LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Annual Meeting of the
Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce
WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain
extraordinary organizations it wishes to recognize for their valued
contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 100th Annual Meeting of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of
Commerce; and
WHEREAS, The Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-
profit organization dedicated to the improvement of the business commu-
nity in the Oswego and Fulton area; for over 100 years, it has worked
diligently to make its community and the Central New York region desira-
ble places in which to live, shop and work; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce
advances the business and community interests of the region through
advocacy, member services and community enhancements; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce
continues to work with the local government to enhance services, provide
access to elected officials that help businesses and residents as well
as provide beautification efforts to present the communities in the best
possible way; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Annual Meeting of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Cham-
ber of Commerce; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce.
actions
24 / Feb / 2016
ADOPTED
Resolution Details
Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative
K992
Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Memorial Day in the Village of Waterloo, New York, on May 30th, 2016
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Memorial
Day in the Village of Waterloo, New York, on May 30th, 2016
WHEREAS, In the course of the evolving development of this Empire State,
certain communities have endured and exist today as evidence of the
proud heritage of this State and Nation; and
WHEREAS, Settled in 1792, the Village of Waterloo has a particularly
vibrant heritage and holds claim to a number of historically significant
events in the progression of this State and Nation; and
WHEREAS, Most notably, the Village of Waterloo is proud to have Feder-
al designation as the birthplace of Memorial Day; this National Holiday,
celebrated the last Monday during the month of May, was first observed
one hundred and fifty years ago in Waterloo, New York; and
WHEREAS, On May 30th, 2016, the community of Waterloo will celebrate
the 150th anniversary of the founding of Memorial Day with a myriad of
events scheduled throughout the day including ceremonies at area ceme-
teries, a dignitary reception at the National Memorial Day Museum, and a
Memorial Day parade down Main Street, as well as a commemorative ceremo-
ny in Lafayette Park; and
WHEREAS, During the summer of 1865, a prominent local druggist, Henry
C. Welles, mentioned to some of his friends at a social gathering that
while praising the living veterans of the Civil War it would be well to
remember the patriotic dead by placing flowers on their graves; the
following year he advanced the idea again to General John B. Murray; and
WHEREAS, General John B. Murray, an intensely patriotic Civil War hero
supported the idea wholeheartedly and marshalled veterans' support;
plans were developed for a more complete celebration by a local citi-
zens' committee headed by Henry C. Welles and General John B. Murray;
and
WHEREAS, On May 5th, 1866, the Village of Waterloo was decorated with
flags at half mast, draped with evergreens and mourning black; veterans,
civic societies and residents, led by General John B. Murray, marched to
the strains of martial music to the three village cemeteries where cere-
monies were held and soldiers' graves decorated; and
WHEREAS, One year later, the ceremonies were repeated and in 1868,
Waterloo joined with other communities in holding their observance on
May 30th, in accordance with General Logan's orders, and has been held
annually ever since; and
WHEREAS, The Village of Waterloo held the first formal, village wide
annual observance of a day dedicated to honoring the war dead and on
March 7th, 1966, the State of New York recognized Waterloo by a procla-
mation signed by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller; the United States
Congress followed in recognizing Waterloo when the House of Represen-
tatives and the Senate unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution
587 on May 17th and May 19th, 1966, respectively; and
WHEREAS, The Resolution reads in part as follows: "Resolved that the
Congress of the United States, in recognition of the patriotic tradition
set in motion one hundred years ago in the Village of Waterloo, New
York, does hereby officially recognize Waterloo, New York as the birth-
place of Memorial Day,.."; on May 26th, 1966, President Lyndon B. John-
son, signed a Presidential Proclamation recognizing the Village of
Waterloo as the official birthplace of Memorial Day; and
WHEREAS, Each Memorial Day our Nation remembers those veterans who
served in our Armed Forces with a special remembrance to those who made
the ultimate sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, In remembering our deceased veterans, we recall their courage
and patriotism which, throughout more than 200 years of the existence of
the United States, have served to preserve our most precious freedoms;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Memorial Day in
Waterloo, New York, on May 30th, 2016; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Village of Waterloo, New York.
actions
24 / Feb / 2016
ADOPTED
Resolution Details
Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative
K981
Commending the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce upon the occasion of its renaming and renewed commitment to the City of Rochester
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Greater Rochester Chamber of
Commerce upon the occasion of its renaming and renewed commitment to the
City of Rochester
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
achievements of those organizations which substantially contribute to
the economic vitality of their communities and the entire Empire State;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce upon the occasion of its
renaming and renewed commitment to the City of Rochester to be cele-
brated on Thursday, March 3, 2016; and
WHEREAS, The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, formerly the
Rochester Business Alliance was established in 1887, under the guidance
of many local business leaders, including George Eastman, Hulbert
Warner, Clinton Rogers and John Jacob Bausch; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the Greater Rochester Chamber of
Commerce has worked tirelessly to serve, promote, and advocate for the
best interests of its members in order to secure economic prosperity for
the Finger Lakes Region; and
WHEREAS, Today, this esteemed nonprofit organization continues to help
its members grow and prosper, as well as create jobs while acting as a
connector for business to business relationships, and keeping investment
in the Finger Lakes Region and New York State; and
WHEREAS, Under the illustrious guidance of President and CEO Robert
Duffy, the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will continue to serve
as its area's leading resource for advocacy and the promotion of econom-
ic growth for many years to come; and
WHEREAS, The success of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is
in direct correlation to the efforts of its members and staff, whose
involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive
commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of
excellence in all endeavors on behalf of this organization and the busi-
ness community it serves; and
WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body acknowl-
edges this exceptional organization and its contributions to the local
and State economies, fully confident it will continue to enjoy the spar-
kling success it has experienced thus far under its new name; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce upon the occasion of
its renaming and renewed commitment to the City of Rochester; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Robert Duffy, President and CEO, the Greater Rochester Cham-
ber of Commerce.
actions
24 / Feb / 2016
ADOPTED
Resolution Details
Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative
K991
Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Canandaigua Fire Department to be celebrated on April 22nd, 2016
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Canan-
daigua Fire Department to be celebrated on April 22nd, 2016
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the Bicentennial
Anniversary of the Canandaigua Fire Department and to honor its past and
present firefighting members for 200 years of fire protection to the
citizens of Canandaigua, New York, and its surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community protection
services in every locality of our State; during the past 200 years, the
courageous and devoted firefighters of the Canandaigua Fire Department
have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and have won
the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and
WHEREAS, The 200th Anniversary of the Canandaigua Fire Department will
be celebrated with a myriad of events throughout the year, culminating
with an Anniversary Banquet to be held on Friday, April 22nd, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Throughout two centuries, more than 2,400 men and women have
fought countless fires and responded to numerous accidents, ambulance
calls, and storm damage, as well as other emergencies; and
WHEREAS, On April 22nd, 1816, the trustees of the Village of Canan-
daigua, New York, ratified that a company of firemen should be formed
and selected by the Village President; three days later, 20 volunteers
were appointed to the new company; and
WHEREAS, The 20 original firefighters were: John W. Beals, Charles
Underhill, P. B. Underhill, Walter Hubbell, Ebenezer Ely, Spencer
Chapin, Nicholas Cheseboro, Charles Hill, Manning Gooding, Joseph Bull,
George H. Boughton, George Clark, James Lyon, M. H. Sibley, S. T. Kibbe,
Hiram S. Day, J. F. Jenkins, W. M. Jenkins, John Clark, and Abraham H.
Bennett, all of whom were expected to be ready for service night and
day, and be diligent, industrious, and vigilant; and
WHEREAS, Today, under the luminous leadership of Fire Chief, Mark
Marentette, the Canandaigua Fire Department protects both the city and
town of Canandaigua, with a team of diligent and enthusiastic career and
volunteer personnel; and
WHEREAS, The Canandaigua Fire Department protects the City and Town of
Canandaigua with a team of career and volunteer personnel; and
WHEREAS, Chief Mark Marentette is assisted by Captains Lee DeRuyter,
Don Phillips, Sam Loiacono and Gerald Boock, as well as Safety Officer,
Bob Palumbo and Training Officer, Bryan Kransler; and
WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Canandaigua Fire Department in public service and fire protection is
one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, for 200
years, whenever the alarm sounded, these noble volunteers left their
homes and went to the aid of their neighbors; and
WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the Canandaigua Fire Department are
prepared to risk their lives every day to help save the lives of others
and to protect homes and property from the destruction caused by fire;
and
WHEREAS, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated by
individual firefighters, the Canandaigua Fire Department reflects the
history and development of firefighting over the past 200 years; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude to
those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life
and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility
their own by serving as firefighters; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should give
special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the betterment
of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic good works
performed by the volunteer fire departments of this great Empire State,
their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
proudly commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Canandaigua Fire
Department to be celebrated on April 22th, 2016; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Mark Marentette, Chief, Canandaigua Fire Department.
actions
24 / Feb / 2016
ADOPTED
Resolution Details
Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative
K980
Recognizing February 14-20, 2016, as National Court Reporting and Captioning Week
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION recognizing February 14-20, 2016, as National
Court Reporting and Captioning Week
WHEREAS, Since 3500 B.C., individuals have wanted the spoken word trans-
lated into text to record important thoughts and historic times, and
have relied on scribes to accomplish this task; the profession of scribe
was born with the rise of civilization; and
WHEREAS, In ancient Egypt, scribes were considered to be the literate
elite, recording laws and other important documents and, since that
time, have served as impartial witnesses to history; and
WHEREAS, Scribes were present with our Nation's founding fathers as
the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights were drafted, and
President Lincoln entrusted scribes to record the Emancipation Proclama-
tion; and
WHEREAS, Since the advent of shorthand machines, these scribes have
been known as court reporters, and they have played a permanent and
invaluable role in courtrooms across our country; court reporters are
responsible for producing a complete, accurate, and secure legal tran-
script of courtroom proceedings, witness testimonies, and depositions;
and
WHEREAS, Court reporters are also present in Congress and the New York
State Legislature, transcribing the proceedings and preserving the words
and actions of the lawmakers and guest speakers; and
WHEREAS, Court reporters and captioners are also responsible for the
closed captioning seen scrolling across television screens, at sporting
stadiums and in other community and educational settings, bringing
information to millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans every day;
and
WHEREAS, Today, court reporters and captioners throughout the Empire
State and Nation work to preserve thought, preserve history, and support
the cornerstone of our justice system, as well as serve the deaf and
hard-of-hearing community by providing captioning and CART services; and
WHEREAS, Whether called the scribes of yesterday or the court repor-
ters and captioners of today, the individuals who translate the spoken
word into text and preserve our nation's history are truly the guardians
of the record; and
WHEREAS, The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), the coun-
try's leading organization representing stenographic court reporters,
broadcast and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) caption-
ers, and legal videographers, has designated February 14-20, 2016, as
National Court Reporting and Captioning Week; and
WHEREAS, This week-long event is designed to help celebrate the court
reporting and captioning professions, as well as help raise public
awareness about the growing number of employment opportunities in the
career field; and
WHEREAS, Court reporters, captioners, CART providers, state court
reporter associations, and court reporting schools around the country
will participate in the week-long event by hosting an array of activ-
ities, such as visits to high schools to showcase the profession, open
houses, Veterans History Project interviews, and media outreach initi-
atives; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Court Reporters Association (NYSCRA) is
organizing Meet & Greets all around the State during National Court
Reporting and Captioning Week; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause to hereby recognize Febru-
ary 14-20, 2016, as National Court Reporting and Captioning Week; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of the Resolution, suitably engrossed, be trans-
mitted to the New York State Court Reporters Association (NYSCRA).
actions
24 / Feb / 2016
ADOPTED
Resolution Details
Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative
K979
Commending Louis L. Levine on his 25 years of distinguished service as President/CEO of New York College of Podiatric Medicine
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Louis L. Levine on his 25 years of
distinguished service as President/CEO of New York College of Podiatric
Medicine
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the
significant milestones in the distinguished careers of esteemed resi-
dents of this noble Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Louis L. Levine on his 25 years of distinguished service as
President/CEO of New York College of Podiatric Medicine which he cele-
brated on January 17, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Since 1991, Louis L. Levine has served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, the
oldest and largest college of podiatric medicine in the United States;
and
WHEREAS, Louis L. Levine has dedicated his life to public service
having served both his State and his country; he served as Commissioner
of Labor Affairs and as Industrial Commissioner of the State of New York
under Governors Nelson Rockefeller, Malcolm Wilson and Hugh Carey; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Louis L. Levine provided military service over
four decades, first as a member of the Army Air Corps during World War
II, and then as a member of the United States Army Reserve, from which
he retired in 1987 as an Acting Lieutenant Colonel; and
WHEREAS, Louis L. Levine received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Soci-
ology and Psychology from The City College of the City University of New
York, before earning his Master of Arts degree in Industrial Sociology;
he also studied graduate work at New York University; and
WHEREAS, Over a long and varied career, Louis L. Levine has become an
expert in critical health and labor policy issues; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate blend-
ing of strength, leadership, and commitment as that demonstrated by
Louis L. Levine over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to others;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Louis L. Levine on his 25 years of distinguished service as
President/CEO of New York College of Podiatric Medicine; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Louis L. Levine.
actions
24 / Feb / 2016
ADOPTED
Resolution Details
Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative
K990
Commending Firefighter Jorge Batle upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition after 50 years of dedicated service ...
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Firefighter Jorge Batle upon the occa-
sion of his designation for special recognition after 50 years of dedi-
cated service to the Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize those
brave citizens within our midst, who have played a significant role in
making our community a great place to live, and to celebrate the
contributions and sacrifices that they have made to our society to
ensure the safety and the advancement of the quality of life for all
residents; and
WHEREAS, Within every community in the State of New York, there are
certain individuals who unselfishly devote themselves to public service,
and demonstrate great courage and diligence in providing for the care
and welfare of the citizens of their community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Jorge Batle upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition
after 50 years of dedicated service to the Skaneateles Volunteer Fire
Department to be celebrated at its Annual Banquet on Saturday, April 30,
2016; and
WHEREAS, The Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department, which was founded
in 1833, currently has three stations and 100 members on its roster; the
station provides the residents of Skaneateles with services in the event
of fire, medical emergencies, or any other occurrence that may threaten
the public welfare, answering a record 391 calls in 2015; and
WHEREAS, Jorge Batle joined the Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department
in December of 1965; and
WHEREAS, Since then, Jorge Batle has served the department as Lieuten-
ant, Captain, 2nd Assistant Fire Chief, Recording Secretary, and Vice
President, as well as President from 1986-1987; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the long history of the Skaneateles Fire Depart-
ment, one thing has remained constant, the dedication, hard work,
commitment and sacrifices of outstanding men and women like Jorge Batle;
and
WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters and fire departments not only provide
the critical service of fire protection but also engage in other activ-
ities of great benefit and importance to the communities they serve; and
WHEREAS, It takes a special dedication, a strong desire to help others
and a tireless sense of community to forsake precious time with family
and friends to respond to the signal that a neighbor is in need; Jorge
Batle is such a firefighter; throughout 50 years of devoted service,
this volunteer heroically performed, above and beyond the call of duty,
those responsibilities which define the task of fire protection; and
WHEREAS, Now 50 years later, Jorge Batle continues to serve the resi-
dents of Skaneateles, holding the positions of the Skaneateles Fire
Department Historian and the Village Historian; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his volunteer fire service, Jorge Batle served
as a Lieutenant of the Syracuse Fire Department, and then as a Skanea-
teles Village Codes Enforcement Officer before retiring from that posi-
tion in 2015; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his wife, Beth Batle, who feels
privileged to be a part of his life and rejoices in his achievements;
she is the Town's historian and continues to collaborate with him on
numerous preservation and restoration projects; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Firefighter Jorge Batle upon the occasion of his designation for
special recognition after 50 years of dedicated service to the Skanea-
teles Volunteer Fire Department; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Firefighter Jorge Batle.
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life and accomplishments of James
D. Spedding, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, James D. Spedding, of Lockport, New York, died on January 22,
2016, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, James D. Spedding proudly served his country as a member of
the United States Air Force from 1948-1969, stationed in Texas, Missis-
sippi, Korea, New York and California; he attained the esteemed rank of
Chief Master Sergeant; and
WHEREAS, James D. Spedding's commitment to his community was a trade-
mark of his entire life; after retiring from General Motors in 1989, he
served as the Retiree Coordinator at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base,
Instructor/Counselor for the AARP Income Tax Program, Counselor for the
NYS Office for Aging, Board of Trustee for the Dale Association, and
Medical Secretary at the Head & Neck Center in Sisters Hospital; and
WHEREAS, James D. Spedding's greatest commitment was to his family; he
is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen Spedding; a daughter, Linda
(Edward) Horton; two sons, James (Carol) Spedding and Robert Spedding;
three grandchildren, Michelle (Albert) Ferrera, Jennifer (Raymond)
Walter and Eric Spedding; five great-grandchildren, Albert, Michael and
Manuel Ferrera, and Raymond and Jack Walter; and one sister, Mary Alice
DeFilippo; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins; and
WHEREAS, A man with such devotion to country, service and family,
James D. Spedding leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the
passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he loved,
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and accomplishments of James D. Spedding, distin-
guished citizen and devoted member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of James D. Spedding.
actions
24 / Feb / 2016
ADOPTED
Resolution Details
Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative
K989
Celebrating the life and accomplishments of Voice of the Buffalo Bills Van Miller
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life and accomplishments of Voice
of the Buffalo Bills Van Miller
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding sports announcers who distinguish themselves through their
exceptional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement; and
WHEREAS, It is with great sorrow and deep regret that this Legislative
Body records the passing of Van Miller, noting the significance of his
purposeful life and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, Van Miller, Voice of the Buffalo Bills and television sports
anchor, died on Friday, July 17, 2015, in the Town of Tonawanda, New
York, at the age of 87; and
WHEREAS, Van Miller will be remembered as the most versatile play-by-
play man in Buffalo sports history, delivering unforgettable calls which
became part of Western New York's sports history; and
WHEREAS, Born in Buffalo, New York's Millard Fillmore Hospital in
1927, Van Miller was raised by his mother, Esther, in Dunkirk, New York;
and
WHEREAS, At the young age of 10, Van Miller was often found practicing
his future craft in his backyard, pretending to announce University of
Notre Dame football games; and
WHEREAS, Van Miller started his illustrious career in 1949, at a
Dunkirk, New York, radio station, WFCB; a man of many talents, he
covered many different genres such as wrestling, basketball, morning
shows, farm shows, quiz shows, and music shows; and
WHEREAS, After serving in the United States Army for a short time, he
worked a few more years in Dunkirk and then landed a job at WHLD-AM in
Niagara Falls, New York; and
WHEREAS, Van Miller married his wife, Gloria, and together they raised
their two children; he was then hired a few days later at WBEN radio and
Channel 4, a position he held until 1998; and
WHEREAS, After Ralph Wilson bought the Buffalo Bills, his first gener-
al manager, Dick Gallagher, decided Van Miller would announce the games
after WBEN got the rights; and
WHEREAS, As the Voice of the Buffalo Bills, Van Miller perhaps became
best known for a signature call in which he explained "Fandemonium"
breaking out after games in the Bills' glory days in the 1990s; he is
also remembered for advising fans to "fasten your seatbelts" before
every game and used the expression, "Do you believe?" after big moments
in games; and
WHEREAS, An inductee of six Halls of Fame, Van Miller became the first
local broadcaster to accept the Pete Rozelle Award at a Hall of Fame
dinner before an audience of 4,000 in Canton, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, A natural storyteller, Van Miller's biography, FASTEN YOUR
SEATBELTS: THE VAN MILLER STORY, written by Rob R. Thompson, had enter-
taining tales to tell about Van's attempts to imitate fabled broadcaster
Bill Stern as a child, his influence on the early days of the Buffalo
Bills and on local television, and his playful sense of humor; and
WHEREAS, In December of 2003, at the age 76, Van Miller proudly called
his last Buffalo Bills game; throughout his illustrious tenure, he
announced games for 37 seasons; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his invaluable role with the Buffalo Bills,
Van Miller also did play-by-play for Buffalo Braves games in the
National Basketball Association, and Niagara University basketball
games, as well as University at Buffalo basketball games; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Van Miller broadcast Buffalo Bisons baseball games
during the days of the Boswell sisters, who were fictitious fans he
invented to enliven his Bisons broadcasts in his early play-by-play days
via ticker tape; and
WHEREAS, Van Miller is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gloria, his
daughter, Cathy, and one son, Van, Jr., as well as three grandchildren;
and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Van Miller leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the
passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he served
and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and accomplishments of Voice of the Buffalo Bills Van
Miller; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Van Miller.
actions
24 / Feb / 2016
ADOPTED
Resolution Details
Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative
K977
Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Great River Fire Department of Great River, New York
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Great
River Fire Department of Great River, New York
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 100th Anni-
versary of the Great River Fire Department and to honor its past and
present firefighting members for 100 years of fire protection to the
citizens of Great River, New York, and its surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated on Saturday,
February 27, 2016, at the 100th Annual Installation of Chiefs and Offi-
cers Dinner at The Snapper Inn in Oakdale, New York; and
WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community protection
services in every locality of our State; during the past 100 years, the
courageous and devoted firefighters of the Great River Fire Department
have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and have won
the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and
WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Great River Fire Department in public service and fire protection is
one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, for 100
years, whenever the alarm sounded, these noble volunteers left their
homes and went to the aid of their neighbors; and
WHEREAS, The Great River Fire Department was established in 1916 on
River Road in Great River, New York; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Great River Fire Department is the
protection of lives and property of the citizens of Great River from the
adverse effects of fire, emergencies and hazardous situations on land or
water; and
WHEREAS, Chief William Vogel, Jr., and the Great River Fire Department
Firefighters serve with dedication, courage, innovation, responsiveness,
courtesy, caring and professionalism while performing their duties of
fire and emergency response, education and prevention; and
WHEREAS, In addition to serving and supporting their own district, the
Great River Fire Department has a mutual aid agreement with other Fire
and Rescue Departments; and
WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the Great River Fire Department are
prepared to risk their lives every day to help save the lives of others
and to protect homes and property from the destruction caused by fire;
and
WHEREAS, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated by
individual firefighters, the Great River Fire Department reflects the
history and development of firefighting over the past 100 years; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude to
those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life
and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility
their own by serving as firefighters; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should give
special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the betterment
of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic good works
performed by the volunteer fire departments of this great Empire State,
their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
proudly commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Great River Fire
Department to be celebrated on Saturday, February 27, 2016; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Chief William Vogel, Jr., Great River Fire Department.