Students’ experiment heads to space
Allegany County to recieve state water aid
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pg 4
DECEMBER
31 2021
5 Wellsville police officers commended for going above and beyond BY KATHRYN ROSS WELLSVILLE — Five officers with the Wellsville Village Police Department were recognized Dec. 27 by their chief for going above and beyond when it comes to serving the community. Chief Tim O’Grady sent off a message to the mayor and trustees lauding the extra efforts put forth by Officers PJ Sherman and Jared Ma ison, Lt. Josh Kear and Officers Bryant Hughes and John Valentine. In recent weeks, the officers have responded to three individual incidents in which their extra efforts protected the lives and welfare of local residents. Responding, Mayor Randy Shayler said, “Thank you for sharing this information about lifesaving heroic acts by members of WPD. We are all fortunate to enjoy a department of professional law enforcement individuals whose efforts make Wellsville the home we want and know it to be.” To Sherman and Madison, O’Grady wrote, “I would like to commend you on the lifesaving skills that you implemented on Dec. 2 for a man who suffered a cardiac arrest during a property damage auto accident. Your performance of CPR gave the man a fighting chance and allowed him to be transported to the hospital to receive a higher level of care.”
Provided T o Kear and Hughes, O ’ G r a d y wrote, “I would like to commend you on the life-saving efforts you displayed at a mental health crisis call that occurred on Dec. 13. Your quick decision to utilize a Taser which caused a man in crisis to drop a knife and ultimately saved his life. A health care professional commented on the action and thanked the department, saying, “I wanted to send a quick message to thank the officers that responded to a mental health issue today. I was not going to send a message, but a er si ing and thinking and realizing the reality of it and everything you all do for the community, I just wanted to send my gratitude. Your officers responded fast and swi ly.” On Dec. 16, a fi re broke out in the evening at an apartment building at 165 Madison St. Fire department personnel and officers responded. Although the fi re devastated
Wellsville Officers continued. page 2
State Assemblyman Joe Giglio (from left), U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, Allegany County legislators Curt Crandall and Judy Hopkins, Julie Schmidt from state Sen. George Borrello’s office, and legislators David Decker, Karl Graves and Bill Dibble, pose for a photograph during Monday’s Allegany County Board of Legislators meeting in Belmont. The legislators said goodbye at the last meeting of their terms of office, which end Friday.
Crandall, 4 others take bow at end of Allegany County board tenures BELMONT — Five Allegany County legislators ended their tenures on Monday, including the head of the body for over a decade. The Board of Legislators on Monday said goodbye to outgoing District 1 legislators Curt Crandall and Judy Hopkins; District 2’s Dave Decker, District 3’s Bill Dibble and District 4’s Karl Graves. During the fi nal board meeting of the year, featuring visits from U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, state Assemblyman Joe Giglio, R-Gowanda, the quintet was feted for their combined 65 years on the board: Crandall, who has served
as board chairman since 2006, was fi rst appointed to fi ll a vacancy in 2000 before winning his own term in 2001. Prior to that time he served several terms as a Caneadea town councilman. Hopkins, a Fillmore resident, was appointed in 2015 to the board. She won a oneyear term to fi ll the vacancy in 2016 and a four-year term in 2017, serving six years on the board. Decker was fi rst elected to the board in 2013, serving eight years on the board. Graves, formerly the Andover mayor and town supervisor, fi rst joined the legislature on an appointment to
fi ll a vacancy in January 2011 and spent just shy of 10 years on the board. Dibble joined the board in the 1990s, serving as majority leader and vice chairman for part of his fi rst 16 years in office. He later won another term in 2017, tallying 20 years in office. “It’s truly been an honor to serve with each and every one of you,” Reed said. “You have represented us extremely well with who you are, what you have done, and what you will continue to do for the residents of Allegany County.” Reed also thanked the spouses of the legislators
for their work supporting the county. Acknowledging that some were present, “and some of them can’t be with us, but we never forget,” he said, looking at Hopkins. Hopkins’ husband, Theodore, served on the board for 10 years and was the majority leader at the time of his death in 2015 at the age of 70. Judy Hopkins was appointed to fi ll the remainder of his term, and won elections in 2016 and 2017 for her own seat. Giglio also addressed the board, referring to the occasion as bi ersweet a er
County Lawmakers cont'd ... page 5
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DECEMBER 31, 2021
Allegany County Area Foundation announces December grants BELFAST — The Allegany County Area Foundation recently made grants to support a variety of local activities.
three and five books, snack, and age-appropriate swap. When that box is returned, they receive the next edition. Feedback from recipiACAF awarded $600 ents helps to enhance the to the National Technical contents of future boxes. Honor Society, Belmont The library has seen new Chapter BOCES. The chappatrons and a thirty five ter’s usual fundraising efpercent increase in circuforts have been sidelined by lation since the program COVID restrictions resultstarted, with 80% of particiing in a budgetary shortfall. pants under the age of 18, inThis grant allows for sevencluding excellent pre-school teen students to be inducted age participation. into NTHS and helps with The Allegany County the cost of the induction Shop with a Cop Fund ceremony. awarded $260 grants to ACAF awarded $1,000 to Wellspring Ministries and the Belfast Public Library ACCORD Corporation. Both in support of its Book Box have well-established proprogram. Library staff cregrams to provide gifts to ated the Book Box in May, kids throughout the county responding to local needs during the holiday season, and noting the popularity of and these grants will supsubscription type programs. port those efforts. Each month, recipients pick up a box with between
Wellsville Officers
ALK PLAZA LE, NY 14895 93-4063
continued from 1
the more than 100-year-old structure, no lives were lost. Of the incident, O’Grady wrote to Valentine, “I would like to commend you on the bravery and compassion that you demonstrated at a large house fire on Dec. 16 the actions you exhibited that evening helped save the lives of the occupants and your initial verification of the tenant’s whereabouts assisted the firefighters in their efforts.” Valentine’s efforts were also recognized by Sgt. Jered Heaney, who wrote, “I wanted to take time to recognize officer John Valentine for his response to the structure
fire. ... I would first like to say that officer Valentine responded to the scene quickly and arrived shortly a er being dispatched, he assessed the scene and observed flames and smoke coming from the upper floor of the apartment house. Officer Valentine entered the building despite the risk to his own health and safety. ”While inside the building officer Valentine located two women on the main stairwell and assisted them in safely exiting the building. While assisting these women out of the building visibility was very poor due to a large amount of black smoke. A er exiting the apartment house with the females officer Valentine returned inside and continued to search other parts of the building for additional people. ”Officer Valentine then interviewed the building
Reason #27:
Photo provided
ACAF December grants included $1,000 to the Belfast Public Library in support of its Book Box program.
Rock > windshield
occupants outside to confirm that no one else was in the apartment house. A er speaking with the occupants officer Valentine was able to confirm that none of the tenants were inside. “Thankfully, these incidents don’t occur that frequently in the village, but it is comforting to know that we have dedicated and caring officers like John Valentine who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way to protect the citizens of the village. “When these incidents occur, I feel that it is important to recognize the officer for their dedication and bravery.” In each of the le ers he wrote to the officers, O’Grady thanked them saying, “Your actions provide projected a professional and positive image of the Wellsville Police Department.”
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DECEMBER 31, 2021
How to make driving in inclement weather more safe Impaired visibility can be a safety hazard while driving. Everything from sun glare to hail can affect a driver’s ability to see the road and navigate it effectively. Before drivers get behind the wheel, they should make note of their local forecast and make a plan for what to do if rain, snow or other conditions make it challenging to drive. The International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences indicates that, based on an examination of crash test data conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the “likelihood of a crash increases during periods of low visibility, despite the tendency for less traffic and for lower speeds to prevail during these times.” Drivers can take several steps to improve their visibility when driving in poor weather conditions. • Inspect and change windshield wiper blades. Wipers are instrumental in clearing precipitation away from the windshield. If they’re not functioning
properly, wipers cannot do their jobs. Drivers should replace their wipers at the fi rst indication that they are no longer effective. In some conditions, wipers can freeze or stick. Drivers should then pull over and clean the wipers manually. • Clear obstructions. Always make sure the windshield is clear before driving. This can include removing ice and snow in the winter and cleaning off mud or bug spla¦er in the spring and summer. Use the front and rear defrost if condensation fogs up windshields and windows. • Slow down. Foul weather can reduce drivers’ ability to see far into the distance. Drivers should always drive slower in inclement weather in order to improve reaction time. • Top off fluids. Always keep the windshield washer reservoir full and keep extra fluid in the trunk. In addition, look for a fluid that does not freeze in very cold temperatures. • Learn how to drive in fog.
Local governments in Allegany County get state water aid Four local governments will receive aid to improve wastewater treatment systems, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Dec. 27. The governments include the town of Friendship, and the villages of Alfred, Bolivar and Cuba, Hochul said, as part of the state’s Engineering Planning Grants. “To improve water quality for communities across New York, we must take action to ensure the resiliency of our infrastructure,” Governor Hochul said. “These grants remove the fi nancial barriers for local governments to invest in critical water infrastructure projects. New York will continue to prioritize funding for low-income communities and expand access to clean water, supporting our state’s economic growth and improving public health.” The awards include: • Village of Alfred: $30,000 to identify sources of inflow and infi ltration, evaluate alternatives, and recommend improvements to the wastewater collection system. • Village of Bolivar: $100,000 to identify sources of inflow and infi ltration,
evaluate alternatives, and recommend improvements to the wastewater collection system. • Town of Friendship: $30,000 evaluate upgrade alternatives and recommend improvements to the wastewater treatment and collection system. • Village of Cuba: $30,000 to identify sources of inflow and infi ltration and evaluate upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant and recommend improvements to the wastewater collection and treatment system. The grants were among $23 million in awards across the state, including $2.5 million for 56 engineering grants. Engineering Planning Grants help eligible communities afford and start the critical planning process so they can be be¦er prepared to seek fi nancing to help them complete their water infrastructure projects. Grants of up to $100,000 are available to develop an engineering report that identifies problems and potential solutions. These grants have helped municipalities across the state to complete 350 engineering reports since the program’s inception in 2012.
Each year, more than 38,700 vehicle crashes occur in fog, states the Federal Highway Administration. Travelers Insurance recommends slowing down, staying focused and using regular headlights and not high beams when driving in fog. • Go out only if necessary. In snowy or icy conditions, drive only if it’s absolutely necessary, as snow and ice can impair visibility and
make roads slick, says AAA. • Avoid driving at dusk and dawn. The human eye can have trouble adjusting to rapidly changing light and darkness conditions, which are common at dusk and dawn. If possible, drivers should make trips during the heart of the day, especially if poor lighting conditions typically make it difficult for them to drive.
Allegany County DoH announces January schedule BELMONT — The Allegany County Department of Health has released its January clinic schedule. Immunization clinics will be available in Belmont by appointment from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 11 and Jan. 24. Reproductive health clinics will be available from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Belmont on Jan. 13 and in Alfred Parish Hall on Jan. 27. Appointments for both the immunization and reproductive health clinics can be made at (585) 268-9250. COVID-19 vaccine clinics will be held on: • Jan. 5, 1 to 5 p.m., Moderna fi rst, second and boosters for ages 18 and over. • Jan. 8, 9 to 11 a.m., Pfi zer second dose ages 5 and over, booster for
ages 16 and over; J&J fi rst dose and booster for ages 18 and over; and Moderna booster for ages 18 and over. • Jan. 12, 1 to 5 p.m., J&J fi rst dose and booster or ages 18 and over. • Jan. 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pfi zer fi rst, second for ages 5 and over and booster for ages 16 and over. • Jan. 28, 1 to 5 p.m., Moderna booster for ages 18 and over; Pfi zer booster for ages 16 and over; J&J booster for ages 18 and over. • R a p i d tests are offered every Monday and Wednesday at Belmont Legion parking lot. Call or go online to register. WIC programs will be available by phone and if you have an appointment, you’ll be contacted about one week prior to your appointment.
To schedule an appointFor information or to ment or if you do not receive schedule cancer screenings, a phone call, contact (585) call (877) 778-6857 or (607) 324-8812. 593-2533.
dbelli@oleantimesherald.com
DECEMBER 31, 2021
County Lawmakers continued from 1
years of working with the legislators. “It’s been unifying, it’s been rewarding, and it’s been great” to work with the legislators since he came into office in 2005, “but as I said, it’s somewhat bi ersweet because unfortunately in this
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business, the train keeps going — it just keeps moving on.” He said the departing legislators should take pride in their efforts — “the legacy they leave behind and the way the county is functioning today.” Thanking Clerk of the Board Brenda Rigby-Riehle for coordinating the special day and the representatives for a ending, “This is like Fair Week in July where we have our meeting at the fair,” Crandall said. “It is a special day.”
2 COVID deaths in Allegany County Another two COVID-19-related deaths have been reported in Allegany County, health officials reported Dec. 27. The county’s death toll due to COVID-19 stood at 134. Just four new cases were reported by the Allegany County Department of Health on Dec. 27, with 46 reported since Dec. 23 due to the Christmas holiday delaying testing and results. To date, 7,156 cases have been reported,
with 6,931 recoveries. County officials reported 311 active quarantines or isolations on Monday a ernoon. County officials were not providing weekly statistic reports this week due to the holidays. The county’s vaccination rates remain last in the state. As of Dec. 27, 48.1% of county residents have received at least one dose, including 55.6% of adults. To date, 44.5% of residents have
received a completed vaccine series. Vaccine clinics will be held through January, county health authorities reported. Clinics will be hosted Jan. 5, 8, 12, 19 and 28. Clinics include fi rst and second doses, boosters and pediatric dose sessions. To access clinic registrations, visit www.alleganyco.com or www.vaccinefi nder.org. Call (585) 268-9250 with questions or for help scheduling appointments.
When it can be smart to hire a painting pro Few things can revitalize a home more readily than a fresh coat of paint. Thanks in part to the affordability of paint and its ease of application, painting is something that even novice DIYers can typically handle. According to the marketing advice guru Brandon Gaille, it is estimated that residential interior paint only lasts around three years before it needs to be updated. Exterior paint can fade, chip and peel due to various environmental factors. As a result, many homes can likely use a fresh coat of paint in at least one room. As DIY-friendly as painting can be, when a empting to paint the interior or exterior of their homes, homeowners may learn that some painting projects are best le to the professionals. Painting requires skill, patience and a knowledge of how various paints — including fi nishes for particular applications — will hold up. Novice painters may do more harm than good by dripping paint on expensive carpeting or floors or fail to recognize the nuances that indicate a spot-on painting job. Professional painters have spent hours upon hours learning the ropes of what works — and what does not. Painters o en understand that painstaking preparatory work is crucial to getting pristine fi nished results. Walls and ceilings must be properly repaired and prepared even before a base coat is applied. Professional painters also have an eye for details. And because professional painters make a business out of doing interior and exterior surfaces, they understand which techniques can improve efficiency. That means a professional job can typically be completed much more quickly than a DIY project.
Even though some people job is done just right. think they’ll save money by painting their own homes, that’s not necessarily true. Professionals already have all the equipment necessary, unlike novices who may need to make repeated and potentially costly trips to the hardware store for supplies. Plus, if mistakes happen, DIYers have to spend additional time and money fi xing them. Safety can be a large motivator for turning painting over to a pro. Navigating exterior areas or tall interior ceilings can be challenging and may require scaffolding or tall ladders DIYers do not have. Risk of falls or other injuries increase with lack of experience. Painting can give a home a faceli , and o entimes it is smart to turn the work over to professionals to ensure the
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Perkins joins Alfred State Institutional Advancement office ALFRED — Alfred State College announces that Mary Perkins is joining the college’s Office of Institutional Advancement. Perkins is the new director of alumni relations. Perkins holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Arizona State University. She most recently worked at Pro Action Head Start Center where she was a home visitor and professional development coach. In her role as director of alumni relations, Perkins is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic plan designed to provide meaningful opportunities for volunteerism, professional development and events and programs for Alfred State’s more than 50,000 alumni. Additionally, Perkins oversees the planning and execution of alumni chapters and activities in targeted regions across the country to
enhance alumni engagement and cultivate connections. Perkins also oversees the scholarship program. “I am so excited to have Mary join the college in
advancement,” said Danielle White, executive director of institutional advancement. “I have a terrific team and she will fit right in and help us accomplish great things.”
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Wellsville students’ experiment heads for the final frontier BY KATHRYN ROSS WELLSVILLE — Four sophomores at Wellsville High School are seeing their hard work pay off as their science project is scheduled to rocket into space in June. The Western New York Student Spacefl ight Experiments Program (WNY SSEP) announced that a team from Wellsville has been chosen to have an experiment conducted on the International Space Station. The students, Serena Boussa, Ben Jordan, Eli Brophy and Aidan Jadwin, had their project considered along with those of students from Olean and Lockport. Their proposed experiment went on to compete against those submi ed by 200 students across the nation and was selected as one of the experiments to go into space. The Student Spacefl ight Experiments Program is part of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (SSEP) in the U.S. and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education internationally. It is enabled through a partnership with Nanoracks, LLC, which is working with NASA. SSEP is the fi rst pre-college STEM education program that is both a U.S. national initiative and implemented as an on-orbit commercial space venture. The students participated in a nine-week program where they designed and proposed an experiment to be conducted on the space
station. Theirs was one of three selected by the WNY commi ee to move forward to the national competition — the Wellsville students submi ed an experiment concerning the effects of microgravity on the growth of food-spoiling bacteria. Aware that their generation is on the cusp of commercial space travel and how viruses can have worldwide impact, Wellsville’s 10thgraders submi ed an experiment dealing with how bacteria will respond to antibiotics in a microgravity environment. The official title for their experiment is “The Effect of Microgravity on the Resistance of Staphylococcus Epidermidis Oxacillin.” Members of the team explained that they were influenced by the pandemic, and they want to assure that future space travelers are safe. “We chose this experiment because we wanted to choose something important for the future,” Boussa said. “With what Elon Musk is doing with commercialized space fl ights it is important to keep people safe.” She went on to say that their hope is that the experiment will prove that there are no microgravity effects on antibiotics. While the experiment is being conducted in space over a 4- to 6-week period by one of the station crew members, the Wellsville students will conduct the same experiment, minus the microgravity, in a science lab at Alfred
University. “(AU’s) laboratories are a li le more advanced than ours,” Jordan said. When completed, the results of the space experiment will be returned to Earth and analyzed for potential antibiotic resistance. The results of the student’s experiment will also be submi ed for analysis. The experiment isn’t the only thing that will be travelling to Cape Canaveral for the launch. Thanks to the largesse of the school district and donors, the students will also be in Florida to watch as the rocket carrying their experiment is launched into space. Prior to that, Boussa, Brophy, Jadwin and Jordan will travel to Washington, D.C., where they will speak about their experiment at a national conference with others whose experiments were selected. In 2018, Wellsville students had their fi rst experiment launched into space. In 2020, a Wellsville experiment made the top three
nationwide. The competi- activity and worked evenings experiment that would do tion did not take place in the and weekends to ensure well in this competition.” 2020-21 school year. At that they had a well-thought-out point, the WNY SSEP was abandoned, until Wellsville science teacher Ross Munson took it upon himself to revive it — he took over as community program director for WNY SSEP to ensure the program’s continuation. Boussa, who wants to attend Cornell University and major in neuroscience or genetics; Jadwin, who wants to study dermatology and major in biology; Brophy, who is interested in biological engineering; and Jordan, who hopes to study business at Penn State or Cornell with the goal of “becoming the next Elon Musk,” are all very grateful to the school and donors who are supporting them, and their teacher, Munson for keeping the WNY SSEP program in existence. “I am so proud and impressed by these young and extremely talented and motivated students,” Munson said. “They took on this challenge as an extracurricular
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DECEMBER 31, 2021
Alfred State Before and after pictures of a 2016 Chevy Cruze Limited that was restored by Alfred State College’s autobody wreck/rebuild program.
Real world projects fuel wreck/ rebuild program at Alfred State ALFRED — Hands-on, real-word projects are key to the education that Alfred State College students gain. The autobody wreck/rebuild program is a prime example. Through this learning experience, students in ASC’s autobody repair major, led by instructors CJ Tremper and Brad Smith, are able to enhance their skill sets by fixing wrecked vehicles and gain insight into what it is like to work inside a live collision shop. Tremper and Smith teach and work alongside students throughout their time in the program. Vehicles are secured through funding provided by the Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc., a private foundation dedicated to improving the Alfred State community through the support of educational programs. The Ed Foundation possesses a New York State
automobile dealer’s license that allows the college to purchase wrecked cars from an auto salvage auction, which are then used for hands-on projects. The Ed Foundation covers the cost of purchasing these cars and any parts or materials needed to bring them back to preaccident condition. Tremper said work may range from minor repairs on hoods and fenders to major repairs to the structure of the vehicles. The program covers everything from basic bolt-on-panel replacement, to electrical system repairs, to steering/ suspension work, to heating/cooling/air conditioning work. Tremper sees advantages of this process, which allows students the opportunity to work on rust-free, late-model vehicles. “These cars are quality projects to start with,” he said. “It makes the students
step up their skills because doors, and the driver’s side rocker panel. the end result needs to be very high quality, just as it will be expected of them in the real world.” Tremper said the program attempts to acquire vehicles that have an appropriate amount of damage so students can actually apply in the lab what they had previously learned in the classroom setting. The approach allows the revisiting of some topics and refresher courses as the students actually perform repairs to vehicles. The last car completed in the wreck/rebuild program was a 2016 Chevy Cruze Limited that Alfred State graduate Damian Cole won during the 2021 commencement ceremony. Students painted the entire front end, the whole driver’s side, and the driver’s side rocker panel. They replaced the hood, front bumper, driver’s side fender, both driver’s side
Does vaping make it harder to quit smoking? More people in the United States are addicted to nicotine than any other drug, states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smokers become dependent on cigare es for various reasons, not the least of which is the addictive properties of nicotine. According to longitudinal data from the National Population Health Survey in Canada, approximately 20 percent of adult daily smokers 18 years and older who had quit in the past two years resumed smoking within the next two years. The CDC says qui ing smoking may require several a empts before qui ers can successfully put smoking behind them. Factors such as withdrawal symptoms, stress and weight gain compel many people to light up a er qui ing. Some people may feel that e-cigare es can help them gradually kick their tobacco habit. And thanks to the variety of flavors and styles of vapor-based nicotine delivery systems, it seems more people are vaping because they believe it to be less dangerous than traditional smoking. But the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California indicates smokers who vape are 28
percent less likely to ditch traditional cigare es despite believing they are cessation aids. And they still may be pu ing their health in grave risk. The American Lung Association says there are hundreds of brands of e-cigare es on the market and none of them have been evaluated by the FDA for safety. Because vaping is largely in its infancy, there are no longterm studies of its health implications or its efficacy in regard to helping smokers
quit. However, much of the available evidence suggests that vaping may only be marginally be er than using tobacco cigare es. Analysis
from the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco suggests that people who vape every day may double their risk of having a heart a ack than those who do not vape or
smoke (compared to triple the risk with smoking tobacco). Also, according to the Bloomberg School of Public Health, researchers found that the aerosol particles that vapers breathe contain some of the same toxic metals and metallic elements found in conventional c i g a r e t t e s , including cadmium and nickel. Potentially unsafe levels of several other dangerous substances, such as arsenic, chromium and manganese, were also found.
Another cause for concern is the propensity to abuse e-cigare es, toking much more than is recommended. Vapers may be consuming very high levels of nicotine per day without realizing how much they are inhaling. A 2014 study showed wideranging nicotine levels and inconsistencies between listed and actual nicotine levels, according to the ALA. E-cigare es are a controversial subject. More research is required to determine their health risks and their potential to help people quit smoking altogether.