Familiar name tied to unsigned Lew-Port flier

Local News

March 1, 2011

By Nick Mattera Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Tue Mar 01, 2011, 11:15 PM EST

LEWISTON-PORTER — A police report filed by the president of the Lewiston-Porter teacher’s union alleges former school board member Edward Lilly delivered a controversial flyer to his Swann Road home late Monday.

Lilly is denying the allegations made by union leader Kevin Jaruszewski, saying he’d take legal action against him for filing a false claim.

According to a report filed with the Lewiston Police Department, Lilly was allegedly observed outside Jaruszewski’s residence at 9:46 p.m., driving a four-door sedan with a John McCain bumper sticker, placing a flyer that attempts to connect a current high school physical education teacher to a 2007 teacher/student sex scandal.

Jaruszewski went outside and was able to write down the license plate number of the vehicle, which officers traced back to Lilly, the report said. Jaruszewski then followed the vehicle down Swann Road and onto Creek Road, where Jaruszewski claimed he was able to make a physical identification of Lilly. Jaruszewski said during the pursuit, Lilly began driving erratically “attempting to flee the area.”

Lilly said Tuesday he has not been contacted by Lewiston police. Several calls to Lewiston Police Chief Chris Salada were not returned Tuesday.

The anonymous flyer in question, obtained by the Gazette, was sent to numerous residences in the community, including the homes of school board members. It attempts to connect a high school physical education teacher to an alleged 2007 teacher/student sex scandal. The circular is titled “Perverts welcome at LewPort” and signed by “Citizens Against Pervert Enablers.”

Lilly who was contacted by phone Tuesday, did confirm the vehicle described in the report was his but denied he was at Jaruszewski’s home Monday evening. Lilly provided comments on the issue to the Gazette by email.

“First amendment rights protect distribution of all types of information,” Lilly wrote. “Teachers having sex with students is still illegal. Kevin (Jaruszewski) seems to have his priorities backwards.”

The alleged teacher/student sex scandal that is described in the letter being circulated has never been confirmed by school officials. The teacher who was said to have been involved resigned in 2007 and has since had their teaching license suspended according to the state Education Department’s website.

Jaruszewski said there is no doubt in his mind that it was in fact Lilly who was at his home Monday night and is now seeking an order of protection against the former longtime board member.

“I know beyond a doubt it was him,” Jaruszewski said. “It was Ed Lilly and for him to just deny it and think it’s going to go away is disgusting and disturbing. This connects him to the flyer.”

Lilly said the allegations against him are an effort to distract people from talking about issues that matter, including a teachers’ union health insurance trust fund.

“This is another obvious attempt by (Jaruszewski) to distract from the real issue of (a) $4 million slush fund and lack of acceptability,” Lilly said. “With millions of dollars at stake, how does (Jaruszewski) crying about a flyer become newsworthy?”

According to the police report, Lilly has allegedly been to Jaruszewski’s residence “several times.”

Lilly said another resident previously attempted to file a similar complaint against him in regards to the distribution of the Vanguard. According to documents on file with the Niagara County Clerk’s Office, Lilly filed a legal challenge against the Chicora Road woman claiming she filed a false police report and defamed him.

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