
“I remember her as a pillar of whatever she was involved in,” Miller said.
Lyman also was involved with scouting, Young Woman’s Service Club, Orleans County Planning Advisory Committee, Bergen Swamp Preservation Society, Albion Board of Education, the Republican Committee, and as a founding member of the Cobblestone Society, serving for many years as the organization’s president.
