The New York State Magistrates Association gave its 2009 Eugene W. Salisbury Magistrate of the Year Award to Amherst Town Justice Hon. Mark Farrell. The award was presented at the organization's annual meeting in Lake Placid in October.

Farrell was cited for his contributions to the local court system and for his professional achievements as a member of the judiciary.

Since first being elected to the bench in 1993, Farrell has been responsible for instituting the first suburban drug court in the United States, in 1996; the first domestic-violence court in Erie County, in 1997; the world's only gambling treatment court, in 2001; and the nation's only suburban veteran's treatment court, in May 2009.

Elder-law lawyers speaking Nov. 12

The 8th Judicial District's Gender and Racial Fairness Committee is sponsoring an informational program Nov. 12 on the services available for the elderly in Erie County.

Three attorneys will give presentations: Gayle Eagan, a partner in the law firm Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP, and Karen Nicolson and Helen Ferraro-Zaffram from Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled or Disadvantaged of Western New York Inc.

Also speaking will be Pat Watson from the Erie County Department of Senior Services, Christian Reitler from the American Red Cross, Kelsey Harvey from the Alzheimer's Association and Bonnie McMorrow from Meals on Wheels. The presentation will be held at the Supreme Court Ceremonial Courtroom at 92 Franklin St., second floor, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

The program is the third in a series on issues regarding the care of elderly parents. A fourth and final program, to be held Nov. 18, will focus on caring for the caregiver. Speakers at that program will include Miriam Callahan from Erie County Respite Services.

Social media the topic for Mid-Day talk

Author and attorney Adrian Dayton will be the featured speaker at The Mid-Day Club, Liberty Building, 424 Main St., 20th floor, Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 8 to 9:15 a.m.

Dayton, the author of "Social Media For Lawyers: Twitter Edition," will give a presentation titled "Becoming a Thought Leader Through Social Media." He will outline strategies on how to identify, qualify and engage new clients through social media; how to gain a national reputation for your company; and how social media can spread your message to 100,000 people in minutes.

For additional information, contact Dayton at info@adriandayton.com.

Bouvier's Martin honored by CSDD

Peter Martin, a senior partner with the Bouvier Partnership, received the Striving for Excellence Award from Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled at the group's 20th anniversary gala Oct. 24.

He was recognized for being "one of the greatest advocates of community services," and for helping to guide the organization during years of rapid growth.

Bond labor seminar coming Wednesday

Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC is hosting a statewide labor-and-employment-law breakfast briefing entitled "The Nuances of New York Labor and Employment Laws" Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Topics to be covered include new statutes; special-notice rules and other requirements for policies and handbooks; and New York equal-employment-opportunity law.

- Compiled by Matt Chandler