News

Fundraising after fire tragedy criticized

Posted December 10, 2007 10:00 pm

Bob Clark

A one-gallon glass jar has become a major point of contention between two local families suffering a tragedy.

It has been two weeks since Tricia Cushman and her 6-month-old son, Landon Walsh, perished in a fire on Front Street in Hornell.

Earlier last week, a glass jar appeared on a counter in Beaver's Pharmacy in Canisteo soliciting donations for Walsh's father, Tom.

"For Tom Walsh II, Lost his son in a FIRE," a handwritten label on the jar read.

Members of Cushman's family said they were made to believe the money was being raised for funeral expenses. The problem, according to Cushman's sister Susan Lafler, is that the funeral has already been paid for. That was confirmed by funeral director Jim Dagon.

"There is no outstanding balance," Dagon said, adding Tom Walsh's family was never involved in planning or paying for the funeral.

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Cushman's family members believe the jar is for raising bail money for the Walsh, who has been in Steuben County jail since Oct. 12.

"That's what we believe the money is for because the funeral is already paid for," Cushman's mother, Cindy Lafler, said.

Walsh's incarceration was confirmed by Steuben County jail Superintendent Maj. Chris Lian. Walsh was remanded on orders from Bath town court after he was charged with third-degree burglary. Bail was set at $5,000 cash or $10,000 property bond.

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Walsh's father, Ken Hamblin, who put the jar in Beaver's, said the money is for Steuben Rural Ministries in Canisteo, who he said assisted Cushman and Walsh in the past.

"Tom said that would be one way to pay them back for all they did for them," Hamblin said.

Responding to the allegations that the funds were being raised for funeral expenses even though the funeral has been paid for in full, Hamblin said that was never his intention.

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"We never told them that," Hamblin said, adding the sign on the jar has been changed to say the money is for Rural Ministries.

"All it is, is that Tricia's family is mad because Tricia's name was not on (the jar)," Hamblin said.

As of Friday, Beaver's owner Tim Steffey had taken the jar out of the public's view.

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"It sits behind the counter right now," Steffey said, adding he had heard the money was for funeral expenses and the jar was pulled after Susan Lafler saw the jar and complained to the management.

Steffey estimated the jar contained around $15 Friday evening.

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