DOWNLOAD THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD MOBILE APP NOW!
Op-Ed: NY’s new energy plan fuels uncertainty
SCAN THE QR CODE
community
DECEMBER
26 2025
allegany
FREE
to begin reading the Olean Times Heald on your mobile device.
PAGE 2
county
Alfred • Allentown • Alma • Andover • Angelica • Belfast • Belmont • Bolivar • Caneadea • Ceres • Cuba • FilLmore • Friendship • Genesee Houghton • little genesee • portville • richburg • Rushford • Scio • shinglehouse • Ulysses • Wellsville • west clarksville • Whitesville
Jones Memorial Hospital formally opens $2M new medical suite BY KATHRYN ROSS
WELLSVILLE — When an observer looks up from Main Street at the glass tower on the south corner of Jones Memorial Hospital, chances are someone will be looking back down at you. On Thursday, hospital officials, staff, partners and local politicians gathered on the third floor of the hospital to cut the ribbon opening the new Franklin C. and Barbara E. Boekell Medical Suite.
Taking the podium at the unveiling ceremony, Jim Helms, president and chief executive officer of UR Medicine Jones Memorial Hospital, thanked those assembled and revealed the renovations that have taken place over the last several months on the third floor. The hospital has expanded its surgical clinic from two exam rooms and one treatment room to three treatment rooms and two exam rooms. The oncology department has been turned
into a suite and contains the clinic. The expanded infusion center is in one location, (the tower), sleep services have been relocated from the third floor to the second floor of the tower and expanded to three beds, allowing the third floor cardiology department to expand its services. “A project of this size only happens with a hard, hard working team,” said Helms, who for the last several years Jones Memorial Hospital continued on PAGE 4
Photo by Kathryn Ross From left, Jones Memorial Hospital CEO Jim Helms, Dr. Neeta Soni, Morgan Enders, Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski, Dee Roeske, Dr. Boru Wang and Alfred State College President Stephen Mauro cut the ribbon on the new medical suite.
Future of Wellsville’s Immaculate Conception School building still undecided Today, the building, located between the parish house and the church at 24 Maple St. remains, for the most part, unused. Its classrooms are empty of children, its gym is silent and the sunny cafeteria is vacant. Father Jim Hartwell said nothing much has changed since a public meeting was held in January 2024, with dozens of people gathered to express their desires for the future of the
BY KATHRYN ROSS
WELLSVILLE — The holiday season in Wellsville isn’t quite the same without children from the Immaculate Conception School dressed as Jesus, Mary, shepherds and wise men with live sheep and donkeys standing in a creche on Main Street. That hasn’t happened in the village since 2022 because, in June 2023, Immaculate Conception School closed.
Photo by Kathryn Ross The Immaculate Conception School building in Wellsville.
Immaculate Conception School continued on PAGE 5
We will be closing at 6pm on New Year’s Eve and Open 9am-9pm on New Year’s Day so that our Associates can enjoy New Year celebrations with their family and friends
Sale Prices Effective
Pepsi
Happy New Year! KING OF ROASTS!
Fresh ‘n Tender Bone-In
Standing Beef Rib Roast 99
9
PER LB.
6 Packs 16.9 oz. Bottles Several Varieties Plus Deposit
FRI DEC.26
SAT DEC.27
SUN DEC.28
MON DEC.29
TUES DEC.30
WED DEC.31
DiGiorno Pizzas
More MEAT For Le$$
14.6 - 27.1 oz. Several Varieties
FAMILY PACK!
399
3 12 FOR$
Simply Orange Juice 46 oz. Several Varieties
2
99
Bananas
99 Quarters
A ¢ Grade Chicken Leg
PER LB.
49¢ PER LB.
FAMILY PACK!
Doritos
7.25 - 10.75 oz.
Busch or Busch Light
STORE MADE!
30 Pack • 12 oz. Cans Plus Deposit
3
Pack or Bulk Style 99 Spiral Italian Sausage PER LB.
Hot or Mild
7
& Basket Fully Cooked 99 Bowl Cocktail Shrimp
PER LB.
31 - 40 Count Sold in 2 LB Bag for 15.98
19
99
or Tostitos
Tortilla Chips
1
46 oz. Several Varieties
14
Natural, Pasture 99 100% Raised Boneless Beef PER LB.
Tenderloins
1
99 Pork Spareribs Fresh ‘n Tender
2
99
PER LB.
Deli Sliced!
PER LB.
Rump Roast
2
169 Pork Loins Fresh ‘n Tender Pre-Cut Bone-In
PER LB.
McCain Potatoes or Fries
14 - 32 oz. Several Varieties
6
399
Steaks
Land O Lakes American Cheese BUY 1/2 LB. GET 1/2 LB.
FREE!
PER LB.
FAMILY PACK!
Choice Boneless Beef 99 USDA Top Round or
8 - 12 oz. Several Varieties
‘n Tender 99 Fresh Pork Butt
Turkey Hill Ice Cream
CUT FREE!
THURS JAN.1
‘n Tender 99 Fresh Boneless Center-Cut
PER LB.
Pork Chops or Boneless Pork Roast
2
99
Cuba Cheese Shoppe
Cheese
Shredded or Bar
13
99 Frozen Snow Crab PER LB.
Clusters
8 oz. Several Varieties
4FOR$10
CUBA • 72 GENESEE ST • 585-968-2333 | WELLSVILLE • 44 PARK AVE • 585-593-3354
2
December 26, 2025
allegany county Community Source
Op-Ed: NY’s new energy plan fuels uncertainty
BY SEN. TOM O’MARA
The State Energy Board released a final “2025 New York State Energy Plan” last week that will now serve as the guidepost for the direction of this state’s energy policies and strategies moving forward. The positive news is that the new plan
at least acknowledges what many of us have been saying since before the enactment of New York’s current strategy under the “Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act” (CLCPA) enacted in 2019. From the beginning, opponents of the CLCPA, including myself, have called out its pitfalls and shortcomings. Our consistent warnings about affordability, feasibility, and reliability have largely fallen on deaf ears among New York’s key decision-makers. Until now. The updated plan states, “The Plan embraces a much-needed all-of-the-above strategy: hydropower, solar, onshore and offshore wind, our existing
nuclear fleet, advanced nuclear, energy storage with the strongest safety standards in the nation, efficiency, electrification, bioenergy, demand flexibility, and, where needed, modern gas infrastructure to keep the system stable during the transition…This Plan also recognizes a simple truth: energy policy is economic policy. Our ability to attract the jobs of the future depends on reliable, affordable, increasingly clean power.” In other words, the new plan moves toward what our Senate Republican Minority Conference, among others, has long stressed: the need to chart a different course. The need to refocus on affordability, feasibility, and reliability. The need for commonsense alternatives to current CLCPA mandates and timelines while providing relief
to taxpayers, ensuring the reliability of the grid, and ensuring a diverse energy portfolio that will keep energy options affordable and accessible for the long term. That’s the positive news. Unfortunately, what’s left unaddressed in the new plan are numerous CLCPA mandates that will continue to fuel uncertainty, remain unimaginably costly for ratepayers and local economies, and that, very simply, are unworkable under existing timelines. Unless and until Governor Hochul and the Democrat majorities in the Senate and Assembly get serious about substantially revising these mandates – or better yet, in my view, eliminating them altogether – New York State’s energy strategy will go on as unaffordable and unreliable for most New
Yorkers. I don’t believe that the Democrat-controlled Legislature will act on their own initiative. The Governor wields the most power in the annual budget process. It is imperative that she include in her Executive Budget next year, rational modifications to the various energy mandates, currently in law, that are driving up our energy costs. The Governor’s budget will be unveiled in late January. Groups that have long shared our warnings over the CLCPA mandates and timelines agreed that while the new plan acknowledges the need for a more practical and realistic direction, it still falls short – far short -- in addressing what’s impractical and unrealistic about current policies. From the Independent Powers Producers of New York (IPPNY), “It is paramount that ALL possible solutions be on the table as the State transitions to a cleaner energy future, and it is encouraging to see this approach within the State Energy Plan. This investment includes a mix of nuclear units, fossil fuels, and renewables, along with
the need to develop additional zero emission sources. Strong statements of an ‘all-ofthe-above’ strategy are important; however, it is even more critical to ensure that market signals and regulatory paradigms match that sentiment in attracting further investment. Making energy clean, affordable, and reliable should be the priority, but it may not come as quickly as the State would like due to the need for increased clarity and certainty on the State’s policies to carry out the Plan. There is no shortage of private developers that want to invest in New York, but the State needs to realize that it is competing with other states and countries to attract investments in new technologies. Further, New York deserves credit for achieving emissions milestones over the last two and a half decades, such as making Upstate carbon free…Today’s adopted Energy Plan provides a sensible initial stride towards our energy future, but more work must be done to implement it properly.” From Upstate United, “We are encouraged NY’s New Energy Plan continued on PAGE 5
Owners: Jerome & Nancy Hart | fromthehartstore.com 108 N. Main St. Wellsville, NY, 14895 • 585-593-2017 Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 10 - 5 • Thur 10 - 6 • Sat 10 -3
Welcome, Dr. Krisha Ramavath!
OB/GYN Offering care in TWO locations Hornell & Wellsville!
Women’s & Children’s Health Services 7309 Seneca Rd N Suite 114 Hornell, NY
Phone: (607) 324-0604
UR Medicine | Jones Memorial 3rd Floor Medical Village 191 Main St Wellsville, NY
Phone: (585) 596-4091
Now Accepting New Patients!
allegany county Community Source
Sempolinski critical of Hochul’s choice on Medical Aid in Dying Act BY JIM ECKSTROM
Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski says the governor’s intention to sign into law medical aid in dying — what he calls assisted suicide — is “tragic.” Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday she reached an agreement with the State Legislature to make medical aid in dying available to terminally ill New Yorkers with less than six months to live. A terminally ill person will be able to make a written request for life-ending drugs, with two witnesses signing the request to ensure that the patient is not being coerced. The request would then have to be approved by the person’s attending doctor as well as a consulting doctor. The governor said the decision to sign the Medical Aid in
Dying Act comes after “careful reflection and deliberation” with the bill’s sponsors, advocacy organizations and families who shared their experiences. The bill, with the agreed-upon amendments, will be passed and signed in January, and the law will go into effect six months later. Sempolinski, R-Can-
isteo, argued that the law will put the most vulnerable New Yorkers, those with disabilities and chronic illnesses, at mortal risk. “Tragically, Gov. Hochul has decided to sign assisted suicide into law in the state of New York,” Sempolinski said in a statement. “This is an abominable decision that I fear will lead to the destruction of the most vulnerable among us, especially the developmentally disabled. “Every Republican in the Legislature and many Democrats of conscience voted against this legislation,” he added, calling the decision “a horribly sad, disgraceful day for New York State. The governor is unfit for her office.” As ranking member of the Assembly Mental Health Committee and a member of the People with Disabilities Committee, Sempolinski has noted the issue is personal for him. His daughter, JoJo, has Down syndrome and multiple congenital
heart defects; he said he can envision a future in which a medical provider may convince her as an adult to end her life. “As the father of a daughter with a developmental disability, I fear that legalized assisted suicide will eventually be abused to harm the disabled,” he said. Once this option is created, it will be abused. The terminally ill need access to quality hospice and palliative care, but the answer is not suicide. I stand for life.” Hochul stated, “New York has long been a beacon of freedom, and now it is time we extend that freedom to terminally ill New Yorkers who want the right to die comfortably and on their own terms.” THE GOVERNOR, who is Catholic and grew up in Buffalo, explained, “My mother died of ALS, and I am all too familiar with the pain of seeing someone you love suffer and being powerless to stop it. Although this was an incredibly difficult Sempolinski continued on PAGE 4
December 26, 2025
3
irish imports A Irish Knit Sweaters & Tweed Hats A Emerald Isle Wool Vests A Fragrances of Ireland – Inis A Nora Fleming Stoneware A Laser Etched Gift Items A Unique Gift Ideas A Belleek
A Clothes: Newborn - 4T A Kids 3-11 A Women - Small-2x A Men’s Small-3x A A A A A GIFT CERTIFICATES A A A A A
Owners: Jerome & Nancy Hart | fromthehartstore.com 108 N. Main St. Wellsville, NY, 14895 • 585-593-2017 Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 10 - 5 • Thur 10 - 6 • Sat 10 -3
4
December 26, 2025
allegany county Community Source
➡Jones Memorial Hospital continued from PAGE 1
Photo by Kathryn Ross Patients in the Infusion Suite get a bird’s eye view of Main Street in Wellsville.
has overseen the renovation of the hospital from a small rural hospital serving the community into a regional facility that serves Western New York and northern Pennsylvania communities in partnership with the University of Rochester Medical Department. The estimated total cost of the project was $2 million. The renovation was designed and engineered by La Bella Associates and constructed by general contractor Duggan and Duggan of Allegany. Much of the funding came in the form of a donation from the family of Franklin C. and Barbara E. Boekell, for-
mer residents of Wellsville. Originally from of Weston, W.Va., Franklin Boekell, a businessman, moved to Wellsville and married Barbara Baldwin Roeske in 1981. He died in 2018 and she passed away in 2022, leaving behind a large family, including Dee Roeske, who worked in the ICU at Jones for 27 years, and Morgan Enders, who has worked in the infusion center in Hornell for the last six years. “Today the Boekell family made an impact not only for today, but for years to come in the lives of their friends, family and neighbors and for that we say thank you” Helms said.
Roeske and Enders unveiled the sign designating the Franklin C. and Barbara E. Boekell Medical Suite. Additional speakers at Thursday’s event included Dr. Stephen Mauro, president of Alfred State College, who is on the hospital’s board of directors; Dr. Ted Kaufman, UR regional director of general surgery; Dr. Dan Mulkerin, medical director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute; and state Assemblyman Joseph Sempolinski, R-Canisteo, who praised JMH for its dedication to expanding medical services in the region. “We are proud to cel-
ebrate the completion of these newly renovated spaces, which enhance the care we provide to our patients every day,” Helms said. “The construction reflects our ongoing commitment to investing in the health of the Wellsville community and the surrounding region. “These improvements allow us to deliver more coordinated, patient centered care in a state-of-the-art setting right here close to home,” he added. Following the announcement and unveiling of the medical suite, guided tours of the new facilities were conducted.
• A mandatory waiting period of five days between when a prescription is written and filled. • An oral request by the patient for medical aid in dying must be recorded by video or audio. • A mandatory mental health evaluation of the patient seeking medical aid in dying by a psychologist or psychiatrist. • A prohibition against anyone who may benefit financially from the death of a patient from being eligible to serve as a witness to the oral request or an interpreter for the patient. • Limiting the availability of medical aid in dying to New York residents. • Requiring that the initial evaluation of a patient by a physician be in person. • Allowing religiously-oriented home hospice providers to opt out of offering medical aid in dying. • Ensuring that a violation of the law is defined as professional misconduct under the Education Law. • Extending the effective date of the bill to six months
after signing to allow the Department of Health to put into place regulations required to implement the law while also ensuring that health care facilities can properly prepare and train staff for compliance.
trict of Columbia have laws to allow medically assisted suicide, including a law in Illinois signed last week that goes into effect in 2026. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York City and New York’s bishops, in a statement,
said Hochul’s position “signals our government’s abandonment of its most vulnerable citizens, telling people who are sick or disabled that suicide in their case is not only acceptable, but is encouraged by our elected leaders.”
➡Sempolinski continued from PAGE 3 decision, I ultimately determined that with the additional guardrails agreed upon with the legislature, this bill would allow New Yorkers to suffer less — to shorten not their lives, but their deaths.” Hochul’s office noted that the bill, as passed, had a number of protections in place to ensure that no patient is coerced into utilizing medical aid in dying
and no doctor or religiously affiliated health facility is forced to offer medical aid in dying. On Wednesday, the governor announced a number of additional guardrails that the Legislature has agreed to enact aimed at ensuring the integrity of the patient’s decision and the preparedness of medical institutions to appropriately administer medical aid in dying:
automotive
NEW YORK’S MAJORITY Democratic lawmakers approved the legislation earlier this year. The legislation was first introduced in 2016 but stalled with opposition from New York State Catholic Conference and other groups. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal of Manhattan called the agreement historic and a “monumental victory” for every New Yorker who wishes to peacefully end their suffering from terminal illness. “Since we first introduced this legislation nine years ago, I have consistently said this bill is not about ending life, it’s about shortening death,” he said. Corinne Carey, senior campaign director for Compassion & Choices NY/NJ, said the law “is about compassion, family, love and respect for bodily autonomy. New Yorkers deserve nothing less.” The Associated Press reported that a dozen other states and the Dis-
allegany county Community Source
Allegany County lawmakers adopt ’26 budget with lower tax rate BELMONT — The Allegany County Board of Legislators voted unanimously to enact its annual budget for 2026, with an estimated county-wide tax rate of $12.2056/thousand representing a 4.45% decrease in the rate from 2025 — lowest taxable rate per thousand in the county since 2004. Overall appropriations total $160 million, an increase of $6.35 mil-
lion from 2025’s enacted budget. County Administrator and Budget Officer Carissa Knapp said the increased spending can be attributed largely to personnel costs, including health insurance, retirement benefits and contractual salary increases. Additional cost drivers exist across county operations, with significant fiscal constraints being felt in road and
bridge construction and equipment purchasing, Knapp said. Board Chairman Brooke Harris noted the approved 2026 tax levy of nearly $31.7 million represents a 1.83% ($570,502) increase over the 2025 budget. “This meets the board’s goal of staying below the statutory 2% tax cap while maintaining vital programs and services,” Harris said in
a statement. “We’d like to thank those members of the public who took the time to provide comments on both the tax cap override local law and the 2026 tentative budget. “I hope this enacted budget demonstrates the board’s continued commitment to lowering property taxes and easing the burden on Allegany County taxpayers,” he added.
➡Immaculate Conception School continued from PAGE 1 school building. At that meeting the consensus was to keep the building open as some type of school. Onetime school principal Sister Alice Roach said the building had been a parochial school for 125 years and should continue as a school. Nearly two years later the building is
allegany
county
Pick up a copy of the Allegany County Community Source at these locations: SHINGLEHOUSE Shop N Save Dollar General Kwik Fill/Subway Newtons
BOLIVAR
Crosby's Shop N Save Dollar General
PORTVILLE Dollar General Park N Shop 7 Eleven
RUSHFORD
Rushford Country Store
FILLMORE
Hanson Farms Dollar General Shop N Save
WHITESVILLE
Whitesville Country Market
Genesee, PA Red Apple
Ulysses, PA
Dollar General Corner Hardware The Corner Café Troyer Feeds A&K Manufacturing E&I Discount Grocery New Moon Power Equipment Schwartz Metal Roofing
still empty and used only occasionally. The parish’s administrative assistant Martha Wandover said that over the past months the building has been used by local individuals, groups and organizations for events. During the summer, it was used by the YMCA for programming. She explained that the space in the building is available for rent by calling the parish office. At that initial meeting in January 2024, Hartwell called for a committee to be organized to investigate
the possibilities for the future of the building. That committee is still working, he said. When the school building was closed, only a little over two dozen students were enrolled at the time. Hartwell said it would take at least 100 students to reopen the school. He also said that before the school could be reopened, there would have to be discussions with the Diocese of Buffalo, which oversees the parish, and the New York State Board of Education. Although the building is owned by the
Wellsville parish, the parish is controlled by the diocese. While meetings, events and programs have taken place over the last 30 months, the building has remained in limbo with no decision regarding its future. Hartwell said the committee continues to work on a solution. The Immaculate Conception School building is part of a list of once vibrant community schools across the county — Allentown school and Angelica and Belmont schools among them — that are now dormant.
➡NY’s New Energy Plan continued from PAGE 2 that the State Energy Plan (SEP) acknowledges our long-standing concerns with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) impact on affordability and grid reliability. While we appreciate that the governor, her office, and state agency leaders now recognize these realities, the SEP does not supersede existing law. An all of the above approach is necessary; however, it is not sufficient. What we need at this pivotal moment is to amend the law so that it is consistent with what the plan recognizes to be true: the state will need continued fossil fuel generation to support energy demand. Until we address the unrealistic mandates intended to comply with the CLCPA, the le-
gal standing of our own laws, along with our state’s ability to attract necessary investment, will remain in limbo.” The CLCPA’s “All-Electric Buildings Act” mandate remains in play, for example. The “All-Electric School Bus” mandate stays in place as a major concern for local school districts and local property taxpayers throughout this state who have made it clear that they can’t
afford it and that it simply won’t work under current requirements. The key takeaway from New York’s new energy plan? It’s talking in the right direction while, at the same time, it keeps walking in the wrong direction. It attempts to offer solutions while keeping some of the biggest parts of the problem in place. (State Sen. Tom O’Mara, R-Big Flats, serves the 58th Senatorial District in New York.)
December 26, 2025
5
6
December 26, 2025
allegany county Community Source
home improvement
How growing families can create more space Many people will admit that home ownership tops their lists of long-term goals. Finding a home that is affordable may require moving into what many real estate agents bill as a “starter home.” But the arrival of a child, and then more children thereafter, could make a home that was perfectly functional for two or three feel too close for comfort. Anyone who would like to raise a family in the future might want to consider certain fac-
tors when choosing a residence or designing living spaces. A home that can grow with life changes can truly be a forever home. The following strategies can expand space when a family grows.
general. Donate any items that still have utility. • Reassess your existing storage. Look at different ways to maximize existing storage. Utilizing vertical space is one way to do so, so an investment in shelves, hooks and storage systems that maximize space in an upward direction can get items off the floor. Make use of storage under the stairs or in eaves. Loft beds with open space underneath are great for children’s rooms because they maximize floor area.
• Declutter. It is important to go through belongings regularly and remove anything that is no longer needed. This can be the first step to free up physical space in a room or the home in
• Think about toy storage. Children love to play with toys, and once kids are in a home, toys will accumulate quite quickly. Have a plan for keeping toys neat and stowed away when not in use. Underthe-bed storage, toy armoires (that are secured to the wall) and furniture that can double as storage, such as storage ottomans, are ideal. continued on PAGE 7
ARE YOU PAYING OVER $1.799 A GALLON TO HEAT YOUR HOUSE WITH PROPANE? CALL TPS TODAY (TOLL FREE) 1-(877)-893-4328 EXT. 2080 *TPS Guarantees to Always Provide the Lowest Price in Your Area
FIRST FILL $1.799
TPS = TRUE PRICE SAVINGS • Refer a Friend Credit • Lowest Price Guarantee • Free Tank Installation • Auto Delivery Available
• Flexible Payment Options • HEAP accounts welcome • Residential, Commercial, Agricultural • No Additional Fees
allegany county Community Source
7
December 26, 2025
home improvement • Revamp a closet. Although closet space may be at a premium, particularly in older homes, a closet can be turned into a nook to hold a desk for a homework station or remote office space. Compact and organized, it’s easy to hide away when not in use by closing the door.
for some time. But at some point as a family grows, privacy and multi-functional spaces may be needed. It can be costly to put up permanent walls, but bookcases or pieces of tall furniture can be used as room dividers to cordon off areas as specific spaces, like a child’s play area.
• Utilize room dividers. Open floor plans have been the norm
• Convert a basement or garage. Garages and basements have
Owner & Broker: Patrick J. Sawyer Member, Greater Rochester Association of Realtors
a reputation for being catch-alls for storage boxes and holiday decorations. However, such rooms have plenty of potential as functional living spaces. Invest in transforming a garage or basement into a room that can grow with the family. At first it may be a play area for young kids. Afterwards, it can be a gaming or homework hangout. As children grow older, spaces can be converted to a family media room. Having this extra space can free up room in the rest of the house so
people can enjoy alone time when they need it. • Maximize outdoor space. A yard or another outdoor space can add valuable square footage to a home. A covered patio or deck can make the outdoor areas more usable throughout the year and zones can be created for family meals, play and relaxation. A family home will need more space as the years go on, and homeowners should keep that in mind when making renovations or choosing a property.
18 Lower Jefferson St. Wellsville, NY 14895 585-593-6219 Fax:585-593-4518
www. S awyer R ealty.com
Kiln Dried White Pine Interior - Exterior
Decorative Trusses Log Cabin D Logs Tongue & Groove Circle Sawn Skip Planed Ship-Lap Custom Prefinished Available Log Siding 524 West St., Ulysses, PA 16948 Nickel Gap (closed Sundays)
Alfred State College announces Research with Real Results ALFRED, NY, December 15, 2025 – Alfred State College (ASC) has launched a new initiative called Research with Real Results to highlight the applied innovation taking place across campus. While national headlines often focus on shrinking research budgets, Alfred State continues to demonstrate a different kind of success: handson problem solving that benefits employers and communities throughout New York State. “Research supports many goals across higher education,” said President Dr. Steven Mauro. “Alfred State focuses on work that strengthens our students and our region. Faculty members inject hard-earned work experience into classrooms and labs, and students apply that knowledge to projects that employers value. Research with Real Results gives us a way to show that strength more widely.” That work happens daily in more than 200
Photo provided Architecture students present redevelopment plans for more business opportunities and revitalization of Main Street in Alfred, NY. Recent advancements include Alfred State’s operation of the historic Collegiate Restaurant.
labs, shops, studios, and clinical settings. Students and faculty move quickly from concept to testing to practical solutions. This reflects Alfred State’s history as a career-focused institution where learning by doing remains central. US News recently recognized Alfred State as the number one school for undergraduate teaching among all northern regional colleges. Most instructors bring significant industry experience to their teaching, which keeps projects grounded in real-world needs.
“Applied discovery is part of who we are at Alfred State,” said Dr. Carrie Cokely, vice president of academic affairs. “When faculty, students, and industry partners work side by side, the results have real value for our region and for New York.” The initiative is organized around four pillars that distinguish Alfred State’s approach: • Experienced Faculty: Industry practitioners guiding meaningful, handson work. • Industry Partner-
ships: Projects shaped by employer and community needs. • Student Innovation: Ideas developed and tested from a student’s first year forward. • ROI for Real Outcomes and Impact: Results that support workforce and community growth. College leaders view research not only as discovery, but as progress delivered where it counts most: in rural towns, small business sectors, and industries that rely on career-ready talent. Students gain experience that prepares them for strong careers, while communities gain access to practical solutions that are ready for implementation. “Donors and grant funders increasingly recognize that applied innovation at Alfred State drives economic momentum,” said Danielle White, vice president of institutional advancement. “They
want to help accelerate solutions that improve lives and create opportunities.” Several projects demonstrate that focus: Smart Farming Robotics: A National Science Foundation award of $474,000 supports new robotics and automation pathways in agriculture, expanding efficiency and preparing students for high-demand careers. Lower-Carbon Cooling Patent: An ASC student and professor patented a cooling process modeled on human perspiration that reduces reliance on hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants and offers a climate-friendly alternative for refrigeration and cooling systems. Rural Water Access Solutions: Students partnered with the Allegany County Department of Health to design strategies that improve access to drinking water, supporting both public health and future economic development. Farm-Powered Re-
newable Energy: Alfred State students earn high honors in the AHA Collegiate Competition each year, including a biogas digester concept that converts manure into usable energy, helping dairy farms reduce emissions and improve financial stability. Community Design for Small-Town Revitalization: Architecture students developed concepts for the Town of Friendship, NY, and Village of Alfred, focusing on beautification, new business opportunities, and long-term community renewal. Research with Real Results showcases how Alfred State has a growing impact across New York’s workforce and communities. The initiative highlights applied work that has long been central to the college’s mission, while encouraging faculty and students to pursue new challenges and solve problems. Project stories and updates are featured at AlfredState. edu/RealResults.
8
December 26, 2025
allegany county Community Source
Wreck Rebuild program continues to benefit students ALFRED, NY, December 10, 2025 – Alfred State senior autobody student get hands-on experience through the Wreck Rebuild program. The program is funded by the Education Foundation of Alfred, Inc. Students, led by CJ Tremper and Steven Oliver, enhance their skills sets by fixing wrecked vehicles and gain insight into what it is like to work inside a collision shop. Tremper and Oliver teach and work alongside students throughout their time in the program.
Vehicles are secured through funding provided by the Educational Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to improving the Alfred State community through the support of educational programs. The Educational Foundation possesses a New York State automobile dealer’s license that allows the college to purchase wrecked cars from auto salvage auctions, which are then used for hands-on projects. The foundation covers the cost of purchasing these cars and any parts
perience allows our students to apply what they are learning in the classroom and work on a vehicle that will be repaired and sold to the public.” A 2017 Chevy Cruze was the latest car to be rebuilt in this program. The car has been fully repaired, inspected and cleared for road use. This spring, Seniors will begin work on a red Dodge Dart that sustained damage to the rear. Tremper continued, “We are thankful for the continued support we
Photo provided Senior autobody students assess the damage to a Dodge Dart. Autobody students will rebuild the car during the spring semester.
or materials needed to bring them back to pre-accident condition. “We bring these wrecked cars into the
shop and go through a step-by-step process to get them back on the road,” commented Tremper. “This ex-
receive from the Education Foundation. The Wreck Rebuild program sets us apart from others and helps prepare our students to jump right into field once they graduate.” The Education Foundation’s Board of Directors is made up of representatives from alumni, faculty and staff, and friends of the college. The Foundation supports learning opportunities for students through scholarships and community service projects.
health & Wellness
Vitamin D and its link to cancer prevention
Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is crucial for maintaining health. Vitamin D is essential for bone health and immune function.
For the last 20 years, researchers have studied vitamin D to determine if it can help to prevent certain cancers. The theory that it may is built upon the role vitamin D
plays in regulating cell growth, proliferation and cell death (apoptosis). Data published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2019 that was based on the largest randomized clinical trials on the topic, the VITAL (Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial), reveals the link between vitamin D and cancer prevention is nuanced. The primary finding was that vitamin D supplementation did not significantly lower the overall incidence rate of invasive cancer in the general population, when compared to the placebo. However, when researchers looked into specific cancer types, the VITAL study showed a
statistically significant 38 percent reduction in total cancer mortality (death from cancer) among participants who took vitamin D for at least two years. Among the more than 25,000 men and women who participated, those who took 2,000 international units of vitamin D each day for an average of 5.3 years were nearly 20 percent less likely than those who took the placebo to have an advanced cancer, which is defined as one that metastasized or proved fatal. The risk reduction also correlated to participants being at a normal weight. Researchers didn’t see a benefit in people who were overweight or obese. There has been a compelling trend regarding colorectal cancer and vitamin D supplementation. Data published in JAMA Network Open showed that those who consistently supplemented with vitamin D had a roughly 17 to 25 percent lower risk of developing advanced colorectal adenomas or cancer, suggesting a potential benefit for protecting against gastrointestinal malignancies. While vitamin D is vital for overall health, it cannot conclusively and universally be recommended as a cancer
prevention measure for the general public, based on scientific consensus supported by the National Cancer Institute and other medical organizations. However, given the link between vitamin D and cancer mortality,
supplementing with vitamin D is a low-risk measure individuals can adopt. It’s always best to consult with a doctor for more guidance about appropriate supplementation doses and health strategies.
Thank You
for your business in 2025 and may 2026 be a wonderful year for all of you. Closed Thursday New Year’s Day
122 E. Academy Street, Shinglehouse, PA
814-697-6331
Mon - Thurs 9:30 - 6:00 • Friday 9:30 - 5
Hart Bros. & Sons Memorials Jerome J. Hart – Founder Memorials • Cemetery Lettering • Urns Pet Memorials • Yard Decorations
A QUICK STOP COULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
SALES OFFICE: 45 South Main Street • P.O. Box 434 • Wellsville, NY 14895 Phone: (585) 593-2393 • Fax: (585) 593-2343 Serving the surrounding areas of Western NY & PA. Stop in at your convenience or call for an appointment.
Office for the Aging
Providing expert, unbiased information and assistance to Allegany County residents since 1975.
We provide assistance with: Advocacy In-home care services Legal Services Medicare Insurance Counseling Tax Counseling HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) Transportation Home Delivered Meals & Congregate Luncheon Centers Alzheimer’s Caregiver Respite & Support Groups Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) Volunteer Handyman Program Volunteer Friendly Visitor & Telephone Reassurance Loan Closets for Durable Medical Equipment Nutrition Education and Counseling Exercise Classes Person -Centered information & assistance for anyone living with a disability– regardless of age,
And much more!!!
The Allegany County Office for the Aging can help you! Call us at 585-268-9390 or toll free at 866-268-9390 Or visit us at: 6085 State Route 19N Belmont, NY 14813