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An effort led by Genesee County Mental Health Director Ellery Reaves to create a first-of-a-kind a nonprofit mental health care coalition among five counties has hit a bureaucratic roadblock.

It's caused a six-month delay in the project though Reaves believes it will soon be resolved, he told members of the Human Services Committee at a meeting Monday.

"The hang-up is really a bizarre thing," Reaves said. "New York State, in its wisdom, in order to draw the maximum amount of dollars for this project, passed it through a managed care company. Well, they passed it through a managed care company as a premium. If it’s an insurance company, you have to pay out premiums based on services. It can’t be paid as a project."

And this, Reaves said, is a project.

If the federal government were later to question reimbursements, the question is: Who will pay back the federal government if required?

At first, there was an effort to make the counties responsible for any such return of funds.

"Our attorney basically said, 'That’s not going to happen,'" Reaves said. "'Once we’ve received the money in good faith for the project and we’ve met our deliverables, you’re not getting anything because we’ve met our deliverables.'"

Reaves said in a sense the project is in a state of limbo. There are still operational tasks to be completed to get the new company up and running.

None of this, he says, has affected patient care.

"We think the state is going to agree with the managed care companies and indemnify them from any future potential loss, so we hope it’s going to resolve itself soon," Reaves said.

Previously: County Mental Health Services planning to enter coalition with five other counties to form new nonprofit

Press release:

As part of the $2 billion Smart School Bond Act that was approved by voters in 2014, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) announced today that both Pembroke and Oakfield-Alabama Central school districts will be receiving funding to make technology and security upgrades in their schools.

“Technology is ever-changing and that means the way our students learn must be ever-changing and adaptable as well," Hawley said. "The whole idea behind the Smart Schools Investments was to provide a higher quality of education for our students and bring every classroom up to par with the digital age of tablets, laptop computers, whiteboards and high-speed wireless Internet access.”

In addition to technology and Internet capabilities, a portion of the funding will be allotted to high-tech security upgrades.

Hawley wrote Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie earlier this year asking for $50,000 per school statewide to hire armed resource officers. Furthermore, he recently introduced legislation that would make it easier for school districts to hire armed security personnel.

“The safety and security of our students is preeminent and I am glad some of this funding will go toward technological security upgrades,” Hawley said. “Our students, teachers and faculty deserve to feel safe and protected from the moment they step inside a school and that starts with taking a proactive approach.”

Press release:

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today joined their Senate colleagues in urging United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to continue to ensure Mexico honors its existing trade commitments.

They want Lighthizer to fight back against the EU’s recent proposal to exclusively use common cheese names, like “parmesan,” “feta,” and “asiago” in Mexico.

According to the senators, through a recent trade agreement with Mexico, the EU is seeking to prevent cheese producers from exporting their products using common cheese names or geographical indications.

Schumer and Gillibrand argued that this would be a huge hit to Upstate dairy farmers as they look to continue to export cheese and compete for new markets.

“No matter how you slice it, Upstate New York’s cheese producers could lose a big chunk of their business if the EU successfully convinces Mexico to place geographic restrictions on cheese labeling,” Senator Schumer said.

"From Western New York to the Hudson Valley, cheese production is an important industry in Upstate New York, which is why I'm urging Ambassador Lighthizer to hold nothing back and use every tool in his disposal to protect U.S. cheese producers and ensure that Mexico continues to honor their existing trade commitments."

“This harmful proposed trade agreement between the EU and Mexico could hurt our farmers and rural communities by taking away export opportunities for New York cheese producers,” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

“We need to do everything possible to protect and promote New York’s dairy industry, which is already struggling in the face of historically low milk prices and other challenges, and I’m urging U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer to fight against any proposal that would hurt local cheese producers.”

Schumer and Gillibrand pointed out that Mexico is the largest export destination for American cheese, accounting for virtually one-third of the $1.3 billion in dairy products the United States exported to Mexico last year and that implementing geographic indications on cheeses could devastate New York’s cheese industry.

The senators explained that this is not the first time the EU has tried to claim cheese names based on geographic locations, in the same way, that the EU has argued that champagne can only be sold as "champagne" if produced in the Champagne region of France.

Among the labels sought by EU are muenster, feta, parmesan, fontina, gorgonzola and others. Schumer warned that if the EU succeeds in claiming those names, New York producers will no longer be able to export cheeses with their current names. They would have to export the cheese under a different name, meaning that producers could lose market share they have spent years fighting for.

A copy of the joint Senate letter to Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer appears below:

Dear Ambassador Lighthizer:

We write today expressing our concerns about Mexico’s recent trade negotiations with the European Union (EU) and the devastating impact these actions could have on American cheese exports to Mexico. On April 21, 2018, the EU and Mexico reached an agreement in principle to modernize their current trade agreement.

A summary of the agreement provided by the European Commission notes that Mexico agreed to protect 340 European geographical indications. While the final text of the agreement—and the full list of restricted names—has not been released, media reports indicate that Mexico has agreed to restrict food imports with names—most notably of cheeses—considered generic in the United States.

As you work to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), we urge you to engage with your Mexican and Canadian counterparts to ensure that future trade policies do not limit export opportunities for American dairy farmers and processors. In light of Mexico’s proposed agreement with the EU, we are deeply concerned that American cheesemakers will be harmed by a reversal of their current access to the Mexican market, and will be denied the opportunity to sell products to Mexican consumers using common cheese product names that have been marketed for decades.

In addition, this threat to American dairy exports underscores and reaffirms the need for a renegotiated NAFTA that ensures strong market access for dairy exports to Mexico and Canada and addresses Canada’s trade-distorting Class 7 dairy pricing scheme.

Geographical indications link a product to a particular region, implying that the product possesses a certain quality or reputation associated with that locale. The EU has aggressively pursued restrictions for cheeses, such as feta (Greece), muenster (France), and parmesan (Italy), in their domestic and international trade policies. While these names are covered as geographic indications within the EU, they are generic in the United States and in numerous other countries around the world.

Mexico is the largest export destination for American cheese, accounting for roughly one-third of the $1.3 billion in dairy products the United States exported to Mexico last year. If Mexico grants European cheese producers exclusive rights to use common cheese names, as reports indicate it has agreed to do, American producers will lose market share they have spent years developing.

This policy change will have a detrimental impact on American cheese and dairy producers, who are already adversely impacted by Canada’s trade-distorting policies.

The 2015 Trade Promotion Authority statute—which is currently in force—included a principal negotiating objective on geographical indications:

“The principal negotiating objective of the United States with respect to agriculture is to obtain competitive opportunities for United States exports of agricultural commodities in foreign markets substantially equivalent to the competitive opportunities afforded foreign exports in United States markets and to achieve fairer and more open conditions of trade in bulk, specialty crop, and value-added commodities by [. . .] eliminating and preventing the undermining of market access for United States products through improper use of a country’s system for protecting or recognizing geographical indications, including failing to ensure transparency and procedural fairness and protecting generic terms.”

In order to meet this objective, the United States should engage with Mexico on geographic indication restrictions to ensure Mexico honors its existing trade commitments with the United States. American cheese exporters should be allowed to continue using common food names that Mexican consumers are familiar with.

Anything less would grant European producers access to the market share that American producers have developed over decades and unjustly award them the future growth opportunities of those products. We appreciate your attention to this matter and stand ready to work with you to protect American cheese exports.

Press release:

This Sunday, June 10, the public is invited to the Batavia VA Medical Center for a special ceremony to honor the American flag.

The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. honoring those service men and women who have fought to protect that flag and our country.

There will be a motorcycle procession, Special Presentation of Colors, and a special thank you from the Batavia Middle School to honor Mr. Leo Pelton (98 years young) for his service in World War II.

"Let's Ride" -- motorcyclists carrying the names of our fallen warriors listed on Batavia's memorial wall -- will gather at Stan's Harley-Davidson, 4425 Saile Drive, Batavia, at 11:30 a.m. for the noon memorial ride to the Batavia VA Medical Center. They will present those names to the veterans in the hospital to let them know they are not forgotten and present a new American flag on their behalf to the hospital.

Essays will be read by the student winners from BMS who won the essay contest on “What the American Flag Means to Me.“ 

St. Joseph’s of Batavia Brass Ensemble will perform its patriotic/military set for the VA patients and the general public.

It promises to be a great afternoon! Come on out and be part of this special celebration. Help us make this a very special Thank You to our veterans and service people!

The Batavia VA Medical Center is located at 222 Richmond Ave. in the City of Batavia.

Next week is National Flag Week. Flag Day is Thursday, June 14. The National Flag Day Foundation holds an annual observance for Flag Day on the second Sunday in June, which includes a ceremonial raising of the national flag, the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, singing of the National Anthem, a parade and other patriotic events.

The Genesee County Libertarian Party held its annual convention Monday evening at T.F. Brown's in Batavia.

Mark Potwora (top photo) was elected chairman. Dave Olsen is now vice chairman, and Lisa Whitehead is secretary.

The party endorsed one candidate for office in the 2018 election: Mark Glogowski for the State Assembly, District 139.

There will be a fundraiser for Larry Sharpe and Andrew Hollister, who are running for governor and lieutenant governor, July 22 at 1 p.m. at T.F. Brown's. 

The boys participating in this year's B Squad, a running group coached by Sarah Gahagan and other Batavia Middle School teachers, celebrated their first year as a team with a pizza party and individual recognition for their accomplishments.

Each boy was nominated for an award by a teacher or administrator based on improvements or contributions they made throughout the school year.  There are 50 boys who participated this year.

The group runs as a team and often to locations where they learn about the community or local businesses.

A water main break is reported in Corfu at East Main Street and Thompson Drive.

A responder on scene reports there's water coming up on both sides of the road.

UPDATE: Corfu Chief Brian Schollard says Route 33 is open through the village but houses on both sides of the street, from 56 to 78 are without water for the night. Work crews are on scene repairing the break. Two hydrants are also out of service between Lawrence and Thompson. Repairs are expected to be completed by the morning sometime.

Three suspects were arraigned this afternoon in Genesee County Court for crimes stemming from a May 17 incident on Central Avenue in Batavia in which one man was stabbed to death and another man shot with a handgun. All pled not guilty to the charges.

Nathaniel D. Wilson Jr., 30, was ordered held without bail. He is charged with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum prison term of 25 years to life, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.

He was in court represented by criminal defense attorney Fred Rarick, who made routine demands for discovery of evidence and the "bill of particulars" for the crimes alleged.

Motions in the case are scheduled for July 19; answers July 26; oral arugments at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 6.

Wilson made no statement in court.

He is accused of stabbing 41-year-old Jerry J. Toote to death in the confrontation between a group of people on Central Avenue.

Jennifer Urvizu-Hanlon, 48, was granted $50,000 cash bail or bond by Judge Charles Zambito.

She allegedly handed her revolver, which she is licensed to carry, to 17-year-old Samuel Blackshear that night and he, in turn, allegedly shot Wilson in the leg. The owner of La Mexicana store in the Valu Plaza is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, both Class C violent felonies.

The District Attorney's Office asked that no bail be granted in her case and First Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini told the judge the defendant was harboring Blackshear in her home at the time of his arrest.

Urvizu-Hanlon's counsel, public defense attorney Marty Anderson, told the court his client is a 20-year resident of Genesee County and has been a small business owner here for six years. He noted further that she has no substance abuse issues and no criminal history.

Wearing bright lemon-lime jail clothes, Urvizu-Hanlon smiled wanly as she entered the courtroom with hands shackled at her waist. Petite, about 5' tall, she softly pronounced her name for the judge when prompted to do so.

Anderson asked that she be released into the custody of Genesee Justice.

Zambito said he would not release Anderson's client to Genesee Justice but allowed that bail was appropriate and he asked the people what bail they would prefer for Urvizu-Hanlon. The people suggested $50,000 and the judge agreed to that sum.

The judge also ordered Urvizu-Hanlon to surrender her gun(s) and informed her that her license to carry a concealed weapon in New York State was suspended.

"My client's ex-husband was in possession of a gun, both their names were on the permit, and he sold it," Anderson said. "I will provide documentation to the court as soon as possible."

Motions are set in the Urvizu-Hanlon case for July 19; answers July 26; oral arguments at 2 p.m. Aug. 6.

Blackshear is charged with attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, and two counts of criminal possession in the second degree. He facees up to 15 years in prison.

A private attorney hired by his sister appeared with Blackshear in court, James Hinman.

Hinman asked for "reasonable bail" to be set for his client. He said he received the bail evaluation from Genesee Justice, provided to him by public defense attorney Michael Locicero, and noted that Blackshear has a misdemeanor case (criminal possession of a controlled substance) pending in Batavia City Court and two failure to appear citations.

Blackshear, tall and lanky with a prematurely furrowed brow, has extended family here and is a lifelong resident, his attorney said. About eight family members were in the gallery in a show of support for their kin.

Hinman disputed Cianfrini's claim that Blackshear was being harbored by Urvizu-Hanlon and said his client had been staying with his mother for a couple of days at a motel at the time of his arrest.

The teenager, if he is able to bail out of custody, would live with his father, Hinman said.

"He has no violent history," Hinman told Zambito.

The District Attorney's Office suggested bail be set at $100,000 and said Blackshear actually failed to appear on the misdemeanor in city court on three occasions not two -- March 28, April 17 and May 11 -- and the current charges are way more serious.

Hinman said his client witnessed the individual he is accused of shooting, stab his uncle, Toote, to death so "his behavior is not as egregious as Mr. Friedman would have the court believe." He suggested bail should be set at $25,000.

Friedman said it's not a matter of what he believes -- he reviewed the evidence and viewed the video of the incident -- and maintains there is "no valid self defense claim here."

Zambito said he is concerned about where the youth would live, his young age, his failure to appear three times on a misdemeanor charge.

The judge agreed to set the higher bail as requested by the people of $100,000 cash or bond.

Motions are due by July 20; answers by July 27; oral arguments at set for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 13.

A man either had his arm run over or otherwise entangled in a vehicle in the area of 4116 Broadway, Alexander.

The vehicle is off the road and has a trailer attached that is now blocking Route 20, westbound.

Alexander Fire dispatched.

The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during the Kendrick Lamar Concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Sunday:

Jack E. Katzman, 20, Addison Drive, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, arrested for criminal mischief, 3rd, and criminal tampering, 3rd, after allegedly damaging a window to a Darien Lake camping trailer with his elbow and then entered a Darien Lake cabin and smeared blood on multiple surfaces. Jack was arraigned in Darien Town Court and jailed in lieu of $500 bail.

John K. Donnell, 19, Gulick Road, Naples, was arrested for harassment, 2nd, after allegedly pushing a Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy. Donnell was arraigned in Darien Town Court and jailed in lieu of $100 bail.

Donovan M. McCann, 18, Cornell Avenue, Amherst, was arrested for trespass and unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return and then was found to be in possession of a quantity of marijuana. McCann was arraigned in Darien Town Court and jailed in lieu of $500 bail.

(name redacted upon request), 22, Beilman Court, Hamburg, was arrested for criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, after allegedly being found in possession of cocaine.

Zachary J. Black, 21, Woodbine Avenue, West Seneca, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Graham S. Schild, 18, Chatham Woods, Pittsford, was arrested for criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly entering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Donald C. Bielefeld, 19, Humboldt Place, Depew, was arrested for criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly entering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Marissa L. Hayes, 19, Mark Drive, North Tonawanda, was arrested for criminal trespass, 3rd, and trespass after allegedly entering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return twice.

Rani V. Patel, 18, Beresford Court, Williamsville, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Matthew J. Mruk, 20, Arrowood Lane, Orchard Park, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Matthew E. Poblocki, 20, North Transit Hill, Depew, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Allison J. Attea, 19, Lockhart Circle, Buffalo, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Hailey J. Miller, 18, Silent Meadow Lane, Orchard Park, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return. 

Kathryn A. Clancy, 19, Charles Drive, Camillus, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Gordon H. Nelson, 21, Brookhaven Terrace, Rochester, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Bradley L. Logan, 18, Newton Road, Hamburg, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Alexander D. Jennings, 18, East River Road, Grand Island arrested for harassment, 2nd, after allegedly striking a Darien Lake medic inside the venue. 

Joshua J. Mase, 26, Farnsworth Avenue, Oakfield, was arrested for criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly entering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Lindsey E. Tomasak, 17, Transit Road, Orchard Park, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Alexis R. Skowron, 19, Hall Road, Elma, was arrested for trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

When Terry Hills Golf Course built the 14th hold more than 30 years ago, the green, on one of the course's signature holes, was mostly surrounded by water. To provide a bridge to the green, two telephone polls were placed across the water.

In the three decades that passed, the weather did its work on the wood, so last summer the bridge was removed.

This year a new bridge was installed, and with Jim Kelly on hand to cut the ribbon, it was officially opened.

Top photo: Mary Brown, Casey Brown, Danielle Rotondo, Jessica Ecock-Rotondo, Ellen Simkulet and Nick Rotondo.

Below, two photos provided by Terry Hills. First, Tom Brown walking across the telephone polls when first placed over the water. Second, Casey Brown walking across the first beam placed for the new bridge.

GO ART! and local poetry lovers will have a special event featuring poet Stephen Lewandowski at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, at historic Seymour Place in Downtown Batavia. It is free and open to the public.

At "Poetry in Batavia," Lewandowski will read poems and this will be followed by an open reading -- an opportunity for people to read their own work or that of a favorite poet.

Lewandowski has published 13 books of poetry, and his poems and essays have appeared in regional and national environmental and literary journals and anthologies.

He was a student of poet Howard Nemerov, a graduate assistant to philosophical essayist William Gass and later studied with folklorist Louis Jones.

His two most recent books are "Under Foot" from May Apple Press in Woodstock (2014) and "Last Settler in the Finger Lakes" from Foothills Publishing in Avoca (2015).

He is working on "Local Life, a Natural History of the Finger Lakes."

GO ART!, in the Seymour Place building, is located at 201 E. Main St. The bar will be open for those wishing to purchase beer or wine.

Matthew J. Hyland, 38, of Canandaigua, is charged with petit larceny. Hyland was arrested following an investigation by a trooper into the theft of $103 from a wallet that had been accidentally left on a counter by a customer at the TA Travel Center in Pembroke. The customer reported returning for the wallet and finding $103 had been removed from the wallet. The trooper used video surveillance to help identify Hyland as a suspect. According to State Police, Hyland admitted to the larceny and stated he wanted to return the money to the owner. Hyland turned himself in to State Police at the Batavia Barracks.

Adam J. Arsenault, 32, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with menacing a police officer, resisting arrest, and criminal possession of a weapon. Arsenault allegedly brandished a knife at police officers who were attempting to arrest him on a warrant. He was jailed without bail.

Scott David Beswick, 44, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt. Beswick is accused of consuming alcohol at his residence in violation of a court order of protection.

Nathan Robert Arnold, 26, of Terry Street, Byron, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing. Arnold allegedly obstructed the breathing of another man while engaged in a fight at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday at a location on Terry Street, Bryon.

Bleyke Z. Culver, 21, of Walnut Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to comply with court-ordered programs as part of his sentencing on a conviction. He jailed on $1,000 bail or $2,000 bond.

Latiqua S. Jackson, 24, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th, and conspiracy, 6th. Jackson was arrested on a warrant. Jackson is accused of pawning, trading or selling stolen property and that she was aided by at least one other person. She was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Luis Alberto Ramos-Mercado, 33, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd. Ramos-Mercado is accused of entering another person's dwelling through a window without that person's knowledge or permission.

Edward R. Loper, 30, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. Loper was arrested on a warrant while incarcerated in the Genesee County Jail on unrelated charges.

Nathen Edward-Donald Brege, 25, of Alleghany Road, Basom, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear for sentencing on a resisting arrest charge. He was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Matthew J. Florian, 29, of Slusser Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and following too closely. Florian was stopped at 11:18 p.m. Saturday on West Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Arick Perkins.

A rollover accident is reported in the area of 7578 Oak Orchard Road, Elba, which is just north of Daws Corners.

Minor injuries reported but extrication needed.

A first responder says the vehicle is on its tires.

Elba fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 7:33 a.m.: Patient extricated.

A motorcycle accident with injuries is reported at 8525 Route 237, Stafford.

No word on whether other vehicles were involved.

Stafford fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 10:15 a.m.: The patient will be transported to Strong.

A minor injury accident with fluids leaking is reported on West Main Street at River Street, Batavia.

A neck injury is reported.

City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

The American Warrior Concert at The Ridge NY in Le Roy is a two-day festival celebrating and honoring veterans that includes music, activities, and access to services for veterans.

The first few photos are of the band Ball Cheeze Psychotics, as a picture of Tetelestai and of Zach Burgess. In all, more than two dozen musical acts played on the two stages set up for the event.

Pony riders from age 5 to age 17 were at the Genesee County Fairgrounds today for a regional competition hosted by the Western New York Pony Club.

The competition is a series of games, relay races, that test the riders' skills for placing, picking up, and handing off objects while on horseback.

The children age 5 to 9 compete in five races and the older competitors race through 10 relays.  

The rulebook contains 46 possible games that organizers can choose and teams only learn a month before the competition which games will be played.

The winning teams will have an opportunity to compete at the national championship in North Carolina later this year.

There were 36 competitors in Batavia today from throughout Western, Central, and a portion of Northern New York.

EIghth-grader Cody Harloff was the first to cross the finish line in a 1K fun run at Centennial Park this morning held to promote the Batavia High School Cross-country Team.

The run was promoted to Batavia Middle School students.

Below, Coach Rich Boyce explains to the rules of the race to the runners.

First-place awards were given to the winners at each grade level participating.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported in front of Jan's Smoke Shop at 383 Bloomingdale Road, Alabama. One person is injured, according to a firefighter at the scene. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 8:47 a.m.: A first responder at the scene says two vehicles are involved and they are blocking traffic.

UPDATE 8:48 a.m.: Alabama command says the ambulance can continue in non-emergency mode for evaluation of two patients, possibly sign-offs.