FIRST QUARTER 2008

Please join us in congratulating Richard N. Blewett on his 82nd birthday. Richard is not letting the number of candles on his birthday cake slow him down. His idea of retirement is now arriving at the office at 9:30a.m. and not leaving before 5:30p.m.. Clients continue to request that he handle their files, and he is the source of unquestionable knowledge and wisdom for all other attorneys in the firm. Congratulations, and thank you, Richard.

Terrie Benson Murray was extremely busy in December. On December 4th, she presented a program, sponsored by the Erie County Bar Association’s Speakers Bureau, on Living Wills to the Olmstead Center for the Visually Impaired. On December 15th and 16th, Terrie presented a program on Charitable Giving at the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church in connection with a capital campaign to raise funds for a major addition to the Church. In addition, she is a member of the Camarata Chamber Choir, which presented their Christmas concert at St. Anthony of Padua Church in the City of Buffalo. Terrie also sang with the Orchard Park Chorale for their Holiday concert presented at the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church. She also rang handbells with the Orchard Park Symphony Handbell Choir at the Orchard Park Middle School for their Christmas concert. In January, Terrie is presenting a program about Wills and other estate planning tools to the members of the New York State Home Bureau, Emerson Chapter in Hamburg, New York. Keep up the good work Terrie.

Each year for the holiday season, the attorneys and staff at Cohen & Lombardo undertake a gift giving project to give back to those in our community who may need a little help making their holiday bright. This year we chose Haven House, which is a group dedicated to victims of domestic violence in our community. One of our partners, Katherine Bestine, is involved in this worthy organization throughout the year, but at Christmas time there is an extra need for toys and other gift items to stock the “Shopping Center” that Haven House opens to its residents each year. Members of our office went on a pre-Christmas shopping spree of their own, buying toys, electronics, games, and other gift items to give these mothers and children a chance to “shop” for brand new gifts as they continue to work with Haven House to rebuild their lives. We have also made a commitment to continue supporting Haven House throughout the year.

Katherine Bestine, Amy Vigneron, Terrie Benson Murray, Stuart Shapiro, Maryann Freedman, Doug Cream and Richard Blewett recently participated in the Erie County Bar Foundation annual phone-a-thon. The purpose of the phone-a-thon is to solicit from attorneys contributions to the foundation. The monies raised by the foundation are used to assist lawyers who have fallen on hard times.