Maintaining a sense of independence throughout retirement can inspire seniors to live their golden years to the fullest. For many seniors, nothing is more emblematic of their ability to stay independent than remaining in their homes. A number of variables can affect how long seniors stay in their homes, including the layout of the property and any potential safety threats that may arise as men and women age. Some small, safetycentric tweaks to a property can help men and women remain in their homes for as long as possible.
• Increase lighting in bathrooms throughout the home. Lighting is easily overlooked as a safety measure, but a well-lit space is easier to navigate. Increasing lighting in the bathroom and upgrading existing features to LED lighting can make it easier for seniors to navigate bathrooms at night. That’s a notable benefit, as seniors may need to make routine bathroom trips overnight.
• Install grab bars. Grab bars are often found in public restrooms, but they’re equally useful in the bathrooms or private homes, particularly in
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Volunteers typically offer their time and services in an effort to help others, but researchers believe volunteering has a profound effect on individuals who lend a hand, particularly when those pitching in are children and teenagers. A 2023 study published in the journal JAMA Network Open found that volunteering is associated with improved overall health
and wellness among children and adolescents. Researchers behind the study found that children who volunteered were 34 percent more likely to be in excellent or very good health compared to peers who did not volunteer. In addition, 66 percent of child and adolescent volunteers were more likely to be seen as “flourishing” and 35 percent were less likely to develop behavioral problems compared
to their peers who did not volunteer. These findings are nothing to scoff at, as mental health issues continue to affect young people at rates that many find alarming. For example, recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates nearly one in three girl high school students considered suicide in 2021. Though additional research into a potential link
How to make bathrooms safer for seniors
seniors’ residences. Grab bars can be installed on both sides of all toilets and in the bathtub/ shower stall so seniors can get up and down easily and reinforce their stability on wet surfaces.
• Invest in bathroom storage systems. A cluttered bathroom is a potential safety hazard. Items in cluttered bathrooms can easily end up on the floor, and that goes for bathing items like shampoo and soap as well. A bathroom storage system for a vanity and an organizer for bathing items inside a shower or tub can decrease the chance that items end up on the floor, where they can pose an injury risk for seniors who might struggle to bend over to pick them up or slip on fallen items when bathing.
• Renovate your existing shower.
Seniors whose current bathrooms house a traditional shower setup that requires them to step over a tub can renovate the space and replace that feature with a walk-in shower. A walk-in shower does not require seniors step over a bathtub, greatly reducing the risk of falls while bathing. Some additional shower renovations include installing a bench so
seniors can sit down while bathing, ideally while using a hand-held shower head.
• Purchase nonslip materials for the bathroom. Non-slip floor mats in a bathroom are essential for anyone, and especially beneficial for seniors. A nonslip vanity storage bin and toothbrush holder also can ensure daily accessories remain accessible.
• Elevate toilet heights. Elevating toilet heights in bathrooms throughout the home can make it easier for seniors to sit down and get up when going to the bathroom. Toilets compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are roughly 18 inches taller than standard toilets, which can make a big difference for seniors.
These are just a handful of ways seniors can make their bathrooms safer as they aspire to stay in their homes longer.can make this already popular space even more so.
MAN’S
between volunteering and improved mental health among modern adolescents is necessary, it’s worth nothing that studies have long since determined that volunteering is good for volunteers’ mental health, with volunteers often reporting greater life satisfaction than individuals who do not volunteer.
West Valley Cleanup Alliance donates to Ashford Food Pantry
See Page 6
Sempolinski discusses EV bus mandate for schools at Gowanda town hall
GOWANDA —
Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski held his fourth town hall meeting Aug. 26 at Gowanda’s Historic Hollywood Theater.
“I was pleased with the active crowd, especially for a summer night,” Sempolinski, R-Canisteo, said of the event held that Tuesday evening.
Topics included the state budget, cashless bail and crime and the rise in utility costs, which he states are being driven by Gov. Kathy Hochul and the majority members of the Legislature’s support for the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Passed in 2019, the CLCPA requires school districts and municipalities to adopt zero-emission vehicles to reduce carbon emissions.
“The EV school bus mandate comes up in every part of the district,” Sempolinski
said. “By law, school districts will soon no longer be able to buy diesel buses. But EV buses are more expensive than diesel buses, they are less efficient than diesel
buses and they lose their charge in cold weather.
Sempolinski noted the governor has pledged $1 billion to help schools transition to EV buses, but he
argues it will cost $20 billion for every school in the state to go to EV buses.
“This is a massive, unnecessary $19 billion unfunded mandate from
Albany,” he said. “I’m all for protecting our environment, but this is unaffordable and unworkable. New York’s taxpayers are already struggling. They can’t afford this.”
Sempolinski is a cosponsor of Assembly Bill A2005, which will allow school districts to opt out of certain zero-emission school bus requirements. He said he urges his colleagues in the Republican minority conference to “raise the alarm about the EV bus mandate and the CLCPA.”
The assemblyman said he’s been moving his town hall meetings around the district to make it easier for people to attend.
“We picked Gowanda for this town hall to give folks from northern Cattaraugus County a chance to attend,” he said. “I held my first town hall in Olean, my second in Wellsville and my third in Canisteo in Steuben County. The 148th Assembly District is just a little smaller than the state of Delaware.” He said another town hall will be held before winter, but he’s not sure of the location yet.
Ellicottville graduates awarded CRCF scholarships
ELLICOTTVILLE —
Eight recent graduates from Ellicottville Central School were awarded Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation-managed scholarships.
Maddox Johnson and Kyle Robinson were awarded the Cattaraugus County Trappers Memorial Scholarship for $500.
Established by the Cattaraugus County Trappers Association, this fund provides two $500 awards for graduating high school students in Cattaraugus, Allegany or Chautauqua counties, with preference for students who plan to pursue a degree in natural resources conservation, fish and wildlife management, forest management or a similar area of study at a two- or four-year college. Applicants must include a list of outdoor sports in which they participate, a statement on the importance of the role of sportsmen in conservation and management of fish and wildlife and natural resources and information on their career path in their goal statement. The scholarship is made in memory of a
member of the trappers association who left a lasting impact on the sport in the area each year. This year’s award is made in memory of Donald Bergy. Johnson plans to study fish and wildlife sciences at Paul Smith’s College. Robinson plans to study natural resources and conservation at Paul Smith’s College. Addison John, Kathryn Bless and Michael Kerns each received the Kristen Hintz Memorial Scholarship, a $1,000 award. This scholarship, which came under
the Foundation’s management in 2017, is named in memory of Kristen Nicole Hintz, who was a senior at Ellicottville Central School and at the top of her class when a tragic auto accident cut her life short in 2000. A leader in her class, she was a multi-sport athlete who always gave her best and persevered through difficult situations.
Students applying for this scholarship must include an essay that describes and explains what characteristics and qualities he/she possess that make
him/her deserving of this scholarship, including information that reflects how they demonstrate kindness and perseverance, qualities for which Kristen was known.
John plans to study business management at Kent State University. Bless plans to study business (prelaw track) at The Ohio State University. Kerns plans to study political science at Fordham University.
Courtney Marsh received the Gary Clancy and Paul Clancy Memorial Scholarship.
The $500 scholarship, established
by the family of Gary and Paul Clancy, will reward Ellicottville Central School seniors who plan to major in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) field and have a cumulative GPA of 90% or above in math and science. The Gary Clancy and Paul Clancy Memorial Scholarship is making its first award in 2025. Marsh plans to study motorsports engineering at Purdue University.
Siying Sun received the Hughey Scholarship for $1,200.
This scholarship fund provides an award for graduating seniors at Ellicottville Central School attending a 2- or 4-year college or a trade school. Preference is for a student majoring in the field of education, but the scholarship is open to all majors.
Sun plans to study biochemistry at Binghamton University.
Brianna Aronson received the Paul & Mary Janowicz Memorial Scholarship for $500.
Established in 2014 by the Janowicz’s daughter and sonin-law, Elizabeth Hanson and the late Paul Hanson, the fund makes possible a scholarship for students at Ellicottville Central School, where Mrs. Janowicz served as a bus driver. The scholarship is given to graduating seniors who demonstrate academic excellence and plan to attend a 2- or 4-year college.
Aronson plans to study biology at St. John Fisher College. Donations can be made to any of these funds at CRCF, 301 N. Union St., Suite 203, Olean, NY 14760, or online at cattfoundation.org.
File photo
Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski on the New York Assembly floor.
Phoenix Humane Society of Greater Cattaraugus awarded $6,000 grant
The Phoenix Humane Society of Greater Cattaraugus, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to protecting and improving the lives of animals in Cattaraugus County and beyond, has received a $6,000 grant from Bailey and Friends to support the purchase of essential equipment that will improve the quality of care for animals in the organization’s shelter.
Bailey and Friends is dedicated to supporting animal welfare in Western New York and Southwest Florida with a focus
on dogs and cats.
Officials stated in a press release that the funding will enable the organization to acquire the necessary equipment to enhance the health, safety and well-being of the dogs in its care. This includes proper storage of medications, air quality monitoring and tools to reduce animal stress — all of which are vital to providing humane, legally compliant sheltering.
“We are deeply grateful to Bailey and Friends for this generous grant, which allows us to make
essential upgrades to our shelter,” said Samantha Smith, Executive Director of Phoenix Humane Society. “This support ensures that we can provide the highest standard of care for the dogs entrusted to us, particularly
those in long-term custody due to animal cruelty cases, while creating a healthier and less stressful environment for all of the animals we serve.”
Founded in response to an urgent increase in local animal abandonment and
neglect, Phoenix Humane Society provides municipal shelter services and care for stray, abandoned and courthold animals. The organization also operates a community pet food pantry and partners with
veterinary and rescue groups to increase adoptions and reduce animal suffering.
Officials said this is the organization’s first grant from Bailey and Friends and will significantly contribute to its compliance and animal welfare goals. For more information about Phoenix Humane Society or to get involved, visit www. phoenixhsogc.ngo, email contact@ phoenixhsogc.ngo or call (716) 202-8444.
NOW THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS LIBERTY. AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. (2 COR. 3:17, JOHN 8:32).
JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” (JOHN 14:6)
Info: (716) 945-5607
(716) 945-5607
Dining out can provide a welcome respite from cooking at home and presents a great opportunity to socialize while enjoying a delicious meal. Diners concerned
Did You Know?
about overindulging on nights out should know those concerns are not necessarily unfounded, as a 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics found that 92 percent of meals from large-chain and local restaurants contain more calories than is recommended for the average person. The study found that the average restaurant meal contained 1,205 calories, which is a little less than half the United States Department of Agriculture’s recommended daily calorie intake for men
between the ages of 36 and 40 and more than half the recommended daily intake for women in the same age group. The sizable portions restaurants provide need not be seen as a deterrent to dining out. Rather, diners should instead remind themselves to eat only a portion of their entrée when dining out. Leftovers can then be wrapped and taken home.
West Valley Cleanup Alliance donates to Ashford Food Pantry
WEST VALLEY — The West Valley Cleanup Alliance (WVCA) recently donated $2,000 through their WVCA CARES program to the Ashford Food Pantry in support of their mission.
The donation from WVCA, the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management’s (EM) prime contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project, will be used to purchase necessary food items for families in need in the town of Ashford.
“We are very thankful to have WVCA as a partner,” said Kris Aldrow, food pantry manager. “This money will allow us to address food insecurity and its challenges in our community. It will also help bridge the gap on items we need but cannot get from our current sources.”
The WVCA CARES
program uses a percentage of WVCA’s earnings to aid local communities. Through its contributions, WVCA seeks to enhance the well-being of local residents, sustaining a collaborative environment and an improved quality of life for the community.
“We are proud to partner with the Ashford Food Pantry,” said Jason Casper, WVCA President and Program Manager. “As a member of the community, it’s important that we do our part to contribute to the well-being of the community. Our goal is to be a positive force in this community and surrounding areas, while aligning our strong dedication to local initiatives and charitable causes.”
Out & About
According to a 2024 New York State Health Department report, approximately one in four adults in New York state experience food insecurity. Adults experiencing food insecurity have a higher probability of several chronic diseases,
including hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, asthma, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease,
the report indicated.
The Ashford Food Pantry is part of FeedMore Western New York (Food Bank of WNY and Meals on Wheels of WNY) and helps 60
families by serving approximately 1,500 meals per month. They also provide nutritious recipes and samples for families to try at home.
Watch out for scams all around us
The digital era has its benefits. People from all over are able to connect almost instantaneously. Computers have made fast work of many tasks that
once took hours or days to complete. Information or even funds can be shared at the click of a button. But for all of the benefits technology has provided,
there is a darker side to the connectivity of the modern world. What has become easier for the general public also has become easier from those looking to take advantage of others.
Scams and internet crimes are now commonplace. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that a record $16.6 billion in losses due to scams were reported to them in 2024. The Pew Research Center indicates 73 percent of adults in the United States have experienced some kind of online scam or attack.
The office of Ken Paxton, the Attorney General of Texas, reports various ways to recognize scams, and that spotting these tactics can help people avoid being taken advantage of.
• Someone contacts you. When a party contacts you first, you can’t be certain of their legitimacy. Also, email addresses and caller ID can be faked.
• Easy money is offered. Many scammers dangle a promise of some sort of financial gain, whether it’s a prize or an easy loan. These are usually too good to be true.
• Personal information is requested. Be on alert any time someone asks for personal information, whether it’s a bank account number or other identifying information. You could become a victim of identity theft.
• A request for money up front. If someone requests money to pay off a debt or to receive a prize, it is likely a scammer trying to take your money.
There are many types of scams, and the following are some prominent ones.
• Counterfeit merchandise: A scammer can replicate the look of a legitimate retailer’s website. Purchasing items online through a link may lead you to a counterfeit site selling merchandise that is not legitimate and/
or will not even arrive.
• Charity and disaster fraud: Charity fraud scams typically emerge in the wake of a natural disaster or another sudden, tragic event. Scammers may target generous individuals through email, social media posts, crowdfunding platforms, and cold calls. Never donate to charities you have not verified as legitimate.
• Cryptocurrency investment fraud: Scammers convince victims to deposit more and more money into financial investments using cryptocurrency. These investments are fake and all the money is under control and stolen by overseas criminal actors, says the FBI.
• Bogus debts: You may receive a message or threatening correspondence that demands payment on a debt that you haven’t heard of. These scams work because some people are scared and take the bait. Legitimate creditors will produce proof of an actual debt.
• Home repair scams: Unsolicited companies may offer a “limitedtime deal” and rope you into having a job done with “materials left over from another job.” Be very cautious in these scenarios, as they may take money and run.
• Emergency scams: These are sometimes called Grandparent Scams because they often target the elderly. A criminal may claim to be a friend or family member in dire need and request money. Some scammers sound like the person a senior knows thanks to technology that enables them to do so. Scams are a continuous problem and everyone needs to be on their guard. Safeguard your personal information and avoid paying out any money without first conducting thorough research.
Photo provided
Participants gather for the Three-Day Food Preservation Class in Salamanca, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension in April 2024.
100 Years Ago This Month: Historical events from September 1925
The month of September has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in September 1925.
• Global commerce continues to be disrupted when Danish seamen go on strike over their wages on September 1.
The Danish seamen’s decision to go on strike follows similar moves by seamen in China and throughout the British Empire.
• Hermann Göring is hospitalized in the psychiatric ward of a Swedish hospital after assaulting a nurse on September 1. Göring, who was in Sweden to overcome a morphine addiction, would later serve as chief advisor to Adolf Hitler and commander of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
• The Second International Conference on the Standardization of Medicine is held in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 3. The conference aims to standardize drug formulas across the globe.
• Comintern leader Grigory Zinoviev, Deputy Premier Finance Commissar
Grigory Sokolnikov and Lev Kamenev are among those to sign a joint protest against
Soviet Communist Party Secretary Joseph Stalin on September 5. All three men would eventually be executed during Stalin’s Great Purge.
• Striking sailors are barricaded aboard the SS Sophocles before it pulls out of Cape Town, South Africa en route to Australia on September 5. The ship is ultimately forced to return to Cape Town when the sailors refuse to work.
• British police fire on a crowd of 2,000 demonstrators in Shanghai on September 7. The crowd was protesting unequal treaties.
• A deal between the Italian government and explorer Roald Amundsen is announced on September 8. The deal entails Amundsen using the dirigible N-1 in an attempt to fly to the North Pole in 1926.
• A white mob estimated at 5,000 people gathers in Detroit in an effort to intimidate Dr. Ossian Sweet on September 9. Dr. Sweet, who was Black, had purchased a home in an all-white neighborhood, and
the mob aimed to force him to vacate the property.
• Xavier University of Louisiana opens on September 13. It is the world’s first Catholic University for African Americans.
• Riley B. King is born near Berclair, Mississippi on September 16. The boy grows up to become a legendary blues musician known the world over as B.B. King.
• Eighteen-year-old Frida Kahlo is nearly killed in an auto accident in Mexico City on September 17. Though Kahlo sustains multiple injuries in the accident, including a fractured spinal column, it’s during her bedridden two-year recovery period that she first begins to paint.
• The third-longest rail tunnel in the United States opens on September 19. The tunnel is two miles long and passes through Mount Judah in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
• The United
States submarine USS S-51 sinks off the coast of Rhode Island on September 25. The submarine had collided with a merchant steamer, and 33 of the 36 crew members aboard perished
in the collision.
• Greek Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos creates the country’s first spy agency on September 25. The agency, Ypiresía Ethnikís Asfaleías (YES), is conceived to fight the Communist Party of Greece.
• The Yellow River overflows in Shandong Province in China on September 27. Hundreds of
people die in the region’s worst flooding since 1887.
• Jewelry valued at three quarters of a million dollars is stolen from Woolworth heiress Jessie Woolworth Donahue while she is a guest at the Plaza Hotel on September 30. The jewelry was stolen while Mrs. Donahue was in a bathtub a few feet away.
Fun Facts About
September
September marks a return to the norm for millions of households. School is back in session, summer vacation season has ended and fall begins. Routines take shape and life once again becomes more structured in September. As that transition takes place, individuals can consider these fun facts about the month of September.
1. Though Latin is no longer widely spoken or taught, plenty of words, including September, trace their origins to the language of ancient Rome and its empire. “Septem” is the Latin word for “seven,” and September was originally the seventh month of the Roman calendar.
2. Though the autumnal equinox, which marks the official beginning of fall, does not occur until later in the month, the unofficial end to summer occurs in the first weekend of September. Americans celebrate Labor Day and Canadians celebrate Labour Day on the first Monday in September, and millions of people in both countries consider that weekend the last hurrah for summer relaxation and revelry.
3. Labor Day is not the only holiday to be celebrated in September. In fact, Rosh Hashanah, a Jewish holiday that is often referred to as the “Jewish New Year,” also is celebrated in September in many years (the holiday occurs 163 days after the first day of Passover, so in certain years it is celebrated in early October).The Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur also can be celebrated in September or October, and Constitution Day, which commemorates the adoption of the United States constitution in 1787, is celebrated on September 17. Patriot Day also occurs annually on September 11 and is a day to remember the people killed in the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.
4. Though its name might suggest otherwise, Oktoberfest actually begins in late September. Modern Oktoberfest celebrations, particularly those outside the Bavaria region of Germany, may have little to do with a marriage, but the festival traces its origins to the marriage of Kronprinz Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities, and more than two centuries later that jovial atmosphere dominates the city, and countless others across the globe, during Oktoberfest.
5. Football fans circle the month of September on their calendars, as the month marks the return of the National Football League regular season. The Philadelphia Eagles will host the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Kickoff Game on September 4, and the rest of the league will take to the gridiron on September 5, 7 and 8. That’s a big deal for millions of fans across the country, as the NFL remains wildly popular.
