Family Voices Network of Erie County Receives National Recognition & takes Gold, Silver & Bronze AwardsIn Nashville, Tennessee 

Buffalo, NY. – July 22, 2008. Erie County Department of Mental Health Children’s Division: Family Voices Network of Erie County received national recognition for their work in social marketing and evaluation at the 8^th Annual Excellence in Community Communications & Outreach (ECCO) and in the 2008 Excellence in Evaluation Recognition Programs.  

The Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health Campaign created the ECCO Recognition Program as an opportunity for communities to share success in social marketing, communications & community outreach; and to learn from the talents, strengths, and accomplishments of their peers.  

The Excellence in Evaluation Recognition celebrated outstanding achievements in the evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families program at both the national and local levels. 

Family Voices Network is an initiative of Erie County Department of Mental Health and Social Services and Juvenile Justice/Probation and is partly funded by a grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, the University at Buffalo Dept. of Family Medicine provides social marketing and evaluation support services to this initiative. 

The National System of Care Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee on July 18, 2008 recognizes funded communities for their work in social marketing & evaluation. Gary M. Blau, Ph.D., Branch Chief of the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services presented the awards.  

Family Voices Network of Erie County received: Two Gold Awards for Community Outreach & Evaluation Data Use & Dissemination, three Silver Awards for National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, Internal Communications and Involving Family Members and Youth in Evaluation and one Bronze Award for Professional Outreach. 

Family Voices Network is a countywide referral program in Erie County that works collaboratively with the Department of Social Services providing support for foster care/adoptive services, probation, juvenile justice and mental health for children, youth and families with mental/behavioral health needs. Services and supports are family driven, youth guided, community-based and culturally competent. Since inception, we have served over 1,200 families. To learn more visit: www.familyvoicesnetwork.org

“We answer to a higher authority,” is the tag line of one kosher brand of hot dogs.  Maybe, but apparantly not all kosher packing plants do.  On Sunday about 1,000 people, including Hispanic immigrants, Catholic clergy members, rabbis and activists, marched through the center of Postville, Iowa and held a rally at the entrance to a kosher meatpacking plant that was raided in May by immigration authorities.

The four rabbis, from Minnesota and Wisconsin, attended the march to publicize proposals to revise kosher food certification to include standards of corporate ethics and treatment of workers.
[read whole story]

BY ROBERT H.Harding 

Town of Amherst councilman Dan Ward is a suburban lawyer with rural beginnings. His resume is arguably the strongest among all the Democratic candidates in SD-61. Not only is he a lawyer (graduate from the University at Buffalo Law School), but he has served as Town of Amherst supervisor and as an Erie County legislator. He has also been a challenger for Assembly and for Erie County Executive.

Now he has his eyes set on running in New York’s 61st Senate District.

Ward started off talking about Genesee County, which in his words was “18 percent of the vote but 40 percent of the land mass.” He also talked about his experiences with farming and acknowledged agriculture as an important issue in this district.

“I know a lot about farms,” Ward said. “It’s important to identify with them. If you know the language, that is important. Democrats get a bad rap with farmers. Democrats appeal to blacks, Hispanics and people in inner city areas. We need bring all these people together.”

Ward, who considers himself an avid hunter and fisherman, says he believes in protecting Second Amendment rights (the right to bear arms).He also talked about being the top vote getter for Amherst Town Board FOUR times, which speaks to why Ward is one of the more popular politicians in Erie County.

Ward then talked state issues, especially issues that impact local municipalities.

“Unfunded mandates are quasi-immoral,” he said. “[The state] passes laws and dumps the costs and responsibility on the county.”

A fiscal conservative is how Ward described himself and he said that he’s not afraid to spend money if it’s going to provide results, but we need “smarter spending and laws need reform.” Ward also brought up Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) and Economic Development Agencies (EDAs) and the need to reform those.

“In Erie County, we have more than one,” Ward said. “They compete against each other. While we have jobs being lost here, we need to pick up the tab for some IDAs because they are losing jobs as well.” 

One thing Ward did mention while talking about IDAs/EDAs are the subsidies given to many businesses in many different industries. He argued that the subsidies “should not be for corporate welfare” and that there is a “difference between Republicans and Democrats” on these issues. The Republicans, Ward says, “jump on poor people” and focus on the wealthy. Democrats are the opposite. They focus on the lower to middle class citizens.Being an alum of UB, Ward stressed the importance of utilizing UB as a way to create jobs and hopefully, stimulate the private sector. He stressed the importance of aid to UB and Genesee Community College and helping these educational institutions.

“We should encourage them to develop programs that will help here,” he said.

Ward also said that New York City/Long Island is “not always very respectful” of upstate concerns. While he said he we’re “not going to cut New York City off,” he knows how they operate and he is not afraid of the big city representatives. Ward even referred to Albany as “one big dogfight,” saying that you had to “grab your fair share.” 

When discussing the possible criticism of Ward being a career politician, Ward said that “a fresh face isn’t the problem. You need fresh ideas.” One example of a fresh idea that Ward provided was dissolving the Thruway Authority and put the Thruway (and all roads) under Department of Transportation (DOT) control. In general, Ward called on Democrats to reform these authorities.

“We need the Thruway reformed and put in with the state DOT,” he said. “We also should also look into an enhanced railroad connecting New York City and Albany. This could be a huge economic development tool and boost transportation.”

Ward said that he would stand for many things. He would fight to restore the middle class and bring back an economic and political democracy. He argued that we can’t keep going down the road of the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer. He also said that we have to look at our trade policies and seek fair trade policies.

To sum up Ward, dissolving the Thruway into the DOT and the high-speed train are priorities of his. Also, reforming IDAs and economic development are at the top of the list as well. Regarding the Empire Zone program, Ward said it needed be “seriously overhauled, scrapped or abolished” and that you either needed to close the loopholes or abolish the program.

He also talked of cleaner energy sources like geothermal energy and hydropower. He also mentioned solar power as a resource we should be utilizing.

In the end, Ward made his case.

“You want the best qualified and the most experienced,” he said. “You also want to be able to say you did something to address a problem you sought to solve and at least say you tried.” 

My Take: Ward was a very impressive candidate. He has the resume, that is for sure. He also has experience in his corner. He will be formidable in a Democratic primary should it come to that point.  

Monday, July 28, 2008

Beautiful day. Bright sunshine, thin wispy clouds, and a large throng of spectators lined the 2 mile parade route along Main St. from Clarence Central High School to the Clarence Town Park.

There were decorated floats, drum and bugle corps, bands, dance groups, antique cars, fire trucks, and and more.

Great day for the kids as many of the groups tossed candy and treats to the youngsters.

It was also a good day for political candidates as as they passed out campaign literature along the route during the parade. I am happy to say that Dan Ward, Democratic Candidate for the 61st District Senate seat, stayed at the Town part to speak with voters and answer questions. Many of whom were surprised that he stayed after the parade.

Congratulations Dan and congratulations Clarence. I don’t think I’ll be around for your Tri-Centennial.

Posted by Mike Wrona

This year I thought the elections would be boring. How wrong can a person be? Back from the edge of political demise flies a bird, a Steve Pigeon, to be exact.

Steve reappeared on the political scene by soaring in on the back of billionaire, Tom Golisano.  Golisano was offering to spilt $5 million dollars among candidates who thought as he did about politics.  The arrival of Pigeon and Golisano changed the color of the complexion of politics in New York State to green.

Instead of an election of respected and qualified candidates, we are now looking at candidates who are being auctioned off.  They are being wooed with money and support from labor leaders and political “big bucks” money people, who will choose candidates they will be able to command and control.  No, this is not like any other year.  This is BIG MONEY talking.

They are avoiding selecting candidates who have showed any individualism or strength in the past.  As I write this line I can practically see Barry Goldwater, John Kennedy and Abe Lincoln all turning over in their graves.   Their faces show tears flowing for what they see this day.  Money rules the candidates not individualism.  Lincoln would say, “We must all remember the people of this great county are not fools.  They will not be fooled by endorsements or colorful ads.  They will judge the candidates by what’s in their heart and mind.”

The recent rain storms which caused flooding in the streets is clear evidence our sewers need to be fixed quickly.  No, not every area suffers from the flooding, but some streets are historically flooded and the residents in those areas are being ignored. 

Time to face the music and clear the sewers or fix them or whatever.

Recently there were two comments placed under one of the articles on this site.  If  you don’t like a candidate, woman or male, you have every right to post an appropriate comment. 

If you write vile remarks, including vulgar language they will be deleted.  You will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 

The Comment section is there for your thoughts and comments, but if your language comes from the gutter it will not be allowed.

Our man from Amherst, Mark Wales, did it again!  In his 5th appearance on Jeopardy Thursday night, Mark won once again.  So far his total is $141, 401.  He stays on the show until he loses. 

Good luck to you Mark.

Mark Wales, a substitute teacher from Amherst, has been a four day winner on the quiz show, Jeopardy.  Tonight at 7:30 pm on Channel 7 will be Mark’s fifth appearance on the show. So far he has won over $103,000.

Good Luck Mark Wales.

Comment on the article : “Amherst Bee Points Out Why Council Member Dan Ward is the People’s Council Member”

Dan Ward and Bill Kindel fought very hard to keep Nature View Park as a Park. It wasnt always easy but the two did what was right and never gave up. Thanks to Councilmember Dan Ward and Bill Kindel we have a 1254 acres park in Amherst that has an conservaction easment on it so it cant be developed. Those two men are heros in my book. Thank you for never giving up when most people would of.