Saving Grace Outreach brings Farm Market to Cattaraugus
Residents of Cattaraugus and surrounding communities who have insufficient access to fruits and vegetables have a new way to shop for fresh produce.
Saving Grace Outreach now has a Farm Market truck coming to the public parking lot, on the corner of West and Main streets, every first, third and fifth Friday from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.
This is good news for area residents who don’t have the convenience of a grocery store or produce stand in their community, or may not be able to afford the items when purchased at a traditional grocery store. Now, everyone has the opportunity to stop by the truck to purchase fresh, healthy produce at very affordable prices.
Outreach Director Elizabeth O’Neill said 22 families came the first day, May 2, to pick up produce, and she’s excited to see how many will show up in the coming weeks.
“This is a resource we have needed for so long. It was really cool to see all the families
that showed up the first week, and the kids who got excited about the produce,” she said. “It’s beautiful and very affordable,” O’Neill continued. “The quality is like what we see at Wegmans. When local produce is in season, we will get corn, berries, western New York’s wonderful tomatoes and other produce that New York is known for.”
For the shoppers’ convenience, the truck has a special drop-down counter to display the produce. O’Neill said the produce slides out in little baskets, much like in a grocery store, and it has an awning so people won’t get wet if it’s raining. She recommends shoppers bring their own grocery bags to make it easier, but the market truck has bags as well. According to a flyer circulated by FeedMore WNY, the Farm Market accepts payment by SNAP cards (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program); Fruit & Veggie RX Produce Bucks; FreshConnect checks; Double Up Food Bucks New York; credit and debit cards and, of course, cash.
O’Neill said the Farm Market is planned to take place
but, in the beginning, FeedMore WNY didn’t have enough drivers to cover a larger area. She kept reminding FeedMore to let her know when the program would be available for Cattaraugus and her perseverance finally paid off.
“That’s why we were the first ones to get the farm market,” she said. “I’m sure funding, getting another truck and more drivers was part of the holdup as well.”
O’Neill said she’s been trying to get a farm market going in Cattaraugus for three years because the immediate area has no grocery stores or produce stands. She said they are very blessed to have the truck come to Cattaraugus, and she believes Saving Grace is the first in Cattaraugus County to have it.
grocery stores to get it.”
O’Neill said the Farm Market is open to the public. She said this is a service for anyone from any town, whether Cattaraugus, Otto, East Otto, Gowanda, Little Valley or other surrounding communities.
“It’s nice to chat with people and get some ideas about what you can do with produce if you have
year-round. The public parking lot, located next to the railroad tracks, is very visible and has ample space for both the market truck and customer parking. She said the market truck also goes up to North Collins,
which is why it has to leave at 10:15 a.m. for their next stop.
THE FARM MARKET is a program of FeedMore Western New York. O’Neill said it started as a pilot program in Erie County
“When this Farm Market truck first came out, I thought, ‘This is wonderful.’ Not only is it helping farmers and offering local produce when in season, it brings fresh produce at good prices that people can afford,” she said. “I signed up for it right away because I knew Cattaraugus desperately needed fresh produce. I thought it would be a nice gap-filler for a lot of people that can’t get to Walmart or bigger
Signs an AC unit may need to be replaced
Summer is a season of relaxation. Warm air, longer hours of daylight and vacations from school and work make summer a laid back time of year.
Many people enjoy the warmer air of summer, but it’s important to have a cool place to retreat once temperatures become particularly warm. That means a well-cooled home with an air conditioning system operating at peak capacity. A new HVAC system can last between 15 and 25 years. Homeowners whose systems are at least a decade and a half old can keep an eye out for the following signs that an HVAC may need to be replaced.
• Higher energy bills: Energy costs can vary widely by location, but homeowners know that their energy bills have been on the rise for years. FirstEnergy estimated that energy costs for New Jersey residents in 2025 could increase by more than 19 percent by the middle of the year, a point in time when many Garden State residents begin using their air conditioning units every day. That can make it hard to gauge if higher energy bills are a reflection of market price increases or a unit that needs replacement.
But higher energy bills could indicate a unit is not working efficiently, which is a telltale sign of an HVAC that may need to be replaced. Compare energy bills from a year ago to current bills, and then factor in the price increase. If energy consumption is on the rise compared to a year ago, that could indicate an HVAC unit is working less efficiently.
• A humid home: Humidity is a part of summer, but it’s typically felt outdoors, not inside. A home with a humid interior while the AC is running could indicate a problem with the HVAC unit. According to HVAC. com, a functioning HVAC unit utilizes an evaporator coil to pull excess water vapor from the air in a home and drain it away from the home. If the air inside a home is humid, the unit might be having a mechanical issue that’s preventing this important task from being performed.
• Frequent repairs: A telltale sign a unit needs to be replaced is the
need for frequent repairs. Homeowners who are now on a first-name basis with their HVAC contractor may want to ask that professional if it’s time to replace the unit. Money being spent on frequent repairs may be better repurposed toward financing the purchase of a new unit that could last as long as a quarter century.
• Poor air flow: An HVAC unit operating at peak capacity will produce a steady flow of cool air through the vents throughout a home. Poor air flow through those vents means it will take longer than normal to cool a home, and homeowners can put their hands near the vents to see how well or how poorly air is flowing through them. If air is flowing poorly, the unit will have to work harder to cool the home, which will contribute to higher energy bills.
A fully functional air conditioning system is vital in summer. Some telltale signs any homeowner can spot may indicate an existing HVAC unit needs to be replaced.
WEST VALLEY —West
Valley Central School has named Magdalena Parish as the valedictorian and Isabella Gibson salutatorian of the Class of 2025.
Magdalena Parish, daughter of Michael and Barbara Parish, will graduate with a weighted grade point average of 102, earning an Advanced Regents diploma with designation.
Parish has completed 43 college credits, including Anatomy & Physiology, Sociology, Psychology, English Composition, Introduction to Disease and Calculus courses. Many of these courses were completed through the rigorous BOCES New Vision Health Professions program.
Throughout her time at West Valley, Magdalena has been active in six varsity-level sports and has participated in National Honor Society, Student Council and Yearbook.
She has held various class officer positions and was elected Class President for her senior year.
Outside the classroom, Magdalena contributes her time as a member of the West Valley Volunteer
Hose Company and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. After graduation, she plans to attend SUNY Cortland to major in Biomedical Sciences.
Isabella Gibson, daughter of Eva and David Gibson, will graduate with a weighted grade point average of 94.5.
During her time at West Valley, Gibson has been an active member of the school and broader community.
She has participated in the National Honor Society for three years, Art Club for
four years and Yearbook Club in her senior year. She has volunteered at The Pines with Art Club and completed community service through NHS.
Following graduation, Gibson will attend Bowling Green State University in Ohio to pursue studies in paleontology and archaeology.
Graduation ceremonies for the West Valley Class of 2025 will be held at 6:30 p.m. June 27.
MACHIAS The Cattaraugus County Museum and Research Library will kick off its 14th annual “Summer at the Stone House” event series on June 12 with musician and educator
Mark Jones, who will present a program titled “Bands and Bandsmen of the Civil War.”
Jones is a classical musician who has played tuba with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Erie Philharmonic, the New Sousa Band and many other groups. He is also a collector of antique musical instruments and ephemera, with an emphasis on Civil War music.
Jones currently sits on the board of directors of the Hamburg Historical Society and is a member of the Company of Military Historians, the NYS Military Museum and the Historical Brass Society. He has given presentations at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, in New York City, the University of
County museum kicks off new schedule of summer programs June 12
Iowa and Ithaca College.
Jones will present a PowerPoint program on Civil War bands and bandsmen, the use and importance of the brass bands and the songs they provided to the troops. He will even demonstrate on an actual instrument used during the Civil War.
All “Summer at the Stone House” programs take place at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays, June through August. They will be held under an event tent on the museum lawn, rain or shine, and are free and open to the public. Some seating will be available, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs if they wish. For those unable to attend in person, events will be livestreamed on the museum’s YouTube channel.
Note that the museum will host two programs with a focus on the Erie Canal, which is celebrating its bicentennial this year.
The full “Summer at the Stone House” schedule for 2025 is:
• June 12 – Mark Jones, “Bands and Bandsmen of the Civil War”
• June 26 – Dave Ruch, “Traditional and Historic Music From WNY”
• July 10 – Linda Hunter, “Got Scraps?
Let’s Make Quilts!”
• July 24 – Allen Hopkins, “Music of the Erie Canal”
• Aug. 14 – Steph Adams, “Bicentennial Basics of the Erie Canal”
• Aug. 28 – Jeanette Sheliga, “Between the Census Years” (genealogy)
In addition, “Family Day at the Museum” will return Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. As part of New York State Tourism’s “Path Through History” weekend, the museum will be open for families to come see our exhibits. As a special attraction, the WNY Fiddle Kids
perform at noon.
Cattaraugus County Museum is located in the Stone House, 9824 Route
Modern vehicles are technological marvels, which has had a profound effect not only on how much drivers enjoy driving, but also how much they’re spending to get behind the wheel.
Data from Cox Automotive indicates that the average transaction price of a new vehicle in March 2023 was just over $48,000. That can raise the eyebrows of any budgetconscious car enthusiast, but it’s also worth noting that modern vehicles have become more economical in other ways. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency indicated that the average fuel efficiency for new cars recently improved to a record 25.4 miles per gallon. More fuel-efficient cars and trucks can lower the costs of vehicle ownership.
Many drivers feel that, in addition to being more fuelefficient, modern vehicles are more fun. That’s because modern vehicles boast a number of popular creature comforts that have changed the way people drive. Drivers who haven’t shopped for a new car in recent years can look for any number of fun features as they begin their search for a new vehicle.
• Electronic door handles: Though not as common as some features, electronic door handles provide a futuristic, if not entirely necessary, feel. These door handles automatically extend out when drivers approach their cars and then retract when not in use. This feature is mainly about style, but it also reduces aerodynamic drag, which can help save fuel or, in electric vehicles, improve driving range.
• Touchscreens: Screens feature prominently in many parts of the average person’s day, so why not when they’re in their vehicles as well? Though vehicle touchscreens have been around for years, auto manufacturers are increasingly switching controls for other components, including windshield wipers, to touchscreens, making for a more sleek interior design that is largely button- and knob-free. In addition, various manufacturers are offering larger touchscreens, which can simplify driving in cars that no longer feature physical controls.
• Keyless entry: Keyless entry systems, though not new, are another component that can provide a futuristic feel. Keyless entry systems once enabled drivers to keep their key fobs in their pocket and simply unlock their vehicles by pressing a button on the door handle. Though some manufacturers still offer button keyless entry systems, more modern systems automatically unlock as drivers reach for the handle or pull it open.
• Head-up display: Arguably as futuristic a feature as car buyers may encounter, the head-up display feature puts information directly in drivers’ line of sight so they are never looking anywhere but toward the road. Information such as vehicle speed and navigation instructions are projected onto the interior of the windshield, not unlike similar systems that have long been utilized in military planes. Modern vehicles are loaded with futuristic features that can make driving more fun.
File photo
The Cattaraugus County Museum and Research Library is located in the Stone House, 9824 Route 16 in Machias.