News Blog

At 11:30 a.m. today, State Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Fisher will hear arguments on a lawsuit against the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s board.

Attorney Eileen Buholtz is suing the board over its annual meeting and elections, which took place on January 23. She says that neither the RPO board nor its executive committee set the membership cutoff date, which determines who can vote in the board elections. RPO board Vice Chair Patrick Burke has been subpoenaed to testify on the matter, the Democrat and Chronicle reported last week.

Buholtz ran a write-in campaign for a board seat — she was part of a six-member slate. If her lawsuit is successful, the election results could be invalidated.

As part of the lawsuit, Buholtz wants the RPO to turn over a full membership list with contact information; as a candidate she’d be entitled to that information. It would help her reach out to members to make them aware of her candidacy.

During the annual meeting, members elected eight board members, all of whom were endorsed by the board. Jeremy Moule

Rochester Mayor Tom Richards and Police Chief James Sheppard will host their fourth public forum on violence in Rochester at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5, in Cobbs Hill Park, Lake Riley Lodge, 100 Norris Drive.

Citizens are asked to discuss the issue of violence under four broad categories: open-air drug sales and drug houses; gangs, guns, and the culture of violence; bullying and truancy; and house parties.

RPD crime prevention officers will be available at breakout sessions for each topic and members of city staff serve as facilitators. Citizen suggestions are recorded and used to enhance the Rochester Police Department's long-term violence-reduction strategies. Christine Carrie Fien

The Rochester school district will hold several meetings of interest this week.

Rochester schools Superintendent Bolgen Vargas will hold the first of several public forums on the district’s proposed 2013 to 2014 budget at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 4, at Rochester International Academy, 1 Edgerton Park.

Vargas will make a presentation to the board on the core curriculum initiative at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5, which involves a major realignment of core academic standards at the federal, state, and local levels. Vargas describes this as the most pressing challenge the district faces this year. The meeting is in the RCSD central office, 131 West Broad Street.

And Vargas will deliver his “State of Our Schools” address at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6. Vargas and school board President Malik Evans will discuss the status and future of the district. The event is at All City High School, 180 Ridgeway Avenue.

The SW Education Committee, a subgroup of the 19th Ward Community Association, will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 4, to discuss School 16, the latest information they have regarding the school’s status, and preparations for a meeting with RCSD Superintendent Bolgen Vargas. The meeting is at the Arnett Branch of the public library, 310 Arnett Boulevard. Tim Louis Macaluso