U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced on Friday, October 26, 2007, that People Inc. in Erie County will receive two grants totaling $9,775,900.00 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 202 program. These federal funds will be used to provide low-income housing for seniors in the municipalities of Angola and Orchard Park

"This is terrific news for senior citizens and their families in Erie County," Schumer said. "With so many seniors living in sub-standard housing, it is crucial that organizations like People Inc. continue to have the funds they need to work to provide safe, affordable housing for our low-income seniors."

Schumer wrote a letter of support for these federal funds to HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson in May of this year. In it, he stressed the importance of reasonable housing for the elderly in Erie County.

HUD’s Section 202 program allows for elderly to live as independently as possible in the community by increasing the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services. Under this program, capital advances are made to private nonprofit organizations or nonprofit consumer cooperatives to build, acquire, and/or rehabilitate rental housing with supportive services for elderly persons, including the frail elderly, who are 62 years of age or older. The capital advance is interest-free and does not have to be repaid as long as the housing remains available for very low-income elderly persons for at least 40 years. Project rental assistance is used to cover the difference between the HUD-approved operating cost per unit and the tenant’s rent.

Just in time for Halloween, Officer Dave Hock and K9 Officer Mike from the Brant Police Department visited the Brant Elementary School to talk about safety in general and Halloween Safety specifically.

Officer Hock introduced Mike, his Belgian Malinois partner, and explained that Mike is a special dog and not just a pet because he is a working dog. Mike, only 20 months old, is already a Certified Narcotics Dog and working on his Tracking Certification. Mike has made visits to the high school to look for drugs and has been used by the FBI, the DEA and neighboring police agencies. Mike will not only "find bad guys but can find good guys too" such as lost children.

During Halloween Trick or Treating, children should remember to go in groups and with an adult. Bring a flashlight, wear reflective costumes, walk facing traffic and have parents check "the loot" before eating anything.

All the time, children should never go with a stranger, remember to look both ways before crossing the street and tell a trusted adult about anything that is bothering them.