Allegany County Community Source 10-28-2022

West Clarksville’s Eric Jones tops in ‘Outrageous

BY BOB CLARK

After a four-epi sode competition, area sculptor Eric Jones came out on top in Food Network’s “Outrageous Pumpkins” show this fall.

Taking home the $25,000 top prize, the West Clarksville bested seven other pumpkin carvers in the third season of the show, the finale of which aired Sunday evening.

The show, hosted by Food Network presenter Sunny Anderson and judged by Terri Hardin and Paul Dever carried the tagline “When the knives come out, no pumpkin is safe.” A special guest judge for the final episode was Food Network’s Maneet Chauhan.

In a live Facebook video shortly after the episode aired, Jones thanked his fans, the production company, and the show for the appreciation.

“What a privilege it was to be part of this,” Jones said. “I’m just humbled by this — even though I knew that this was coming for a long time, I’m still shocked this happened to this small-town boy.

“A year is a long time when you know the results like that — it was really, really tough

to keep that quiet,” he said, noting the filming was last fall.

For the challenges, participants had eight hours to complete a given task, and it was a case of “go big or go home,” he said.

“I was pretty beat up — it was 8 hours of non stop work, it was crazy. Never took a break,” he said, adding the com petition took several weeks to complete.

In the final challenge between the last four participants, each was charged with creating a larger-than-life chil dren’s toy with a creepy spin.

“This would be like the Super Bowl for pumpkin carvers,” he

said. “These other con testants were amazing.”

Known around the area for his sand, snow and pumpkin carvings, Jones previously ap peared on the network’s show “Halloween Wars.”

As the episode aired, Jones noted he has a booked schedule around the region, from carving classes and demonstra tions to a live carving for the Buffalo Bills today.

What’s after that?

“I’m not sure yet. I’ve been talking to a couple of other compa nies, a couple of other things coming on. I’ve got a million things coming up this week,” he said.

Wellsville theater group presenting ‘Sleepy Hollow: The Musical’

BY KATHRYN ROSS

WELLSVILLE — The Headless Horseman will ride onto the stage when the Starlight The atre Company performs “Sleepy Hollow: The Musical” at 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday in the Grace United Mis sion Center.

Written nearly 200 years ago by Washing ton Irving, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is a Halloween favorite and has been made into

movies, plays, cartoons, and animated dramas, yet only one musical.

Ryan Keib the show’s producer said that the Starlight The atre Company enjoys offering musicals to the public, but that it is expensive to purchase the performing rights to them.

“We’ve been wanting to do another musical, so we’ve been saving up,” he said. “We liked this musical, which features catchy original

music and combines comedy with the drama, and the timing was right for Halloween.”

This will be the com pany’s last performance for the year.

Keib added that the story of timid school master Ichabod Crain and the love triangle be tween him, Katrina Van Castle and Brom Bones and the avenging Head less Horseman will be enhanced with the help of donations from patrons and businesses.

The musical numbers will be loud and clear thanks to the personal microphones and better sound equipment that have been purchased from the donations.

“We’ve got some great singers in the group and the songs are really fun,” Keib said, adding that the cast of 25 is the largest the troupe has ever had for a performance. The thespians hail from Wellsville, Andover, Angelica, and Bolivar.

“We really have put together a spectacular and crowd-pleasing show for the commu nity,” said director Heidi Lawton, a veteran actress and one of the founders of the Starlight Theatre Company. “Our cast and crew have been working hard to make it the best show Starlight Theatre Company has ever had.”

Through the staging and props designed

Food Network

Eric Jones of West Clarksville poses with a pumpkin carving he created for Food Network’s “Outrageous Pumpkins” competition show. Jones was crowned champion of the competition in an episode which premiered Sunday.

Sleepy Hollow continued

Armstrong Continues Efforts to Avenge Hunger

Belfast, NY-October

14th, 2022– Armstrong conducted their fifth annual Avenge Hun ger Month to provide much needed resources to over 200 communi ty feeding programs. During the month of September, Armstrong customers, employees and community part ners donated nearly 20,000 pounds of food and nearly $15,000 in monetary donations, as well as raising addi tional awareness via email, social media and Armstrong running tele vision commercials.

Through the annual Avenge Hunger Month drive, Armstrong has collected over 135,000 pounds of food and $73,000 in monetary

donations to share with community feeding programs over the past five years. Avenge Hun ger Month also helps to increase awareness of Armstrong’s Breaking Bread initiative to stock local food pantries and soup kitchens for their busy Fall and Winter seasons.

While September, National Hunger Action Month, receives the most attention, Breaking Bread is a year-round initiative. Donations of food or money can be dropped off at any of the 15 local Armstrong offices to benefit those who are struggling with hunger and food insecu rity in the communities served by Armstrong in Pennsylvania, Ohio,

New York, West Vir ginia, Kentucky and Maryland.

“With the rising cost of groceries, families have found it difficult to purchase enough groceries to put food on their table. We appre ciate the generosity of our customers, employ ees and community partners who donate so we can help stock the shelves in the local food pantries,” said Jesse Zuver, Communi ty Marketing Manager with Armstrong.

“Wellspring Minis tries is grateful to have been chosen as the recipient of the food and monetary dona tions from this year’s Avenge Hunger Month drive. We are a faithbased charity located at 5993 County Rd 16 in Belfast, NY. Our purpose is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ along with providing household goods, food, and clothing to those in need. Wellspring is supported by the voluntary gifts from individuals, churches, and civic groups. As a result of prayer and financial support Well spring is able to operate a safe and effective soup kitchen where nutri tious balanced meals are served on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon. We are also able to provide emergency food box es to individuals and families in need,” said Beth Fleischman, Chair person of the board at Wellspring Ministries.

The Breaking Bread initiative started in 2010. Armstrong’s Breaking Bread is a four-pronged approach to giving;

providing food, money, time, and awareness. Most importantly, Arm strong raises awareness about the need for food in the community. Armstrong has donated thousands of branded commercials to promote this need in our com munities, as well as via social media, email, and the Armstrong Neigh borhood Channel.

About Armstrong Armstrong provides industry leading highspeed ZOOM Internet with Enhanced Wi-Fi, advanced television powered by EXP, and telephone services to residential and com mercial customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, West Vir ginia, Maryland, and Kentucky. Armstrong, recognized as the 2022 Independent Cable Operator of the Year, is America’s 11th largest cable television provid er, according to SNL Kagan, an offering from S&P Global Market Intelligence.

FRIDAY

WEDNESDAY

MONDAY

THURSDAY

TUESDAY

L-R: Steve Rennie, Jesse Zuver, Beth Fleischman, Beth Beardsley, Bill Doezema, and Ernie Rositzke

by Jamie O’Kelly, from the glowing eyes of the Headless Horseman’s steed to the jack-o-lan tern head to the spirits roving the theater, Keib said the audience will be immersed in the production.

“Sleepy Hollow: The Musical,” based on Irving’s story from 1820, retells the tale of super stitious, gawky school master Ichabod Crane

and his adventures in Sleepy Hollow, a quiet farming village with its share of ghost stories.

At a fall dance hosted by the village’s richest man and his attractive daughter, Crane hears the tale of the vengeful Headless Horseman. At the end of the evening as Crane is riding home, alone, he encounters the horseman.

“But there’s nothing

to be scared of. This spooky comedy will thrill and delight com munity members of all ages,” Keib said.

The Grace United Mission Center (former ly the Christian Tem ple) is on the corner of Fassett Street and Maple Avenue. Admission is $6 at the door; there is no presale and the ticket includes desserts.

Trick-or-treat hours and events are set for Halloween across the Southern Tier.

• Andover — Trick-ortreating hours: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

• Angelica — Trick-ortreating hours: Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.

• Belfast — Trick-or-treat ing hours: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

• Belmont — Trick-ortreating hours: Saturday, 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, 1-4 p.m., 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat, Allegany County Office Building. Allegany County Deputy Sheriff’s

Association, Sheriff Rick Whitney offering treats, 20” bicycle raffles.

Bolivar — Trick-or-treat ing hours: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

• Cuba — Trick-or-treating hours: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, 6 p.m., Cuba Circulating Library “Spooky Magic” show with magician Cris Johnson. The show is in tended for children ages 4-12 and any fun-loving adults. Free and open to the public without registration.

Saturday — Cuba Cham ber of Commerce, Village of Cuba and Cuba mer chants Trunk or Treat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. East and West Main streets closed to traffic for craft ven dors, food, make & take crafts for kids, face paint ing, music and cornhole. Bicentennial ghost stories with 6 p.m. tour of The Inn at 28, with stories by Kaycee Colburn and William Robertson from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

• Franklinville — Trickor-treating hours: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. Sunday — Trunk or Treat, 2-4 p.m., Park Square.

• Friendship — Trick-ortreating hours: Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.

• Hume — Trick-or-treat ing hours: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

• Hinsdale — Trick-ortreating hours: Friday, 1-2 p.m., Hin sdale Central School Halloween Parade. Main Street. Street will be closed for the parade, and the community is encouraged to attend.

• Independence — Trickor-treating hours: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

• Portville — Trick-ortreating hours: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. Scio — Trick-or-treating hours: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Wellsville — Trick-ortreating hours: Oct. 31,

6-8 p.m. Friday — Wellsville YMCA Parents Night Out. Drop off the kids for games, crafts and pizza. 4-8 p.m. Pre-registration required. Family mem

bership cost $2, other membership cost $5, non-member cost $10. West Clarksville Trick-or-treating hours: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Announced

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is for everyone 18 or old er—regardless of prior experience—who wants to be able to provide suicide first aid. Shown to significantly reduce suicidality, the ASIST model teaches effective intervention skills while helping to build suicide prevention networks in

the community.

“The Allegany Coun ty Suicide Prevention Coalition is pleased to be hosting a free twoday ASIST training in Belmont, NY on Thurs day and Friday, No vember 17 & 18, 2022,” stated Jose Soto, Suicide Prevention Coalition Coordinator at Ardent Solutions, Inc.

Virtually anyone can

learn the skills to inter vene and save a life from suicide. Professionals as well as members of the community at large have all found great value in ASIST.

Developed in 1983 and regularly updated to reflect improvements in knowledge and prac tice, ASIST is the world’s leading suicide interven tion workshop. During

the two-day interactive session, participants learn to intervene and help prevent the im mediate risk of sui cide. Worldwide, over 1,000,000 people have taken the workshop, and studies have proven that the ASIST method helps reduce suicidal feelings for those at risk.

Although ASIST is widely used by health care providers, it is a resource for the whole community. Participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop. The free training includes all course materials, as well as breakfast and lunch for both days. Pre-reg istration is required by November 4, 2022 by calling 585-593-1738 or via email at programs@ ardentnetwork.org. Space is limited. Register today! Learn more at www.ArdentNetwork. org.

Photo Provided

The cast of “Sleepy Hollow: The Musical” spooks Ichabod Crane with the tale of the headless Horseman.

home improvement

renovation projects

Home renovation projects are significant undertakings. Working with skilled and ex perienced contractors can ensure projects go smoothly and are com pleted promptly. Timing is a big consideration for homeowners as they begin renovating their homes, and the home

improvement experts at HomeAdvisor note that the following are some general timelines for popular renovation projects.

• Home addition: Short of a fullscale demolition and rebuild, home additions are the

most time-consuming projects homeowners can undertake.

HomeAdvisor notes that its survey of customers who recently completed home addition projects reported that the average time from start to finish was between three and four months. Certain variables, including the scale of the project and the local permits process, can extend the time it takes to complete a home addition.

• Kitchen remodel: Scale is a big factor to consider when estimating the time

it takes to complete various home improvement projects, and kitchen remodels are no exception. Some HomeAdvisor users reported projects taking as long as four months, though the average time reported was roughly six weeks. Projects that require major overhauls like rearranging the plumbing and moving walls will likely take longer than more cosmetic projects that are limited to replacing cabinets and countertops.

• Bathroom remodel: More than 1,000

homeowners surveyed by HomeAdvisor reported that bathroom remodels took about 4.5 weeks from start to finish. Small-scale remodels that focus on painting the walls a fresh color and replacing existing tiles can be completed in less than two weeks. But like with kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels that involve replacing plumbing fixtures and removing walls figure to take much longer than that.

• Siding installation: HomeAdvisor users report that new siding projects take roughly two weeks from start to finish. That estimate is the same regardless of which materials homeowners are replacing and installing.

• Replacement windows: Homeowners who want to replace all the windows in their home can expect such a project to take roughly three weeks. HomeAdvisor notes that such a timeline need not concern homeowners worried that they will be forced to brave the elements during the length of the project. Much of a contractors’ time during a window replacement project will be spent on upfront measuring and then ensuring a tight fit once the windows have been installed.

health & Wellness

Understanding lymphoma

Cancers affect many different parts of the body. Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in cells that comprise the body’s immune system.

The immune system utilizes infection-fight ing cells called lym phocytes, which are specialized white blood cells. These cells are found in the bone mar row, thymus, lymph nodes, and spleen, otherwise known as the lymph system. Individ uals with lymphoma have lymphocytes that transform and grow unchecked.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are two main kinds of lymphoma. Deter

mining which type a person has will affect treatment plans.

• Hodgkin lymphoma: This is a lymphoma that spreads in an orderly fashion from one group of lymph nodes to another.

• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: This lymphoma spreads erratically throughout the lymphatic system. This is the most common type of lymphoma. Each type of lym phoma can occur in children, teens and adults. WebMD says every case of lympho ma grows at a different rate and responds dif ferently to treatment.

Lymphoma should not be confused with leuke mia. Leukemia begins in blood-forming cells inside bone marrow.

Signs and symptoms of lymphoma include the following, accord ing to the Mayo Clinic:

• fever

• painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin

• night sweats

• shortness of breath

• itchy skin

• unexplained weight loss

Consult a doctor if signs or symptoms are persistent and/or worrisome.

Certain people are at higher risk for lymphoma than others, although it can occur in anyone. Research ers have found a link between HIV infection and a higher risk of developing lymphoma. Other viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus and human T-cell lympho trophic virus, also have been linked to certain kinds of lymphoma. Family history and exposure to ionizing radiation also increase risk for lymphoma. Men also are slightly more likely to devel op lymphoma than women.

The good news is that lymphoma is high ly treatable, though the outlook varies depending on the type of lymphoma. Individ uals can speak with a doctor to learn more about lymphoma and treatment.

Lithographs of Holy Land, Egypt to be exhibited at Houghton

HOUGHTON —

The Ortlip Gallery at Houghton Universi ty will exhibit a rare collection of art loaned by Houghton alumnus Craig Proulx, entitled “Lithographs of the Holy Land and Egypt by David Roberts, Roy al Academician.”

The exhibit will be on display Friday through Dec. 15 in the Center for the Arts gal lery space. The beauti ful, intricate drawings done on location by Roberts in North Africa and the Middle East in the 1830s were then printed by lithographer

Louis Haghe in the 1840s and bound into books.

“While visiting a good friend, who is an antiquities art dealer and framer, in Alex andria, Va. in 2012, he showed me a few David Roberts lithographs he had,” Proulx said. “I had not seen any Egyp tian and Holy Land monuments depicted so well, with such details. I was impressed and pur chased the six prints he had. As I learned about the many more David Roberts prints that ex isted, I purchased more as they came available.”

Proulx’s professional career was outside the realm of the art world.

After graduating with a degree in biology from Houghton and working in forensics research for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laborato ry in Washington, D.C., Proulx launched his own successful business of advanced weaponry

development for the U.S. Navy.

A native of Auburn, Proulx, Class of 1976 at Houghton, lives in North Carolina.

Roberts, a son of a humble shoemaker, was born in Scotland in 1796. After demonstrat ing artistic potential as a child, he took a sev en-year apprenticeship with a house-painter, eventually branching out on his own as a the ater set designer in both Scotland and England. By the 1820s, Roberts was sought after for his fine-art landscapes especially his realistic and detailed depictions of abbeys, cathedrals, palaces, and cityscapes from across Western Europe.

Yet what launched

Roberts to new levels of fame were his drawings of more far-flung plac es. In the 19th century, Orientalism was a pop ular style of Romantic fine art that depicted the Near East through the lens of the West, blurring the boundaries of reality and fantasy for the voraciously cu rious Victorian minds. In the British world devoid of photogra phy but filled with an unsatiable thirst for the unknown and exotic, Roberts provided de tailed images of Egypt, Nubia (present-day Su dan), Palestine, Jordan, and Syria.

Upon his return to England in 1839 after 11 months of drawing, sleeping in deserts, riding on camels,

automotive

Did you know?

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pan demic, news about the automotive industry focused largely on how consumers were not buying new cars and demand was way down, largely due to people staying home. However, over time, the big news on the automobile front was how semiconductor chip shortages were halting production lines and leading to unprec edented supply short ages — despite record demand. Semiconductor chips are found in lap tops and other electron ics, including vehicles. These industries have had to cut back on the number of items they produce as a result. In June 2022, Toyota announced it would be cutting its production quota in July by 50,000 units. Intel CEO Pat Gel singer now expects the semiconductor indus try to be impacted by

shortages until 2024 due to a lack of manufactur ing equipment. Other factors affecting chip production are limited access to purified neon gas, as Ukraine supplies 25 to 35 percent of this gas, as well as a lack

avoiding the bubonic plague in Jerusalem, more drawing, battling infectious disease, and fleeing from bandits, he sought to find a pub lisher and lithographer to bring his works to a wider audience. For seven years Roberts entrusted his work and collaborated with prominent lithographer Louis Haghe, who converted his draw ings into stone-printed books. The first edition resulted in 400 cop ies, the first of which was bought by Queen Victoria.

The opening recep tion for the exhibit is 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Center for the Arts on Houghton’s cam pus. A brief gallery talk begins at 7 p.m.

of palladium, which is largely supplied by Russia. In addition, air transport costs continue to go up. Semiconductor chips control functions of touchscreens, braking systems, backup cam eras, and even airbag deployment systems. Automobiles may even have chips in engines.

A 19th century lithograph, “Jerusalem,” by David Roberts will be part of an exhibit at Houghton University.