The Buffalo News from Buffalo, New York • 10

Page 2 The Buffalo NewsWednesday November 5 2003 final Neighborhoods HEALTH AroundTown '1 I1' wk srs IV 'I rjhi feVi I xfewA A I Wkv 1 Jftk i el of wLxSfimKZ BtW I Ifits7 sPpi waEcHMSKl 4 wag' a J3wKWl vt4 iHSBbl I MjKksW isg ISjjWr 1 iR? kA DENNIS ENSERBuffalo News Aiding the drive Joseph Borgese John Edgette Amy Wozniak and Tanya Hefets from left members of the Undergraduate Student Association at the Uni versity at Buffalo unload clothing Tuesday donated to the Buffalo City Mission The bags were part of 1500 pounds of food and clothing collected for the mission Data covers providers of home care By HENRY DAVIS News Medical Reporter or the first time consumers now can check information about the quality of care elderly and disa bled Western New Yorkers receive from home health agencies The federal agency that over sees Medicare released qualily of carc data this week for thousands of home health care agencies in the United States All agencies certified for pay ments under Medicare the govern ment health program for the elder ly and disabled arc rated on 11 measures of care The measures include the per centage of patients who improve at dressing themselves walking bath ing and taking medications on their own who have less pain who need urgent unplanned medical care and who have to be hospitalized I'he indicators are intended as a tool to help patients and their fam ilies choose a home health agency The quality data along with other information about the home health agencies are available at the Centers for Medicare and Medic aid Services consumer Web site wwwmedicaregov and through help line (800) MEDI CARE or (800) 633 4227 only will consumers be better informed but home health agencies themselves will be able to see more clearly what they must do to improve their said Tom my Thompson secretary of health and human services Last year the agency released data on nursing home care In the future it expects to publish similar information about hospitals Home care consists of health and social services ordered by a doctor and provided at home to pa tients who are recovering from sur gery illness or injury or who are disabled or chronically or terminal ly ill Medicare pays for eligible in dividuals although with limits on the number of hours and days that can be reimbursed The data for the rankings is based on mandatory status reports filed on patients at the start and end of their care anyone looks at the informa tion going to see that there are differences between the agen cies" said Richard Guertin direc tor of the Schofield Residence long term home health care pro gram differences should lead them to ask questions about the agencies they are considering for Guertin said the data may help smaller agencies that don't have much of an advertising budget be cause consumers will be able to sec how they rate against larger home health companies Unlike other states New home health industry consists of certified home health agencies as well as another level of care called long term home health care pro grams These programs which also take patients covered by Medicaid the health care system for those with low incomes provide care at home for sicker patients over long er periods of time Guertin said the home health industry opposed the federal government's decision to blend the two kinds of programs in its rating system because the long term pro gram handles sicker patients who might skew the data in compari sons with agencies elsewhere in the nation Additional information about home health agencies is available from the state Health Department which inspects the agencies every one to three years The inspection reports are not posted publicly but can be requested mail: hdavtslsvbujfnewscom STATE SUPREME COURT ORCHARD PARK SCHOOLS Road rage defendant granted a new appeal By MATT GRYTA News Staff Reporter James Pennington the Amherst businessman imprisoned for the past decade after being convicted of a road rage murder has been granted a new appeal before a Rochester court officials con firmed Tuesday Setting the stage for a hearing expected to take place in the spring Associate Justice Elizabeth Pine of the ourth Department Appellate Division ruled that are questions of law or fact which ought to be reviewed by this court" Pennington 49 is serving a life term and is not eligible for parole consideration for another five years He is acting as his own ap pellate lawyer while in Collins Cor rectional acility With his wife Janice serving as his courtroom spokeswoman Pen nington claims he has uncovered proof of witness and evidence tam pering by Erie County and state prosecutors and the state police and that the autopsy on his victim was performed improperly Pennington has maintained that he fired his licensed handgun three times at Octavio Duran 20 of Ole an in self defense after a minor traffic accident on Transit Road on eb 12 1992 But a Buffalo jury convicted him of second degree murder on Oct 1 1993 In June State Supreme Court Justice Joseph orma rejected contentions about the Duran autopsy but noted in his rul ing that legal fight had demonstrated laxity in the (procedures) of the (Erie County) medical of Pennington has maintained the autopsy should have shown he fired at Duran in self defense a contention prosecutors have de bunked in a number of post convic tion court proceedings mail: mgiyiaip huffnewscom Superintendent to retire after 21 years in post By MARY PASCIAK News Southtowns Bureau After 21 years as the leader of Orchard Park schools Superinten dent Charles Stoddart will retire at the end of this school year he announced Tuesday is with mixed emotions that I leave the Orchard Park Central School District superintendency" he told the School Board much as I am reluctant to end my career I am looking forward to spending time with my best friend and wife Peggy our sons their wives and our new Stoddart 64 received a stand ing ovation from district employ ees residents and School Board members ire most senior superintendent in Western New York he is some thing of an anomaly in an era when the average superintendent stays with a district for about five years Having served a total of 42 years with the district including nine as teacher and 13 as principal name has become virtu ally synonymous with the district some said struggling with the concept of this school district without Dr Stoddart at the said David Lovering principal of South Davis Elementary School relationship with Or chard Park began in 1948 when he entered the district as a student sincerely hope 1 have been able to return what I have been giv he said in a statement he read to the board educational plat form has always been that it is bet ter to build and serve the needs of children than to repair the failure of During tenure Or chard Park has grown to be the sixth largest suburban district in Erie County and consistently one of the best academically Stoddart will serve until June 30 when his contract expires mail: mpasciak (a huff news com OLA OB SEZ: Death is na way of tell ing people to slow down ON THIS DAY In 1605 Guy awkes and some of his buddies planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I But things began to go wrong when the 20 pounds of gunpowder they hid in the cellar under Parliament was discovered To make a long story short most of the conspirators in cluding awkes were beheaded and their heads were displayed on spikes at Ixmdon Bridge Today is Guy awkes Day in England A TOTAL ECLIPSE of the moon can be seen Saturday evening through the Penn Dixie Paleonto logical and Outdoor Education Center in I lamburg according to the 1 lamburg Nalu ral 1 fistory Soci cty Two li inch one 14 mcli one id inch two 8 inch and a variety of other telescopes will be available to view' the moon and other heavenly bodies The public is invited and children arc encouraged to attend the free program A partial eclipse will begin at 6:32 The total eclipse begins at 8:06 and ends at 8:31 The partial eclipse ends at 10:04 and tire last visible shading will be at 10:45 or directions and information visit the Web site at wwwpcnndixieorg or call (127 4560 PROUD Daniel Prl ano who grew up in the City of Tonawanda recently received an award for his wot as general man ager of Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur Calif Post Ranch was ranked the top hotel in North America and tied for No 1 as Best of the Best in the World" by readers ot Conde Nast Traveler Priino accepted the award at the Guggenheim Museum He is the son of Mary Priano of the Town of Tonawanda A BENEIT for the family of Russ Mlnlstaro 44 of Amherst a father of two who has had recent health problems will be held from 6 to 10:30 pm Saturday in the Lancas ter Elks Club 33 Legion St Lan caster The Clearwater Band will perform and a $20 ticket includes food and drinks There will be raf fles auctions and door prizes Tick et chairman Bill Bodkin can be con tacted at 692 7180 UTURE OICE Amherst Town Justice Mark arroll was elected third vice president of the Slate Magistrates Association at the group's annual meeting in Sar atoga His election means that within four years arrell will move up to become president of the 2300 member organization PLANNING AHEAD Camille Zwickel Greco of Depew is trying to contact fellow members of the Wil h' liamsvillc Central 1 ligh School Class of 1960 to tell them about plans for a 45 year reunion to be held in July 2005 are having a difficult time finding classmates" she said last reunion we had was 20 years She said the class had nearly 250 members Call 651 0948 HAPPY BIRTHDAY Michael Moses David Robinson Eleanor Grice Shane erreira Kenneth Starzynski Boyce Myers Tabatha Wittmcyer Dr Phil Kaczmarek Angela Kaczmarek Steven Zachowuez Gerty Smith Marcia Jordan Nancy Harding Joe Rizzo AND THURSDAY Eileen Goat sey Curto Scott Smolarek Vincent Lauricella Daniel Kurek Rose Oehler Nancy Hartung Edwin Harlukiewicz Jack Regan Megan 1 lourihan Carol Byrne Richard A Seitz mailNaffuhGi'huJfnewscom final meetings and events Boston Meeting: Zoning Board of Ap peals: 7 pm Town Hall 8500 Bos ton State Road Buffalo Meeting: Enterprise Charter School board of trustees 8 am Oak St Meeting: Common Council Community Development Commit tee 10 am Council chambers on the 13th floor of City Hall Meeting: Council Education Committee 2 pm Council cham bers orum: Citizens of Erie County to Share the Penny 5:30 pm Sphere Entertainment Complex 681 Main St Amherst Supervisor Susan Grclick wall host the event Program: Veterans Candlelight Ceremony 7 to 9 pm Iron Island Museum 998 Lovejoy St Public is welcome Donation is $2 Cheektowaga Event: Cricket Communications and area police departments will present free child identification kits to parents with children ages 12 and younger 3 to 6 pm Walden Plaza Cricket store 1526 Walden Ave Meding: Conservation Advisory Council 6:30 pm council office conference room in Town Hall 3301 Broadway and Union Road Concord Public hearing: Town Board 7 pm Town I lull 86 ranklin St Discussion of the preliminary bud get Depew Meeting: School Board 7 pm Blvd Lewiston Theater Niagara University at the Church presents Way of the a comic 1700s tale of two lovers 8 pm preview perfor mance 415 Plain St Tickets avail able in Dwyer Arena box office at Ticketmastercom or by calling 286 8622 Niagara alls un runwalk: A 5 kilometer event 5:30 pm every 'Thursday through Nov 20 Niagara alls State Park around Goat Island Participants should meet at the archway of the Cave of the Winds No entry fee and parking is free af ter 5 pm Orchard Park Meeting: Conservation Board 7 pm Municipal Center 4295 Buffalo St Sanborn Open house: Niagara County Community College 6 to 8 pm 3111 Saunders Settlement Road College program information tours of the campus and refreshments Williamsville Meeting: Traffic and Safety Committee and Environmental Committee 7:30 pm Village Hall 5565 Main St To be eligible for listing in Around Town events must be of general in terest and open to the public Mail: Around Town The Buffalo News PO Box 100 Buffalo NY 14240 ax: 856 5150 inail: citydesk buffnewscom district headquarters 591 Terrace Mother tot killed as car collides with garbage truck ISCI IUA An Olean mother and son were killed Tuesday after noon when their car crashed head on into a garbage truck on Route 16 Debra A orward 40 and Seth Handmore 15 months of Henley Street were pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 1 pm Cat taraugus County sheriff deputies said the crash occurred as orward tried to pass other cars in a no pass ing zone John Dixon 32 of Olean driver of the southbound Westfield Disposal garbage truck was not in jured Cattaraugus County sheriffs deputies said orward apparently did not see the truck as she pulled out to pass the other vehicles DWI charge filed in chase that ends as car hits home State troopers have filed driving while intoxicated and other charges against a 27 ycar old Irving man who led several police agencies on a medium speed 25 mile long chase that ended early Tuesday morning when his car slammed into a home on McKinley Parkway in the Town of 1 lamburg The chase which began in the Town of Collins went through sev eral towns at speeds between 35 and 65 mph It ended at 12:48 am after a lire deflator ilattened one tire on the vehicle which struck the house at 3441 McKinley Parkway troopers said Troopers David Gandy and Brian Kazmierczak aided by at least four other police agencies charged Colan Martin with DWI driving while ability impaired by drugs reckless driving and about three dozen traffic infractions Gandy spotted the vehicle on Bush Road in the Town of Collins following a complaint from Martin's mother that he had taken her car without permission troopers said Shop burglarized twice clothing loss put at $3000 Police said Blessed amily Bou lique Bookstore 883 Jefferson Ave was burglarized twice Tues day Clothes valued at up to $3000 were taken erry illmore District officers said the front window on the west side of the building was smashed sometime before 8 am The thief stole about $1 (XX) worth of chil clothes At 11:15 pm police said a 15 pound brick was thrown through another front window of the store The value of the clothing taken in that incident has not been deter mined authorities were told it was between $500 and $2000 Man found hiding in store accused of clothing theft A 34 ycar old man was arrested on burglary charges this morning af ter he was found hiding under a clothes rack in the amily Dollar store al 1770 Broadway A shopping cart filled with $132 worth of clothes was found beside a nearby dumpster Ted Morris of Walden Ave nue was charged with burglary pet it larceny criminal possession of stolen property obstructing govern mental administration and criminal possession of a controlled sub stance erry illmore District officers were called to the store just after 3 am when an alarm was activated Officers Joy Negron and 'Thom as Whelan said Morris also had a pipe with crack cocaine residue in his coat pocket when they arrested him Mentally disabled man 36 beaten unconscious by four A 36 ycar old mentally disabled man was beaten by four men Tues day morning at Ixrmhard Street and Paderewski Drive police said The victim who suffered cuts to the head bruises and a concussion was treated in Erie County Medical Center erry illmore District officers said that at about 10:30 am the men punched kicked and stomped on his head and body leaving him unconscious RuralMetro Ambulance Service paramedics transported him to the hospital Man stabs girl 16 in head at Dartmouth and Bailey A 16 year old girl was stabbed in the back of the head early this morning by an 18 year old man armed with a 5 inch switchblade police said Northeast District police said the incident occurred at 1 am at Dart mouth and Bailey avenues hey are seeking the assailant who is known to the girl ire in vacant house on Mills Street ruled arson A fire late Tuesday on the East Side has been ruled arson Buffalo fire officials reported The blaze broke out just after 8:15 pm in a vacant house at 1 15 Mills St No injuries were reported ire officials said the building was the site of a previous fire It was slated for emergency demolition Damage was estimated at $30000 alls man escapes unhurt from fire in his apartment NIAGARA ALLS A man escaped uninjured after fire struck his 19th Street apartment at about 7:30 pm Tuesday Niagara alls fire officials said 'Hie fire broke out in the second floor apartment at 463 19th St one of five apartments in the building fire officials said City firefighters were able to ex tinguish the flames quickly Dam age was confined to two rooms Battalion Chief Dan Boland said Boland said the cause of the fire is under investigation but it is not believed to be suspicious Man charged in failure to register with sex registry YORKSHIRE A Delevan man has been charged with failure Io register with the state Sex Of fender Registry and is to appear in Little Valley Town Court on Nov 12 to answer to the charge Phillip Root 37 of Cody Lane was charged by Cattaraugus County deputies following an investigation they said disclosed he changed his residency from Buf falo to Delevan without registering with the state or Sheriffs Dcpart ment.