Dylan Scott, Sammy Kershaw to headline Cattaraugus County Fair concerts
How some seniors benefit from looking after their grandchildren
Modern seniors are spending a lot of time with their grandchildren, and much of that time is spent providing care for youngsters, which might be helping grandparents in some unique ways.
According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging from the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation, 8 percent of grandparents provide daily or near-daily care for their grandchildren. One in five grandparents reports providing care for one or more grandchildren at least once a week.
Though it can be a tall order for grandparents to look after their grandchildren, the time grandparents spend with their children’s children can provide some unique benefits. The National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 72 percent of people with grandchildren indicated they hardly ever feel isolated, compared to 62 percent without grandchildren. The poll also found that 13 percent of seniors without grandchildren indicated their mental health was fair or poor, while just 9 percent of seniors with
grandchildren characterized their mental health in that way.
Grandparents spending ample time with their grandchildren also may help to build stronger social and cultural connections between themselves and their grandkids. The healthy aging poll found that slightly more than six in 10 grandparents indicated they shared at least one meal with a grandchild or grandchildren over the previous month, and nearly half indicated they had prepared food for them.
In addition, 36 percent of
grandparents indicated they had baked or cooked with their grandkids over the previous month. One researcher who worked with the team behind the poll noted that eating and cooking with grandchildren affords grandparents an opportunity to pass down knowledge and recipes to younger generations.
Caregiving for grandchildren can be a tall order for grandparents. However, seniors who provide such care may be benefitting in some unique and important ways.
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 factors 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.
• 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 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.
• 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. Under-the-bed storage, toy armoires (that are secured to the wall) and furniture that can double as storage, such as storage ottomans, are ideal.
• 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.
• Utilize room dividers. Open floor plans have been the norm 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.
• Convert a basement or garage. Garages and basements have 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
Randolph kicks off town’s bicentennial year
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Dylan Scott, Sammy Kershaw to headline Cattaraugus County Fair concerts
BY KELLEN M. QUIGLEY
LITTLE VALLEY — The Cattaraugus County Ag Society announces star country music singers
Dylan Scott and Sammy Kershaw will headline concerts on back-to-back nights at this summer’s Cattaraugus County Fair.
Scott, a singersongwriter from Louisiana who released his first album in 2016, will perform Tuesday, Aug. 4, while Kershaw, a singer who’s been recording for over three decades, will take the stage Wednesday, Aug. 5, with special guest John Foster. Tickets for both concerts will go on sale at 9 a.m. Friday, March 20, at etix.com.
Despite a multiplatinum story and six No. 1 singles — including two fresh smashes in 2025 alone — Curb Records hitmaker Dylan Scott has always kept an underdog mindset. A rowdy roughneck with a romantic side whose modern edge was sharpened by timeless, emotional twang, the consummate family man broke out with the epic triple-platinum devotion of “My Girl” in 2016 and followed up with scrappy, under-the-radar consistency. Chart-topping heart-forward anthems like “Hooked,” “Nobody” and “New Truck” all reached RIAA-certified status, but 2025 has launched Scott into the stratosphere.
Posting back-to-back No. 1s with gold-certified “Boys Back Home” (with Dylan Marlowe) and platinum-certified “This Town’s Been Too Good to Us,” Scott entered 2025 as the fourth most-played
country artist of 2025 and continues his hot streak with his current single, platinum-certified “What He’ll Never Have.” With nearly 5 billion career streams, legions of fans and countless sold-out shows to his credit, his stardom has somehow grown in relative stealth.
But with his third full album, “Easy Does It,” he’s not sweating. Sure of his talent and his fans, Scott heads toward a new creative chapter with total confidence. Featuring 11 tracks, his signature vocal and vivid intensity take center stage on a set defined by personal truth – whether through heartbreak, romantic devotion or small-town dedication.
The in-demand live act wrapped his Country Till I Die Tour earlier this year, headlining his biggest venues yet including his first-ever arenas and recordbreaking attendance, and is currently on his Easy Does It Tour throughout the fall.
Tickets for Scott’s concert on Aug. 4 are $45 for standing track and $40 for reserved grandstand seating, plus gate admission. New this year there is a limited number of $60 pit tickets, guaranteeing holders a spot by the stage.
Iconic entertainer Sammy Kershaw has amassed three platinum and six gold albums that have scanned and streamed in excess of 5 million records and nearly 100 million combined songs sold.
Often referred to as the “heir apparent” to legendary voice George Jones, the Grammynominated performer helped shape and make the
1990s a shining decade for country music.
His multi-platinum albums were propelled into the record books by hits such as “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “Queen of My Doublewide Trailer”, “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore,” “National Working Woman’s Holiday,” “Love Of My Life,” “Cadillac Style,” “Don’t Go Near The Water,” “Haunted Heart,” “Vidalia” and many other milestones.
Kershaw’s chain of major hit records continues to sell-out shows, and he can be found touring on the road, both on his own as well as part of his successful Roots & Boots Tour with Collin Raye and
Aaron Tippin. The three continue to bring their signature sounds to the fans year after year all over North America.
In addition to performing to sell-out audiences, Sammy Kershaw continues to record and release new music with three albums currently in the works, along with putting the finishing touches on his long- awaited autobiography, which promises to be as juicy as a bowl of the gumbo he loves to prepare in his Louisiana home.
Kershaw will be joined by special guest John Foster, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter out of
Nashville. The “American Idol” Season 23 runner-up combines a rich, classic country sound with heartfelt storytelling rooted in small-town life, whose style can be described as neotraditional. Foster, 19, is an avid student of country music and enjoys the vast history of the genre and its notable artists. Foster has performed with Louisiana musicians Don Rich, Junior Lacrosse, Ryan Foret and Floyd Brown and enjoyed performing with country greats such as Wayne Toups, John Schneider, Doug Stone, Craig Morgan,
Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut and was invited back on three more dates, becoming a fast fan favorite.
Tickets to see Kershaw and Foster are $40 for reserved track seating or $35 for reserved grandstand seating, plus gate admission. Other main grandstand events include the demolition derby on Aug. 1 and 3, the Black Cat Hell Drivers on Aug. 2, the tractor pull on Aug. 6 and 8 and the monster truck rally on Aug. 7 and 8. For more information, visit cattarauguscofair.com or call (716) 938-9146.
West Valley’s legacy landscape continues to change as cleanup progresses
WEST VALLEY —
Cleanup at the West Valley Demonstration Project has reached another milestone by demolishing two storage vaults. Removing these obsolete structures continues to reshape the site’s landscape while eliminating risks associated with legacy waste. The reinforced concrete vaults each weighed 673,000 pounds and measured about 63 feet long, 15 feet wide and 7 feet high.
“These accomplishments show how the West Valley team continues to meet federal responsibilities by reducing risks, driving efficiencies and positioning the site for future cleanup,” said Stephen Bousquet, Project Management Assistant Director at the EM West Valley Office.
More than two decades ago, cleanup
crews removed mobilization and transfer pumps from West Valley’s underground high-level waste tanks, sealed them in containment boxes, and stored them in the vaults that were recently torn down. Mobilization pumps kept tank contents circulating, while transfer pumps moved material between tanks. Last summer, team members pulled the pumps from storage, grouted them for placement in shielded containers and shipped them offsite for disposal. This left the vaults empty and no longer needed.
“Our team planned and executed this work safely and on schedule,” said Daniel Way, Deactivation and Decommissioning manager for contractor West Valley Cleanup Alliance. “We continue to apply innovative
cleanup strategies that protect workers, advance progress and deliver strong value for taxpayers.”
The West Valley Demonstration Project is an environmental cleanup and waste management project located about 35 miles south of Buffalo. The project is conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in cooperation with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The West Valley Cleanup Alliance, LLC (WVCA) manages and operates the project under contract with DOE. The WVCA team is comprised of BWX Technologies Services Group (BWXT), Amentum and Geosyntec Consultants.
Photo courtesy Curb Records
Dylan Scott will headline the Aug. 4 grandstand concert at the Cattaraugus County Fair.
Photo provided
Sammy Kershaw will headline the Aug. 5 concert at the Cattaraugus County Fair grandstand.
Cattaraugus Free Library celebrates 100 years with Wednesday open house
CATTARAUGUS —
The Cattaraugus Free Library will celebrate its 100th anniversary with an open house on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the library, 21 Main St.
The idea for a public library in Cattaraugus began with the Women’s Civic League, first mentioned in meeting minutes on Oct. 12, 1925, when discussions began about establishing a library for the community.
On Nov. 17, 1925, the Civic League voted to house the new public library in the bathroom of their building so the collection could begin serving residents. Shortly after, on Nov. 22, 1925, the first elected Board of Trustees met and submitted an application for state aid.
The library received its provisional charter
on March 25, 1926, officially establishing the Cattaraugus Free Library. The library opened its doors to the public soon after on April 8, 1926, with a collection of 771 books. Today, the collection has grown to more than 7,000 books, continuing its mission of serving readers of all ages.
The anniversary open house will include a peek at the upstairs expansion project, historical displays, light refreshments, basket raffles and small activities throughout the day.
Community members are invited to stop by, learn about the library’s history and help celebrate 100 years of reading, learning and community connection. For more information, contact the library at 716) 257-9500 or email director@ cattarauguslibrary.org.
File photo
The Cattaraugus Free Library is located at 21 Main St. in the heart of the village.
How families can navigate spring break vacations
Spring break offers an ideal respite for families looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Students can use a restful spring break to recharge their batteries for the home stretch of the school year, while parents will enjoy a pause from work and a school year filled with kids’ activities.
A family-friendly spring break will require some planning to ensure such an excursion is within budget and appropriate for travelers of all ages. With that in mind, parents planning a spring break getaway with their children can consider these tips.
• Book flights as early as possible. If the family aspires to take to the friendly skies during spring break, then book flights well in advance so the cost of air travel doesn’t bust the budget. According to the affordable travel experts at Dollar Flight Club, fares for flights between mid-March and early April can spike by anywhere from 20 percent to 50 percent. That’s because airlines know spring break is a popular time to travel. While booking early might not lead to huge savings, it will give parents more freedom to pick and choose flights based on variables important to them, like flight times and ticket costs. The longer you wait, the more expensive and less accommodating a flight may be.
• Avoid hotspots. Spring break hotspots tend to be overcrowded and a little raucous, which is less than
ideal for families with young children. When planning a familyfriendly spring break, look for locales off the beaten path. Early to mid-March is peak spring break season for many colleges and universities, so if children’s schools let out for spring during this time it may be wise to avoid oceanfront destinations that typically attract lots of college students. If the budget allows, spring break might prove an ideal time for an international trip with the family.
• Emphasize outdoor activities. As winter winds down, people from all ages tend to get a little cabin fever. Come spring break, look for destinations where outdoor activities abound. Access to activities like hiking, kayaking, swimming, and other outdoor favorites can provide a necessary escape from the cold weather back home.
• Visit a big city. Beaches draw crowds come spring break, but cities tend to be less overrun by tourists during this time of year. Consider visiting a big city and taking in all it has to offer. Flights and accommodations to such locales might not cost as much as travel and lodging to oceanfront destinations, so this can be a great time to visit a big city and take advantage of the cultural and culinary offerings it serves up. Spring break need not be a budget buster for families looking to get away this March or April.
THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” (JOHN 14:6)
Girl Scouts of WNY summer camp registration now
RANDOLPH — Registration is open for the 2026 Girl Scouts of Western New York summer camp, welcoming campers for overnight sessions running from Aug. 11-21.
Situated on beautiful Keyser Lake in the town of Randolph, Girl Scouts of Western New York’s Camp Timbercrest will provide outdoor experiences designed to build confidence, independence and leadership skills among youth across Western New York.
“Girl Scout camp is where confidence
grows, independence takes root and leadership comes to life,” said Cara Biddlecom, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Western New York. “We remain deeply committed to ensuring young people still have access to meaningful outdoor experiences that shape who they become.”
Girl Scout camps provide structured, supervised environments where participants can unplug from screens, explore nature and develop practical life skills. Programs include hiking, swimming, boating, ropes challenge
courses, creative arts and traditional camp activities designed to foster resilience and teamwork.
Camp Timbercrest, located off Moore Road, has served generations of campers. Its continued operation ensures families across Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties maintain access to mission-driven outdoor programming.
Girl Scouts of Western New York operates multiple summer
camps throughout the region, offering day camps, overnight camps and group camping experiences. Overnight camp is also offered this summer at Camp Seven Hills (Holland) and day camp is offered at Camp Seven Hills, Camp Horton Hill (Jamestown), Camp Piperwood (Fairport) and Camp Windy Meadows (Lockport). Families can learn more about the 2026 summer camp season and register at www. gswny.org/summercamp. Financial aid is also available.
Photo provided
Girls Scouts of Western New York Summer Camp attendees gather around the campfire during a previous year.
Randolph kicks off town’s bicentennial year
BY DEB EVERTS
RANDOLPH —
Randolph residents are celebrating their town’s 200th birthday this year. They kicked off their bicentennial celebration events on Saturday, marking the exact day the town was organized by a group of pioneers in 1826. Members of the community gathered at the town courtroom to witness the official presentation of several proclamations honoring Randolph and recognizing the 200th anniversary of the first town meeting held March 7, 1826. Town officials were presented with proclamations from county, state and federal officials. In attendance were Town Supervisor Dale Senn, Councilman Bob Learn, Town Clerk Gretchen Hind, Deputy Town Clerk Shelby Jones, County Legislator Norm Marsh, John Eberth from Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski’s office, state Senator George Borrello and Brian Abram from Congressman Nick Langworthy’s office.
As part of the kick-off event, a genealogy workshop led by Town Historian Nancy Olejniczak was held earlier in the day at the library. The session provided residents with an opportunity to learn more about who their Randolph ancestors were and when they arrived.
THE
FIRST TOWN meeting was the result of an act of the New York State Legislature one month earlier, Feb. 1, 1826. The act divided the town of Conewango, creating the town of Randolph, which at that time also included the current town of South Valley.
Some of the founding fathers who are credited with establishing the town of Randolph at the first meeting include Benjamin Clark, Thomas Harvey, Jeremiah York and Andrew D. Smith.
On Oct. 30, 1821, before the creation of the town, Edmund Fuller and four other men completed the first land purchases in the future town of Randolph with the Holland Land Company. “The History of Cattaraugus County, New York,” published in 1879, states that Fuller “made the first settlement in 1820 on lot 31, building a log house which stood near where the cemetery now is.”
Otis Hitchcock and Solomon Nichols arrived about 1823, with David Salisbury and Clement Russell arriving soon after, about 1824. Other early settlers that made Randolph their home included Joel Scudder, Timothy Torrence, Benson Archer, Benjamin Chamberlain, Addison Crowley, Chauncey Helms, Joseph Weeden, Fred Larkin and Albert Dow.
These pioneers and many others are still in evidence in Randolph today, with current roads and streets bearing their names, including Archer, Bowen, Bush, Caswell, Crowley, Sample and Torrance.
These and other families cleared land for their homes and farms and established the first businesses, including sawmills and public houses or taverns. The early sawmills developed into a thriving timber and lumber industry.
By 1826, about 30 to 40 families had purchased land and settled within the boundaries of the future
town of Randolph. Many of these early settlers, who developed homesteads, were present at the first town meeting and have descendants living in the area today. Others stayed briefly and moved on to new opportunities in the west. When the first census of the town of Randolph was taken in 1830, the town had grown to about 135 households with a total population of 776 people. Children were educated at district schools, and
more development quickly followed.
The 1840 census shows that the population had grown to 1,282. In 1847, the town of Randolph was divided, with the southern half becoming South Valley.
THIS YEAR, a Bicentennial Pioneer Families Program has been launched to recognize residents whose lineage connects to the earliest pioneer settlers in Randolph.
Applications are currently available at the Randolph Library and the town municipal building.
A $10 registration fee will help support this program and other bicentennial activities. Applications may also be downloaded online, where the fee can be paid through randolphbicentennial. blogspot.com.
Throughout the coming months, the Bicentennial Committee
is hosting several special activities that highlight the town’s two centuries of history, development and community. A special historical display is currently in progress and will be unveiled June 20 at the Randolph Arts and Crafts Festival.
Randolph’s main Bicentennial Community Celebration will take place Aug. 14-16. The familyfriendly weekend event will feature music, food,
fireworks and activities for all ages. More details will be coming as the occasion draws closer.
This once-in-ageneration event is a celebration of the people who built the town of Randolph and the progress they made along the way from 1826 to the present. For more information and new additions to the schedule, visit “Enjoy Randolph” on Facebook.
Photo courtesy Mike Frame
Randolph’s official Bicentennial Kickoff Proclamation and Celebration, recognizing the town’s 200th anniversary, took place on March 7. Pictured (from left): Deputy Town Clerk Shelby Jones; Town Clerk Gretchen Hind; County Legislator Norm Marsh; Town Supervisor Dale Senn; John Eberth, representing Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski; state Senator George Borrello; Town Councilman Bob Learn; and Brian Abram, representing Congressman Nick Langworthy.