According to the Department of Defense (DOD), the United States Armed Forces had 1.33 million people identified as active troops as of 2025. The DOD reported that an additional 770,118 people were serving in the National Guard or as reserves as of 2025. Active-duty Armed Forces personnel in the United States are spread across six main service branches: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and the Space Force. As of December 2025, the Army had more activeduty troops (447,455) than any other branch of the American military. The Navy (339,602) had the second most activeduty troops, while the Air Force (315,317) was the third largest branch in terms of active-duty troops.
bald eagle and American ag with colonial stars and the
Seal. Behind it, the
As the
continued to move forward, inspired by its enduring ideals of liberty and progress. Now you can commemorate this historic milestone with the “Salute to America” 250th Anniversary Express model train collection from The Bradford Exchange! Honoring Our Nation’s Legacy The gleaming locomotive proudly bears a sculpted medallion of the
a
each car showcases a de ning chapter in America’s story. Includes FREE Model Train Operating System Begin your real working model train collection—compatible with any HO-scale track—with the illuminating “Spirit of Freedom” locomotive. It can be yours for only $89.99, payable in three easy payments of $29.99 each (plus a total of $14.99 shipping and service; see bradfordexchange.com). Subsequent cars will be billed separately at the same affordable price and shipped about every other month, including the track set, power-pack and speed controller—a $100 value—that come FREE with Shipment Two! Your satisfaction is assured with our 365-day money-back
Hinsdale runs away with third consecutive Envirothon title
See page 6
Tony’s Twisted Scoops South opening Memorial Day weekend in Salamanca
BY DEB EVERTS
SALAMANCA — Just in time for summer, the beloved ice cream stand on Broad Street, locally known as simply “Tony’s,” is having a soft opening Memorial Day weekend under a new name and new ownership.
Shane and Penny Parker of Great Valley will be serving up smiles and sweet treats at Tony’s Twisted Scoops South.
The couple wants to keep the Tony’s tradition going in a community that has always loved the place.
“Tony’s has been a staple for a long time in this area,” Shane said.
“Nobody was looking at the ice cream stand, and we saw an opportunity. We didn’t want to see it go down.”
“We’re just happy to have purchased the building and to have the opportunity to carry on the tradition,” Penny added.
“Who doesn’t love ice cream? I remember going down to Tony’s as a kid with my whole family. It’s always been a tasty freeze.”
Shane said they have future plans to enclose the back of the building and add a few tables to make Tony’s a year-round place that will bring in more revenue.
The Parkers also own and operate several other local businesses, including The New Ole Hickory Tavern in Salamanca as well as The Pub and Tony’s Twisted Scoops North in Great Valley, which will be another ice cream shop coming in the future.
The couple purchased The New Ole Hickory at 56 Hickory St. in May 2025 but didn’t open for business until August due to much-needed repairs that included remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms, new flooring and redoing the walk-in area.
Shane said they wanted to keep the new name as close as possible to the original place, so they just added “new.”
All the businesses are family-run with the assistance of their sons, Harrison and Alexander.
“Harrison is our daytime bartender at the Hickory, and he also has culinary skills,” Penny said. “Alexander helps out with deliveries, whenever needed, and he’s also a backup bartender at The Pub.”
Penny said The New Ole Hickory is now open for breakfast at 7 a.m. Patrons can dine in, pick up or have their food delivered. For more information, call (716) 945-4544.
better attitude keep them achieving more. Shane currently has a concrete business in Buffalo, where he continues to work daily.
Penny works per diem as a licensed practical nurse.
Shane said they are currently working on Tony’s Twisted Scoops North, which will be located in the hamlet of Great Valley near the routes 219 and 98 intersection. He said the building was an old gas station next door to The Pub.
“I’m a business guy, and I purchased that about seven or eight years ago, before I bought anything else. I was going to make that into an ice cream shop, but then COVID hit, so I put my plans on hold for a while,” he said.
“As soon as COVID got over with, The Pub went up for sale. I had sold my trucking company, and I had a little bit of money, so I bought The Pub and met Penny.”
When Tony’s in Salamanca came up for sale, things took a turn. The Parkers couldn’t pass up the opportunity to purchase the popular place loved by so many.
“We are still opening an ice cream stand in Great Valley at that garage. Our intentions were to do that this year, but then we heard Brendan Chudy was selling the tasty freeze,” Shane said. “So, instead of opening the place in Great Valley this year, we bought the former Tony’s because it’s turnkey and ready to go.”
“Salamanca needs us. They need somebody local to take over and keep the Tony’s tradition going. We get to do that and keep the Tony’s name alive as Tony’s Twisted Scoops South,” Penny said. “We would like to thank Jake Sanders for the opportunity to own the business.”
The couple also owns and operates The Pub, along Route 219 in Great Valley, which they purchased two years ago.
Penny said they met in October 2024, when Shane
bought the place, and got married a year later in October.
As if they don’t have enough on their plates, the couple’s strong work ethic and a busier the
In the meantime, according to Shane, the Ole Hickory Tavern was for sale. He said they knew about it being available but didn’t look at it as an investment, at first. When they really started looking into what they could do with the tavern, they ended up buying it.
Tina Abrams is NY Woman of Distinction from Southern Tier
For those few people who might not know the location of the ice cream stand, it’s at 525 Broad St., near Sander’s Parkview Supermarket. Operating hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. To find out more about Tony’s Twisted Scoops South, call (716) 584-7018. Watch for more information on their Facebook page coming soon.
BY JIM ECKSTROM
Tina Abrams, a pioneering Seneca Nation leader, was honored Tuesday, May 5, among the 2026 Women of Distinction by the state Senate in Albany.
Sen. George Borrello, R-57th District, honored Abrams, a member of the Wolf Clan and Seneca Nation Council member, and the first Indigenous woman to be selected as a New York State Senate Woman of Distinction.
Abrams has dedicated more than two decades to public service, having first been elected to the Seneca Nation Council in 2001 and making history in 2012 as the first woman appointed co-chair of that legislative body. A tireless advocate for Native American rights, cultural preservation and community service, she has served on the Cattaraugus County Planning Board since 2003, on the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors since 2021 and as Northeast Region vice president of the National Congress of American Indians.
In 2025, she was honored as one of Erie County’s Living
people
in Albany and celebrate the remarkable career she has built and the doors she has opened for others.”
Joining Abrams for the occasion were colleagues and family members, including her husband, John M. Abrams Sr.; Seneca Gaming Corporation CEO Kevin Nephew and his wife, Tracie; and Natalie Hemlock and Annette Mohawk Smith.
“This recognition is a reflection of the community that shaped me, the resilience Seneca women have shown throughout history, and the people who have stood beside me throughout this journey,” Abrams said, while expressing her gratitude to Borrello and family and colleagues who made the trip to Albany.
“Having them here speaks louder than anything I could say, because they represent the family and community that has lifted and carried me to this moment,” she added.
Abrams and her husband live on the Senecas’ Allegany Territory in Cattaraugus County and have three children and 10 grandchildren.
Photo provided
Tina Abrams (right), a member of the Wolf Clan and Seneca Nation Council member, is honored by state Sen. George Borrello as a New York State Senate Woman of Distinction.
Photo by Deb Everts
Everybody knows summer is almost here when Tony’s opens.
New owners Penny and Shane Parker plan to open Tony’s Twisted Scoops South on Broad Street Memorial Day weekend.
BUFFALO
— Several local groups were among the 77 to receive $1.26 million in grands from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo from endowment funds created to carry on the legacy of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Grant awards are listed alphabetically within each interest area. Local grant
Local groups receive Wilson Legacy Fund grants
recipients by program include:
• Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Caregivers — Interfaith Caregivers, $20,000; Total Senior Care, $25,000.
• Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Design and Access — Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, $41,832.
• Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for
Youth Sports — Town of Allegany, $7,500. In 2016, The
Ralph C.
Jr. Foundation established the Legacy Funds
as endowments at the Community Foundation to provide annual support to areas that were important to Wilson during his lifetime: Caregivers, Community Assets, Design and Access and Youth Sports.
Endowment funds are designed to grow over time and provide funding forever for charitable causes
according to a client’s wishes.
The Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation complement the work of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and were created to provide immediate impact and long-term benefit in Western New York.
Add some additional flavor to your Memorial Day BBQ
Memorial Day weekend
is a time for both reflection and relaxation across the United States. Memorial Day
mourns and honors military personnel who lost their
lives while serving in the American Armed Forces. Memorial Day parades honor such individuals, and the parades also instill pride in Americans during
a much-beloved weekend across the United States.
taste dried out and fail to
celebrate Memorial Day this year, those tasked with manning the grill can consider these ways to add some extra flavor to foods cooked over an open flame.
• Monitor temperatures with a meat thermometer.
Though Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday in May, the three-day holiday weekend marks the unofficial start of summer for millions of people each year. That kickoff typically includes lots of backyard barbecues. As millions gather to
Overcooking foods cooked over an open flame is a common mistake. Overcooked foods tend to
but marinade can drip off when cooking food and lose much of its value in regard to adding flavor. Dry rubs are made from spices, herbs and other seasonings that won’t fall or burn off when foods are cooking. Dry rubs can add extra flavor when applied hours before cooking or even shortly before placing foods on the grill.
offer that signature juiciness associated with well-cooked barbecue staples like steak and other types of red meat. People manning the grill this Memorial Day are urged to utilize a meat thermometer, which can ensure foods maintain their juicy flavor profile and do not dry out. The ideal internal cooking temperature varies depending on which foods are being cooked, so be sure to stick to a recipe or look up the appropriate internal cooking temperature for foods that will be cooked over an open flame.
• Utilize wood chips or chunks. Another way to add flavor is to grill foods over wood chips or chunks. Chips or chunks might be flavored (mesquite is a popular flavor) or unflavored. Cooks should know that adding flavored or unflavored chips or chunks will impart a smoky flavor to anything cooked on the grill. When using a gas grill, cooks can put the chips or chunks in a smoker box or wrap them in a foil pouch to impart extra flavor without adversely affecting the grill.
• Dry rub meats. Some people marinate grilled foods prior to cooking,
• Slow down. “Low and slow” is a motto embraced by people who love to smoke foods, and that same approach can be applied to more traditional grilling as well. Even if you don’t have all day to cook like you would if you choose to smoke foods, cooking low and slow can ensure foods are juicy and full of that unique taste that’s only possible when cooking over an open flame. Keep vents open only on a crack and cook foods at lower temperatures than you otherwise might. While the foods won’t be cooked as fast, they will boast more of that signature smoky flavor grilling enthusiasts love. There’s no shortage of ways to impart some extra flavor to grilled foods this Memorial Day.
Ɋ May 21 - Bike Night at the Pat McGee Trail. Park at the Ellicottville Brewery in Little Valley. 6-8 mile ride. 6-8pm.
Ɋ May 23 - Fire Tower Saturdays at Allegany State Park. Meet at Summit Ski Hut parking lot. Explore the last standing fire tower in the park. Join Friends of Allegany State Park for a unique and historic
experience. Quarter-mile hike up to the tower. 11am.
Ɋ May 24 - UltraTrax at Holiday Valley, Ellicottville. A trailpowered adventure through wooded slopes, ridgelines and hidden glades. Join fellow adventurers at the base of Holiday Valley for an unforgettable day exploring our scenic single-track trails. Celebrate your accomplishment with swag, including a custom finisher shirt and velcro patch. 7am - 5:45pm.
Ɋ May 24 - Red House
Ɋ May 27 - Moutain Bike Clinic at Camp Allegany, Allegany State Park.Join certified mountain bike instructors for this free clinic. Bikes and helmets provided. 6pm.
Sawmill Sundays at Allegany State Park. Meet at the sawmill off ASP Route 1. Uncover the rich history of the park sawmill as knowledgeable tour guides from the Friends of Allegany State Park or Allegany State Park Historical Society will be on hand to share their expertise and answer questions. 10am.
Ɋ May 30 - Spring Along the Amish Trail at Cattaraugus County Amish Trail. Gear up for a road trip through the countryside. Nearly 200 Amish shops along the Amish Trail offer their wares and handiworks, offering a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. Start from the Valley View Cheese Company,
Leon Historical Society Museum or South Dayton Depot Movie & Rail Museum. 10am-4pm.
Ɋ June 6 - Cynthia Mohr 5K at Veterans Memorial Park, Salamanca. Memorial 5K and walk in memory of Salamanca teacher Cindy Mohr. Proceeds benefit the Cynthia Mohr Scholarship fund and the 2027 Senior Trip. Register at salamancany.org/ cindy-mohr5k. 9am.
Ɋ June 11 - Summer at the Stone House at Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias. Presentation on the Union Fife and Drum Corps. 7pm
Ɋ June 13 - Theresa Caputo Live at Seneca Allegany Event Center. Tickets start at $60.50. Visit senecaalleganycasino. com. 8pm.
Ɋ June 20 - Arts & Festival in downtown Randolph. 10am - 5pm.
Ɋ June 25 - Summer at the Stone House at Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias. Presentation on the KaBar Story with historican Joe Bradley. 7pm.
Ɋ June 27-28 - Free Fishing Day throughout New York State. Hosted by the State Department of Environmental Conservation. No fishing license is required on these days for the fresh or marine waters. Visit dec. ny.gov.
Ɋ July 3-5 - Summer Music Festival at Holiday Valley. Enjoy a slate of fantastic artists at the outdoor slopeside venue. This weekend is filled with music and fun family adventures. Visit ellicottvilleny.com
Wilson,
Village of Cattaraugus announces 5 projects for $10M DRI funding
BY KELLEN M. QUIGLEY
CATTARAUGUS
— Village of Cattaraugus has selected five projects for its $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award as the program’s Round 8 winner, Governor Kathy Hochul announced earlier this month.
The five projects for the village are among 21 transformational projects in Western New York as part of either the DRI or NY Forward economic development programs.
Hochul said the DRI and NY Forward winners in Western New York are extraordinary communities with so much to offer in terms of resources, culture and history.
“These awards are part of our ongoing efforts to transform downtown areas across the state, and I look forward to watching Western New York use these funds in a way that highlights the people and businesses that make up a vital part of our great state,” the governor said.
On behalf of the village, Cattaraugus Mayor Anthony Nagel expressed his thanks to Hochul and New York state for their meaningful investment in rural communities like Cattaraugus through the DRI program.
“Each of the awarded projects plays an important role on its own, but their true impact comes from how they work together,” he said.
The five Cattaraugus DRI projects, totaling $9.7 million, include:
• Create a Small Project Fund ($600,000): Establish a matching grant program to fund small projects, including interior and exterior building renovations, capital equipment, public art, and related soft costs, for commercial, mixed-use and multi-family buildings.
• Redevelop 1 Mill Street into a Mix of Residential and Commercial Uses ($1.5 million): Redevelop the former railroad depot into a mix of uses to include new apartments, retail and outdoor space that will expand housing and shopping choices, small business development opportunities and activity on a vacant property.
• Restore and Expand the Crawford Hotel by Creating a New Boutique Hotel and Amenities ($4.2 million): Fully restore the Crawford Hotel and construct an addition to the building to house hotel rooms and related amenities such as a restaurant, bar, meeting rooms and event spaces, creating new jobs and attracting more visitors to the area.
• Improve Downtown Accessibility through Enhancements to Streets and Alleyways ($1.77 million): Improve downtown accessibility and safety by making streetscape improvements on Main and Washington streets and creating a fire lane along East Alley to support Main Street businesses.
• Develop the One Main Street Community Event Space ($1.63 million):
Transform a vacant lot into a vibrant community gateway and gathering space that will potentially house a hub for rail bikes, amphitheater, pavilion, farmers market and small shops.
Nagel added, “By complementing one another and building on the momentum already underway in Cattaraugus, they are helping to shape a more cohesive, connected, and vibrant downtown experience for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”
Cattaraugus was first announced as the DRI awardee in April 2025. Since then, the village has been moving forward with the planning process, making great progress, Nagel said in a previous interview. The local planning committee has completed most of its meetings, he said, and the final slate of transformative projects is being prepared for submission to New York State for review.
“The proposals reflect a balance of public- and private-sector investments, ranging from streetscape improvements and pedestrian enhancements to the rehabilitation of historic buildings and the creation of new community gathering spaces,” he said.
“Each project is designed to strengthen our Main Street corridor, attract new business investment, and celebrate the village’s historic character and smalltown charm.”
According to Nagel, the village has seen
encouraging momentum in the year since the award was announced. The former SetterStix plant at 261 S. Main St. is being revived by Daich Coatings Corporation, a Canadian company based in Hamilton, Ontario. Several new businesses have recently opened or expanded, including Evergreen Floral & Gifts, Whispering Willow, the addition of a hobby shop at Brick Lane Speedway and RocketCup Coffee’s collegiate coffee branding.
“These developments are tangible signs of the revitalization we envisioned when we applied for the DRI — more energy, more investment and a growing sense of optimism in downtown Cattaraugus,” the mayor said.
Nagel said the Revolution Rail project,
designed to complement the village’s ongoing economic development efforts, had a soft launch event in October and opened for the public earlier this month.
“The initial pop-up rides were completely sold out, and additional runs were added to meet demand — an encouraging sign of the strong public interest in this new attraction,” he said.
Nagel said the Village of Cattaraugus is proud of the progress being made across all these initiatives and deeply appreciative of the partnerships — local, regional and state — that are helping bring new opportunity and vitality to the community.
DRI and NY Forward communities developed Strategic Implementation Plans (SIPs), which create a vision for the future
of their downtown and identify and recommend a slate of complementary, transformative and implementable projects that support that vision.
The SIPs are guided by a Local Planning Committee (LPC) comprised of local and regional leaders, stakeholders and community representatives, with the assistance of an assigned consultant and DOS staff, all of whom conduct extensive community outreach and engagement when determining projects. The projects selected for funding from the SIP were identified as having the greatest potential to jumpstart revitalization and generate new opportunities for longterm growth.
Hinsdale runs away with third consecutive Envirothon title
RED HOUSE —
Hinsdale Central School left Camp Allegany April 29 with its third consecutive Cattaraugus County Envirothon championship.
Envirothon is a conservation-based skills and knowledge competition that Cattaraugus County
Soil & Water Conservation District has hosted since 1992 for teams from area high schools within the county.
“There was a buzz of excitement building up the weeks before the competition,” said Tyler Paar, Cattaraugus County
Soil & Water Conservation District’s Field Manager. “Our staff and volunteers were anxious to see if Hinsdale could take three in a row, and a lot of other schools definitely wanted to take them down.”
Eleven teams from the following seven school districts participated in the competition: Allegany-Limestone, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Ellicottville, Franklinville, Hinsdale, Olean and Randolph, with
2 placing second and Hinsdale Team No. 2 placing third. Envirothon tests teams on five topics: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and a current issue topic that changes each year. This year’s current issue prompt, which was developed by the state Envirothon
Pollution: It Starts at Home.
Teams gave a presentation to panels of judges to discuss how they would develop a comprehensive plan to address key issues affecting a fictitious community outlined in the prompt’s narrative.
returning competitors the last few years, so there is a lot of familiarity between the kids, which definitely brought out their competitive natures,” Paar said.
Nonpoint Source
“We’ve been fortunate that a lot of the students competing have been
“We also have four more teams this year than we did last year, with some new advisors who went through their first competitions themselves.”
Hinsdale’s winning team, coached by science teacher
Warren Schulze, featured a roster of returning champions: Amaya Russell, Kaleigh Buckles, Robert Childs, Brett Bergstrom and Jenna Goodling, all seniors except for Goodling, a freshman and Envirothon newcomer.
“I think those newer advisors got a good taste of the level of competition and what to expect going forward and will be eager to get their young teams into the placing ranks,” Paar said.
The Bobcats will again represent Cattaraugus County at the New York state competition held May 27 and 28 at SUNY Cortland, where they will go against nearly 50 other top-placing teams from across the state. Placing seventh in the state last year, the team has lofty goals of trying to bring the state championship home to Hinsdale.
“We expect next year to be a highly competitive year with Hinsdale No. 1 defending their three-peat, but the roster will look a lot different since most of the team’s members are graduating,” Paar said.
Envirothons across New York state rely solely on volunteers and donations to conduct local competitions. The statewide competition is seeking volunteers to work the state event at SUNY Cortland. Contact the District office by calling (716) 350-4018 to inquire about volunteering if interested.
Cattaraugus County Soil & Water Conservation District staff thanks all volunteers, donors and sponsors for their continued support of this competition.
Photo provided
From left, Cattaraugus SWCD Field Manager Tyler Paar congratulates Hinsdale students Jenna Goodling, Amaya Russell, Kaleigh Buckles, Robert Childs and Brett Bergstrom for winning the annual Cattaraugus County Envirothon championship for the third consecutive year.
Effective measures to reduce screen time
Constant phone notifications and a tendency to “doomscroll” for hours in an effort to keep abreast of the latest news has conditioned people to keep their phones in hand at all times.
The Mayo Clinic cautions that excessive screen time threatens physical, social and mental health. Everything from obesity to eye strain to neck and back pain may be linked to spending too much time on phones, tablets and computers. Excessive screen time also has been linked to mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
Limiting daily screen time is recommended to foster better overall wellbeing. Pulling away from the draw of screens can be challenging, but it’s not impossible.
Audit your screen time
Getting a clear picture of daily screen time can help a person make changes for the better. Identify three applications
that take up most of your time, and check how many times each day you reach for your phone or tablet to engage with these apps. Noting each engagement can shed light on how much time you’re spending on screens.
Make it less accessible Technology often is over-used because designers engineered it to be easily accessible. By making things slightly less convenient, a person may be less inclined to use it. Deleting apps that are over-used from a phone or tablet and only gaining access through a computer web browser is a start.
Ban the phone from the bedroom and switch to a regular alarm clock.
Kondo, a direct messaging management company, suggests turning settings on the device to display in grayscale, which makes things appear dull and less enticing.
Turn off notifications Govern your notification permissions more strictly, turning off any that aren’t of the utmost importance. Disabling news alerts, sports scores, social media likes, and less vital notifications can greatly reduce the number of times a person looks at screens.
Replace with something else
Kicking a bad habit can be challenging, but finding something new and healthier to take its place can be effective. Convert to more analog hobbies
like
knitting, doing puzzles, or something else that engages the brain. Another idea is to try to commit to a few hours at least one day a week to put the phone away. Out of sight truly may mean out of mind.
Screens dominate people’s time. While it
be uncomfortable at
to take a break, reducing screen time usage for the betterment of your overall health is worth some initial discomfort.
