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The Daily Mail Copyright 2019, Columbia-Greene Media Volume 227, No. 159
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2019
Leeds fire ruled electrical
n FORECAST WEATHER FOR HUDSON/CA TODAY TONIGHT WED
By Sarah Trafton
Columbia-Greene Media Rain and a t-storm
HIGH 76
A shower Partly sunny and t-storm and less around humid
LOW 64
77 58
Complete weather, A2
n SPORTS
LEEDS — A fire that destroyed a Pine Creek Drive home was determined to be electrical in origin, fire investigators said Monday. Firefighters from three companies responded to the fully involved residence late Friday, fearing that reports that the homeowner might be trapped inside were accurate, fire officials said. “The initial report the neighbors made was that they thought the resident
was inside,” Leeds Fire Chief Thomas McCullough said. “With assistance from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and state police, we were able to locate the homeowner.” The homeowner, whose name has not been disclosed, was found safe and sound. No residents or pets were injured in the fire, McCullough said. The call came in at about 4:40 p.m. for a home located at 40 Pine Creek Drive. Flames were visible coming from the building and a black pick-up truck was parked close to the
home, according to Greene County Emergency Control. “There is nothing left to it,” McCullough said of the house. “It had started and was evolving for quite some time before the neighbors noticed. By the time we got on scene, it was fully involved.” The Greene County Fire Investigation Team determined it was an electrical fire, Team Chief Gerry Buckley said. “It is still under investigation but we believe it started in See FIRE A8
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Flames roar through a home on Pine Creek Drive in Leeds. A black pick-up truck can be seen parked close to the burning building.
Child victims activist predicts flood of lawsuits Gold medalist Biles clinches recordtying sixth national title PAGE B1
n NATION
Dems: Meet us at the fair Low-polling party seeks breakout moment in Iowa PAGE A5
n LOCAL
Helping kids get advantage YMCA helps children get Running Start for school PAGE A6
n INDEX Region Opinion State/Nation Obituaries Sports Classified Comics/Advice
A3 A4 A5 A5 B1 B4-5 B7-8
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FILE PHOTO
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signing the Child Victims Act into law in February. The law takes effect this Wednesday.
By Melanie Lekocevic Columbia-Greene Media
The Child Victims Act goes into effect Wednesday and could open the door to a slew of lawsuits statewide. The legislation was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Feb. 14, after the law was held up in the state Legislature for years. It creates a one-year window of opportunity for victims of child sexual abuse to make a claim against their abuser, no matter when the offenses were committed. After the one-year window, which will expire Aug. 13, 2020, victims will have until they reach age 55 to file a civil claim for new cases, and until age 28 for criminal cases, according to New Baltimore attorney and activist Gary Greenberg, who championed the law for many years. Greenberg was a victim of child sexual abuse when he
was 7 years old. The Child Victims Act applies to victims whose abuse occurred when they were 18 years old or younger, Greenberg said. With the law going into effect Wednesday, Greenberg predicted many child sexual abuse cases will come to light. “I think there will be a few thousand lawsuits filed across the state. It’s a big day and a lot of victims will be filing their cases and seeking long overdue justice,” Greenberg said Monday. The bill was held up in the state Legislature for years, but was passed earlier this year. Cuomo signed the bill into law in February. “This bill brings justice to people who were abused, and rights the wrongs that went unacknowledged and See CHILD A8
FILE PHOTO
New Baltimore attorney and activist Gary Greenberg speaks in favor of the Child Victims Act, which goes into effect Wednesday.
Peebles going, going...but not quite gone By Amanda Purcell Columbia-Greene Media
GREENPORT — Peebles department store on Fairview Avenue will be closing its doors early next year but it will reopen under a new brand and name and add some new jobs to the area. The store, at 160 Fairview Ave., in the Fairview Plaza, will become Gordmans as part of a retail switchout taking place nationwide. There is no firm opening date for Gordmans or closing date for Peebles, but the transition is expected to take place in early 2020, the company confirmed Monday. Gordmans, fashioned in the same vein as TJ Maxx and Homegoods stores, is an off-price retailer, which means it offers a variety of merchandise at lower prices than many
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Gordmans department store will take over Peebles at its location in the Fairview Plaza, Greenport, in early 2020.
department stores. Under the Gordmans name, the store will offer home
decor, beauty products, gifts, accessories, fragrances and men’s and
women’s apparel. Based primarily in the Midwest with corporate offices in Houston, Texas, Stage Stores, which owns Gordmans, is making inroads in the Northeast, and taking over Peebles stores. Stage has opened 74 Gordmans this year; by the end of 2019, there will be more than 150 Gordmans stores across the country. Stage Stores is the parent company of Peebles and Gordmans. Other Stage Store brands include Goody’s (southeastern based department store), Bealls (Southeastern-based), Palais Royal (Texas-based) and others. In the meantime, Peebles is holding a close-out sale before remodeling and new merchandise is moved See PEEBLES A8