Allegany County Community Source 03-03-2023

Bolivar-Richburg’s Sibble captures 1st NYS title

BY JEFF UVEINO

ALBANY — Trent Sibble did it.

Wrestling the last match of the 2023 NYSPHSAA Division II championships, Sibble earned the last piece of the puzzle for Bolivar-Richburg.

Starting the third period of a tied match on top is not an ideal scenario for most. That’s what was required to win the school’s first individual state championship, however, and for Sibble, the task was no issue.

After falling a match short last year, the Binghamton University-bound senior was determined not to let this year’s state title slip away. In his last varsity match, he made history, completing B-R’s rise to state-level wrestling prowess.

“It’s everything I’ve ever wanted,” a sweatsoaked Sibble told NYSPHSAA post-match in a video posted on its social media accounts. “It’s awesome.”

Sibble defeated defending 285-pound NYS champion Tristen Hitchcock of Warrensburg (Section 2), 4-2, to win the heavyweight title. After getting taken down in the second period, he’d need to either hold Hitchcock down for the entirety of the third, or find another way to score.

“(Hitchcock) is obviously a good wrestler; he won states last year,”

Sibble said. “I knew it was going to be tough but knew if I kept in good position I’d maybe have my chance on top to throw in the legs, and I did.”

With less than a minute left in the third and Sibble’s leg ride cinched, he turned Hitchcock to his back long enough to cause two hand swipes for near-fall points that clinched his crown.

Sibble pinned his first opponent and a 5-0 decision over Hamza Merrick of Wilson (Section 6) got him to the semifinals. There, he replicated the 285-pound Section 5 final of two weeks prior, beating Noah Wazinski of North Rose-Wolcott, 1-0.

Sibble finished the season 51-1. Already one of the most decorated wrestlers in B-R history, he now has a NYSPHSAA gold medal to go with his three sectional championships and two Section 5 titles.

B-R landed two in Saturday evening’s finals, as Tavyn MacDonnell finished 2nd at 160 pounds. A lingering shoulder injury didn’t seem to bother the sophomore much, as he avenged his loss in the Section 5 finals to Luke Dendis of South Seneca.

MacDonnell won each of his first three matches by decision, including his semifinal against Dendis, in which early offense helped him mold together a 6-5 victory. He fell to

defending 152-pound state champion Ousmane Duncanson of Tioga (Section 4) in the final, capping his season at 46-5.

B-R had five total wrestlers in action, including Caden Allen, who went 4-2 to earn a 5th-place finish at 215 pounds. Gary McDowell, Jr. went 3-2 to finish 7th at 110 pounds and Trey Buccholz went 1-2 at 126.

Both of Pioneer’s wrestlers lost in the blood round, the consolation round in which a win puts a wrestler on a podium and a loss leaves them off.

“It would be a lie to say we got the results

we wanted,” Pioneer coach Chris Edwards said. “Both kids’ goal was to get on the podium and I thought, in spots, we wrestled really well. But as far as the effort, attitude and representing Pioneer wrestling, I’m super proud of my boys.”

Xander Kirsch finished 1-2 at 138 pounds, dropping a 3-2 decision to eventual-champion Caden Bellis of Tioga (Section 4) in the quarterfinals. Brady Heckathorn went 3-2 at 172 pounds, just missing the podium.

“They’re the type of kids you’re really proud

Plans unveiled for Taco Bell in Wellsville

BY KATHRYN ROSS

WELLSVILLE — Village officials said “hola” to Taco Bell during a village meeting Monday evening.

Prior to the regular village board meeting, Mayor Randy Shayler and the board heard a presentation from representatives of Indus Hospitality Group of Rochester concerning their plans to build a Taco Bell site at the corner of South Main and West Dyke streets. Indus is owned by entrepreneur Jett Mehta, who also owns the Microtel and Dunkin’ near that same corner.

The board members heard the proposal from Peter Vars of BMI, a Fairport civil engineering firm working on the site design.

He said the corner lot is half an acre and the building will be 2,200 square feet, a single story, built on a slab at grade that will have combined indoor and outdoor seating for 40 people. The entrance will be from South Main and customers will exit onto West Dyke.

The planners said that they will file for a building application this spring but expect to start construction in the spring of 2024.

“We have seven building projects that we are involved with now that we want to stay on top of,” John Ott of Indus said. “If it looks like we can start construction in late

summer we will.” The Taco Bell will be an addition to the fast-food franchises that are already in Wellsville — McDonald’s, Burg-

program history.

Photo by Kathryn Ross

The corner of South Main and West Dyke streets is the proposed site of a Taco Bell due to open in 2024.

Ceramic materials firm to become newest business at industrial park in Alfred

ALFRED — Owners of a new ceramic materials firm signed papers Tuesday purchasing a piece of land and building at the Sugar Hill Industrial Park in the town of Alfred.

Lambda Advanced Materials LLC will become the first company in two decades to take up business at Sugar Hill. The company will develop new processes, using a range of technologies, for producing

a variety of advanced ceramic materials which will in turn be supplied to a diversified technology marketplace. Products manufactured using processes developed by Lambda are expected to ease the stress on the global supply chain by facilitating domestic production of items made from advanced ceramic materials. The company hopes to ultimately have as many as 30 employees.

Lambda Advanced

Materials was

co-founded by Alfred University alumni Jeffrey Brundage (class of 1976, B.S. in ceramic engineering) and Joseph Sorrentino (class of 1983, B.S. in management). Brundage, business development manager at ceramics manufacturer Critical Services LLC, and Sorrentino, an attorney and real estate developer, were members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity as Alfred University undergraduates.

Several other Lambda Chi alumni are involved with the project.

“We are looking to develop the next generation of materials processing,” said Brundage.

The company, he explained, aims to develop new high-temperature materials processing technologies that are more energy efficient and less expensive, and thus more competitive in the global market. “We will develop processes that will bring ceramic materials not produced in this country, back to this country.”

Sorrentino said, “It will really be a game changer in the field of ceramics. And it will all happen here in Alfred.”

Lambda will operate from a 7,200-square-foot building on 30 acres of land at the Sugar Hill industrial park, which it purchased from businessman Jason Rodd, a 1995 Alfred University graduate, and his wife, Christel.

Jason Rodd operates a factory in Hornell that manufactures ceramic and metal components for the wire pulling industry. The building is currently a shell that will be renovated to include research facilities,

offices, and manufacturing space. John Simmins, director of Alfred University’s Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology (CACT), said Amanda Jadwin, project manager for the CACT, will lead a team of students advising Lambda on developing a layout for the building which meets Six Sigma quality control specifications.

“Ms. Jadwin and her lean manufacturing students have had several successful engagements with other industries in the area. They help reduce the cost of manufacturing by streamlining factory layouts and processes.” Simmins said.

While renovation work is done, a portion of Lambda’s operations will be run from the nearby IncubatorWorks business incubator. Sorrentino said the target date for Lambda com-

Sibble NYS Title

of,” Edwards said.

“They’ve been captains for some of our championship teams the last couple years. It’s easy to get caught up in that environment… Both of those boys did exactly what they were supposed to do and showed nothing but pure class.”

Wellsville nearly had a state champion of its own after Shane Davidson’s surprise run to the 189-pound final. Seeded 5th, Davidson won his first two matches before knocking off Malachi Smith of Byron-Bergen, 10-4, in a quarterfinal rematch of the Section 5 final that Smith had won.

pleting work at the Sugar Hill site is summer of 2024. In the interim, Lambda will operate out of the IncubatorWorks facility in Alfred as well as leasing space from Rodd in Hornell.

Lambda chose the location in large part because of its proximity to Alfred University’s Inamori School of Engineering and its CREATE (Ceramic Research, Education And Technology Enterprise) Center, which is located in the McMahon Engineering Building. Simmins said the CREATE Center has facilities and equipment which can accommodate research into ceramic material machining and additive manufacturing (3-D printing).

The CACT, which hosted Friday’s signing ceremony, played a role in bringing Lambda Advanced Materials

continued from PAGE 1

Davidson went to overtime with Andrew Bailey of Chittenango (Section 3) in the finals after trading a takedown and an escape each across three periods. Bailey’s takedown as time expired in sudden-death overtime won him the state title.

Davidson finished his spectacular senior season 39-5.

B-R finished 2nd in team points among Division II squads, trailing

only Tioga. For the program that has won just about everything there is to win, Saturday’s triumph finally captured the dream Wolverine wrestlers have been chasing for years.

“It mean’s everything; it means the world to me,” Sibble said. “I’m the first state champ (at B-R),” he explained when asked about what it meant to represent his school, “So it’s everything.”

Photo provided by Alfred University Papers are signed conveying property and a building at the Sugar Hill Industrial Park in Alfred from businessman Jason Rodd and his wife, Christel, to Alfred University alumni Jeffrey Brundage and Joseph Sorrentino, co-founders of Lambda Advanced Materials LLC. From left are Brundage, Sorrentino’s son and wife, Joseph Jr. and Rosemarie, Christel and Jason Rodd and Sorrentino.

➡

to Alfred. The CACT referred the available property at Sugar Hill to Lambda leadership and helped facilitate its purchase. Simmins said Lambda will provide research and employment opportunities for Alfred University engineering student, both as interns and employees.

Sorrentino said Lambda hopes to create 20-30 new jobs at the Sugar Hill site over the next five years.

“We want to create opportunities for

Allegany Co. municipalities again advised to team up on sales-tax issue

BY KATHRYN ROSS

WELLSVILLE —

Working together is still the answer to getting Allegany County to share sales tax revenue with its towns and villages.

During a District IV legislators’ meeting with officials from the towns and villages of Andover and Wellsville earlier this week, the question of sharing sales tax revenue was once again put on the table. At the last district meeting of 2022, both Wellsville Town Supervisor Shad Alsworth and Wellsville Mayor Randy Shayler broached the subject.

At that time, district legislators Steve Havey, Gary Barnes, and James Rumfelt said there was no interest among the rest of the legislators for sales-tax revenue sharing. They voiced the opinion then that town and village officials in Wellsville and Andover would have to work with their counterparts across the county to get a change pushed through.

Havey, the only District IV legislator in attendance at the most recent meeting, reiterated the same stance.

“We can’t get the legislators interested unless the people they represent are interested,” he said. “There are probably nine out of the 15 legislators who don’t support the idea. There has been zero discussion

at the county meetings.”

Former county legislator Bill Dibble suggested that to get legislators to listen the mayors and supervisors should bring back the former supervisors and mayors association.

“I don’t know what happened to it, but it got some things done at one time,” Dibble said.

Both Shayler and Alsworth took the suggestion under consideration, saying that they had to get together with their fellow town and village officials to motivate the sales tax sharing initiative.

However, former Wellsville town supervisor Dar Fanton suggested the group research a study that was done about 20 years ago by Alfred University students that maintained the sales-tax issue was being dealt with in the best possible way for the

communities across the county.

Also during the meeting, Allegany County’s superintendent of public works, Tom Windus, was the featured speaker. He discussed the responsibilities of his department including maintaining the county’s equipment, buildings and grounds, including the board of elections and the jail buildings, as well as bridge maintenance, washing, inspection and painting.

On the subject of bridges he said the county washes 40 bridges every year. There are 308 bridges in the county and between four and five are rehabilitated each year, he said, which brought him to the state of the Madison Street Bridge in Wellsville.

That bridge is slated for replacement. The job was supposed to take

place this past year, but a design problem caught by the New York State Department of Transportation has delayed the project, Windus said. He noted that the bridge, which is safe, is currently being redesigned and that once that phase is completed and approved the project will go out to bid.

He expects construction to begin in 2024.

“The bridge is safe; there is no problem there,” he noted. The next District IV meeting will take place in May in Andover, with a date and time to be announced.

ceramic engineering students to come in and use our equipment, gain hands-on experience, and develop skills,” he said, noting those opportunities may lead to students finding employment at Lambda after they graduate.

Gabrielle Gaustad, dean of the Inamori School, said having Lambda in Alfred will benefit students by providing unique learning opportunities that typify the Alfred University educational experience.

“Hands-on, real-world skillsets are a hallmark of our engineering education here, so it is especially exciting to me to have this new facility near us,” Gaustad said. “This enables our students to easily visit and see cutting edge technology first-hand and creates amazing opportunities for internships and coops. And no matter the location, it is always a thrill to see our alums building successful careers and businesses.”

Lambda Advanced Materials will also develop two solar projects on the property, which will be overseen by Buffalo Solar. Photo-voltaic panels will be installed on the Lambda building and in a 10-acre solar panel field on the company-owned property at the Sugar Hill site. Lambda’s plan is to have the facility meet as close to a net zero carbon footprint as possible.

The solar site will be available to students in the Renewable Energy Engineering program at Alfred University and

the Renewable Energy Technology program at Alfred State College to explore integration of renewable energy with the grid.

The last company to locate at the Sugar Hill Industrial Park was Belvac, a manufacturer of ceramic molds which are used in the aluminum can/ container production process. Simmins said it is expected that Lambda Materials’ location at the Sugar Hill site will serve as a catalyst for more companies to be started in Alfred.

Peas

MONDAY 3/6

Chicken Breast Supreme over Egg Noodles, Glazed Carrots, WG Roll, Mandarin Orange

TUESDAY 3/7

Fruit Cocktail, Meatloaf w/Gravy, Sour Cream & Chive Mashed Potatoes, Baked Beans, WG Roll, Carrot, Raisin Bread w/Frosting

WEDNESDAY 3/8

Apple Slices, Seasoned Roast Pork w/gravy, Creamed Potatoes, Corn, WG Roll, Banana Bread w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

THURSDAY 3/9

Italian Vegetable Salad, Pasta Primavera, French Green Beans, Warmed WG Roll, Pears

Photo by Kathryn Ross

Allegany County Superintendent of Public Works Tom Windus at the county District IV meeting.

er King and Dunkin’.

Efforts are also in the works to bring a Tim Hortons to the market as well.

Mehta has been the president and CEO of Indus Hospitality Group for 20 years. He built his second hotel when he constructed the Microtel in Wellsville. He is also responsible for the construction of the new Hampton Inn near Wegmans in Hornell.

Indus owns and operates more than 70 properties, primarily hotels and restaurants in the Rochester, Finger Lakes and Western New

York regions. They are associated with Homewood Suites, Dunkin’, Hampton Inn, Microtel, Taco Bell, Holiday Inn Express, KFC and Best Western. The company is headquartered in Rochester.

However, when asked by Mayor Randy Shayler, Vars said there are no plans to include a KFC on the same site as the Taco Bell, such as the one in Olean. “The (Wellsville) site is too small to include both,” Vars said.

“We’ll talk about that,” Shayler answered. Monday night’s

presentation was an opportunity to get the board’s feedback and answer any questions they might have, Vars said.

Taco Bell was founded in 1962 in Downey, Calif., by Glen Bell. There are 7,772 Taco Bell sites in the United States.

ROAD PAVING PROJECTS

Village trustees have approved a paving schedule that tackles one of the most troublesome and most traveled roads in Wellsville.

While there are eight projects that will be undertaken this construction season, motorists will be happy to learn that the section of South Main Street at the northern end of the Dyke’s Creek Bridge, near the Bokman dealership, will

be addressed. Historically, the area is the site of several former tanneries, as the historical marker at the site notes that Wellsville was once known as Tanbark City. During other construction in the area, tanbark has been found buried several feet deep. Tanbark deteriorates over the years, causing much of the problem with stabilizing the roadway. In that area the road is routinely rough and bumpy, necessitating regular repaving and repair.

Public Works Super-

intendent Dean Arnold explained that when repairing the road on the south side of the bridge several feet of the base had to be excavated and large limbs and tree stumps were found in the hole.

“To stabilize the new

road, we’ll have to dig out the area,” he said. “We found tree stumps when we dug out the (Ljungstrom) side. We can’t assume that it is tanbark. If it is we’ll have to dig it out, fill the hole with bank run gravel and build a new roadway.”

He has no date as to when the project will take place.

The board voted to approve the purchase 2,203.07 tons of asphalt to pave eight streets this year. The contract went to Dalrymple Gravel and Contracting of Coopers Plains for $101,090. The village has worked with the company in the past.

Nearly 8,000 feet of roadway will be addressed:

• Crescent Drive from Hill Street to

Sunnydale Avenue.

• Crescent from Sunnydale to the end of the street.

• Gabby Hayes Lane.

• Hill Street from Crescent to Sunnydale.

• Hill from Trapping Brook Road to Crescent

• South Main Street from East State Street to the bridge.

• Park Avenue from Gabby Hayes to Madison Street.

• Scott Avenue from East State to East Madison.

• Sunnydale from Trapping Brook to Hill.

• Sunnydale from Hill to Crescent.

• West Fassett Street from North Main to Park.

Tax breaks aging taxpayers may be eligible for

year. Those over age 50 can maximize contributions even more, up to a total of $30,000.

Larger standard deduction

Growing older comes with many perks for those who are open to exploring the benefits.

In addition to senior discounts on movies, meals and more, moving into one’s golden years could offer some breaks when it comes to taxes and finances.

It is always best to go over tax- and finance-related plans with an accountant or certified financial planner to figure out what is in your best interest. However, generally speaking, here are some potential age-related tax perks.

Increase retirement savings

Older individuals can contribute more to employer-sponsored retirement accounts and Roth or traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs), according to AARP. For 2023, the contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k) and 403(b) programs, most 457 retirement savings plans and Thrift Savings Plan through the U.S. Federal Government can increase their contributions to $22,500 — a jump of $2,000 from last

The Balance Money says for tax year 2022, people age 65 or older can add an extra $1,750 to the standard deduction they’re eligible for if they are unmarried and not a surviving spouse. Those who are married and file joint returns can add $1,400. For tax year 2023, those amounts go up to $1,850 and $1,500. In addition, the standard eligible deductions increased. Most older taxpayers feel the bigger standard deduction plus the extra standard deduction is more than any itemized deductions they can claim and choose this option when filing their returns.

Reduce taxable income

The ability to contrib-

ute more to tax-defered retirement accounts enables older adults to reduce their taxable incomes. This, in turn, reduces the amount that needs to be spent on income taxes.

Changes in filing threshold

According to The Arbor Company, which oversees senior living communities, the filing threshold is the income that must be made before being required to file a tax return. Typical taxpayers who are either employees or retired and drawing pensions or Social Security find the threshold increases over age 65. Single filers over age 65 do not need to file returns if their incomes are $14,050 or under. Married filers over age 65 have a threshold of $27,400. If primary or sole income comes from Social Security or a pension, those over age

65 may not have to file returns at all.

Elderly or disabled tax credit

Differing from deductions, a credit for taxpayers is available to people age 65 or older or retired persons on permanent and total disability who receive taxable disability income for the tax year, according to the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, this credit is for those who have an adjusted gross income or the total of nontax-

able Social Security, pensions, annuities, or disability income under specific limits. The eligibility levels change from year to year. Credits range from $3,750 to $7,500.

These are some of the tax breaks American seniors can expect when filing their income tax returns. Speak with an accountant and financial planner about other perks that come with aging. Individuals also can visit www.irs.gov for further information.

Photo by Kathryn Ross

Peter Vars of BMI of Fairport explains the details of a Taco Bell project in Wellsville to the village board Monday night.

Servicing Cattaraugus, Allegany, McKean and Potter Counties

home improvement

things every homeowner should do at the start of spring

(BPT) — Spring is the perfect season for home improvement as it presents many opportunities for first-time homebuyers and experienced homeowners to be more thorough when it comes to maintenance.

As the weather warms up, you’ll find plenty of indoor and outdoor projects that can improve the functionality of your home and boost its curb appeal while also avoiding unpleasant surprises.

“Many homeowners perform spring cleaning tasks to freshen up and declutter their homes, but it’s also crucial to tackle important maintenance tasks,” said Viviane Essex, merchant at The Home Depot. “For most people, their home is their biggest investment. The Home Depot’s Home Services can help homeowners with routine repairs and installation projects that provide comfort, safety and most importantly, peace of mind.”

Don’t know where to start? The Home Depot’s Home Services has provided a helpful spring maintenance checklist. Here are three items you can check off your to-do list to make sure your home’s internal systems and external features run smoothly.

1. Schedule seasonal maintenance on your HVAC system

Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is crucial to keeping your home cozy in the winter and cool during the

summer. Most systems have a lifetime of 10 to 20 years, and efficiency can drastically decrease as your equipment gets older.

If your HVAC system is working harder and not performing as well as it should, it may be time to replace it. Book a consultation with a certified professional who can inspect your existing system, make recommendations and give you an estimate for a new system. Not only will it help improve your home’s air quality, but it will also keep your family comfortable all season long.

2. Maintain, repair or replace your water heater

Water is used throughout your entire home, from showering and bathing to cooking and watering your lawn.

To ensure you are using quality water, you’ll

need to inspect, replace and repair your water heater. Make sure to check “inspecting your water heater” off your spring cleaning list. Keep an eye out for any water buildup around your water heater, water-quality issues or small plastic pieces from your fixtures that can affect your water supply. Also, look out for changes in water temperature or temperature duration, a broken pilot light, noise in your unit or pipes, or the smell of gas around your water heater. If you notice any of these signs, your water heater may be failing and need to be repaired or replaced.

3. Spruce up the outside of your home

The exterior of your home is just as important to inspect and repair as the interior. Your windows are an especially

visible part of your home that need careful attention.

During winter, you may feel drafts or frequently see condensation on your windows. As the seasons change, you may notice cracking or peeling around window exteriors. These are signs that it may be time to replace your windows. This spring, book a window replacement. Windows should be inspected by a licensed professional every 20-

25 years to see if they need to be replaced. No matter what windows you choose, a new high-quality window with thick, insulated glass is more energy efficient than older single-pane windows. Best of all, new windows can also improve your home’s appearance.

Another external item to inspect this spring is your garage door. You may not think your garage door needs regular maintenance, but just like a car, it needs regular tune-ups. Small issues can quickly turn expensive down the line. Also, some garage door problems can pose a safety hazard and cause serious injury.

Depending on the age and condition of your garage door, it may be time to replace it. Replacing your garage door can improve the look of your home and increase its market value.

Finally, consider installing a new fence around your property. Fences provide privacy and security. They can help keep children and pets safe inside your yard, while also keeping

out unwanted animals and trespassers. This decorative element also provides protection around an outdoor space, like a pool or garden.

For all your indoor and outdoor spring-cleaning projects, you can find help at The Home Depot’s Home Services. Their installers can help you choose the material and style that best fits your property and needs.

All certified service providers are local, licensed, insured and background checked. To learn more and book appointments to spruce up your home this spring, visit HomeDepot.com/ Services.

New York State American Legion officials visit Wellsville

WELLSVILLE —

Saving the best for last, state American Legion officials visited the Morrison Hayes Post 702 on Feb. 20 for the annual state visit and testimonial dinner.

The dinner was in honor of the commander of the American Legion Department of New York, David R. Riley Sr. He was accompanied by Nancy J. Babis, president of the American Legion Auxiliary of the state, and Timothy S. Van Patten II, state commander of the Sons of the American Legion.

In attendance were representatives from across the 8th District (extending from Buffalo to the Pennsylvania state line) including, Edward Morris, director of the Department of Legion Riders; Vice Commander Dale Kane

of the Sons of the Legion; and Sue Williams, president of the 8th District Auxiliary. The audience also included 8th District commanders and presidents.

While the purpose of the dinner was to recognize the work of the American Legion, members also contributed funds to the projects initiated by the state officials.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Riley, of Rome, is the newest state Legion commander. During his one-year term Riley visits Legion districts all around the state to share the Legion message of veteran advocacy and community involvement.

Retired from the state Department of Correctional Services, Riley is an active member in a number of veterans organizations.

His goals for his time in office are to increase

Legion membership and eradicate veteran suicide.

Riley pointed out that Post 702 is a good example of how the Legion is a family-oriented organization.

“You have to be a family to do what you’ve done here tonight,” he said.

He encouraged members to help enrollment by focusing on family activities and good works

With an average of 17 veterans taking their own lives daily in the United States, Riley emphasized that all veterans should come to the aid of their peers in distress through the Be the One program. He urged veterans not to ignore others in distress and to listen, talk and ask for help when they need it. The national helpline is 988, Press 1.

“Our goal is to save one vet a day,” he said.

Babis encouraged the local auxiliary to increase membership from its present 82.28% to 85%.

“It’s not much. You can do it,” she said. She also asked for more representation in the Empire Girls’ State. A program similar to Boys’ State, it teaches young women about Americanism and Democracy. The county organization selects three participants and three alternates for the week-long program at Brockport, which takes place in July.

Babis also emphasized that the district should enroll more veterans for participation in honor flights, which transport veterans and their caregivers free of charge to Washington,

D.C. for tours of the monuments and memorials. For more information on the program go to www.buffaloniagarahonorflight.com. The next flight is scheduled for June.

VanPatten, who is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, is also in charge of public relations for the Legion. He urged the Legion to do more advertising about what they do to grow membership.

“Everyone wants to be a part of an organization that is doing something for its community,” he offered.

As a member of the CAP, VanPatten said they are helping with the pilot shortage by training young people and helping them earn their pilots’ licenses.

“We teach science, tech, engineering and math at our yearly cadet boot camps and our Civil Air Patrol cadets are highly considered for acceptance into the military academies,” he said.

Following the speeches and the dinner each organization from individual posts to the Sons of the American Legion and the Legion Riders and the Auxiliary donated to the individual causes expressed by Riley, Babis and VanPatten.

In the end, Riley, who started his district visits in September, said, “We always save the best visit for last because we can always count on Wellsville for a good time.”

automotive

When should you replace rotors and brake pads?

The ability to accelerate and steer freely is vital to vehicle performance. Equally crucial is being able to stop the car to avoid collisions and obstacles. Brake pads and rotors are vital components of braking mechanisms that need to be maintained and serviced.

Drivers may wonder how frequently they have to replace brake parts. Car and Driver

magazine states brake pads are among the most crucial braking components. Brake pads create the friction that helps stop a car when they are pressed against the brake rotor, also known as the brake disc. It’s in drivers’ best interests to ensure that brake pads, as well as rotors, always function properly and are replaced before their effectiveness is compromised.

Replacing brake pads

Brake pads are made from different materials, but all will wear down over time, losing a portion of material every time the brakes are used. Eventually brake pads will not be able to generate enough friction to stop the vehicle quickly. Industry experts generally recommend brakes be replaced every 20,000 to 60,000 miles. Since that is a wide mileage range, drivers can listen for squealing noises or grinding sounds or feel for vibrations when deploying the brakes. Each of those signs may indicate brakes need to be replaced.

Replacing rotors

Like brake pads, rotors also will wear out over time. Brake rotors

must meet a certain thickness to be considered safe. If they are below that thickness, then they must be fully replaced. Some drivers opt to have their rotors resurfaced. This means

removing any grooves, hotspots or anomalies on the rotors that can cause uneven wear of the brake pads. However, if the rotors are too thin, they cannot be resurfaced, as this removes some additional rotor material. Rotors can only be resurfaced once before replacement. Some vehicles have rotors that cannot be resurfaced at all.

Rotors can go thousands of miles before they need to be replaced, but vibrations while braking and squeaking noises

are usually indicative that rotors need to be checked and/or replaced. Even though brake pads and rotors may wear out at different intervals, many automotive professionals advise replacing rotors when brake pads are changed for optimal performance and safety. Brakes are an essential safety component. Work with a qualified mechanic to have brake pads and rotors serviced before wear and tear adversely affects driver safety and vehicle performance.

Photos by Kathryn Ross

New York State American Legion Commander David Riley (left) is welcomed to the Morrison Hayes Post 702 American Legion in Wellsville by Post Commander Brent Roberts.

Nancy L. Babis, president of the New York State American Legion Auxiliary, recognizes Suzanne Thomas, president of the Allegany County auxiliary.

JCC, Alfred State, Genesee CC establish WNY Works initiative

Three regional State University of New York colleges joined forces to bolster the regional manufacturing industry.

Jamestown Community College, Alfred State College and Genesee Community College established a collaborative marketing initiative called WNY Works in response to the crisis Western New York employers face in finding and hiring skilled manufacturing workers. The goal is to attract more students to study and pursue rewarding manufacturing careers.

“JCC is excited to partner with Alfred State and Genesee Community College in fulfilling the mission of WNY Works,” said Dr. Kirk Young, JCC’s vice president of Student Affairs. “We stay in constant communication with our regional employers’ needs and understand the skills graduates must have to land rewarding jobs. This project continues to power our dedication to training our local workforce and supporting our manufacturers.”

The National Association of Manufacturers estimates that 2.1 million jobs will be open by 2030. Western New York manufacturers employ more than 60,000 workers who earn an average of $85,474 annually. However, 77 percent

report that they cannot find skilled professionals to fill open positions.

In Western New York, annual wages include $60,800 for computer and electronics manufacturing jobs, $79,300 for transportation equipment work, $60,100 for fabricated metal workers, and $60,460 for mechatronics technicians, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. More career options can be viewed at WNYworks.org/advanced-manufacturing.

The three colleges, spread across the Western New York region, offer dozens of certificate and associate degree programs in manufacturing that can help workers retrain and upskill to gain better-paying jobs and a more fulfilling future.

Thanks to a grant from the Wilson Foundation, manufacturing opportunities offered by JCC, Alfred State, and GCC are shared on the recently-launched WNYworks.org website. Through the website, brochures, social media, digital advertising, and videos to showcase graduate success stories, the goal is to increase the number of skilled workers in Western New York who are needed to fuel the local economy.

This project has focused on empowering the colleges to generate

brand awareness, drive applications and enrollment, and broaden their share of the market for manufacturing.

The colleges have

enlisted the expertise of Interact Communications, a leader in student recruitment for two-year degrees, to implement a regional marketing

strategy. Advertising has begun on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, Google, Spotify, Pandora, TikTok, and Amazon OTT

with the aim of driving traffic to WNYworks.org and connecting Western New Yorkers to a variety of manufacturing career paths.

Counties’ sales tax receipts beat state, inflation levels in January

BY BOB CLARK

Area counties beat statewide sales tax collections increases in January, the state’s fiscal watchdog reported, but the area’s cities saw much smaller increases.

An analysis released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli indicated that local sales tax collections across the state increased by 9.2% in January compared to the same month in 2022. Local collections totaled $1.89 billion, up $159 million compared to the same time last year.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the annual inflation rate in January was 6.4%.

“As we head into a new year, local sales tax growth remains quite strong,” DiNapoli said. “Consumer spending and a strong labor market have buoyed sales tax growth even as

health & Wellness

prices remain elevated. Local governments should budget cautiously as this growth may level off sooner than they expect.”

Allegany County sales tax collections totaled $2.43 million, up 12.7% from January 2022. The county operates on a calendar-based fiscal year. Western New York as a region saw $116.48 million in receipts in the five counties and two cities that collect sales tax receipts, up 12.3% from January 2022. The county with the highest jump in receipts was Niagara County, with a 15.1% increase. The lowest increase by county was in Chautauqua County at 6.5%. Sales tax collections for Cattaraugus County totaled $4.3 million, up 10.8% from January 2022. The county operates on a calendar-based fiscal year.

The city of Olean

saw sales tax receipts tallying $450,624, up 1.7% from January 2022. The city’s fiscal year ends May 31. Receipts from the first eight months of the fiscal year totaled $3.54 million, down 7.9% from the opening of the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Monthly sales tax distributions made to counties and tax-imposing cities are based on estimates by the state Department of Taxation and Finance. In the third month of each calendar year quarter, the distributions are adjusted so that the quarter as a whole reflects reported sales by vendors. Such a correction is believed to be the cause of a large drop in revenue for the city of Olean, which saw receipts in June 2022 of about $411,000 lower than in June 2021.

The 2022-23 budget includes expected revenue of $5.1 million for

the full 12 month budget. The city received $1.75 million in sales tax receipts between Feb. 1 and May 31, 2022, and if similar sales tax receipts are seen over the next four months, the city could see about a $190,000 surplus above projections. New York City’s collections totaled $844 million, an increase of 8.8%, or $68 million, over January of 2022. Every county experienced some year-overyear growth in January collections, with Delaware County seeing the largest increase at 26%, followed by Schenectady and Cayuga counties at 24.1% and 20.6%, respectively. Onondaga County had the lowest growth at 0.6%.

The next quarterly numbers will be available in April. DiNapoli’s most recent annual report covered the October-December quarter and calendar year 2022.

Lowering blood sugar may reduce Alzheimer’s risk

Aging is associated with certain ailments, some of which concern seniors more than others. One of the conditions many older adults worry about is dementia, particularly in the form of Alzheimer’s disease. Though there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, recent research suggests reducing blood sugar may be associated with a lower risk.

Doctors and researchers have determined a link between high blood sugar levels and the formation of dementia, which includes a loss of memory and thinking skills that afflicts mil-

lions of older people. A 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that, even when diabetes was not evident, there is a correlation between sugar and dementia. A blood sugar level above normal levels (depending on activity level and weight, among other factors) can contribute to an elevated risk of developing dementia. Furthermore, a longitudinal study published in 2018 in the journal Diabetologia, which followed 5,189 people over 10 years, found those with high blood sugar had a faster rate

of cognitive decline than those with normal blood sugar — whether or not those blood sugar levels classified the people as being diabetic. The link could be due to an enzyme that breaks down insulin. Insulin-degrading enzyme, a product of insulin that breaks down both insulin and amyloid proteins in the brain, which are the same proteins that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease, is a factor in the connection to dementia. Melissa Schilling, a professor at New York University, reviewed studies and found that

people who have type 1 diabetes and don’t produce enough insulin can’t break down the amyloid proteins naturally. Furthermore, those who take insulin to treat diabetes can end up with a surplus of insulin in the body. The insulin-degrading enzyme gets used up trying to break the surplus down. This doesn’t leave enough enzyme to tackle amyloid brain clumping proteins. These same scenarios can occur in people if their blood sugar levels are elevated, even if they don’t have diabetes yet.

Data published by Harvard Health Publishing indicates “any incremental increase in blood sugar was associated with an increased risk of dementia.” Individuals who have elevated blood sugar levels, or roughly 100 mg/dL or higher after a fast, can tame sugar levels by exercising, losing weight and shifting away from highly refined grains.

Individuals also may want to favor a Mediterranean style of eating, which focuses on fish, olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and beans over a

processed carbohydrateand sugar-laden diet.

High blood sugar is another factor linked to the formation of Alzhei-

mer’s disease and other dementias. Making lifestyle changes can keep seniors healthy throughout their golden years.