Allegany County Community Source 11-25-2022

Hometown Holidays coming up in

BY KATHRYN ROSS

WELLSVILLE —

There is a little new and a little old and a lot of fun when it comes to the Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce Hometown Holidays from Nov. 26 to Dec. 17.

The event will get started the Saturday following Thanksgiv ing and while other communities may still be gobbling their way through leftovers or trotting down the street, Wellsville will be wel coming that Jolly Old Elf to town.

The Lions Club’s Fantasy of Lights is located on the lawn of the David A. Howe Library. There individ uals and groups, clubs, businesses, and organi zations have decorated more than three dozen Christmas trees, which only await Santa’s mag ic touch to illuminate them for the entirety of the holiday season. That will happen at the conclusion of the Home town Holiday Parade.

On Nov. 26 the Santa Claus parade will start at 5 p.m. near the Main Street fire hall. It is open to anyone who wants to celebrate the season. Lineup will start at 4 p.m. in the Bokman car lot.

Riding aboard a fire truck, Santa will bring up the end of the parade. Once Santa arrives at the library, he will disembark from

his firetruck sleigh and proceed to the library’s front terrace. There he will flip the switch illu minating the Christmas trees.

Following the parade Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the Chamber office where they will take letters and talk to children about their holiday wishes.

At 7:30 p.m. there will be grand fireworks display clearly visible from much of the village and especially from the area around the library.

Karen Kania of the Chamber said there was a tremendous increase in the cost of fireworks this year, but Chamber members and the com munity responded, and this year’s display will be as big as in previous years.

On Dec. 1 a new event will start when the Chamber hosts the first — or the first in recent memory — Res idential Decorating Contest.

“A member suggest

ed that we should do this, so we went with it,” Kania said.

The Residential Decorating Contest will be judged on Dec. 15 by a Chamber committee and Chamber Gift Cer tificates for first, second and third places will be awarded.

Signup is required either at the Chamber office or by emailing the application on the Chamber’s Facebook page. There is no cost.

”We expect the en tries will be in the spirit of the season and in good taste,” Kania said.

On Dec. 9 “The Nutcracker” ballet will be staged at 7 p.m. in the Nancy Howe Au ditorium at the library. The event is free to the public. There will be an encore performance at 2 p.m. Dec. 10th in the auditorium.

On Dec. 10, starting at 11 a.m., the library will host Holiday Fest with games, crafts, tree decorating and snacks.

Dec. 10 and 17 there will be a Holiday Farm

ers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Library Exhibition Room.

The Chamber continues a tradition it brought back last year, on Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m., the Santa Sprint. Runners are required to dress up in a holiday costume, such as Santa, and race from State Street to Pearl Street.

Kids will start the race at 4:30 p.m. fol lowed by the adults at 4:40 p.m. Contestants may gather in the fire hall at 4 p.m. to register, sign a liability waiver and for costume judg ing. There is no cost. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and first place finishers.

On Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. the Andover Ecumenical

Choir will perform in the Nancy Howe Audi torium. The event is free and open to the public. Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. author Amanda Worm er will present Creepy Christmas Stories in the library auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Dec. 17 the David A. Howe Library will host “The Muppets Christ mas Movie” at 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium. The program is free to the public.

Also Dec. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m., Santa will be back in town cruising the village on top of his fire truck, waving to children, and wishing all a Merry Christmas.

Citing shrinking interest, Allegany Arts Association could disband

BY KATHRYN ROSS

WELLSVILLE — Af

ter 40 years the Alle gany Arts Association may be disbanding.

The year 1982 was far different than the world we know today, and because of that, members of the as sociation’s board of directors and officers are questioning wheth er the need for the organization still exists. So strong is their doubt that they are urging existing members and

problem is that there are not enough mem bers willing to take the responsibility of holding an office or joining the board. For example, for the last several years no one has filled the office of vice president, current president Sheila Kalk brenner said.

Meanwhile, she has handed in her resigna tion.

In the AAA’s most recent newsletter, she stated, “As I have al ready served as editor,

secretary, vice pres ident and president, though I will continue my work to expand local equitable access to the arts, I will not be serving another term as an AAA officer in 2023.”

Forty years ago, a group of people saw the need to expand the arts across Allegany County and formed AAA. Today there is a membership of more than 120 from across

File photo

The Wellsville Lions Club’s Fantasy of Lights located on the David A. Howe Library lawn brings joy throughout the holiday season

supporters to come to the annual meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at the David A. Howe Library, to voice their opinions. The an nual meeting is when officers and board members are elected.

Part of the AAA’s

the county and beyond. Ye only a handful of people have shown up at monthly meet ings and even fewer have volunteered to work on AAA projects, according to five active members.

The AAA’s stated mission is to promote and provide artistic op portunities and expand the arts to the residents of the county.

This past year, the AAA participated in the Main Street Festival in Wellsville, Heritage Days in Angelica, and the Garlic Festival in Cuba in the hopes of

increasing awareness of the organization and providing art activities for children. AAA held a successful summer arts program at var ious locations across the county providing artistic opportunities to more than 100 children, free of charge. In the spring it organized a poetry slam for aspiring poets. It has published a quarterly newsletter that highlights new and established artists and announces various artistic and cultural programs and opportu nities.

Earlier this month.

AAA celebrated its 40th anniversary with a free art exhibition and dance and musi cal programs. In the meantime, the AAA developed an art sponsorship program and brought the ASI Arts Access Program to the county to pro vide transportation for individuals to attend artistic and cultural programs.

Active members note that perhaps the shrinking number of people willing to give time to the organization is due to three years of the COVID-19 pan

demic and restrictions and a lack of time for volunteering. Board members also wonder if it because the associ ation has completed its original mission.

They pointed out that in the 21st century it is no longer difficult for artists to establish themselves. Along with social media platforms and websites to get their work in front of the public, there are several galleries throughout the area.

The Allegany Artisans helps artists network with others and display and sell their work on the Artisans Tour. There are numerous farmer’s markets and festivals where artists’ works

may be marketed. Art is routinely offered in schools; and librar ies across the county provide arts and crafts programs for children and adults. There are numerous theatrical, musical and dance opportunities.

At the Dec. 7 meet ing, members and sponsors are asked to

attend and help decide whether the AAA will continue into its 41st year or disband. They ask members and sup porters to attend if they believe AAA is still needed.

RSVP your inten tion to attend to alle ganyartsassociation@ hotmail.com.

Support offered in Allegany County for those grieving during holidays

FRIENDSHIP — A Friendship church and an Allegany County nonprofit Christian organization are joining together for the upcom ing holidays season to help those struggling, including children, with the death of a loved one, or separation or divorce.

The United Church of Friendship and Allegany Hope will be presenting single session GriefShare Surviving the Holidays, DivorceCare Surviving the Holidays and How to Help Grieving Chil

Dist. IV meeting set for Andover

ANDOVER — Alle gany County Legislative District IV Legislators will be holding their next dis trict meeting in Andover.

Throughout the year county legislators are required to hold pub lic meetings with their constituents. District IV includes Wellsville and Andover. In October the legislators held a district meeting in the Town of Wellsville. Districts IV Legislators are Steve Havey, Gary Barnes and James Rumfelt.

They have scheduled their second district meeting for Tuesday, November 29th at 7 p.m. at the Andover Town Hall on 22 E Greenwood Street in Andover.

Havey who an nounced the meeting said, “This meeting is being held for a general discus sion of mutual problems and interests. If there are any specific topics people would like to have addressed, they should

let one of their legislators know. We will provide a speaker if necessary.

Newly elected Allega ny County Sheriff Scott Cicirillo will be on hand to talk about his vision of the Sheriff’s Office as he takes office.

At the Wellsville Dist. IV meeting the legisla tors were asked about support for the Wellsville Airport after Town Su pervisor Shad Alsworth asked about restoring the $50,000 support funding that the coun ty provided in its 2019 and 2021 busgets. The funding was erased from the 2022 county budget.

Only Havey and Barnes attended the meeting, Both. Barnes, who was the former manager of the airport, and havey agreed to champion restoration of the airport funding.

According to Havey, “Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting even if they do not live in District IV.”

To reach District IV Legslators go to: Gary R. Barnes at: gary.barnes@alleganyco. gov or call 585.296.3795

He is assigned to the standing committees for Planning and Economic Development, Public Safety, Public Works, and Resource Management.

Steven A. Havey at: steven.havey@alleganyco. gov or call 585-808-5418 - County Office Building, Room 201. 7 Court Street. Belmont, NY 14813

He is assigned to the standing committees for Personnel, Public Safety, Ways and Means, and Budget.

James M. Rumfelt at: james.rumfelt@allegany co.gov or call 607-3824058 (h) or 607-478-8455 (w).

He is assigned to the standing committees for Human Services, Per sonnel, Public Safety and Public Works

dren seminars support during November and December at the Carter House, a ministry center of the church located at 37 E. Main St.

The first single ses sions for GriefShare and DivorceCare Surviving the Holidays were held this week. Helping Grieving Children for adults will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30.

Additional presenta tions of all three sessions are being planned for December.

Pastor Kirk Kirch

said there are many individuals who have experienced traumatic events, including the death of a loved one, or separation or divorce, and struggle with the upcoming Thanksgiving to Christmas holidays season, with it also impacting children and their caregivers.

The video/discussion sessions are designed to help those who are grieving recognize they aren’t alone, that many others face the same struggles they are

encountering during the holidays, and to obtain tips on how to cope during this festive peri od celebrated by others, along with different times throughout the year. The presentations also are open to those who want to understand and know more about how to help family members and friends who may be struggling.

Casey Jones, execu tive director of Allegany

dining & Entertainment

Cuba planning a Small Town Christmas for Dec. 3

CUBA — There is still time to sign up for the annual Small Town Christmas parade, scheduled for Satur day, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. in the village.

The special pre-Christmas event begun several years ago by the chamber of commerce has become increasingly popular as a “kick-off” celebra tion for local and area merchants.

Businesses, com munity organizations, youth groups, church es, music groups, fire departments, EMS groups or individuals are all welcomed to the gala event. Prize categories include Best Business, Best Non-profit, Best Fourlegged Pet Costume; and Best Youth.

Cuba officials said its anticipated that Santa Claus himself will be taking time out from his busy work schedule to participate in the parade along with Mrs. Claus and some helper elves.

All parade entries must be returned to the Cuba Chamber of Commerce by Dec. 1. Any questions may be directed to the chamber office at (585) 968-5654, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or email cuba chamberofcommerce@ gmail.com.

Hope, and his wife, Anita Baird Jones, will facilitate the gatherings, having presented the sessions in the past in various Allegany Coun ty churches and other settings.

Jones, who has developed and led full GriefShare and Di vorceCare ministries in several communities in New York and South eastern Pennsylvania, said that most partici pants experience a sense of relief from attending the sessions and learn ing they aren’t alone in what they are feeling, and sometimes bring others who are grieving to future sessions.

He noted the pan demic created significant

disruption in the grief process, particularly as it relates to the death of a loved one, due to normal funeral arrange ments and related family gatherings being inter rupted.

Many individuals also suppress their pain and “move on” with life, but never process the grief, having it re-sur face at unexpected times in the future, which can be years later, he said.

Another circum stance that occurs, Jones noted, is individuals having a more diffi cult time the second or third year after a death, separation or divorce, depending on what time of year the original trauma occurs and other

events which are or have happened during those time frames.

Pain being expe rienced by children, meanwhile, often goes unrecognized because they grieve differently and differently at differ ent age levels, the facil itator noted. Therefore, they may appear to be coping with the trauma and then start to change or act out at different times or in the future.

How to Help Griev ing Children is for parents, caregivers, extended family mem bers, teachers and others who work with children, helping to identify dif ferent grief factors and how to be a support for why the child is doing

what

Pre-registration for

the lay ministry sessions is required at Allegany HopeWNY@outlook. com, providing name, community of residence,

email and telephone number for each indi vidual participant, or at (484) 435-0503.

There is a work book cost of $5 for each Surviving the Holidays registrant. Materials for How to Help Grieving Children are free.

If sufficient interest is received, the church is considering offering the full 13-week Grief Share and DivorceCare sessions, which have broader applications for those experiencing trauma, after the first of the year.

Kirch said this new Surviving the Holidays outreach, being offered to residents of Friend ship and other commu nities through the Carter House ministry center, also is being made avail able for presentation at other churches and part nering organizations.

The presenters been pro vided them in the past at senior centers, libraries and other venues.

they are doing, rather than reacting negatively to how he or she may be acting.

Photo provided

Planners for a new series of seminars being presented in Friendship for those struggling during the holidays with the death of a loved one, separation or divorce, or how to help grieving children, display materials for the activity. From left are Glenn Frutiger, an elder at the United Church of Friendship; Anita Baird Jones, an Allegany Hope presenter; Pastor Kirk Kirch; and Casey Jones of Allegany Hope, who also will be a presenter of the sessions with his wife.

Wellsville Village Board upholds spirit of holiday season

WELLSVILLE — It was only a few days be fore Thanksgiving and weeks before Christ mas, but the Wellsville Village Board was in a seasonal mood at its Nov. 14 meeting.

The good news is that change inserted in village parking meters between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day will go to a worthy cause, Allegany County Cancer Services.

For the last couple of decades, during the holiday season, the village government suspends the require ment for drivers to pay for parking. It is a way of getting more people to shop downtown. However, while there is a note on the meters indicating parking is free, many parkers still deposit their coins. So, the village board decid ed a few years ago, that instead of pocketing the extra revenue, it would gift it to a non-profit group or organization.

Last year the board asked for suggestions, and three organizations were suggested. Rather than divvy up the funds into a three-way split, the board decided to give the 2021 funds to two organizations and the 2022 funds to the ACCS.

The ACCS organi zation was founded in 2006 by breast cancer survivor Lori Ballengee. Its mission was and is to provide funding to Allegany County people traveling for cancer treatment. It raises funds in a variety of ways and uses those funds to purchase gas cards which they give to cancer victims who apply. In the beginning the non-profit organi zation provided $200 gas gift cards; however, today, $500 gas cards are given.

Adhering to Bal lengee’s conviction, that the cost of getting to treatment should be the least worry of patients who must travel out of county for cancer treatment, since 2007 Allegany

County Cancer Services has assisted more than 753 county residents diagnosed with cancer. More than $340,000 has been dispersed. Fund ing is acquired through fundraisers such as basket auctions, golf tournaments, raffles, and 350 Clubs.

Even though it is not required, when parking downtown this holiday season, get into the spirit by dropping a few coins into the meter to help your friends and neighbors who are dealing with cancer.

In other matters, leaf pickup, snow flurries, Santa sprinting, fire works and a bad traffic signal were just a few of the topics covered in

Monday night’s village board meeting.

Recent snow prompted Public Works Director Dean Arnold to tell the mayor and trustees, “Our three plow trucks are set up and ready to go.”

Before that he said the crews were com pleting the final leaf pickup and that they had already picked up leaves three times. Following the meeting, Arnold said that resi dents should be aware that there is no over night parking on streets now through May 1. He also clarified that when plowing out drive ways, snow should not be pushed across the street. That is a state

regulation, he noted.

The board also approved the Chamber of Commerce’s request for a special all-in clusive event permit covering its upcoming events for its Home town Holidays. The event covers the period from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Starting the Saturday after Thanks giving with a parade that will shut down Main Street, fireworks display and including a Santa Sprint race on Dec. 10, which will also require the street to be closed.

Trustee Mike Roe ske asked his fellow board members if they were aware that there is a problem with the arterial traffic signal at Madison Street.

“People are running the light after it fails to signal several times in a row,” he said.

One trustee com mented that if he is third in a row of vehicles waiting for the light to change, he will get out of his car and trip the pedestrian button to change the signal.

“Trouble is by the time you get out of your car the light has changed,” Trustee Mon roe said.

Roeske asked

Arnold if it had been reported to the state? He answered, “Several times.”

At Roeske’s request, Arnold will be putting another call into the state DOT to get the traffic light fixed.

The board also approved a resolution concerning the senior tax exemption.

The board was asked to consider changing the income require ment for the county tax exemption for persons over 65 years of age with limited incomes. It is currently based on

a sliding scale with a maximum of $16,000 income. A motion was requested to change or not change the require ment.

The board members at the meeting voted unanimously to not change the income requirement.

Before adjourning, the board set the date for its annual reorga nizational meeting to Dec. 12, prior to the regular board meeting. The date of its second meeting in December was also changed from Dec. 26 to Dec. 27.

Tips before buying new tires

Though vehicles can’t function without them, tires are some thing few drivers think about until something goes wrong. A roadside flat tire or a tire rotation recommendation from a mechanic during a rou tine oil change appoint ment may be the only time many drivers give much thought to their tires. That no doubt leads to some confusion about what to do when tires inevitably need to be replaced.

The automotive resource Kelley Blue Book notes that the life expectancy of most tires falls between 25,000 and 50,000 miles. That’s a big gap, and car owners can check their vehicle manuals to see if their vehicle manufacturer recommends a more specific replacement in terval. It’s worth noting that mileage is not the only barometer drivers should use to determine

if they need to buy new tires. The following tips can help drivers deter mine if now is the time to outfit their vehicle with new tires.

• Measure the tread.

KBB notes that a tire assessment should always include mea suring the amount of remaining tread.

Drivers can do this on their own in various ways. One method involves looking at the tread wear bars, which are little bridges in the grooves between the ridges. If the bars are even with the tread pattern, then the tire has very little tread remaining and must be replaced. The penny or quarter test is a popular way to determine if tires must be replaced.

Insert a penny or quarter into the center of the tread between two ridges

automotivewith Lincoln’s or Washington’s head facing you. If you can see the very top of the head or the space above the head, the tire must be replaced. If only a little bit of hair is vis ible, then the tire is nearing its end. The tire has sufficient re maining tread if the some of the forehead is concealed.

• Check for other signs of wear and tear. Little remaining tread is not the only sign tires must be replaced. Tires with

cracked sidewalls, discoloration and/or bulging need to be replaced.

• Confirm a larger issue isn’t lurking.

Uneven wear on tires is typically a byproduct of a larger issue. Though tires that have worn un evenly will need to be replaced, replac ing them without correcting the larger issue will only lead to more uneven wear on the new tires.

That’s a costly mis take. KBB notes that poor wheel align

ment or suspension issues are typically to blame for uneven wear. This issue can be fixed and should be addressed prior to purchasing a new set of tires.

Tires sometimes

exhibit telltale signs that they need to be replaced. Before buy ing replacement tires, drivers can inspect their existing ones and ask their mechanic to confirm that a larger is sue isn’t affecting their performance.

Photo by Kathryn Ross

Holiday-season parking will be free in downtown Wellsville.

home improvement

Be water wise in 2023 with smart home improvement ideas

(BPT) — Everyone agrees that water is an important resource, and with the ongoing mega drought paired with increasing costs of water in many cities across

the country, water consumption is increas ingly top of mind. More people are questioning their daily water use and looking for strategic ways to save at home.

Considering only about 1% of Earth’s water is available for human use, it’s import ant that everyone take steps to reduce their wa ter use through smart home improvements. Here are three ways you can make a difference and save money:

1. Understand your water footprint

The first step is to understand how much water you’re using. Start by paying atten tion to your water bill. How much water are you using and how does that compare to months and years past? Some utilities even provide insight into your use compared to your neighbors’, which can be helpful in seeing if you’re above or below average.

Additionally, consid er insightful upgrades like the Kohler H2Wise systems that provide key insight into how much water your home uses every day. Plus, this smart system pro vides 24/7 monitoring that sends real-time alerts to your phone if it detects changes in water pressure that signal potential water leak age or other plumbing problems, so you save wasted water, not to mention, prevent poten tial home damage.

Each American uses

an average of 82 gallons of water a day at home, according to the U.S. Environmental Protec tion Agency. You can lower your water foot print by being aware of your water usage and making several strategic home improvements.

2. Look for labels

The average fam ily spends more than $1,000 per year in water costs, but can save more than $380 annually from retrofitting with Water Sense labeled fixtures and ENERGY STAR certified appliances, ac cording to the EPA. That means if you’re making home improvements, it’s important to look at the labels of products and choose wisely.

The EPA has recently recognized Kohler Co. with a 2022 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award for its continual efforts to innovate wa ter-efficient plumbing products, promote wa ter conservation and aid in the protection of this natural resource. This award is the company’s 8th Sustained Excel lence recognition and its 13th year of recognition overall by the Water Sense program.

By looking for this label and using these products, you can be part of a movement that’s making a big impact on water con servation. Since 2007, cumulative savings due to Kohler brands is over 437 billion gallons of water, 9.26 million metric tons of avoided CO2 emissions and $7

billion in energy and water costs.

3. Make strategic upgrades

Many people are looking for ways to green their home with eco-friendly upgrades. Replacing old toilets and faucets with Water Sense options reduces water use and saves money, especially since these things are used on a daily basis. When it’s time to replace washing machines and dishwashers, remember to keep water conser vation in mind as well when selecting updated appliances.

Swapping out your showerhead is another option to help you gain control while sav ing money. Go a step further with the inno vative Anthem digital control that has a sleek, minimalist display that lets you control your outlets, temperature and water flow. Option al built-in eco mode lets you conserve water by using just one outlet at a time, and the summary screen helps to promote mindful water usage.

Finally, research if a tankless water heater might be right for your home. Rather than a holding tank, these units heat water on demand, therefore elim inating the long waits between when you turn on the water and when you actually get hot water flowing, which can equate to gallons of

wasted water down the drain.

The EPA states everyone can use at least 20% less water by installing water-efficient fixtures and applianc es. Pair this with being thoughtful about your water use every day and your entire family will help conserve this precious resource.

Houghton University to increase awards for Pell-eligible families

HOUGHTON —

Houghton University has doubled down on its commitment to college access and affordability to make a Christ-centered uni versity education even more affordable for fam ilies with the Founder’s Promise Scholarship.

This scholarship will elevate a Pell-eligible student’s financial aid award, before loans, to equal the cost of tuition.

“For those fami lies wondering if they can afford to pursue a high-quality, Christ-cen tered education at a nationally ranked university, the answer to that question is yes,” said Wayne D. Lewis Jr., president of Houghton.

Similar to the New York Excelsior Schol arship, which covers the balance of tuition

for public colleges in New York, Houghton’s Founder’s Promise Scholarship opens the door for more students to gain access to a university education by covering the balance of tuition after federal and state grants and other awards have been applied. The Founder’s Promise Scholarship is available to both in-state and out-of-state stu dents.

In addition, students will not be limited in where they can live and work after gradu ation but may pursue their calling and career anywhere around the world.

“This new scholar ship is one of which our founder, Willard J. Houghton, would be proud,” Lewis said. “Long before college

access and affordabil ity were policy goals or part of the broader social conversation, our founder recognized the impact a high-quality education could have in shaping a person’s life — not only for develop ing their own gifts and enhancing the career options available to them but empowering them to change the tra jectory of their families for generations to come and the society around them.”

Lewis added that Houghton saw it as “part of the work of God’s Kingdom — to seek out and steward the treasure of these young minds who would not otherwise receive a high-quality education.”

Fall 2023 incoming, full-time residential stu dents who are Pell-eligi ble based on their Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) and who live in uni versity-owned housing or are a university-ap proved commuter will receive the Founder’s Promise Scholarship. The scholarship is renewable as long as a

student remains Pell-el igible.

“For me personally,” Lewis said, “expand ing student access to high-quality education has been central to my work and career in education, including my time in K-12 schools,

in higher education, in government and now as Houghton’s president.”

Eligible students who complete their application to Hough ton, are accepted for admission and submit their FAFSA will be notified in their finan

cial aid offer. Houghton will begin mailing these offers to students later this month.

Those interested in learning more about the Founder’s Promise Scholarship should visit www.houghton.edu/ FoundersPromise.

NY comptroller: Most local sales tax revenues up in October

ALBANY — State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli reported that most local taxing bodies saw higher sales tax receipts in October than they did in Oct. 2021.

Allegany County sales tax receipts in October totalled $2.42 million, a 29.8% increase from the year before — the largest increase in Western New York. Collections so far this year total $24.12 million, up 8.1% from the first 10 months of 2021.

Cattaraugus County sales tax receipts totalled $3.87 million, up 17% from October 2021. So far this year, receipts total $41.12 million, up 5.3% from the same

period of 2021.

Across Western New York, sales tax collec tions totalled $104.86 million in October, up 9.9% from October 2021.

Collections for the first 10 months of the year totalled $1.12 billion, up 7.1% from the same period of 2021.

Collections can reflect technical adjustments, quarterly reconciliations and changes in tax rates.

County data does not include adjustments for money withheld for Aid and Incentives to Municipalities-related payments or Distressed Provider Assistance.

“October’s sales tax collections saw the strongest monthly year-

over-year growth since May, despite the partici pation of many counties in the gas tax holiday,” DiNapoli said. “Howev er, as inflation continues to increase costs for many municipalities, it is important that local officials recognize that changing economic conditions may impede future collections.”

Across the state, 24 of 62 counties waived in part their sales taxes on fuel due to the rising prices seen nationwide. While some counties elected to cap taxes on the first $2 of fuel price, Cattaraugus and Alle gany county legislators chose to cap taxes at the first $3 of price.

ALFRED — Alfred State College’s seventh annual Day of Giving raised over $317,000 to benefit scholarships, new programs, updated technology, athletics, and so much more. The final amount raised establishes a new Day of Giving record.

The day was full of amazing support from alumni, faculty, staff, and friends. More than 220 donors supported the cause. The college was assisted by several matching and major gift donors who helped to challenge the Pioneer

community to make an even greater impact.

In the final hours ASC received notifica tion from a 1984 alum, major supporter, and proud TG Brother, David Gagnon, of his planned gift. His gift adds him to the Alfred State Legacy Society, a group that not only pro vides support for today but in the future.

“This year’s Day of Giving them centered around President Steve Mauro’s inauguration theme of Pioneer pride, purpose, and promise,” Alfred State director

of development Jason Sciotti said. “Dr. Mauro started the day by chal lenging all faculty/staff with a match of their donations on the day.”

Sciotti said students filled the Student Lead ership Center through out the day with clubs and organizations pro viding activities, food, and entertainment. The day ended cheering on the men’s basket ball team to victory and giving away more prizes to the students in attendance.

“The most enjoyable part of the day was feel

ing the energy around campus and watching our students learn life lessons on the power of philanthropy,” Sciot ti said. “Remarkable things are happening here, and it starts with the passion and support

from our alumni and friends.”

Not only did stu dents, faculty, and staff contribute financially but nonperishable and personal care items were collected to help replenish the on-cam

pus food pantry, the PLATE. The PLATE is a joint initiative of Student Senate and the Center for Civic Engagement seeking to address the challenge of food insecurity.

health & Wellness

Dos and don’ts of healthy weight loss

Maintaining a healthy weight promotes long-term health. Being overweight or obese are risk factors for various conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The World Health Or ganization reports that the worldwide obesity rate has tripled since 1975. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults were

overweight. Of these, more than 650 million were obese. Health issues related to obesity are largely preventable. Losing weight in a healthy man ner is essential for safe and lasting results. Indi viduals aspiring to lose weight can follow these guidelines on what to do and what not to do.

DO add lean protein

sources to your diet. Healthline indicates the body burns calories when digesting and metabolizing protein, so a high-protein diet can help to shed up to 80 to 100 calories per day. Protein also helps you to feel full, reducing the propensity to overeat.

DON’T get hung up on numbers early on.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that even mod est weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight is bound to produce health benefits, such as improvements in blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure. Start small and gradually build up. DO eat at least four servings of vegetables and three servings of fruits daily. Produce contains an abundance of vital nutrients and is often fiber-rich and low in calories, which helps

you to feel full.

DON’T overlook the impact of beverages on weight loss. The calories in sugary beverages, in cluding some all-natural fruit juices, can add up quickly. Stick to water, tea or other unsweet ened beverages to help with weight loss.

DO get moving more. The Mayo Clinic notes that while it is possible to lose weight without exercise, getting moving can help burn off the excess calories you can’t cut through diet alone.

Exercise boosts metabo lism and benefits mood and strengthens muscles and the cardiovascular system as well.

DON’T go shopping while hungry. If you do, you may make impulse buys that compromise healthy eating plans.

DO speak with a doctor if you are vetting diet and exercise plans. A healthcare profession al can assist you by indicating if a particular diet or fitness routine is acceptable for your age, goals and current health status.

DON’T forget to track eating. Most healthy di ets involve some sort of calorie-counting, wheth er they actually require you to document your intake or use a formula to attribute “points” or another measure related to what you eat. Writing or tracking the foods and beverages you

consume will provide the most honest assess ment of habits that could affect weight loss.

DO include foods you enjoy. Completely restricting access to occa sional treats may cause you to resent healthy eating, which can derail weight loss goals. The

principle of moderation can apply to healthy weight loss as long as you account for the more calorie-dense foods.

Losing weight in a healthy manner is achievable when you seek guidance and follow some time-tested techniques.

Photo provided by Alfred State

Alfred State College students display a “Thank You Donors” sign.