By Mike Stobbe
AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) It’s flu shot season, but the pinch of a shot doesn’t have to also hurt your wallet.

Health officials recommend that nearly all Americans get flu vaccinations to blunt the impact of a disease that annually infects millions.

Roughly 145 million Americans get flu shots each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That count represents about 60 percent of children and 40 percent of adults.

Here’s what you need to know about getting vaccinated:

WHERE, AND HOW MUCH

The good news is many people don’t have to pay anything. The Affordable Care Act required insurers to cover the cost of patients’ flu shots without charging a copay, although some insurers only cover vaccines given by doctors or at certain locations.

A government program also pays for shots for low-income children.

Traditionally, most people have gotten flu vaccinations at doctors’ offices or government health centers. But pharmacies and workplaces have become major venues for vaccinations, especially for adults.

CDC officials say they don’t know how exactly many people pay for shots themselves.

For those paying cash, pharmacies generally charge $20 to $45 per shot, but the price can vary based on which drugstore you visit. Also, the cost can rise to $70 or more if you get the higher-dose version of vaccine offered to seniors.

Some pharmacies offer discounts and other enticements. For example, CVS is offering customers at some of its pharmacies a $5 coupon redeemable at Target stores.

Websites such as https://vaccinefinder.org can help locate where doses are available in your neighborhood.

BENEFITS AND TYPES

According to the CDC, flu costs the nation about $7 billion a year in sick days and lost productivity among working-age adults. That’s not to mention the heavy toll of hospitalizations and deaths that occur mainly among people 65 and older.

The vaccine is considered the best available tool in fighting flu, but it’s not perfect.

Flu viruses are rapidly changing, and it’s tough to make a highly effective vaccine against it. That’s especially true when it comes to protecting the elderly. During last winter’s flu season, vaccines barely worked at all in keeping seniors out of the hospital, with roughly 24 percent effectiveness.

Still, even a disappointing vaccine lessens the severity of illness and saves many lives, officials say.

Five companies make flu vaccine for the U.S. market. More than 80 percent of doses are designed to protect against four flu strains. The others protect against three.

One company offers a nasal spray version of flu vaccine, but health experts recently have been debating whether it’s as good as shots.

WHEN TO GET VACCINATED

The CDC urges people to get their flu shots by the end of October.

Health officials want people to be vaccinated before flu season hits, and in several recent years the illness has ramped up in some parts of the country as early as November. Also, children who are being vaccinated for the first time are supposed to get two doses about four weeks apart, so it’s important to get that going soon.

But some doctors think the vaccine has been disappointing in some seasons because its protection can fade quickly against certain flu viruses, apparently most dramatically in people 65 and older. The observation hasn’t been extensively researched, but it’s possible that senior citizens who are vaccinated in September may not be well protected in February.

Concerns about fading effectiveness are “definitely something to consider, but it’s not something at this point that we really know how to balance out with other issues,” said Dr. Lisa Grohskopf, a medical officer in the CDC’s Influenza Division.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Indicted U.S. Rep. Chris Collins said Wednesday he’ll campaign for his western New York seat, vowing to serve if voters re-elect him in November.

The Republican’s announcement on Twitter came two days after he said he would remain on the ballot despite previously suspending his campaign in the wake of federal insider trading charges.

“Voters can be assured that with the recent turn of events, they can count on me to actively campaign for Congress, and to serve should voters re-elect me,” the 68-year-old Collins tweeted.

He added that the stakes “are too high” to allow a Democrat to take control of his congressional seat representing the 27th District, a right-leaning district between Buffalo and Rochester.

Collins wrote that he’ll actively campaign for election to a third term while fighting the federal charges filed last month. He faces Democrat Nate McMurray.

Local GOP leaders who were expecting to replace Collins with another candidate said they were blindsided by his decision to remain on the ballot.

Erie County GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy said Collins told him Monday morning that he was staying on the ballot. Collins suggested during a phone call that removing himself from the ballot could undermine his legal defense, Langworthy said.

Collins, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, has a $1.3 million campaign war chest.

Collins pleaded not guilty in early August to charges that allege he illegally leaked confidential information about Innate Immunotherapeutics Limited to his son and the father of his son’s fiancee. At that time he suspended his re-election bid.

Tom Brady is a huge reason why Bill Belichick is the greatest football coach of all time.

Bill Belichick is also the reason Tom Brady may be the greatest coach ever.

They may or may not hate each other, but they each know the their net worth in each other’s careers.

One was a guy who split time at quarterback in Ann Arbor with a third baseman, while the other was once a failed head coach who needed two stints as a coordinator before getting his second, and then, perhaps, last chance as a head coach.

Belichick inherited Drew Bledsoe; he chose Tom Brady.

Sure, there have been bumps along the road to Five Championship Drive, but would either trade the other for the unknown?

It’s doubtful.

Even in wildest dreams, it might be only as good as what’s happened in Tampa, Pittsburgh, Indy, New York, Denver, Baltimore, Green Bay, Seattle or Philly.

Combined.

But, even if you’re Peyton or Eli Manning, you’re walking away three rings short.

Same goes for Waterloo native, Tom Coughlin.

Yeah, since New England started winning titles, those are the only other cities to host February football parades.

Notice anything about those cities?

Tampa fired their Super Bowl-winning coach, and two more after him. And that guy looks lost in Oakland.

Pittsburgh has had two in that span, the current one inheriting the former coach’s players and coordinators and now runs–what players in the organization have anonymously called–”a circus.”

Indy’s guy left shortly after his ring, and his hand-picked successor went from losing a Super Bowl to losing all but one game in Peyton Manning’s lost year.

Coughlin and Peyton’s brother got Bill and Brady twice, but aren’t close to where they once were.

Neither is Denver, who won in spite of the elder Manning instead of because of him.

Jim Harbaugh and Ozzie Newsome weren’t considered geniuses long after giving Joe Flacco his nine-figure deal.

Aaron Rodgers may be Brady’s biggest competitor, like Peyton once was, but like Manning, either lacks the right coaching, or hates taking coaches’ advice and does whatever he wants.

(Some of you won’t like or won’t believe that last paragraph, but Rodgers and Brady aren’t exactly the guys from those insurance commercials.)

Pete Carroll is the oldest coach in the league, but acts like the grandparent who spoils his grandkids, plays favorites, tries to act cool and then bails when there are consequences. Seattle is what Pittsburgh will look like in two years — an Olympic village left to rot long after the closing ceremonies.

Philly may be heading there soon, too.

You can hate Belichick and Brady all you want, and they may hate each other, but nobody hates winning.

Instead of trying to be the motivational speaker, the offense or defense-only guru, the cool parent or grandparent, the rigid disciplinarian, why not just be disciplined, but smart and open?

Instead of running things yourself, why not trust your coaches, even if you might hate them?

You may have heard reports things aren’t great in Foxboro for the last year. There’s more coming-out in a book by Ian O’Connor called, “Belichick: The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All-Time.”

Five rings. Eight Super Bowl appearances. Now a tell-all book–an unauthorized bio.

Maybe all these coaches and quarterbacks should read it.

Maybe they’ll learn something:

That maybe the process of Belichick and Brady is the best process worth respecting.

Susan McConnell

State Police Investigators out of Lyons reported the arrest on Wednesday (9/19) of Susan McConnell, age 56, of 844 Route 31 in the Town of Macedon for the Felonies of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree; Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.

It is alleged that McConnell,during the period of April 11, 2016 to July 1, 2018, collected unemployment benefits for the Department of Labor in the amount of $16,692.50, while employed by the Convergence Marketing Company.

McConnell, has seven prior felony convictions and is currently on parole for a series of bad check arrest/convictions, was arraigned in Macedon Town Court and remanded to jail on No Bail, to reappear in Court for a preliminary hearing on Monday September 24.

Come dance with the pumpkins! This year’s Sodus Chamber’s Harvest Fest has been expanded to Friday night, September 28 starting at 6:00 pm in the Sodus Village Park (Main St).  While the big pumpkins are being unloaded and settled for the night, there will be a Party In The Park compliments of the Village of Sodus.  The band “All In” will be playing, and you can grab a bite to eat while you dance with the pumpkins.  Kids (of all ages including adults) can bring their color or carved produce – apples to zucchini, we don’t care, for displaying and then they will be put to bed with the big pumpkins to await judging the next day.  If you can’t bring your creations Friday night just have them at the chamber tent no later than 11:00 am on Saturday and judging will be done by 1:00 pm (please pick them up by 3:00). First and second places will be awarded prizes in each age group.

The start of the 11th annual Harvest Fest held on September 29th is 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, rain or shine, on Main Street in the Village of Sodus (Route 88 and 104).  Over 75 vendors have already signed up, with many favorites returning such as Maxwell’s Honey Bees, Katie Acres alpaca crafts, Financial Services, Reliant Credit Union, Flowers and Things and Shannon’s Awesome Totes to name just a few.  Many new vendors are also coming with new and interesting items and services.  Various returning food vendors like the Pall Bearers with pulled pork, Dandy Sandy frozen treats, Church of God with turkey legs, St John saucijzens, and El Rincon with Mexican dishes, along with hot dogs, ice cream, cotton candy just to name a few.   Of course, farm markets with everything from pumpkins to mums, to corn.  And loads of unique craft items, handmade bags, jewelry, Tupperware, and skin care products to name a few.

The Show and Shine Car Show will display vehicles that range from new to very old, from cars to trucks to motorcycles.  There will be a free hay rides around the village with stops at the Methodist Church to make free scarecrows and a stop at the Sodus Library for kid’s activities.  Pumpkins will be dropped from an 86foot lift every half hour starting at noon.  Pumpkin judging will be started at 2:30, so come and watch the 200, or 300, or 400 pound or more be put on the scales.  We’re waiting to see if Mother Nature will give us another 800-pound beauty.

For more information contact the chamber at chamber14551@yahoo.com or call 315-576-3818.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, ticket sales are about to begin for the Palmyra-Macedon Select Choir’s 26th Annual Madrigal Dinner! While your ears are enjoying their feast of festive music, you will be served a delicious family style dinner complete from appetizer to dessert.

This year’s dinners will take place on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 6:00 PM and Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 1:30 PM in the Pal-Mac High School Cafeteria.

Comic interlude will be provided in the form of a fully costumed dinner theatre performed between the courses of the meal. As a special bonus, and for your gift giving pleasure, handmade crafts, baked goods, and ornaments will be available for purchase in the lobby at Ye Olde Bake Shoppe before and after each performance. 

All proceeds from this event will go directly toward funding the activities of the Pal-Mac Select Choir, including their upcoming concert tour in Italy. Tickets are limited, so purchase yours early!  Public ticket sale begins on Friday, October 5th at 7 AM in the vocal music office. All seats are $30.  Parties of up to 8 can be seated together.

For more information, please contact Jill Davis in the Vocal Music Office at 315-597-3420 x1204.

On April 10, Governor Cuomo signed “raise the age” into law in New York. By October 1st, New York State will no longer automatically prosecute all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults.

Until this development, New York and North Carolina were the only two states in the country that still failed to recognize what research and science have confirmed – adolescents are children, and prosecuting and placing them in the adult criminal justice system doesn’t work for them and doesn’t work for public safety.

According to RAISE the AGE NY, Brain Development Science Is Clear – Adolescents Are Different Than Adults

Research into brain development underscores that adolescents are in fact children and that the human brain is not fully formed until the age of 25.

Who’s Affected?

Nearly 28,000 16 and 17-year olds are arrested and face the possibility of prosecution as adults in criminal court each year – the vast majority for minor crimes (72% are misdemeanors).

Furthermore, more than 600 children ages 13 to 15 are also processed in adult criminal courts – seriously diminishing their life prospects before they’ve even entered high school.

Over 70% 16- and 17-year-olds arrested are Black or Latino. Of those sentenced to incarceration, 80% are black and Latino.

Studies have found that young people transferred to the adult criminal justice system are 34% more likely to be re-arrested for violent and other crimes than youth retained in the youth justice system. Around 80% of youth released from adult prisons reoffend often going on to commit more serious crimes.

According to Wayne County Department of Probation and Correctional Alternatives Director Mark Ameele, this will require the County to  create a new adolescent offender status that will keep 16 year-olds out of the adult court and jail systems. By October 1, 2019, this will move up to include 17 year-old offenders as well.

Monroe County, Erie County, Onondaga County, the Capital District in Albany and Westchester County have already established separate facilities to house these juvenile offenders, separate form adult populations. Most have already indicated that they will not, or may not have room to take juvenile adolescent offenders from smaller counties that cannot afford to establish their own facilities.

Ameele admits this may mean a high cost for Wayne County for transporting a 16 year-old to and from a distant facility for any detention.

Working with the courts, district attorney’s office, public defender’s office, social services, private agencies, friends, family of the young offenders and the probation department, alternative options to more serious levels of crime and detention will be researched.

Ameele said that the number of 16 -17year-olds that fall under this category total only about 125 per year currently. The biggest impact will fall to his agency with plans to add one additional staff person to handle juvenile  intakes.

There must be a plan in place for the most  heinous of crimes in this category, murder and serious sex crimes. Ameele said incarceration in an available separate facility would be required until trial. If convicted the 16-17 year-old would then be sentenced and imprisoned as an adult.

The Wayne County Office of Sheriff reported the arrest on Tuesday (9/18) at 1:36 p.m. of a Town of Walworth man following investigation into a three car personal injury motor vehicle accident on Ridge Road in the Town of Huron which occurred on July 21st of this year.

Liborio A. McCauley, Jr.

Liborio A. McCauley, Jr., age 23, of 2382 Walworth-Marion Road was charged with Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a Class C Felony, Vehicular Assault in the First Degree, a Class D Felony, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Vehicle in the First Degree, a Class E Felony, Driving While Intoxicated, Driving With a B.A.C. .08 or Above, Reckless Driving, Unlicensed Operation, and numerous other vehicle and traffic violations.

It is alleged that McCauley, Jr., traveling eastbound on Ridge Road, just outside the Village of Wolcott, passed two vehicles on a double sold line, and was traveling in the wrong lane when he struck a second vehicle traveling westbound head on. That vehicle was being driven by Jonathan P. Sutton, age 50, of Rochester, who suffered serious physical injuries in the accident to include multiple compound fractures of both legs and multiple abdominal injuries which have required surgeries. A passenger in Sutton’s vehicle, Frances M. Alini, age 50, also of Rochester, suffered serious physical injuries to include broken bones in both of her feet, and damage to multiple internal organs requiring surgery.

As a result of the first collision, Sutton’s vehicle struck a third vehicle being driven by Brian R. Subik, age 53, of Wolcott, causing minor damage to his vehicle. Subik was not injured in the accident.

At the time of the accident, McCauley Jr. was driving with a learner’s permit only, which had eight current suspensions on it, and he had a blood alcohol concentration of .15%.

McCauley Jr. was arraigned on the charges in the Town of Huron Court before Justice David Urban, and was remanded to the Wayne County Jail in lieu of $2,000 cash/$4,000 bond. He will reappear in Town of Huron Court at a later date and time to answer the charges.

By Lindsey Tanner
AP Medical Writer

CHICAGO (AP) When emergency tests showed the telltale right-sided pain in Heather VanDusen’s abdomen was appendicitis, she figured she’d be quickly wheeled into surgery. But doctors offered her the option of antibiotics instead.

A new study from Finland shows her choice is a reasonable alternative for most patients with appendicitis. Five years after treatment with antibiotics, almost two-thirds of patients hadn’t had another attack.

It’s a substantial change in thinking about how to treat an inflamed appendix. For decades, appendicitis has been considered a medical emergency requiring immediate surgery to remove the appendix because of fears it could burst, which can be life-threatening.

But advances in imaging tests, mainly CT scans, have made it easier to determine if an appendix might burst, or if patients could be safely treated without surgery.

The results suggest that nearly two-thirds of appendicitis patients don’t face that risk and may be good candidates for antibiotics instead.

“It’s a feasible, viable and a safe option,” said Dr. Paulina Salminen, the study’s lead author and a surgeon at Turku University Hospital in Finland.

Her study in adults is the longest follow-up to date of patients treated with drugs instead of surgery for appendicitis and the results confirm one-year findings reported three years ago.

Research has also shown antibiotics may work for some children with appendicitis.

The Finnish results were published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

A journal editorial says “it’s a new era of appendicitis treatment.”

Appendix removal is the most common emergency surgery worldwide, with about 300,000 performed each year in the United States alone, said Salminen. She said the results from her study suggest many of those surgeries could be avoided.

U.S. doctors have started offering antibiotics instead of surgery and Salminen says she occasionally does too. The journal editorial says appropriate patients should be given that option.

Half were treated with antibiotics; the others had surgery.

Among the antibiotics patients, 100 ended up having surgery within five years of treatment – most for a suspected recurrence of appendicitis in the first year. Seven of them did not have appendicitis and likely could have avoided surgery. The results suggest the success rate for antibiotic treatment was almost 64 percent, the authors said.

About 1 in 4 surgery patients had complications, including infections around the incision, abdominal pain and hernias, compared with only 7 percent of antibiotics patients. Antibiotic patients had 11 fewer sick days on average than the surgery group. In the first year, their treatment costs were about 60 percent lower. A cost analysis for the full five years wasn’t included in the published results.

Surgery patients in the Finnish study all had conventional incisions rather than the less invasive “keyhole” surgeries that are more common for appendix removal in the United States. The non-surgery patients received three days of IV antibiotics in the hospital, followed by seven days of pills at home.

Dr. Giana Davidson, a University of Washington surgeon, is involved in a similarly designed multicenter U.S. study that may answer whether similar benefits would be seen for antibiotics versus “keyhole” surgery.

Davidson called the Finnish study “a critical piece to the puzzle but I don’t think it answers all of the questions.”

Heather VanDusen was treated at the University of Washington in 2016. She said she chose antibiotic treatment partly to avoid surgery scars, and now offers advice to patients for Davidson’s study.

“I knew the worst case scenario was ending up back in the hospital so why not try antibiotics first,” said VanDusen, who works in university communications.

By Juliet Linderman
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) Farmers across the United States will soon begin receiving government checks as part of a billion-dollar bailout to buoy growers experiencing financial strain from President Donald Trump’s trade disputes with China.

But even those poised for big payouts worry it won’t be enough. And while support for Trump is near unwavering in the heartland, some growers say that with the November election nearing, such disappointing aid outcomes could potentially affect their vote.

“It’s pretty obvious that the rural agriculture communities helped elect this administration, but the way things are going I believe farmers are going to have to vote with their checkbook when it comes time,” said Kevin Skunes, a corn and soybean grower from Arthur, North Dakota and president of the National Corn Growers Association.

Corn farmers get the smallest slice of the aid pie. Corn groups estimate a loss of 44 cents per bushel, but they’re poised to receive just a single penny per bushel.

“If these issues haven’t been resolved, there could be a change in the way farmers vote,” Skunes said. “A person has to consider all things.”

Farmers are already feeling the impact of Trump’s trade tiffs with China and other countries. China has hit back hard, responding with its own set of tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and other goods.

The Trump administration is providing up to $12 billion in emergency relief funds for American farmers, with roughly $6 billion in an initial round. The three-pronged plan includes $4.7 billion in payments to corn, cotton, soybean, dairy, pork and sorghum farmers. The rest is for developing new foreign markets for American-grown commodities and purchasing more than two dozen select products, including certain fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, meat and dairy.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced last month that soybean growers will get the largest checks, at $1.65 per bushel for a total of $3.6 billion. China is the world’s leading buyer of American soybeans, purchasing roughly 60 percent of the U.S. crop. But since Beijing imposed a 25 percent tariff on soybean, imports prices have plunged.

The lack of initial detail about how the calculations were made left farmers scratching their heads.

Asked about the confusion, Rob Johansson, the Agriculture Department’s chief economist, responded that the USDA took into account a number of factors “including the share of production that is exported and the value of trade directly affected by the retaliatory tariffs.”

“The level of damage is not the same for each commodity,” he said in a written response to questions submitted by The Associated Press.

He estimated that there would be more than 784,000 applications for relief.

The USDA has since released a detailed analysis of how the department made its calculations.

The breakdown has stunned corn and wheat farmers who say the payments are uneven and won’t do much of anything to help keep struggling farms afloat.

A lobbying group that represents wheat growers is challenging the way the administration determined payments for wheat farmers, who are set to receive 14 cents a bushel. Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers, said the USDA assumed U.S. wheat would be sold to China this year when it made its calculations. But the assumption was flawed, he said.

China typically makes its requests for American wheat between March and June. U.S. wheat farmers have sold, on average, 20 million bushels of wheat to China over the past three years. But none came this year, Goule said, as Trump escalated his threatening rhetoric on trade with Beijing. He hopes the per-bushel rate for wheat goes up if there’s a second round of payments.

“I am very certain that we will not sell any wheat to China this year,” Goule said. “The window we sell in has come and gone.”

The response among farmers has been mixed. While some are grateful for the help, most are eager for the trade disputes to be quickly resolved.

“Nobody wants to have an aid package. I mean, if you’re a farmer you’re in the business of producing a crop. We just want a fair price for it,” said Joel Schreurs, a soybean and corn producer near Tyler in southwestern Minnesota who sits on the board of both the American Soybean Association and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.

His personal operation is about 1,000 acres. He farms an additional 500 acres with his son-in-law and other relatives. He estimates that the tariffs would cost him $40,000 to $50,000 in lost income and that he would get $16,000 to $20,000 in emergency aid.

Schreurs worries that it will be hard for farmers to get back the buyers they’ll lose as a result of the trade wars. “And in the short term we have to find another home for those beans, otherwise they’re going to pile up and it will keep prices depressed,” he said.

In the Midwest, growers typically farm both corn and soybeans. Those farmers would get payments for both under the program, which began sign-ups Sept. 4.

Perdue said checks could start going out as soon as the end of September for crops that have already been harvested; payouts are based on yield.

In a recent C-SPAN interview, Perdue said he understands growers’ frustrations.

“Farmers always live in unpredictable times,” he said. “They’re very resilient, but obviously the longer trade issues go on the longer it bears on them regarding what is the future.”

Jack Maloney says corn farmers will be getting so little in bailout aid that for roughly 200,000 bushels of corn a farmer would get only about $2,000 for their losses.

“That’s not even beer money,” said the Brownsburg, Indiana, corn and soybean grower.

Maloney, 62, began farming full time in 1978 and now has two employees. He said some fellow farmers are angry and upset.

“Agriculture has always been the butt of all the trade wars,” he said, adding that this isn’t the first time he’s seen trade disruptions affect the agricultural markets.

Maloney said he had already cut back on expenses during the past three years and hasn’t taken a paycheck from his farm for more than a year because of tough times before the trade war began. He said the recent tumult has dashed hopes for stabilizing agricultural markets anytime soon.

“We were seeing a little light at the end of the tunnel – the markets were improving a little,” he said, “and then this tariff thing happened and this trade war.”

Daniel Weinand worries the market downturn could be the death knell for his farm. Weinand, 30, grows corn, canola and yellow peas on 900 acres of rented land near Hazen, North Dakota. He said he expects to reap about 30,000 bushels of corn, and to receive about $300 in aid.

“A penny a bushel on corn, it’s not that it’s entirely worthless. But it almost is,” he said. “I don’t know how many more years I can weather.”

And, you thought the Buffalo Bills would waltz into Minnesota and beat the Vikings?

Suddenly, everything seems different. But, it’s only as different as the next game.

Take that result, and it’ll give you a great idea of exactly how, as Bill Parcells famously said, “you are what your record says you are.”

Was the excitement legit, or a fluke?

Well, let Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews help you make that determination.

The Packers, like the Vikings, were chic picks to go to the Super Bowl, based mostly on the guy taking the snaps.

After Rodgers and Kirk Cousins–victimized by a Bills defense whose starting cornerback had retired literally two quarters prior–one team has a roster that could be mistaken for the Bills, and the other looking like a Corvette needing only a touch-up.

The quarterback makes all the difference in today’s NFL, which is why Clay Matthews keeps getting flagged for sacking him. QBs go down, so do numbers.

The guy wearing No.17 for the Bills has a way’s to go, don’t kid yourself. But, the past, present and future are all in his hands. And his reckless abandon and howitzer arm has endeared himself to fans, along with the hopes of ending a playoff win drought and finishing the business of the Hall-of-Famers who didn’t. The season is mostly about him, but not entirely.

A week ago, the Bills went from 17.5-point underdogs to getting America’s attention, rebuffing Viking excuses, and shaking the beliefs of practical skeptics.

What is it worth? Maybe a touchdown to Vegas, but the Bills are still a double-digit underdog in consecutive weeks.

The Packers game is A good barometer. And this piece is written knowing full-well The Times is published on Saturday, but delivered on Monday.

Key word: “A” and not “the.”

Through the first few weeks of the season, the Vikings and Packers look much like the Raiders, Broncos, and Bucs did a year ago before the Bills took advantage of their inflated values.

The question is how much did a seemingly insurmountable road upset truly mean for a team who a week prior had a dude retire, changed defensive playcallers, and had it’s coaching staff and front office called into question for every decision it’s made predating the previous playoff season?

A team now moving somewhere between one projected by this writer to pick first overall next April and playing next January. It’s closer to the former than the latter; the roster is still the same one lacking offensive weapons and blockers.

The Vikings likely aren’t what we thought they were. And perhaps, neither are the Packers who some still look at as a franchise coming-off an NFC title game and not the Mr. Rodgers-less one that missed the playoffs ten months ago.

Buttttt….

…progress is the name that gets mistaken for process, and if fans want to see that–the real theme of this Bills team moving forward in 2018–then just look at the Packer game for the best clues as to what to truly look forward to in 2018. 

You’ll have a better answer.

On September 16, 2018 a Presbytery of Geneva Mission team consisting of six volunteers traveled to Summersville, West Virginia to help with poverty and handicapped needs in the Summersville area.  West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy Workcamps, Inc (WVMAW) planned and coordinated the week’s work. WVMAW is supported by The Presbytery of West Virginia as well as churches and individual donations.  The Presbytery of Geneva Mission Team is one of 40 – 80 volunteer groups coming from churches of various faith traditions, as well as from colleges and universities.  The Presbytery of Geneva has been sending mission work teams to WV since 2001.

The six-member team, 3 from Newark, NY  1 from Geneva, NY 1 from Yorktown, VA, and 1 from North Carolina was housed at the First Presbyterian Church Summersville where they slept, showered, prepared meals and shared devotions throughout the week.  Team members were from The Presbyterian  Church of Geneva,  Newark – Park Presbyterian Church , and Asheboro (NC) Presbyterian Church.

The mission team worked on two homes and the Summersville Presbyterian Church.  Siding was installed and painted on a new addition to a home owned by a single mother with 3 children.  The addition was recently completed by another work team.  Fascia and soffits were also installed.

The team hung doors and installed door knobs for the bedrooms and closets in the addition. The three children are eagerly looking forward to sleeping in their own bedrooms when the interior work is completed.

At another work site, the team removed weathered metal siding and nailed siding underlayment. Another mission team will be installing rough cut siding the following week.  Work at the Summersville Presbyterian Church consisted of removing 5 older toilets and replacing them with new ones.  New toilet paper holders and stall latches were also installed.

The Presbytery plans to return for another week of mission work in April 2019.  Persons interested in joining the mission team should contact the Presbytery Office in Penn Yan NY       (presbyteryofgeneva.org).

Come check out the latest addition to Ginegaw Park in Walworth, NY.   Greeting you as you enter the playground or prepare to take a hike on one of the Park’s  nearby path is a little free standing Library.  Get ready for an adventure!

Books will be placed in this free standing Library for you to enjoy. Feel free  to take a book and/or share a book.

This Little Free Library is part of Amber Taylor’s Girl Scout Gold Award  project.  Amber, a Girl Scout of Troop 40978,  has a love for reading and a  strong desire to share that love with others. She is hoping her Little Free  Library encourages people to step away from the electronic world and take a  moment to rediscover the joy holding and reading a book can bring.

You can  help out by bringing a book to share or by taking a book and spreading the word.

On Tuesday (9/25) around 3 p.m. federal agents, along with State Police  for scene security, conducted a search warrant at the residence and property of Renny Graham, age 68, of 3872 Main Street in Marion. Agents also searched a vehicle and travel trailer on the property.

Following the search, Graham was taken into custody in handcuffs and taken away.

An investigation began in September of 2007, when State Police received a tip about an internet user with the handle “renny1211” Graham admitted to chatting about sexually abusing children. Forensic experts examined Graham’s computer at the time and found  more than 300 images, some including children under the age of 12 and portraying sadistic, or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.

In  October of 2008, Graham pled guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography. He was sentenced to 70 months in prison, a fine of $1500 and 15 years of supervised release.

Graham is 5’8” tall and 270 pounds and listed as a Level I Sex Offender.

Federal agents were seen removing boxes of evidence from the property. The public relations office of the FBI did not respond to inquires of the investigation, or what, if any new charges Graham will be facing.