The Ovid community is celebrating a major milestone in a historic beautification project.Originally built in 1845 and 1860, the Friends of the Three Bears building now serves as a community center for the community.Since 2003, the village has been working to restore historic buildings.
They celebrated the installation of the historic marker on Sunday (May 31), honoring their efforts.
More on the Friends of the Three Bears here.
Schuyler County officials are urging residents and county employees to wear purple Monday to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and spotlight a problem that often remains hidden.
Schuyler County officials will host a community presentation next month aimed at helping older adults identify and avoid common scams targeting seniors, county officials announced.
The program, titled “Scams 101,” is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the Office for the Aging's Silver Spoon Cafe in Montour Falls, according to an event flyer distributed by the county. The presentation will cover romance scams, government impersonator schemes, tech support scams, grandparent scams, identity theft, fake sweepstakes and check scams.
Organizers are encouraging residents to register in advance by calling the Schuyler County Office for the Aging at (607) 535-7108.
The event comes as state and local agencies continue to warn older adults about rising financial exploitation and fraud schemes. The New York State Office for the Aging estimates that hundreds of thousands of older New Yorkers are affected annually by some form of elder abuse, including financial exploitation.
The Schuyler County Office for the Aging serves county residents age 60 and older, as well as caregivers and individuals with disabilities through its NY Connects partnership. The office provides information and referrals, nutrition services, benefits assistance and other supports intended to help residents remain independent in their homes and communities.
The Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan works with professionals, caregivers and community organizations throughout 10 counties in the Finger Lakes region and broader upstate New York to address elder abuse and mistreatment. The organization provides educational presentations, intervention services and professional training focused on protecting older adults from abuse, neglect and scams.
State aging officials say scam prevention programs have become increasingly important as fraudsters use technology, artificial intelligence and social engineering tactics to target older adults. The New York State Office for the Aging recommends that seniors avoid sharing personal information with unsolicited callers, verify requests for money independently and report suspected fraud to local authorities or adult protective services.
Additional information about programs and services offered by the Schuyler County Office for the Aging is available through the county’s official website, Schuyler County Office for the Aging. Information about elder abuse prevention and Lifespan services is available through Lifespan of Greater Rochester.
New York’s court system highlighted efforts to expand access to justice and strengthen the rule of law as it marked Law Day and released the Office for Justice Initiatives’ annual report, coinciding with local observances across the state including in Schuyler County.
The New York State Unified Court System’s Office for Justice Initiatives released its annual report, detailing initiatives across divisions focused on access to justice, family and child welfare, problem-solving courts, elder justice, diversity and inclusion, and youth justice. Led by Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Edwina G. Richardson, the office reported expanded staffing to meet growing needs, increased funding for civil legal services supporting essentials of life, and new programs including the first in-person Diversity Summit and enhanced support for lay guardians.
In her message, Richardson emphasized the report’s alignment with Law Day: “The rule of law is a simple concept: no one is above or below the law,” she wrote, tying the office’s work to making justice accessible regardless of background, income or ability. The report also notes convenings for judges and staff on best practices in problem-solving, family and youth courts.
Locally, Schuyler County officials acted ahead of the observance. On April 13, the Schuyler County Legislature unanimously approved a resolution recognizing May 1 as Law Day and adopting the national theme. County Attorney Steven Getman submitted the resolution.
“The Rule of Law ensures the rights of the people to live
their lives as freely as possible and to pursue their dreams,” Getman wrote in
the resolution. “The rule serves as a vital bulwark of liberty by ensuring that
governance is based on established, neutral legal principles rather than the
arbitrary power of officials.”
Legislator Phil Barnes introduced the measure, with Legislator Mark Rondinaro seconding it. Lawmakers called on residents to observe the day by reflecting on how the rule of law safeguards liberty and opportunity.
Statewide events included commemorations at the Court of Appeals in Albany, while communities participated in educational programs, art contests for high school students and other activities tied to the theme. The Office for Justice Initiatives supports Justice Coordinators in each judicial district to address local access-to-justice gaps through community engagement.
The annual report highlights examples such as art events linked to the Law Day theme.
Law Day resources from the American Bar Association encourage public education on the legal system and civic participation.
The Board of Trustees of the NewYork Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection has issued its annual report forcalendar year 2025, outlining the fund’s continued role in reimbursing clients harmed by dishonest conduct in the legal profession and highlighting trends in claims and payouts.
The report provides an overview
of the fund’s operations, finances and claims activity, emphasizing its core
mission: protecting legal consumers and maintaining public confidence in the
justice system. Established in 1982, the fund reimburses eligible clients who
suffer financial losses due to an attorney’s theft or misappropriation of money
or property in the practice of law.
According to the report, the
fund continues to be financed primarily by contributions from New York
attorneys through registration fees, rather than taxpayer dollars. Awards are
determined by the trustees, with reimbursements capped at $400,000 per client
loss.
Among the key highlights, the
trustees reported ongoing claims activity involving losses such as
misappropriated real estate escrow funds, estate assets and settlement
proceeds—categories that historically account for a significant share of
reimbursements. The report also notes continued fluctuations in the number of
claims filed and approved, reflecting broader trends in attorney discipline and
financial misconduct cases.
Since its creation more than
four decades ago, the fund has approved thousands of awards totaling hundreds
of millions of dollars, serving as a last-resort remedy for clients unable to
recover losses from attorneys or other sources.
The trustees emphasized that
the fund’s work supports the integrity of the legal profession by providing
restitution to victims while reinforcing standards of honesty and
accountability among attorneys. Claims are evaluated on a case-by-case basis,
typically after disciplinary proceedings have confirmed misconduct.
The 2025 annual report
underscores the fund’s continued importance as a consumer protection mechanism
within New York’s legal system, as well as its ongoing efforts to respond to
evolving patterns of client loss and attorney misconduct.
The legislature passed a resolution at its April 13, 2026 meeting, recognizing “Law Day” as an occasion of public acknowledgement of our Nation’s heritage of justice, liberty, and equality under the law.
“The Rule of Law ensures the rights of the people to live their lives as freely as possible and to pursue their dreams,” Getman wrote. “The rule serves as a vital bulwark of liberty by ensuring that governance is based on established, neutral legal principles rather than the arbitrary power of officials, guaranteeing equal treatment under the law, protecting individual rights against state abuse, and maintaining representative government through due process.”
In passing the resolution, the legislature called upon all Schuyler County residents “to observe this day together and to reflect on how the Rule of Law protects liberty and ensures all residents have the ability to fulfill their dreams.”
The measure was supported unanimously by the members present.
May 1, 2026 is the 69th Law Day. In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first Law Day Proclamation to mark our nation’s commitment to the rule of law. Each year the American Bar Association selects an annual theme for Law Day.
A copy of Schuyler County’s resolution “Recognizing and Commemorating ‘Law Day’ in Schuyler County” is available here
