Assemblyman Ray Walter and colleagues vote to restore OPWDD funding.

Assemblyman Ray Walter (R,C,I-Amherst) and his colleagues in the Assembly recently voted to restore the $90 million cut that had been levied upon the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). The legislators came to an agreement with Gov. Cuomo last week to fully restore the $90 million that was taken away from non-profit organizations that provide critical, cost-effective services to people with developmental disabilities.

“New York State can only be truly strong if we care for those who need our help the most, and these non-profits provide absolutely vital services in a cost-effective manner,” said Walter.  “I swore I would do everything in my power to have these funds restored and, in the end, we prevailed. These families and organizations desperately need this money, and I was proud to see my colleagues finally join me in voting to restore this funding.”

Back in March, Assemblyman Walter implored his colleagues across the aisle to vote with him on an amendment to the budget that would have restored this unfortunate $90 million cut. After hours of debate, only two members of the Majority joined Walter and the Assembly Republicans in voting yes to the reinstatement of funds.

Rock classics get a symphonic twist in the 2013-14 BPO Rocks series, which features performances by America and Lou Gramm of Foreigner, as well as the music of Queen, the Rolling Stones, ABBA and The Beatles.

It all starts Saturday, Sept. 21 with The Music of Queen. Conductor/arranger Brent Havens, known for bridging the gulf between rock n’ roll and classical music with his suite of successful symphonic rock shows, takes the podium. Las Vegas star Brody Dolyniuk steps into the formidable role of Freddie Mercury.

“When he came out to audition for the show we knew immediately that he had something special. He not only knew the music but he had clearly listened to every aspect of Freddie’s performances,” said Havens. “His inflections were spot-on and even the wailing rock sound had that Freddie resonance.”

The music of ABBA has enjoyed a tremendous revival in the past few years. Their songs have been covered by musicians as diverse as The Lemonheads and Sinead O’Connor. Their music formed the basis of the hit musical Mamma Mia, which was adapted into a movie of the same name. In 2010, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ABBA: The Hits sold out the last time it came to the BPO, and returns on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and company may have bypassed Buffalo on their latest tour, but The Music of the Rolling Stones will come to the area on Friday, Nov. 8. The Rolling Stones’ signature blues-influenced rock blends effortlessly with the horns, winds, strings and percussion of the BPO. Brent Havens will once again take the podium for a high-energy show featuring the music of rock’s ultimate bad boys paired with the BPO’s extraordinary musicianship.

Fifty years ago, The Beatles redefined the meaning of superstardom, with record-breaking chart positions, two movies in the theaters, and a world tour that sparked Beatlemania everywhere they went. The BPO celebrates the golden anniversary of the breakout year of the band that defined a generation with Classical Mystery Tour on Saturday, March 1. Four talented artists join your BPO to present songs that span The Beatles’ career, from “Penny Lane” to “Eleanor Rigby.”

On Friday, March 28, Grammy-award winning band America will come to Kleinhans. With more than 40 years on the road, the band comes to Western New York for the first time in eight years. The rich sounds of the BPO lend a new texture to America’s signature rock and roll style.

America was founded when Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek were teenagers. At the time, the three were living on an American Air Force base in London with their families. Peek left the band in 1977, and Beckley and Bunnell have continued to perform and record as a duo, evolving as songwriters and musicians while performing the crowd-pleasing classics “Horse With No Name,” “Sister Golden Hair” and “Ventura Highway” that defined the America sound.

Lou Gramm, the voice of Foreigner, will close the BPO Rocks series with a show on April 25. A Rochester native, Gramm led Foreigner to superstardom in the 1970s and 1980s with hits like “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Hot Blooded,” and “Juke Box Hero.” Gramm found solo success in the late 1980s and 1990s with “Midnight Blue” and “Say You Will.”

2013 has been a landmark year for Gramm. He told the incredible story of his life in his autobiography, Juke Box Hero, released in May. After five decades as a musician, he is redefining his sound and launching his first symphonic tour. The BPO will be one of the first orchestras to perform this new symphonic show with Gramm.

Subscribers can purchase all six shows for as little as $28 per concert, or choose the four concert series including the Music of Queen, the Rolling Stones, America and Lou Gramm starting at $108. For further information, call (716) 885-5000 or visit www.bpo.org.

Centers for Disease Control Readiness Review Shows Notable Improvement, Highest Score Since ‘09 

ERIE COUNTY, NY— Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz called attention to a recently-released Strategic National Stockpile Local Technical Assistance Review (“SNS/LTAR”), which evaluates Erie County’s (“the County’s”) ability to respond to a crisis requiring use of the Strategic National Stockpile. The annual review, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, indicated that the County’s average score across twelve functional areas was 95%, up from 77% in 2012 and 65% in 2011.

“The rating we received in this LTAR is indicative of the importance my administration has placed on planning, training and readiness for our Public Health, Emergency Services, Sheriff, Public Works, and other personnel, as well as the constant  need to keep current with developments and recommendations on the federal level. These are ongoing investments in the public good which, as I mentioned in my ‘Initiatives for a Smart Economy’ address, enhance our quality of life,” said Poloncarz. “We must remain vigilant and prepared for a possible future emergency. There are many people who are dedicating their careers to protecting the public and their dedication has contributed to this score going up. I want to thank them for their commitment to keeping their skills up-to-date and for their continued vigilance in protecting the residents of Erie County.”

The Strategic National Stockpile (“SNS”) is the United States’ national repository of antibiotics, vaccines, chemical antidotes, antitoxins and other critical medical equipment and supplies. In the event of a national emergency involving bioterrorism or a natural pandemic, the SNS has the capability to supplement and re-supply local health authorities that are charged with handling the crisis, with response time as little as 12 hours, following an official request from the municipality. The SNS is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Commissioner of Emergency Services Daniel Neaverth, Jr. added, “Disaster preparedness and the Strategic National Stockpile program is a continuous process, updating plans, assessing resources, and developing relationships. We are fortunate in Erie County to have a group of dedicated people working across jurisdictional boundaries to assure response and recovery is on the cutting edge.”

“Our priority regarding preparedness, regular drills, training and planning all contributed to the success of our SNS/LTAR review,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein. “This was a team effort and the importance of all departments working collaboratively resulted in the excellent score received.”

In assessing the County’s overall readiness and response in implementing procedures involving the SNS, reviewers evaluated performance in the following areas: planning, communications, coordination with partner agencies, security, logistics, dispensing of medications/medical supplies to the public, and training and exercise. Each area is a vital component in the County’s response to a crisis situation, and each is composed of multiple levels of planning and design.

For more information:

On the Erie County Department of Emergency Services, visit   http://www2.erie.gov/emergencyservices/

On the Erie County Health Department, visit   http://www2.erie.gov/health/

Latest results of Siena College Poll:

Voters: Pass 10-Point Women’s Equality Act, Including Abortion Provisions;
Strongly Favor Making NY Law Consistent with Roe v. Wade & Current Practice
Cuomo Favorability/Job Performance Lowest Since He’s Been Governor

More than half of New York voters, 52 percent, feel Speaker Sheldon Silver “should step down as Speaker.”

They say he “failed the people of New York and (former Assemblyman Vito) Lopez’s accusers by not addressing the issue appropriately and by not being completely honest.” Thirty-two percent feel Silver’s approach to the Lopez situation “is not a reason for him to step down as Speaker,” even though he “might not have handled the situation ideally but he is not guilty of anything and he has apologized,” according to a new Siena College Poll of New York voters released today.

Cuomo’s favorability rating, 58-35 percent (down from 64-32 percent last month), is the lowest it has been since he’s been governor, as is his job performance rating at 50-49 percent (down from 52-47 percent in May).
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Old Home Days are right around the corner.  It’s always a fun time to gather with friends and enjoy games, rides and food.  This year they run from July 9 – 12.

On Tuesday, July 9th, BW’s Chicken Dinner will be served by St Stephen’s Bethlehem UCC, 750 Wehrle Dr., to benefit Harvest House Inc.  

The dinner is $9.00 and will include a half chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, roll and butter.  Your choice of beverage is $1 more.  A children’s portion is available for $6.00 and includes a quarter chicken, potato salad, coleslaw and a roll and butter.  

Dinners will be available from 4 – 8.  Tickets are available by calling 632-4226 (church office) during the week or on Sunday mornings following service at 11:00. The church is located at 750 Wehrle Dr. between Union and Forest.

Don’t want to fight the traffic?  Ask for your dinner to be brought to the church that evening for pick up there. Your prepaid dinner will be brought to you.

Mark your calendar.  You can come out for the fun of the carnival atmosphere and enjoy a wonderful dinner as well.

Retired State Supreme Court Justice Frank A. Sedita Jr. died Sunday in Sisters Hospital after a brief illness. He was 78.

Judge Sedita, a member of one of the area’s most prominent political families, was the son of three-term Buffalo Mayor Frank A. Sedita and the father of Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III.

In addition to his son, survivors include his wife of 52 years, Marilyn Hemstock Sedita.

Funeral arrangements will be announced.
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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

You might be interested to check this diagram carefully.  I wonder just which guests or employees will be parking in the area circled at the end of Mike’s Pond?…or will the developer be putting landfill in?  Say what????

POSTED BY ANDY BOROWITZ

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Americans sent over a hundred million Father’s Day messages on Sunday, the National Security Agency reported today.The hundred-million number, while robust, falls short of the hundred and twenty million Mother’s Day messages collected by the N.S.A. in May.

The difference between the two figures is “not surprising,” said N.S.A. director General Keith B. Alexander. He added, “On the whole, mothers take Mother’s Day more seriously—if the e-mails we read by mothers whose children forgot are any indication.”

General Alexander said that the agency collected in the neighborhood of two to three million such e-mails from angry mothers this year.

The N.S.A. director added that the agency had not foiled any terror plots over the weekend but did uncover between thirty and forty thousand extramarital relationships.