Allegany County Community Source 01-06-2023

allegany county

Looking back on the year in news in Wellsville area

BY KATHRYN ROSS

WELLSVILLE — No one likes to see a town’s treasures go down the road, but that is what often happens when people pass away, and their possessions are sold in an estate auction.

PIANO COMES HOME: In January 2022 fans were pleased to discover that an old box-style piano, from the estate of Barbara Williams and the Mather Homestead had come home. The piano was sold in an estate auction in 2017 to Rebekah Gena, wife of Brad Gena, and since she was on her way home, she arranged for the antique square grand piano, circa 1875, to be shipped south.

Then due to economic and personal reasons, the Genas decided to return back to Western New York to start a restaurant. The piano came back with them.

The Genas found the perfect place for the renovated antique when Brad decided to open the Wellsville General Store restaurant in the former Gee automotive garage.

The Genas had to modernize the instrument because it could not be appropriately tuned. They replaced the old keyboard with a modern keyboard. Now the traveling piano can be played on special occasions at the General Store for the pleasure of the Genas’ customers, which oftentimes included friends of the late Barbara Williams.

MARCH, MARCH, MARCH: Allegany County women and their supporters joined women across the country when 21 people, including 19 children, were killed by a gunman at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24. The gunman was shot and killed. The shock of the incident and the failure of law enforcement to act reverberated around the nation.

In June women decided to lace up their sneakers and participate in a countywide march, which was organized for Wellsville to coincide with March For Our Lives events across the country. March For Our Lives was originally organized by students who survived the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. on Valentine’s Day 2018.

Those who turned out to participate in the march ranged in age from elementary school students to retirees. One poster carrying teen drew attention with a poster that put her face in the crosshairs of a rifle scope.

The group was nearly 100 strong when they entered Island Park and headed uptown. They gathered at the Fassett Green Space where four speakers were scheduled. The message was the need for responsible gun laws, not abolishment of the second amendment.

On July 11, President Joe Biden signed a new

gun safety bill, the first safety legislation to be passed by Congress in 30 years.

That local march paved the way for another march just a few months later.

Many people were incensed when the Supreme Court struck down the 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision, believing it was an attack on a woman’s right to choose and could lead to other decisions nullifying the rights of certain groups. On Oct. 8, all around the country, women marched and rallied to show how they felt about that decision. Locally, women

Jones Memorial capital campaign hits $2M goal

BY BOB CLARK

WELLSVILLE — Jones Memorial Hospital has surpassed its $2 million goal to make the Transformation and Modernization Project a reality.

Officials noted more than 30 donors committed at least $25,000 to the project, earning the classification of Cornerstone Donors.

“With the latest Cornerstone Donor commitment of $100,000 we are actually very

close to $2.1 million,” said Jones CEO James Helms. “Our community recognizes the impact this project will have on Allegany County as well as the surrounding areas and the healthcare options that will be available right here, close to home. We are thrilled that they came through with the support that was needed.”

The Transformation and Modernization project includes a thirdfloor addition that will add over 14,000 square

feet of clinical space, as well as more than 4,000 square feet of renovations that expand the surgical department, and a permanent, fixed MRI tower with three levels of clinical space.

In February 2020, the state Department of Health Statewide Healthcare Facility Transformation Program awarded $16.86 million to the hospital for the project. Ground was broken on the project in July 2021, and the work is expected to

finish by the fall.

Helms said that increases in construction costs and enhancements to the project beyond the original plan left a gap of $2 million between the cost of the project and the grant value, necessitating the fundraising campaign.

Helms credits the success of the capital campaign to the Campaign Executive Committee, which was chaired by Rich Shear of

Alfred • Allentown • Alma • Andover • Angelica • Belfast • Belmont • Bolivar • Caneadea • Ceres • Cuba • Filmore • Friendship • Genesee

Houghton • little genesee • portville • richburg • Rushford • Scio • shinglehouse • Ulysses • Wellsville • west clarksville • Whitesville

Wellsville

File photo

Marks and holes can be seen on the back of a Hennessy headstone in Sacred Heart Cemetery where the bronze veteran’s plaque was ripped away.

Late Cuba resident remembered with scholarship fund

terized her whole life.

An avid learner and reader, Celeste acquired a large repertoire of information about a broad variety of subjects and was comfortable speaking to anyone about almost any topic. She loved learning about nature, gardening, all types of cuisine, politics, culture, history, eclectic varieties of music and, most especially, languages.

Houghton College. Eventually she completed her coursework in advanced literature and graduated with honors in 1988 with a double major in German and French. She continued connecting with people from all over the world and took additional classes and independent study in Russian, Arabic, Farsi and Italian.

Wellsville. Also serving on the committee Dr. Heather Lanphere, Dr. Paul Axtell, Jack Emrick, Jeff Ely, Larry Clark, Karol Marciano, and Samantha Gilkey.

“This committee worked so hard to get us to our goal,” he said.

“They not only donated generously to the campaign, but they donated even more of their time and talents to the cause. I am extremely grateful for all their work.”

“What a privilege to have a front row seat to

see the way our community cares and comes together – it is truly amazing to watch,” said Jones Foundation Coordinator Jodi Pearson. “We hope our donors realize that because of their generosity, healthcare in our area will be greatly improved for many years to come.”

Cherokee Burnell, an employee in the Surgical Services area, said her inspiration to give to the

have made me feel so welcome and part of the team since I started,” she said. “When I saw the project would expand and update the OR, I knew I wanted to donate as a way to thank them for their support.”

Hospital officials said they are still raising money for the project. To learn more about donating, call (585) 5962053, email Jodi_Pearson@URMC.Rochester. edu, or visit www.jones.

CUBA — The family of Celeste Wuersig has established a scholarship in her honor and memory with the Allegany County Area Foundation.

The Belfast native and longtime Cuba resident passed away on March 6.

The Celeste M. Wuersig Scholarship will support a student who demonstrates an interest in languages through college study and career aspirations.

Born in 1949 to Dominic P. and Dorothy Curcio, Celeste’s youth in Belfast included a large, loving extended family, hosting international students and the natural beauty around her, which she enjoyed exploring, displaying an early curiosity and love of learning that charac-

In 1965, Celeste fell in love with the man who would become her husband of 55 years, Klaus Wuersig, originally of Görlitz, Germany.

Married in 1966, they had three children, their late son, Erich Wuersig, and two daughters, Elke (Wuersig) Miot and Renate Wuersig.

Their life together included countless adventures, including extensive domestic and international travel, fighting a proposed nuclear waste dump in Allegany County and living overseas in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.

To learn Klaus’s native German, Celeste first learned alongside their young children, then started taking language courses at

Did you know?

Veterinarians and rescue organizations repeatedly stress the significance of having pets spayed or neutered. This process, which is a relatively minor procedure with an excellent recovery rate, renders the animals sterile so

that they cannot reproduce. Many animal shelters will not even allow people to adopt pets before the dogs and cats have undergone the spay or neuter surgery. Prospective pet owners may wonder just why spaying and neutering

In addition to her interests and accomplishments, Celeste is remembered by her family as a wise, fun and loving wife, mother, daughter and friend. Her curiosity and love of learning continues through her children, who she encouraged to pursue their own passions.

Students may apply for the scholarship through the regular ACAF online scholarship application. The first Celeste M. Wuersig Scholarship will be awarded in Spring 2023 for the 2023-2024 academic year.

To contribute to this scholarship or for information about starting a grant or scholarship fund, contact Bruce Campbell at ACAF at director@acafny.org or call (585) 296-5616.

is so important. Here are a few reasons.

• Increased longevity: A study that focused on Banfield Pet Hospitals’ database of 2.2 million dogs and 460,000 cats found that, compared to animals which were not neutered or spayed, neutered male dogs lived 18 percent longer and spayed female dogs lived 23 percent longer, while spayed female cats in the study lived 39 percent longer and neutered male cats lived 62 percent longer.

• Curbs unwanted behaviors: Unaltered dogs and cats may roam to find mates, meow or bark, mark territory, and engage in other unwanted behaviors.

Prevents litters: Undesired litters of puppies or kittens leads to overpopulation that can result in these animals being placed in shelters or humanely euthanized.

• May prevent cancers: Spaying or neutering can reduce the risk for certain cancers in animals, such as reproductive system cancer or pyometra. Undergoing the spaying and neutering process increases the liklihood that pets can live longer lives, and also helps reduce medical treatment costs.

Photo provided

Jones Memorial Hospital staff thank donors for surpassing the $2 million mark in a capital campaign to fund the hospital’s Transformation and Modernization Project. Officials reported the project should be completed by the fall.

Celest Wuersig

Positive economic development news in 2022

WELLSVILLE — In March, village Mayor Randy Shayler said he was encouraged by the state of the community’s economic development, and since then there have been some new developments.

In 2020, UR/Jones Memorial Hospital announced an ambitious building project that would supplement the care already available at the facility involving a vertical expansion, to make room for physician clinic space on the third floor, renovation of the Operating Room Suite, bringing all four operating rooms and the procedural rooms up to

the same standard and including construction of a fixed MRI tower.

In addition, this past summer the hospital completed a new employee parking area north of the campus.

Over the last several months the curious have watched the familiar structure reach higher into the skyline. The building project was originally pegged at $16.8 million and is funded in part by state grant money. To complete the project by the Fall of 2023, in November the hospital launched a $2 million Capital Campaign — and announced this week that the goal had been reached.

In October, it was

announced that more than 60 new jobs would be coming to Wellsville as Ljungstrom/ARVOS, the former Air Preheater embarks on a second stage of its restructuring, moving from manufacturing air preheaters to manufacturing parts for energy producing windmills.

In late 2021, Ljungstrom/ARVOS won a contract to fabricate steel parts for the suspended platforms and cages of the windmills for the offshore 880-megawatt Sunrise Wind Project, which will deliver clean, affordable, renewable energy to New York.

Ljungstrom/ARVOS is actively recruiting welders.

In early March, the

dining & Entertainment

Wellsville church to celebrate Twelfth Night with benefit concert

BY KATHRYN ROSS

WELLSVILLE —

Though Christmas day is more than week past, the seasonal celebration continues at 7 p.m. Friday in medieval tradi-

tion when Grace United Church hosts a Twelfth Night Concert to benefit victims of Hurricane Ian.

Church member Kim Toot said Grace United decided to host a spe-

cial concert on Friday (Epiphany) “as part of our Graceful Songs/ Graceful Arts celebrations.”

Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, marks the arrival of the three kings at Jesus’s manger. It has been celebrated in song

and

“In Tudor England it was celebrated with a raucous feast, music and dancing. In that tradition, Grace United decided to hold a special concert,” Toot said.

The concert will cross musical genres with music by the Maple City Chorus, Jim Knapp, Devon Reagan, Young Sisters, Sound Foundation and Dave Mason, plus several musicians from Grace United.

To make the concert more meaningful, while there is no cost to enjoy the music and celebration, donations will be accepted to help the victims of Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian slammed into the Gulf Coast side of Florida on Sept. 28th with 155 mph sustained winds. It traveled across the state,

According to NOAA it was the deadliest hurricane to strike the state of Florida since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. It caused at least 152 fatalities with 146 in Florida, and six in North Carolina and Virginia. Ian caused catastrophic damage with losses estimated to be over $50 billion with widespread damage across Cuba, the Florida Keys, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Recovery operations are still ongoing.

Donations will be collected to support hurricane relief efforts of the United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ denominations.

literature since the Middle Ages.

back into the Atlantic and pummeled South and North Carolina as it tracked north.

community learned that local businessmen Andrew Sisson, Garrett Stephen of Wayne Paving and Chan Whitford of the L.C. Whitford Co. purchased the historic

Erie Depot with a plan to restore it to the way it was once. Their restoration plans include a restaurant, community resource room and historic

preservation as well as utilizing the brick plaza as a gathering place. Work to clean up and stabilize the area took

File photo

The former Kmart building in Wellsville is the new home of a retail store, Runnings, which is expected to be open this spring.

Photo provided

Some of the members of the locally popular Sound Foundation band will perform along with other musicians at Grace United’s free Twelfth Night Concert on Friday.

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How older drivers can increase their comfort levels behind the wheel

It’s not uncommon for aging individuals to feel less comfortable driving as they approach their golden years. Whether it’s glare from LED lights, aches and pains that often accompany aging or age-related vision issues, older drivers’ comfort behind the wheel can be compromised by a host of variables.

Though older drivers

cannot reverse the aging process, they can try various strategies to make themselves more comfortable behind the wheel.

• Share driving duties on long trips. The National Institute on Aging notes that stiffening joints and weakened muscles are a common byproduct of aging.

In addition, the Arthritis Foundation® notes that more than one in two men and two in three women over age 65 have arthritis, which also can make driving less comfortable. Age-related aches and pains and arthritis can make it very uncomfortable to drive for lengthy periods of time when drivers are sitting in roughly the same position for the duration of their trip. In such instances, drivers can share driving duties to make long trips more manageable.

• Upgrade to a vehicle with modern amenities. Various amenities in mod-

ern vehicles make driving more comfortable for everyone, especially individuals with age-related aches and pains.

Heated seats and in-car climate control can help reduce the discomfort caused by aches and pains and ensure drivers and passengers can tailor the temperature in the vehicle to their own preferences.

• Protect your eyesight. Much of the discomfort older drivers experience behind the wheel has to do with eyesight. The NIA urges individuals 65 and older to see their eye doctor every year. Such visits can ensure pre-

scriptions are current and that can make drivers more confident in their ability to see everything on the road. Drivers also can speak to their eye doctors about night driving glasses, which are designed to help nighttime drivers overcome glare from headlights and street lamps.

• Drive more defensively. A greater emphasis on defensive driving also can help aging drivers feel more comfortable behind the wheel. The NIA notes that reflexes naturally slow down as a person ages, which adverse-

ly affects older drivers’ reaction times. Drivers can counter this by leaving more space between their vehicles and the one in front of them.

Braking earlier and avoiding driving during times marked by heavy traffic, such as rush hour, also can help drivers feel more comfortable.

It’s natural for aging drivers to feel less comfortable behind the wheel than they did when they were young. But drivers can take various steps to increase their comfort levels so they can stay on the road.

were invited to join the Women’s Wave rally and march in Wellsville. Nearly 100 women and their supporters showed up to express their opinions with speeches, posters and music.

DESPICABLE VANDALISM: In June, while Memorial Day flowers were still blooming in their pots, a local man discovered a despicable crime while walking in a local cemetery.

Mike Baldwin found 13 military headstones at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wellsville had been vandalized. The bronze military plaques had been pried away from the headstones. There was immediate outcry. Within a few days several thousand dollars were raised as a reward for information

leading to an arrest. Five weeks later, an arrest was made. Village police charged 42-yearold Eric T. Logue of Wellsville with several counts of criminal sale, 13 counts of cemetery desecration, grand larceny and criminal mischief. Police executed a search warrant at Logue’s residence at 20 Clark St. after obtaining witness statements, evidence and video surveillance. Logue awaits sentencing pending county court action.

The bronze markers have been restored. The pledged reward money was not paid according to Police Chief Tim O’Grady because no one provided information that led to the arrest.

MONARCHS TO THE RESCUE : Over the summer and into the

fall a group of citizens calling themselves the Wellsville Monarchs approached the village board with two requests. The first was to stop killing the milkweed plants growing on village property and the second was to provide places around the village for monarch butterfly gardens to help stop the extinction of the butterflies. Monarch butterfly caterpillars survive on milkweed.

The village is reconsidering its milkweed policy and trustees have asked for possible locations for gardens. The plight of the monarch was embraced by many who in November planted milkweed seeds provided by the group in their gardens and in the Fassett Green Space.

Considerations for retirees thinking of working part-time

Retirement is an opportunity to wave goodbye to the daily grind. Retirees may focus on rest and relaxation, and many make travel a major component of their lifestyle.

According to a 2022 Gallup poll, Americans expect to retire at an average age of 66, up from 62 in 2022. However, most do not hold out that long; the average actual retirement age is 61. Canada used to have a mandatory retirement age of 65, but that mandate was overturned in 2009. Today, the average retirement age for Canadians is 64.4 for men and 63.8 for women, according to Statistics Canada.

Upon retiring, many retirees discover that

they sorely miss getting out of the house and being productive through some sort of employment. Others may find it necessary to supplement their retirement incomes. There are a few things to know about working during retirement, particularly if a person is collecting government benefits.

• According to the Social Security Administration, those falling under full retirement age for the entire year (which was raised to age 67 for those born in 1960 or later) will be subjected to an SSA deduction of $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit.

For 2022, that limit is $19,560. In the year you reach full retirement age, SSA deducts $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but they only count earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age. For full retirement age reached in 2022 your limit on earnings for the months before full retirement age is $51,960. After full retirement age, there is no limit on earnings.

• The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada reports that individuals between the ages of 60 and 65 who continue to

Retirees

home improvement

home’s ducts in order?

(BPT) — While homeowners invest time and money to make their homes comfortable and energy efficient, one common denominator of comfort and energy efficiency is often overlooked - the air inside a home. The old saying “what’s out of sight is out of mind” applies not only to a home’s air, but also to the attic ductwork that delivers air to every room.

Damaged or leaky attic ductwork can provide a path for conditioned air to escape into the attic and for particulates in the attic’s air to be released into other parts of the home.

The typical duct system in an attic loses between 25% and 40% of the heating or cooling energy put out by the heating and cooling system, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.1 Air leakage can occur from holes in the attic ductwork or from poorly connected duct joints. As heated or cooled air is drawn into the attic space through holes and poor connections, energy dollars are used to heat or cool an unoccupied space. While heating and cooling bills will fluctuate according to changes in the weather pattern, an unexpected increase in

energy bills may signal an issue with attic ducts.

Comparing a home’s energy usage to other similar-sized homes can also provide helpful insights about a home’s energy efficiency. Many utilities offer customers a report that shows how a home’s energy usage stacks up compared to

other nearby homes of similar size. Heating or cooling bills that are higher than comparably sized homes in the area may indicate a problem with attic ducts.

An Owens Corning® Air CareTM contractor can identify problems with attic ductwork and recommend solutions to help improve com-

fort and reduce energy bills.2 Resolving problems with leaky ducts can also help curb the wear and tear on HVAC equipment, potentially extending its operational life and protecting the homeowner’s investment in a high-efficiency comfort system.

Beyond reducing energy efficiency, problems with attic ductwork can adversely affect the quality of indoor air. An increase in household dust is a common sign that attic ductwork may be compromised. Holes or poor connections in ductwork can allow particulates from the attic space to enter the ducts

home improvement

and flow into rooms throughout the home. Dust accumulation on return air registers or heavier levels of dust inside the home may suggest a problem with ductwork.

A home’s age may also suggest an inspection of attic ductwork. The ductwork in many older homes was installed in accordance with much lower residential building codes. Depending on when a home was built, there may have been no codes targeting energy efficiency.

Issues with ductwork may sometimes be detected with a visual inspection - for example, disconnected ducts near registers or holes, tears and loose joints. But many times, the issues are more difficult to

detect. That’s why it’s important to have an inspection conducted by a qualified contractor.

Owens Corning® Air CareTM contractors are equipped with the training and tools to evaluate an attic duct system’s integrity and the overall efficiency of the duct system. The contractor will use a fan and pressure gauge to conduct a basic duct leakage test to measure the extent of leakage in ducts. Thermal cameras will visualize where air from the ducts is escaping into unconditioned parts of the home. The contractor will also assess the airflow rate as a duct system’s efficiency is affected by leakage as well as fan flow. Depending on the findings, the Owens Corning® Air CareTM contrac-

tor can recommend a solution to address duct issues that may involve repairing, sealing or replacing one or more sections of ductwork.

Beyond ensuring that ductwork is properly connected and in good condition, other steps can contribute to comfortable and energy-efficient environments. Checking the furnace filter as directed by the manufacturer can reduce wear and tear and help keep a filter from becoming clogged. Installing a programmable thermostat can help reduce heating and cooling costs by turning up or down the temperature when occupants are not home. And finally, adequate levels of insulation inside the attic can help guard against heated air flowing into

the attic in the winter, or hot attic air from entering air-conditioned parts of the home in the summer.

Considering the role that attic ductwork plays in supporting a home’s heating and cooling system, ensuring that a home’s ducts are in order can help homeowners support optimal comfort, energy efficiency and their investment in a high-efficiency home comfort system.

place over the summer while the investors awaited the results of the village’s application for a grant from the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

Just three days before Christmas, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wellsville would receive $500,000 to go toward the depot project, which is expected to cost between $2.4 and $3 million.

Also just before Christmas, hundreds of people showed up at the former Kmart building to submit applications for the new Runnings store scheduled to open this coming spring probably in time for turkey hunting season.

Throughout the summer and fall residents watched as the building was renovated and are now waiting to see the sign installed.

But before Runnings could open, the new mini-Walgreen, just up the road, took some of

the wind out of their sails. The new drivethrough is a compact building which sits on the west side of the land designated for the new Quicklee’s and Tim Hortons.

That development ran into a snag when nearby landowners objected to a gas station in their neighborhood. The town of Wellsville followed procedures, requested a traffic study from the DOT and at its most recent meeting accepted the DEC’s negative SEQR declaration. The neighbors promise to continue their objection while the town takes its next step.

The hope is that construction will begin in the early summer.

Builders have been busy over the past year in Wellsville as the landscape begins to reflect the new businesses coming forward and the old buildings getting a new lease on life.

work while receiving a Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) retirement benefit must still contribute to the CPP. Your CPP contributions will go toward post-retirement benefits. These benefits increase your retirement income when you stop working. However, if you continue to work while getting a CPP retirement pension and are between the ages of 65 and 70 years old, you can choose not to make any more CPP contributions.

• Keep in mind that if you are on Medicare, extra income could potentially trigger surcharges for parts B and D. It’s beneficial to speak with a

financial consultant to weigh the pros and cons of part-time work during retirement.

• Part-time work does not need to be daily work. Many retirees work according to how they feel. Some

options include seasonal jobs, such as driving shuttles in national parks or

working during the holidays in retail stores. Or you may use your expertise to consult or start a business.

• A number of people work part-time during retirement simply to get out of the house. Jobs that help you interact with a number of people can be beneficial, as socialization has been shown to benefit the mental health of seniors.

Working during retirement can supplement savings and provide structure that some retirees may be missing.

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Rep.-elect Langworthy holds ceremonial swearing in at alma mater

Congressman-elect

Nicholas Langworthy returned to his roots Dec. 28 and held a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony before family and old and new friends at his alma mater Pine Valley Central School.

“It’s great to be back at Pine Valley,” Langworthy said as he began to introduce his family members.

More than 200 supporters including his parents, Ted and Priscilla, watched as Langworthy was sworn in by Chautauqua County Judge David Foley as his 8-year-old daughter Madelyn held a Bible on the stage of the high school auditorium.

Langworthy said that his wife remained at home with their infant son Oliver Theodore, the current “rock star” of the family, who was born just before the midterm election.

Langworthy, who still holds the title of New York State Republican chairman, was to be formally sworn in as the 23rd District representative at noon on Jan. 3 along with the rest of the 435 House members in the 118th Congress. His district includes Allegany and Steuben counties as well as Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Tompkins and Yates counties and parts of Ontario and Tioga counties.

Langworthy’s first remarks to those gathered in the auditorium were for those who had

suffered from the snowstorm in Erie County and those who lost their lives. “We send our thoughts and prayers to those affected by the storm,” he said.

He thanked speakers including Assemblymen Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda and Andrew Goodell, R-Chautauqua County. Giglio reminded the audience that South Dayton, Langworthy’s hometown, was in Cattaraugus County, even if the Pine Valley school was not.

Langworthy admitted to “a flood of memories” as he entered the auditorium. The gravity of the situation was not lost on him, Langworthy said.

He thanked Pine Valley Superintendent Bryna Moritz for her welcoming remarks, as well as Master of ceremonies Chautauqua

County Executive PJ Wendel and Seneca Nation Councilor Odie Porter, who congratulated Langworthy on behalf of Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong and the Tribal Council.

Langworthy said Giglio and Goodell were critical partners and teammates as he begins his congressional career next week.

It was the work ethic Langworthy said he learned in the South Dayton community and Pine Valley School District that helped propel him to Congress, Langworthy said. It was a “tremendous honor to be here at his alma mater” for the ceremonial swearing-in.

His father, he said, was a bar owner in Jamestown and an autoworker. “I’m from Pine Valley and I’m damn proud of it. This is a salt-

of-the-earth community” he said of South Dayton. “I wouldn’t trade my upbringing in this community with any other place in the world.”

Voters are sending someone with “good old-fashioned common sense to Washington, where it is solely lacking,” Langworthy promised.

The Southern Tier has been left behind by politicians, Langworthy said, and he hopes to help restore its former manufacturing base.

“We need relief and we need it now,” he said. “We need to make things in America again.” The country also needs to unleash its energy producers, “including here in the Southern Tier.”

The district’s population continues to decline, Langworthy said. Twenty-three years ago when he graduated from

Pine Valley, there were 65 graduates. When he returned as commencement speaker in 2015, there were 35 graduates. “We are exporting the best and brightest.”

Despite his reputation as a partisan Republican leader, first as the Erie County Republican chairman, then as the state GOP chairman, Langworthy said, “If President Biden is doing something that is good for our district, I will work with him.

If not, I’ll be his worst nightmare.”

Langworthy reminded everyone that there are “too many politicians who think the Second Amendment is not as important as the First Amendment.”

He called China the country’s biggest threat and said the situation at the Southern border

is an embarrassment and that the wall started under the Trump administration should be completed.

In the congressional district, Langworthy said expanded broadband services are needed along with strengthening healthcare and reducing inflation that is hitting seniors paticularly hard.

Langworthy said he wanted to hear from constituents — especially from the community where he grew up. District offices will remain in Jamestown, Olean, Corning and Buffalo.

“This is an honor of a lifetime to serve as your representative,” Langworthy said.

The congressman-elect plans a similar ceremonial swearing-in ceremony in Elmira on Friday.

Library in Fillmore collecting for SPCA

FILLMORE — The Wide Awake Club Library will conduct its 27th Annual Allegany County SPCA Collection Drive through all of January.

Items needed are pet treats, dry Purina dog food (only) and canned pet foods (any kind), rabbit food, pet toys, garbage bags, paper towels, liquid laundry soap, bleach, peanut butter, blankets, towels, washcloths, collars/leashes, wood pellets (used for

health & Wellness

cat litter) and gift cards for Tractor Supply, Dollar General and Amazon. Foster families are also needed.

The SPCA facility at this time does not need cat litter.

Items and donations can be dropped off during open library hours, which are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

2023 health and wellness trends to take with you all year

(BPT) — With the new year comes new goals, new resolutions, new trends - and a new you. Colette Heimowitz, vice president of Nutrition and Education at Simply Good Foods Company, is sharing a few of the latest trends in health and wellness that will help you navigate an overall better lifestyle for the year ahead.

Trend 1: Damp January

This January, maintaining a damp lifestyle will become an increasingly popular choice in health and wellness. What is a damp lifestyle? In other words,

you may not abstain 100% from all alcoholic beverages, but you can plan to avoid heavy drinking. Heimowitz recommends this trend as it can also help you maintain a low-carb lifestyle.

“The liver makes ketones out of alcohol, so technically when you drink, you’ll remain in ketosis. The problem is that alcohol converts more easily to ketones than fatty acids do, so your liver will use the alcohol first, in preference to fat,” explains Heimowitz. “When you drink, your fat burning is put on hold until all the alcohol is out of

your system.”

Trend

2: Affordable bento boxes

With the cost of food continuing to rise, Heimowitz shares her favorite, trendy and most cost-effective way to pack lunch. Bento boxes were a trend you may have noticed on social media in the past year, and they aren’t going away! Derived from the traditional Japanese lunch box, you can find numerous bento boxes online and in stores that make packing a lunch fun, easy and convenient - for grownups and kids alike.

To create a balanced bento box, start with a protein source such as a Low Carb Mediterranean Canned Tuna and Cucumber Salad. Canned tuna is an inexpensive pantry staple and is naturally low in carbs. Once you have your protein base, pack some fruits and veggies, as well as a fun snack.

“The Atkins Protein Chips add a tasty and much needed crunch to your lunch,” Heimowitz says. “The line offers three flavors: Nacho Cheese, Ranch and Chipotle BBQ. Each contains 13 grams of

protein and 4 grams of net carbs, making them great for snacking.”

Trend 3: Accommodating recipes for dietary restrictions

As people continue to explore and embrace new lifestyles such as vegetarianism, keto and more, one of the biggest trends is leaning toward flexible, accommodating recipes for those with dietary restrictions.

Most recently, cloud bread went viral on the internet due to its fun consistency, health benefits and its flexibility for accommodating dietary restrictions. For example, the Atkins Keto Barbecue Cloud Bread Sandwiches have only a few ingredients and come together in less than an hour! Add your favorite sandwich fixings and Atkins Protein Chips to create a delicious sandwich and the perfect, balanced meal for a better 2023.

Try the popular recipe:

Atkins Keto Barbecue Cloud Bread Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 2 bags Atkins Chipotle BBQ Protein Chips

• 4 large raw eggs

• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

• 4 ounces cream cheese

• 1/4 teaspoon table salt

• 5 pieces fresh green leaf lettuce

• 5 slices, medium fresh tomatoes

• 10 ounces roasted turkey breast

• 3 3/4 ounces cheddar cheese

• 5 slices, thin fresh red onion

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 300°. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.

2. In a food processor, process chips into crumbs. Set aside 4 teaspoons; pour the rest into a medium bowl.

3. Separate the egg whites and yolks, placing the yolks in the bowl with the chips, and placing the egg whites into a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer with a whip attachment.

Sprinkle egg whites with cream of tartar and whip until stiff peaks form.

4. Warm cream cheese

gently in a microwave (15 seconds) or over steaming water. Whisk together with egg yolks, chips and salt. Gently fold in egg whites, one third at a time, until combined and very fluffy.

5. Form barbecue cloud buns by scooping 1/4 cup batter onto the parchment-lined sheet pans, spreading gently into 3-inch rounds with about 1 inch between. Sprinkle buns evenly with the reserved 4 teaspoons of chip crumbs. Each sheet pan should hold 5 buns. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the tops are nicely browned. Allow the buns to cool on the sheet pan before assembling sandwiches.

6. Assemble sandwiches just before serving (cloud bread does not hold up to moisture). On one bun, layer 1 leaf lettuce, 1 slice tomato, one slice red onion, 2 ounces sliced roasted turkey, and a 3/4-ounce slice cheddar cheese, then top with a second bun.

Following these trends can help you stay on track for your 2023 goals, while also enjoying your wellness journey. Check out Atkins. com for more amazing recipes and helpful nutrition tips, and to explore products that you can order online or find at Walmart, Amazon, Target or your local retailer.

Photo by Rick Miller

Congressman-elect Nicholas Langworthy speaks after a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony Dec. 28 at his alma mater Pine Valley Central School in South Dayton.