The Ithaca Journal from Ithaca, New York • 4

4A NEWS, OBITUARIES Saturday, July 26, 2008 THE ITHACA JOURNAL TORNADO CLEANUP Friday after a severe storm hit the said the violent storm left an causes Barnstead, who tried in vain to close his garage door as the wind began to howl. "The wind at first it felt like a push, then I got sucked out, then pushed back," he said. "I could hear things snapping. I could see things flying," including his canoe, which landed about 100 feet away. With trees toppling around him, Troy tried to get into his house but couldn't open the door more than 2 or 3 inches because of the air pressure.

"It was all gray and white and stuff going by," Troy said. Stevens died when the tornado obliterated a home near Northfield Lake in Deerfield as she and her grandson were on the first floor. Her husband, Harley, had just headed down from the second floor when he "was blown out the side of the building and found in the side yard," state Fire Marshal William Degnan said. Eight other civilians and six firefighters suffered minor injuries, the Fire Department said. A junior high school across the street was opened as a shelter for residents forced to flee the 90-apartment building, Liu's office said.

"After suffering for weeks with no hot water or gas, my constituents now find themselves having to live through an even worse nightmare," the councilman said. The fire came nine months after a leaky kitchen gas hose in a Harlem apartment building fueled an explosion that hurt more than 20 people, including four badly burned girls. Checks of cranes find no unlicensed operators Authorities say surprise checks of nearly 50 construction cranes around New York City have uncovered no unlicensed operators. City investigators randomly checked 47 cranes Friday. The Department of Investigation says all the rigs had properly licensed operators, but one crane had an expired permit.

A partial stop-work order and a violation Attorney David Soares and by attorneys for Spitzer's aides, who have claimed that Teitelbaum may have inappropriately released confidential information during the investigation to the Spitzer administration. Yet Teitelbaum rejected those charges, saying the investigation took so long because they were repeatedly stonewalled by Spitzer's aides over obtaining documents. He said it was also important to do a thorough investigation; the report Thursday was 3,000 pages. He said more than 20 people were put under oath, including Spitzer which the commission, unlike Soares, was the only one to do. "Of course staff had communication with members of the executive chamber.

We met with them to discuss document production," Teitelbaum said. "How do you have an investigation un- DIABETES CONTINUED FROM 1A study whether vitamins taken by people at risk of macular degeneration help them avoid getting the disease. The device is a camera linked to computer software that provides a numerical value, or score, that suggests the beginnings or progression of a disease. It measures the activity of a protein associated with abnormal cell changes associated with diabetes and certain eye diseases. The team hopes to develop composite pictures of images taken of the retina.

The test takes a snapshot of the retina. It is quick, painless and inexpensive as little as $20 for each test compared with as much as $120 or more for standard blood glucose testing for diabetes, Petty said. It also avoids the need to fast and have blood drawn three times for standard oral glucose tests, he said. The team is focused on diabetes, Elner said, because in nine of 10 cases of diabetes these abnormal changes occur. Diabetes also is a major U.S.

public health problem. Some 24 million Americans are diagnosed with the disease and another 57 million have abnormal blood sugar levels that are considered pre-diabetic, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 4.1 million people age 40 or older have diabetic retinopathy, a potentially blinding complication ofthe disease. CALL THE JOURNAL News: 8 a.m.

to 3 p.m., 272- 2321; before 8 and after 3, 274- 9230 Sports: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 272- 2321; before 8 and after 4, 274- 9214 or 274-9277 OBITUARIES MARGARET A. DRAKE DRYDEN Margaret A. Drake, age 66, of Dryden, NY, passed away Friday, July 25, at the Cayuga Medical Center. Arrangements will be announced by the Perkins Funeral Home, Dryden, NY.

Please sign the guest book at theithacajournal.com/obituaries MABEL DOUGHERTY STANGLE CANDOR Mabel Dougherty Stangle, 90, of Candor, NY, passed away on Friday, July 25, 2008, at Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, PA. Arrangements, when complete, will be announced by Richards Funeral Home, Owego, NY. www.RichardsFH.com Please sign the guest book at theithacajournal.com/obituaries N.Y. LOTTERY Friday's Midday Daily: 057 Lucky Sum: 12 Friday's Evening Daily: 442 Lucky Sum: 10 Friday's Midday WinFour: 9531 Lucky Sum: 18 Friday's Evening WinFour: 8188 Lucky Sum: 25 Thursday's Take 5: 34, 27, 14, 6, 30 For Friday's Pick 10, Take 5 and Mega Millions: Please visit www.theithacajournal.com or check Monday's Journal. The Center for Problem Gambling 24-Hour Helpline: (800) 437-1611 IN MEMORIAM In Loving Memory of Tim Michael Fedor Daddy, I miss you so much.

You'll never be forgotten. Love always and forever, your son, Gavin Please sign the guest book at the theithacajournal.com/obituaries Families in Epsom, N.H., clean up tornado struck Deerfield. Officials New Durham. N.H. tornado By David Tirrell-Wysocki The Associated Press EPSOM, N.H.

A baby's cries led rescuers tothe 3-monthold in the wreckage of a home flattened by a tornado that killed his grandmother and blew his grandfather into the yard, officials said Friday. Brenda Stevens, 57, was the only person killed in Thursday's twister, which left a 20-mile-long swath of fallen trees and damaged homes in central New Hampshire. Officials estimate that at least a half-dozen homes were destroyed and hundreds were damaged in the heavily wooded, sparsely populated terrain. The National Weather Service said nine towns suffered severe damage from the tornado, which at times reached wind speeds of 111-135 mph. Countless people had close calls, including Mike Troy of STATE BRIEFS NEW YORK 17 hurt in NYC building's second blaze in 6 weeks An apartment building's second blaze in six weeks hurt 17 people, two critically, in what a city councilman called a major explosion Friday.

Firefighters didn't confirmreports of a blast at the six-story building in the Flushing neighborhood, but City Councilman John Liu said in a statement that residents' apartments were "literally blown apart." Debris was scattered on fire escapes and around the Sanford Avenue building. The six-story building's gas and hot water were shut off after a June kitchen fire and only recently came back on, Liu spokeswoman Sharon Lee said. Gas and electric utility Consolidated Edison and the city Department of Buildings 1 were on the scene Friday night as fire marshals investigated what caused the two-alarm blaze. Firefighters said the two critically injured victims were civilians, and a third had serious, but not life-threatening wounds. TROOPERGATE CONTINUED FROM 1A somebody said that about you?" Critics have complained that the commission and Teitelbaum led a 10-month investigation that was aimed at being a whitewash for Spitzer, who appointed a majority of the board members.

Two Republican assemblymen, Phil Boyle of Long Island and Thomas Kirwan of Newburgh, called on Friday for Gov. David Paterson to remove Teitelbaum and commission Chairman John Ferrick and bring back former Lobbying Commission chief David Grandeau. "Teitelbaum, sort of like the character in 'A Few Good not only couldn't handle the truth but didn't want to know the truth," they said. Teitelbaum has also been criticized by Albany County District area Thursday. The National Weather intermittent path of destruction stretching severe damage Degnan said the boy's crying soon led firefighters to him in the rubble.

Officials said the infant was protected by being in a void. The baby was admitted to Concord Hospital, but a spokesman said no information would be released at the family's request. The hospital said Harley Stevens was released after being examined in its emergency room. The deadly winds, swirling black clouds and torrential rains gave way to chain saws and portable power generators Friday. Under brilliant blue skies, chain saw crews cleared roads, made paths to fallen power lines and helped residents remove huge trees from atop homes.

Gov. John Lynch led a group of state and federal officials, including members ofthe congressional delegation, to survey the damage the tornado caused. "Where's the house?" Lynch were issued. The checks follow a spike in construction accidents throughout the city, where crane accidents have killed at least nine people since March. Twenty DOI and Buildings Department staffers fanned out to construction sites in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn calls the operation "both a proactive safety measure and a strong deterrent message." MINEOLA Long Island reopens 80-plus beaches Long Island officials are reopening more than 80 beaches just in time for the weekend. The beaches had been closed by health officials on Friday after heavy rains on Thursday. Health officials say the closings were precautionary because storm water runoff can elevate bacteria levels in the water. Nassau County has reopened, 17 beaches on the North Shore and four South Shore beaches. Hempstead Harbor Beach remains closed to swimmers.

less you have discussions with the people with whom you are trying to get documents?" While the commission's report is complete, the case may be far from over and could linger for years. Richard Baum, Spitzer's former chief of staff, and William Howard, former department of homeland security assistant secretary, have settled with the commission. Darren Dopp, Spitzer's former communications director, and former state Police Superintendent Preston Felton are fighting the charges. Baum and Howard were charged with violating one count ofthe Public Officers Law; Dopp was charged with two counts, and Felton was charged with three counts. Dopp faces up to a $10,000 fine on one of the counts, while Felton faces up to $10,000 on each of two counts.

The Associated Press Service on Friday confirmed that a about 20 miles from Epsom to in 9 towns asked Todd Shaw, who pointed through a mishmash of trees to his brother's home in Barnstead. "Oh my God," Lynch said. "How are you going to get in there?" "We'll cut our way in," Shaw said. Roads were lined with utility trucks, trucks hauling replacement telephone poles and tree service trucks. Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency teams were in the area, and neighbors were helping neighbors.

In Barnstead, a group of people showed up around noon and began giving firefighters and work crews bottled "People aregreat," said Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Mulcahy. "Look at that." One Barnstead resident was injured Friday morning while clearing debris. Mulcahy said the man was knocked out by falling tree limb. Suffolk County has reopened more than 60 beaches along the northern shore of Great South Bay and beaches within and next to various North Shore bays. Long Island Sound beaches have also been reopened by county health officials.

PORT CHESTER 2 school buses crash on N.Y. highway Police say a number of children have suffered minor injuries in a collision involvingtwo school buses on Interstate 95 in Westchester County. State police Sgt. John Maasz says Friday's collision resulted in "a lot ofinjured people, (with) mostly bumps and bruises." State thruway police couldn't immediately say how many people were hurt or whether there were any serious injuries. The crash was in the Port Chester area, near Exit 2.

Twelve-year-old witness Christina Hernandez tells The Journal News some children hurt their necks and backs. About 50 police could be seen at the scene of the crash. Dopp's attorney, Michael Koenig, said Friday that he will pursue all legal strategies in defending his client and that could include calling Spitzer to testify before an administrative law judge. "We will avail ourselves of every and all avenues to defend this case," Koenig said. "Everything in defending this case will be on the table." To fight the charges, the case will head to a public hearing before an administrative law judge.

The judge, at the request of lawyers in the case, could use subpoena power to bringin anyone to testify. The law judge, Christine Kopec, who works for the commission, would then issue a ruling that the commission could either accept or reject. Then the case could head to state appellate court if there is an appeal of the commission's decision. CARD OF THANKS From the Family of Tim Michael Fedor Gavin and I would like to thank the people who supported us in such a difficult time in our lives: The Cornell University Police, the fraternities at Cornell, Ithaca Campus Police, NYS Parks Police, NYS Troopers, Tioga County Sheriff's Department, Nick's Hair Design and clients, United Medical Associates, Allen's Funeral Home, St. Joseph's Church, staff at Homer Brink School, Dr.

Zhang's office, Dr. Shumeyko's office, North Minister Church, Riverhurst Cemetery, Don White and Dr. Stephanie Lockshin. We would also like to thank our friends and family for their love and faith to get us through this difficult time. Gavin and I would like to thank all our friends who gave us SO much love and support and their generous donations to Gavin's 529 Plan for college.

God Bless to all. Love, Gavin and Gina Please sign the guest book at theithacajournal.com/obituaries Obituary policy and how to obtain extra copies of The Journal The obituaries printed here are paid notices, phrased in accordance with the wishes of families and funeral directors. Families wishing to receive additional copies of The Ithaca Journal containing today's obituaries should contact our Customer Service Center at 1-800-642-3194 by 3 p.m. Additional copies of Saturday and Holiday editions can be ordered on the next business day. Obituaries may also be found online at theithacajournal.com ALL EARS Hearing and Tinnitus Center Diagnostic Hearing Tests Hearing Aid Fittings Simple to Sophisticated Technology Discounted Prices Trial Period Most Insurances Accepted Tinnitus Therapy Award for Professional Excellence by The American Academy of Audiology Come learn about the various hearing aid technologies at our July 30th July 31st Open House.

Call us for details. Carol Bass, M.S. Audiologist 257-3903 Our guiding principle is commitment to excellence with kindness to our patients whom we serve. Community Corners 200 Pleasant Grove Rd..