WELLSVILLE — In March a call went out for women veterans to join the first Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight for women who served in the U.S. military.
Just as they did when they were in their teens, three Allegany County women answered the call. They were set to leave Oct. 10 to spend a weekend in Washington, D.C., visiting historic sites dedicated to the nation’s founders and veterans with fellow women who served.
It was the first Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight exclusively for women veterans.
Although a few women veterans have participated in Honor Flights from Western New York before, they have been heavily outnumbered by men on the flights.
“This is the first all-women flight out of Buffalo,” said Kathie Timpano of Wellsville, who attended an orientation for the women’s flight recently.
Timpano as well as Barbara Gordon, also from Wellsville, were both on the Honor Flight, and joined by Kay Klein of Angelica. They each served in different eras and in different branches of the military — ranging from
the Cold War 1950s to the 19-year-long United States involvement in the Vietnam War. At 88, Gordon is the oldest of the trio. She served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1958, enlisting a day after her 18th birthday while living near Schenectady.
After basic training at Lackland Air Force base in Texas, she was a cryp-
tologist in the Pentagon, deciphering coded, high-security messages during the Cold War.
But she wanted to fly.
As a girl traveling
around the country with her parents and brothers, she was enamored of the women pilots during World War II, the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) who ferried planes, flew non-combat missions and sometimes towed targets the male pilots shot at. However, when she joined the AF, flying was not an option for women.
“What I remember most was that I was equal to the men I worked with,” she recalled. “I was paid the same and I was independent and free and living in Washington.”
Gordon was ranked as airman first class and worked in the sub-base-
ment of the Pentagon, and in the event of a nuclear attack (seemingly a real threat at the time) she said she was told to “bend over and kiss her tail feathers goodbye” because there was little chance of surviving or escaping from the sub-basement.
Today, Gordon, who teaches Getting Stronger Classes, credits her time in the military for her energy, good health and attitude. She believes all youth should serve a mandatory stint in the armed services to teach them discipline and commitment.
Timpano, nearly 80, she served in the Navy, although she can’t swim, from 1963 to 1966
as a medical corpsman, attaining the rate of hospital corpsman, third class. She recalled that she was in bootcamp in New Jersey when the country learned of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
“We didn’t know what was going to happen to us,” she said.
Timpano enlisted in the Navy following her high school graduation because she knew her parents couldn’t afford to send her to college. She received medical training and served as a medical corpsman at St. Alban’s Naval Hospital on Long Island, where she worked in nuclear medicine, female medicine and thoracic medicine.
After moving to Wellsville she worked at Kerton’s Florists. Today she does three shifts
Barbara Gordon in the Air Force.
Photos by Kathryn Ross
Barb Gordon (left) and Kathie Timpano (center) are shown with Honor Flight guardian JoAnn White on Thursday as they prepared for thisd weekend’s Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight for women veterans.
Kay Klein, who served in the Air Force, is taking part in the Honor Flight for women veterans.
Kathie Timpano in
Things looking up for Wellsville’s Main Street
BY KATHRYN ROSS
WELLSVILLE —
Main Street will soon be looking brighter and businesses will be more efficient thanks to grant funding from New York state and the village of Wellsville.
Stephen Barth of Barth Consulting Group, which specializes in Main Street revitalization, declared, “Wellsville’s golden days are ahead,” as he announced the winners of the New York Forward Small Project Fund. The fund was established two years ago following the awarding of funding from the $4.5 million New York Forward program. At that time the Small Project Fund was established to aid businesses in developing smaller and less costly projects. A NY Forward Small Grant Committee consisting of local businesspeople was
organized. The members include Amy Bennett, COO of Northern Lights; Amanda Piliero, environmental health and safety and quality manager at Northern Lights; Tom Reuning, a retired teacher and former owner of Wellsville Brewery; Mike Raptis, a local business owner; and Jeremy Cole of Lungstrom/ARVOS. Barth, who recently purchased property and moved to Wellsville, was appointed by the
village board to oversee the committee. They received 36 applications and sent 21 projects to the state for consideration. Barth said 16 were selected by the state to receive a total of $389,000 in grant funding. The projects include repainting and renovating facades, second story renovation and equipment purchases.
The businesses which will receive funding are:
• HLM Upstate LLC at 52 N. Main St., $34,040.
• Art for Rural America for the Fassett Green Space, $17,000.
• Chelsea’s Catering and Confections, $3,800.
• North Main Street Holdings at 85 N. Main St., $18,500.
• C&D Professionals LLC at 86 N. Main St., $16,000.
• L’Italia will receive $20,000.
• North Main Street Holdings at 100-102 N. Main St., $11,100.
• Wellsville Wellness, $50,000.
• JB’s Family Fitness, $36,685.
• Perk Solutions LLC at 89 N. Main St., $7,000
• Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce, $35,834.50. Fisher Pharmacy, $34,000.
• Tami’s Floral Expressions, $50,000.
• Hart’s Jewelry, $14,430.
• The Hair Dressers, $21,830.
• The Beef Haus, $18,870.
The projects have to be funded up front by the business owner who will be reimbursed by the state through the village once projects are complete. Projects must be completed by December 2027.
Barth said the funding process has created a sense of hope and excitement in the business community, adding that some projects have already taken place. “It will take place overnight and you will have an attractive Main Street that will increase property values, and everyone will benefit,” he predicted.
37th Artisans Tour set for Oct. 18-19 in Allegany County
BY KATHRYN ROSS
Hills and villages across Allegany County are showing the grandeur of autumn but, starting Oct. 17, add to it a pallet of artists’ colors when the 37th Annual Allegany Artisans Tour gets underway.
In 1988, a group of artists and craftspeople, including such wellknown local artisans as Karen Tufty, Rich Saupe and Stephen Walker, joined together as the “Allegany Artisans” and decided to open their studios to the public for a weekend. Their reasoning was that their local friends and neighbors didn’t get to see their work because the artisans left their studios on weekends to travel to shows and exhibitions across the country.
At the time the idea of opening artist studios for tours was just begin-
ning to take hold, but Allegany County where they lived was far from the burgeoning crowd. So, the local artisans developed their own tour — the Allegany Artisans Studio Tour. Successful from its beginning, it has grown into an annual event and includes artisans of diverse styles and traditions and draws crowds from across Western New York and beyond. After nearly four
decades the event has changed little. Some studios now open for previews, and the variety of artworks has expanded and many additional artists have joined the ranks, but the likes of Tufty, Saupe and Walker, along with many of the original founders, still open their studios to fans and aficionados on one weekend each fall.
That weekend is officially Oct. 18-19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with
selected studios open for preview from 5 to 7 p.m. that Friday. This year, 40 artisans will display their works and give demonstrations in 32 studios. Fourteen studios will be open Oct. 17 for a preview. They are:
• Susan Jamison –Mixed media, digital photography, Arkport.
• Michael Riehle
– Wood and ink, Belmont
• Joy Alyssa Day and BJ Johnson – Blown glass, Cuba
• Felecity Vickman –Painting, Cuba
• Richard Saupé –Painting, Wellsville
• Ed Green – Pottery, Wellsville
• Seth Boehnke –Metalwork, knives, Wellsville
• Kristin Buchholz –Painting, prints, and collages, Wellsville
• Kim Kasperski and Bill Cavanaugh –Wood and stained glass, Wellsville
• Diane Fagergren –Stained glass and braided rugs, Wellsville
• Peggyann Watts –Braided rugs, Wellsville
• Pat Shannon Gay – Paintings and baskets, Wellsville
• Ken Reichman – Wax sculpture, candles, and stained glass, Whitesville
• Marsha Van Vlack
– Ceramics, pottery, sculpture, Whitesville
Locations for these and the other artisans on the tour may be found by going online at alleganyartisans.com or by picking up a booklet or map in area businesses. Many of the participating artisans will also offer live demonstrations throughout the
weekend that will span everything from handson techniques to traditional crafts. Just a few of the opportunities to see artists at work are:
In Alfred Station at Rebecca Wind Nightingale’s studio, where she will be throwing mugs, vases and bowls on the potter’s wheel while Amy Bennett handbuilds ceramic vessels.
In Arkport Susan Jamison’s Studio will host potato printmaking for kids on that Saturday and at the Belvidere Cornerstone, in Belvidere near Belmont, Susan Doran will create marbled paper prints in the Ebru style. The Allegany Artisans Tour offers not only a chance to enjoy art in the studio, and a chance to meet the artist, it also offers the opportunity to enjoy the splendor of the season amid the hills of the Alleghenies.
weekly at Hart House, teaches Growing Stronger Classes, is a certified lay server at her church and visits three nursing homes each weekend.
Of her military service, she says, “I loved every minute of it and my biggest regret is that I didn’t stay in touch with the women I served with.”
operating on soldiers wounded and injured in Vietnam.
Klein is the youngest of the trio at 76. She served in the Air Force from 1968 to 1970 and was stationed at a hospital in the Philippines. There she was a surgical technician passing instruments to surgeons
“We had eight operating rooms and our patients arrived by plane loads,” Klein, who reached the rank of sergeant, recalled. “We worked until there weren’t any more
Oramel. She joined the military because her father had been in the military and because it offered her benefits and training and a college education — which she wouldn’t have attained otherwise. She earned a liberal arts degree from the University of Maryland.
into the military.
who provided $121,000 for the trip.
Although she suffered from some sexual harassment while in the military, she said she enjoyed working with people from all over the country while she believed she was doing something important with her life.
Klein grew up in
Today she appreciates the structure serving in the military gave to her life. She moved back to the area to raise her children in a “smaller America.” She is a craftsperson and works in a store in Angelica.
Her son and grandson followed her footsteps
As part of the Honor Flight the veterans was to visit Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Iwo Jima monument, the World War II Museum and the Women’s Memorial Museum, among other monuments in Washington. They will also be guests at a banquet in their honor.
The entire trip was paid for through donations from Barbara and Patrick O’Connor, West Herr, the Gorden brothers and the American Veterans of New York,
At orientation in Buffalo, the veterans saw a video message from author Kristin Hannah, who wrote “The Women,” a story of the difficulty women veterans, from World War I to as recently as the 1990s, faced in receiving recognition for their service and sacrifice. According to the Women’s Memorial, since the Revolutionary War, more than three million women have served in or with the armed forces of the U.S. — every one of them volunteers.
Photo provided
Rebecca Wind Nightingale will throw mugs, vases and bowls on the potter’s wheel at her studio in Alfred Station during the Allegany Artisans Tour in Allegany County.
Photo provided
Art for Rural America’s Fassett Green Space will receive $17,000 from the NY Forward Small Business grant funding.
Langworthy decries shutdown, touts program for rural hospitals
BY JIM ECKSTROM
CUBA — With the federal government shutdown continuing, and votes in the U.S. House canceled while U.S. senators try to find a way out of the impasse, Rep. Nick Langworthy hit the road in his district.
With health care funding at the heart of the stalemate on Capitol Hill, Langworthy, R-23rd District, said he’s using the time away from Washington to visit medical facilities in the Southern Tier. Along the way, he’s highlighting Republicans’ Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion investment — part of this past summer’s legislation known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” — to improve and sustain hospitals and medical facilities in rural America.
Earlier Oct. 7 he visited Westfield Memorial Hospital in Chautauqua County before heading to Allegany County and visiting Cuba Memorial Hospital. The congressman met with Cuba Memorial CEO Ruth Ireland and members of her staff, while he also visited with patients in the skilled nursing area of CMH.
“(The program) modernizes infrastructure,
upgrades technology, expands telehealth and ensures our hospitals can continue serving patients right here in the community,” Langworthy said. “I believe that this program will be transformational for rural health care delivery and every member of Congress — regardless of party — should be supporting it because it will save lives.”
However, he pointed out, not one Democrat voted for it when the overall legislation was passed in July.
“And now we are on day seven of (Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer) and Senate Democrats shutting the government down over it,” said Langworthy, who indicated he would support legislation that would make continuing resolutions automatic and forever end shutdowns
Despite another round of votes on Tuesday, the Senate failed to break the impasse over funding the government, with both Republican and Democratic versions of a funding bill being rejected. A continuing funding bill needs a 60-vote majority in the 100-member Senate, and Democrats are holding fast behind Schumer to deny the majority to break the filibuster.
said. “We want the same thing that a majority, an overwhelming majority, of Americans want, which is to end this shutdown and halt the health care crisis that will send premiums spiking for millions of people.”
Langworthy told the Times Herald that “House Republicans did our job — we passed a clean funding extension that keeps our government open and allows us to continue negotiating individual appropriation bills through regular order.”
to our heads, holding the American people hostage.”
Langworthy again contended that Schumer remains motivated less about actual policy than fearing a Democratic primary challenge by far-left progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez of New York City for his Senate seat. The longtime senator, also from NYC, can’t be seen to “knuckle-under” to Trump, Langworthy insists, as it was perceived Schumer did in March when he avoided a shutdown and agreed to extend spending.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are going unpaid and many government services are slowed or suspended due to the ongoing shutdown.
The Associated Press reported Democrats believe the public is on their side as they fight to keep the COVID-era subsidies, while there are some Republicans in Congress who want to extend the aid as ap-
proximately 22 million people who receive their insurance through the ACA marketplaces are set to receive notices that their premiums will increase at the beginning of the year.
Arch-conservative Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said she is “not a fan” of Obamacare but indicated she might vote to extend it. However, most GOP lawmakers strongly oppose any extension — and see the debate as a new opportunity to try to reform the program.
Meanwhile, Democrat Aaron Gies of Olean, who wants to challenge Langworthy for his 23rd District seat in 2026, has stated: “Nick Langworthy wants you to believe this shutdown is Chuck Schumer’s fault. The truth? Republicans in Congress are holding our government hostage to cut taxes for billionaires and rip health care away from 17 million Americans,” a reference to Medicaid reforms passed in July.
Cornell Extension plans composting workshop
BELMONT — Cornell Cooperative Extension will host a class called “Scraps to Soil: A Composting Workshop” from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 at the CCE Belmont Office, 5435A Route 48.
The class will cover turning kitchen scraps and yard waste into something valuable for gardens. Composting is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to recycle organic materials, improve your soil and reduce waste, all while helping the environment, CCE says.
The workshop will be presented by master gardener Steven Jakobi and agriculture educator Cristian Acosta. The cost is $15, which includes materials can be taken home.
He added, “we can debate and negotiate extending the Obamacare (ACA) expansion credits — which, ironically, even the liberal Washington Post just admitted didn’t actually lower health care costs. But in Chuck Schumer’s own words over a decade ago: it should not be done with a gun
To register, visit allegany.cce.cornell.edu/ events, look for the event and register to secure a spot. For any questions, contact Acosta at cfa34@ cornell.edu or by calling (585) 268-7644 ext 14.
Democrats want negotiations on expiring health care subsidies for approximately 6% of Americans in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) while Republicans refuse to discuss it, or any other policy, until the government reopens. Democrats want the aid extended, while Republicans insist the subsidized health care system is broken and must be cut back.
“Democrats’ position has not changed,” Schumer of New York
Outstanding debut for Alfred State’s logging sports
ALFRED — The Alfred State logging sports team had an impressive debut at the Paul Smith’s Fall Meet, with the Pioneers’ open team winning their competition and the men’s team finishing third. Nick Costabile-Clemence, Owen Ryan, Owen Wolfanger, Riana Barron, Simon Warriner and Alex McCarthy scored 1,155 points to take the top spot for ASC in the open competition. They scored top honors in the pole climb, the bow saw and the horizontal chop. Paul Smith’s College was second with 1,089.2, while SUNY Morrisville was third with 983 points.
Alfred State’s second open team of
Lucas Barr, Quinn Blair, Amelia Shattuck, Ethan Gross, Jesse Tompkins and Josh Dalfonso were fourth with 920.7 points. They scored top marks in the super Swede, the cookie stack and the cross cut from hell. In the men’s team competition, Alfred State scored 1,022.4 points to earn third out of eight teams. They scored over ninety points in the Obstacle Pole (95.4), the Pole Climb (95.8), the Cookie Stack (92.3), and the Pack Board (97.0). Jesse Riling, Jacob Behrend, Nate Alexander, Austin Dickinson, Blake Siewert, and Finn Turner trailed over Paul Smith’s (1,235.8) and SUNY ESF (1,037.3).
“The team performed exceptionally
well for their first meet,” said ASC coach Scott Bingham. “With only four returners and six weeks of training I am very proud of our athletes’ efforts. They competed well versus big schools and power houses with large forestry and environmental programs.”
Competitors from Finger Lakes CC, Paul Smith’s College, the Ranger School, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY ESF, SUNY Morrisville, the University of Connecticut, the University of Maine, the University of New Hampshire and the University of Vermont battled against the Pioneers.
Alfred State will next compete at the SUNY ESF Fall Meet on Oct. 25.
Photo by Jim Eckstrom
Rep. Nick Langworthy speaks with a patient in the skilled nursing facility at Cuba Memorial Hospital on Tuesday.
Photo provided
The Alfred State logging sports team shows off their trophy for their solid performance at the Paul Smith’s Fall Meet.
home improvement
Bring colorful drama to fall gardening and outdoor decor
(BPT) — Fall is a time of bold color, cozy gatherings and charming curb appeal. With the right plants and creative touches, it’s easy to transform your porch, patio or garden for the season.
For 30 years, Wave® has brought easy-care blooms in eye-catching shades to gardens across North America, from its signature petunias to its beloved pansies. As the brand celebrates its anniversary year, Wave®
Pansies continue to be a fall favorite, offering long-lasting displays while also doubling as a unique garnish for seasonal entertaining.
Porch to patio: Fall displays
Nothing says autumn like a porch dressed in pumpkins, planters and colorful flowers. A container filled with mums, kale, tall grasses and Wave® Pansies
is an easy DIY project that instantly brings the season to life.
Bold shades like yellows, purples and oranges add festive energy to porch décor, and the brand-new Top Wave™ Orange - the only trailing orange pansy - spills beautifully from baskets, window boxes and patio pots. For a softer, more transitional feel, Top Wave™ Pink Shades bridges the seasons with
blossoms that range from light pink to blush and hot pink.
Choosing the right container makes all the difference - a rustic barrel pairs beautifully with brick exteriors, while sleek galvanized metal complements modern homes. Larger pots create more impact and help plants hold moisture longer, while a collection of smaller planters can add charm
with variety. Complete the arrangement with gourds, lanterns or copper details for an inviting fall finish.
Layered style for lasting impact
Creating a show-stopping autumn display isn’t just about the plants themselves, but how you combine them. Think in terms of
color, texture and flow to give your space a designer’s touch.
• Color harmonyPlay with contrast, like jewel tones against neutrals, or go timeless with a burgundy-and-gold palette, as seen in Cool Wave® Sunshine ‘N Wine.
Texture - Mix smooth petals with foliage that adds shape and structure, from leafy greens to trailing vines.
• Design flow - Extend your color and texture choices from porch planters into surrounding beds or borders so the whole space feels connected.
These thoughtful design choices help even the simplest containers
look polished and ontrend for the season. Blooms that brave the frost
Cooler weather doesn’t mean the end of garden color. Wave® Pansies are built for the season - spreading quickly, filling baskets and beds, and surviving reliably through frost. They’ll last well into winter and often return in early spring, blooming alongside other seasonal bulbs.
New this year, Top Wave™ Purple Sunburst makes a striking addition to fall plantings, with its deep blue cap and golden “face.” The dramatic contrast feels like football season in bloom and brings instant cheer to porches and gardens alike. Thanks to Top Wave™’s hardiness and trailing
habit, they keep outdoor spaces fresh and full long after other flowers have faded.
A feast for the eyesand the table
Beyond the garden, Wave® Pansies can make entertaining unforgettable. Their delicate petals are edible
and add a colorful flourish to seasonal menus.
Toss a handful into a fresh salad for a surprising pop of color, decorate cakes and cupcakes with blooms that turn dessert into a centerpiece, or float them in cocktails for a festive garnish.
The blue-and-cream blooms of Top Wave™ Marina bring sophistication to sweet treats, while the bold hues of Top Wave™ Orange add a playful Halloween accent to party platters and drinks. Using flowers as garnishes elevates everyday dishes, making fall gatherings even more memorable.
This autumn, celebrate the 30th anniversary of Wave® decorating with pansies that bring long-lasting beauty, resilience and joy to your home. Find more inspiration at WaveGardening.com.
health & Wellness
Parents face no shortage of challenges when raising their children. Some challenges are overcome easier than others, but one that tends to have more staying power than most is the difficulty some parents experience as they try to get their children to eat healthy diets.
A 2024 poll from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital found that 27 percent of parents of children between the ages of three and 10 indicate their youngsters don’t like healthy food and more than half indicate their kids are picky eaters. Such responses underscore the challenges parents face as they attempt
to raise healthy eaters. Despite those challenges, many parents have met with considerable success in their efforts to raise healthy eaters, and various strategies can facilitate those efforts.
• Recognize that being picky at the dinner table is normal. It’s undeniably frustrating for parents when kids are picky about their food, but childcare experts note such behavior is normal. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia note that children across the globe go through a phase marked by picky eating between the ages of two and
four. So parents can make a concerted effort to remain patient if kids suddenly become picky about what they eat. Most grow out of the phase soon enough.
• Remain patient when presenting healthy foods. Just as pa-
tience is paramount when navigating the picky eating phase, it’s important to remain so when introducing new foods like vegetables and other healthy fare.
The CHOP notes that studies have found kids may not accept
How parents can raise healthy eaters
new foods until it’s been offered as much as 15 times, so parents must remain patient if the nutritious foods they’re offering are new to kids’ diets.
• Invite kids to choose and prepare meals. Giving kids some agency over what they eat and asking them to pitch in during meal prep can make them more excited about mealtime regardless of what’s on their plate. UCLA Health notes there are a range of kid-friendly meal preparation tasks. Kids can wash fruits and vegetables in the sink, tear leafy greens and even measure ingredients as they get older.
• Visit a local farm.
Some kids may be more excited to eat healthier foods like fruits and vegetables after visiting a local farm and seeing where the foods are grown. Parents can start by visiting farms that grow healthy foods that kids are more likely to eat, such as strawberries and blue-
berries. A day spent picking apples in the fall also might encourage youngsters to eat more fruit.
• Limit dinner table distractions. Distractions at the dinner table, like smartphones, tablets and toys that were not cleared away before sitting down to eat, can prolong mealtime, which can make kids less enthusiastic about eating. In a report from the CHOP, Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard of the hospital’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences noted that kids get the majority of their calories in the first 20 minutes of a meal. Setting a happy, distraction-free tone at the start of a meal can get kids eating and reduce the chances they lose interest in what’s on their plate. A nutritious diet benefits kids in the shortand long-term. Though it’s not always easy to get kids to eat healthy, parents can employ various strategies to accomplish that goal.
