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January 9, 2010
A Denton Publication
Free
It’s a girl!
Coupon Queen
Drink up
A girl, Fiona, was first baby delivered of the new year at AMC.
Jill answers questions this week from some of her reader’s mail.
Liquor stores aren’t alone in opposition to wine in grocery stores.
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Town justice upholds felony charge in Scaringe rape case By Chris Morris denpubs@denpubs.com SARANAC LAKE — The youth center director accused of raping a 13-year-old local girl was back in court earlier this week for a felony hearing that upheld the case against him thus far. Michael Scaringe, 61, appeared before Harrietstown Justice Thomas Glover shortly before noon Jan. 4 wearing orange prison garb and a Carhart jacket. He was escorted into the courtroom by two Franklin County Sheriff ’s deputies, where he took his seat beside defense attorney Brian Barrett of Lake Placid. The purpose of the hearing was to Scaringe establish if enough evidence existed to pursue the felony charges levied against Scaringe, who was taken into custody Jan. 1 after police learned he allegedly forcibly raped an adolescent girl. Prosecutor Jack Delehanty is an assistant district attorney for Franklin County. “Judge Glover just conducted a felony hearing; it’s the right of all defendants who stand charged with a felony offense to have their case heard by the local magistrate,” he said. “The purpose of today’s hearing was to determine whether or not there’s reasonable cause to believe that the elements of any felony offense could be demonstrated by credible evidence and that’s what Judge Glover indicated existed today. The defendant will now be bound-over for the action of the Grand Jury.” Justice Glover moved to uphold the charges of first-degree rape, despite Barrett’s contention that the prosecution did not present any physical evidence to support its case. Glover also maintained bail at $100,000 cash and $150,000 bond. Delehanty noted that Scaringe has two Social Security numbers, and has changed his name in the past – making him a prime candidate for flight-risk. But Barrett disagreed. “I’m just asking that the defendant be released, because I don’t believe that sufficient evidence was presented to find that there was even reasonable suspicion that my client had committed any felony,” he said. Throughout the proceedings, Delehanty stressed that the hearing was not a “fishing expedition.” The purpose of the hearing, Delehanty said, was to establish grounds for charges of second-degree felony rape. “That means we have an adult over the age of 21 and a minor under the age of 17 engaging in sexual intercourse,” Delehanty said. “And that’s illegal no matter where you are.” To support the charge, the complaining witness appeared before Justice Glover, as did Bureau of Criminal Investigation Investigator Daniel Howard. The 13-year-old witness testified that sexual intercourse did occur, and Howard testified to the age of Scaringe. Barrett said the defense doesn’t dispute the facts surrounding the individuals involved. “We certainly don’t dispute that the
See RAPE, page 9
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Community lends hand to family in need By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com LAKE PLACID — One Wilmington family has been going through some unbelievably tragic times lately. Fortunately, many people in the community have helped to soften the blow. Randy Patterson, Tammie Knox, and their four children, Deyondra, 11; Dustin, 8; and five-year-old twins Danaya and Dariana lost most of their belongings, including several pets, in a Dec. 21 fire that destroyed their home at 37 Juniper Lane in Wilmington. And the holidays have proven rough for the Pattersons. In addition to losing their home, the family vehicle broke down on Christmas Eve and, on New Year ’s Day, Patterson’s grandfather passed away. While the time since then has, no doubt, been a struggle for the Pattersons, an effort by fellow community members has given them much-needed support in a trying time. Neither Patterson nor Knox were at home when the fire struck, and all four children were in class at Lake Placid Elementary School. Patterson and Knox went to pick them up as soon as they received word of the fire. News of their loss resonated among the children’s teachers, and soon the wheels were in motion for a massive clothing and food drive. “We heard about it around 1:00 or 1:30 that day, and people just jumped into action,” said Lake Placid Elementary principal
The Patterson children, Deyondra, Dustin, Dariana, and Danaya, enjoy Christmas at their grandparents’ house thanks to numerous donations from community members. Many have rushed to aid the family after they lost their home and belongings in a Dec. 21 fire. Rick Retrosi, noting how the school became somewhat of an unofficial clearing house to benefit the family. Teachers and staff were able to determine clothing sizes for the children, and e-mails went out to parent and teacher organizations alerting people of the need.
“Faculty members contributed in the form of either clothing, money, or gift cards,” said Retrosi. “People responded with all kinds of clothing, new and older clothing, and brought all their stuff to the school.” Meanwhile, the family made
See PATTERSONS, page 9
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences celebrates 100 years By Lindsay Yandon
has been and where the current professional and student members alike hope it can go. “FACS is a forward thinking profesLAKE PLACID — The American Assosion. We take on challenges and change ciation of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) brought in the new year with an with proactive strategies. Consumers anniversary worth celebrating. Over 200 will always need the applied academics and technical skills to manage their perFamily and Consumer Science (FACS) sonal, family, career and community professionals and students from across the United States recently convened at lives,” said AAFCS member and Cententhe High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid to nial chair Shirley Ware. This exclamation on adapting has led celebrate their 100th year. the AAFCS into the 21st century, despite There, in those who the place think that it where Ellen no longer With the focus of education reH. Richards holds value laid the form and accountability on math and in today’s foundation school sysreading, FACS education has been for home tems. Barincreasingly marginalized and experieconomics bara A. with a small enced serious decline in schools Woods, who group of her — Barbara A. Woods holds a peers, they Ph.D. in celebrated FACS and the strides teaches at that the AAFCS has taken and explored East Carolina University acknowledged their options for sustainability in the fu- the challenges her field faces. ture. The historical group, deemed Lake “With the focus of education reform Placid Club and sponsored by Annie and accountability on math and reading, Godfrey Dewey and Melvil Dewey led to FACS education has been increasingly the birth of the American Home Econom- marginalized and experienced serious ics Association in 1909, which is today decline in schools,” she said. the AAFCS. Woods, however, conducted research There was an air of change at the Cen- to prove such doubt to be inaccurate. tennial Celebration in Lake Placid that “There is strong evidence supporting acknowledged the places that the AAFCS
lindsay@denpubs.com
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Leslie Schafer of SUNY Oneonta and FCCLA member Logan Kempney present the honorary Olympic torch at the AAFCS Centennial Celebration. Photo by Lindsay Yandon
See AAFCS, page 9