Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 2

SECTION DEATHS 2B NEW YORK 4B GOOD MORNING 2B COMICS 7B SUBURBS SB UPBEAT 83 Democrat anfc (ffjronidc FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1991 ROCHESTER, N.Y. MAN OF MERIDIAN Developer Theodore Spall fights to build Meridian Centre in Brighton, but even opponents of the project say he's a good guy. Story, 3B. "FXS 'WM'Wjtfiom' 4-fv i jr flifegy ardl Bass statement released by state police last night. He "apparently experienced abnormal heartbeat and attempted to correct it while in approximately five feet of water by utilizing the Valsalva maneuver," it said.

The maneuver involves plugging the nose and exhaling into the nasal cavity. The boy was pulled from the water, but he could not be revived. "There were several supervisors right there, and they were not able to revive him," said Albert B. Hooke, president of the Rochester-area YMCA branch. "Almost immediately they noticed something was wrong." He was taken to St.

Elizabeth Hospital in Utica, where he was pronounced dead about 1:30 p.m., police said. An autopsy was scheduled for today. Turpin said that as far as he knew, YMCA officials were not aware that Brown had heart problems. "Everyone that attends the camp has to have a medical examination," Turpin said. The examination is performed by a doctor and is designed to identify any physical limitations that should be followed based on medical history, he said.

"I feel confident that we followed those procedures to the that if there was any restriction to swimming or anything of that nature, that he would not have been doing it," Turpin said. Camp Gorham is in Webb, about 50 miles north of Utica in Herkimer County. The teen-ager, who would have been a junior at East High School next year, was active in soccer and swimming. He played trumpet in the school band and was in the Major Achievement Program for honors students, said a neighbor. He was the eldest of Robert and Priscilla Brown's three sons.

YMCA officials have taken steps to counsel children at the camp and calm their parents, and the Rochester Police Department has offered to provide counselors, Turpin said. "We have notified all of the parents of the children that are there now because it can be pretty traumatic for those children and also the counselors," Turpin said. Rochester teen had heart condition By Emit Venere Democrat and Chronicle A 16-year-old Rochester boy who apparently had a heart condition died yesterday while taking a lifeguard lesson as part of his training to become a counselor at a YMCA summer camp north of Utica. Robert Brown, of 30 Colby was taking the lesson with six other youths at Camp Gorham in the Adirondacks about 11:20 a.m. when he suddenly flipped over and went under water, said state police and YMCA officials.

"He was observed, almost like rolling over on his back, where his face was exposed," said Kenneth B. Turpin, vice president for operations for the YMCA of Greater Rochester. The teen-ager had a "medical history of heart-related problems," according to a Performing for life Staci Reed, 12, and other members of Black Seeds Drama and Dance Troupe it fx THIS HlOOfllFlQ Armed man robs Irondequoit An Irondequoit savings and loan was robbed yesterday by an armed man who ordered a teller to give him $4,000. The man walked into a Columbia Banking Federal Savings Loan Association branch at 2128 Hudson Ave. about 2:40 p.m., said Irondequoit police Sgt.

Marty Corbett. The robber displayed a handgun, and the teller gave him an undisclosed amount of cash, Corbett said. He was described as 25 to 28 years old, 5 feet 11, 180 pounds, with black, curly, shoulder-length hair and a slight mustache. He was wearing a white tank top, blue jeans and a USA Today cap. Rear-end crash on 1-590 kills 56-year-old Henrietta man A 56-year-old Henrietta man was killed yesterday when his car ran into the back of another car on Interstate 590 near the Elmwood Avenue overpass.

John J. Heffernan of 37 Armbruster Road was northbound on 1-590 in his 1986 Renault when he slammed into the back of a car stopped in traffic, according to Deputy Dick Caudle of the Monroe County sheriffs Henrietta substation. Heffernan was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour after the 12:15 p.m. accident. The driver of the 1986 Buick that Heffernan hit was identified as 31-year-old Anne Marie Weissend of DeWitt, Onondaga County.

Weissend was traveling with her three young children, according to Caudle, but neither she nor they were seriously injured. 4 Rochesterians accused of robbing pair in Gates Four city residents were arrested by Gates police yesterday and accused of robbing two men at gunpoint and forcing them to strip to their underwear and jump into the Erie Canal. Arrested were: Charles K. Ryan, 19, of 257 Lexington and Tara L. Pratt, 17, Jeremy L.

Pratt, 18, and Shannon Jason, 17, all of 153 Otis St. Gates Police Chief Thomas Roche said the four accosted two 20-year-old men one from Gates and one from Palmyra, Wayne County about 11:50 p.m. Sunday on Lee Road near Trolley Avenue. Roche said Ryan displayed a handgun and took a portable stereo and other personal items. After the robbery, Roche said, the quartet demanded the two men strip to their underwear and jump into what Roche called "a very dangerous section of the canal." They swam to safety.

The four suspects were charged with multiple robbery counts, all class felonies that carry a maximum 25-year state prison sentence, and reckless endanger-ment. Ryan also was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Ryan was arraigned in front of Gates Town Justice John J. Pisaturo last night and was being held in the Monroe County Jail on $10,000 bail. A warrant was issued for Tara Piatt, who was in jail on other charges.

The remaining two suspects were to be arraigned late last night, Roche said. Ginna nuclear drill slated for Wednesday in Ontario ONTARIO Rochester Gas and Electric along with state and local agencies, wiU conduct a nuclear emergency-response drill Wednesday. The drill is one of several training programs held annually to maintain and improve readiness to an emergency at the Ginna nuclear power plant, according to a statement from Also participating in the drill will be the state, Monroe and Wayne counties. On Sept. 11, a full-scale emergency exercise, graded by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will be conducted.

Rochester teen being held in July 15 slaying of man A 17 -year-old Rochester man was being held last night in the Monroe County Jail on murder and drug charges in connection with the July 15 slaying of Ronald Nelson. Willie Lakey Gray of 112 Olean St. was taken into custody Wednesday on a charge of second-degree murder, according to a criminal complaint in City Court. Police charged that Gray, who was armed with a revolver, fired two shots at Nelson, striking him in the head. The shooting followed an argument between the two at Nelson's home at 46 Grape St.

The 34-year-old Nelson was found dead on the back porch. Homicide investigators said in court papers that Gray admitted shooting Nelson. Agency seeks donations to assist young parents Cribs, playpens, baby clothing and other usable items for infants and small children are needed for young parents. Donations are being accepted by the Department of Social Services' Teen Family Team, whose goal is to help pregnant teens or teen parents and their families become self-sufficient. 1 1 Cultara clash The hope for the future for Maria Roman, 17 above, is that Puerto Rican people will be "all equal" with the rest of society.

The Puerto Rican Youth Development center in Rochester tries to help smooth the clash of cultures that occurs for many Hispan-ics. It Is celebrating culture this month. Upbeat, 88. Law expert robes RIT ties to He'll have access to secret material By Jennifer Hyman Democrat and Chronicle A renowned New York City legal expert, Monroe H. Freedman, has been named "senior fact finder" in the ongoing probe of Rochester Institute of Technology's ties to the Central Intelligence Agency.

Freedman, a distinguished professor of legal ethics and former dean at Hofstra University Law School on Long Island, was chosen from six or seven candidates whose names were submitted to the review panel appointed to investigate the RIT-CIA links. Freedman's role as fact finder is similar to that of a special prosecutor. He will be expected to locate and analyze documents relating to the CIA's involvement at RIT, as well as interview administrators, faculty, staff and students. Where possible, he will have access to material that is identified as "secret" or classified. "I have never done anything quite like this before.

I'm not sure anyone has," Freedman said of the RIT assignment in an interview yesterday. "That's one of the things that makes the job interesting and challenging to me." Freedman has extensive experience as an expert witness and legal consultant. He currently serves on the Committee on Professional and Judicial Ethics of the New York City Bar Association, and on the national ad Monroe H. Freedman visory council of the American Civil Liberties Union. With investigative skills honed by more than 30 years of litigation experience, Freedman said he is confident he will be up to the task of interviewing people, collecting and sorting relevant data and preparing a written report and recommendations for the panel that has hired him.

"We considered several good candidates and interviewed three, and the panel felt strongly about Monroe Freedman," said Michael P. Morley, an RIT alumnus who is vice chair of the panel. "He is very committed and will give it full and thorough attention." RIT's involvement with the CIA, first revealed in the Democrat and Chronicle in mid-May, gave the CIA a say in curriculum determination and led to millions of dollars being poured into the technical university for research related to spycraft. The ensuing controversy resulted in RIT President M. Richard Rose returning early from a sabbat- TURN TO PAGE 2B Vietnam vets from Sunday through Aug.

3 in Highland Park across from St. John's Home, about 1,000 yards away from the site selected for the permanent Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Culhane said. An opening ceremony will be held at noon Sunday and will include a presentation by the color guard and drill team of the 98th Division of the U.S. Army Reserve and speeches by a variety of officials, including Culhane, Devitt and U.S. Rep.

Frank Morton, R-Penfield. Parking will be available at the South Avenue side of Highland Park. On evenings and weekends, additional parking will be available at the Al Sigl Center at 1000 Elmwood Ave. 1 Lj f-4 i 1 4 Kwm 8chily Democrat and Chronicle Group founder James Perkins said he in children. Story, 2B.

drug abusers for follow-UD treatment. Stone said. The maximum amount of time people could stay in the center's respective programs are 24 hours in emergency care, five to seven days in detoxification and 10 to 14 days in the holding bed, Oddleifson said. The center would provide treatment for those over 18 years old, but wouldn't provide day care for children whose parents are getting treatment, Stone said. Stone said the estimated cost to operate the center is $1.5 million to $1.7 million a year, and coalition members hope to get private, state and county funds to run it.

The center would seek payment from patients with insurance or who are on Medicaid, Stone said. But even if patients have few resources, they would not be turned away. Golisano, speaking of the coalition's future, said a new project director should be hired in 30 to 60 days to replace Susan Barber, who stepped down as project director in June. She is taking time off until Aug. 1, when her employment at the coalition ceases officially.

display honors Group plans crisis center for .1 the 20-year-old terday at School 4. Inc. rehearse yes- hopes to instill tion members said. It would reauire state approval. "This clearly is seen as a priority among the provider community, as well as the community at large," said James L.

Stone, director ot the Monroe County Department of Community Services and Mental Health. The 24-hour center would provide 10 beds for emergency medical care, 15 beds for detoxification and 10 beds to hold patients until they could be referred to a program for fol- lnw.nn tranfmont Stone said. Thomas There currently is Golisano no crisis center for drug abusers, who are sent to hospital emergency rooms during a crisis situation, said Peter Oddleifson, chairman of the coalition's operations committee and of its consortium of service providers. When the drug users are released from the hospital, they may not be referred Highland Park By Kathleen PriscoH Democrat and Chronicle The Moving Wall, a 250-foot scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, will go on display beginning Sunday at the south entrance of Highland Park. The exhibit is being sponsored by the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans Memorial the organization leading an effort to build a permanent $1 million Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Highland Park.

The exhibit is giving the corporation an opportunity to educate people about the Vietnam War, said Barry Culhane, student ombudsman at Rochester Institute of Technology and head of the corporation. tf-gn iminiTTi Paychex chief named as coalition's director By Vincent Taylor Democrat and Chronicle The Greater Rochester Fights Back coalition yesterday announced plans to start a crisis center to provide emergency care for substance abusers, regardless of their ability to pay. The coalition, formed to help find ways to curb drug and alcohol abuse in Monroe County, also announced that Thomas Goli-sano, president and CEO of Paychex will be its new chairman. Golisano replaces Paul Miller, who stepped down to pursue personal interests after heading the coalition for its first two years. Miller is a former president of Rochester Institute of Technology.

Several details for the crisis center still must be worked out, but the coalition hopes to have it running by next July. Its location hasn't been determined, but it could be located at ot near an existing hospital, coali Gregory St. Sanford St. Cypress St. Linden St.

Manor Pkwy. The "Moving a 250-foot scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial In Washington, D.C, will be on display In Highland Park. Democrat and Cnronlcl A i i 7 1 Hope jr Cemeteryki University of Rochester "We are hoping to increase sensitivity and community awareness about the needs of Vietnam veterans and all veterans." The wall, which bears the same 58,175 names as the memorial in Washington, was developed in 1983 by California veteran John Devitt. In many cases, a visit to the wall is an emotional experience and people often adorn it with photos, letters and flowers to honor friends or family members who served in the war, Culhane said. Volunteers will be available to assist visitors in locating names.

In addition, representatives of a locater service called "In Touch" will help those who want to locate people who served in Vietnam. The wall will be on display 24 hours a day Call 274-6790 for more information..