New Wellsville village mayor, trustee approved
WELLSVILLE —
The village board has approved a new mayor as well as a new trustee to fill a vacant seat.
Ed Fahs took the helm as mayor and Tim Colligan stepped on board to fill the trustee position Fahs vacated. Both were approved unanimously Sept. 22 by the board and will serve until the reorganizational meeting in early December.
Fahs has been on the board for six years and has served as deputy mayor several times during his tenure.
The mayor’s post was open because former mayor Randy
Election season is well under way with some ballots already in the hands of voters.
The state Board of Elections reported that early voting and absentee ballots are available for voters looking to avoid going to the polls on Nov. 4 — two of four ways to vote.
There are four ways to vote: In-person early voting, mail-based early voting, absentee ballots and visiting the polling booth on Election Day. Several deadlines are approaching in October that affect those looking to register or access mail-based voting options.
Shayler announced earlier in September he was stepping down officially on Sept. 12.
Colligan, celebrating his birthday, served as a trustee from 1984 to 1992 and again from 1994 to 2002 after an attempt at running for mayor. He said that he will seek the trustee seat, passing petitions this spring and running in the 2026 election.
“I’m ready to do it again,” he said after determining the chair he was seated in was his old chair from the boardroom in the old Municipal Building.
Fahs, who thanked the board for their
approval as mayor, said, “Tim is the epitome of Wellsville. When you think of who serves the village, you think of him.”
Colligan is an active member of the Republican Party, the Immaculate Conception Church and the Elks Club and he is co-chair of the Babcock Movie Theater Preservation Society.
Shayler served as a village board member for two years before winning the 2016 mayoral election. He was most recently reelected with 82% of the vote in November for a new
The last day for a registered voter to change their address is Oct. 20. The last day to visit the Board of Elections to register to vote, or for mailed registration requests to arrive at the county board’s office, is Oct. 25. The last day for the Board of Elections to receive a mailed or electronic application for an early vote by mail or absentee ballot is Oct. 25. The last day to apply in person for an early or absentee ballot is Nov. 3. The last day to postmark any mailed-in ballot is Nov. 4, and the ballots must be received by Nov. 12 to count.
The last day for the Board of Elections to receive an application for non-registered military, overseas or Uniformed And Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act-eligible voters is Oct. 25. The last day for an application to arrive for such voters if already registered to vote is Oct. 28. The last day to apply in person for a military ballot is Nov. 3. All such ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and received by Nov. 17.
To register to vote in New York state, a voter must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, not claim the right to vote elsewhere, and a
resident of the state and municipality where they wish to vote for at least thirty days prior to the election. Voting is not open to those incarcerated for a felony conviction or adjudicated to be mentally incompetent by a court. Lastly, the individual may not claim the right to vote elsewhere.
Pre-registration is available to 16- and 17-year-olds, but they are unable to vote until they turn 18.
To register to vote, visit the state Board of Elections’ online voter registration portal, visit your county Board of Elections or a state agen-
cy designated as a National Voter Registration Act site — including the Department of Motor Vehicles or county health department — or via mail.
At the state level, a single ballot initiative will appear. The proposal amends the state Constitution to allow the use of 323 acres of the Adirondack Forest Preserve to create new Nordic ski and biathlon trails at the Olympic Sports Complex in North Elba, Essex County. An additional 2,500 acres are to be added to the preserve to offset the usage. State Supreme Court
justices are to be elected. The Eighth Judicial district covers Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties. Candidates on the ballot in all of those counties include Jorge deRosas on the Democratic, Republican and Conservative lines; and Shannon Heneghan on the Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Working Families lines.
ALLEGANY COUNTY In countywide races, Jenna Kelley is running as a Republican and
Photo by Kathryn Ross
New Wellsville Mayor Ed Fahs welcomes former trustee Tim Colligan back to the village board — with a bottle of ibuprofen — during the last meeting in September.
A wellness oasis, Halo Day Spa, celebrates opening in Cuba
BY BELLE MARTINELLI
CUBA
— When you enter the Acme Business Building, located at 38 Water St., follow the arrows and purple glow through the maze of the hallway to reach the oasis in the middle of the desert — the Halo Day Spa, your new wellness oasis.
“It’s like the cheese at the end of the mouse trap,” joked Marika Burke, owner and founder of Halo Day Spa.
On Friday, the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce joined the Cuba Chamber of Commerce and representatives of local and state officials to ceremoniously welcome the Halo Day Spa to the business community.
Halo Day Spa is where you can immerse yourself in total relaxation and transform with confidence. The spa is designed to serve those seeking holistic self-care and a transformative wellness experi-
ence to rejuvenate your body, calm your mind and uplift your spirit.
“I have created a trifecta of wellness, including halo therapy, vibroacoustic therapy and a red-light sauna,” Burke said. “Hopefully you can come in and experience either one at a time, or you could experience them all together for a bigger health punch.”
Halo Day Spa’s carefully curated services offer a modern approach
to holistic self-care, and each treatment is grounded in science. Treatments include Halotherapy (dry salt), a red-light sauna and immersive sound therapy. At the heart of Halo Day Spa’s offerings is Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT), an advanced, sound-based treatment, the only one of the like in the area.
Halo Day Spa is dedicated to offering holistic, touchless, science-based therapies that enhance well-being, reduce stress, and promote a healthy balance. Book sessions online at thehalodayspa.com or
sign up for a membership.
“I wanted to bring wellness closer to home and in an affordable way,” Burke said. “Hopefully, I have [made] a space where people can come in, relax, reset, enjoy, before they’re rushing off to the next busy schedule they have.”
Kevin White, board president of the Cuba Chamber, raved about Burke’s transformation of the space, noting how he watched her transform the plain suite into a calming, wellness retreat.
“This space is gorgeous,” White said. “What you’ve done with this, the transformation of what’s gone on in here.”
White discussed the newly renovated Acme Business Building, where Halo Day Spa is located.
“When you come to visit Halo, make sure that you check out this new facility because it’s really advancing in what we can do in Cuba,” he said, thanking Burke for her investment in their business community.
The ceremony hit
close to home for Julie Schmidt, district coordinator for state Sen. George Borello, there on behalf of his office to present Burke with a certificate.
“Born and raised in Cuba, I’m always very excited to see new businesses come into town,” she said to Burke, whom she knows personally.
“I have known you for a while, and I wish you nothing but the best.”
Before cutting the ribbon, Burke gave one last shoutout to the ACCORD Center
in Belmont, which was instrumental in helping her plan and execute her business. Twice a year, the ACCORD Center offers a formal entrepreneurship course that teaches potential and current businesses all about running their own enterprises.
“I couldn’t have done it without their help,” she said.
“Alright, so I guess this is it, huh?” Burke exclaimed, and she cut the ribbon, ushering in a new era of wellness and tranquility.
Democrats donate to Catholic Charities food pantry in Wellsville
The Allegany County Democrats collected multiple bags/boxes of non-perishable food and personal care items when they met recently
in Andover.
ACDC volunteers also secured donations of pet food and supplies, which are redistributed to local food pantries and enable families to keep their pets during financial hardships. The goods collected in September were donated to the
➡
Wellsville
Catholic Charities Joyce Family Food Pantry.
Catholic Charities’ Food Pantry and Thrift Store, which opened in the fall of 2012, serves an average of 200 families each month. The Food Pantry, located at 67 E. Pearl St., Wellsville, operates Monday through Friday beginning at 10 a.m. For more information, call (585) 296-3757.
“We’re grateful for the support of the Allegany County Democrats and their generous donation to our pantry,” said site manager James
Mayor continued from PAGE 1
four-year term. However, at age 75, he said he decided it is time to resign.
Landbank website, 63 Seneca will be given to People Incorporated, which will build a new structure on the lot.
The board also learned the two-year battle to rid the village of the eyesore at 63 Seneca St. has come to an end.
Cassie Hawley, who was among those members of the neighborhood dubbed Project 63, who first brought the dilapidated, unsafe — and reported drug hangout — at 63 Seneca St. to the board’s attention, announced it had been purchased by the Landbank organization. She said, “They got it for $1,575 and there were 59 bids but they hung in there and they say it will be (demolished) within two months.”
She also reported that, according to the
“It’s nice to have some good news after two years,” Fahs commented.
The village facilitated the foreclosure and subsequent auction of the property.
The board also set a joint meeting with the Wellsville Town Board for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 13 prior to the regular board meeting. It pertains to the annexation of property in Sunnydale, a housing development east of the village and located in the town, for the purpose of development.
The annexation is a preliminary step in a plan from the Alfred State College Building
Trades Department that was suggested to the board over two years ago by the department heads. The initial plan calls for the development of six to eight small homes for individuals and small families within the village. It will be connected to the village water and sewer systems. A new street is also planned for the housing development.
As the meeting progressed, Fahs noted that members of the board had been invited to the recent dedication of the Rotary Pavilion at RiverWalk.
The new mayor commented, “It is a very nice addition to RiverWalk and to the village of Wellsville.”
The board also approved the addition of Chloe Dickerson Knox, formerly of Willing, to the Dyke Street Engine Company #2 Inc. With board approval, Connor Cranmer’s name will also be added to the roll of the Dyke Street Engine Company #2 Inc. A Wellsville resident, he comes out of the fire department’s Junior Fireman’s Program.
The board also approved posting the vacated position of part-time utility clerk on Facebook.
Prior to the 5:30 p.m. joint meeting on Oct. 13, the board also scheduled a public hearing at 5:15 p.m. for the purpose of approving an amendment to the village zoning map.
Photo by Belle Martinelli
Julie Schmidt (left), district coordinator for state Sen. George Borello, presents congratulatory messages from the senator as well as Rep. Nick Langworthy to Marika Burke on the opening of her Halo Day Spa in Cuba.
Conservative for treasurer, and Ian Jones is running as a Republican for judge.
All 15 seats on the Allegany County Board of Legislators will be up for four-year terms. District I candidates include Republicans Kevin Demick, Swales Ricketts, and Philip Stockin. District II candidates include Democrat Sarah Trumpp and Republicans Gretchen Hanchett, John Ricci and Dwight Healy. In District III, Charles Bessette will appear on the Republican and Conservative line, and Bill Meunier and Ricky Whitney will appear on the Republican line. In District IV, Gary Barnes, Steven Havey and Kevin LaForge will appear on the Republican line. In district V, Janice Burdick, Philip Curran and William Brooke Harris will appear on the Republican line.
Seven Allegany County offices up for election will see no candidates on the ballot and will likely be filled by write-in votes — one of two Allen board member seats, one of two Alma board seats, the Almond clerk/tax collector, the Birdsall supervisor, one of two Bolivar board seats, the Scio clerk and the West Almond tax collector posts.
Town races include:
• Town of Alfred — Jesse Szalc will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Kathleen Benzaquin will appear on the Democratic and Alfred United lines, Kate Rogers on the Democratic
and Neighbors First lines, and Stefanie Burdick on the Republican line for two board seats. Robert Halsey will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent. Wende Bush will appear on the Republican line for justice.
• Town of Allen — Zachary Badgley will appear on the Badgley for Allen line for supervisor. Town Clerk/ Tax Collector-Vote for one Jame VanDewalker will appear on the Clerk/ Collector For Allen line for clerk/tax collector. William Sylor will appear on the Republican line for one of two board seats. Dennis, Raymond Dennis will appear on the Dennis for Highway line and Allan Hennard will appear on the Allan Hennard line for highway superintendent. Town of Alma — Paula Clayson will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Angela Rhodes will appear on the For Clerk line for clerk/tax collector. John Walsh will appear on the Democratic line for two board seats. Tom Dannheim will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent.
• Town of Almond — Daniel Hegarty will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. No one is on the ballot for clerk/tax collector. Jo-Anne Freeland and Bryan W. Snyder will appear on the Republican line for two board seats.
Town of Amity — John Francisco will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Joshua Brown and James Schneider will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. Town of Andover town — Steven Martinelli will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Craig R. Brown Jr. and Amanda Joyce-Phelps will appear on the Republican line for two board seats.
• Village of Andover — Tom Davis will appear on the Democratic line and David Truax will appear on the Republican line for mayor. Samantha Gavin and Matthew Zengerle will appear on the Republican line, and Michael Stone Working Families and Mike for Trustee lines for two trustee posts.
Town of Angelica — Girard Kelly will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Brian Jones and Jeremy Metatos will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. Village of Angelica — Robert Claypool will appear on the Republican line for mayor. David Fleming and Robert Perry will appear on the Republican line for two trustee seats.
• Town of Belfast — Andrew L. Chamberlain will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Mary Beth Arnold will appear on the Republican line for clerk/tax collector. Steven C. Bedwell and Joseph M. Damiano will appear
automotive
on the Democratic line, and Joshua Cole and David E. Jennings will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. James Ames Jr. will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent. Town of Birdsall — No one appears on the ballot for supervisor. Joyce Butler and Patricial Shultz will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. Dominic Barone will appear on the Republican line for justice.
Town of Bolivar — Ricky Gould will appear on the Democratic line for supervisor. Raymond Iantoro will appear alone on the Conservative line for two board seats. Raymond Gilliland will appear on the Republican line for justice.
• Town of Burns — Dianne Freiner will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Justina Hockenberry will appear on the Republican line for clerk/tax collector. Jaramie F. Hurlbut and William Mammosser will appear on the Republican line, and Carolyn Mahany-Shunk will appear on the Better Burns line for two board seats. Glenn Odell Jr. will appear on the Democratic line for highway superintendent.
• Town of Caneadea — Michel Cox will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Christopher Tetta and Andrew Weigman will appear on the Republican line for two board seats.
• Town of Centerville — Marc A. Bliss will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Barbara Covert will appear on the Republican line for clerk/ tax collector. Nathaniel G. Martin will appear on the Democratic line, and Jonathan Clayson and Michael Vosburg will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. Kaleb Armison will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent.
• Town of Clarksville — Ronald Truax will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Julie Jones will appear on the Republican line for clerk/tax collector. Joseph D. Haskins and Don B. Sturdevant Jr. will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. Gordon Maker will appear on the Republican line for justice.
• Town of Cuba — Allesia Heslin will appear on the Republican line for clerk. Jonathan Enzinna will appear on the Democratic and Cuba Forward lines, and William Beck and David Decker will appear on the Republican line for two board seats.
• Town of Friendship — Brad Blouvet will appear on the Democratic line and Russ Hall will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Patricia Schurr will appear on the Republican line for clerk/tax collector. Sebastian Merrill will appear on the Democratic line, and Kenneth Burdick and David Norton will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. George J. Rit-
ter Jr. will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent.
• Town of Genesee — Alex R. Smith will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Jodi M. Adams and Loren Miller will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. Jill Roulo will appear on the Republican line for tax assessor.
• Town of Granger — Thomas Voss will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Amber Bennett will appear on the Republican line for clerk. Carmer, Calvin L. Carmer and Zebulin Beardsley will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. Sarah Luckey will appear on the Republican line for tax collector. Kevin Slack will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent.
• Town of Grove — Kenneth J. DeRitter will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Susan D. Morris will appear on the Republican line for clerk/ tax collector. Peggy Gelser-Webb and Jesse Griffith will appear on the Democratic line for two board seats. Mark Ringelberg will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent.
• Town of Hume — Darlene Mason will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Dawn M. Bentley will appear on the Republican line for clerk/tax collector. Peter Hopkins and Tamara Suzanne Peet will appear on the Republican line, and Christopher L. Austin will appear on the Austin for Hume line for two board seats. Kevin D. Peet will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent. Todd Smith will appear on the Republican line for justice. Town of Independence — Jeri L. Reichman will appear on the Democratic and Republican lines for supervisor.Mary Bissett will appear on the Democratic and Republican lines for clerk. Danielle R. Freeman and Kimberely R. Howe will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. Jacqueline K. Moon will appear on the Republican line for tax collector. Mark Emery will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent. Town of New Hudson — Karen Perrigo will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Jill Ringelberg will appear on the Republican line for clerk/tax collector. Tim Clayson and Jonathan C. Hamilton will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. Chris Santangelo will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent.
• Town of Rushford — Dennis Bliss will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. Ashley Brundage will appear on the Republican line for clerk/tax collector. Deborah A. Aumick and John More will appear on the Republican line for two board seats. Aaron Brooks will appear on the Republican line for a vacant board seat. Jeffrey McElheny will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent.
• Town of Scio — Alissa Ramsey will appear on the Incumbents line and Robert J. Davenport on the Rob for Supervisor line for supervisor. No candidate will appear for clerk. Wendell E. Brown and Matthew J. Ryan will appear on the Democratic line, and Jolene Dickens and Glen Layfield will appear on the Incumbents line for two board seats. Corrine Glass will appear on the Democratic line for tax collector. Skip Nickerson will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent. Bud Dodson will appear on the Ort for Court line for justice.
• Town of Ward — Jim Lucey will appear on the Democratic line for supervisor. Sue Wlasniewski will appear on the Republican line for clerk/tax collector. Decker, Joseph A. Decker will appear on the Republican line and Sam Patello will appear on the Sam for Ward line for two board seats. Ryan Tucker will appear on the Republican line for highway superintendent. George Hrycun will appear on the Republican line for justice. Town of Wellsville — Patricia Graves will appear on the Republican line and Justine Dodaro on the Justine for Council line for two board seats.
• Town of West Almond — Trevor Burt will appear on the Republican line for supervisor. McLaughlin, Pamela will appear on the Republican line and Shelly McCann will appear on the McCann for Council line for two board seats. Chris McCann will appear on the
quiring counties to host early voting leading up to
In Allegany County, two early voting stations will be set up with slightly different operating hours. Early voting hours at the United Methodist Church, 7 Park Circle, Belmont, include:
Early voting hours at the Wellsville
While most polling places remain unchanged, Allegany County elections officials announced several changes. All voting in both town of Amity districts will take place at the United Methodist Church, 7 Park Circle, with no voting to be conducted at the Genesee Valley Central School District campus as in previous years. . Voters may visit alleganyco.gov/ departments/boardof-elections. The state Board of Elections may be reached at (518) 474-1953 or by email at INFO@elections.ny.gov, or visited online at elections.ny.gov/.
Race around Wellsville to help orphans in Africa
BY KATHRYN ROSS
WELLSVILLE — Get to know Wellsville a little better, have some fun and help African orphans when the first Amazing Race comes to Wellsville on Oct. 11.
This event is being organized by Lois Miller and Shaye Cornell Reagan to benefit the Rehema Home for orphans in Kenya.
without parents in Kenya. Rehema Home of Nairobi was established as a response to this crisis by providing a permanent safe haven for children with no family to care for them, many of whom are born HIV-positive, abandoned, abused or living on the street.
Bukura. Rehema Home US mission headquarters is located in Rochester.
Miller, who travelled to Kenya and visited the Nairobi and Bukura orphanages last February, said 100% of all the money raised from The Amazing Race will support the children in the two homes.
with 40 baskets already donated, is still growing. It features baskets for children, three Buffalo Bills baskets, Halloween baskets, gift certificates and numerous other items.
“I’m just amazed at how generous people and businesses have been, but then, Wellsville is like that,” Miller said.
According to United Nations statistics, there are an estimated 2.6 million children
Rehema (it means “mercy” in Swahili) Home was established in 1997 in Nairobi and is now home to more than 100 children in two locations: Nairobi and
Miller said she became interested in Rehema Home through her granddaughter’s friend. “She has been there several times and after I listened to her, I knew it was something I wanted to help with and something the Wellsville community would get behind.”
The basket auction is open from noon to 4 p.m. at the American Legion for anyone who wants to drop by on Oct. 11.
The cost to get in on fun at The Amazing Race is $25 per person or $75 per car. (One full car of friends will help pay for an entire meal for more than 90 children.)
Miller, who retired as a special needs teacher from Wellsville Central School and is a longtime foster parent, said she also has a special interest in Africa.
The race starts at 1 p.m. at the American Legion on Jefferson Street. To register for the event find a sign and scan the QR code, call Miller at (585) 808-1256 or email her at loismiller1256@ gmail.com, where you can also purchase tickets for the chicken barbecue.
Miller explained that while the Rehema Home orphanages in Nairobi and Bukura are sanctioned by the government of Kenya, they are not funded by the government. She said the sites get the majority of their support from the people of the United States.
Those participating in The Amazing Race will drive around the village where they will solve puzzles, find clues, enjoy a scavenger hunt and compete in challenges that will take them from the railroad tracks at the depot to the river. Their exploits will be captured on video and played simultaneously at the headquarters at the American Legion. The Legion is also the site of a basket auction and a Stearn’s chicken barbecue that are also part of the event. While raising funds for the orphans, Miller said participants will also be playing for prizes. The top prize is $500 for first place — but perhaps the most coveted prize will be the ticket raffle for box seats to see the now 4-0 Buffalo Bills.
The basket auction,
“When I was there in February,” she recalled, “we brought in 16 boxes of items for the children, and I asked one little boy what he wanted for Christmas. He said flip flops. It was amazing to me that with all we have here, a pair of flip flops would make that little boy’s Christmas.”
home improvement
3 simple ways to add fall color to your home and garden
(BPT) — As summer comes to a close, autumn is all about extending your time outdoors and enjoying the gorgeous, vibrant hues in the garden. Celebrate the season by incorporating colorful plants and flowers that enhance the warmth and beauty of your home and outdoor gathering spaces. The gardening experts at Ball Horticultural Company offer their top recommendations for capturing what makes this season so special with three easy tips for novice and expe-
rienced gardeners alike.
1. Welcome guests with style
To give guests a warm welcome when they visit, refresh your front porch entryway with lovely decorative containers and hanging baskets in rich fall colors.
shades to cool blues and violets - you can easily find the combination that feels right for your space.
backyard and patio into an oasis for birds, bees and butterflies by choosing plants and flowers that attract pollinators. Explore these options to add both color and character to any outdoor space:
Spreading Pansy Top Wave™ - A great new choice for cool-season containers on your porch or patio, these pansies offer mounds of friendly flowers to brighten window boxes, planters and baskets. With a wide variety of shades - from warm oranges, rose and pink
Rudbeckia Suntacular - Also called Black-Eyed Susans, these stunning vase-shaped perennials bring a cheerful burst of sunshine to any mixed container or landscape, making your outdoor spaces more inviting for guests. Their hardy nature and easy-care appeal make these plants ideal for cooler weather, adding warmth to your fall decor.
2. Create a pollinatorfriendly fall environment Transform your
Lantana Shamrock™ Yellow - These lively and fragrant yellow clusters of flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds, while also being deer resistant and drought tolerant. This is a great plant for containers and baskets thanks to its compact, well-kept growth habit.
Salvia Mystical - Available in striking blue or crisp white, these nar-
row-stalked blossoms will provide a beautiful contrast to warmer hues such as yellow, orange or red in your garden or containers. Their aromatic foliage and tubular flowers attracts pollinators including bees and butterflies, while resisting deer and rabbits.
Echinacea Sombrero® Mandarin Mambo - An upgrade to the traditional coneflower, this perennial offers bright orange flowers that change to a lovely peach color as they mature and provide lasting appeal for pollinators. Leave
the spent seed heads to feed foraging birds in the fall.
3. Celebrate the fall classic with mum companions
Mums have long been cherished as a hallmark of the fall season, blooming into their full, glorious colors when many other flowers begin to fade. Pairing them
county Community Source
with plants that offer bold colors and interesting textures can enhance your fall garden and create a rich visual tapestry. Here are two great choices that can easily become your favorite mums’ new BFFs:
Dahlia Venti™ PinkBurst - This special pink Dahlia variety features a unique anemone-like double-flower pattern that will beautifully complement your autumn display of mums, while also performing well in decorative containers.
Zinnia Elegant™ Hot Mixture - Easy-to-grow and pollinator-friendly, these Zinnias produce large double flowers in stunning color mixes that quickly become garden favorites. Their festive shades of orange, red and pink bring vibrant contrast alongside
mums in both containers and landscapes. No matter your gardening experience, make your autumn shine this year by embracing the season’s warm colors and striking blooms. Discover more gardening resources and ideas at BallHort.
ALFRED — Alfred University will host the AUEnergy Conference on Oct. 23, beginning at 7:30 a.m. and themed “Emerging Technology for a Resilient Grid.”
Speakers include Alfred University alumni Patricia Nilsen, CEO of Avangrid companies New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E); John Edmond, founder and research fellow at semiconductor manufacturer Wolfspeed; and John Simmins, director of the GE Vernova Advanced Power Grid Lab at the university.
Nilsen and Edmond are members of the Alfred University Board of Trustees.
Nilsen earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Alfred in 1988 and went on to earn a master’s degree in English from Syracuse University in 1990 and a master’s degree in adult education from Elmira College in 1996. She was appointed president and CEO of Avangrid companies NYSEG and RG&E in 2022 and is the first woman to lead the company in its
175-year history.
Avangrid owns and operates a total of eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York state and New England. As CEO, Nilsen leads the NYSEG and RG&E teams which serve more than 1.2 million electric and 579,000 natural gas customers across more than 40% of Upstate New York. She has more than three decades of experience in the energy sector, beginning her career at NYSEG in 1992 in human resources.
Edmond earned a bachelor’s degree in ceramic engineering from Alfred in 1983 and went on to earn a PhD in materials science from North Carolina State University. While at NC State, he and four other graduate students researched ways to synthesize silicon and carbon to create silicon carbide, a compound sought after by the electronics industry for use in lighting applications and in high-power, high-frequency, high-temperature electronic components. In 1987, he and five
others — including the four fellow graduate students — founded Cree Inc. as a manufacturer of products utilizing silicon carbide technology.
The Durham, N.C.based Cree — which changed its name to Wolfspeed when it moved from NASDAQ to being listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021 — is now a global leader in the development and manufacture of wideband gap semiconductors, focused on silicon carbide and gallium nitride materials and devices for power and radio frequency applications such as transportation, power supplies, power inverters, and wireless systems.
In 2022, Wolfspeed opened a $1 billion silicon carbide chip manufacturing facility in Marcy, N.Y. A nationally recognized scholar, Edmond is the inventor of record for 411 worldwide patents.
Simmins, who has bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in ceramic engineering from Alfred, was appointed director of the GE
Vernova Advanced Power Grid Lab in July 2024. The lab, which launched in 2024, is part of a workforce development initiative that will prepare students for careers in the growing renewable energy industry. It is supported by a $466,853 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and $2.8 million in software licenses donated by GE Vernova.
Simmins spent 10 years as a technical executive at EPRI (previously the Electric Power Research Institute) and prior to that director of operations and engineering systems at SMECO (Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative).
In July, a state-ofthe-art grid control and distributed energy system developed by Spanish company EDIBON was installed in the grid simulation lab, which enhances Alfred University’s ability to conduct advanced research on distributed energy resources (DERs) and energy storage. The system includes components for solar,
wind, hydro, fuel cells, syngas generation, hydrogen separation, and advanced battery and non-battery storage solutions.
The facility benefits students in Alfred’s Renewable Energy Engineering and Electrical Engineering programs by providing them with access to state-of-the-art equipment and training. It also supports industry partners, utilities, and government agencies working on renewable energy integration.
Other scheduled presenters include:
• Brian Seal, senior program manager for EPRI, an independent, non-profit research and development organization, which has provided short-course training for students and power utility workers through the NYSERDA-GE Vernova supported workforce development initiative.
• Abdelrahim Brown, director of the Center for Grid Innovation, Development, and Deployment (GrIDD) and Advanced Energy Research and
Alfred University to host AUEnergy Conference Oct. 23
Technology Center (AERTC) at Stony Brook University.
• Alfred alumnus Behrouz Azimian (M.S., electrical engineering; master’s thesis on the design of an Alfred University microgrid system), senior electricity market software engineer at GE Vernova.
• Anthony Fiore, chief program officer at NYSERDA.
A panel discussion of emerging technology companies is also planned.
The conference will feature a ribbon-cutting on the new EDIBON Advanced Power Grid Simulation Lab; tours of labs across the McMahon Engineering Building; a poster presentation of current research by students from Alfred’s Renewable Energy Engineering and Electrical Engineering programs; and a networking reception.
Check-in and a conti