Erie Cattaraugus Chautauqua County Community Source | 10/1/21

OCTOBER

1 2021

Gowanda Sports Report

BY BILL PEGLOWSKI GOWANDA — The Gowanda Varsity girls volleyball team traveled to North Collins on Sept. 22.

Going into the game both teams were undefeated at 4-0 in league play. North Collins jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead and took that to 16-3.

Gowanda got their game going and were able to tighten the score to 17-9. Even play followed and North Collins was able to stay eight points in front to a 25-17 fi nal.

Gowanda showed an initial spark in the second game. They opened with a 4-0 lead of their own. From an 8-5 Gowanda advantage, North Collins pulled off seven straight points to move in front 12-8. Gowanda ba led back and was able to tie the game at 15 with an ace. Although the game was also tied at 17 through 19, Gowanda could not retake the lead. A fi nal surge took North Collins to a 25-21 win to go up 2-0 in the match.

In game three, Gowanda kept up with the hosts only as far as a 3-3 tie before North Collins began to pull away.

A er taking a 14-4 lead, they were able to hold on for another 25-17 win to take the match 3-0.

The Gowanda Varsity football team played at Fredonia on Sept. 24.

A er going three and out on their fi rst possession, the Gowanda punt was mishandled by Fredonia and recovered by Gowanda. The following drive got as far as the

Photo provided Senator Borrello and Representatives from Region Nine Housing Corp. survey the old Silver Creek School as a site for affordable senior housing.

Borrello Announces that Project to Transform Former Silver Creek School into Affordable Senior Housing is One Step Closer to Reality SILVER CREEK – Senator Borrello announced that an affordable senior housing project that he has championed for more than a decade has moved a step closer to reality with a grant award of $4.6 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The project is only one of 30 nationwide to receive an award.

The proposed Silver

Creek Senior Apartments project, led by Region 9 UAW Housing Corporation, would transform the former Silver Creek School into a 47-unit apartment building for those 55 and over. All units in the complex would serve seniors with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income. Fi een apartments will be set aside for the frail

Senior Housing continued on ..page 3

goal line when the Panthers quarterback, stretching for a score, had the ball grabbed away by the defense.

Fredonia built up a 30-0 lead by the end of the half.

This was the second game in a row where Gowanda was physically mismatched by an opponent, taking a toll on the players. The game was ended at hal ime due to “Gowanda’s injury issues.”

The Pine Valley-Gowanda Varsity boys soccer team hosted Cassadaga Valley-Falconer on Sept. 23. In the early going, things looked bright.

Darwin Westlund scored for Pine Valley, with an assist by Wayne Libby just 1:46 into the game to go up 1-0.

Cassadaga Valley was able to tie things up five minutes later. From that point, most of the fi rst half play was confi ned to the Pine Valley end of the field. With 11:14 le in the half, the Cassadaga Valley goaltender got caught straying to the far front edge of the goal area to meet a Pine Valley foray into his end of the field. Westlund took advantage and maneuvered around him for a clean shot at the goal. Noah Frontuto was credited with an assist on the score which put Pine Valley back out in front. The fi rst half ended with the score showing 2-1.

Three minutes into the second half, Pine Valley tried a headshot off a corner kick that grazed the crossbar and went over the net. Less than two minutes later, Cassadaga Valley scored to tie

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Leading the Gowanda girls effort were Autumn Pupo (1st), Callie Hudson (3rd), Kailyn Farner (8th) and Miranda Kaminski (9th).

Gowanda runners also competed at the East Aurora Invitational on Sept. 25. In a group of 20 small schools, the Gowanda boys fi nished 9th with 297 points.

Springville was close behind (11th) with 315 points and Silver Creek was 16th with 384 points. In a field of 166 boys, the top local fi nishers were Drew Schull (Gowanda, 25th), Weston Bolen (Gowanda, 49th), Jayson Twoguns (Gowanda, 50th), Liam Smith (Springville, 52nd), Logan Perryman (Silver Creek, 53rd), Harley Maloy (Springville, 55th) and Cole Herman (Gowanda, 60th).

For the girls, Gowanda fi nished 16th as a team with 370 points behind Silver Creek (12th, 253 points) and Springville (15th, 337 points).

There were 143 total runners among the girls.

The top local fi nishers were Hannah Goetz (Springville, 1st), Calie Hudson (Gowanda, 9th), Ava Emke (Silver Creek, 20th), Melanie Wilson (Silver Creek, 24th) and Daisy League (Silver Creek, 48th).

The young Gowanda-PineValley Varsity girls swimming team traveled Panama on Sept.

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the game at two.

Eight minutes later, they had their fi rst lead of the game. With 14 minutes le , Pine Valley got off a hard shot that grazed the outside of the le goal post. That shot saw a diving Cassadaga goaltender go rolling into the net. There were no further points scored and Cassadaga Valley ended up with a 3-2 win.

The Pine Valley-Gowanda Varsity girls soccer team traveled to Portville on Sept.

22. A er being outscored 6-1 in the fi rst half, Pine Valley-Gowanda was unable to mount a comeback. Portville eventually came away with a 8-2 win.

On Sept. 24 in Salamanca, a li le more than midway through the fi rst half, Luisa Smith scored for Pine Valle-/Gowanda. That gave them a 1-0 lead at hal ime.

The girls ba led their way through a scoreless second half to complete a shutout win.

The Gowanda Varsity Cross Country teams competed at Franklinville-Ellico ville on Sept. 21 along with Frewsburg, Ca araugus-Li le Valley and West Valley. The boys, as a team, fi nished 3rd with a score of 57 behind 1st place Franklinville (34 points) and Frewsburg (36 points).

In the top 10 for Gowanda were Drew Schull (7th) and Jason Twoguns (8th).

For their part, the Gowanda girls fi nished 1st (24 points) as a team.

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ERIE CATTARAUGUS CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY COMMUNITY SOURCE

2

Erie County Department of Health recommends flu vaccine for everyone ages six months and older ERIE COUNTY, NY – The Erie County Department of Health strongly recommends a flu vaccine for everyone ages six months and older this fall. To encourage county residents to get vaccinated against flu, Deputy Executive Maria Whyte and Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein received their flu vaccination at a clinic for Erie County employees today, September 28, run by Wegmans.

“Now is the time to get your flu vaccine,” said Whyte. “By having more people in our community protected from flu infection this fall and winter, we can protect the most vulnerable in our community and reduce the days missed from work and school due to flu illness.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend a flu vaccine by the end of October.

“Last year, surveillance data showed very li le flu activity in New York State and the northern hemisphere,” said Dr. Burstein. “Flu vaccination rates, people at home instead of in schools and in workplaces, a decrease in travel, and mask wearing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions contributed to those low flu infection levels. Now, with most people back to school and work and less people consistently masking, flu vaccine is among the best preventive tools we have to protect us at a community level.”

“Flu illness ranges from very mild to debilitating, especially for people who are over 65 years of age, younger than two years of age, living with a chronic medical condition, or pregnant or who may become pregnant,” explained Dr. Burstein. “As we say with the COVID-19 vaccine, flu vaccine provides a level of protection against illness, and it can also protect those around you.” COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine may be administered at the same time.

Caregivers, those who spend time with people at

high risk for flu complications, and people who interact with the general public need to make flu vaccination a priority. The flu vaccine is an additional layer of protection for our community’s most vulnerable. That would include people who care for family members at home, and caregivers who work in child care se ings, group homes and other congregate living sites, schools and healthcare facilities. continued Groups at risk for flu complications and hospitalization Adults 65 years and older Children younger than 2 years old People with chronic medical conditions like - Asthma - Neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions - Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease) - Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis) - Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus) - Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease) - Kidney diseases - Liver disorders - Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders) - People who are obese with a body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher - People with a weakened immune system due to disease (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or some cancers such as leukemia) or medications (such as those receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer, or persons with chronic conditions requiring chronic corticosteroids or other drugs that suppress the immune system) - People who have had a stroke - Females who are preg-

OCTOBER 1, 2021

A R O U N D TO W N Concord Senior Center News The Concord Senior Center will be having Defensive Driving classes every month.

Call 52-2766 or 592768 for more information. There will be a Flu Clinic Wednesday, October 13. Senior Flu Vaccines will be available. The center will be closed for the parking lot paving Wednesday, October 6 through Friday, October 8 as well as Monday, October 11. All activities are canceled those days but someone will be in office and checking messages so call with any ques-

nant and up to 2 weeks a er the end of pregnancy - People who live in nursing homes and other longterm care facilities Who should get a flu vaccine?

Everyone ages 6 months and older. There are very few medical reasons for someone to avoid ge ing a flu vaccination. If you have questions, SPRINGVILLE –American Legion Post please check with your phy- 431 of Concord, NY hosts meetings the third sician or pharmacist.

Tuesday of every month at 109 Zoar Valley When should I get a flu vaccine?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend a flu vaccination before the end of October. And a flu vaccine GOWANDA – Warm the Children is a nareceived any time through tional program that has partnered with Love the end of the 2021-2022 flu In the Name of Christ to provide new winter season will have a protective benefit. Don’t delay. The clothing to student in the following school best protection comes before districts: Gowanda, Ca araugus–Li le Valthe flu season starts in early ley and Pine Valley as wel as children in those winter, and it takes up to two district who a end The League in Springville. weeks to develop antibodies. School nurses determine who qualifies for the Children who need two dos- program and Volunteer Shoppers meet the es of flu vaccine should start family at Walmart in Springville so the chilthe process sooner; two doses must be spaced four weeks apart. Influenza cases have already been diagnosed this season.

Where can I get a flu SILVER CREEK– Knights Youth at vaccine?

Christ Chapel Church 64 Buffalo Street, Nearly all pharmacies Silver Creek will serve Take Out or limited and many doctor’s offices ofdine-in.

Dinner starts at NOON until 2 p.m. fer flu vaccine. Call ahead to or sold out.

Meals include meatball, salad, confi rm vaccine availability.

Is there a cost for flu vaccine?

With most insurance plans, a flu vaccine is covered completely and there is no co-pay. Some pharmacies offer flu vaccine for a nominal fee.

DUNKIRK–Chapter 459 of the Vietnam Other information Wegmans is offering Veters of American will be hosting their drive-thru flu vaccine clin- monthly meeting Sunday, October 10 at the ics in the Buffalo area. Visit John T. Murray VFW Post 1017 locat ated 113 h ps://www.wegmans.com/ pharmacy/immunizations/ for a schedule and details.

Any organization in Erie County that will offer a flu clinic that is open to the public can share that information with ECDOH and we will promote on our social media channels.

tions or concerns. University Express is cancelled Thursday, October 7 and Monday, October 11 and has yet to be rescheduled.

The Senior Center is happy to welcome a new cra group, name to be determined, on the second Tuesday of every month. If you are interested cra s, this is the group for you. For more information contact the Senior Center at concord2017sc@gmail.com or call 592-2766 or 592-2768.

American Legion Post 431 Meeting Rd, Springville, NY 14141. Please call with any questions, (716) 592-5627.

s m ( B dren can choose their own brand-new boots 2 and coats. We are in need of more Volunteer 1 Shoppers, especially during this difficult time d when more families need assistance. Please s call 716-532-3541 if you are interested. Mone- R tary donations are also welcome. Please make G checks payable to Warm the Children and mail to 15 W Main St, Gowanda, NY 14070.

K Thank you for your support. c t i

Warm the Children Begins!

Chef’s Restaurant Spaghetti Dinner

bread, and brownie dessert. Presale endsF October 3. Contact Kathryn at 934-8989 forF more details, or Barb at the church office:F 934-3725.

S

V

M S W N E S F Deet St. Dunkirk, NY starting at 11 a.m. SoC cial distancing and masks are required. For further information contact Chapter #459 B T Secretary Danny McGill at 716-366-2287.

E T W A T C M F H

Chapter #459, Vietnam Veterans of America Next Monthly Meeting Scheduled

G

ERIE CATTARAUGUS CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY COMMUNITY SOURCE

OCTOBER 1, 2021

3

Janel Williams of Gowanda, NY Chooses Buffalo State College BUFFALO, NY — Buffalo State is pleased that Janel Williams of Gowanda, NY has joined our college community as a fi rst-year, fulltime student. Williams is part of a freshman class of more than 1,300 students.

Welcome, Janel!

Buffalo State is a State University of New York (SUNY) college located in Buffalo, New York. The col-

Sports Report continued from 1 short 131 to 30. Top swimmers include Molly Sunick (2nd, 50Y Freestyle and 100Y Bu erfly), Sophia Jones (3rd, 200Y Individual Medley and 100Y Breaststroke) and Kendra Schultz (3rd, 500Y Freestyle). The 200Y Freestyle Relay team of Alyssa Golden, Carlie Ward, Danielle Krajewski and Nataliee Vecchio took 3rd place with a time of 2:39.62. Swimming in exhibition, Bell Kerr post-

lege offers 79 undergraduate majors as well as many minors and certificate programs. Every year, thousands of students benefit from Buffalo State’s community engagement, hands-on learning opportunities, and affordable SUNY tuition.

Buffalo State also offers more than 60 graduate programs.

ed the third-best time overall at 1:17.12.

The team was at Allegany-Limestone on Sept. 23.

With only eight swimmers Allegany-Limestone beat Gowanda, 110-46. Sophia Jones had two 1st place fi nishes (500Y Freestyle and 100Y Breaststroke). Also scoring gold twice was Molly Sunick (200Y Individual Medley and 100Y Freestyle).

Bell Kerr had 2nd (200Y Individual Medley) and 3rd (100Y Breaststroke) place fi nishes. Single 3rdpPlace fi nishes went to Kendra Schultz (200Y Freestyle) and Nataliee Vecchio (100Y Backstroke).

Additionally, the relay team of Kerr, Sunick, Schultz and Krajewski fi nished 3rd in the 200Y Freestyle Medley.

SCOREBOARD Football Friday, Sept. 24 Fredonia 30, Gowanda 0 Silver Creek 27, Catt araugus 14

Volleyball

Monday, Sept. 20 Springville 3, Depew 1 Wednesday, Sept. 22 North Collins 3, Gowanda 0 Ellicott ville 3, Silver Creek 1 Springville 3, lake Shore 0 Friday, Sept. 24 Cassadaga Valley 3, Silver Creek 0

Boys Soccer

Tuesday, Sept. 21 Ellicott ville 3, Pine Valley 1 Tonawanda 5, Springville 0 Wednesday, Sept. 22 Alden 6, Springville 1 Thursday, Sept. 23 Cassadaga Valley 3, Pine Valley 2 Maryvale 8, Springville 0 Friday, Sept. 24 Holland 4, Springville 0

Girls Soccer

Monday, Sept. 20 Frewsburg 5, Silver Creek 0 Tuesday, Sept. 21 Springville 4, Alden 1 Wednesday, Sept. 22 Portville 8, Pine Valley 2 Chautauqua Lake 2, Silver Creek 0 Friday, Sept. 24 Pine Valley 1, Salamanca 0 Springville 0, Holland/West Valley 0

Cross Country

Tuesday, Sept. 21 Boys: Franklinville 34, Frewsburg 36, Gowanda 57 Girls: Gowanda 24, Franklinville 35 Saturday, Sept. 25 Gowanda 9th, Springville 11th, Silver Creek 16th

Girls Swimming

Tuesday, Sept. 21 Panama 131, Gowanda 30 Springville 67, Maryvale 31 Thursday, Sept. 23 Allegany 110, Gowanda 46

Senior Housing continued from 1 elderly.

The grant is a part of HUD’s section 202: Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program. The initiative provides capital advances to private, nonprofit sponsors to fi nance the development of housing for very low-income elderly residents.

“From the start, I saw the potential to transform this former school into critically-needed housing for our area’s seniors, despite the deterioration that has occurred during the 40 years it has stood vacant. Ideally situated in a wonderful, walkable community with services nearby, this project would serve a need that has gone unmet for decades and allow

many seniors to access supportive housing in their own community, close to family and friends,” said Senator Borrello.

“We are proud to have worked with Senator Borrello and local officials to make this important grant a reality. We care about the residents of Silver Creek and are excited about this opportunity for affordable senior housing,” said Congressman Tom Reed (NY-23).

“Region 9 UAW Housing Corporation is honored to have been awarded HUD funding to provide quality affordable housing to seniors who will reside in the former Silver Creek School,” said Dan Antonellis, President, Region 9 UAW Housing Corporation. “We are pleased to honor our former Board Vice-President, Tom Fricano, who grew up and raised his family in Silver Creek.

Tom was an active community member who made it his mission to bring affordable housing to the Western, NY area. We look forward

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to honoring Tom’s wishes in throughout New Jersey and the community.”

Pennsylvania.

Senator Borrello noted that there are still other benchmarks to be met to bring the project to fruition.

“While the project still has some ground to cover before we have 100 percent certainty it will move forward, this win is an encouraging indication of the strength of Region Nine’s proposal and the need in the community,” Senator Borrello said.

“My thanks go out to Region Nine, Oxford Consulting Inc., East Ferry Partners and all the stakeholders we’ve worked with to get to this point. We are all invested in the vision and will keep working to move this forward through the next steps in the process.”

The developer of the project is Region Nine, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that develops affordable housing to meet the needs of low to moderate income seniors, persons with disabilities and families. The organization also owns and manages affordable housing communities

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HUMAN SKELETON

The main bones of the human skeleton are: The Skull - Cranium, Mandible and Maxilla Shoulder girdle - clavicle and scapula Arm - humerus, radius and ulna Hand - Carpals, Metacarpals and Phalanges Chest - Sternum and Ribs Spine - Cervical area (top 7 vertibrae), Thoracic (next 12), Lumbar (bottom 5 vertebrae), Sacrum (5 fused or stuck together bones) and Coccyx (the tiny bit at the bottom of the spine).

Pelvic girdle - Ilium, Pubis and Ischium.

Leg - Femur, Tibia and Fibula Ankle - Talus and calcaneus Foot - Tarsals, Metatarsals and Phalanges.

ERIE CATTARAUGUS CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY COMMUNITY SOURCE

4

OCTOBER 1, 2021

Erie County Department Of Health Announces School-Based Covid-19 Testing Programs ERIE COUNTY, NY – With support from approximately $18.5 million in federal funding, the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is coordinating COVID-19 testing for k-12 students and school staff.

“COVID-19 is an aggressive and infectious disease, and we are in a position to offer COVID-19 tests proactively for students and school staff. Doing this is part of providing greater protection to our entire community,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “This initiative works alongside the other mitigation strategies and requirements outlined in the New York State Department of Health’s school guidance.”

“Testing can mean the difference between a few sca ered cases in a school and a full-blown COVID-19 outbreak and closure,” she continued. “It can also reduce the number of students and school staff who are kept out of school because of isolation, illness and quarantine.” Children under 12 years of age are not currently eligible for available COVID-19 vaccines, which makes other preven-

tion strategies, like testing, that much more crucial for this vulnerable population.

One program involves screening testing, which is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and NYSDOH to be part of a school’s COVID-19 mitigation strategy. This program involves weekly tests of a random sample of a school’s students and staff. Schools working with ECDOH are actively enrolling students in this program now.

A second program for proximate testing is provided

as needed when a classroom has a positive COVID-19 case.

Students and staff from those se ings who do not need to quarantine under current NYSDOH guidance, but who were present in a classroom with a positive COVID-19 case while that case was infectious, will be offered a COVID-19 PCR test 3-5 days a er that exposure. “We want to reduce the risk of inclass transmission and keep kids in school,” explained Dr. Burstein. “Our department strongly encourages parents to sign their children up for this program if it is offered

by their school.” Proximate testing will begin in early October.

Medical professionals from Buffalo Home Care, Inc., will supervise sample collection and transport to Quadrant Biosciences, a local laboratory. Specimens of a swab from inside the mouth are self-collected by the student or staff member.

“This is a much less invasive method of collecting a sample, especially compared to other diagnostic tests where a sample is taken from deep inside the nasal cavity,” offered Dr. Burstein. “Children

as young as three years old are able to manage this, with supervision.”

Those COVID-19 test results are expected to be available in one business day to the parent or school staff member through Quadrant Biosciences’ secure smartphone app and web site. ECDOH’s school team within the Office of Epidemiology will have access to positive results, and will reach out to those students and school staff to begin contact tracing for positive cases.

Students must have parental consent to participate in either or both testing programs. Parents and school staff may sign up to participate in these testing programs at h p://www.erie. gov/schooltesting. Or, they may contact their school’s principal. COVID-19 tests will be provided at no cost to families or staff. Health insurance is requested during the sign up process, but is not at all required.

These testing programs should not be confused with the diagnostic COVID-19 testing offered by ECDOH, private medical providers, and

many pharmacies. “The type of test is the same, however, any student or school staff member who has COVID-19 symptoms or is a close contact of a COVID-19 case should not use these school programs to confi rm a diagnosis or as a way to return to school a er illness,” said Dr. Burstein.

“If you have any respiratory symptoms or feel ill, you should not go to school or work. Call (716) 858-2929 to schedule a test through ECDOH or access one of the many COVID-19 testing options in Erie County.”

The list of school districts and schools participating in Erie County’s school screening testing and proximate testing programs changes regularly as schools sign on.

Visit www.erie.gov/schooltesting and click on the “ECDOH Program Consent Form” to see if your school district, BOCES program or school is listed. If your school is not listed, please contact your child’s principal to ask if a school-based COVID-19 testing program is available, or if your school has plans to participate in the ECDOH program.

Forestville

FALL Festival

October 9th & 10th, 2021 • Forestville Central High School : 4 Academy Street

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• Craft Show (Both Days) • Chicken Barbecue (Sunday) • Parade (Sunday) Saturday, October 9th: • Craft Show 10am - 4pm • Pork Dinner - Catholic Church (11 Center), Take Out Only - 12 Noon Sunday, October 10th: • Chicken Barbecue 12 Noon - Sold Out Forestville Fire Hall • Parade - 1pm Trucks, Tractors and More Line Up 12:30 at Legion Hall • Craft Show 10am-3pm

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