Wellsville Business Park owner seeks PILOT on property
BY KATHRYN ROSS
WELLSVILLE —
The Wellsville Business Park LLC in the former Dresser-Rand facility on Coats Street is seeking a PILOT for its proposed $1 million infrastructure project.
Craig Clark, executive director of the Allegany County Industrial Development Agency, presided over a public hearing earlier tis month to allow citizens to make statements for the record relating to the involvement of the IDA with the project. There were a dozen people at the meeting.
A PILOT is the act of making a property tax payment in lieu of taxes made to compensate a government for some
or all of the property tax revenue lost due to tax-exempt ownership or use of real property. It is often used as an incentive to attract business or development.
The Wellsville Business Park has been operating in the former Dresser-Rand facility since 2021. It rents space to five businesses including Kinley Advanced Technical Services a subsidiary of Kinley Construction of Olean and Texas, and RMS (Rotating Machinery Service) of Houston, Texas.
A total of 51 people are employed at the facility.
The proposed project consists of the acquisition of three parcels of land totaling approximately 100 acres on
Coats Street and Riverside Drive, in the village and town of Wellsville, together with an existing complex containing approximately 420,000 square feet of space. The
project also includes the renovation of the facility and the acquisition and installation of related fixtures, machinery, equipment and other tangible personal property.
Allegany County HOF inducts
The Allegany County Athletic Association inducted 14 new members to its Sports Hall of Fame at a banquet held March 22 at Off Duty in Belmont. Pictured are in the front (left to right): Cortney Sadler (Friendship), Falyn Lewis-Ellison Kosa (Whitesville), Doug McEnroe (Wellsville), Taylor Kent Duncan (Hinsdale), Shannon Daugherty (Houghton), Allison Richter Austin (Fillmore), Bill Sortore (Bolivar-Richburg). Back row: Ken Spink (Belfast), David Spink (Belfast), Aaron Ortiz (Cuba-Rushford), Mark Moyer (Scio), Wes Crowder (Houghton), Don Baker [accepting for Kari Baker] (Genesee Valley), Matt Shay (Andover).
The company is asking for certain financial assistance from the IDA including the payment in lieu of taxes at an estimated value of $340,000.
Clark said a record of the public hearing will be prepared and reviewed by the members of the IDA in connection with the IDA’s consideration of the proposed project. He said the purpose of the hearing was to solicit public comment.
Questions were raised by Wellsville Town Supervisor Shad Alsworth and village Trustee Mike Roeske and attendees of the hearing, including a former employee of Dresser-Rand, Jane Nicholson, who worked in the office. Tim Colligan, who lives near
the facility, also had a question.
Alsworth explained that when a PILOT is issued, the taxpayers pick up the cost and he wanted to know, “Is it worth it to the individual taxpayer?”
Clark explained that if the space is occupied and generating revenue the company plans on investing $1 million in infrastructure and generate 15 new jobs over the course of 10 years.
After hearing Clark’s answer, Roeske asked,
“Why don’t you invest in the people in the community? This makes no sense to me.” Nicholson was concerned about the infrastructure in the office
Photo by Kathryn Ross
Wellsville Town Supervisor Shad Alsworth (left) speaks with
Allegany County IDA Executive Director Craig Clark during a a public hearing concerning a PILOT request from Wellsville Business Park LLC.
Retired school counselor busy making music throughout Twin Tiers
BY SAVANNAH BARR
When Diane Smith retired from being a school counselor, she knew where she wanted to turn her focus. For more than a decade, she has been filling our local area with beautiful melodies and teaching others to do the same.
“I went back to my first love — music,” Smith said. “My first degree was in music.” In addition to her
training as a music educator, Smith plays the flute, guitar, keyboard, bass, saxophone and clarinet. For more than 15 years Smith has been the director of the Twin Tiers Community Band. She also plays in many other local bands including Octaves Jazz Band in Olean, N.Y., Allegany (N.Y.) Alumni Band and Rushford (N.Y.) Town Band. On Sundays, you can
catch her on keyboard at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in her hometown, Port Allegany.
In addition, she often plays in communities across the area, including Bradford and Salamanca, Cuba and Wellsville in New York. She can frequently be found playing in the orchestra pit for many high school productions at many schools including Port Allegany High School, Bradford Area High School and Salamanca High School.
Most recently, she played music for the Willy Wonka production at Bradford Area High School. She is set to play for the upcoming productions of “Tuck Everlasting” for Bradford Little Theatre, “The Addams Family Musical: School Edition” in Port Allegany and “HMS Pinafore” for Olean Com-
munity Theater. Smith was first inspired to learn to play by her elementary music teacher, Mrs. Slack.
“She really inspired me and it was interesting because one of my first jobs out of college was to be her substitute,” said Smith. “That was my first teaching position and I learned then that music was extremely important.”
One of her favorite things about music is the way that it reaches all people, regardless of background or age.
“In the community band, we have members who are students in junior high all the way up to senior citizens,” said Smith. “I just love to bring those talents together.”
As a director, she appreciates the dedication shown by members of the Twin Tiers Community Band. There are 35 to 40 members who regularly play together.
The band practices at 9 a.m. Saturdays, playing a selection of music from all decades and across all genres. They perform about five to eight shows a year throughout the area, including in Port Allegany, Bradford, Smethport and Coudersport,
area and asked what’s to be done there, since there were cracks in the wall when she worked there.
Clark said there will be code inspections on the infrastructure.
Colligan said that because he lives nearby,
and has for many years, he is concerned with the type of businesses the Wellsville Business Park is attracting.
Clark explained that the facility is looking at businesses related to solar project storage and turbine support.
Near the end of the meeting Nicholson expressed her concern with the state of the property and Clark said he will relay those concerns to the company officials after she said, “(Wellsville Business Park is) not taking care of the property now, or taking pride in the property. I don’t think they have any real concern for the people.”
and at Crook Farm. Smith started in the community band as a flute player but stepped into the director position once it was vacated. Her background in music education served her well
Photo provided
Diane Smith has directed the Twin Tiers Community Band for more than 15 years.
Music Teacher continued on
BY BRIAN MCCLELLAN
Area maple sugar producers celebrated the first Maple Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, showing visitors how maple sugaring works and treating them to their sweet products.
Taking place March 22-23 and 29-30 this year, Maple Weekends are organized and sponsored by the New York State Maple Producers’ Association and funded by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Maple farms open their doors to the public to provide a chance to taste pure maple syrup, right from the source, and experience the unique family tradition of making maple syrup in New York state. Producers offer tours and pancake breakfasts, sell maple products and demonstrate the syrup-making process, which includes the tradi-
tional system of hanging buckets on trees or more modern methods of production using vacuum systems to increase the yield of sap per tree.
Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation declaring March 22-23 and 29-30 as New York State’s 2025 Maple Weekends. The governor also highlighted that New York State continues to rank second in the nation in maple production — behind only Vermont — and in 2024 maple production increased to 846,000 gallons, up nearly 100,000 gallons of maple syrup from the 2023 season.
Hochul participated Sunday in Maple Weekend by visiting Twin Leaf Farms in Greenfield Center in Saratoga County. “New York state’s maple industry is not just a tradition — it’s a thriving community of dedicated producers creating world-class maple products,” the
governor said. “As we celebrate Maple Month, I encourage every New Yorker to experience the rich flavors and support the hardworking individuals behind this beloved crop.”
Recognizing the importance of the maple industry to New York’s agricultural economy, Hochul proposed additional funding in her fiscal year 2026 executive budget to further grow the industry and help New York become the leading maple innovator. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets supports the maple industry through the New York State Budget — which includes funding for promotion and educational programs — as well as through investments in research projects, such as Cornell University’s Maple Program’s Arnot Teaching Forest and through its NYS Grown & Certified and Taste NY marketing programs.
Maple Weekends 2025 celebrate tradition of tapping and sugaring
part in the second Maple Weekend. Allegany County
• Belle Hollow Farms, 10312 Route 15B, Canaseraga. Participating both weekends; serving pancake breakfast Campbell Maple, 8904 Jackson Hill Road, Friendship. Participating both weekends. A Campbell family tradition since 1822, Campbells boil sap to syrup, bottle syrup, make maple cream, maple candy and maple granulated sugar. Weather permitting, they will offer jack wax (syrup on snow). They also offer maple popcorn. Three generations of Campbells will be demonstrating production of the various maple products and offering samples of products. You may have a tour of the sugar house with descriptions of the ongoing processes involved in production.
ple, 3545 Route 275, Friendship. Participating both weekends. There will be tours of the sugar house. See the vacuum system, reverse osmosis, wood-fired evaporator and automatic draw-off in operation. Free samples will be available of most products, including syrup, cream, sugar pieces, popcorn, ice cream, coffee, etc. There will also be a self-guided tour in the sugar bush with a scavenger hunt for
kids. Meals on site for purchase all four days with limited indoor seating and some outdoor under-cover seating.
• Mountain Maple Syrup, 6621 New Mexico Road, Cuba. Participating both weekends. Come visit Mountain Maple from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for facility tours, demonstrations on the process of making maple
EveryFriday Feb.28thApr.18th
Agri-tourism events like Maple Weekends and Maple Month are an important part of tourism in the state, Hochul said. The state welcomed a record 291.5 million visitors in 2022, the largest number of visitors in its history, according to the governor’s office, generating more than $78.6 billion in direct spending and $123 billion in total economic impact.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said maple syrup is not only the state’s “sweetest crop,” but it’s also the first crop of the new year.
“New York’s maple producers continue to do an outstanding job keeping our state at the forefront of the industry, and Maple Weekends give all of us an opportunity to visit a farm and see how they turn tree sap into syrup, candy, and so much more.”
This Saturday and Sunday, nearly a dozen maple producers in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties will take
The Alger Cemetery Association will have their annual meeting at the Northern KonXions United Methodist Church in Fillmore on Wednesday, April 16th at 7:00pm.
• Cartwright’s Maple Tree Inn, LLC, 4321 Route 15A, Angelica. Participating both weekends. Will be serving their original all you can eat buckwheat pancakes with pure maple syrup both Saturday’s from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.; and both Sundays from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. You can also add, sausage, ham, eggs or a combination. Children’s prices available. Weather permitting, they will be processing maple syrup in the basement of the restaurant.
Pancake Mix, Maple Syrup, Maple Sugar, Maple Cream, Maple Coffe and Maple Tea are available at the gift shop.
• CTK Farms, LLC, 6117 New Mexico Road, Cuba. Participating both weekends.
• Hint’s Red Roof Ma-
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➡Music Teacher continued
as a band director.
“I didn’t know at first if I would enjoy directing but I have come to love it,” said Smith.
She said she is constantly listening to new concert music in an attempt to pick the best pieces to perform each season. The Twin Tiers Community Band shares a library with other local community bands, so there is a lot to choose from.
“I love pushing them to be the best that they
syrup, free maple syrup samples, and more. There will be maple syrup, maple sugar, maple candy and other merchandise for sale.
Cattaraugus County
• Durow Farms Maple Products, 11350 Archer Hill Road, Randolph. Participating both weekends. Hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. all days. There will be sugar house and sap building tours. A hay ride will run to the sap building — weather permitting. Pancake breakfast Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon.
• Moore’s Maple Shack & Pancake House, 10444 Galen Hill Road, Freedom. Participating both weekends. All you can eat pancake breakfast. Tour of ma-
can be,” said Smith. “Every year I try to take them a bit out of their comfort zone and challenge them a little.”
One of her favorite moments as a director is seeing that instant when the music clicks with a musician, or reaches an audience.
“If we play a really emotional piece and there is that moment of silence at the end before the audience starts to clap, I know that we have reached them,” said
ple processing.
• Sprague’s Maple Farms, 1048 Portville-Obi Road, Portville. Participating both weekends. Weather permitting, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be live tree tapping demonstrations, wagon rides and sugarhouse tours. Sugar on Snow and fresh made maple cake donuts will be available. Learn how maple sugaring was done by our Native American ancestors. View the state-of-the-art evaporator and bottling center.
• Ulinger’s Maple Farms, 8835 Crumb Hill Road, East Otto. Participating both weekends. Come watch staff boil some
Smith. “Those are the moments that make me start to tear up.” Smith knows that the benefits of playing music are bountiful.
“Music teaches discipline and empathy — playing together promotes teamwork, cooperation and strengthens social bonds,” said Smith. “Playing an instrument is something that people can enjoy for their whole lives because there is always something new to learn.”
pure maple syrup. Available will be tours of the sugarhouse and sugarbush. There will also be samples a lot of maple products, incluing maple candy, maple cream, maple caramel popcorn and maple fluff to name a few. How about some hot maple syrup over vanilla ice cream or a maple milkshake?
• Wright Farms, 9166 Laidlaw Road, Franklinville. Participating both weekends. Come join the family as you see how they continue the 185-year tradition of making maple syrup
That is one reason that Smith is a big believer in keeping strong, robust music programs in schools.
“Music teaches our brain to think in new ways because music is math; it is history; it tells our stories,” said Smith. “We are not going to have wonderful orchestras and phenomenal bands if we don’t start these musicians somewhere.”
The benefits of music also extend to the audi-
on the farm. There are 8,000 trees tapped, a 6x16 wood-fired evaporator, steam-away and reverse osmosis. See the process from tree to finished maple syrup. While you are there, get a taste of maple as they will be serving jack wax (sugar on snow) throughout the day.
A full listing of participating producers across New York, including a map of their locations, can be found at the official Maple Weekend website, www.mapleweekend.com.
ence. Live performances from our friends and neighbors help keep our community strong. Smith encourages everyone to try and listen to more live music, especially from local musicians.
“I am so proud to live in this area where we have so many community groups who are playing a great selection of music — there is something for everyone,”
said Smith.
The Twin Tiers Community Band is always looking for new members. They can be found on Facebook.
“I tell people that it doesn’t matter if they haven’t touched that instrument in the back of their closet for 10 years — there is still a place for you!” said Smith. “Come out and play with us.”
