Allegany County
BY KATHRYN ROSS
In the middle of the third decade of the 21st century, Wellsville and Allegany County remembered its past and embraced its future.
JANUARY started off with big news as the renovation of Jones Memorial Hospital (constructed in the 1950s) concluded, signaling a new era in health care for the community, the county, Western New York and northern Pennsylvania. John Booth was honored as volunteer of the year, Jim Helms, CEO of UR/Jones Memorial Hospital, said it was a “momentous day” as they cut the ribbon to officially open the transformed and modernized medical facility constructed for $19.2 million raised locally and with $17 million in state funding. Construction included a new medical village, new operating rooms, procedure rooms and a permanent stateof-the-art MRI tower.
FEBRUARY saw the results of The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign showing the community’s generosity once again. More than 80 people were in attendance when the head of the Wellsville unit of The Salvation Army, Emily Stothart, thanked volunteers for their help with the 2023 fundraising campaign. A total of $27,600 was raised over
the six-week Red Kettle Campaign in 2023 — $2,600 over its goal.
MARCH saw the second annual Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Wellsville hold onto its title. With Grand Marshall Rosie O’Grady, hundreds of participants marched or drove the 12-foot-long parade route between From the Hart and the Wellsville Brewing Company. Hundreds braved the blustery day to watch. According to organizer Brian Cannon the parade is more than 75 feet shorter than the most recently advertised Shortest SPDP in the United States in Hot Springs, Ark., and more than 20 feet shorter than another SPDP held in Ireland.
APRIL 8 was the day of the solar eclipse in Wellsville — although the village was not in
the path of totality like Belfast, Angelica and Houghton. Those communities saw people gathered on roadsides, hillsides, in public parks and backyards to see the phenomenon. People did spot part of the eclipse when the clouds parted, slightly and briefly, in Wellsville. However, while the eclipse was less than stellar in the village, the opportunity for families to gather, friends to chat and the community to come together made it a celestial event.
MAY saw Runnings celebrated as the new Business of the Year and Jones Memorial honored as the Business of the Year as part of the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards. Donald Comstock received the Community Service Award, Julia Davenport received the Caregiver Award, Kristy
McNulty received the Educator of the Year Award, Madelyn “Maddie” Muurisepp recdeived the Youth Service Award, John Fleischman received the First Responder Award and Brent Roberts received the Veteran of the Year Award.
JUNE saw, for the first time since 1993, Wells-
ville High School win a high school sports state championship when the Lady Lions softball team brought home the New York State Public High School Athletic Association title and trophy in Class B. The young women knocked off Marcellus out of the state semifinals in Bellport, Long Island, by a score of 6-2 and sealed the deal the next day when they topped Schuylerville, 7-1.
Co-coaches and veteran softballers themselves, Shelley Chaffee and Jamie McLaughlin, led the team that included Brazen Beckwith, Sawyer Burke, Makenzie Cowburn, Marissa Ordway Natalie Adams, Teagan Burke, Hailey Cowburn, Makenna Dunbar, Ayla Faulkner, Brynne Hallock, Alexis Ireland, Alexis Irish, Averee Palmatier, Kennedy Perry, Lindsay
Stuck and Emily Stuck. Meanwhile, Wellsville’s Kaylee Oswald, a junior, repeated as the state champion in shot put and the Friendship/ Scio softball team made a run to the state semis in Class D, losing to Deposit-Hancock, 8-2. JULY saw the celebration of Independence Day and Andover, established in 1824, celebrated its bicentennial, combining the celebration with the annual Fourth of July activities. The celebration included a variety of family-friendly activities including a carnival with kids’ rides, musical entertainment, pickleball and cornhole tournaments, an ice cream social and movie night, car show, community yard sales and walking tours highlighting historical sites, talks on the history of the town and an ecumenical service.
The Fourth of July Committee held its traditional Fourth of July Parade and fireworks display adding to the celebration.
AUGUST saw unprecedented destruction when Tropical Storm Debby visited Western New York and left flooding and damages in Steuben County and Northern Pennsylvania in her wake; she also impacted Allegany County, but less dramatically. Early on, flooding was reported in Ando-
Photos by Kathryn Ross
ver, Whitesville and the towns of Willing and Independence. Two roads were damaged in Whitesville — Hosselton Valley and the Harrigan Gully where several culverts washed out. Kilbane Road in the town of Andover was closed for the same reason and remains so. Parts of routes 417, 21 and 22 were closed in and around Andover.
Chairman of the Allegany County Legislature Brooke Harris toured the damaged roads in Allegany County and reported, “Had the opportunity to see the storm damage in Whitesville and Andover today (Monday). We’re extremely lucky compared to our neighbors to the east and south, but lots of hard and expensive work ahead.”
The month also saw the celebration of the Belfast Bicentennial Aug. 9-11 with nightly entertainment, a parade, kids’ activities and more. The community was established in 1824 as Orrinsburgh from part of the town of Caneadea, but Irish settlers changed the name to Belfast a year later. In 1889 the town gained fame when the international boxing star John L. Sullivan arrived
to train with the internationally known wrestler and trainer and health aficionado hometown boy William Muldoon. The bicentennial featured the John L. Sullivan story and included the museum in its festivities along with live musical performances, a dance party, a parade, fireworks, food, music, kid’s rides, fireworks, a Civil War reenactment, alumni banquet, music and dancing.
Also in August the Wellsville movie theater became the focus of a committee with the goal of reopening and renovating the Main Street venue currently owned by the village. The committee continues to meet monthly and is currently looking at the results of a public survey that asked the community what it wanted to see done with the old movie house.
SEPTEMBER brought Corinn Marriott from Penn Yan to Wellsville to start work on a 20-footby-24-foot mural painted on the side of L’Italia to celebrate Wellsville. It features several historic sites such as the library and Pink House, Genesee River and highlights the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally. The mural project is under the direction of the Wellsville
Development Corporation, the Wellsville Chamber’s not-for-profit arm. It was commissioned to help celebrate the Chamber’s 100th anniversary in an effort to add “vibrance and energy to the community through art.”
The first part of the mural will be completed this spring and there are plans to expand it the length of the building.
September also brought unexpected resources to the local SPCA when members of the SPCA Serving Allegany County were overwhelmed by the generosity of the Golisano Family, after learning they will be receiving $1.5 million from billionaire Tom Golisano,
founder of Paychex. It is part of a $360 million in grant funding that will be awarded to 82 non-profit organizations across Western and Central New York.
OCTOBER was a shocker when Wellsville officials and residents learned that National Grid was planning a village-wide electrical power outage on Nov. 10, after an earlier date that interfered with early voting was vetoed.
The shutdown was to allow National Grid to switch the gears and do maintenance work on the Niles Hill transfer station that was expected to take 14 hours and start at 6 a.m. Plans were made to open warming stations and assist those who would be adversely impacted.
However, the shutdown lasted four hours longer than expected and as of yet there has been no explanation offered for the delay.
NOVEMBER saw proposed changes in the village’s local law Regulating Animals Within the Village, that brought about a vigorous discussion at a public hearing. The change would allow
residents to house up to six chickens, no roosters.
Currently no chickens are allowed to be harbored within the village. There were vehement arguments both for and against the change, with the 15-minute hearing lasting nearly an hour.
A new hearing is set to take place at 5 p.m. Jan. 13.
DECEMBER brought an early Christmas present to the village when 665 properties on the
east side of the village of Wellsville obtained historical status after the Landmark Society of Western New York nominated them for consideration by the state Historic Preservation Office. The nomination was approved in mid-December making the properties eligible for tax credits. The properties are now under consideration to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photos by Kathryn Ross
The total solar eclipse captured the attention of the region on April 8.
home improvement
Top 2025 outdoor design trends
(BPT) — Americans are spending more time in their outdoor spaces - and want to maximize those spaces. Studies show that nearly 90% of homeowners consider their outdoor areas to be important to their health and well-being. Design trends reflect that people are showing more interest in connecting with nature in their own backyard and enjoying the comforts of indoor living while gathering outdoors. This means creating environments that are comfortable, multifunctional and cost-effective.
The outdoor design experts at Belgard®,
the trusted leader in hardscape solutions from pavers to retaining walls, share exclusive insights into 2025 outdoor design trends to help homeowners plan their dream outdoor spaces.
Privacy and spaces of solitude
a simple fountain or water bowl can enhance the ambiance and help muffle sound.
Shifting back to classic style
While minimalism remains a popular trend, there’s also been a shift back to a more classic style in indoor and outdoor home design. Mixed materials and warm colors such as beige and sepia are re-emerging, which lend themselves to a more traditional aesthetic.
With modular options from Belgard, a mix of different materials with multiple textures and sizes can create limitless possibilities while keeping with
a classic design aesthetic. Because they’re available in many styles, shapes, and sizes designed to work together, a variety of paver patterns can be combined seamlessly to achieve any desired overall look.
Convenience in design
As outdoor spaces are now a must-have for homeowners, they must be convenient to access and offer the same amenities as the home’s indoor spaces. Homeowners are looking for their outdoor space to transition easily from the house to the built environment while offering the same
modern conveniences of lighting, eating, Wi-Fi, quality furnishing and accessories.
Health and wellness
Using outdoor spaces to improve your well-being is a top focus for many people today. Americans are looking
As property footprints continue to shrink year over year, homeowners are looking for aesthetically pleasing ways to incorporate more privacy from neighbors or their surroundings. Decorative screen panels, pergolas, built-in planters and other structures can add elements of both beauty and functionality that provide a sense of solitude, even in urban environments.
Sound gardens and water features can further enhance a feeling of solitude by adding audible privacy from neighbors or street traffic. For example, even
to be more balanced and in harmony with their environment, favoring the use of native plants and sustainable materials like permeable pavers, which promote better water drainage and reduce environmental impact.
Gardening is also a popular hobby that helps improve people’s feeling of well-being, so enthusiasts can opt
for raised garden beds or planters to pursue their growing goals in their outdoor spaces. For example, Belgard offers options to create built-in planters as part of your overall hardscape design with its Belgard Artforms modular outdoor panel system. You can use the panels, which are sized in modular shapes, to quickly and efficiently
construct planters, seating, outdoor kitchens, fire features and more.
By designing outdoor environments that support their health and wellness, individuals can cultivate spaces that provide a retreat in their own backyard to improve their quality of life.
Value-added features
In every metro area, property sizes are smaller than ever. With this shift plus budget considerations, homeowners want to maximize small spaces through modular components that serve multiple purposes, like built-in seat walls, fire features, water features and planters that seamlessly blend into a living space - offering both functionality and visual appeal.
Homeowners can get creative with outdoor spaces with the right hardscape materials. For example, a small space can be transformed into a lush oasis by adding a vertical garden, or underutilized spaces like side or front yards can become cozy sitting areas. Even a small patio can serve as an al fresco dining space, and it
doesn’t take a lot to add an outdoor workstation with the right tools and tech. Patio pavers and wall units help define spaces, making them serve more than one purpose for any household.
These strategic investments not only increase the function-
ality and enjoyment of outdoor areas but also significantly boost curb appeal and the home’s property value, making them a smart choice for homeowners looking to maximize their limited spaces.
To find inspiration for any outdoor space, visit Belgard.com.
WELLSVILLE —
Jones Memorial Hospital
announced the retirement of Dr. Paul Axtell, a respected orthopedic surgeon who has been a cornerstone of the hospital, after 15 years of service.
Axtell joined JMH in 1999, bringing his expertise in orthopedic surgery to provide outstanding care to patients of all ages. During his tenure, he performed countless surgeries, developed strong relationships with his patients, and contributed to the hospital’s reputation for high-quality orthopedic care.
“We are deeply grateful for Dr. Axtell’s years
of dedication to our hospital and the patients we serve,” said Jim Helms, CEO at Jones Memorial. “Dr. Axtell has been a trusted physician, colleague, and friend to many. His contributions have had a lasting impact on the hospital and the community, and we wish him the best in his retirement.”
Throughout his career, Axtell has been a leader not only in the operating room but also in the community. His compassionate approach to care and commitment to improving the quality of life for his patients has earned him the respect and admiration of both colleagues and patients alike.
“I have been truly fortunate to work in this wonderful community,” Axtell said. “The relationships I’ve built with my patients, their families, and my colleagues have been incredibly fulfilling. I am proud of the care we’ve been able to provide together, and
while I’ll miss my daily work, I look forward to seeing the continued success of the team here at Jones.”
Axtell earned his bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and then his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He served a residency in orthopaedic surgery at Johns Hopkins.
Axtell and his wife plan to stay in the Wellsville area, considering it their home. The hospital will continue to provide orthopedic care through its dedicated team of health care professionals.
Dr. Ali Mansour, an orthopaedic surgeon, serves patients at Jones along with physician assistant Jason Szabo.
JMH WELCOMES PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANT
Jones welcomes certified physician assistant Shannon Nye, a local native, to the Wellsville Women’s & Children’s Services at the Medical Village.
Nye, who attended Wellsville schools, is a recent graduate of Le Moyne College in Syracuse, where she earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences in 2022.
She is certified by the New York State Society of Physician Assistants as well as the American Academy of Physician Assistants and holds certifications in advanced cardiovascular life support, basic life support and CPR. Her clinical experience in-
Sempolinski says Assembly committee assignments are great fit
State Assemblyman-elect Joe Sempolinski, who will be sworn into office Jan. 7 in Albany, has been named the ranking Republican member of the Assembly’s Mental Health Committee.
In addition, Sempolinski, who won election for the seat currently held by retiring Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda, was selected to serve on the Assembly’s Education, Environmental Conservation, Higher Education, Labor and People with Disabilities committees.
“We can do so much more as a state and as
a society on mental health,” Sempolinski, R-Canisteo, said. “I am humbled to be named the lead Republican Assembly member working on issues in this area. I look forward to working with people across the state to improve the lives of those dealing with mental health issues.”
Sempolinski, who currently serves as Giglio’s chief of staff — a position he believes makes him uniquely prepared for taking office in a little more than two weeks — said his committee assignments are a great fit for his life experience and for the
148th District.
“I am the proud father of a daughter with Down syndrome, so the People with Disabilities Committee makes sense based on my personal background,” he said. “I served on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee during my time in Congress and am a former parochial school staff member, so the Education and Labor committees make sense based on my professional background.”
as the Steuben County Republican chairman, served for a few months as the congressman for this region’s 23rd District after winning a special election in 2022. He worked on the staff of former U.S. Rep. Tom Reed of Corning from 2010-15. When Reed resigned from his seat in 2022, Sempolinski, who at that time was working for Giglio, stepped in to run in a special election against Democrat Max Della Pia of Tompkins County.
cludes behavioral health, women’s health, emergency medicine, family medicine and pediatrics, internal medicine, orthopedics and general surgery.
“We are pleased to welcome Shannon to our Women’s and Children’s Services team,” Julie Seaman, Jones’ director of practice management, said. “As a recent graduate, she brings a fresh perspective and enthusiasm that will be invaluable in supporting our commitment to providing exceptional care
to our patients.”
Nye said she is “beyond excited” to join the Women’s and Children’s Services team.
“Having the opportunity to provide care to patients in a rural area is both an honor and a privilege. I’m looking forward to building strong relationships with the families we serve and making a positive impact on their health and well-being.”
Nye is accepting new patients; call (585) 5964091 or visit jones.urmc. edu/appointments.
The Steuben County resident won and served as a congressman for four months, always indicating he would not run in the newly redrawn 23rd District, which was won in November 2022 by Rep. Nick Langworthy, who also won re-election in November.
Sempolinski then went back to work in the 148th Assembly District for Giglio.
The 148th Assembly District, which consists of all of Cattaraugus and Allegany counties and a portion of Steuben County, has five colleges and is a rural area where citizens often interact with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Sempolinski added, “so the Higher Education and Environmental Conservation committees make sense based on the district I will represent.”
Sempolinski, 41, won the Assembly seat in November over Great Valley Town Supervisor Dan Brown. Sempolinski, who has also served
The retiring assemblyman was first elected to the seat in a special 2005 election, replacing Catharine Young, who herself ran in a special election to replace the late Patricia McGee in the state Senate.
Dr. Paul Axtell
Shannon Nye