High Tea: A book discussion with Alfred-area author
Megan Staffel
‘It’s the right thing to do’: Couple supports Wellsville in
BY KATHRYN ROSS
WELLSVILLE — Tom Kelsey may not have lived in Wellsville since the 1960s, but the community he grew up in has always remained near and dear to his heart. His wife of 59 years, Dottie Naylor Kelsey, feels the same.
The Kelseys were in town recently to attend Tom’s 65th high school reunion and also to do some business on behalf of the Kelsey-Naylor Family Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization that was founded four years ago by Tom and Dottie’s son, John David Kelsey, a real estate investment
developer in Old Lyme, Conn. Tom and Dottie, who live in Weymouth, Mass., are trustees of the foundation, along with their daughter, and they make many of the decisions as to where the funding goes.
Wellsville is at the top of their list, they said.
Tom grew up at the top of State Street in a home his father built in 1938. John Kelsey worked in the oil and gas industry and at the Sinclair Refinery for the majority of his working life. After the refinery closed, he helped develop the New York State Oil Producers Association, based in Bolivar.
Tom has great memories from his boyhood in Wellsville — Memorial Day parades with cadres of sharply uniformed firefighters, swimming, Little League games, the pet parade — — for which his mother, Mary Clark Kelsey, dressed up the family dog — going to the library, eating at the Texas Hot, days in Brooklyn grammar school, high school and shared times with friends like Joe Felsen.
He has maintained those friends and cherished those memories over the years.
“Wellsville was a lively, vibrant place back then,” Tom said. “The Genesee may have had a
little sheen on it and the fishing wasn’t so good, but it was still a great place to grow up.”
He left Wellsville at age 17, following in his father and older brother’s footsteps to attend the University of Michigan. He pursued his doctorate degree at the University of Florida in Central American Studies and traveled to Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana. He returned to Wellsville periodically over the years, maintaining his closeness with friends and the community.
When Dottie was in-
giving from foundation
Representatives announced for Jones Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Royal Court
WELLSVILLE — The representatives for the 2025 Jones Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Royal Court, a long-time tradition in the community, has been announced.
Auxiliary Twigs and several community organizations sponsor a young person to sell tickets to the grand raffle, with the candidate who sells the most tickets announced at the Auxiliary’s Gala & Silent Auction in November.
Marsha Sick, candidate committee chair, said, “This year there are more candidates than ever and I know they will do amazing. We’re so excited to have this wonderful group of young people represent our communities.”
• Kennedy Perry is rep-
resenting the Hemlock Twig for 2025. Kennedy’s parents are Stephanie and Rodney Perry. A junior at Wellsville High School, she is active in the Junior Auxiliary for the American Legion Post 702. Kennedy also plays volleyball and softball — her team went on to win the 2024 state championship. Kennedy also plays on a national softball team out of Atlanta and plans to pursue softball in college as well as a degree in health science.
• The Olive Twig candidate this year is Madison Wulf of Scio. The daughter of Nicole and Philip
Photo provided
Tom and Dottie Kelsey on the campus of Alfred State in Wellsville.
Photo provided
Representatives for the 2025 Jones Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Royal Court are (top row, from left) Lexi Aftuck, Emma Bentley, Lydia Brockway, Mia Gezek, Ella Green and Layne Joyce; (bottom row, from left) Kennedy Perry, Ryan Storm, Brody Vance, Raegan Vogel and Madison Wulf.
Couple Supports Wellsville
High Tea: A book discussion with Alfred-area author Megan Staffel
BY KATHRYN ROSS
ALFRED — When the MostArts Festival gets underway in Alfred, July 13-19, there will be something for authors. This year the event will feature High Tea with Megan Staffel at 3 p.m. July 17 in the Nevins Theater at the Powell Campus Center.
Staffel is a longtime Alfred-area resident who now spends her winters in New York City and her summers in the quiet solitude of the rustic farmhouse on East Valley Road she shares with her husband, Graham Marks.
Megan Staffel
An award-winning author, Staffel has published six books of fiction, three novels and
three collections of stories. She is retired from Warren Wilson College of Swannanoa, N.C., where she taught for many years in its Master of Fine Arts program. Along with publishing her recent work, “The Causative Factor,” for Regal House Publishing, she produces a well-read blog on her
website called, “What I’m Reading.”
In a recent sit-down, the author explained that the inspiration for her newest novel, published in October , came to her on a hiking trip to Stony Brook State Park with her husband. There she contemplated what causes some to be recklessly adventuresome after noticing a low wall separating the path from a dangerous drop off. The idea stayed with her and came to fruition in “The Causative Factor” during the COVID epidemic.
“Because I’ve known risk takers in my life,” she said, “the thought stayed with me, and I wondered how that kind of behavior impacts the lives of others.”
The novel is a mystery based on the disappearance of just such a risk taker, Rubiat, who leaps off a drop off after a romantic interlude with Rachel. The two are art school students and after the accident, Rubiat’s body is never found. Rachel goes on with her studies and graduates. It is several years before she realizes she will never be able to live a full life until she closes the chapter on her encounter with Rubiat. There the mystery begins as Rachel plummets into her own investigation of what happened to her reckless lover.
What makes the story unique, Steffel explained, is that it takes place in the Western New York with the
names of local schools, towns and other locations thinly veiled.
“I use Stony Brook Park because it is a National Park, but I’ve changed the names of other places. Local people will be able to recognize them, like the art school at Alfred, Alfred and Wellsville,” she said, as an author practicing the theory of writing about what they know.
“Mystery,” Staffel said, “is an important element of fiction,” and she feels that to one degree or another it figures in all of her novels.
The author of “The Mysteries,” Marisa Silver wrote of Staffel, “Megan writes gorgeously and movingly
about the psychological legacies that inform our choices, as she does about the way in which art and a deep attachment to nature allow us to create ourselves, anew.”
Staffel said, “Nature, art and love are the three main themes of my work.”
The book took her about 1½ years to write and involved researching the psychological factors that cause certain types of people to take risks. It also included editing and re-editing her own work.
Staffel recalled a time a few years ago when she worked with the late CB Carol Burdick Hudson and a group of local writers called the Pond House Writers. One of the former members of the group, Susan Morehouse of Alfred University, will be on stage with her July 17 when Staffel reads from “The Causative Factor.” The two will then discuss the novel and take questions from the audience.
Called High Tea, the event will also feature refreshments.
Staffel’s book is available online and in the University Bookstore where the author will be signing copies after the event. She hopes to see many of her friends from the Alfred area at the discussion, especially those from the Pond House Writers group.
“The Causative Factor” is available on Kindle and Amazon.
Megan Staffel
WELLSVILLE — The Wellsville Lodge of Elks No. 1495 will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the issuance of their charter from the Grand Lodge of Elks. The charter, dated July 16, 1925, was issued upon completion of several months of planning by the then-charter members. Charter members included F.M. Wall, Herbert W. Ward, Floyd W. Lee, J.J. Dean, Henry DeBarbieri, Earl B. O’Connor, W.M. Cobb, H.B. Eynon, P.C. Connor, Rodney E. Kane, Howard O. Gonter, W.J. Moynihan, Carl Shreiner, Gus Giopulos, Francis Anderson, F.P. Knox, L.J. Coons, C.F. Mayer, G.P. Probst, W.J. McGurk, Wm. J.
Hanson, Wm. J. Cronin, Anthony M. Reiller, H.J. Stephens, Laurence J. Pflager and Carl N. Marshall.
A gala weekend of celebration will be held July 11-12, led by current Exalted Ruler Bryant Hughes and the event co-chairmen, State Vice President Tom Hand and Past Exalted Ruler Jody Torrey.
Members and invited guests will enjoy dinner Friday night at the Wellsville American Legion. After dinner, there will be music performed by The Sticktights at the Elks Lodge. The music is open for all to enjoy.
On Saturday, the Lodge will participate in the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally parade
and then host a family day at the lodge with youth games, food trucks and music by Adam and Anton from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and Dollar Short from 4 to 8 p.m. This is also open to all.
The celebrations wrap up on Wednesday, July 16,lks (the actual charter date) with an open house at the Lodge, serving pizza and wings starting at 5 p.m.
The officers and members thank Wellsville and the surrounding communities for their generosity and patronage over the last century.
Anyone interested in joining the Elks are welcomed to inquire at the Lodge or any member.
The Allegany County Tourism and Culture department has been awarded a $500,000 grant to support the Gateway to the Western NY Wilds project, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office announced. Enhancements include a 157,000-gallon tank and the extension of a 12-inch water main on the County’s S-Curves property located off Interstate 86 Exit 30 in Friendship. These upgrades will support the future development of a travel center featuring a hotel, gas station, restaurant and cultural center
at the Gateway site adjacent to the S-Curves site. The project intends to alleviate concerns about the water in the area being contaminated with arsenic. First proposed in the mid-2000s to get water to a water park destination in Belvidere, original efforts to create a water district to handle the line were thwarted by the Office of the State Comptroller as financially unfeasible. In 2012, legislators bonded $3.5 million for the line, and more recently, a public benefit corporation was established to manage
the system. Those funds were enough to build the line and purchase all of the surrounding property at the truck stop site at the corner of Route 19 and County Route 20, near the interchange with Interstate 86. Primary construction was completed in 2019, but right-of-way issues for a small stretch stalled the final work until early 2020. These project grant funds are part of
Wellsville Lodge of Elks to celebrate
100 years
Allegany County receives $500,000 for Gateway to the Western NY Wilds
more than $36 million awarded to 48 projects across New York state through the County Infrastructure Grant Program. First launched in November 2024 and administered by Empire State Development, the program awards grants to support small- and medium-sized county-led infrastructure projects.
“I know firsthand how critical infrastructure is in order
to uplift communities and bring families and loved ones together,” Hochul said. “From my early days on a Town Board to serving as Erie County Clerk and in Congress, I’ve seen how investments like these can breathe new life into neighborhoods, drive housing growth, support vibrant downtowns and bring new energy to local economies. We’re putting local priorities front and center as we build a stronger New York.”
Photo provided
The Wellsville Lodge of Elks charter members are shown in July 1925.
DEC seeks trail cam photos through Snapshot NY
New York state, in collaboration with the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Cornell University, has launched Snapshot NY, a citizen science program that allows the public to participate in wildlife monitoring through the deployment of trail cameras.
The project will help improve the way the state Department of Environmental Conservation monitors and manages more than a dozen wildlife species.
“More than 60% of land in New York is privately owned, and this new collaborative effort will help DEC biologists collect critical information about wildlife in areas where our experts have historically lacked access,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “As an added bonus, Snapshot NY is a fantastic opportunity to get outside, connect with the outdoors, and directly contribute to wildlife conservation efforts in New York state.”
Angela Fuller, leader of the U.S. Geological Survey New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and professor at Cornell said Snapshot NY represents an opportunity to generate large-scale, long-term data on wildlife populations across the state.
“This collabora-
tion exemplifies how partnerships among agencies, scientists and the public can advance wildlife conservation and management in meaningful and measurable ways,” she said.
The data collected through Snapshot NY will help DEC continue to make decisions, improve the effectiveness of wildlife conservation and management strategies, and track changes in wildlife populations over time.
To become a volunteer for Snapshot NY:
Access to land: Volunteers are encouraged to place trail cameras on private property. For the project, the state has been divided into approximately 4,500 grid cells, with a goal to get a camera in as many cells as possible. Those without access will need permission to set up a camera on nearby public land.
A trail camera: Use your own trail camera (preferred) or apply to borrow a trail camera through the Snapshot program. Trail cameras detect heat signatures and motion and snap photos of passing animals.
Access to internet and a willingness to upload photos: Volunteers download the Snapshot NY app and periodically upload images (about once every two weeks) to the Snapshot
NY website, including GPS coordinates, time, and date to contribute to the statewide dataset. No prior experience required: Whether you are someone who loves nature or a hunter scouting for the upcoming season, the program is open to all. It’s a great way to glimpse the hidden lives of New York wildlife.
Create an account: Volunteers can create an account at snapshotny. org and select one of the survey blocks to deploy a trail camera. If your chosen block is already reserved, DEC strongly encourages participants to consider selecting a block on nearby available public lands or to sign up for the waitlist for the preferred block.
DEC’S AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES LANDING BLITZ
DEC, in partnership with 13 Great Lakes and Northeast states and five Canadian provinces, is conducting the seventh annual Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz.
The international campaign informs boaters and other water recreationists about the risks of introducing and spreading aquatic invasive species. During this coordinated outreach effort, information will be distributed at more than a thousand water access sites throughout the Great Lakes and Northeast regions through July 13.
Last year’s landing blitz saw more than 1,000 stewards, volunteers and staff inspect approximately 190,000 boats, intercept more than 1,000 aquatic invasive species, and educate more than 230,000 people across the northeastern United States and Canada.
During the remainder of the 2024 boating season, DEC’s boat stewards performed an additional 189,576 inspections and intercepted an additional 12,184 aquatic invasive species at boat launches throughout New York.
For more information on the Great Lakes and Northeast AIS Landing Blitz, visit glc.org/ work/blitz.
OAK WILT A POTENTIAL THREAT TO WNY TREES
The next potential threat facing Western New York’s trees could
make the jump from across the border.
Trees in Canada’s Niagara Region have been infected with oak wilt, a fungal disease that means certain death for those infected. Sap beetles carry the disease, which interferes with the oak tree’s circulatory system. It can also spread through the interconnected root systems of trees.
There is no known cure with red and pin oak trees dying within weeks of infection. White oaks may show greater resistance to oak wilt.
In New York state, there have already been reports of oak wilt in the counties of Steuben, Oswego, Ontario, Yates, Tioga, Saratoga,
Schenectady as well as the New York City area.
The DEC has emergency orders in place in Yates and Ontario counties to stop its spread.
Twenty states stretching from New York to Texas and South Dakota have reported infections, killing millions of trees in the Midwest. Symptoms of infection include leaves falling from trees prematurely, colored brown with no signs of color on the tips and outer edges and vertical cracked bark that emits a fruity smell.
The most effective prevention method is getting trees vaccinated with preventative fungicide, which can only be done with state-licensed applicators. They should
be vaccinated every two to three years until the threat has passed. Other tips for preventing oak wilt from spreading in the area include:
• Do not prune or trim oak trees until late summer or fall. If they have to be pruned, the wound should be covered in a prune sealer or latex paint. Sap beetles can smell freshly exposed food from miles away.
• Do not purchase firewood imported from other counties or states. While oak wilt cannot be transmitted by burning infected firewood, fungal mats can form on unseasoned red oak wood.
Photo provided by New York DEC
The state Department of Environmental Conservation has launched Snapshot NY, a project that seeks trail camera photos from private residents across the state.
Langworthy: ‘Generational win for the American people’
BY JIM
U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy called the Republicans’ multitrillion-dollar tax break and spending cut bill, signed by President Donald Trump on the Fourth of July, “a generational win for the American people.”
“Congress delivered,” Langworthy said in a statement. “With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, we are launching the next great American comeback — and putting working families first once again.”
Langworthy, R-23rd District, said the sweeping legislation rewrites the tax code to deliver the largest middle-class tax cut in history, while eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay, providing tax relief for senior citizens, expanding the child tax credit and lifting the arbitrary cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction that he said punished homeowners in states like New York.
“It unleashes economic growth with 100% expensing for American-made manufacturing and makes the U.S. the best place in the world to build, hire and invest,” the Western New York congressman said.
Democrats and their allies gave blistering critique, declaring the tax and spending cut package will leave millions of Americans without healthcare coverage through Medicaid, will make children from low-income families go hungry and further balloon an already bloated deficit.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the passage a “betrayal of the American people. In July and August, we will take the next phase of this fight to every state and every district pointing out on the ground just how much Republicans have betrayed their constituents.”
But Langworthy insisted the legislation secures the border with full funding for a wall and immigration enforcement, restores law and order and “reinstates commonsense” work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving public assistance — an idea that had broad bipartisan support under former President Bill Clinton.
“The bill cuts nearly
$2 trillion in reckless Washington spending, protects our safety net for those truly in need and ensures government works for taxpayers — not the other way around,” the congressman, whose 23rd District includes Cattaraugus and Allegany counties, said.
He said the bill also delivers wins for Upstate New York and rural America, including two of his bills — the Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act and the Dairy Farm Resiliency Act — which were meant to bring fairness and stability in pricing for dairy producers.
“This bill is the product of relentless work and a united Republican majority,” Langworthy added, perhaps glossing over the effort it took to get a few reluctant GOP members to finally agree to passage by the slimmest of margins. “While Democrats cling to fear tactics and failed ideas, we are delivering real, measurable results.”
Langworthy cited a better-than-expected jobs report released on July 3 as well as new announced trade deals. The stock market responded favorably to close out trading just before the July 4th holiday — although Trump slapped new tariff provisions to begin this last week and markets correspondingly dropped.
“On the eve of Independence Day, this is more than legislation — it’s a powerful declaration: America is back,” Langworthy said. “We are rebuilding our economy, securing our borders, restoring pride in work, and reaffirming that the American Dream is alive and well for the next generation.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York City held the House floor for more than eight hours July 3, setting a record with a marathon floor speech that delayed passage of Republicans’ legislation and gave his minority party a lengthy spotlight to excoriate what he called an “immoral” bill, from Medicaid and food aid cuts and tax breaks for the wealthy to rollbacks to renewable energy programs.
“This reckless Republican budget is an immoral document, and that is why I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives with my colleagues in the House Democratic caucus to stand up
and push back against it with everything we have,” Jeffries said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called out all seven New York Republicans in the House who “voted to rip healthcare away from 1.5 million New Yorkers and jeopardize SNAP benefits for nearly 3 million more.”
For Hochul, it was a chance to take swipes in particular against two GOP members who
could officially declare their intentions to seek the nomination to challenge her in 2026. Hochul alleged that 31,000 Medicaid recipients in Rep. Mike Lawler’s district could lose coverage, while 44,000 could lose coverage in Rep. Elise Stefanik’s district. She claimed 35,000 Medicaid recipients in Langworthy’s district could lose coverage.
Stefanik declared, “Promises made, prom-
ises kept,” and that Republicans delivered on Trump’s mandate to “enact the largest tax cut in American history, turbocharge economic growth, secure our borders, restore energy dominance, cut wasteful spending and deliver peace through strength.”
The congresswoman said the legislation includes the largest tax cut for seniors in history, expands access to affordable childcare, dou-
bles the child tax credit, creates newborn baby investment accounts, provides more than $175 billion to reduce crime in sanctuary cities by deporting criminal illegal immigrants, supports hiring 10,000 new ICE officers to deport illegal aliens and “strengthens Medicaid for New Yorkers” by inserting more accountability into the system regarding who receives benefits.
troduced to the village, she recalled, “It was like taking a breath of fresh air.” Raised in Trenton, N.J., she appreciated the rural, small-town atmosphere and friendliness of the people.
“All the storefronts were open,” she said. “It was in ‘63 or ‘64 and there were great places to shop like Rockwells.”
The couples’ life took them to far off and exotic places — they took their 3-month-old twins up the Amazon River to their new home. Eventually, the couple moved to Florida
to raise the twins and two more children. They spent a while in Pittsburgh, where Tom was a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and where Dottie, an Ohio State University graduate, earned her master’s in education and international development of education.
“If nothing else, the education we both received gave us a broader view and bigger picture of the world,” she said.
This is why they have given the support of the Kelsey-Naylor Family Foundation to the Ap-
home improvement
plied Sciences Division of Alfred State College in Wellsville.
The Kelsey-Naylor Family Foundation has been supporting Alfred State for the last three years. Its previous two gifts established the Tool Fund for students in need of money to purchase tools needed for their educations.
“I can’t imagine being talented, smart and capable and not able to get the education you need to achieve a better quality of life because you can’t afford the tools you need,” Dottie said.
latest gift to the school was $125,000 and it has two purposes: $100,000 is designated to the tool fund and $25,000 is being used to establish an endowment they hope will encourage others to donate.
“In some cases, the cost of their tools is greater than their tuition,” Tom pointed out.
The foundation’s
“We want to inspire others to donate to the students,” Dottie said. “We are a drop in the bucket compared to other foundations across the country. We hope this gift inspires others to give so they know the impact they can have on these kids’ lives. It doesn’t have to be a large gift. If you’ve ever lived hand to mouth, you know that $200 is a huge amount and can make a big difference. Any amount will help.”
Over the years the Kelseys have watched the tide rise and fall for Wellsville and from their recent visit they are encouraged by new activities and revitalization happening in the village, although, Dottie noted, “There are still some small sections where there is work to be done.”
The foundation gives funding to areas where the family has significant ties to the community. It has given its support to the David A. Howe Library, as well as the Trenton Public Library and North Palm Beach Public Library. It also supports the Academic Games Program in Florida, the South Florida Fair and
the Today’s A Good Day program for premature infants at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where their grandchild was born at 26 1/2 weeks. They also support programs at their local YMCA.
When asked why they are making charitable contributions to Wellsville and other communities, Dottie said, “The transmission of values in our society today is really lacking and it is one of the most important things needed for the stability of our country.”
Tom simply replied, “Because it is the right thing to do.”
Wulf Jr, Madison will be a junior at Scio Central School where she is a member of FBLA, the history club and the foreign language club. She is also a member of the Belmont Legion and National Honor Society. Madison is employed at JMH as a nutritionist aide and after high school plans to study to become a cosmetologist.
currently employed at L’Italia and plans to attend college for nursing.
• The Beta Gamma Phi sorority has chosen Ella Green, daughter of Chad and Shannon Green, to represent the group. Ella attends Wellsville High and is part of the yearbook design team as well as the school’s swimming, basketball and track teams and sits on the student athlete advisory committee. Ella is on High Honor Roll for academics and works at Fisher’s Pharmacy and hopes to become a large-animal veterinarian.
or student, he also plays varsity football. During the summer, Ryan works at the school and plans to attend college for law or enter a trade.
gym teacher and high school health teacher.
• Lexi Aftuck is representing The Wellsville Investment Group . The daughter of Dan and Erica Aftuck, Lexi is a high honor roll student at Wellsville, where her activities include the yearbook and ski club. She plays on the soccer and track teams and is currently employed at L’italia. She plans on going to college.
• Lydia Brockway is the Lion’s Club candidate for this year. Lydia is the daughter of Bryan and Alicia Brockway and attends Wellsville High. A high honor roll student, Lydia is also the secretary of the student council and a member of ski club and robotics. She also plays soccer and softball and was named a scholar-athlete. She plans to attend college to pursue a degree in the medical field.
• Raegan Vogel, the daughter of Shane and Heather Vogel, is the Mulberry Twig candidate and a junior at Wellsville High School. She is a scholar-athlete and a member of ski club, also playing soccer, basketball and running track. Raegan is employed at Still Water and plans to pursue an education in forensic science and psychology after graduation.
• Mia Gesek is representing is representing the Business & Professional Women. The daughter of Karen and Steve Gianatiempo, Mia will be a junior at Scio Central. She is the class president and is active in the history club and foreign language club and plays varsity softball. A member of NHS, Mia plans to attend college after high school.
The Rotary Club candidate this year is Lane Joyce, daughter of Rebecca Joyce (Jered Muoio) and Timothy Joyce. A member of the theater and ski clubs, Lane also finds time for soccer and cheerleading. She has received numerous awards, including the meritorious teacher award and scholar athlete award. Lane is
• The Wellsville Lions Club is sponsoring Ryan Sturm, son of Steph and Brady Sturm. Ryan attends Wellsville High and is involved in Leo’s Club and the technology club. A high hon-
• Representing the Lilac Twig this year will be Emma Bentley, daughter of Alanna and Scott Bentley. Emma is a junior at Andover Central School where her activities include NHS, student council, fine arts, choir and band. Emma also plays volleyball, basketball and softball. She has earned the Coach’s Award for modified basketball and softball and was named a scholar-athlete for varsity volleyball and softball for the 2024-25 year. Emma is currently employed at the Andover Free Library and her future plans include attending college to become an elementary school
• Brody Vance is representing The Maple Twig. The son of Melissa and Patrick Vance, he is an incoming junior at Andover. He is very involved in sports and volunteers as a youth umpire, referee for youth soccer and coaches youth basketball. He also plays soccer, basketball and baseball. Brody was named Basketball MVP twice for Allegany County and played in the Corporate Cup Soccer Showcase. He is currently employed at the school as a summer cleaner and hopes to be a lineman after graduation.
➡JMH Auxiliary Royal Court continued
home improvement
(BPT) — Choosing energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment, scheduling regular maintenance appointments and changing the furnace filter can all help contribute to a more comfortable and energy-efficient home. However, properly serviced equipment is not the only factor that contributes to a home’s comfort and energy efficiency. Going beyond
the equipment to consider a “whole home” approach to caring for indoor air may help optimize a home’s energy efficiency and indoor comfort. How much do
you know about the non-equipment factors that can affect indoor air? The following quiz can help homeowners identify potential issues that can reduce energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
1. An HVAC technician should check the attic when making a service call or performing regular maintenance on heating and cooling equipment.
True. Issues in the attic - such as an insufficient level of attic insulation or problems with attic ductwork - can lead to inconsistent temperatures, reduced energy efficiency and other problems throughout the home. The EPA estimates that homeowners can save an average of up to 15% on heating and cooling costs (or an average of 11% on total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Whole Home Air?
attics, floors over crawl spaces and accessible basement rim joists1.
An Owens Corning AirCare® Professional brings a “whole home” approach to caring for a home’s air. These professionals use the HVAC System Health Check, which includes 11 checkpoints to evaluate the home’s comfort system.
2. My home is only 15 years old and was built to code, so I don’t need to worry about energy efficiency.
False. Residential building codes in the U.S. are typically updated every three years but may vary by jurisdiction. It’s important to understand that building codes represent the minimum threshold for energy efficiency. Advances in building technology and equipment innovations continue to make homes more efficient compared to those built only a decade or so ago.
3. Insulation is already installed in my attic, so I’m covered.
False. A sufficient level of attic insulation is necessary to help regulate temperatures and avoid heat escaping from a home’s interior through the attic to the outdoors. Similarly, in the summer, attic insulation keeps hot attic air from migrating into cooler parts of the home. Recommendations for
insulation levels vary by climate zone. An HVAC technician should check attic insulation levels when performing a maintenance visit or service call and can recommend a proper level.
4. Condensation in the attic is always a sign of a leaky roof. False. Any moisture accumulating in the attic should be investigated. The presence of moisture may lead
to problems ranging from corrosion on metal infrastructure or mold on equipment. And while it is important to ensure a home’s roof is not permitting moisture to enter, humidity in attic air may also lead to moisture issues. Attic insulation helps provide thermal comfort within a home by slowing thermal transmission through the ceiling as part of an insulating
system. Be sure to seal the ceiling prior to insulating to prevent thermal loss by way of air movement.
5. A noticeable increase in dust inside a home may be a sign of ductwork issues. True. Over time, connections in attic ductwork can loosen, allowing particulates in attic air to enter the ducts and be distributed throughout the home.
Unusual smells or odors are another sign that attic air may be infiltrating the home.
ditions in other parts of the home, including the attic, contribute to comfort and energy efficiency. An Owens Corning AirCare® Professional has the knowledge and tools to assess conditions in the attic - including insulation and ductwork - and bring a whole home approach to caring for indoor air. To find an AirCare® professional, visit the Owens Corning online contractor locator.
6. Equipment that cycles on frequently is always a sign of an equipment issue. False. Holes or penetrations in attic ductwork can allow heated or cooled air to escape into the attic, placing additional strain on properly operating equipment. Additional wear and tear may shorten the lifespan of a heating and cooling system.
Caring for a home’s indoor air should go beyond the equipment and consider how con-
