Yes! Wind Power for Cohocton

2011-08-19T05:43:00.001-07:00

COMMUNITY REMEMBRANCE OF 9-11
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011 7:00 pm
ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH
31 N. Dansville, St.
Cohocton, N.Y.

Please distribute this to your contacts and join us in remembrance of 9-11, held on Sunday September, 11, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Assembly of God Church. Particpation by area churches, legions, and local fire departments. For info call 585-384-5952 or 585-384-9113.

2011-08-09T02:45:00.001-07:00

By Gwen Chamberlain
The Chronicle-Express
Posted Jul 26, 2011 @ 03:39 PM

Penn Yan, N.Y. — Petitions for several elected offices in Yates County have been filed with the Yates County Board of Elections.

In Italy, Supervisor Brad Jones, who won the election two years ago, could find himself out of office now that his petitions have been challenged.

Republican Election Commissioner Amy Daines says 20 noted objections to his petitions were filed and as a result, his name will not appear in the Republican line. But former Supervisor Margaret Dunn’s name will be.

Two years ago, in the heat of arguments over wind turbine development, Dunn did not file petitions for the Republican nomination, but later launched an unsuccessful write-in campaign and Jones won the election.

Dunn’s name will appear on the Republican line of the November ballot.

Daines says the objections to Jones’s petitions included the fact that the witness statement at the bottom of the form was not completed properly, which nullifies the entire page of signatures.

Daines says Jones is circulating independent petitions.

Petitions circulated to support Patti Fitzgerald’s bid for an Italy Town Council seat were also disqualified.

2011-08-03T17:49:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show
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2011-06-15T05:59:00.000-07:00

...Cohocton native, soldier Devin Snyder returns home, with family and friends.Lynn Brennan.Sgt. Devin Snyder’s casket is carried into the Walter E. Baird and Sons Funeral Home in Wayland Monday afternoon.

By Andrew Poole
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jun 14, 2011 @ 09:07 AM
Last update Jun 14, 2011 @ 09:26 AM

Cohocton, N.Y. — It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Devin Snyder’s homecoming in July was supposed to be a 14-day solace, a two-week reprieve from the carnage and intensity of duty in the Middle East.

It was supposed to be a time rife with the enjoyment of family and friends, of the Cohocton community that watched her grow up during the past two decades.

She is home now. But it wasn’t supposed to be like this.

U.S. Army Sgt. Devin Snyder — beloved daughter, sister, friend, student, soldier — dead at 20 years of age, killed by a roadside bomb on June 4 in the Laghman Province in Afghanistan.

Nine days after her tragic death, a state police-escorted cortege — led by Trooper Chris Smith, father of fallen Hornell Marine Lance Cpl. Zach Smith — wound its way through Wayland and Cohocton, coming to rest at the Walter E. Baird & Sons Funeral Home in Wayland.

Hundreds lined the route, many with flags and tears and signs professing love, and all with silence as they braved the heat to catch a glimpse of the hearse carrying their track star-turned soldier.

Just after 1 p.m., the cortege turned the bend on State Route 63 toward the Village of Wayland, proceeding through rows of silent students waiting outside the school Snyder graduated from in 2008.

The procession entered the village, passed sidewalks thick with muted spectators, and then headed north on State Route 21 and into Cohocton. Finally the cortege passed her family’s house on State Route 415 and the home of little Lauren Grace Hughes, the girl who lived across the street from Snyder, the girl whom Snyder babysat, the girl now proudly brandishing an American flag in memory of a friend and mentor.

Approximately four hours after her body was transferred by an Army honor guard from a plane at Rochester International Airport for the ride home, the cortege reached the funeral home. Another Army honor guard conveyed her body inside, as Patriot Guard Riders, holding flags skyward, encircled her family.

Friends, teachers, neighbors, and strangers lined the sidewalk, many with tears even the hot June sun couldn’t evaporate, and all carrying the sadness of knowing a life extinguished far too early.

Devin Snyder is home now. And here, amongst family and friends, she’ll stay.

2011-06-15T05:42:00.000-07:00

.....Body of soldier comes home Lynn Brennan | The Evening Tribune.Jacob Longuil, of Conesus, salutes as Snyder’s procession makes its way through Wayland.

Posted Jun 14, 2011 @ 12:02 AM

Cohocton, N.Y. — The body of an American soldier killed in Afghanistan earlier this month arrived in western New York Monday, escorted home by a procession that included 150 Patriot Guard motorcyclists.

A plane carrying the body of Army Sgt. Devin Snyder arrived late Monday morning at Rochester International Airport. Bystanders holding flags lined an airport road as the hearse bearing the casket drove past.

The procession traveled 40 miles south and arrived around 1:30 p.m. in Wayland.

A 2008 graduate of Wayland-Cohocton High School, Snyder came from a family with strong ties to military service. Her father, Edward Snyder, is a U.S. Navy veteran, and two of her siblings, Natasha Snyder, 23, and Damien Snyder, 19, are serving in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, respectively.

Snyder is survived by her parents, Ed and Dineen Snyder; two brothers, Derek (Mariah)
Snyder, 28, and Damien Snyder, 19; a sister, Natasha Snyder, 23; and a niece, Ariel.

Snyder, 20, was one of four soldiers killed June 4 in Laghman province when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.

Calling hours are 1-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Walter E. Baird Funeral Home, 300 W. Naples St.

Services are 10 a.m. Saturday at the Cohocton Sports Complex of the Wayland-Cohocton Central School District.

2011-06-13T15:18:00.001-07:00

2011-06-11T01:42:00.001-07:00

Cohocton Awaits Return Of Fallen Hero
Cohocton Awaits Return of Fallen Hero (Tom Maloney) Reported by: Sean Carroll Email: scarroll@13wham.com
--- The family of Devin Snyder, 20, expects her home some time next week. The community she grew up in is making preparations and grieving her loss while trying to comfort her family.

Late Friday Cohocton Town Supervisor Jack Zigenfus told 13WHAM News that the Snyder family was just informed that the U.S. Army is posthumously promoting Specialist Snyder to the rank of Sergeant. According to the Department of Defense Snyder was assigned to the 793rd Military Police Battalion and on Saturday she was one of four soldiers killed when an insurgent attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.

The 2008 Wayland-Cohocton High School grad was known for her outgoing personality, athletic excellence, and as a proud member of a military family. Snyder’s father is a U.S. Navy veteran and her brother and sister are currently enlisted.

The Snyder name is a familiar one at the Cohocton Veterans Memorial where an American flag flies at half-staff and yellow ribbon joins the U.S. Army flag. Snyder’s have served our nation in wars and peacetime dating back to the Civil War.

“The Snyder's date back in this community for generations," Zigenfus, who is also a family friend said.

This week that community has prepared for the return of their fallen hero. They’re hanging yellow ribbons everywhere, posters with Snyder’s photo and a simple message “Your Community Honors You” hang in store windows, and an American Flag flies on every home and in every lawn.

"It's the waiting, it's hard on us it's hard on the family," Cohocton Village Mayor Thomas Cox said. "It's a sad time for all of us, it's tough."

Snyder was the girl you’d see at the town park on summer days like this; she was a camp counselor for years and the local children looked up to her. Sure, folks here remember last January when it was Marine Lance Corporal Zach Smith of Hornell who was killed in the line of duty. But this time, with Devin, it just feels different.

"It's tough, Hornell was close but it doesn't happen in Cohocton,” Cox said while choking back tears. “I know everybody says that, it's not going to happen here, but it does. It does."

Cox said Smith’s parents paid the Snyder family a visit this week. Smith’s father Christopher is a New York State Trooper who intends to be among those escorting Snyder’s remains home to Cohocton next week. There are already plans for a public memorial service at the school’s sports complex. It won’t be easy for anyone but the community will go through this together.

"I think because of its close-knit ties that when something happens, especially of this magnitude, I don't think there's anything that this community wouldn't do to help one another,” Zigenfus said. “That's what we do here."

2011-06-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

Ribbons spread across Cohocton to honor Devin Snyder, family. Andrew Poole.Volunteers placed large, handmade yellow ribbons — with smaller red, white, and blue ribbons — across Cohocton on telephone poles and the new gazebo Wednesday in honor of U.S. Army Spc. Devin Snyder, who was killed Saturday in Afghanistan.

By Andrew Poole
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jun 09, 2011 @ 10:20 AM

Cohocton, N.Y. — In what will probably be one of several memorials for U.S. Army Spc. Devin Snyder, volunteers hung yellow ribbons across Cohocton on Wednesday in remembrance of her sacrifice.

Volunteers attached handmade large yellow ribbons — with smaller red, white, and blue ribbons in the middle — to telephone poles in the village.

Cohocton native Snyder, 20, and three other military policemen were killed Saturday by a roadside bomb in the Laghman Province in Afghanistan. She was scheduled to come home for two weeks in July.

A 2008 graduate of Wayland-Cohocton High School, Snyder came from a family with strong ties to military service. Her father, Edward Snyder, is a U.S. Navy veteran, and two of her siblings, Natasha Snyder, 23, and Damien Snyder, 19, are serving in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, respectively.

Snyder is survived by her parents, Ed and Dineen Snyder; two brothers, Derek (Mariah) Snyder, 28, and Damien Snyder, 19; a sister, Natasha Snyder, 23; and a niece, Ariel.

Cohocton Supervisor Jack Zigenfus said the whole community came together to hang the yellow ribbons.

“It’s normal to display support for the family,” he said. “Our plan was to line the streets in the village, especially the route to the cemetery.”

By Wednesday afternoon, the ribbons were hanging from telephone poles along State Route 415. Zigenfus said the remaining ribbons would be placed in the village after he met with the Atlanta and Cohocton American Legions, the Cohocton fire department and Atlanta-North Cohocton Fire District, Mayor Thomas Cox, and the Cohocton police department Wednesday night.

Zigenfus said the meeting was to coordinate memorial efforts for Snyder, according to her family’s wishes. Cohocton police Officer-in-Charge Rob Anger is coordinating Snyder’s procession with the state police and Livingston and Steuben County Sheriff’s Offices.

Dates and times for the services have not been set.

The supervisor said he will likely recommend to the town board at the June 20 meeting that a pavillion at Lawrence Parks be named after Snyder, who worked in the park for several years.

Natasha and Damien Snyder also worked in the park, and Dineen Snyder, the fallen specialist’s mother, was the park director for several years.

“It’s a fitting place to honor her. There’s a long family connection with the park,” said Zigenfus.

2011-06-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Friends remember Cohocton native Devin Snyder
U.S. Army specialist, 20, killed Saturday in Afghanistan. AP.An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Spc. Devin A. Snyder during a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Monday. According to the Department of Defense, Snyder, of Cohocton, died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

by Andrew Poole
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jun 07, 2011 @ 08:54 AM

Cohocton, N.Y. — There isn’t just one memory of Devin Snyder that stands out to Micalah Sick. It might be when Sick, now 17, was in eighth grade and looked up to Snyder as both a soccer player and mentor. It might be later, when the two would drive to the Food Mart and wolf down popsicles before track practice.

Regardless, Sick, a senior at Wayland-Cohocton, knows what Snyder’s place is with her and in the Cohocton community.

“She was my hero. I looked up to her. If I needed to talk to anybody, she’d listen. She helped me grow up,” said Sick. “She’s a local hero. She’ll always be a hero for us.”

Two days after Snyder, 20, was killed by an improvised explosive device while serving as a specialist in the U.S. Army Military Police in Afghanistan, flags across Cohocton hovered at half-mast in mourning. Town Supervisor Jack Zigenfus said flags would remain at half-mast until the completion of Snyder’s funeral services.

Snyder, a Cohocton native, was deployed to Afghanistan in April, and due to come home for two weeks in July.

In Monday’s Tribune, family members remembered her as strong-willed and compassionate, whose heart was always set on joining the service.
“She would give somebody the shirt off her back,” said her mother, Dineen Snyder, in Monday’s Tribune. “She would have taken a bullet for anybody.”

Part of a family with a long line of service, Snyder spoke of joining the military throughout high school. Her father, Ed Snyder, is a U.S. Navy veteran, and her sister Natasha Snyder, 23, is serving in the navy and her brother Damien Snyder, 19, is serving in the U.S. Army.

“That was going to be her career. She wanted this since high school and she was the type of person who know what she wanted and worked her butt of for it,” said her uncle, Ron Snyder, in Monday’s Tribune.

Sara Stone, 20, a friend and teammate of Snyder’s in high school who has lived across the street from the Snyder family for two years, said it was unbelievable Snyder was killed.

“She was always strong about everything, in every situation,” said Stone. “I hadn’t talked with her in a couple years. I wished I had.”

Two of Snyder’s soccer coaches, Julie Martin and Bill Sick, remembered her as a player whose fiery energy inspired teammates.

“She was a very spirited girl. She had a little spitfire in her. She put her heart and soul into whatever she did. If she was going to do something, she was going to do it all out and not hold back,” said Martin.

“Whatever anybody needed, she’d do without hesitation. That was her nature,” added Bill Sick.

Wayland-Cohocton Superintendent Michael Wetherbee said the school was planning on honoring Snyder, but wanted to work with her family on the memorial.

“A lot stood out about Devin,” said Wetherbee. “She was a wonderful young lady in high school, a very, very good athlete in soccer and track, and an extremely likeable student when she was here.

“Obviously, she came from a family where military service is important. We put the highest regard on students who want to pursue that noble profession.”

Area politicians also expressed their grief and appreciation for Snyder’s sacrifice and their support for her family.

“It’s always troublesome to me when war hits home, when our young men and women pay the ultimate sacrifice,” said Congressman Tom Reed in a conference call Monday. “My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.”

State Senator Tom O’Mara, R- Big Flats, also expressed his sadness at Snyder’s death in a release Monday.

“I know that I join the community of Cohocton and the residents of Steuben County and our entire region in mourning Devin’s passing and in expressing our enduring gratitude and respect for her service,” he said.

Snyder is survived by her parents, Ed and Dineen Snyder; two brothers, Derek (Mariah) Snyder, 28, and Damien Snyder, 19; a sister, Natasha Snyder, 23; and a niece, Ariel.

Funeral arrangements are still incomplete as of Monday afternoon, but will be handled by Walter E. Baird & Sons Funeral Home in Wayland.

2011-06-07T05:29:00.001-07:00

http://www.wetmtv.com/news/local/story/Local-Soldier-Makes-Ultimate-Sacrifice/btIS29o_8EqVoz4lrGDHsw.cspx

2011-06-07T05:11:00.001-07:00

http://blip.tv/wenytv/remembering-spc-devin-snyder-5247857

2011-06-07T05:00:00.001-07:00

2011-06-05T12:54:00.001-07:00

Army Spc. Devin Snyder

By Andrew Poole
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jun 05, 2011 @ 11:56 AM
Last update Jun 06, 2011 @ 10:57 AM

Cohocton, N.Y. — The war in Afghanistan claimed the life of yet another Steuben County native over the weekend.

Over a year after Hornell native Zach Smith was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, Cohocton native Devin Snyder, 20, a specialist in the U.S. Army Military Police, was killed by an improvised explosive device near Mehter Lam in Afghanistan on Saturday.

According to her family, three other U.S. Army members riding in the vehicle with Snyder were also killed in the blast.

Her mother, Dineen Snyder, remembered her daughter as an “outright sweetheart” who could always bring a smile to anyone’s face.

“She would give somebody the shirt off her back. She was very strong-willed, but very compassionate at the same time. I had always been afraid of her being in the army. She would have taken a bullet for anybody,” she said.

Snyder was deployed in Afghanistan in mid-March, said her mother, and was due home in July for two weeks.

Snyder was part of a family with strong ties to the military service. Her father and former Cohocton mayor, Edward Snyder, is a U.S. Navy veteran, and two of her siblings, Natasha, 23, and Damien, 19, currently serve in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, respectively.

Although confirming she was scared of her daughter joining the army, Dineen Snyder said she and her husband never tried to talk their daughter out of joining the service.

“She always had her heart set on joining the Army. We always let our kids make their own choices as to what they want to do. We were supportive,” she said.

Ron Snyder, the specialist’s uncle, agreed she always had her heart and mind set on joining the military.

“That was going to be her career. She wanted this since high school, and she was the type of person who knew what she wanted and worked her butt off for it,” he said. “She had a personality that wouldn’t quit.

“I don’t think she had any other interests except the army. That was her goal, to go as far as possible. She was probably a 30-year person.”

A 2008 graduate of Wayland-Cohocton Central School, Snyder was an avid soccer player and track star, who earned the nickname “Twiggy” when she started running track on varsity, said former Wayland-Cohocton girls track coach Jeff Englert.

“We brought her up as an eighth grader,” said Englert, who coached Snyder in high school. “She was always a real pleasant kid to be around. The older girls were taken with her. She just took their hearts. She was very humble, always looking to get better and better.”

Englert said he became close with her and the rest of her family during her five-year track stint, and that he’d stayed in touch with Snyder since she joined the service.

“She did a lot of great things for me as a friend her senior year. She told me the heartbeat of the team, anything I needed to look at as a coach. She helped me become a better person and coach,” he said. “She had everything going for her. To have it end like this is awful.”

Snyder is survived by her parents, Ed and Dineen Snyder; two brothers, Derek (Mariah) Snyder, 28, and Damien Snyder, 19; a sister, Natasha Snyder, 23; and a niece, Ariel.

Snyder’s family is flying to Dover, where her body is arriving today. Services aren’t scheduled yet but will be held at Walter E. Baird & Sons funeral home.

Copyright 2011 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

2011-06-05T06:41:00.001-07:00

State Government Awards $191 Million To Wind Projects
June 02, 2011 05:18:00

Howard Wind Project Recieves Some Of This Money

June 2, 2011

Albany, NY - Governor Andrew Cuomo says the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) have awarded $191 million to 17 power projects across the state.

Wind projects selected include:

· Howard Wind Farm, Steuben County
· Stony Creek Wind Farm, Wyoming, Wyoming County
· Allegany Wind Farm, Great Valley, Cattaraugus County
· Marble River Wind Farm, Churubusco, Clinton County

According to the governor's office, the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) was created in 2004, and promotes the development of new renewable energy resources, and the RPS is funded by a surcharge collected from ratepayers served by utility companies.

Local critics of wind energy say the RPS is a scam in which credits are sold from one wind company to another, whether wind is generated or not, and that it was not until the RPS system came along that industrial wind projects started up in the southern tier.

"They're trying for these credits and that's the end of the story" said Howard resident Gerry Hedman. Hedman, a wind protester who lives near property where a wind turbine will be soon constructed, unsuccessfully sued the Howard Town Board over the wind project.

2011-06-03T06:51:00.000-07:00

Quint Baird starting pitcher

.....Double trouble: Nobles’ big night pushes Eagles in BB title game.Zoom Photos. Derrick Balinsky.Way-Co starting pitcher Quint Baird.

By Derrick Balinsky
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jun 01, 2011 @ 10:45 AM

Dansville, N.Y. — Zach Nobles put both his bat and glove to good use Tuesday night.

The outfielder-pitcher notched a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while also pitching a solid 1 1/3 innings of relief as the top-seeded Wayland-Cohocton Eagles made their way to the Section V, Class BB championship round with a 10-5 victory over the fourth-seeded Livonia Bulldogs at Babcock Park in Dansville.

“It’s nice to get back to this stage. It’s been a couple of years since we been to the finals,” Way-Co skipped Wager said minutes after the conclusion of the game which was delayed nearly an hour due to an unplayable heat index on the field. “It’s nice to see the kids get excited but not overly celebrate because I think that they’re not satisfied yet.”

Livonia bounced back from an early deficit to knot the game at three with a three-run third. They opened up a 4-3 advantage in the top of the fourth, but the maroon and gold would answer with a five-run fifth which essentially sealed the Bulldogs’ fate.
“We had a couple of clutch hits,” Wager said when asked about the fifth-inning offense. “In the inning before, we had bases loaded with nobody out and two, three, four in our order coming up and I think we only came up with one. So it was nice to see a couple of clutch hits to finally break the game open a little bit.”

“We got that first out on a pop-up to the shortstop and then on a second pop-up, my second baseman got a little gun shy after a collision earlier,” Livonia head coach Scott Gillman said. “You could see that he didn’t want to go after the ball. Once that fell in, you’ve got yourself base runner to contend with and the next kid singled. Before you know it was just hit after hit after hit. When you extend innings like that, especially with how hot it was, people get tired and it starts to wear on you.”

The Bulldogs spotted the Eagles a 3-0 head start by the end of the first inning.

“The guys have done a good job this year of getting off to good starts,” Wager said. “In any sport that’s important. You get off to a good start and you build confidence as you go, and hopefully you keep it.”

“It was very difficult to try and come back after getting behind early,” Gillman said. “We did the same thing against Aquinas — we were down three after one and it was the same thing here. You can’t live too long falling behind as much as we did and it finally caught up with us. Even though we were able to catch up and take the lead, we weren’t able to do that the second time. I think it came down to their ability to hit the ball and our inability to throw strikes. Our freshman walked seven kids and that’s just something he’ll have to get better at.
“Experience and depth,” Gillman added, referring to the biggest differences between the two clubs. “We don’t have a whole heck of a lot of experience. And as far as pitching, we don’t have a whole heck of a lot of depth. Our freshman started tonight and it was a good experience for him to pitch a semifinal. Hopefully that will carry him for the next three years.”

Evan Englert went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Tyler Brown also ended up 2-for-3. Ryan Gibbs was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI and Tyler Thielges chipped in at 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI.

Quint Baird struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks.

“I thought he was solid. For the conditions, and as hot as it was, I thought he pitched very well,” Wager said. “He was just over 100 pitches and he said he was fine, but we just thought it was time to make the switch.”

The Bulldogs go out of business at 13-8 and will lose five starting seniors to graduation.

“It’s always tough when you lost your last game,” Gillman said. “My expectations are always high coming into any season, but I didn’t expect to win 13 games with this team. We only really had four returning players and a bunch of young kids stepping in. To win 13 games and reach the semifinal round of our bracket, we’re proud of that but still the short of it is that you don’t want to lose.
“We lose our senior horse who has done most of the pitching for us, a three-year catcher and our shortstop. The center fielder will be tough to replace, too, because he’s our catalyst lead-off hitter.”

The Eagles will meet up with second-seeded Hornell on Friday afternoon at a time and venue that has yet to be determined. The two teams split their regular-season series, Wayland winning on its home field 8-5 and Hornell winning 4-0 at Maple City City Park to clinch the Livingston County Athletic Association Division I championship.

“These are two pretty evenly matched teams. We split during the regular season, but I think the kids are confident,” Wager said. “They know that we’ve had a lot of success against these guys the last few years. Again, they’ll be confident going into the game, it’s just a matter of producing and getting the job done.”

Wager was unsure which of his pitchers would be called upon to get the next start and he didn’t rule out throwing Baird back on the hill.

“It’s hard to say,” Wager said. “We’ll see how Quint bounces back. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

Copyright 2011 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

2011-06-03T06:49:00.001-07:00

Way–Co middle school gets free 21st Century Wireless Lab.Zoom Photos. Jeff Miller.Brian Resler, sales manager for the Chicago office of Toshiba, demonstrates Toshiba tablet PCs to eighth graders in the Wayland-Cohocton Middle School libarary May 26.

By Jeff Miller
Genesee Country Express
Posted Jun 02, 2011 @ 12:00 PM
Last update Jun 02, 2011 @ 02:38 PM
Wayland — At a time when budgetary constraints are making it impossible for area schools to make large purchases, Wayland–Cohocton Middle School recently installed a wireless computer lab worth about $48,000.

The district acquired its new lab absolutely free.

A year ago, Anita Pragle, a teacher's aide, learned about a 21st Century Wireless Lab sweepstakes through a partnership between CDW-Government and Discovery Education. Rules allowed contestants to enter as often as they wanted, so Pragle did — every single day for about a month and a half via the internet. Out of 118,000 unique entries (or roughly 600,000 total entries for each school that entered more than once) from all 50 states, Wayland-Cohocton was one of three schools that won the grand prize.

“I didn’t believe it for a while,” Pragle said, adding that she thought the phone call was some kind of hoax. But it wasn’t until Lynn Siciliano, head of the school’s technology department, who was also notified the school had won at the same time, told her that it was indeed for real, that she finally accepted it.

Pragle said the receipt of the new computer equipment is right on time. The school was down to four laptops in the computer lab and 13 computers in the library for students to use. It wasn’t uncommon for the library’s computers to be fully occupied, Pragle said. “Most of the time, we sent students away.”

To launch the new lab, representatives from Discovery Education, CDW-G and Toshiba showed students and teachers how to use the new technology May 26. Pragle said the new system will be housed in the computer lab and be taken to classrooms on an as-needed basis. The whole lab can fit onto a cart and wheeled wherever it needs to go.

“That’s what makes it so nice,” Pragle said.

In addition to the three grand-prize winning schools, 20 other schools won other equipment. In all, schools received more than $150,000 worth of technology equipment from the 2010 sweepstakes.

The contest is in its ninth year, and has awarded nearly 30 wireless labs to schools across the country. Each winner is chosen through a random drawing.

Copyright 2011 Dansville-Genesee Country Express. Some rights reserved

2011-05-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

WAYLAND COHOCTON CENTRAL SCHOOL
National Junior Honor Society Inducts New Members

2011 Inductees: Sixth Grade: Madelyn Belanger, Alison Bligh, Emily Burke, Hanna Recktenwald, Alexis Robinson, Nicholas Smatl, Tara Stern, Raymond Tolner, Samantha Towner, Jackson West, Cora Young; Seventh Grade: Ian Carter, Kaitlin Harter, Bryce Kennedy, Brandon Sahrle, Marissa Schirmer, Bradley Sick, Alzy Uhl; Eighth Grade: Alexis Carnrite, Ben Topey

2011-05-25T10:06:00.001-07:00

2011-05-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO FIRST WIND COHOCTON AND WCCS SENIORS

First Wind owns and operates the 125 MW Cohocton Wind project in Cohocton and the 20 MW Steel Winds project in Lackawanna. The three 2011 scholarship awardees from New York are all from Wayland-Cohocton High School:

• Hannah Kimmel of Wayland will attend State University of New York College of Environmental Science in the fall where she will study Renewable Energy;
• Alexander Decker of Cohocton has been accepted to University of Rochester and will major in Biology;
• Sarah Wolcott, also of Cohocton, will attend the Rochester Institute of Technology where she will pursue a degree in Engineering.

2011-05-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

Press Release: First Wind Continues Growth of its Scholarship Program with Announcement of Fifteen Recipients for 2011
Press Release
In its second full year, top high school graduates from Hawaii, Maine, New York, Utah and Washington are selected from an expanded and talented applicant pool

Boston, MA—May 24, 2011—First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today announced fifteen recipients of the company’s scholarship program. In its second full year, applications to the 2011 First Wind Scholars program more than doubled, and the college-bound students selected to receive scholarships were from host communities in Hawaii, Maine, New York, Utah and Washington.

First Wind Scholars offers one-time, $3,000 scholarships to local high school seniors who display strong potential for a successful college experience, as well as interest in the environment, energy, or the sciences. Of the fifteen scholarships awarded, one exceptional student, Joshua Lake of Utah’s Delta High School, has been awarded a renewable scholarship of $5,000 for up to four years.

“In its second full year, we were very pleased to see the significant increase in applications from so many talented and bright high school students in the communities where we develop and operate wind projects,” said Carol Grant, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for First Wind. “As we grow our development of clean, renewable energy projects across the Northeast, the West and Hawaii, we will continue to expand our scholarship program with the hope that students within our host communities take full advantage it. For our 2011 recipients, we wish them all the best during their college careers and we are excited about their future contributions in the fields of environment, energy and the sciences.”

Hawaii
First Wind owns and operates two projects in Hawaii including its 30 MW Kaheawa Wind project on Maui and its 30 MW Kahuku Wind project on Oahu. First Wind has a power purchase agreement with Maui Electric Company for an additional 21 MW expansion of its Kaheawa Wind Project. In addition, First Wind hopes to build a 70 MW project near the town of Haleiwa, called Kawailoa Wind. First Wind received more applications from students living in Hawaii host communities than from any other state, which resulted in six scholarships being awarded to students from the state. This year’s recipients from Hawaii include the following:

• Dane Oshiro of Kula, a graduate of Maui High School, will attend Willamette University and will major in Environmental Science;
• Stephen Adolfson of Lahaina attended Lahainaluna High School and is enrolled in Colorado State University where he will pursue a degree in Engineering;
• Kamie-Lei Fujiwara of Wailuku, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Maui, has been accepted to Dartmouth College and will major in Environmental Science;
• Kiana Wilson of Laie attended Kahuku High School and will be attending Brigham Young University-Hawaii with a major in Science/Journalism;
• Daniella Reyes of Mililani, a graduate of Leilehua High School, will be attending Santa Clara University in California and will major in Biology;
• Jeffrey Milhorn of Wahiawa, who also attended Leilehua High School, will attend University of Colorado at Boulder where he will pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Maine
First Wind owns and operates three projects in Maine: the 57 MW Stetson I and 26 MW Stetson II projects, both near Danforth, and the 42 MW Mars Hill Wind project in Mars Hill. The company is also currently building the 60 MW Rollins Wind project, which is situated in the towns of Lincoln, Burlington, Lee, Winn and Mattawamkeag. First Wind also has projects in development in Eastbrook and Oakfield, Maine. As part of the 2011 program, First Wind awarded scholarships to three high school students:

• Nicklaus Carter of Franklin, who is a graduate of Sumner Memorial High School, will attend the University of Maine where he will major in Chemical Engineering;
• Selden Porter of Lincoln, who attended Mattanawcook Academy, has enrolled into the Rochester Institute of Technology where he plans to study Mechanical Engineering;
• Dillan Hesseltine of Lincoln and also a graduate of Mattanawcook Academy will attend the Maine Maritime Academy as Marine Engineering Technology major.

New York
First Wind owns and operates the 125 MW Cohocton Wind project in Cohocton and the 20 MW Steel Winds project in Lackawanna. The three 2011 scholarship awardees from New York are all from Wayland-Cohocton High School:

• Hannah Kimmel of Wayland will attend State University of New York College of Environmental Science in the fall where she will study Renewable Energy;
• Alexander Decker of Cohocton has been accepted to University of Rochester and will major in Biology;
• Sarah Wolcott, also of Cohocton, will attend the Rochester Institute of Technology where she will pursue a degree in Engineering.

Utah
First Wind owns and operates the largest utility-scale operating wind farm in Utah. The Milford Wind project features an operating phase of 204 megawatts (MW) and a second 102 MW phase, which recently achieved commercial operations. The First Wind Scholars program, which awarded its inaugural scholarship to a Utah student, will provide scholarships to the following two recipients:

• Joshua Lake of Leamington, who attended Delta High School, is the recipient of the four-year scholarship, will enroll at Utah State University, where he plans to study Electrical Engineering;
• Kyle Goodwin of Beaver, a graduate of Beaver High School, will attend Southern Utah University where he will pursue a degree in Engineering.

Washington
As part of its 2011 scholarships, First Wind also announced its first recipient in Washington, which is where the company has proposed the Palouse Wind project in northern Whitman County. Devin Saywers, a graduate of Cheney Liberty High School, will attend the University of Washington where he will major in either Physics or Chemistry.

Launched in October 2009, the First Wind Scholars program is available to high school students residing in each community where First Wind currently has a project in operation or in an advanced stage of development. The scholarship supports standout local high school students with an interest in studying the environment, energy or the sciences. In its first two years, the First Wind Scholars program has awarded 27 scholarships to top high school graduates from Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Vermont and Washington.

About First Wind
First Wind is an independent wind energy company exclusively focused on the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of utility-scale wind projects in the United States. Based in Boston, First Wind has wind projects in the Northeast, the West and in Hawaii, with the capacity to generate up to 635 megawatts of power and projects under construction with the capacity to generate up to an additional 121 megawatts. For more information on First Wind, please visit www.firstwind.com or follow us on Twitter @FirstWind.

###

For more information, contact:
John Lamontagne
First Wind
Director, Communications
617-960-9521

2011-05-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Dozens of wind turbines, similar to those in Cohocton, are ready to be built in the Town of Howard in the coming months.

By Justin Head
The Evening Tribune
Posted May 12, 2011 @ 08:37 AM

Howard, N.Y. — If everything goes as planned, a wind farm in the Town of Howard will be functional in about six months, according to Supervisor Don Evia.

EverPower Renewables has told town officials it's planning on having a 25 turbine farm functional by mid October. Evia Wednesday night said he was surprised the company expects to be running by then.

“That’s what I’m taking out of the latest communication,” said Evia. “That’s what they are telling the town.”

According to information recently reported by the The Courier newspaper, a 20-year payment plan will yield Howard 51.5 percent of the total, or $7.1 million, and the county will take in 16.5 percent, or $2.3 million. The Canisteo-Greenwood Central and Hornell City School District will split the remaining 32 percent, with the amounts determined by the location of the turbines.

The company is also looking to install two additional turbines on 39 acres of private land south of Spencer Hill and South Woods roads, bring the total number to 27. A public hearing will take place at 7 p.m. May 25 at the town hall. The Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, the Howard Planning Board and town officials will meet with residents to discuss concerns and provide more information about the project. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement accepted by SCIDA, the lead agency on the project, is available at the town hall and will be discussed.

Workers on the project have already began reinforcing roadways and transporting equipment. Construction crews have been busy working on access roads and Howard has seen more traffic lately, several townspeople said.

Like most wind farms in the region, EverPower battled multiple lawsuits and has put in years of work to get to this point.

Copyright 2011 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

2011-05-12T05:03:00.000-07:00

Chain gang
Cohocton students move 5,000 books to new library.Zoom Photos. Jeff Miller.Third-grader Deandra Green gets handed a book May 11 in Cohocton as he helps out the Cohocton Library move some 5,000 childrens books to its new location.

By Jeff Miller
Genesee Country Express
Posted May 11, 2011 @ 05:00 PM
Last update May 11, 2011 @ 05:10 PM
Cohocton — It was a perfect day to take the kids outdoors.

On May 11, roughly 220 Cohocton Pre-k through fourth graders did more than go outdoors and have some fun, they helped the Cohocton Public Library move its roughly 5,000 children’s books to its new location, and did so in less than two hours.

The students walked from the school to the library, then formed a line from there, through the Village Greens, and to the new library on Maple Avenue.

The students, teachers and other staff moved the children’s books down the line in a “bucket-brigade” fashion.

Cohocton Library director Hope Decker said the idea came from one of the library’s board members, Barb Sick, who remembers doing the same kind of thing when she was a student in the 1930s.

When the now-Cohocton Elementary School was built, the students took the contents of their desk and one library book from the former school, now the Village Greens, to the new site.

“We wanted to create a similar experience for the kids,” Decker said, one in which the kids will remember fondly.

The former Cohocton Library closed at the end of the business day on May 9. Plans are to open in the new location in June.

As for the library’s former building, the Village of Cohocton will begin moving in there later this month.

The move solves two problems for the Town and Village, who own the property jointly. First, it’s a rent-free building, and second, it solves the problem of keeping it occupied.

The Village has shared space with the Town in the Larrowe House since the 1950s. When the municipalities gave the Larrowe House to the Cohocton Historical Society in 2009, the Village moved into space adjacent to the Post Office on Maple Avenue.

The Town moved into the former bank in Atlanta.

As in the Maple Avenue office, the new Village office will include space for both the Town and Village clerks, as well as a mayor’s office.

The Village is slated to move into the former library May 27 and 28, with a tentative opening date of June 1.

With the exception of partitioning and moving furniture in, Mayor Tom Cox said there is little the Village needs to do to accommodate the building for its use.

2011-05-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

Eric Mathews, Rick Towner and Haney Sick, our cooks!
Thanks to all of our volunteers for their hard work.

Thanks to all who supported the Cohocton Historical Society's Chicken B-B-Q on Mother's Day. 275 dinners sold out in 1/2 hours.

2011-05-09T04:56:00.000-07:00

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

23rd Annual Wheels For Life Bike-a-thon

Saturday May 7th, 2011 - Cohocton New York

On Saturday May 7th, 2011 the Wayland-Cohocton Elementary School campus in Cohocton came alive with people of all ages from all around the area to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis Tennessee. There were 104 participants and their families, many volunteers and other people from the community that came to just witness and show their support. The event donations and pledges raised approximately $10,000.00 to support St. Jude.

The day was enjoyed by all as the participants either rode bikes or walked the 7/10 mile route around the school and sports complex area. Participants could do as many laps as they wanted, no requirement was needed and participants could spend the day or come for part of the day. Many of the children had little league and soft ball games but they still came either before or after their game.

It was a great family day! The weather held out with only a few rain drops and plenty of sunshine. Throughout the day the families were able to enjoy ice cream sundaes, a hotdog picnic lunch, face painting, friendship and FUN!.

The Community Quilt that was made by 24 women from the area was raffled off. The proceeds of $829 from the quilt will also go to St. Jude. The quilt was won by Sandy Riley. The Community Quilt was loved by everyone so the idea came to share the idea with more people by creating a book with the story of Cohocton. The story and illustrations were done by Kaye Wise and Margie Adams. Each picture represents different places, people and events from the Cohocton Community. The book shares a story that will be enjoyed by all ages. The pictures are all in black and white so they can be colored and come alive with your own artistic touch. Books were printed by Wayland- Cohocton School and are available for $1.00 in the Elementary & Business School Offices.

Why do people support St. Jude?

The donations collected will help fund the life-saving research and treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - the world’s premier pediatric research center. Every child saved at St. Jude means children saved around the world. Discoveries made at St. Jude are shared freely with doctors and scientists all over the world. . The support of caring people like you helps ensure that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will continue its lifesaving mission of finding cures and saving children. But the most important reason is, in the words of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas: "No child should die in the dawn of life."

Thank You

The dedication and support of the kids and the families in our area is wonderful. It is great to see that people care and want to help others.

Thank you for supporting our 23rd Annual Wheels For Life Event and making it another Great Year!

2011-05-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

.....Changes for First Wind mean little to Cohocton.Zoom Photos. Chris Potter.The top of a wind turbine is seen from the Cohocton Athletic Complex in Cohocton.

By Andrew Poole
The Evening Tribune
Posted May 04, 2011 @ 11:40 AM

Cohocton, N.Y. — Financial and partnership changes for First Wind won’t impact turbines in Cohocton, according to First Wind and town officials.

First Wind announced Saturday they entered an agreement with Algonquin Power and Utilities Corp. and Emera Inc. to joint construct, own and operate wind energy projects in New York and the New England states.

Canada-based Algonquin owns and operates $1.1 billion in renewable and thermal power. Emera, based in Nova Scotia, invests in electricity generation, transmission and distribution and gas transmission.

According to a release from the three companies, the agreement requires state and federal regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

First Wind, who developed turbines in Cohocton and began a 20-year project with the town starting in 2008, will maintain 51 percent of the operating company. Emera and Algonquin entered into a separate venture titled Northeast Wind, according to the release. Northeast Wind will control the other 49 percent.

According to the release, Northeast Wind will invest $333 million to secure the 49 percent.

John Lamontagne, director of corporate communications at First Wind, said the $333 million will go toward projects in different stages of development.

He added First Wind will continue to serve as the managing branch of the operating company, and that the changes shouldn’t impact Cohocton.

“It doesn’t impact Cohocton at all. Anything new or in operation should see no difference. Everything will continue to operate as it has in the past,” he said.

Cohocton Supervisor Jack Zigenfus was notified Monday about the changes with First Wind.

“They didn’t want the town to be alarmed,” he said. “They called me so I wouldn’t hear about it second-hand.”

The only change for the town will be in the insurance bonds regarding agreement with First Wind. Zigenfus said the insurance company will have to issue new bonds, worth $300,000, after the agreement between the companies.

Zigenfus pointed to First Wind depositing $100,000 in the town’s bank account Saturday as an example of business continuing as usual with the wind energy company.

The $100,000 is payment as part of a six-year road use agreement between the town and company. The agreement is now in its fifth year, said the supervisor.

Projects started and completed by First Wind that are transferring to the operating company include the Cohocton Wind and Steel Winds I in Lackawanna, as well as a project in Vermont and four projects in Maine, according to the release.

Copyright 2011 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved
.

2011-04-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATES: JULY 23rd and JULY 24th
Cohocton Fire Department 125th Anniversary

2011-04-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

A Look Inside First Wind's Control Center
By Ted Page
April 25, 2011

To most people, the operation of a wind farm is a complete mystery – even as more wind turbines pop up in our communities around the United States. This allows wind opponents to make the claims that wind energy "doesn’t work."

Now, First Wind (full disclosure – a client of mine) is pulling back the curtain with a new video that demonstrates that wind farms are in fact producing real power. What’s more, there’s a very sophisticated flow of data and analysis that goes into making wind energy production efficient, with centralized monitoring and troubleshooting.

What I find most interesting about wind project operations is the technology that goes into the process. When people talk about making America more competitive economically through leadership in clean energy, it’s this technology that’s really the backbone of the argument. The new technology being developed to wean ourselves off fossil fuels may ultimately be put to use in other sectors of the economy, helping make a stronger economic foundation for the country, and spurring additional innovation.

2011-04-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

Chicken B-B-Q Mother's Day, May 8th. Starting at noon till sold. $8.00 per dinner. Half Chicken, Cabbage Salad, Baked Beans, Rolls & Butter, Cupcake and Beverage. Cooked onsite by Hanney Sick and Rick Towner using the Cornell Sauce used by the Lion's Club. Free exhibit of Prom and Bridesmaid gowns at the Larrowe House from noon to 4 pm. Please support your local Cohocton Historical Society. Proceeds will go to restoration of the Maple Ave buildings and the Larrowe House. Please repost.

2011-04-11T05:13:00.000-07:00

Dansville Lion's Club---Community as it should be

2011-04-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

Cohocton Historical Society

3rd. Annual Chicken B B Q
MOTHER'S DAY, MAY 8TH, 2011

Lion's Pavilion
15 S. Main St
Cohocton, N.Y. 14826

NOON - TILL?

MENU:

Half Chicken
Cabbage Salad
Baked Beans
Rolls & Butter
Assorted Cupcakes
Beverage

Dinners $8.00 each, generous servings.

EAT IN OR TAKE OUT,
Pavilion Under Cover

FREE HISTORICAL DISPLAY

THE LARROWE HOUSE

"TIMELESS TREASURES"
DISPLAY OF GOWNS
11:00 am to 4:00 pm

2011-04-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

I'LL TAKE WIND!!!!!

2011-04-01T05:12:00.000-07:00

...Wayland-Cohocton Central School community forum on budget dilemma

By Jeff Miller
Genesee Country Express
Posted Mar 31, 2011 @ 03:30 PM

Wayland — It is often said that communication is the key.

Giving the community a brief overview of the financial situation in which the Wayland-Cohocton School District is facing, presenting some of its current plans and listening to the community and answering their questions was the focus of the district’s more than hour-long community forum Monday.

In anticipation of an on-time state budget with minimal increases recently proposed for educational aid, Superintendent Michael Wetherbee said he hopes to have exact numbers of the district’s state aid figures soon.

As it stands at press time, Wayland-Cohocton, which is 72 percent dependent upon state aid, is looking at $2,609,591 less from the state for next year, resulting in a $2,158,341 budget to budget gap.

For WCCS to make up its losses, the district would have to increase its taxes by 38.5 percent, or $6.09 per thousand dollars of assessed value. This is not an option the district is proposing.

“Our goal is to put a budget together that meets student needs. But there’s the other side of the pendulum that we have to be concerned about – our local community’s ability to afford that education,” Wetherbee said.

He noted that salaries and benefits make up 75 percent of the budget, which means layoffs are inevitable.

Wetherbee restated last week’s proposal of redistricting the Cohocton Elementary School boundary north to shift some Wayland Elementary students there to make up for teacher layoffs and even out class sizes.

This proposal would save the district nearly $370,000 with no additional busing required. Exact boundaries have not been determined yet.

With this, five retirements, a reduction of 10 additional full-time staff, cuts in the athletic department, an increase in fund balance and PILOT revenues, and the district is left with $335,417 to adjust.

The floor was then opened to the public.

Bob Hughes of Perkinsville asked about other rural districts across the state and if they are facing the same kinds of problems, which many are.

However, more affluent districts that are not as dependable on state aid are not seeing these types of cuts. Early in his presentation, Wetherbee compared districts with similar enrollment in Westchester, Nassau and other wealthy counties.

Those districts could make up their loss of state funds with between a one and seven percent tax increase.

Another topic brought up was the Cohocton rezoning proposal, which one parent said would be a burden if it were placed on her family. Wetherbee said he realizes this decision may not be popular with some, if not many parents, and he wished he was not in a position to have to recommend this proposal.

When asked about the possibility of closing the Cohocton school altogether, Wetherbee stated that the savings would be roughly $400,620, compared to the $370,000 for rezoning. However, he feels that the additional $30,000 to keep it open is worthwhile for the Cohocton community.

The $370,000 savings is through one-time layoffs that the district is not expecting to replace.

Making administrative cuts was another topic brought up by the public, which Wetherbee said, “People may not believe me, we are bare bones in administration.”

When someone asked about what services, positions and programs are proposed to be cut specifically, Wetherbee said that information is not solidified, but will be presented at the next board meeting on April 11.

When asked about union negotiations, Wetherbee said none are up for renegotiations this year, but he has been in talks with the administrator’s union regarding contractual concessions to help the district save money.

The teacher’s union already said no to concessions.

When athletic costs were brought up, Wetherbee said there have been discussions of perhaps combining some teams countywide, which would impact the coaching budget. When asked about encouraging more volunteer coaches, it was said that increased state mandates are inadvertently discouraging people to volunteer coach rather than encouraging them.

Increasing class sizes and decreasing support staff was another concern raised. Wetherbee said he intends to place supports staff where most needed.

While other questions and concerns were raised, a solution was also posed. Wetherbee, the school board and parents agreed that the best solution is for community members to address state legislators and the governor about the effect the proposed state cuts have on economically struggling rural school districts and the state’s inequitable distribution of funds.

A form is available on the school’s website for writing to legislators

2011-03-27T11:58:00.001-07:00

By Mary Perham
Bath Courier
Posted Mar 27, 2011 @ 12:15 PM

Prattsburgh, NY — The Prattsburgh Town Board passed a road-use agreement with wind developer Ecogen Monday night, despite the protests of the town highway superintendent and an angry crowd.
The road use agreement, first proposed in September 2009, was the key issue in drawn-out legal disputes between Prattsburgh and Ecogen, which intends to put up 16 electricity-generating turbines in the town.
Ecogen has filed two lawsuits centered on the delay in signing the original agreement, saying the delay was in bad faith, and designed to prevent any development.
However, Highway Superintendent Chris Jensen said the agreement allows Ecogen to begin using several town roads without deciding first how to pay for damage heavy equipment may cause.
Jensen said payments set in the September 2009 agreement will fall far short of the real costs of repairing the roads. In one case, fixing a newly upgraded road could cost $100,000 more than the original estimate, Jensen said.
Town Attorney Ed Brockman told the board Ecogen is still legally responsible for road repair, adding if the town sets the costs too high, it could lead to another lawsuit.
Board members favoring the agreement said they were responding to the recent state Supreme Court decision, which ordered the two sides to finalize road use terms.
“If we try to change it now, who’s to say Ecogen won’t say that’s bad faith, too?” Anneke Radin-Snaith said.
The board voted 3-2 for the agreement.
Councilwoman Stacey Bottoni and dozens of angry residents sided Jensen, saying the needed to listen to the advice of a road expert.
The board’s action clears the way for Ecogen to begin work, with a court-imposed deadline of 168 days for the developer to solidify its rights to the project through substantial changes or improvements.
Radin-Snaith and councilmen Steve Kula and Chuck Shick voted for the agreement. Bottoni and Town Supervisor Al Wordingham voted against the agreement.

2011-03-11T14:48:00.001-08:00

A judge has ruled that an energy-development company may proceed with a wind farm in Prattsburgh, Steuben County, over the objections of the town board, though the company must complete a substantial amount of work in a short period of time or the deal's off.

For nearly a decade, Ecogen Wind LLC has been seeking approval to erect about three dozen wind turbines in Prattsburgh and neighboring Italy, Yates County.
Shortly after several candidates who opposed the project were elected to the Prattsburgh board in November 2009, but before they took office, the Erie County company filed suit against the town. Lame-duck town board members who were not hostile to the project then agreed to settle the lawsuit and allow the project to go forward.
When the new board members were seated in January 2010, they attempted to rescind the lawsuit settlement, leading to a protracted legal fight.

State Supreme Court Judge John Ark, who presided over a five-day trial in January and February, said in a ruling released Thursday that the current town board could not void the settlement with Ecogen. The company's lawyers had argued that the 2009 legal settlement had given them "vested" rights to undertake the project that could not legally be taken away.
Ark directed the town and company to negotiate an agreement for use of town roads, an item left open when the parties began their legal warfare. Once done, Ark said, the company then must complete a "substantial" amount of work on the project to fully "vest" their rights. He gave them 24 weeks to do that.
Edward Hourihan, a Pittsford lawyer who represented the town, said Thursday morning that he had not yet discussed the decision with his clients and did not know if they would appeal it.
He asserted, though, that Ecogen "is not in a position to vest any rights. They're far from being able to do that." He said they lack financing, turbines, necessary permits and approval for work in the town of Italy, and could not comply with Ark's 24-week time limit.
A Rochester lawyer who represents the company, Robert Burgdorf, said Ecogen "is pleased the court recognized its right to proceed with this important project." Burgdorf said the company "looks forward to developing this uniquely productive wind resource."

2011-03-04T06:19:00.000-08:00

4 selected for Steuben Hall of Fame.
By Mary Perham
The Evening Tribune
Posted Mar 03, 2011 @ 05:04 PM

Bath, N.Y. — An All-American football player is among four notables selected for induction into the Steuben County Hall of Fame in May.

Behm, 91, of Corning, may be known throughout the world as an executive for Corning Inc., and general management consultant for Fortune 500 firms. But for many in the area, Behm is a testament to courage: When he suffered life-threatening burns at the age of five, his parents were told he would never walk.

Instead, Behm went on to play linebacker and offensive and defensive tackle for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He appeared in the 1941 Rose Bowl, which the 7th-ranked Cornhuskers lost to No. 2 Stanford 21-13. He was inducted into the collegiate Hall of Fame in 1988.

Other inductees to the Hall of Fame include: Maj. Thomas Scott Baldwin. Baldwin was born in 1855 and built the first American airship, or dirigible, powered by a Curtiss engine. Baldwin moved his operations to Hammondsport, where he manufactured the first aircraft for the U.S. military.

Albertus Larrowe, II. Larrowe was born in 1826, and owned and operated the Larrowe Milling Corp., the largest buckwheat mill in the world. His home was used by the village and town of Cohocton as the municpal hall until 2009.

Reuben Robie. Robie was born in 1799 and served as Steuben County Treasurer from 1844-47. Robie was elected to Congress from 1850-53 and was director of the Buffalo, Corning and New York railroad Company. He was one of the founders of the county Agricultural Society.

The Hall of Fame banquet is set for May 7.

2011-02-13T14:57:00.000-08:00

The Gazebo has collapsed, please attend the Village Board Meeting, Monday February 14, 7 pm at the Village Office, next to the Post Office, to address the loss and what plans will be made for reconstruction. Please pass the information on to others.

2011-02-01T04:03:00.001-08:00

Looks Like Two More Wind Turbines For Town of Howard
January 31, 2011 03:46:00 Font size:
25 Wind Turbine Project Adds Two More

January 31 2011

HOWARD - Steuben County Industrial Development Agency Director Jim Sherron tells WLEA/WCKR news that two more wind turbines might be added to the Steuben County Town of Howard's wind project, so what had been scheduled to be a 25 wind turbine project might become a 27 wind turbine deal.

Sherron also says that the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency has given their okay to installing those two turbines. The final approval for adding two wind turbines will have to come from the Howard Town board.

2011-01-28T11:19:00.000-08:00

2nd Anniversary of Cohocton COD, January 27, 2011

Locally the milestone was celebrated by the onsite Firstwind and Clipper staff.

We would just like to take a minute and thank everyone across FirstWind and Clipper for the support and hard work given to this site over the years.

This project has become large positive economic part of this small community, we are fortunate to have the project located here. Thanks to all who supported and worked so hard to bring the project to Cohocton, feel proud in your accomplishment. The photo of the staff onsite is proof of your local jobs created.

2011-01-15T14:42:00.000-08:00

...FLCC's Dan Rizzieri to compete for U.S. Paralympic team in New Zealand.Zoom Photos. Vasiliy Baziuk.Finger Lakes Community College student Dan Rizzieri 19, of Cohocton is leaves for Australia on the 6th of January to compete in the track and field world championships.

By Dan Goldman, staff writer
Messenger Post
Posted Jan 13, 2011 @ 03:31 PM

MPNnow.com — Until yesterday, Finger Lakes Community College student Dan Rizzieri had never traveled outside the country. The 19-year-old Cohocton resident learned that would change at the beginning of the fall semester.

Rizzieri received a call from Cathy Sellers, the associate director of high performance for the U.S. Paralympics track and field team, who told him he made Team USA for the International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.

“I was pretty excited,” Rizzieri said. “I was kind of more in shock. I knew I’d be under consideration, but I wasn’t sure if my times were good enough for (New Zealand), but I guess they were.”

Rizzieri departed on Thursday, although he doesn’t compete until Jan. 24. Before the games, Team USA will train in ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia, the site of the 2000 Olympics.

Dan, the son of Rich and Pam Rizzieri, was born with a condition called fibular hemimelia, meaning a bone is missing in his lower legs. Rizzieri’s legs end just below his knees, but he has used prosthetics since he was 13 months old. Thanks to special prosthetics called Cheetah Blades, Rizzieri can participate in sports.

Rizzieri competed on FLCC’s track and field team last spring and qualified for the Junior College Nationals in Columbia, Maryland. In the triple jump, he recorded a school record and personal best of 44 feet, 8 inches, which was good enough for seventh in the nation.

“The week before that my best was 42 something, so I increased it by another two feet,” Rizzieri said. “It was just amazing.”

In June, Rizzieri attended the paralympic nationals in Miramar, Fla., where he won the triple jump, took third in the 400-meter dash and performed well enough in the long jump to qualify for the national team.

Since getting the invitation, Rizzieri has attended a pair of team training camps at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center in California. He also trains with his brother Matt and Dan Fichter at Wanna Get Fast in Pittsford.

Sellers first met Rizzieri two years ago at the Endeavor Games in Oklahoma. She was impressed how Rizzieri wasn’t afraid to try new things.

“A double below the knee amputee doesn’t typically triple jump, it takes a lot of coordination to do that and he’s got it,” Sellers said. “He can do everything a traditional athlete can do. He’s an amazing young man, I have a lot respect for Daniel.”

Rizzieri has attended the Penn Relays, but he knows Christchurch will be the biggest event he’s attended by far. He is most excited about seeing how he compares to the world’s best paralympic athletes.

The U.S. team includes 51 men and women from across the country. They range from a 15-year-old girl from Memphis, Tenn. to a 53-year-old woman who was a polio victim.

Rizzieri is scheduled to compete in the long jump, the 400-meter dash and he is an alternate for the 4x100 relay team. The International Paralympic Committee won’t allow him to compete in the triple jump though.

“I don’t know why, it’s a battle I’ve been having with them on following one of their rules,” Sellers said. “It’s an unfortunate situation because he’s ranked fourth in the world.”

At World’s, athletes will have an opportunity to earn a spot for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

“I think in 2012 he could be in the hunt,” Sellers said. “I think 2016 will be when he comes into his prime. The purpose of this competition is to get the experience on a world stage so when we go to London he knows what it’s about.”

Rizzieri’s parents and brother are all flying to New Zealand to see him compete.

Qualifying for New Zealand was but the first of many goals that Rizzieri aspires to reach.

“Hopefully,” he said, “I’ll come back with a few medals.”

Watch online
You can watch Dan Rizzieri compete live online at www.paralympicsport.tv. He competes in the long jump on Jan. 24 and the 400-meter dash on Jan. 29.

2011-01-01T12:47:00.000-08:00

BECK AND MASSA - Remembering the Moments 2010

2011-01-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

RELIVING THE TRUTH AND HUMILIATION

2011-01-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

A LOOK BACK AT 2010-

Corning Leader
Posted Dec 20, 2010 @ 11:32 AM
Last update Dec 20, 2010 @ 05:37 PM

MASSA #4 ON THE WORST BOSS LIST

Corning, N.Y. — Former U.S. Rep. Eric Massa, who resigned amid sexual harassment complaints, has been named the fourth worse boss in America for 2010.

A list of the worst bosses were published recently by eBossWatch, a web site that lets people anonymously rate their bosses.

Massa, of Corning, left office following sexual harassment complaints that were being investigated by the House ethics committee.

The complaints alleged that Massa, who is married with two children, groped at least two male aides and sexually propositioned young male staffers and interns.

The entire list of America's Worst Bosses is at ebosswatch.com/americas-worst-bosses-2010.php.

Tickle-Me-Massa is back in the news!!! LOL Raise your hand if you're one of the morons that voted for this schmuck!

Obviously Randy was the better choice!

2010-12-09T06:37:00.001-08:00

Howard Moving Closer And Closer To Getting Wind Project
First Step: Road Improvements

An official in the Town of Howard tells our news department that the Town of Howard is beginning construction work on town roads to make the roads wider and stronger, so construction companies can travel with wind turbine parts on them.

According to Howard officials, the wind turbines will actually be smaller than was originally planned on.

Officials also say the location of some of the wind turbines will be slightly different in placement.

However, Howard officials maintain there will not be another environmental study, because the wind turbines will not be far from where they were originally planned to be.

2010-11-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

First Wind dealt a blow; no impact to Cohocton
Wind company pulls IPO; Town adopts budget with no tax increase
By Tyler Briggs
The Evening Tribune
Posted Nov 05, 2010 @ 10:33 AM

Cohocton, N.Y. — Trouble for First Wind doesn’t mean trouble for Cohocton.

Executives at First Wind Holdings Inc. pulled the plug on their initial public offering (IPO) just hours before the company’s stock was due to begin trading on the Nasdaq late last week.

Initially the company wanted to sell roughly 12 million shares in a price range of $24 to $26 each, which would have generated as much as $312 million.

A lowered price range of $18 to $20 was announced before trading began last Thursday, but the company decided to hold off.

“It’s a very bad IPO market right now,” John Lamontagne, director of corporate communications at First Wind, said. “The shares were going to be offered for not what we thought they were worth. The determination we made was that it wasn’t in the company’s best interest to go public.”

He didn’t rule out possibly going public in the future.

“It just didn’t happen this time. I don’t think it’s taken off the table. I don’t think it’s going to happen in the near future,” Lamontagne said. “We’re going to pursue finances for some of our other development projects in other ways. We have a strong track record. We have successfully received over $2 billion worth in finances for various projects. We’re looking forward to moving on, IPO or no IPO.”

But the stumbling block for the wind company doesn’t mean trouble for Cohocton, where 50 First Wind turbines have operated since 2008.

“It has zero impact on our operating projects or projects we have in construction or development,” Lamontagne said. “We’re just continuing on moving forward.”

Town Supervisor Jack Zigenfus admitted to being a little worried when he first heard the news last week, but was reassured that everything was OK after a phone call with First Wind’s vice president.

“It was a business decision made. It has absolutely no bearing on our project or our situation as far as the town,” Zigenfus said. “Their decision with the IPO was to raise money for further growth, etc. Projects that are funded now are fully funded by investment banks.”

The town recently adopted its 2011 budget, with the tax levy remaining unchanged from last year — at $2.85 per thousand dollars of assessed property value.

The town relies heavily on the wind project, Zigenfus said. Prior to the turbines coming to Cohocton, the tax levy was $4.18 in 2007.

This year the town received $725,000 as part of the community host payment, and $100,000 of that will be used to repair roads. The rest will go into the general fund.

“If we didn’t have the wind project, we’d probably be in very tough shape,” Zigenfus said. “Other than raising taxes, I don’t know where the next money would have come from. The town is in very, very good financial shape for next year and the next few years.”

Currently, Cohocton and First Wind have agreed to a 20-year project, which began in 2008. The town has the option of renewing that pact once it concludes.

“I don’t see any financial issues with the town. We’ve gotten everything up to par, the roads, the sidewalks, all of those things,” Zigenfus said. “We’ve spent a lot of the money to make an impact and put it to good use. Now we’re making sure we have reserves. We’re going to wisely invest the money so we’re well protected.”

The town supervisor has no complaints about the wind project.

“Everything, as far as I can see, seems to be running smoothly,” he said. “You get the occasional complaint. You’re always going to get that. Most of them are always the same people.

“Our budget is largely based on that income from wind,” Zigenfus said, adding that the wind project might be the town’s largest industry ever. “I’m very pleased with our finances.”

Copyright 2010 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

Clean Energy. Made Here.

2010-10-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

2010-10-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

Howard wind farm now on
EverPower expects to erect 25 turbines along Turnpike in springZoom Photos
Chris Potter
Wind turbines, similar to those in Cohocton, could be build in Howard in the spring.

Howard, N.Y. — The winds of change are again blowing in Howard, as it seems that the wind project is going to happen after all.

EverPower Renewables was to build 25 wind turbines, each rated for 2.5 megawatts of power production in optimal wind conditions, along Turnpike Road and along the ridge above Stephens Creek and County Route 27.

The project was slated to begin in April when it was suddenly halted because EverPower had trouble selling renewable energy credits (RECs) from the project.

RECs, according to www.wisegeek.com, are certificates issued by a government agency to a power company which utilizes environmentally friendly methods to generate electricity. They can in turn be traded and sold on the open market, providing an incentive to companies which produce “green” power. Citizens and companies who are trying to support green power and reduce their carbon footprints can also take advantage of RECs, regardless as to the source of their power.

But it seems the company has worked through these issues.

“We are still committed to moving forward with the Howard Wind Project and plan to complete financing later this month and begin construction in the spring of 2011. The project is currently permitted for 25 turbines, and it is still our plan to move forward with those 25 turbines,” Kevin Sheen, senior director of development at EverPower, said in an email.

“We never considered the project dead,” Sheen continued. “There were a variety of economic conditions that did not allow us to build the project — most notably the fact that we did not get awarded a REC contract by NYSERDA. Some of the economic conditions have improved and we are hopeful that we will receive a REC contract from NYSERDA this time around.”

In May the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA) approved a 20-year PILOT agreement, worth $13,939,000, for all entities involved: the county, Howard, and Canisteo-Greenwood Central School and the Hornell City School District.

With the agreement, Howard was to receive 51.5 percent of the nearly $14 million, or $7,178,585. Steuben County would receive 16.5 percent, or $2,299,935.

The remaining 32 percent, $4,460,480, was to be split between the two school districts. Because 23 of the 25 turbines would have fallen in the Canisteo-Greenwood district, they were to receive 92 percent of the remaining money, or approximately $4,103,641. The Hornell school district would have received around $356,838.

Town Supervisor Don Evia said the agreement hasn’t changed.

“It’s good for the country. We all have to do something with the energy problems we have. I think it’s good for the town financially,” Evia said. “It’s good for the land owner. They’ll get more revenue from their land. I think it’s win-win for everybody.”

He’s confident the project will begin this spring, though he’ll feel better once it actually starts.

“I’m very confident it will be built in 2011. I have all the faith in the world,” Evia said. “When the shovel goes in the ground, then I’ll feel very good.”

Copyright 2010 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

2010-10-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

Howard Wind Project Might Actually Happen
October 22, 2010 03:08:00 Font size:
Town Board Member Hatch Says Everpower Is Working To Get Financing

It looks like the Howard wind project might happen after all. After some question about whether the project was going to move forward, Howard Town Board member William Hatch tells WLEA/WCKR News that wind company Everpower is working on financing, and that they hope to get that done by the end of the month.

Hatch also says that there are no dates yet for when the construction will begin.

2010-10-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Judge Ark: One more chance to settle lengthy wind farm dispute.Yellow Pages
By Mary Perham
Bath Courier
Posted Oct 24, 2010 @ 11:00 AM

Prattsburgh, NY — A ruling could come within two weeks in the long-running dispute between wind developer Ecogen and the towns of Prattsburgh and Italy.
Prattsburgh Town Councilman Chuck Shick told the town board Monday the ruling by state Supreme Court Justice John Ark has been delayed in the hopes the two sides will reach a settlement. About two dozen residents attended the regular board meeting.
Ecogen intends to put a 34-turbine wind farm in the two towns, with 16 planned for Prattsburgh, and a substation and 18 turbines in Italy, located in Yates County.
Shick, town Supervisor Al Wordingham, and their legal counsel from Bond, Schoeneck and King met Sept. 27 with Ark and legal representatives from Ecogen and the town of Italy.
Shick said Ark made it “pretty clear” during the meeting he wants the sides to come to an out-of-court agreement. Ark also expressed concern about the cost of the legal dispute to the towns and Ecogen.
Shick said the Prattsburgh representatives told Ark their primary concern was setbacks ensuring the health and safety of residents. A decline in property values also was an issue, Shick said.
Since then, the town has submitted to the court Ecogen’s original site map with 100 possible locations for turbines. The site map shows Ecogen originally planned to put up roughly 20 turbines in a portion of the town near Allis Road, board members said Monday night.
The Allis Road location would be remote enough to protect residents from noise and allow Ecogen to go forward with its plan, board members said.
So far, there has been no response from Ecogen, Shick said.
The legal battle between Prattsburgh and Ecogen began early last year, when a new town board rescinded 3-1 a December agreement allowing the developer to determine the road use agreement without town input. The new board maintained the earlier agreement violated home rule.
The project had been welcomed by the town board and many residents when it was first proposed in 2002.
The wind farm would provide needed revenues for the leaseholders, town, county and state during a faltering economy, according to supporter Bruce Taylor, of Prattsburgh. He complained too much attention has focused on the negative side of wind development, which also provides an alternative form of energy.
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,” he said.
But other residents have charged throughout the process the turbines are inefficient electrical generators and pose a threat to people and the environment.
Shick said Ark will rule soon if no agreement is reached.
“I expect the judge will probably rule in a couple of weeks,” he said.

2010-09-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

By Gwen Chamberlain
The Chronicle-Express
Posted Sep 14, 2010 @ 02:01 PM
Last update Sep 15, 2010 @ 01:19 PM
Italy, N.Y. —
The town of Italy can’t afford to pay the law firm that has been representing it in a suit filed by Ecogen LLC, so the firm — Harter, Secrest & Emery — is being relieved by Judge John J. Ark.
Ark spent nearly two hours in private sessions with attorneys for both sides of the lawsuit after hearing comments in a 45 minute courtroom session Sept. 8.
When he returned to the courtroom to announce his decision, Ark said Harter, Secrest & Emery will be responsible for answering 45 survey questions on behalf of Italy that he sent to the town, Ecogen and the Finger Lakes Preservation Association following up to the town’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Once those questions are answered, the town will be without legal representation in the case.
But Italy will need counsel for the next court date, which is Sept. 27 in Rochester.
The lawsuit was filed by Ecogen LLC over the town’s denial of a special use permit for a wind generation facility last October. Ecogen had applied for a permit to build up to 17 wind turbines in Italy. The company has similar plans for the town of Prattsburgh.
Harter Secrest & Emery Partner Richard Alexander told the judge the town owes his firm around $175,000 in legal fees and more than $5,000 in costs.
According to Italy Town Supervisor Brad Jones, who took office Jan. 1, the town used $200,000 from surplus funds last year to pay legal bills, and when the previous town board established the 2010 budget last fall, it only included $40,000 for legal expenses for the entire 2010 year. That amount has already been spent.
Harter Secrest & Emery sent a bill for $46,000 to the town in January.
Alexander said Jones promised to pay the firm $20,000 in June, but when the firm inquired in July about the payment, it was learned the town used the funds to pay other legal expenses.
Jones told the judge the town’s total annual budget is between $800,000 and $900,000, and to pay the fees and costs now will require a 20 to 30 percent property tax increase in 2011.
He said the town has asked the law firm to agree to a payment plan. “It’s not an unwillingness to pay,” he said.
Italy Town Attorney Ed Brockman told the judge the town will be put at an extreme disadvantage without the representation of Harter Secrest & Emery as the case progresses.
Alexander said the firm had been engaged in conversations to try to work things out, but added, “The clients are being unreasonably difficult to deal with.” He said there was tension between the firm and Jones that he wanted to discuss privately with the judge.
“If the court does not dismiss this case, we face a significant loss in fees and disbursements,” Alexander said.
During the open discussions and comments, Brockman said this situation is the goal of the Ecogen team — to push the town’s financial resources into the red.
Gary Abraham, the attorney representing the Finger Lakes Preservation Association, an unincorporated group of citizens that has been involved in the issue, said the town offered to enter into a payment plan with the law firm. “There’s no question they would be paid over time,” he said.
Ark told the parties, “The liklihood is that this litigation is going to go on for a long time.”
Noting the nature of the case, he added, “We’re in uncharted territory,” explaining that even if he does rule to dismiss the case, there’s a chance it will continue to drag out in appeals.

Copyright 2010 Penn Yan Chronicle-Express. Some rights reserved

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________________________________________
Dear Gwen, I was there at the hearing and would like to correct your report. Supervisor Jones stated that it WOULD necessitate a one year tax increase of 20-30 percent for the citizens of the Town of Italy to pay for the legal battle our town has had to engage in in order to forestall the advances of the wind turbine corporation, IF we were to try to pay for it all at once. He made a point to explain that our town board would never ask for such a one time increase due to the extraordinary burden it would place on our townfolks, and that we are presently working on payment arrangements which could be spread out over time, and possibly offset through negotiations and other means. He never said that our town board WILL increase the tax burden by such a large percentage all at once, as your report implies. Please publish a revision of your 'by the numbers' statement, as it is not indicative of what Supervisor Jones actually said. Thank you.

Fred Johnstone, Italy resident and Town Councilperson.
Gwen Chamberlain
20 hours ago
Report Abuse
________________________________________
Fred - Thanks for the note. You, of course, are correct. I'll fix the sidebar and run a correction next week in the print issue as well. I sincerely apologize... it was an error that resulted from last minute design decisions on deadline, but as you rightly point out, it implies the wrong thing.

2010-09-15T04:34:00.001-07:00

Palmesano routs in 136th GOP primaryZoom Photos
ERIC WENSEL
State Senate candidate Jim Bacalles and State Assembly candidate Phil Palmesano talk while waiting for results in their respective races Tuesday night at Sorge's restaurant in Corning.

Posted Sep 15, 2010 @ 01:35 AM
Corning, N.Y. — Steuben County Legislator Phil Palmesano seemed poised to cruise to victory over Steve Kula in the race for the 136th Assembly District Tuesday.
At press time, Palmesano led Kula, 6,281-2,210.

“I feel good,” Palmesano said at a GOP election party at Sorge’s Restaurant. “I’m encouraged to have this type of support. It’s humbling to have that many people behind me.”

With 83 of the 85 election districts reporting, Palmesano led Kula 5,023-1,816 in Steuben County. Palmesano also took Yates County, 1,258-394, with most of the districts reporting.

Palmesano stopped short of taking a victory lap early this morning. He said the victory was only the first stage and his campaign was only just beginning.

“Tomorrow we start the general election campaign,” Palmesano said. “I am going to work hard over the final two months of the campaign.”
If he’s declared the winner, Palmesano will face independent candidate Jason Jordan of Hornell in the primary. He could also face a challenge from Democrat Randy Weaver as a write-in candidate.

Weaver is scheduled to make announcements in Hornell, Bath and Corning today on his candidacy.

Palmesano bucked the state-wide trend of establishment candidates being upset by underdogs. Though Palmesano is a relative newcomer to public office, he has worked with politicians such as State Sen. George Winner, R-Elmira, and former U.S. Rep. John R. “Randy” Kuhl Jr., R-Hammondsport.

“I haven’t been setting policy in Albany,” Palmesano said. “I work and live in the district. I have roots here.”

Palmesano had nothing but praise for his opponent.

“Steve Kula ran a professional and clean campaign,” Palmesano said. “He’s an energetic young guy who cares about our area.”

Calls to Kula were not returned at press time.

2010-09-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

Per normal, the Halls dedicate their time -all for show. Do you think they would ever consider cleaning a roadway in their own home town? Just another Massa like tribute- remember how that went!!!!

Kula Joins Hornell GOP for Service Project
September 12, 2010 10:34:00 Font size:
Steve Kula and Supporters Assembly Candidate helps with Adopt-A-Highway effort

Steve Kula, candidate in the Republican Primary for the 136th NY Assembly seat, along with several supporters joined the Hornell GOP for an Adopt-A-Highway service project on Sunday afternoon. According to a press release, the trash cleanup took place on 1.6 miles of route 36 heading South from Hornell towards Canisteo.

The press release continued: "As several highways in the area were unclaimed, Hornell GOP President John Buckley decided to participate in the Adopt-A-Highway program as a way of giving back to the community. Since the primary is only a short time away, both Assembly candidates were invited to attend this project to help make a difference in Steuben County. The Hornell GOP thanks Steve Kula and his supporters for graciously giving their time to this community cleanup effort."

Tuesday, September 14th is primary day for several races including Assembly, State Senate, and other local and statewide races.

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2010-08-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

New sign and First Wind money
By Jeff Miller

The Cohocton Historical Society has a new sign for the Larrowe House, thanks to members of the community who pulled together the $3,200 necessary for the structure, crafted by Nancy Nice of Dansville. Shown here from left, Society President Ron Towner; guest speaker Lee Roberts; Society Trustee Dave Simolo (behind sign) and Rick Towner during the unveiling. More than 100 people gathered for the community picnic and unveiling ceremony, including Assemblyman Jim Bacalles and Phil Palmesano from State Senator George Winner’s office.

By Staff reports
Genesse Country Express
Posted Aug 12, 2010 @ 02:08 AM

Cohocton — The bulk of a $150,000 commitment to the preservation of the Larrowe House was released from the Town coffers on Aug. 4.

As part of an agreement for First Wind to build the wind farm in Cohocton, the Town received $150,000 for the preservation of the Larrowe House. That building, located in the Village of Cohocton, was used at the time for some of the town and village offices.

A year ago, the Town and Village donated the building to the Cohocton Historical Society.

The town board, working with First Wind and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) came to an agreement to turn over all of the remaining money to the historical society since the Town no longer has direct control of the building.

The Town, in conjunction with the Society, used $10,321.45 for new wiring, replacing a basement beam and furnace repair.

Part of the $139,678.55 unused portion of the donation is expected to go toward a possible replacement of the furnace, new flooring and storm windows. Other usage is not immediately determined.

The money was transferred to the Society for the sole purpose of restoration money, and the Society is required to make periodic reports of the usage of that money to SHPO. There is no deadline as to when the money is to be used.

In related business, the Society will be extending its Maple Street museum into the building that formerly housed a tavern immediately adjacent to the museum that it hopes to use for research, specifically genealogy.

Copyright 2010 Dansville-Genesee Country Express. Some rights reserved

2010-07-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

Secretary Chu Announces Closing of $117 Million Loan Guarantee for Kahuku Wind Power Project

Washington D.C. --- Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department of Energy has finalized a $117 million loan guarantee for Kahuku Wind Power, LLC, the owner and operator of the Kahuku Wind Power project. The project includes the development of an innovative 30 megawatt (MW) wind power plant that will supply electricity to approximately 7,700 households per year. According to company estimates, the project, located in Kahuku, Hawaii, will create over 200 jobs on the island of Oahu.

"This project is another example of America's leadership in the global clean energy economy," said Secretary Chu. "Through the Recovery Act, we are supporting innovative projects that are adding to our workforce in the short term while laying the foundation for additional job creation in the long term."

"This project represents what our national energy policy is attempting to accomplish: clean energy displacing imported oil in Hawaii to generate electricity, and in the process reducing our carbon output and creating green jobs," said Senator Daniel Inouye

"The Kahuku wind project will bring Hawaii 30 megawatts closer to energy independence," said Senator Daniel K. Akaka. "Reducing our reliance on imported oil will mean cleaner skies and more local jobs. This project is an important step forward."

"There is an urgent need to establish renewable energy sources in Hawaii and the state has mapped an ambitious plan to achieve this. The federal loan guarantee announced today boosts this effort," said Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono. "The Kahuku Wind Project is the type of project that Hawaii needs to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and keep billions of dollars in our economy."

The project is expected to be the first to meet reliability requirements for wind and solar energy set by Hawaiian Electric Company, the only electric utility operating on Oahu. Successful integration of these new, clean energy technologies is expected to result in increased renewable energy generation and wind energy expansion in Hawaii.

The Kahuku wind power plant uses twelve 2.5 megawatt Liberty wind turbine generators manufactured by Clipper Windpower of Carpinteria, California and a 10 megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) manufactured by Xtreme Power Inc. of Kyle, Texas. The BESS will modulate and smooth fluctuations in power output caused by changes in wind levels. When completed, Kahuku will produce the first-ever combined installation of Clipper wind turbines and Xtreme's battery energy storage system.

First Wind Holdings, LLC, the project sponsor and independent U.S.-based wind energy developer, successfully built and currently operates Hawaii's largest wind energy facility, the 30 megawatt Kaheawa Wind project in Maui. Kaheawa Wind serves nearly nine percent of Maui's annual electricity needs with clean, renewable energy.

Including this loan, the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office has closed or offered conditional commitments for loan guarantees to support 13 clean energy projects

2010-07-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

Wayland-Cohocton wins wireless classroom
School to receive 20 notebook computers, wireless access, and more

By Tyler Briggs
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jul 28, 2010 @ 08:47 AM
Wayland, N.Y. — Students at Wayland-Cohocton Central School may notice a few new things in the classroom when school begins in the fall.

That’s because the school was one of three across the country to win the eighth-annual “Win a Wireless Lab” sweepstakes.

Wayland-Cohocton will receive a 21st century classroom valued at approximately $48,000.
The prizes include 20 notebook computers or tablet PCs; three wireless-access points; an interactive whiteboard; 20 response devices; a video projector; a document camera; a laser-jet printer; a video camcorder; a mobile cart; and $5,000 Discovery Education grant.

The contest was put on by CDW Government LLC and Discovery Education.

More than 118,000 entries were submitted, the most since the contest began in 2003. Entries arrived from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including 7,000 Twitter entries.

Besides Wayland-Cohocton, the other winning schools were from Mechanicsville, Va., and Swansea, Ill.

“Today’s students have been surrounded by technology almost since birth,” Bob Kirby, vice president of K-12 education at CDW, said in a release. “Their teachers use technology extensively in their private lives, but tight budgets mean schools cannot always bring technology to the classroom. The Win a Wireless Lab sweepstakes can help bridge that gap.”

Winning the contest will help Wayland-Cohocton tremendously, Anita Pragle, the middle school library aide who applied to the contest on behalf of the school, said.

“Our middle school students have two labs and 13 computers in the library, which is not enough for a whole class lesson,” she said. “When the new technology is fully integrated, more students will benefit, and we should see student engagement increase. More access to these state-of-the-art tools will help prepare our students for their future, where the importance of technology and 21st century skills continues to grow.”

During the school year, CDW and Discovery Education officials will be at Wayland-Cohocton Central School for a local kickoff event and teacher professional development.

Copyright 2010 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

2010-07-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

Finally, everyone will realize what Golisano and Pitman representing, Empire Wind Energy, LLC, had in mind. This article listed below does not even mention Alfred. From the beginning Golisano stated he was against Wind Power, then the flip-flop. Pitman and Golisano performed their "magic tricks" at many different towns in the area, presenting his ideas for a more lucrative program for communities to benefit from Wind Energy. Cohocton Wind Watch (CWW) hammered the Town of Cohocton, asking why don't you listen to them? Does the quote- "When it sounds too good to be true, it usually is" sound familiar? I, personally, attended many of his quorums at different towns; I have recordings of the same. They geared their meetings to whatever the public wanted to hear. Smaller turbines, sure; more money, sure; whatever you want, we'll give it to you. The one thing they never did was build anything. All they did was entice the towns into a false hope that they, too, would be able to experience some prosperity. What they have left is nothing, and in some cases debt caused by the "snake oil salesmen". They made some calls to the towns, not even speaking to them in person, or by letter. Wiped out their website and disconnected their phones, and slithered back into the shadows. Golisano doesn't even have a NYS residency anymore. For such a prominent benefactor, have you ever seen him give funds to anything that wasn't renamed in his honor? This is just another pat on the back, Tom, enjoy this one!
In Cohocton, we have a project, everyone has a cut in their town property taxes, we have a Town that is paying the bills and surviving. Thankfully, our town didn't listen to Empire Wind. As the Town of Benton stated, you need a good, honest developer, we are fortunate to have one!

2010-07-13T09:32:00.001-07:00

EMPIRE WIND, LLC Gone...with the Wind

For three years, Empire Wind Energy, LLC had been whipping up dreams of wind towers and wind farms in the towns of Huron, Wolcott, Butler, Sodus, Rose and Galen. Countless meetings were held with each municipality and general presentations were made to the combined host towns. Along the way “Host Community Agreements” were formulated that promised jobs, revenue sharing and eventual ownership back to the host communites of any wind towers constructed.

Landowners were getting excited as every hilltop was proclaimed a possible windfall for wind generated energy. Farmers were ready to mow down trees and crops to cash in on the chance of getting in on the ground floor of green wind energy production. Towns throughout the area began changing zoning laws to allow for both small and giant wind turbines.

The idea was that Empire Wind Energy LLC, backed by Rochester/Paychex founder and billionaire Tom Golisano, would upfront the money for the projects and it would be a win-win for municipalities jumping onboard. Golisano, along with Pitman made a presentation to area business leaders, town board members, supervisors and county officials at a luncheon held at the former Cutter’s (Way Point) Restaurant on Sodus Bay in the Town of Huron two years ago.

According to Wolcott Town Supervisor Kim Park, the last time the towns of Wolcott, Butler, Sodus, Galen and Rose had a meeting with Empire Wind Energy back in April, the joint group was pushing to get progress reports and information from the Company.

Local town supervisors rallied around the plans that included huge tax incentives for the initial investor, but questions began surfacing concerning the eventual ownership of the wind turbines. After the tax credits expired, the host towns would eventually take over the wind power generating machines under the developed host community agreements. Plans were presented that showed how the host communities and landowners could gradually cash in on the green technology.

What wasn’t made clear was who would pay for upkeep once they became a landowner/municipality responsibility. Would the aging wind structures even be profitable? Could the wind projects generate the energy promised? What about potential grants? Could wind energy in this part of the state exist without grants and tax credits?

Wayne County participating towns and supervisors began getting the calls this past week. Empire State Wind Energy LLC, President and Chief Operating Officer Keith Pitman told Huron Supervisor Laurie Crane last Thursday that it was not economically feasible for Huron to get any wind turbines “at this time”. The remaining town supervisors also received calls from Pitman informing them that the projects were out of wind.

Park said she heard that costs for selling energy to the grid did not meet Company projections.

Empire State Wind Energy called Benton (Yates County) NY Town Supervisor Bob Clark last Tuesday. “He (Pitman) told me the proposed project would not happen, that it was not a profitable situation.” Clark said he also heard that Empire had ended their project in the Alfred area. “I did not have a good feeling about this from the beginning. A project is only as good as the developer,” added Clark.

Clark also said that, from the beginning, his town flatly refused to take ownership of any wind towers in their community agreement. “In ten years, those things go bad,” he commented.

Luckily, attorney fees accumulated by the towns following the Empire plan were paid, except in the Town of Huron, where Supervisor Crane said the company still owes their attorney about $5000. The other fees following through on developing the agreements have been paid by Empire Wind Energy.

Wolcott Town Supervisor Kim Park, along with Rose Supervisor Lucinda Collier, stated that although the potential wind project has derailed, they both sought only to advance any project that could bring a revenue stream into town coffers. “My town has minimal industry and it is my obligation to look for any resources for income,” said Collier. She stated that a great deal of time has been put in by the town board as well as zoning and planning boards based upon Empire’s proposals.

One supervisor said he became suspect when Pitman showed up in his town with his wife and one of his children to erect a sample wind testing tower on their own.

Calls to Keith Pitman’s private cell phone and the Company’s headquarters in Oneida, NY yielded only answering messages and no calls were returned.

2010-06-01T05:24:00.000-07:00

I was visiting Kent State on May 3rd and 4th to be there for the 40th Anniversary of the Kent State shootings. I was a senior and graduating from college in 1970 and have a strong connection to this event and many tangential events, as I have been an American History teacher in Penfield, NY for nearly 40 years before I retired. I did not attend Kent State, but wanted to be there as a matter of closure for me. My daughter is a teaching intern in their graduate program in the school of history.

As I was walking around campus one afternoon I was hailed by a very articulate and interesting film studies student who was conducting on the spot video interviews of people "that looked interesting to him". Naturally, being a loquacious classroom teacher I asked him what he was doing this for and he replied it was going to be used (maybe) with a few others as some kind of inspirational composite of "average citizens" commitment to energy resources. He was associated with : The Repower America campaign to galvanize the American public around a bold new clean energy plan and a revitalized national energy infrastructure. He said it might be primarily for grade school students as they studied environmental issues. I said I'd be glad to speak extemporaneously on this subject (after I MADE him listen how, in my senior year I was involved in the First Earth Day on my SUNY campus and had planted pine seedlings). He said he needed 20 seconds. I was ready for whatever he needed as I'm always good to go without any script......... (ya can't be in front of 8th graders and survive unless you can talk....). So, off I went and decided to plump for First Wind - for some obvious and personal reasons (I like you guys). I know grade schoolers won't "get" the part about me "talking to the windmills when the wind is down" because I'm long winded. He was almost laughing as I greased this little spot down and signaling me to hurry up. I concluded by having a laugh on myself — as I always used humor as a teacher in my classroom.

As I was greatly affected by the history and personal connections to the Kent State Shootings and the Vietnam War, I was so happy to speak about positives in our country today - God knows kids grow up thinking the end is near and we must have hope, humor and positive words for individuals and businesses that care on many levels for us and our future.

Your friend,

Gene Benoit

2010-05-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

FREE OIL! JUST HEAD SOUTH

To the Editor: Corning Leader May 30, 2010

This letter is to all of the people in our area that have been fighting tooth and nail to keep environmentally sound wind farms out. We are hungry for energy, which has resulted in the drill baby drill attitude. Well I have some very good news for you.

They are giving away free oil in Louisiana. Put some 55-gallon barrels in the back of the pickup and head south. This oil is free for the scooping-no limit. It's sunny down there, so wipe some of that SPF 5000 sunblock lapping around your feet, on your face. Make sure you have all of the oysters, clams, shrimp, grouper, snapper and catfish you can consume.

Stop eating while you can still drive. Pull out your fireplace insert and put in a smudge pot that can burn your free oil. Relax in your easy chair while the toxins work. Be confident that you have done everything in your power to prevent clean energy

William Goodrich

Avoca, N.Y.

2010-05-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

THIS IS A NEW PERSPECTIVE FROM A PRATTSBURGH PROPERTY OWNER

P’burg, Ecogen must settle differences
By Staff reports
Bath Courier

Posted Apr 16, 2010 @ 03:12 PM
Prattsburgh, NY — After much thought and consideration, my wife and I have decided we only feel comfortable commenting on our own personal experiences with life in Prattsburgh. In 1987 we bought property on the top of west hill solely as a weekend retreat to escape the hustle and bustle of Rochester. When we purchased our property it was just open land, and our shelter was limited to tent camping. We enjoyed the peace, and beauty of this area so much, and the escape it provided, that as money was available we started building.
Initially, it was again just intended as a weekend retreat, however over the years we met more and more folks here, and many of them have become treasured friends. Among these treasured friends, some are weekenders, some have recently moved here, and some have been here for generations. Many of these friends, have made herculean efforts to help us, and make us feel welcome. These folks know who they are, and know we will be eternally grateful for the amazing assistance they have given us.
As time passed and retirement neared, we decided that our property here, AND, the Prattsburgh community, was where we wanted to be. Once that decision was made, we've focused our time, energy and available resources on getting our weekend retreat to a point where it could be our home. Obviously, making this our home was a big decision, and in large part was made based on the wonderful folks we now call friends.
While we are not convinced about the validity of “Global Warming,” it has always seemed logical to us that if you can produce energy without consuming fossil fuels, which certainly runs the risk of harming the atmosphere, then why wouldn’t you? It’s just common sense.
The location of our property, has blessed us with the ability to utilize both wind and solar. As with everything here at our new home, it sprang from humble beginnings, and has grown more sophisticated over the years. With a few more upgrades and improvements, we will be at a point where we’ll be producing enough to fully power our home.
As I mentioned, the location of our property has blessed us with the ability to utilize both wind (2,000+ feet elevation, and solar (full sun all day). There are a lot of locations where that is not the case, and so obviously the viability of these environmentally friendly power sources is just not feasible, or at least cost effective. This is where we feel that large wind turbine farms, can play a vital role. The power produced by the large non-polluting wind turbines goes into the grid, and therefore is accessible by all folks who either by choice -or necessity - are tied to the grid. While we are in favor of large scale wind power, we also feel strongly that it should be implemented in a manor which does not produce negative effects to people’s lives, meaning close enough that they result in unacceptable noise, or vibration levels in people’s homes.
The tax rates in New York state are among the highest in our great country, and are continually rising. These high taxes are bringing many folks to the breaking point, the income and tax reliefs that the wind farm would bring, are vital to their survival.
It is with this in mind, that (as I recently expressed to one of Town Board members), that we are praying that the Prattsburgh Town Board, and Ecogen can quickly resolve the ongoing litigation, and the project can move forward. The income and tax relief is critical to a lot of folks here. The support at the state, and federal level of wind power is well documented, and were concerned that after spending a huge amount of our Prattsburgh tax dollars to fight this litigation, that either at the state, or federal level, the wind farm is pushed through anyway. Win the battle, and lose the war.

Dennis & Diane Muck
Rochester/
Prattsburgh

2010-05-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

With sadness, we remember and honor, Jerry Deusenbery. Jerry passed away on May 10-2010 as the result of a tragic motor vehicle accident. Please hold his family in your hearts and your prayers.

2010-05-10T05:54:00.000-07:00

7-Day Forecast for Latitude 42.52°N and Longitude 77.5°W

2010-04-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

7-Day Forecast for Latitude 42.52°N and Longitude 77.5°W

2010-04-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

Salazar approves Cape wind farm

Wind turbines supplied by Siemens Energy.
By Patrick Cassidy
STAFF WRITER
April 28, 2010
BOSTON - US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar approved the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm today, a move proponents herald as a giant leap forward and opponents decry as a dangerous misstep.

His approval is the culmination of nearly a decade of review by local, state and federal agencies of the plan to build 130 wind turbines on Horseshoe Shoal in the Sound.

Related Stories
Obama tours supplier of Cape Wind turbines Island Wampanoag vow wind farm fight Related Links
Ongoing offshore wind farm coverage The so-called “record of decision” to approve a lease for the plan by Cape Wind Associates, LLC, opens the door for an expected onslaught of lawsuits by the project's opponents.

"This will be the first of many projects up and down the Atlantic coast," Salazar said standing next to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a wind farm supporter.

Salazar said he was approving the Cape Wind project “with modifications that will protect the historical, cultural and environmental resources” of Nantucket Sound. Among these were the reduction of the project from 170 turbines to 130 turbines - a requirement the developer has already made to reduce the visual impact of the turbines - and to do additional marine archeological surveys.

2010-04-22T07:17:00.001-07:00

FBI joins in Massa probe of sexual harassment, hush money and coverups
BY Richard Sisk
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Thursday, April 22nd 2010, 4:00 AM

Miller, ElisaRep. Eric Massa speaks to the media on his reasoning for not seeking reelection, outside his office in the Longworth House Office Building at the US Capitol. Related NewsTantaros: New Yorkers need leaders they can be proud ofGOP pushes Massa probe, charges Pelosi ignored tipMassa mess spares Paterson on 'SNL'Massa hit on male bartender during funeral for Marine: reportMassa paid former chief of staff $40K before sexual harrassment complaint WASHINGTON - The FBI has joined the mushrooming investigations of sexual harassment, hush money and coverups allegedly involving former upstate Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) and his male staffers.

The bureau's entry into the case followed the announcement by the House Ethics Committee yesterday it is conducting its own investigation of how the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and others handled complaints against Massa.

Massa's alleged "tickling," groping and raucous behavior at a gay bar with young staffers was "offensive, inappropriate [and] created a hostile work environment," the Ethics Committee said in a statement.

In the chaos in Massa's office, "monies or other payments may have been misappropriated or otherwise fraudulently or improperly distributed or received," the committee said.

Massa resigned last month as the charges escalated. He maintained he was a "salty guy" whose gruff language and behavior may have been misjudged by his staff.

The case entered a new phase last week when Joe Racalto, Massa's former chief of staff, disclosed he has filed a sexual harassment complaint against Massa. Racalto also said he received a $40,000 check from Massa's campaign fund shortly before Massa resigned.

Through his lawyer, Massa said he did not authorize the $40,000 payment, alleging that forgery might be involved.

2010-04-21T10:03:00.001-07:00

Car trouble for Massa

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By Tyler Briggs
The Evening Tribune
Wed Apr 21, 2010, 11:28 AM EDT

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Hornell, N.Y. -
On top of the sexual harassment complaints filed against Eric Massa, it seems the former 29th Congressional District representative is now having car trouble.

The Federal Election Commission is reviewing a complaint that Massa may have improperly used campaign funds to make a $31,896 payment on a leased vehicle just before resigning, according to Politico.

The complaint was filed Monday by the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative watchdog group.

The payment was made on March 4, according to Massa’s campaign finance report, a day after Massa announced he wasn’t seeking re-election and the day before he decided to resign.

Prior to March, Massa’s campaign was making monthly payments of $605 to GMAC to lease a vehicle. It’s unclear whether the nearly $32,000 payment was for terminating the lease or for purchasing the vehicle.

A spokesperson for the FEC told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle that the commission considers complaints regarding vehicle use on a case-by-case basis, and it may take months or years before the investigation is complete.

The National Legal and Policy Center also complained about a $40,000 payment to Massa’s former chief of staff Joe Racalto.

Racalto has filed a sexual harassment complaint against Massa, who resigned amid allegations he harassed male staffers.

Racalto’s attorney, Camilla McKinney, said the $40,000 payment was for campaign consulting in 2009 and early 2010, and between Massa’s 2008 election and his swearing-in in January 2009.

Massa’s attorney, Milo Silberstein, did not return phone calls Tuesday seeking comment, but told the AP over the weekend that his client never authorized the $40,000 payment to Racalto.

2010-04-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

THE PLOT THICKENS-MUD SLINGING BEGINS

Massa makes accusations against chief of staff

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By Tyler Briggs
The Evening Tribune
Sun Apr 18, 2010, 08:47 AM EDT

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Hornell, N.Y. -
There’s now two sexual harassment lawsuits against Eric Massa, the former representative of the 29th Congressional District who officially resigned March 8.

Joe Racalto, Massa’s chief of staff, has filed a complaint against Massa, his lawyer, Camilla C. McKinney, said through email Saturday.

News broke Wednesday that a male aide to Massa filed a lawsuit alleging the 50-year-old Massa regularly groped him, propositioned him and made lewd remarks to him and other staffers. Unlike Racalto, the aide has remained anonymous, for fear of ruining his career on Capitol Hill his attorney said.

Saturday it was reported that Massa made accusations against his chief of staff.

Massa told the AP through his lawyer, Milo Silberstein, that he didn't authorize a $40,000 check his campaign wrote to Racalto. Massa also denied authorizing a check from a campaign account in the same amount for Racalto.

According to the AP article, Massa's statement alleged that "someone forged then-Congressman Massa's signature on forms raising Mr. Racalto's own salary as a member of the congressman's personal staff from $120,000 per year to the maximum permissible level of $160,000."

Not the case, according to McKinney.

“The check is from the campaign, and it was signed by someone authorized to do so by the campaign,” Racalto’s attorney said. “It would be ridiculous for anyone in the campaign to cut a check for $40,000 without specific approval of Congressman Massa. The money was owed to Mr. Racalto for work he did on Massa’s transition in 2008 and the 2010 campaign.

“Mr. Racalto received a pay raise at the same time as did other staff members,” McKinney said. “The pay raises were authorized by Congressman Massa at the congressman's direction, and the pay increases were made from the Members Representational Allowance.”

Massa’s attorney could not be reached for comment Saturday.

McKinney questioned the timing of Massa’s statements against her client.

“The timing of the allegations by Massa is highly questionable and suspicious in light of Racalto's recent announcement of his sexual harassment complaint,” she said. “The former congressman is trying to discredit someone who is making a sexual harassment complaint against him.”

More dirt was dished on Massa Friday, as Politico reported that he spent nearly $32,000 of campaign money on an automobile just two days before announcing his resignation.

2010-04-16T05:12:00.000-07:00

Washington Post Story Describes An Out of Control Eric Massa
April 14, 2010 09:14:00 Font size:
Aide who has now filed legal action was himself one of several homosexual men working for Massa

The aide in former congressman Eric Massa's office whose complaints led to Massa's resignation is himself a homosexual. The attorney for the aide, who has now filed legal action against Massa, told the Washington Post that Massa began making advances on his own staff members within months of taking office in January of 2009.

Staffers in the Massa office told the Post that they had no faith "in their workplace protections" and were concerned that senior staffers protected Massa. Attorney Debra Katz told the Post that both the "chief or staff and the deputy chief of staff" attempted without success to "rein in the congressman" and by the fall of 20=09 Massa's behavior "spiraled out of control."

The Post says that for months Massa's aides tolerated "a frat house environment full of sex talk and lewd behavior." According to the Post account Massa's chief of staff, Hornell native Joe Racalto told staffers he himself had been a victim of Massa's advances.

The Post and the Hornell Tribune reports that a male bartender at the Knights of Columbus alleges Massa made unwanted sexual advances toward him at that Main St. club following the funeral of fallen Marine Zach Smith.

Massa resigned in disgrace in early March. House Republican leader John Boehner has been trying to get facts about the Massa case and is asking how long Democrat leadership in the House of Representatives knew about Massa's conduct.

2010-04-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

THE WASHINGTON POST

Staffers' accounts paint more detailed, troubling picture of Massa's office

By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 13, 2010; 5:50 PM
Just three months after Eric Massa was elected to Congress, his young male employees on Capitol Hill began complaining to supervisors that the lawmaker was making aggressive, sexual overtures toward them, according to new interviews and internal documents.
The senior staff, one of whom said he heard Massa (D-N.Y.) making lewd remarks to young staffers, tried to manage the problem internally. But reports of Massa's inappropriate behavior continued, leaving junior workers feeling helpless, according to victims, other staffers and sources close to an ongoing House ethics investigation. Most asked not to be named due to the ethics probe and the risk of hurting their job prospects.
This account, drawn from more than two dozen interviews and internal documents, shows that aides were accusing the 50-year-old married lawmaker of far more egregious behavior than previously known. Beginning in March 2009 and over the next several months, male staffers complained that their boss had touched them in a sexual manner, came up with reasons to have staffers travel alone with him on overnight trips, and expressed a desire to have sex with the men in the office.
But it wasn't until after a year of staff complaints -- when allegations about Massa's behavior threatened to become a public embarrassment -- that supervisors alerted congressional leaders to the problem. That led House leadership to demand the matter be referred to the ethics committee. Massa resigned a few weeks later when the media reported he was the subject of a harassment probe. He declined to comment for this story.
On Tuesday, in response to an earlier version of this article, House Minority Leader John Boehner called on the ethics committee to delve deeply into how such allegations could continue for a year with no relief for staff.
"It is now readily apparent that Congressman Massa's pattern of troubling behavior continued long after Democrats first became aware of his conduct," Boehner said. "Speaker Pelosi's staff has acknowledged they knew about problems in Mr. Massa's office back in the fall of 2009. What action, if any, did the Speaker and the Democratic leadership take to protect Rep. Massa's subordinates from harassment and abuse?"
Several staffers say the Massa episode reveals congressional staff's lack of faith in their workplace protections and the deference that office supervisors showed Massa.
"Both the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff attempted to rein in the Congressman, but their efforts were ineffectual and by the fall of 2009, Congressman Massa's behavior spiraled out of control," Debra Katz, attorney for one staffer who alleges he was harassed by Massa and has initiated a complaint against him, said in a statement. "This left my client and other gay men in the office even more vulnerable to Representative Massa's predatory behavior."
Staff in the D.C. office felt they had nowhere to turn, she said. For months, according to numerous accounts, Massa's aides tolerated a frat house environment full of sex talk and lewd behavior.
"It speaks to the significant power differential that exists between members of Congress and the personnel they employ," Katz said. Even though a 1995 law prohibits Congress members from engaging in sexual harassment, she said, "staffers by and large are fearful of retaliation and career suicide if they file complaints or go outside of their offices to report sexual harassment."
In one instance, a staffer said he alerted Joe Racalto, Massa's chief of staff, in March 2009 that Massa tried to fondle a young colleague in a hotel room during the 2008 campaign. Racalto told staffers he believed their complaints, because he had heard similar stories, according to staffers. Two sources said that Racalto told staffers he himself had been a victim of Massa's advances.
In a statement through his lawyer, Racalto declined to answer questions about whether he was harassed by Massa, or had filed a harassment complaint against the lawmaker. He did answer several other questions in comments relayed by his lawyer. He disputed claims that he mishandled the situation but said he had difficulty controlling his boss and lacked a manual to guide him. He said he confronted Massa about allegations of improper advances, but the lawmaker denied doing anything improper
Racalto said he tried in fall 2009 to block the lawmaker from being alone with young male staffers, including demanding that he move out of a townhouse Massa shared with staff. He confirmed that he pulled Massa out of a Dupont Circle bar in December when he could not get Massa to stop making inappropriate comments to a 21-year-old intern and another male staffer.
"When Mr. Racalto did witness something or hear a complaint concerning inappropriate conduct, Mr. Racalto made every effort to curtail the Congressman's behavior by directly addressing each issue with the congressman," said his attorney, Camilla C. McKinney, in a statement.
Racalto is leaving the Hill for a job in New York. He notified the House last week he would resign effective May 1.
Staffers also said they sought help from Ron Hikel, who became deputy chief of staff in November 2009. Hikel said he was prohibited from commenting for this story because of the ongoing ethics investigation.
When Massa departed Washington on March 9, he gave two nationally televised interviews that made him the butt of late-night television jokes. He first explained that he groped and tickled a male employee "until he couldn't breathe" during what he said were typical antics to celebrate his 50th birthday. In the next interview, he denied groping anyone.
The House ethics committee is scrutinizing what House Democratic leaders knew when about the harassment allegations, and how they acted on the information.
One gay male staffer said he complained to Racalto in spring 2009 that Massa routinely made sexualized remarks to him. The staffer told Racalto he had grown distressed, because of two incidents he had heard about involving Massa allegedly making unwelcome sexual advances when sharing a hotel room with staffers.
The staffer said that Racalto assured him that Racalto would talk to Massa and put a stop to this kind of conversation. But by summer, according to several sources, Massa's sexual commentary had escalated and some of it was directed at an intern.
In June, Racalto issued a memo, later obtained by The Washington Post, prohibiting staff from social relationships with staff interns, because of the appearance. He warned three staffers who shared a townhouse with Massa that "you must be extra careful who you bring home and how you conduct yourself, especially when EM is present" and not to "put EM in a position where he is sleeping and questionable activities are taking place."
In October, a local New York newspaper article chronicling Massa's life in Capitol Hill highlighted the lawmaker's unusual living arrangement. Racalto said he called a former co-worker then in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office to report remarks Massa had made about the sex life of a female staffer and discuss his concern about Massa living with male staffers.
Racalto said he told the Pelosi aide that he would demand that Massa move out of the townhouse. Within a day, Racalto also sent out a staff memo instructing employees to stop the sexual talk, and report to him when that rule was broken.
"It has been brought to my attention that casual conversations of a sexual nature are ongoing," he wrote in a memo obtained by The Post. "This is highly inappropriate, offensive, and against the law. . . . I want to invite all staff to immediately contact me if you are aware of any inappropriate conversations that are taking place. "
In December and January, staff reported, Massa sought to take an intern with him along on two West Coast trips. But Hikel, staffers said, balked at the idea and insisted Racalto stop him. Racalto said he agreed to block the trips.
The incident that eventually lead to Massa's resignation occurred at a funeral reception on Feb. 2 in Hornel, N.Y., for Lance Cpl. Zack Smith. The 19-year-old Marine had died in an explosion in Afghanistan. Massa struck up a conversation with a young bartender serving at the informal wake.
Four days later, a local blogger alerted the congressman's office that someone had posted an anonymous comment on his site accusing Massa of soliciting sex from the bartender, according to an e-mail obtained by The Post.
Racalto said he also received a voicemail message from the bartender asking why Massa wanted to meet him in Buffalo, 85 miles away, for dinner. Racalto said he confronted Massa, and the congressman said he was trying to give the man a law school reference.
"Mr. Racalto told the Congressman he did not believe him, and informed the Congressman that he was going to report his conduct," Racalto's lawyer wrote. Racalto, snowbound in New York, said he called Hikel in Washington, and the two discussed the need to alert House leaders.
Hikel called Hoyer's office about the blog and other allegations of harassment. Three weeks later, Hoyer confirmed to reporters that his office had given Massa's office an ultimatum: Report Massa to the ethics committee within 48 hours or Hoyer would.
Research editor Alice Crites contributed to this report.

2010-04-14T05:15:00.001-07:00

Former Rep. Eric Massa hit on male bartender during funeral for Marine war casualty: report
BY RICHARD SISK
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Wednesday, April 14th 2010, 4:00 AM

Miller for News
Former Rep. Eric Massa resigned on March 8.
RELATED NEWS
• ARTICLES
• Former Navy shipmates who served with Massa say he 'groped' others
• GOP pushes Massa probe, charges Pelosi ignored tip
• Pelosi's office was warned of Massa antics in October: Dem insider
• Massa's long trail of bizarre behavior begins at home
• Benjamin: Rush Limbaugh races to inject racial joke about Paterson into Massa mess
• Massa confesses to 'inappropriate' text messages in bizarre Beck interview
WASHINGTON - House leaders finally moved to stop ex-Rep. Eric Massa's sexual harassment of young men after he hit on a male bartender at services for a Marine war casualty, published reports said Tuesday.
Massa tried to make a date with the barman at the Hornell Knights of Columbus hall after a Feb. 2 service for Lance Cpl. Zachary Smith, 19, according to The Washington Post.
"We're all in shock, everybody around here," said Mayor Shawn Hogan of upstate Hornell, a family friend of the Marine, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Jan. 24. "I would be appalled if it in fact did happen at such a solemn occasion," Hogan told the Daily News.
Senior staffers for Massa, who had earlier informed House leaders of Massa's questionable behavior with young male staffers, went back to the leadership again to report the Hornell incident.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) then told senior staffers to either report the allegations to the House ethics committee - or he would. Massa resigned on March 8.
Lawyer Debra Katz said she was representing a male Massa staffer who had filed a sexual harassment complaint against the upstate Democrat.
Massa's actions toward staffers "spiraled out of control" last fall, Katz told The Washington Post. "This left my client and other gay men in the office even more vulnerable to Rep. Massa's predatory behavior."
That included groping and constant crude propositions for oral sex, she said.
Massa could not be reached for comment yesterday. In previous interviews, he admitted groping but described it as "tickling."
House Republicans forced a vote last month approving an ethics committee investigation of how the Democratic leadership handled the complaints.
"It is now readily apparent that Congressman Massa's pattern of troubling behavior continued long after Democrats first became aware of his conduct," said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).
rsisk@nydailynews.com
With Michael McAuliff

Massa aide files sex lawsuit

Search provided by Premier Guide

By Anonymous
Corning Leader
Posted Apr 13, 2010 @ 11:47 PM
Washington, D.C. —
A male aide to former Democratic Rep. Eric Massa has filed a sexual harassment complaint alleging the 50-year-old New York lawmaker regularly groped him, propositioned him and made lewd remarks to him and other staffers.

“There was grabbing people in private areas,” said Debra Katz, the staffer’s attorney. “The congressman routinely made gestures implying that he wanted oral sex, and made crude propositions requesting oral sex from his employees.”

Katz said Tuesday the complaint was filed March 23 on behalf of the staffer, whom she refused to identify, citing confidentiality reasons. The Washington Post first reported the complaint.

Repeated telephone calls to Massa’s home in Corning, N.Y., on Tuesday were not answered. Erin Hogan, who staffs Massa’s former district office in Pittsford, N.Y., said no one in the office was in touch with Massa or knew how to reach him.

Katz said aggressive sexual overtures by Massa were routine in the freshman lawmaker’s congressional office. They began in early 2009 shortly after Massa took office and escalated over time, particularly after Massa had been drinking, she said.

“This was clearly conduct of a sexually predatory nature,” Katz said. “It was over a long period of time and just became part of the fabric of this office.”

Massa resigned last month under a sexual harassment cloud, and the House ethics committee is investigating how Democratic leaders handled the allegations. Republicans forced a House vote demanding the probe.

Massa acknowledged in a TV interview that he had groped a staffer, but he described it as tickling, not sexual behavior.

“It doesn’t make any difference what my intentions were, it’s how it’s perceived by the individual who receives that action,” Massa said on conservative commentator Glenn Beck’s Fox News Channel show. “I’m telling you I was wrong. I was wrong. ... My behavior was wrong. I should have never allowed myself to be as familiar with my staff as I was.”

In October 2009, Massa’s chief of staff, Joe Racalto, met with staff members in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office to discuss problems with the lawmaker. Racalto pointed out a negative story about the lawmaker in his hometown newspaper that described Massa’s living arrangements on Capitol Hill with staff members. The Massa aide told the speaker’s office that he asked the congressman, who is married, to move out. Racalto also discussed Massa’s use of strong language and the way he ran his office.

Pelosi’s office has said there were no harassment allegations discussed in the October meeting between the Massa aide and Pelosi staff members.

Racalto did not respond to a telephone message left for him Tuesday by the AP.

When the complaints about Massa reached Majority Leader Steny Hoyer in February, he demanded that an aide to Massa report the conduct within two days to the ethics committee. Hoyer said he would report it himself if the aide didn’t. The Massa staffer reported the allegations to the ethics panel.

Mindful that Republican ethical misconduct was one reason the GOP lost control of the House in the 2006 elections, Republican lawmakers are demanding an accounting of what and when Democratic leaders knew about sexual harassment allegations concerning Massa.
Massa is a 24-year retired Navy commander who served during the 1991 U.S.-Iraq war and later was special assistant to Gen. Wesley Clark during the conflict in Bosnia.

Associated Press writer Beth Fouhy in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2010 The Corning Leader. Some rights reserved

Rep. Massa Is Back
2:00 AM APRIL 14, 2010, BY JAMIE DUPREE
It seemed like the story of former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) was just going to fade away, but a former staffer has now filed a sexual harassment complaint against the ex-Congressman, which has Republicans demanding a fresh review by the House Ethics Committee.
The legal complaint by a former aide said that Massa often implied that he wanted sex from his staffers, just part of a littany of crude sexual advances.

"There was grabbing people in private areas," said the staffer's lawyer, Debra Katz to the Associated Press, who also dished details to the Washington Post as well.

The Post ran an extended piece Tuesday afternoon on the internet, which detailed staff efforts to rein in Massa, who was evidently trying to repeatedly arrange trips with interns and other staff members.

You can read through it at http://bit.ly/bt5UEt .

But the real nugget of the story was that staffers finally went to Democratic leaders after Massa supposedly hit on a young bartender who was serving drinks at the New York wake of a Marine killed in Afghanistan.
Yep, you read that right.
Republicans jumped on the additional details and legal filings, demanding that the House Ethics Committee conduct a full inquiry.

"It is now readily apparent that Congressman Massa's pattern of troubling behavior continued long after Democrats first became aware of his conduct," said House GOP Leader John Boehner, doing his best to tie Massa to Democratic leaders.

"What action, if any, did the Speaker and the Democratic leadership take to protect Rep. Massa's subordinates from harassment and abuse?" Boehner asked in a statement.

Whether the Ethics panel gets involved is one chapter, as the legal filing by a former aide means this story could well find its way into the courts.

And obviously, the details about oral sex, etc., will only mean more talk about this in political circles and on radio and television, something that Republicans hope will be an election year embarrassment for Democrats.

2010-03-15T18:57:00.001-07:00

Eric Massa has railed against our Town Board and made incessant accusations and misstatements regarding the wind farm. One example of such lunacy was his belief that there would be no hunting within 8 miles of a turbine because all the deer would flee the area—he stated this publicly on the radio on numerous occasions.

This cake showed up at tonight’s Town Board meeting and put a smile on a lot of faces.

2010-03-15T05:00:00.001-07:00

MASSA-- REALLY??????

2010-03-13T13:46:00.001-08:00

Plus-- he is entitled to pension benefits as a Congressman.

WASHINGTON — Former Democratic Rep. Eric Massa will have to return $129,251 of the $1 million in donations his campaign committee raised in 2009, according to the Federal Election Commission.

But most of the $643,973 in cash that Massa's campaign had as of Dec. 31 won't have to be returned.

The distinction, according to FEC spokesman Christian Hillard, is that money raised for the general election in November must be returned within 60 days after a retirement is announced. Money raised for the period leading up to a party primary doesn't have to be returned, even if there was no opponent.

Under federal election law, once a contributor donates the maximum allowed amount ahead of a primary, money donated after that is applied to the general election.

It's not known how much Massa's campaign raised and how much it spent between Jan. 1 and his March 3 announcement that he would not seek re-election, which preceded his decision to resign. That amount will be reported April 15, the next filing deadline for FEC campaign finance statements.

Two other former congressmen from western New York — Republican Tom Reynolds of Clarence, who retired at the end of 2008, and Democrat John LaFalce of Buffalo, who retired at the end of 2002 — still have large cash balances in their former campaign accounts.

Like Reynolds and LaFalce, Massa will be required to file periodic campaign reports as long as there is money in his campaign accounts.

Massa's committee could make maximum donations of $2,000 to Democratic candidates for Congress around the country, including whomever party leaders choose to run for his former seat.

Shawn Hogan, Hornell mayor and Steuben County Democratic Party chairman, said most candidates wouldn't want a donation from Massa.

"I think it would be best served to give it to charity," Hogan said. "If anyone took that money, it would bring a dark cloud over them."

Massa also could convert his campaign committee to a political action committee and use it for issue advocacy.

There's no limit on how much the committee can donate to charity or to a federal campaign committee such as the Democratic National Committee or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Norman Ornstein, an expert on campaign finance at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington think tank, doubts that even the DCCC would want Massa's money.

BTUMULTY@Gannett.com

2010-03-12T05:19:00.000-08:00

Friday, March 12, 2010
Howard: PILOT for wind farm gets OK
Howard, N.Y.

Plans to set up a 25-turbine wind farm in the Town of Howard took another step forward Thursday, with the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency approving property tax reductions for the project.

The board approved a 20-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes – or PILOT – agreement for the EverPower project, Howard Wind.

The amount of taxes the energy company pays will be based on the amount of electricity the wind turbines produce. It will pay $8,300 per megawatt the first year, with 3 percent fee increases beginning the second year.

“We’re obviously very happy that the project is moving forward,” said Kevin Sheen, head of business development for EverPower Renewables in Howard.

PILOTS reduce property taxes for 15-20 years in return for annual payments divided between the town, county and school districts affected by the project.

The payments increase gradually every year until the property is at full taxation by the end of the agreement.

The split between Steuben, Howard and two area school districts has not been determined, but the total first year payment estimate is $415,000-$522,900.

SCIDA’s approval is based on similar approval pending in the town of Howard, and the school districts.

The town has not yet issued permits or collected fees, Sheen said.

Sheen also cleared up information posted on EverPower’s Web site reporting leases held by town officials.

Sheen said the most recent report, filed with the state Attorney General’s office in December, needed clarification.

The developer’s December report indicated brothers Dale and Lowell Smith had lease agreement options for 20 locations on Smith Farm, with each man individual leaseholders, as well.

What was not as clear in the report is all 20 locations were dropped from consideration, and there are no plans to set up any turbines on Smith Farm, Sheen said.

“It is not as clear as it needs to be,” Sheen said. “What this does do is say they have a financial interest.”

Dale Smith is a member of the town planning board, and Lowell Smith is a member of the town board.

The brothers jointly own land scheduled for two leases, Sheen said.

The report also does not include town planning board alternate member Wesley Coots as a leaseholder, Sheen said.

Other town officials with leases for turbines location are Planning Board Chairman Jack Bossard and Town Councilman William Hatch.

Sheen stressed any official on the town or planning boards with leases has not voted on wind farm issues.

2010-03-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

DID MY CHOICE HELP MASSA?
Bob Lonsberry comments- 3-10-2010
I have a son who is 25. He is an intern in a state legislature.

I thought of him yesterday afternoon when I read that Eric Massa is suspected of sexually groping several young men who worked on his congressional staff.

I thought that the victims in this matter were probably young men like my son, starting out in life, thrilled at the opportunity to serve and learn at the seat of power. They went to Washington to do something great.

And something evil was done to them.

They were violated, not just in body, but in mind and spirit.

And thinking about that, I felt guilty. Sick-to-my-stomach guilty. Wish-I-could-go-back-in-time-and-do-things-differently guilty.

Guilty because, though I knew almost four years ago of Eric Massa’s alleged penchant for sexually assaulting younger and subordinate males, I said nothing about it. Thinking I was doing the better thing, I didn’t report what I knew. I didn’t stop him.

Which makes me partially responsible for his new victims.

That’s what I thought about yesterday.

Shortly after Eric Massa came to New York to run for Congress, I was contacted by a former shipmate of his, a naval officer who told me that while Massa was in the Navy he made unwanted sexual advances on two lower-ranking male officers.

That was incendiary information and I sought to verify it. I was not able to contact the alleged victims. But I did find two more former Navy officers who had served with Massa and remembered hearing about the incidents, though they did not have any first-hand information.

They knew enough, however, to lead me to believe that the first officer was telling the truth and that his claims were genuine.

But I did not report the story.

The charges were almost 15 years old, Massa had a wife and two children at home, no formal complaints had ever been filed, I had no information of recent occurrences. I didn’t think it was pertinent to the political contest at hand.

And I don’t like scandal.

I will fight people on the issues, but I will not destroy them personally. I know what it is like to have your own bad choices put you on the front page. I know what it is like to be disgraced, and I know what that does to innocent family members.

And I am reluctant to do that to anyone.

So I was silent about Massa. I argued against his politics, I wrote about a court case he was involved in. But I didn’t write about his alleged sexual aggression and abuse.

I considered it from the standpoint of journalism, and I considered it from the standpoint of politics and personal considerations.

But I didn’t think about future victims.

It never occurred to me.

And unwittingly I protected Massa instead of protecting them.

And I knew better.

I have thought about this issue often, and written about it. About the importance of reporting sexual crimes, about the importance of speaking up if you are a victim. Reporting what was done to you is a way to keep others from facing what you have faced.

I have written that church and school leaders must never sweep abuse under the carpet, that they must root out criminal conduct so that innocent children are protected from it.

I know that many of these people don’t reform, and that they depend on silence and fear to allow them to continue to force themselves on victims.

I knew all that.

And I knew it from experience.

I was molested as a little boy, by a man who molested little boys before and after me. In an odd horror, my investigation of Eric Massa’s staff indicates that there is a good chance the man who molested me later molested someone who grew up to work for Eric Massa.

If someone molested before me had told, I would have been spared. If I had told, the staff member would have been spared.

That kind of eats at you.

And yet the real danger of Eric Massa never occurred to me. I kept my mouth shut. And Eric Massa got elected. And now it seems there are new victims.

And I feel like an unwitting accomplice.

Last night as I watched him on Glenn Beck, he had the bug eyes of a liar, the manic BS of a conman. He was as genuine as a knock-off purse.

But I wasn’t thinking about him.

I was thinking about the staffers, the ones the “Washington Post” said he essentially sexually assaulted. I thought of them as young men like my son, in Washington for a dream job, faced with a dispiriting evil.

A lot of attention has focused on Eric Massa and his writhing dance of deception.

But I choose to think about his alleged new victims, and the one who had the courage to say something. That young man, and another congressional staffer, did what many others of us have failed to do.

He stopped Eric Massa.

Not Eric Massa the congressman.

But Eric Massa the predator.

2010-03-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

DID ERIC MASSA COMMIT PERJURY? Lonsberry- comments 2006

Democratic congressional candidate Eric Massa has been accused by his former campaign manager of lying under oath earlier this year and committing perjury.

The accusation comes in court documents filed in state Supreme Court in Bath, New York, as part of a dispute between the two men over arbitration related to Eric Massa's employment of Sanford Dickert, a technology expert and political operative from New York City.

The campaign manager claimed that Eric Massa's affidavit is "nothing short of a false statement, under oath, submitted to court." He called the candidate's statement "perjurous."

Dickert's claims are substantiated by three other Eric Massa campaign workers.

Eric Massa "blatantly lied" under oath, one campaign worker swore in an affidavit on file with the Steuben County Clerk's Office.

Also arising from the documents is the claim by Eric Massa to have been aware of at least two violations of the law, including the supplying of alcohol to minors, which do not seem to have been reported to the authorities.

At the heart of the controversy is a three-page "Affidavit in Support of Petition to Stay Arbitration" sworn to under oath by Eric Massa on August 25. The affidavit is a list of reasons why he fired Sanford Dickert as the campaign manager of Massa for Congress. The apparent purpose of the affidavit is to demonstrate that Eric Massa doesn't have to submit to arbitration on the issue of unpaid compensation to Sanford Dickert because he was -- according to Eric Massa -- a bad employee or was hired under false pretenses.

For example, he swore that he had been "led to believe" that Sanford Dickert -- who had been brought to his attention by Nassau County supporter Nancy Mindes -- had a variety of well-developed campaign skills. In actuality, in her own affidavit, Nancy Mindes testified that she personally made Eric Massa aware from the very beginning that Sanford Dickert was fairly new to the political business.

In fact, in an internal campaign e-mail sent out by Eric Massa at the end of April -- when he appointed Sanford Dickert -- the candidate wrote: "Sanford has experience in building and managing small tech-oriented companies, in personal coaching and recently in a tour of duty as the (chief technical officer) for the Kerry for President campaign."

"Sanford knows his strengths and weaknesses -- as do I," Eric Massa wrote. But the newcomer did bring a "valuable and critical tool," the e-mail claimed, "He is loyal to this campaign."

And yet, in his affidavit, Eric Massa claimed not to have known of Sanford Dickert's background, and claims to have been misled. That claim does not seem consistent with other affidavits and with the campaign e-mail.

Most forcibly rebutting the Eric Massa claims is the 19-page affidavit sworn to and filed by Sanford Dickert. He goes through point-by-point and rejects or disproves the Eric Massa assertions. Additionally, the Sanford Dickert testimony is corroborated by three additional affidavits from Massa for Congress campaign workers, while the Eric Massa affidavit was offered without supporting statements, evidence or corroboration.

"Multiple witnesses, from Massa's own campaign, have submitted affidavits documenting that Massa's recitations, allegations, and mudslinging against me are outright lies," Sanford Dickert swore. "Massa has no supporting affidavits joining him in his outrageous claims."

Two and possibly three of the claims Eric Massa makes in his affidavit involve illegal conduct.

In the first, the congressional candidate swore, "Dickert solicited illegal furniture donations from various merchants."

If Eric Massa believed that to be true, he was in the position, as a candidate, of having discovered his campaign manager soliciting illegal campaign contributions. Yet there is no indication he notified the Federal Elections Commission of this.

Further, Eric Massa swore under oath that Sanford Dickert, "lured three college-age boys under the legal drinking age into (a campaign) apartment, and provided for their consumption more than a case of beer and a bottle of vodka."

If Eric Massa believed that to be true, he should have notified the Ciy of Corning Police Department -- particularly since the under-age drinkers were volunteers with his campaign, away from home presumably under his care, kind of like congressional pages. Yet there is no indication he told the police or anyone else of this supposed event.

Relative to the claim that Sanford Dickert gave the volunteers alcohol, one of them -- Burak Kanber, a student at the prestigious Cooper Union in New York City -- swore under oath: "I do not know why Eric Massa would lie in his affidavit that Sanford Dickert lured me and or my roommates into our apartment and/or provided for the alchohol that was in said apartment. I know on personal knowledge that the alcohol that was in said apartment was purchased by our roommate, Miss Alison Andrews, a 26-year-old female, who is of legal drinking age and purchased the alcohol for her own comsumption."

The Massa for Congress worker goes on to say that Eric Massa, "swears, under oath, to having witnessed things he never saw and which never happened."

The third possible violation of law claimed in the Eric Massa affidavit is cryptic. After saying that Sanford Dickert had "lured" or "solicited" young males described as "boys" or "young high school boys," Eric Massa wrote: "Dickert invited my then-16-year-old son to spend the night with him."

It is unclear if that is supposed to be a sexual reference. At best, it is meant to be ambiguous. And, at best, if an inappropriate sexual advance was made to a minor child -- most particularly his own son -- Eric Massa had a moral obligation to report that crime to the police. Yet there is no indication he told any police agency about this conduct.

And that is troubling.

Because either the Eric Massa affidavit is true, and the candidate indefensibly chose not to report state and federal crimes, or the affidavit is false -- as four Eric Massa campaign workers claim -- and Eric Massa has committed perjury.

Either way, Eric Massa should be held to account.

And the news media should stop sitting on this story.

As Richard Nixon said, the people have a right to know their president is not a crook. The same is true of the man who wants to be their congressman.

By the way, the judge didn't buy it. State Supreme Court Justice Peter C. Bradstreet rejected Eric Massa's request to avoid arbitration.

- by Bob Lonsberry © 2006

2010-03-10T05:59:00.000-08:00

Posted Tuesday, March 09, 2010 7:28 PM
Eric Massa's Unconvincing Performance on Glenn Beck
Howard Fineman
The president finally caught a break in the Beltway steel-cage match over health care. Former representative Eric Massa and Glenn Beck may have thought they were teaming up to stop Obamacare, but the duo both ended up looking ridiculous on Fox. Viewers—even Fox viewers—might conclude that any bill these guys don't like must be worthy of every voter's support.

There's no doubt that the White House and Hill Democrats are out to discredit Massa, who claims he was pressured to resign because he opposes Obamacare. But on Beck's show, Massa made a complete fool of himself, and even Beck was forced to conclude that he had wasted his own viewers' time by hosting the former congressman for an hour.

Massa has been under investigation since early February for allegations that he sexually harassed at least one male staffer. Massa's defense about one incident—that he was merely reenacting the exuberant "tickle fight" male bonding of a Navy "crossing the line" ceremony—left Beck momentarily speechless. The host clearly realized at that instant that he had a sad, confused dude sitting across from him, and not someone who would impress Fox viewers.

Massa made it worse by insisting that it was his own behavior—not pressure from White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel—that made him quit the House.

As to the now famous (alleged) naked shower confrontation with Emanuel in the House gym, Massa insisted that it happened (Emanuel said it didn't). But even Beck seemed dubious. He asked a Journalism 101 question: were there any witnesses?

Massa didn't know.

End of story.

"We finally have found someone crazier than Glenn Beck," a White House insider told me. It's hard to disagree.

Tag(s): Congress

2010-03-05T14:45:00.000-08:00

Massa resigns under ethics cloud

AP – FILE - This Tuesday Oct. 14, 2008 picture shows Eric Massa, Democratic candidate for New York's 29th …
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By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer Laurie Kellman, Associated Press Writer – 34 mins ago
WASHINGTON – New York Democratic Rep. Eric Massa, facing a harassment complaint by a male staffer, said Friday that he is stepping down from his seat with "a profound sense of failure."

"I am guilty," Massa said in an interview with a Corning, N.Y., newspaper columnist.

Later in the day, Massa released a statement saying that after learning he had a recurrence of cancer, he learned he was the subject of an ethics complaint by a male staffer who felt "uncomfortable" during an exchange with Massa. The exchange reportedly had sexual overtones.

"I will resign my position," Massa said in the statement.

"There is no doubt in my mind that I did in fact, use language in the privacy of my own home and in my inner office that, after 24 years in the Navy, might make a Chief Petty Officer feel uncomfortable," Massa added. "In fact, there is no doubt that this ethics issue is my fault and mine alone."

Earlier Friday, a visibly upset Massa said he didn't want to put his family through the rigors of an ethics committee investigation.

"It would tear us apart," Massa said, according to Joe Dunning, a columnist for The Leader newspaper. "It's not that I can fight or beat these allegations, I'm guilty."

The resignation takes effect Monday.

Massa's departure is good news for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's effort to advance a troubled health care overhaul. Massa had voted against it. His departure reduces the majority she needs for passage to 216.

Massa's acknowledgment of inappropriate behavior comes as the House's majority Democrats struggle with ethics matters among their own ranks despite promising to clean up Congress when they came to power.

The New York delegation has been especially hard-hit by ethics matters. Rep. Charlie Rangel, a 20-term House veteran and the most influential member of the delegation, surrendered the chairmanship of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee this week after the ethics committee found that the Harlem Democrat had broken House rules on accepting gifts.

And New York Gov. David Paterson dropped his re-election bid because of evidence he may have pressed the girlfriend of his closest top aide to drop charges of domestic violence against that aide. He's losing staff amid calls for him to quit.

Massa at first dismissed the allegations against him. The ethics committee issued a statement Thursday saying it is "investigating and gathering additional information concerning matters related to allegations involving" Massa.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Wednesday that he was told the week of Feb. 8 by a staff member in Massa's office about allegations of misconduct. Hoyer directed Massa to report the allegations to the House ethics committee within 48 hours. Hoyer said he got confirmation within that time frame that the committee received the report and would review the allegations.

Pelosi told reporters Thursday that Massa had informed her of his diagnosis and plans to retire, but that her staff had not told her of rumors about his staffer. "This is rumor city," Pelosi said.

Massa, who is married, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1996. He was elected in 2008, defeating Republican Rep. Randy Kuhl.

The 29th district in the southwestern corner of New York has been dominated by Republicans since the party's founding in 1854. It's a largely agricultural district the size of Connecticut.

Citing his cancer, Massa, 50, said Wednesday he would retire at the end of his term. During a conference phone call with reporters that day, Massa dismissed a Politico story that cited unidentified House aides in reporting that the congressman had been accused of harassing a staffer.

____

Associated Press writers Andrew Miga and Liz Sidoti in Washington and Ben Dobbin in Rochester, N.Y., contributed to this report.

2010-03-05T14:31:00.001-08:00

Massa to resign from office

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By The LeaderU.S. Rep. Eric Massa, D-Corning, announced Friday that he is resigning from office.
By Joe Dunning
Corning Leader
Fri Mar 05, 2010, 03:51 PM EST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Corning, N.Y. -
Embattled U.S. Rep. Eric Massa announced Friday afternoon that he will resign from office effective Monday.

Massa, 50, notified his Washington and campaign staff from his home in Corning that he was leaving office, citing a reocurrance of cancer and allegations filed against him with the House Ethics Committee.

Massa admitted in his statement that he had used inappropriate language in front of staff both in his home and in his office.

"There is no doubt in my mind I have used improper language," he said. "It's my fault and I can't blame anyone but myself."

Massa said he learned of the allegations made by a member of his staff on Thursday by reading Internet news sources. He said he does not know the identity of the staff member, when the incident happened or what was said.

"I can't subject my family and staff to a full investigation," Massa said. "It would tear us apart ... It's not that I can fight or beat these allegations, I'm guilty."

Had the Ethics Committee conducted an investigation and found evidence against Massa, he could have faced a range of penalties from censure to expulsion.

His seat will either be filled by a special election or left vacant until November's election. That decision will be made by Gov. David Paterson.

Massa's announcement comes just two days after he announced he would not seek a second term representing the 29th Congressional District.

2010-03-05T14:06:00.000-08:00

Massa Resigning from Congress Monday

Last Update: 4:37 pm MARCH 5-2010

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BLOG: The Massa Side of the Story (UPDATE)
Massa Won't Seek Re-Election, Cites Health Reasons
Scramble for 29th District Seat
Washington - Rep. Eric Massa (D-Corning) is resigning his seat in Congress. His resignation is to become official Monday at 5 p.m.

On Wednesday, in an announcement that surprised even Democrats, Massa ) declared Wednesday that he will not seek re-election for his seat in the 29th District. He explained that in December he suffered his third cancer reoccurrence, calling the experience "intense and personal."

Massa is now at his home in Corning under the care of his doctor.

Prior to those statements, reports surfaced alleging that Massa was accused of sexually harassing a male staffer.

According to the Associated Press, the House ethics panel is reviewing a complaint against Massa by a male staffer who reportedly felt uncomfortable in a situation with Massa that had sexual overtones.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Wednesday said he was told the week of Feb. 8 by a staff member in Massa's office about allegations of misconduct. Hoyer directed Massa to report the allegations to the House Ethics Committee within 48 hours. Hoyer said he got confirmation within 48 hours that the Ethics Committee had received the report and would review the allegations.

Massa was first elected to Congress in 2008 after defeating Republican incumbent Randy Kuhl. The 29th District includes several areas of southern Monroe County, as well as the Southern Tier cities of Corning and Elmira.

When Massa officially resigns Monday, the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives will manage the office and staff, while Massa’s chief of staff Joe Racalto remains as an office administrator.

Governor Paterson will now decide whether a special election will be held or whether the seat will remain filled in that capacity until the November election decides who takes over in January.

Paterson has until Mid-April to call for a special election. After he signs the proclamation, the election must take place within 30-40 days. A spokesman for the governor says Paterson has been considering this, is aware of the situation, and could make a decision very soon.

Among the names that have been mentioned as possible candidates to run for the seat in 2010 are Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks (R), Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan (D), and Kuhl. Former Corning Mayor Tom Reed (R) has already announced that he is running for the seat.

2010-03-04T08:28:00.000-08:00

What I Knew About Eric Massa- Bob Lonsberry WHAM Rochester
Thursday 03-04-2010 6:55am ET

I’ve known about Eric Massa’s problem for more than three years.
And I’m not talking about his lymphoma.
I’m talking about the fact that he is reportedly attracted to men, and that he manifests it in inappropriate ways.
And now he is leaving Congress over it.
At least that is the assumption in Washington, as he yesterday announced his decision not to seek re-election, on the same day that it was reported that the House Ethics Committee is investigating a claim that he sexually harassed a young male staff member.
In Massa’s statement, he intimated – but did not directly say – that he was leaving public life because of his health. He also referenced – but did not specifically deny – a report of the accusation.
I hope Eric Massa’s health is strong, and that his cancer has not returned. But I seriously doubt that this is about his health.
It is about his conduct.
Currently, it is alleged that he sexually harassed a male staff member, and that this staff member went for help to a more senior congressional staffer, who contacted the office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. According to a statement released by Hoyer last night, he directed that the matter be taken to the Ethics Committee for review.
Hoyer also said that, though he doesn’t know whether the allegations are true or not, he regrets the fact that the episode reflects poorly on the Congress. He compared it to the matter of former Rep. Mark Foley, who sent inappropriate sexual text messages to a male House page.
When I heard the allegations against Eric Massa yesterday, they were sadly similar to allegations I became aware of during his first congressional campaign and which, though I was confident of their truthfulness, I did not report.
The information is this: During his Navy career, Eric Massa allegedly touched at least two men inappropriately and may have exhibited a pattern of putting himself in situations where he would see men naked – particularly younger and lower-ranked men.
These allegations come from general shipboard understandings and conversations, and were relayed to me by shipmates of Eric Massa.
In one instance, Eric Massa was a lieutenant commander and the combat systems officer of the USS Jouett. That made him the third-ranking officer on the boat – behind the captain and the executive officer.
According to another officer on the ship, Massa and a lieutenant were on liberty in the Middle East. Massa had made the motel arrangements and the room turned out to have only one bed. The lieutenant reportedly told other officers on the ship that while they were in the room, Massa came up behind him and started massaging his neck and shoulders.
The lieutenant, shocked by this conduct from a higher-ranking officer, shrugged it off, literally.
In the night, he later told shipmates, he was awakened by Massa’s hands in his shorts. The lieutenant was startled and turned away. Massa rolled over and pretended to be asleep.
Whether that happened or not, only two people know. But the story was known on the ship and was passed to me by a fellow officer and graduate of the Naval Academy.
A few months after this incident, another lieutenant – who had been Eric Massa’s stateroom roommate onboard the Jouett – was having a Hail and Farewell on the beach at North Island in San Diego. At the party – which celebrated the lieutenant’s departure for a new assignment – other officers asked him what it was like to room with Massa.
They then related the alleged incident from the motel room on shore leave. It was the first the lieutenant had heard.
He then told the officers present that he had had a somewhat similar situation. In the stateroom, Massa had the bottom rack and the lieutenant had the top rack. The lieutenant told the people at the Hail and Farewell that one night he had awakened to Massa atop him in his bunk.
The lieutenant rebuffed Massa.
Neither lieutenant officially complained about their experiences. In both instances, Massa was their boss – the No. 3 man on the ship – and they both were afraid of the captain, a reportedly gruff and harsh man. Massa’s stateroom roommate did report the situation to his immediate superior, but the superior – an Annapolis classmate of Massa’s – reportedly said it was best to keep things quiet.
Nothing ever came of either event.
Also while on the Jouett, junior officers were troubled by the fact that Massa used their shower – even though it was four decks below his stateroom and he had showering facilities with the other senior officers.
On a later assignment, as the executive officer of another ship, rumor went around the Navy that Eric Massa was in the habit of using a self-serve laundry next to the enlisted-men’s shower at 6 in the morning. Typically, an XO’s laundry would be done by an orderly, and an officer doing his own would not use the enlisted laundry.
These are the things I knew about Eric Massa three years ago. I had them primarily from one source, and in part from two other sources.
None of the sources wanted to speak publicly, though one of the sources wanted the story to go public. The other two feared retribution and had gone on with their lives and didn’t want to get involved in an old controversy.
Though I very much opposed Eric Massa in both of his campaigns, I did not report this information or ask him about it.
My thinking was this. Though the stories and how they developed seemed genuine, I recognized that it was possible they could have been mere gossip about a caustic and unpopular officer. They may also have been an orchestrated lie.
And while I had enough sourcing to put the information out, from a journalism standpoint, I didn’t feel good about it, from a personal standpoint.
The stories came to me a good 10 years after they happened. I considered that Eric Massa, even if the accusations were true, might well, in the intervening decade, have put his life in order and engaged in better conduct. Further, there was the matter of his family. He is married and has three children, and cavalierly hurting his family was not something I had the stomach for.
Additionally, I didn’t think it was relevant. Not relevant enough to pull the pin out of the grenade and throw it.
Finally, there were political considerations. Though I actively spoke and wrote against Massa’s candidacies – I reported other, more-pertinent damaging information about him – in his first race he had no chance of winning, and in the second race the real issue was the ability of his opponent, Congressman Randy Kuhl.
In short, raising this issue, under those circumstances, didn’t seem right. The good to be accomplished was not worth the damage that would be done.
Withholding the information was a decision I still feel good about.
But I was not surprised when news of the new allegation came forward. It struck me as a continuation of an old behavior pattern.
It also struck me as sad.
Because, while I disagree with Eric Massa, I have come to begrudgingly respect and even like him. He is a carpetbagger, and it galls me that this liberal parachuted in to represent the area where I grew up, but he has over the last year shown a personality that is winning. He has also been a very good congressman when it comes to honoring his district’s servicemen and veterans. A month ago, I saw him stand in line outside a funeral home in 20-degree temperatures for more than two hours in order to pay his respects to the family of a fallen Marine.
I respect that.
But that is over.
And now the question is: Who will replace him?
It is a Republican district, and this fall is shaping up to be a powerful pushback against the Obama Democrats, so prospects look very good for a Republican candidate. Unfortunately, the sacrificial Republican lamb sent up to face Massa is not really worthy of having the seat handed to him on a silver platter.
Though most of the Republican county chairmen have settled on this candidate, they should rethink their endorsements.
Most likely GOP candidates would be Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, former Congressman Randy Kuhl, state Senator Cathy Young and Assembly minority leader Brian Kolb.
Most likely Democrat candidate would be longtime Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan.
A factor in the race, and who decides to enter it, is the fact that this district will disappear in 2012. When New York redistricts, and loses seats in the House of Representatives, it’s a sure bet that the Democrats who draw the lines will eliminate this majority-Republican district.
If Massa was still around, maybe he could get the Democrats to protect his seat. With him replaced by a Republican, the district is doomed.
So the question will be, who wants to go through a campaign, and give up their day job, for two years in Congress?
The next few weeks will probably answer that question.
Yesterday was an interesting day in New York politics. It began with talk about the governor’s future, and ended with discussion of a congressman’s future.
I was surprised to hear Eric Massa was quitting politics.
But I wasn’t surprised by the reason why.

2010-03-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

NY Democrat Massa retiring, citing health reasons
Posted at: 03/03/2010 2:50 PM | Updated at: 03/03/2010 4:09 PM

Rep. Eric Massa, a freshman Democrat from New York, says he will retire because of health reasons. Massa told reporters of his decision on a conference call Wednesday (listen to the call -- no video).
http://whec.dayport.com/viewer/viewerpage.php?Art_ID=11987&tf=whecliveplayer.tpl

Massa said, “There are blogs who are saying that I am leaving because there are charges -- harassment against my staff. Do I or have I ever used salty language when I am angry, especially in the privacy of my inner office or even at home? -- Yes I have and I have apologized to those where it is appropriate but those kinds of articles unsubstantiated without fact or backing are a symptom of what's wrong with this city. And it's why so many have looked at the absolute gridlock in Washington, the intense partisanship without rational thought and decided like I. I do not have the life's energy to fight all the battles all the time.”

He was elected in 2008, defeating Republican Rep. Randy Kuhl in a district long dominated by Republicans.

Massa was stricken with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1996. He underwent aggressive treatment and stayed on as an aide to retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark, a presidential candidate in 2004.

County Executive Maggie Brooks issued a statement saying, "Since early this afternoon, I have received dozens of calls from my colleagues in Monroe County, across New York State, and in Washington who have asked me to run for Congress now that the 29th Congressional District will be an open seat. Out of respect for our community leaders and a desire to serve hardworking and overburdened taxpayers, I will give this opportunity serious consideration over the next several days. Ultimately, I will make a decision that allows me to best serve the people of Monroe County and Upstate New York by fighting for lower taxes, job creation, public safety, and a quality of life that is second to none."

For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website www.whec.com.

2010-03-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

By JOHN BRESNAHAN & JONATHAN ALLEN & JOSH KRAUSHAAR

Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) won't run for reelection after just one term in office.
Photo: John Shinkle
Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) will not seek reelection — after only one term in office.

According to several House aides on both sides of the aisle, the House ethics committee has been informed of allegations that Massa, who is married with two children, sexually harassed a male staffer.

Massa told POLITICO Wednesday afternoon that no one has brought allegations of misconduct to him.

Asked about the sexual harassment allegations, Massa said: "When someone makes a decision to leave Congress, everybody says everything. I have health issues. I'll talk about it [later].”

Massa recently suffered from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and he has said that his experience with cancer drove him to run for office so he could help reform the health care system.

A 20-year Navy veteran, Massa was elected to office in 2008. He serves on the Agriculture, Armed Services and Homeland Security committees, and his departure endangers Democrats’ hold on his competitive upstate New York seat.

Massa is scheduled to hold a conference call at 3:30 this afternoon to announce his decision, which came as a complete surprise to several of his freshman Democratic colleagues in the New York delegation.

According to the New York Daily News, which first reported that Massa was retiring, the congressman called party leaders and supporters in his district Wednesday to tell them of his plans.

Massa has played a gadflylike role in the House, calling for a single-payer health care system at a conference of liberal activists last year despite representing a Republican-leaning district. He was one of 39 House Democrats to vote against health care legislation; he said it didn’t do enough to control costs.

As a freshman representing New York’s most Republican House district, Massa was one of the most endangered Democrats in the delegation. Republicans had been aggressively targeting his seat and landed top recruit Tom Reed, the Republican mayor of Corning, to challenge him.

Massa is now the 15th House Democrat to announce retirement plans, with 11 of them leaving districts that Republicans are aggressively contesting. House Republicans face 19 retirements within GOP ranks, but most of their departing members hail from safe seats.

Massa’s departure also adds to the woes of New York Democrats, who have been on the defensive this week amid a scandal surrounding Gov. David Paterson, who announced he wasn’t running for election, and the tribulations involving embattled Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), who stepped down as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday.

Massa’s departure could scramble the Republican field, since the filing deadline is not until July. Potential candidates include Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, state Assemblyman Brian Kolb and state Sen. Kathy Young.

Massa defeated former GOP Rep. John “Randy” Kuhl (R-N.Y.) in 2008, narrowly winning by a 2-point margin.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33864.html#ixzz0h9E70WaQ

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33864.html#ixzz0h9E76Jhr

2010-03-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

BREAKING NEWS: Politico: Rep. Massa to Retire, Allegedly Sexually Harassed Male Staffer

Politico: Rep. Massa to Retire, Allegedly Sexually Harassed Male Staffer

Last Update: 3:19 pm

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Congressman Eric Massa
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Politico: Massa to retire amid allegations he sexually harassed a male staffer
Washington, DC – The Politico is reporting at Rep. Eric Massa (D-Corning, N.Y.) will not seek reelection after only one term in office.

The Politico sources “several House aides on both sides of the aisle” to report that the “House ethics committee has been informed of allegations that Massa sexually harassed a male staffer.”

Massa is married with two children.

According to Politico, Massa said no one has brought allegations of misconduct against him and when asked about the allegations, Massa said: "When someone makes a decision to leave Congress, everybody says everything. I have health issues. I'll talk about it [later].”

Massa was stricken with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1996.

He has scheduled a conference call at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Massa was elected to office in the 29th congressional district in November 2008 after defeating Republican incumbent Randy Kuhl in an election rematch from 2006. His district includes several Monroe County towns as well as the Southern Tier. Serving in a heavily Republican district, Massa's seat had been viewed as vulnerable for the GOP to regain.

He is the third New York Democrat embroiled in trouble in recent days, including Gov. David Paterson and Rep. Charles Rangel, who stepped down as chairman from the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday.

13WHAM will bring you more information as it becomes available.

2010-03-03T12:14:00.001-08:00

March 3, 2010 1:29 PM 2 Comments
Dem Source: Massa Won't Run (Updatedx2) »
By Elizabeth Benjamin

Rep. Eric Massa is poised to announce this afternoon that he will not seek re-election in the 29th Congressional District this fall as planned, a Democratic source confirms.

The freshman congressman is going to make his announcement at 3 p.m., according to the source. It's unclear if that event is taking place in the district or in Wahsington, D.C. A call to Massa's spokesman has so far not been returned.

UPDATE: Massa's office says he will be speaking with the press on a "very important" conference call at 3:30 p.m. He's in Washington.

Massa is calling around the district to inform party leaders and supporters of his decision.

The source said he assumed that Massa's move is "health related," but said the congressman also gave him a rather nebulous warning that he would be "hearing things that aren't true."

Sources close to the congressman say there has been talk of an ethics investigation, but a staffer in Massa's district office contacted yesterday insisted he had no knowledge of that.

UPDATE2: Politico is reporting the House ethics committee has been informed of allegations that Massa, who is married and has two children, sexually harassed a male staffer.

The former US Navy officer received a diagnosis of terminal cancer while serving as as the Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, General Wesley Clark, during the Bosnian conflict, according to the bio on his Web site. He returned to the US to undergo treatment, survived and is "completely cured."

Massa was already on the DCCC's watch list and is facing a challenge in a difficult political year from Republican Tom Reed.

With Massa out of the race, sources in the district speculated that Reed might be pushed aside in favor of a stronger Republican candidate - perhaps Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, who has been mentioned as a potential LG running mate for Rick Lazio.

Massa was elected in 2008, ousting then-GOP Rep. Randy Kuhl, 51-49. It was Massa's second attempt at unseating Kuhl. He tried and failed in 2006, but came close, winning 49 percent of the vote.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/source-massa-wont-run.html#comments#ixzz0h98ynCpL

2010-02-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

WAYLAND-COHOCTON VARSITY-SECTION V CHAMPIONS, DIV B2
5th year in a row, February 20, 2010 RIT Rochester

Class B2: Top Five Scores: Wayland-Cohocton 345, Dansville 340, LeRoy 331, Holley 328, Marcus Whitman 310. Leadership Award: Carly Miceli, Way-Co.

2010-02-23T06:56:00.000-08:00

WAYLAND-COHOCTON VARSITY, GRAND CHAMPIONS
AVOCA CHEERLEADING COMPETITION -2010

2010-02-23T06:50:00.000-08:00

Taken From EarthFirst- A Sharp Eye-with a Green Edge

If we build a bunch of wind turbines near communities, people are going to start dropping to the ground in pain because infrasound is affecting their inner ear. Or, at least, that’s what one New York doctor wants us all to believe. She’s wrong – but the problem is, opponents of wind power are seizing onto her argument to further their own agenda.

Pediatrician Nina Pierpont gathered testimony from a scant 38 people who live near wind turbines in England, Canada and elsewhere about headaches, nausea, insomnia, visual blurring, vertigo and panic attacks. Her website, WindTurbineSyndrome.com, and book of the same name attributes these symptoms to infrasound, a type of low-frequency sound that she claims disrupts the inner-ear vestibular system—the body’s chief tool for balance and spatial orientation.

Thankfully, Grist has examined and debunked Pierpont’s hypothesis:

So here’s what’s wrong with wind-turbine syndrome. First, there’s Pierpont’s method. Her study consisted of 38 people from ten families—by most standards too small to yield conclusive results. All of them self-identified as people who were already experiencing health effects; there was no control group.

Further, acousticians who study the issue say Pierpont fundamentally misunderstands the nature of low-frequency sound. Geoff Leventhall, an English acoustician who retired from the University of London and chairs the European Institute of Noise Control Engineering, agrees that turbines create infrasound that cannot be heard. So do driving with an open window, swinging on a swing set, and even jogging—the slight rise and fall of the head create the effect.

Leventhall describes infrasound as a common phenomenon that isn’t dangerous except at extremely high levels, such as those produced by spacecraft. Infrasound from wind turbines does not approach that level, said Leventhall, who recently flew to Wisconsin to testify at a hearing for the proposed Glacier Hills Wind Park.

Her work isn’t even peer-reviewed, despite her claims – the four-person editorial board that she cites includes herself, her husband and two others—a professor emeritus of literature and an ecologist and psychologist.

Grist has more technical details on why Pierpont is wrong, as well as an analysis on how her claims are affecting the wind industry.

None of this is to say that noise from wind turbines are never an annoyance for people who live near them – but it’s probably safe to say that the effect upon people who live near them is far less dangerous than that of fossil fuel-burning power plants.

Link [Grist]
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Tags: Health, wind power, Wind Turbines

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at

2010-02-14T10:24:00.000-08:00

WAY-COH VARSITY DOES IT AGAIN... 1ST PLACE AND GRAND CHAMPIONS AT HORNELL WINTER FEST, February 13, 2010.....GOOD LUCK AT SECTIONALS FEB 20TH!!!

2010-02-07T17:33:00.000-08:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE VARSITY CHEERLEARDERS OF WCCS
1st place EMPIRE CHEER WINTER CLASSIC February 6th, 2010

Wayland-Cohocton Eagles, Coached by Julie Oas & Micki Newfang,

Proudly sponsored by First Wind Energy, LLC

Erika Bowen, Allyssa Holmes, Hayley Bouffard, Morgan Mastin, Amanda Mitchell, Paige Rumsey, Casey Sick, Marki Hough, Marissa O'Neal, Carly Miceli, Danielle Trautman, Jocelyn Barlow, Taylor Morse, and Bri Sick

2010-01-22T06:05:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is telling voters in Ohio, already wracked by high unemployment, that investments in clean-energy technologies will help boost the nation's economy.

Related Content
blog: abc13.com Political Blogs
Obama planned to use his visit Friday to test-drive an aggressive populist push on jobs, a top concern for voters across the country as the White House begins a message shift heading into fall elections expected to be difficult for Democrats.

Obama was meeting with voters in the northeast part of Ohio, where steel mills have given way to rust. Statewide, unemployment stands at 10.6 percent.

A town hall session was on Obama's public schedule at Lorain County Community College, near Cleveland. He was last in the county ahead of the state's March 2008 presidential primary, when he delivered a speech on the economy at a drywall factory that closed two months later.

Obama was expected to note such challenges as he spends a day in the state that delivered him a victory in his 2008 campaign but is shaping up to be a tough haul heading into elections for an open Senate seat and the governor's office as well as the House delegation.

Officials are tinkering with a revamped Obama message in the face of a potentially disastrous political shift that, on Tuesday, elected Massachusetts Republican state Sen. Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate in a seat long occupied by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

Obama looked to Ohio to reset his record with a campaign-style day, complete with a tour of a wind turbine plant and visits with local leaders. He also sought to harness the energy of the campaign trail that he mastered during a two-year campaign for president.

At the White House on Thursday, he stridently challenged Wall Street and urged Congress to limit banks' size and practices.

"If these folks want a fight, it's a fight I'm ready to have," Obama said.

His reaction to a Supreme Court decision rolling back limits on campaign donations by big business was stern. He charged that the decision would allow wealthy special interests to "drown out the voices of everyday Americans" and promised a "forceful response."

Obama then went before dozens of mayors to trumpet his efforts to alleviate economic pain.

"You can expect a continued, sustained and relentless effort to create good jobs for the American people," he declared.

It wasn't the way Obama wanted to mark this week's first anniversary of his presidency. Nonetheless, a chastened but determined White House team, populated with campaign-seasoned aides accustomed to near-death moments, began to grapple with the implications and chart a path forward after the Brown victory.

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

2010-01-10T12:29:00.001-08:00

Steel Winds project will add six windmills
By Barbara O’Brien and Robert J. McCarthy
NEWS STAFF REPORTERS

Six new windmills will be built on the old Bethlehem Steel site this year, and the state is announcing plans to study construction of other windmills — although smaller — at local Thruway interchanges.

First Wind, the company behind the Steel Winds project at the former Bethlehem Steel site, plans to build four new turbines on the Hamburg side of the site and two more in Lackawanna, according to First Wind spokesman John Lamontagne.

“We hope to build sometime this year, I couldn’t tell you when,” Lamontagne said.

The new towers will be about 240 feet tall, and with the blades, the windmills will be about 400 feet tall, Lamontagne said. They are the same as the eight turbines that the company operates along the Lackawanna shoreline. Problems encountered two years ago with the gearboxes and blades have been addressed, he said.

“They’re running fine and operating well,” Lamontagne.

Frontier Central School District and the Town of Hamburg will split most of the payments for the turbines.

While the project is tax exempt, First Wind agreed to a payment in lieu of taxes of $10,000 for each megawatt generated by the turbines, Hamburg Supervisor Steven J. Walters said.

“We don’t know the figures of what we’re going to get because nothing’s been built yet,” he said.

First Wind’s payment in lieu of taxes will be divided among Erie County, the town and the school district. Walters said he expects the county to receive between 5 percent and 10 percent.

“It’s now our responsibility to reach out to the county and work out with the county what their percentage will be,” Walters said.

After the county takes its share, the town will receive 51.5 percent, and Frontier schools will get 48.5 percent of the remainder under an agreement between Hamburg and the school district.

He said the town will receive the largest percentage because most of the regulation and monitoring of the turbines will fall to the town.

Meanwhile, the Thruway Authority announced Friday it will seek proposals from the wind turbine industry to assess the feasibility of constructing “medium-sized” windmills at six Thruway sites in Western New York.

The idea is to determine if the authority could generate power from the machines to sustain many of its own operations and possibly sell excess power back to the grid, spokeswoman Betsy Graham said.

“We think this goes a long way to offset our utility costs, and in turn, protect and enhance the environment,” she said.

The interchanges under study for turbines are Batavia, Eden-Angola, Silver Creek, Dunkirk, Westfield and Ripley.

Graham said the proposed turbines are not as big as those n the Bethlehem Steel site and will be appropriately sized for the Thruway properties at the exits. She said the studies will also determine if wind velocity at the six sites is strong enough to sustain the proposed turbines. It is expected the authority will make a final decision on the idea this summer, Graham added.

“The Thruway Authority is eager to hear from the wind power development industry as to how it can work towards a more sustainable environment and making New York a greener state, benefiting all New Yorkers,” said Thruway Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer.

The plan is also part of Gov. David A. Paterson’s objective of meeting 45 percent of the state’s electricity needs through energy efficiency and renewable energy.

“Last month, I accepted the State Energy Plan which provides a detailed road map for achieving this clean energy target, and one of the recommendations is to inventory state-owned land that is suitable for renewable energy development,” Paterson said. “I commend the Thruway Authority for acting so swiftly to help us implement this piece of the State Energy Plan.”

bobrien@buffnews.com and rmccarthy@buffnews.com

2010-01-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

Wind money keeps Cohocton above state economic crisis

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By Justin Head
The Evening Tribune
Fri Jan 08, 2010, 12:30 PM EST

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Cohocton, N.Y. -
According to town Supervisor Jack Zigenfus, the Town of Cohocton accepted a $837,500 community host payment from the wind energy developer First Wind Monday.

The funds, the supervisor said, will keep Cohocton stable as the state’s economic crisis worsens.

“It’s really a blessing in disguise for the town’s economy. When we started this project so many years ago we didn’t know this financial disaster would occur and I think we’ve just seen the tip of the iceberg. The real disaster is below the water ... We’re just very fortunate that we have this revenue stream. We are going to be well prepared in the next two to three years to weather this storm,” said Zigenfus Thursday.

First Wind has operated a 50-turbine wind farm on top of Pine, Lent, Dutch and Brown hills in Cohocton since 2008.

In addition to the host payment, — the third Cohocton has received to date — the town will also be provided with $100,000 by April 1 to fix roads damaged by cranes and other equipment, according to Zigenfus.

“Through our due diligence to taxpayers we said we wanted some guarantee they were going to repair the roads they used,” he said, adding the majority of the money will be used to fix Davis Hollow and Dutch Hill roads.

Zigenfus said First Wind paid the town $315,000 and the Village of Cohocton $20,000 for road repairs in 2009 through a negotiated agreement.

According to the supervisor, the amount the Town of Cohocton has raised by taxes has dropped 60 percent in the past two years. Zigenfus said in 2007 residents were paying $4.18 per thousand dollars of assessed property value and now they are paying $2.90 per thousand dollars of assessed property value.

The First Wind payments make up about half of the town’s roughly $1.8 million budget, according to Zigenfus.

The surplus of money has allowed the town to budget $220,000 for the purchase of a new highway department truck and plow and pickup truck, as well as money for improvements to the Lawrence Parks recreation area and development plans for highway department facility improvement.

“There really isn’t as much controversy in the area as one would think. There is not more than a handful of these anti-wind people. When we were up for election we won by huge margins ... if people don’t like the decisions you make they let you know at the polls,” said Zigenfus.

2010-01-07T08:18:00.001-08:00

PRESS RELEASE
January 6, 2010

ON JANUARY 4TH 2009 THE TOWN OF COHOCTON RECEIVED ITS COMMUNITY HOST PAYMENT FROM THE TOWNS WIND ENERGY COMPANY, FIRST WIND.

THIS PAYMENT OF $837,500.00 WAS THE 3RD PAYMENT TO THE TOWN. THIS IS THE ONLY WIND FARM IN STEUBEN COUNTY AND HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE FOR THE TOWNS ECONOMY.

THE TOWNS BUDGET WAS ADPOTED BASED ON THE ANTICIPATED REVENUE FROM THE WIND FARM AND UNDER THE BUDGET THE MONIES:
• MAINTAIN THE 60% DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF TAXES IT RAISES FROM LANDOWNERS.
• ALLOWS FOR $220,000.00 FOR PURCHASE OF NEW HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT.
• CONTINUE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE LAWRENCE PARKS RECREATIONAL AREA.
• DEVELOP PLANS FOR FUTURE HIGHWAY FACILITES IMPROVEMENTS.

IN ADDITION TO THE HOST PAYMENT THE TOWN WILL ALSO RECEIVE $100,000.00 FOR THE IMPROVEMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION OF ROADS IN THE TOWN.

THE TOWN OF COHOCTON IS IN VERY GOOD FINANCIAL CONDITION AND HAS PREPARED ITSELF FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 3 YEARS OF FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY FISCAL DISASTER.

2009-12-24T05:09:00.000-08:00

PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO MEN.

2009-12-24T05:04:00.000-08:00

2009-12-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

WCCS LEGO ROBOTICS TEAMS-WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!!!!

2009-12-08T08:13:00.001-08:00

2009-12-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

2009-12-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

2009-12-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

MS Robotics wraps up a successful season!

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Thanks to the generosity of numerous community sponsors, the Middle School Robotics Club has wrapped up it second and successful competition season.

Three teams, Yield!, The CrissCrossers and Transporters worked hard since September putting in a regular five hours a week with up to 13 hours a week in preparation for the competition season. The teams designed and built three robots to complete a number of tasks designed by the First Lego League tournament. Students also developed a presentation solving real-world issues surrounding this year’s theme of transportation. All three groups worked on challenges in their own school district.

The groups made outstanding this progress with this year’s lowest qualifying score beating last year’s high score by an incredible 40 points. The Transporters earned the Innovative Design Award and the Robot Performance Award for earning the most points at the robot competition table, qualifying them to advance to the University of Rochester Semifinals, where 34 teams were vying for one available slot to the World tournament. This year’s team earned 8th place in the robot competition out of those 34 teams, improving upon their placing from the year before. Their presentation was a merged version of all three teams and they were thankful for the assistance they received from the Yield! and CrissCrossers members. Although there are three separate teams, all three groups worked together throughout the year.

The Wayland-Cohocton community has been generous in supporting this program which requires a great deal of technology and equipment. Please look for a list in the near future of the 2009-2010 community sponsors. Remember to patronize local businesses as they are certainly the cornerstone for so many organizations in our communities.
All three teams would also like to thank Paul Holubek who coaches tirelessly and works extensively with the programmers and builders to create some of the best ‘bots around. Likewise, the group’s appreciation goes out to John Kerr who provides tremendous support to the presenters and researchers in this complicated process.
Look for these kids out in the community this winter and spring as they share their robots and creations.