February follies and fun facts

We start the month with a rodent trying to predict the weather. Of course, I am referring to Punxsutawney Phil, who gets his 15 minutes of fame every February 2 when this eighth or tenth generation woodchuck is pulled out of his burrow. Yes, groundhogs are also known as woodchucks, and young groundhogs may be called chucklings.

Regardless, in Rochester, NY we know February is still winter. Phil has nothing to do with it. We received some tangible proof yesterday with a 22” snowfall in some of the Rochester burbs and sidewalks impassable downtown.
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But this year, February 2 marked a more significant event: The date the 2015 Campaign for Justice hit its $280,000 goal. These few days into February, the grand total pledged is $283,555. With another 6 weeks until the campaign ends, we can hope to see that total dollar pledge grow even more.

​For me, February 2 this year (and every year) is special because the duration of daylight finally reaches 10 hours again – a benchmark left behind in early November. There is too much darkness for three months and at last February starts to feel brighter. Add a few metric tons of snowflakes, and the brightness lasts beyond sunset. So let’s celebrate another CFJ goal met! And while doing so, let’s follow up with the last of the pledge requests we may have initiated, and get the campaign wrapped up by March 31 – when we can perhaps start thinking about the end of winter.

​Written by Nora A. Jones

"No Parties" said Lou on his way out...

As Lou Prieto wrapped up his duties at Legal Assistance of Western New York in December, he made it clear that he did not want any big retirement parties.

After 40 years of dedicated public service, that turned out to be a tall request just begging to be ignored, especially since The Telesca Center for Justice houses LawNY, The Legal Aid Society, Empire Justice, Volunteer Legal Services Project, and the Monroe County Bar Association.

“Lou asked us not to have an event like this,” explained LawNY Executive Director Ken Perri at the
gathering of more than 100 colleagues, friends, family, and former LawNY employees. “Since we chose to ignore that request, we’ll make this mostly a social evening, with just a short program.”

Current LawNY Managing Attorney Lori O’Brien was in contact with Lou’s wife (Sara Baughan) to make sure the guest of honor would be at the Memorial Art Gallery on the designated evening. As an added surprise,all three of Sara and Lou’s children flew from three different locations to be at the event.

“It is hard to believe Lou is retiring,” said VLSP Executive Director Sheila Gaddis. “He is the gold standard of our profession, an excellent attorney, and a caring individual who has dedicated his professional life to providing representation for the poor in our community. I wish him all the best in retirement and hope he thinks about ProBono from time to time.”

Louis Prieto is the son of Cuban immigrants. He grew up in a rough and tumble neighborhood in upper Manhattan’s West Harlem, worked his way through college and law school, starting his legal career defending criminals and proactively seeking sentencing alternatives via help from social agencies.

His years of experience in The Legal Aid Society’s civil division in Bronx County included grant proposal writing and community outreach, giving him a tremendous skill set by the time he reached Rochester in 1991 to work at MCLAC.

At the January 22 event, Perri noted, “Lou has broken into funding stream after funding stream, allowing the Rochester office to grow and expand its programs.”

U.S. Marine Reserve Officer and attorney Kevin Saunders talked about Lou’s success in getting funding and in-kind services for a remarkable first-ever Valor Day Rochester last June 13.

Lou’s dedication to veterans reaches far beyond his contributions to Valor Day, where approximately 200 active and reserve military personnel were served.

“He’s been in the trenches, providing legal services through the Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester, with permanent office space in our facility,” said Jocene Henderson, director of operations at VOC.

The Veterans Outreach Center honored Prieto with a folded U.S. flag in a shadow box – the ultimate sign of respect.