Warsaw's Country Courier

The newspaper of Warsaw, NY and the surrounding townships of Wyoming County. This website will temporarily host stories until www.couriercountry.com is finished being renovated. Online Publication, Copyright © 2012, Warsaw’s Country Courier new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'profile', rpp: 4, interval: 30000, width: 'auto', height: 250, theme: { shell: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#000000' }, tweets: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#000000', links: '#ab894e' } }, features: { scrollbar: true, loop: false, live: false, behavior: 'all' } }).render().setUser('Country_Courier').start();

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Perry's True Farms takes home national award

(Image courtesy of Hoard's Dairyman)

By Bryan Jackson

Day-to-day hard work just paid off for True Farms.

The Perry farmers’ “Farm 2” site was one of six recipients to earn a Platinum Award from the National Diary Quality Awards for excellent milk quality. In addition, Harkins Dairy Farm in Wyoming received a Silver Award, giving Wyoming County another winner.

The NDQA is sponsored by the National Mastitis Council and is in its 19th year. The awards honor dairy producers across the United States that prioritize the highest-quality milk production possible.

Jeff True, who, along with Brian and Glenn True, owns the award-winning site, explained milk quality partially determines how much farms are paid, and the milk is tested every day, when it is picked up.

True had a simple explanation for how “Farm 2,” which houses 280 Holstein and Brown Swiss cows, took the top prize.

“Our second farm just happened to have really, really, really, really good-quality milk,” he chuckled.

The explanation may be simple, but True, who will be flying to California to accept the award, said he appreciates the recognition.

“There were six Platinum Award Winners in the country, so we were one of six,” he said. “It’s pretty exciting and pretty humbling at the same time. It’s pretty cool, when it comes right down to it. We try to do a good job every day at everything we do, and getting some extra recognition for it is even neater.”

[warsawscountrycourier]

Residents rally around Warsaw grad fighting cancer

By Bryan Jackson

Kailee Griffith Bridges, a former Wyoming and Warsaw student currently undergoing treatment for bone cancer, certainly has a lot of supporters in her corner.

A group of family friends and community members are organizing a spaghetti dinner and basket raffle Feb. 9 at Wyoming Central School for Bridges, who is also a new mother.

The benefit will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., with basket drawings at 7 p.m. In case of snow, the event will be held Feb. 10.

Tickets, which can be purchased beforehand or at the door, are $8 for adults and $6 for children 10 and under.

Attendees can purchase a book of 25 raffle tickets for $5, which also enters them into a $50 door-prize basket. Tickets can be used to bid on baskets donated by businesses in Warsaw, Pavilion, Batavia and other local towns.

Within the close-knit community, many people have at least one relationship with the family, Cox said.

“I wasn’t one of her teachers, but it’s such a small school here. I actually live just a few houses down from Kailee, and she’s babysat for me,” Cox said, adding Bridges’ mother is a bus driver and cafeteria aide for Wyoming. “We all kind of have multiples relations with Kailee and the family.”

Cox said the fundraiser is a way for the community to help Bridges, her husband Justin, whom she met in the Marines, and their new baby, Lilly.

“I think so many people just wanted to do something,” Cox said. “We watched them traveling back and forth to Strong Memorial (Hospital) in Rochester and knew that was a hardship money-wise. Of course you do what you have to do, but we were just trying to find a way that we could reach out and show the family how much we care and support them.”

According to Cox, Bridges and her family are hoping to attend, and judging by Cox’s description of Bridges, she’ll be there, if it is at all possible.

“She’s very positive, very upbeat,” Cox said. “When her family is down, she just drags them along. She’s just very positive. She has some bad days, of course, but she bounces back. She is just very focused on being positive and looking on the bright side of things.”

If you would like to support Bridges and her family but can’t make it to the spaghetti dinner, donations can be made to the Grace Baptist Church’s Beacons Fund and mailed to the church at 238 Vine St., Batavia, N.Y. Be sure to indicate the donation is for Kailee Bridges on the memo line.

[warsawscountrycourier]

Wyoming Central’s hot lunch program fizzles: Unforseen costs would have caused price spike

By Bryan Jackson

Negotiations between Wyoming Central School and Morrison Food Service that would have restarted a hot lunch program at the school have come to an abrupt halt, taking the hot lunch option off the table for the rest of the school year.

Following the Jan. 10 board of education meeting, it appeared school officials had reached an agreement with Morrison, which also provides dining services to Wyoming County Community Health System. However, according to Wyoming Superintendent Sandra Duckworth, negotiations fell through when WCCHS indicated the school would have to pay for the time Morrison spent using hospital facilities to prepare the lunches.

“I had a conversation with the folks at Morrison (Food Service), with a regional director,” Duckworth said at the Jan. 24 board of education meeting. “The Board of Supervisors insisted that Wyoming pick up our share of use of the facilities, prepping and whatnot, so the price per meal increased by another dollar, per meal.”

The extra cost would’ve pushed the price of lunch to $3.25, and as Duckworth said, that increased price didn’t even include the cost of milk or labor. With those additional costs factored in, the price could have soared close to $5.

“WCCHS was not involved in any negotiations related to a proposed contract between Morrison Food Service and Wyoming Central School,” he said in a statement. “Morrison Food Service does provide dietary-related services for WCCHS at the hospital, and any use of WCCHS' facilities by Morrison for services other than WCCHS' food service would require approval by WCCHS administration.”

The lunch debate came to the forefront after Alexander Central School, who provided Wyoming with cold, bagged lunches during the first semester, ceased the program, citing estimated losses between $10,000 and $12,000, if they continued through the end of the year. In January, Genesee Valley Educational Partnership took over those duties until the Morrison deal was set to pick up in February.

With the Morrison deal effectively off the table, the board considered other options including continuing the bagged program through GVEP or getting hot lunches from GVEP – or even cutting the lunch program all together.

Duckworth cautioned against axing lunches mid-semester, citing the upcoming rigorous state tests, despite the potential financial boon.

“(Business Official) Donald (Childs) and I have had conversations with BOCES, and we feel very strongly that we just can’t take lunch away from kids right now – not in the middle of the year with all the state assessments coming up. I cannot do that,” she said.

Board of Education Jeanne Morey echoed Duckworth’s recommendation to continue with GVEP through the end of the year.

“Giving kids nothing, when we have said we were going to give a lunch of some kind, would be a mistake,” she said. “I think we need to finish the year and (then) do something that is good, nutritious and doesn’t cost a lot.”

However, Ernest Morris, vice president of the Wyoming School Board, questioned whether the school could continue to lose money while putting off a long-term decision on the lunch program. He said the lunch program has been an elusive target for many years, and with fewer and fewer kids participating, he wondered what financial impact propping it up has had on other programs.

“I know it’s the right thing to do for kids, but is it the right thing to continue to ask the taxpayers to fund this when we’re losing money and we know we’re going to lose money – at what seems like an ever-increasing rate,” he said. “Then we get to the end of the year, and we have to cut programs because we’re going to be chasing scarce dollars. I’m not trying to be mean-spirited here, but I’m just looking at the thing from a purely economical standpoint, and a businessman wouldn’t do that. I understand that we need to do that, but is it more important for us to be in the food business or the education business?”

The board voted to continue lunch with GVEP for the remainder of the year by a vote of 5-1, solving Wyoming’s lunch program problems, albeit temporarily.

Next year, board members and administrators will again have to figure out the best course of action, and that’s going to take substantial homework, such as how would slashing the lunch program affect state aid, for example, and even more difficult decisions.

[warsawscountrycourier]

Northeast Ice Fishing Circuit visits Silver Lake

By Gary Towner

Although the ice fishing season has been plagued by warm weather, ice conditions were safe to hold a fishing derby Jan. 26 and 27 on Silver Lake, said Jeff Snyder, owner and director of the North East Ice Fishing Circuit.

Snyder, who believes in the importance of teaching kids ice fishing, opened the derby Saturday with a contest just for youngsters. Sixteen children competed to bring in a mixed bag of five blue gill, crappie and/or perch.

First place went to Riley Kowasz with a weight of 2.24 lbs. Kowasz’s prize was a HT two-man hut.

Determining second and third place was controversial, because there was a tie between Chase Lewis and Alyssa Kersch, each with a total weight of 2.05 lbs. The tie is usually broken by weighing each contestant’s biggest fish, but again, there was a tie at .43 lbs. Judging the weight of each contestant's two biggest fish placed Lewis second place with a weight of .90 lbs. and Kersch in third with .85 lbs.

Eight professional anglers worked to ensure the event was successful. The event had two local sponsors, WYCO Construction and Grumpy Jigs, in addition to the regular circuit sponsors, Snyder said.

The adult event held Sunday saw 13 teams competing to bring in a mixed bag of 12 bluegills, crappies and/or perch.

First place went to Andy Bush and Zach Kowasz with 6.05 lbs., which earned them $520 and two Striker rod backpacks. Korey Nati and Mickey Nati placed second with 5.82 lbs., good for $312 and two Hydro Glow lights.

Chad Beale and Rick Ryan took third place at 5.69 lbs. Beale and Ryan walked away with $180 and two HT hole lights.

Big fish winners were Bush and Kowasz with a .78 lb. bluegill, earning them $180. Bush and Kowasz are also in the lead for the $2,500 championship prize.

The next stop on the NEIFC tour is Khale Lake, Pa. On Saturday, Feb. 2, there will be a clinic for kids and cub scouts with the series event held Sunday, Feb. 3.

For more information on the NEIFC, visit www.northeasticefishingcircuit.com.

[warsawscountrycourier]

Local gun dealers feel effects of state's tougher laws

By Gary Towner

When the New York Secure Ammunition and Enforcement Act of 2013 (NY SAFE ACT) was passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, questions immediately arose concerning the law's effect on gun owners.

But gun dealers also are feeling the effects, such as Silver Trail Outfitters in Perry, co-owned by Kyle Slocum and Jeff Fiorito, and K & K Guns in Varysburg, owned by Keith Kraft.

The Courier also reached out to Walmart for comment, but a call was not returned before press time.

Both Slocum and Kraft have felt the effect of low inventory, caused by the run on guns and ammunition after the Newtown, Conn. massacre and Webster shootings. Both told the Courier that most distributors are sold out so dealers can’t restock. Also, manufacturers cannot keep up with demand on anything dealing with hunting and shooting.

Kraft said he invested in building a new store last year, and because he is a small independent dealer, there is the possibility that he might go out of business for lack of inventory. Some customers have even told him that they were considering moving out of state.

“I would do it myself,” he said, “but I built a store so I’m stuck here for a while.”

Additional paperwork is also going to make a dealer’s workload more difficult. For many years, dealers have had to run background checks on gun purchasers and record ammunition sales.

Now, for a gun owner to sell a firearm privately, he or she has to go to a federally licensed dealer, who then runs a background check on the person who intends to buy the gun. Also, firearms and ammunition purchased online must now be sent to a dealer, who then does the necessary paperwork and background check before the item can change hands.

Assemblyman David DiPietro released a statement condemning the law, saying it was only making things difficult for law-abiding gun owners.

“All this legislation does is make it more difficult for decent Americans to invoke their Second Amendment rights,” he said in the Jan. 15 statement. “Those law-abiding citizens should not be punished based on the actions of evil men. I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, and because of that, I voted against this legislation.”

Sen. Patrick Gallivan, once a state Trooper and formerly the Erie County Sheriff, also opposed the law, saying the provisions would not improve public safety and would infringe on citizens' rights.

Dealers who have any guns or clips now considered illegal have one year to sell them out-of-state. If the guns or clips are not sold, then they have to be turned in and the dealer takes a loss.

Slocum said he believes that limiting a clip to just seven rounds rather than the standard 10 was done on purpose to make it more difficult for both owners and dealers.

Ten-round clips were the standard set under the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, and manufacturers changed to 10-round clips to comply. Even though the ban eventually ended, manufacturers continued making the 10-round clips.

Slocum said he believes that because New York is the only state banning 10-round clips, the market is too small to justify manufacturing seven-round clips. Dealers will not be able to sell clips which, according to Slocum, will simply become another method of curtailing the gun trade.                                                                                                                   The definition of the widely used term “assault weapon” is another concern for not just gun owners, but dealers.

“An assault weapon could be a muzzle loaded 50 caliber Enfield from the Civil War,” Fiorito said. “That’s what it was used for – assault.

“Assault weapon is a relative term made up by politicians,” he continued. “So what is an assault weapon? I really don’t know what an assault weapon is. I know what (gun control advocates) are trying to call an assault weapon, which is getting to be every firearm available.”

According to Slocum, the term “assault weapon” previously was defined as a semi-automatic gun with two cosmetic features that were similar to those found on military and automatic rifles. These features included sliding stocks, pistol grips, flash suppressors, bayonet holders, or thumb-hole stocks.

Now, a gun has to have only one of those features to be considered an assault weapon under New York State law.

“I had to tell an older gentleman that his shotgun that he uses to hunt deer with is an assault weapon because it has a thumbhole stock,” Slocum said.

Both Slocum and Kraft pointed out that these cosmetic features have nothing to do with gun safety.

“If it looks scary to people who don’t know anything about guns, it must be bad,” Slocum said sarcastically.

Slocum can legally sell variants of the AK-47 because the AK-47 doesn’t have any of the illegal features – but it is basically the same gun, he said.

He also pointed out that the .223 caliber bullet, which the now-illegal AR-15 uses, is widely used in other types of guns and is a hunting load, used especially for varmint hunting. The military presently uses the .223, but there is now a movement toward a larger caliber weapon.

Slocum questioned why the Americans with Disabilities Act proponents haven’t weighed in on the new regulations. Many handicapped people are still able to hunt and participate in shooting sports, and sliding stocks and pistol grips make it easier for them.

Kraft agreed, and pointed out that women and people of small stature also benefit from those two features.

“They proposed (and) passed this (law) in an incredibly short amount of time,” Slocum said, pointing to a downloaded copy of the law.

Slocum said he believes the state had long been waiting for the opportunity to crack down on guns, even to the detriment of responsible owners and dealers.

“One thing you’ve got to realize (is) this was not written last week, this wasn’t written last month,” he said. “This has been sitting in pretty much its current state for a long time waiting to be used when a tragedy that could be exploited came up – and that’s exactly what they did.”

More information about the NY SAFE ACT can be found at www.governor.ny.gov/2013/gun-reforms.

[warsawscountrycourier]

Letchworth students raise a stink about smoking: Petition creates tobacco-free area in Gainesville Park

By Amy Mosiman

Patient and persistent petitioning paid off as Letchworth middle school students played a pivotal role in government change at the local level.

Their efforts led to a designated tobacco-free pavilion in Gainesville Park, clearly marked with a sign.

The process began last year, when fifth grade teacher Angela Buttles turned a friendly letter-writing lesson into an authentic and impactful experience that resulted in the change to the Village of Gainesville’s local park policy.

Throughout April and May, Letchworth students learned about the negative effects of tobacco during a Towards-No-Tobacco educational program put on by Partners for Prevention youth specialist Erin Pataye. Over the course of the program, students were surprised to learn that Wyoming County’s local parks did not offer tobacco-free areas.

Since the program coincided with her persuasive writing unit, Buttles decided to encourage her students to dig a little deeper to unearth additional information regarding the effects tobacco has on the environment, the economy and individuals. Armed with research, students began formulating letters to Village of Gainesville Mayor Kip Falkner and the Board of Trustees, requesting a tobacco-free park.

“The American Poison Control Centers reported that over 5,400 kids were poisoned by cigarette butts in 2008,” Devlin Baker reported. Addison Whalen of Castile added: “People have spent over 11 million dollars to clean up cigarette butts and that can really hurt the tax payers. That’s a lot of money!”

Then fifth grader Elijah Dodson sweetened the proposal when he explained to Falkner: “You don’t even have to pay a penny.  An organization called Smoke Free NOW will make the sign and even put it in the ground.”

After perusing over 50 student-generated letters, the Gainesville Board of Trustees deliberated the matter and voted in September to create a tobacco-free pavilion in Gainesville Park.

Shellye Dale-Hall, school program coordinator for Smoke Free NOW, brought in the pledged “tobacco-free” sign this month for the excited students to see before posting it in the park.

“I’m so proud of the kids,” said Buttles upon learning of the students' successful petition. “This experience has taught them that just by writing a letter, they can make positive changes within their own community.”

[warsawscountrycourier]

Hoyt makes case for Cuomo’s vision for New York

By Bryan Jackson

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s sprawling road map for New York’s future laid out in his Jan. 9 State of the State Address boiled down to four core elements: jobs, education, fiscal responsibility and progressivism.

Sam Hoyt, regional president of Empire State Development Corporation, hammered home those foundational points during a Jan. 18 presentation hosted by the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce. Several Wyoming County business, government and cultural leaders attended Hoyt’s State of the State update at the Wyoming County Business Services Center in Perry.

After Hoyt highlighted Cuomo’s vision in a 30-minute slideshow presentation, he opened the floor for questions, which facilitated earnest discussion about the economy, education, workers’ compensation reform, the newly-passed state gun laws and mandate relief.

Speaking on behalf of the county, Eagle Town Supervisor Joseph Kushner said unfunded mandates continue to severely limit Wyoming County’s potential and represent one of the county’s main concerns.

“Our concern, and my concern, is the county tries to provide to our businesses roads, public safety, bridges, etc., and our major concern has been we haven’t heard anything about mandate relief,” said Kushner, who chairs the Board of Supervisors Finance Committee.

“We see this as a possible obstacle to business expansion, because we have to pass this tax burden onto our businesses and tax payers,” he said. “Our major concern this year is that we had to override the tax cap, not by a lot, but to maintain these services, and I hope the governor understands that.”

Hoyt, who served as an assemblyman for Grand Island and parts of Buffalo for almost 20 years, admitted more needs to be done regarding mandate relief, and said he expected more action on the subject to come up as the legislative session gets into full swing.

The comments about the governor were not all complaints and criticism, however. Kushner expressed gratitude for Cuomo’s recognition of Wyoming County’s agricultural prowess.

“Very commendable, I think, is the recognition of our agriculture industry in Wyoming County,” he said. “As many of you know, we’re trying to set up (the Wyoming County Agriculture Business Center of Excellence), and we did get some funding for that, and I hope we continue to do that in the future. That’s very important to us. There are many other businesses that have done quite well in our county, and Ag is No. 1. We hope to expand that with our (Agriculture Business) center.”

Agriculture presents an opportunity to boost the local economy through local means by preparing students for jobs available in this area. Ideas ranged from more local authority over the curriculum to retooling the BOCES system to allow students to utilize the programs earlier.

Karl Drasgow, a business owner from Gainesville, raised several points throughout the question-and-answer session. He said working with different groups to improve the educational system would help foster a vibrant local economy.

“I’m hoping to work with the government and to work with the schools and to work with other business owners and head in a direction that keeps our youth gainfully employed in our area,” said Drasgow, who was the only person from the private sector at the presentation.

He also felt locally focused changes could help ease the burden of state mandates.

 “One of the people brought up here today the unfunded mandates – Medicaid or Medicare for the older people. If we educate people for jobs that exist here, and those people stay here, we get a better tax base to pay for those kinds of benefits,” he said. “When the educational system here trains people and they leave this area or leave New York State, then we can no longer afford those types of benefits for the people that remain here.”

Hoyt stressed Coumo’s State of the State was just a starting point and that specifics will be laid out as more detailed courses of action develop. He also encouraged attendees, and anyone else, to continue to review the governor’s vision and provide comments.

“I tell people that this is a governor who wants feedback, who seeks feedback,” Hoyt said. “After each one of these (presentations) that I make, I send a memo back to the governor’s office. I describe the event, and more importantly, I describe the feedback that I receive so that they are aware of what the concerns are of every community across the state of New York.”

A detailed description of Cuomo’s State of the State Address initiatives can be found at www.governor.ny.gov, and feedback can be submitted to the governor’s office through the site.

[warsawscountrycourier]

County health system wins excellence award: Designation given to 12 hospitals in the US

Wyoming County Community Health System acknowledged a recent prestigious award Jan. 16 with a celebration involving employees, board members and Wyoming County supervisors.

The health system has been named a 2012 Top Improver Award winner by Press Ganey Associates Inc., according to a press release from WCCHS.

The Press Ganey award recognizes health care facilities that have shown continuous quality improvement over the previous two years.

WCCH is one of 30 Press Ganey client facilities to receive this designation. It is one of only 12 hospitals to receive the award for improved clinical performance, as measured by comparing quarterly composite scores, according the press release.

Press Ganey partners with more than 10,000 health care facilities, including more than half of all U.S. hospitals, to measure and improve the patient experience.

Donald T. Eichenauer, chief executive officer of WCCHS, said the award represents an important recognition of efforts by the leadership team and clinical staff.

“2012 represented a year of challenges to our operations due to construction activities and decreases in revenue sources,” he said. “However, our staff met each challenge with enthusiasm and confidence. The results of their achievements are better coordination in operations and improved quality care for our patients in this community.”

The nursing department and informatics nurse, with the support from their superiors, designed a system to communicate to clinical staff critical pieces of documentation to pass each quality measure. Clinical documentation procedures, used with the health system’s new electronic documentation system, were redesigned, and clinical staff received education on the newer, more streamlined procedures.

"Our managers and employees at every level made this achievement and award possible,” said Margaret Cunningham, director of regulatory affairs for WCCHS. “Improving quality has required tremendous team effort, and our continuous and persistent effort to execute with attention to detail has paid off and will benefit every patient who receives care in our facility."

WCCHS’ success in documentation and adopting new electronic health records has been continually rewarded through the 2012 Press Ganey Award, as well as a 2011 award of $1.26 million for achieving federal guidelines for implementing electronic records systems for documenting patient data.

[warsawscountrycourier]

Final robbery suspect extradited to New York

The last suspect in the summer robberies of migrant workers in Wyoming County is now in custody.

Brandon Suckow, 20, of Arcade, was brought back to New York State on Jan. 14 on a governor's warrant for his arrest, the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office reported.

Suckow was allegedly involved in robbing two Mexican migrant workers back in July in the Town of Sheldon. He was charged with second-degree robbery and violating his probation.

Shortly after, Suckow fled to North Carolina, according to a press release from the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office. He had fought extradition back to New York after he was picked up by U.S marshalls Oct. 3.

Suckow was turned over Monday, Jan. 14 in Charlotte, N.C., to Undersheriff Gregory Rudolph and Lt. Edward Till, who transported the suspect back to Wyoming County.

Suckow is being held without bail.

[warsawscountrycourier]

A slain soldier's homecoming

Patriot Guard Riders and veterans lined the entrance to Robinson and Hackemer Funeral Home in Warsaw to welcome home the body of 25-year-old Army Spc. Austin Sampson of Bliss, who died Jan. 4, following a Jan. 2 shooting outside a Killeen, Texas convenience store.

Sampson, a decorated veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, had been stationed at Fort Hood, just outside Killeen.

Sampson's funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 18 at Robinson and Hackemer Funeral Home, 246 North Main St., Warsaw.

[warsawscountrycourier]

Church pianist plays the music heard within: Joanne Privitera says natural talent is a divine gift

By Gary Towner

Many of those who attend the summer or Christmas concerts at St. Michael’s Church in look forward to a solo performance by Joanne Privitera, who closes the program by playing a medley of songs on the piano. What makes her talent so unique is that Privitera composes the arrangements and plays the songs entirely by ear.

Privitera’s parents first recognized her talent when she was between 6 and 8 years old.

Her father was always humming popular songs of the time, and she was able to copy them on the piano. Her parents decided she should have a piano teacher, and after learning a few scales and basic mechanics of playing, her teacher had her listen as she played Home on the Range so Privitera could hear what it should sound like.                                                                   

“In the playing and practicing, I did not realize what I was doing, but I was putting in stuff that I heard within (my mind) along with the written score,” Privitera said. “Mom recognized it was a lot different than what she heard the teacher do, and she encouraged me.”

However, when Privitera played her arrangement for the teacher, the teacher slapped her hands and told her that she would never be able to read music if she kept playing by ear. Her lessons soon ended, and to this day, she still cannot read music.

Privitera carried her talent into high school, where she played for school musicals. Privitera would listen to a recording of the music, and then copy it, adding her own embellishments.

“I look over the music with my eyes and I can hear it. I listen to tapes I am given or a CD and I learn it that way,” she said.

During this time Privitera started playing background music for various restaurants in Western New York, including Victor Hugo’s Wine Cellar, The Old Red Mill, and Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, where she played for six years on Tuesday and Sunday nights from 6 to 11 p.m. Patrons would often write requests on napkins, and ask a waitress to deliver them to Privitera, who kept 25-30 index cards with song titles. As soon as she saw the requested title, there was a total memory of the song.

The owner of Salvatore's was so impressed that he offered to go 50-50 with her on producing an album. She agreed, and an album was produced.

“Another interesting thing about this gift: I can play the same song at another time, and it will come out differently depending on my mood or where I am personally in life at that time,” she said. “That’s just totally amazing to me; it’s awesome. I can’t explain it, because it’s like one split-hair second before I play a particular note or sequence of chords; that’s when I know where my fingers are going to land.”

Shortly after her experience at Salvatore’s, a friend from St. Edmund’s Church in Tonawanda invited Privitera to play with her musical group.  Privitera had no experience with religious music, but tried it and eventually wound up playing service music at the 4 p.m. Saturday Mass. This sparked an interest in religious music, and from St. Edmunds she went to St. Bridget’s Church in Newfane. A friend from St. Michael’s in Warsaw, Cyndy Rebisz, invited her to play at one of their services.

This continued for several years, until Privitera decided the drive from Tonawanda was too taxing on her, so she moved to Warsaw in 1994 after retiring from teaching.

She became a regular at St. Michael’s, playing at the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass with the St. Michael’s musical group, as well as at the group’s summer and Christmas concerts. She has also played at weddings, anniversaries, nursing homes, and assisted care facilities.

Some nights, when she can’t sleep, Privitera sits at her piano and plays what she calls “note songs.” She plays a note, and from that note she creates a song that she has never heard before, “but (God) has.” Privitera can also play a note song if someone gives her a note to start on.

Privitera considers her talent to be spiritual, a gift from God.

“I’ve always said to the people that I recognize what I do cannot be learned,” she said. “It is a gift, and we all know who it comes from, and I was pointing to God in Heaven. I’ve recognized that forever, and I like to deliver that message whenever I can. Because that’s such a given, but not always recognized where it’s coming from; it’s good for people to hear that.”

[warsawscountrycourier]

Wyoming Central to restart hot lunch program: BOE also preps for cost-saving study’s release

By Bryan Jackson

The Wyoming Central School Board of Education is moving forward with an agreement between the district and Morrison Senior Dining that would revive a hot lunch program at the school, Superintendent Sandra Duckworth said.

As it stands, the program would begin the first week of February and run through the remainder of the school year.

“We’re going to just run it as a pilot,” she said. “At the end of the line, in June, we’re going to have to do an analysis to see just how much money we lost. We anticipate there will be some loss, but (we got) overwhelming response from community members. They really wanted us to bring back a hot meal for lunch, so that is what the board is going to attempt to do.”

Final negotiations between the district and Morrison Senior Dining regarding costs and logistics are still taking place, and Duckworth stressed the program would not necessarily be permanent, again citing the need to analyze costs at year’s end.

Uebbing, a professor at the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education and former superintendent of Canandaigua City School District, was hired last fall as a private consultant, independent of his job at the U of R, by Wyoming Central School to assess potential cost-saving programs the school could implement.

“What he looks at…ways to cut ways to cut expenses, ways to make programs better, ways for district to maybe change the way they’re doing something,” Duckworth said. “The board wanted him to look at things like, what would be the impact of eliminating full-day kindergarten, what would be the impact of eliminating non-mandated instructional programs, what about if we reduced the number of tuition high schools that we send kids to. He’s also looking at what’s the impact at tuitioning out all of our students, and what’s the process, and is it feasible, to dissolve a district.”

Uebbing is in the process of analyzing and organizing data he’s collected. Once he has presented his findings to the board of education late this month or in early February, a community-wide presentation is expected sometime in later February or early March, Duckworth said.

[warsawscountrycourier]

First baby of 2013 arrives at Warsaw hospital: New mother returns to roots in Silver Springs

By Julia Merulla

Lauren Wilcox, formerly of Silver Springs, had been told a couple years ago she couldn’t have children.

So imagine her surprise in April 2012 when she learned she was pregnant – while employed overseas in Kuwait, no less. Unaware of the pregnancy, the 28-year-old had been working 14-hour days in a sweltering climate as a government contractor.

Despite having no medical care at the start of her first trimester, she delivered a healthy baby. Eleanor Anne Teague was born at 2:08 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, the first baby born at the Wyoming County Community Hospital in 2013.

The baby girl, who arrived three days early, weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Lauren Wilcox, the daughter of Silver Springs residents Marv and Anne Wilcox, worked abroad in Kuwait as a government contractor from January 2011 to June 2012. Her pregnancy came at a good time, she said. Just a week after she learned she was pregnant, her contract ended and she got to return to the states.

“I really didn’t want to chance anything going wrong,” said Lauren Wilcox, the oldest of three sisters.

Though mother and baby have already been on the other side of the world, things circled back home for the Wilcox family, as Eleanor marked the third generation to be born at the Wyoming County Community Hospital.

Eleanor got her middle name from her maternal grandmother, Anne, who is originally from Castile. The baby’s first name had been thought up years ago.

“You kind of pick out your kid's name when you’re a little girl, and that's one that I always liked,” Lauren Wilcox said.

Eleanor's grandmother said she is thrilled to have mom and baby home safe in Wyoming County.

“We always supported (Lauren), definitely,” Anne Wilcox said. “It was a great opportunity and she was doing very good work (in Kuwait), but it's great having her home. Even if it's for a year, we'll take it.”

But the baby has yet to meet her father in person. Lauren Wilcox’s fiancé, Otis Teague of Chicago, is overseas in Afghanistan until the end of this year. The couple met in February 2011 while working together in Kuwait. The new mother will live with her parents until Teague returns from abroad.

Teague, a first-time father, cried when he heard the news of Eleanor’s birth, his fiancé said. He has 10 days of leave time this month, so he will meet his daughter for the first time Jan. 22.

“He's not going to want to leave after he holds his baby,” Anne Wilcox said.

Though she misses her fiancé while he’s in Afghanistan, Lauren Wilcox said she is relieved she came home when she did. Her pregnancy in Kuwait was a difficult one, complicated by extreme heat, lack of rest and inadequate medical care. Even though she took vitamins, her blood work from her first doctor’s appointment in the U.S. showed she was severely anemic and deficient in vitamin B12. After a preterm labor scare at 30 weeks, the mother is thankful Eleanor made it to term.

Home from the hospital since Sunday, Jan. 6, Lauren Wilcox is adjusting to life as a mother, with her own mother's help.

“It's exactly as they say: As soon you see your child, there's just this instant love,” Lauren Wilcox said. “(You) can't really explain it.”

Anne and Marv Wilcox are grandparents for the second time. Eleanor joins her nearly 10-month-old cousin, Evelyn, the daughter of Wilcox's middle child, Lindsay McLaughlin, who lives in Florida with her husband, Michael, a captain in the Army.

Anne Wilcox said FaceTime, a video messaging service, is a saving grace for keeping in touch with a close but dispersed family. They've seen Evelyn grow up through technology, and they chat with Teague at least a few times a week.

While she waits for Teague to return, Lauren Wilcox has the undying support of her family.

Her youngest sister, Rebecca Wilcox, of Buffalo, assumed the role of birth coach and attended birthing classes, and McLaughlin, the first sister to have a child, is a phone call away as Lauren Wilcox navigates the world of motherhood.

Eleanor's maternal great-grandparents, Harold and Marian Seymour of Castile, will see the baby grow in at least her first year of life.

Once Teague gets back from Afghanistan, the new family’s future is up in the air. They anticipate having to move so Teague can find work as a government contractor.

The couple, who have been engaged since February, plan to get married as soon as possible, likely after Teague comes home for good.

Expanding the family is certainly in the plan, Lauren Wilcox said. She wants Eleanor to grow up with a close relationship to her siblings, as she did. But for now, she counts herself and her fiancé among the lucky ones to have earned the titles of Mom and Dad, respectively.

“From being told you can’t have kids to being able to hold your daughter, it's pretty surreal,” she said. “I just feel very blessed.”

(Photo courtesy of Kevin Carlson)

[warsawscountrycourier]

Orangeville wind farm plods along after tax credit extension

By Bryan Jackson

Orangeville’s Stony Creek Wind Farm was set to careen over the fiscal cliff last Monday, but the last-minute deal to avoid automatic tax increases and harsh spending cuts for the country also included a much-needed tax credit extension for Chicago-based developer Invenergy Inc, LLC.

The production tax credit (PTC) grants project developers 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 10 years of new wind-power operations. The tax incentive, which has been crucial for wind developers across the country, was set to expire Dec. 31.

With the extension in place, Invenergy is sifting through the legislation and formulating future plans for wind farm, which would include 59 turbines.

“We currently are reviewing the recently-passed federal legislation and formulating our business strategy,” Eric Miller, director of business development for Invenergy, said in a statement. “Initial construction work on the Stony Creek project began in mid-2012 and will continue in 2013, with a more detailed timeline to be determined. We look forward to announcing further developments in the future.”

“Basically, what they’re doing right now, they still have some issues to clear up with the (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) on their stormwater pollution prevention plan, otherwise known as the SWPPP,” said Orangeville Town Supervisor Gerald Stout. “While they’re working on that, they had been approved to go ahead with the substation on Centerline Road. In addition, they may begin clearing roadways, where the turbines will be constructed. Perhaps next month, they may start that.”

If Invenergy moves forward without completing the SWPPP requirements, the company would be subject to DEC fines and open to lawsuits by local residents. Stout said Invenergy officials have said they are working diligently on the SWPPP issue, and it should be cleared up in the near future.

Even with the current slow-going, Stout said he felt Invenergy would move forward with the Stony Creek project.

“They don’t yet have a total go-ahead from headquarters in Chicago,” he said. “They’re still studying the legislation, but I think they are fairly confident that they will be going ahead with this project here in this coming year.”

[warsawscountrycourier]

Warsaw Fire Department in the market for newer ladder truck

By Julia Merulla 

The time has come when the Warsaw Fire Department just can't squeeze any more life out of its ladder truck.

The 1973 truck has lasted twice as long as most do, but in light of at least $12,000 in repairs, the department is looking to purchase a newer model, Fire Chief Primo Biscaro said.

At its Monday, Jan. 7 meeting, the Warsaw Village Board agreed to provide gas money for Biscaro and a couple other members of the fire department to travel over 1,000 miles to check out a used ladder truck that is for sale online.

It's a 1993 model, priced at $66,000. New ladder trucks can cost upward of $1 million, a price tag that's not feasible for the Village of Warsaw, especially considering the county does not contribute funds toward the purchase. The ladder trucks in Warsaw and Perry are the only such vehicles in Wyoming County and are used countywide.

Biscaro said he didn't know if the used truck has other potential buyers, but he wanted to express interest before someone else does.

“At that price, I'm not sure it's gonna last long,” Biscaro told the board.

Biscaro also announced that the fire department learned on Friday, Jan. 5 that it has received a federal grant for $128,976, after being denied for the same grant last year.

The money will be used to purchase 24 airpacks, which are the harnesses firefighters wear that include their air tank and mask.

The current airpacks are 12 to 15 years old and deteriorating with age, Biscaro said. Because regulations often change, the department needed to update to new models.

The fire department will need to go out for bid for the airpacks, Biscaro said. The Village of Warsaw will pay $6,473 of the grant. The fire department paid an additional $500 in grant application fees, Biscaro said.

Also at the board meeting, Warsaw Village Mayor Joe Robinson announced that downtown Warsaw has been listed on the New York State Office for Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation's national registry of historic places.

Robinson also announced that Highway Superintendent Gil Stearns has been appointed to a three-year term on the board of the Wyoming County Water Resources Authority.

Additionally, the Warsaw Village board passed a resolution to hold the village elections from noon to 9 p.m. March 19 at the Warsaw Fire Hall.

[warsawscountrycourier]

From the Press Box: Marrone an unexpected pick for Bills fans

By Dan Hager

When former Bills head coach Chan Gailey was relieved of his duties just before the new year, few people were shocked around Buffalo and the football world. The same could not be said a week later when it was announced that Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone would take Gailey's place.

There were rumors and reports that the Bills would interview Marrone, fresh off his second win at the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in a three-year span. But names like Chip Kelly, Lovie Smith and Jon Gruden were on fans' minds; Marrone was a simple afterthought.

Then it happened! The Bills hired a guy who was .500 at Syracuse in a Big East conference that has all but fallen off the face of the earth. And the worst part is that people were not mad when they heard the news – They were simply surprised and unsure of how to react.

In a week, the brass of the Bills went from being a 94-year-old owner to a 45-year-old decision-maker and an indecisive head coach in his mid-'60s to a 48-year-old football nut who seems poised and excited.

But never before have the Bills brought in a coach straight out of college football.

This is something new and fresh, which explains the lack of reaction from the majority of fans.  We don't know what to think, so we just have to sit back and watch things unfold. Marrone is a New York guy with coaching experience, having turned around the Syracuse program. He is ready for a chance to prove not only to Bills fans but to himself that he can handle the challenge of returning this city to the glory years.

He comes with strong recommendation behind names like Sean Payton, Bill Parcells and Herm Edwards. He didn't say much at his press conference, but made it clear in interviews afterward that he was sick of talking and wanted to get to work.

This is not an experiment, but rather a test. It’s a test of Marrone, Russ Brandon, Buddy Nix and the entire organization. With a QB change this guy just might pass – but that’s for another day.