Catt. County 2-16-23

Saving Grace Outreach awarded $50K Garman Family grant

By Deb Everts

CATTARAUGUS

— Thanks to a generous grant from the Garman Family Foundation, Saving Grace Outreach can now move forward with its much-needed youth center, continuing its mission in a struggling community.

This $50,000 award, administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, is for handicapped accessibility to the youth center at the Community Cares Center owned by Saving Grace.

Director Elizabeth O’Neill said the funds will purchase a lift that will allow persons with disabilities access to the youth center located in the basement and pay for its installation. She said Saving Grace will be responsible for building the enclosure where the lift unit will be installed by the Liftavator company.

“The lift will also make it convenient for senior citizens who want to come and use the equipment,” she said. “It’s a community center

so we want to make it available and accessible for everyone.”

Saving Grace ministry purchased the old Setter Brothers manufacturing building at 26 Mill St. in the summer of 2016. O’Neill said the 28,000-squarefoot building has two stories plus a ground floor with a daylight basement.

The youth center will take up the entire basement area, O’Neill explained. It will include a gymnasium, an indoor archery range and exercise space with workout equipment for all ages. Once staff are hired, she said they’d like to have after-school programs and a summer program for the kids. A playground is also being planned.

O’Neill said a youth center is a necessity because there’s nothing in the Cattaraugus area for kids to do other than a playground at the school. She said the kids need a safe place to be after school. At the youth center, they’ll have supervision, receive help with homework and get a healthy snack.

“Our hope is to have the center up and

running this summer for youth programs,” she said. “We are investing in our local youth to build a stronger community in the village of Cattaraugus. This, hopefully, will be a large step towards completion. God is moving mountains in Cattaraugus.”

THE COMMUNITY Cares Center is a three-phase project with phase one being the food distribution center, which is fully operational.

O’Neill said the youth center is the second phase and, eventually, the third floor will include a daycare center, community kitchen and community meeting room, offices and afterschool programs. “The main floor is a food distribution hub that we call ‘God’s Warehouse’ because everything in here is utilized for other pantries in other communities that want to do some good in their area,” she said.

The food distribution hub services food pantries in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties as well as part of Erie County, O’Neill said.

They supplement other agencies with extra hygiene and food products that they get from sources other than the Food Bank of Western New York.

“We also do a backpack program with Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School that provides children with snacks and one meal for a family over the weekend,” she added. Regular food pantry hours are the first and third Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Evening hours are the first and third Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. A mobile pantry food truck comes the last Wednesday of every month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is free to anybody in the area.

Saving Grace’s Trading Post South, located at 11 Washington

St., is the storefront under the ministry of Saving Grace. The facility serves the community with clothing, furniture, appliances and household needs. In 2012, two emergency shelters were opened for families in crisis. The Trading Post can be reached at (716) 257-3077.

When she isn’t managing the affairs of the outreach, O’Neill is at home in East Otto or at work lecturing students at the SUNY Buffalo State University where she is Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering Technology.

Saving Grace Outreach has been an independent 501(c)(3) since 2011. For more information on the services offered by Saving Grace Outreach, call (716) 229-2008, email jcjeanoneill@

yahoo.com or find Saving Grace Outreach on Facebook. For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged longterm philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c) (3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at cfgb.org.

Photo by Deb Everts

A grant from the Garman Family Foundation will be used for the purchase and installation of a lift at Saving Grace Outreach’s Community Cares Center. Director Elizabeth O’Neill is shown with volunteer Eric Avery by the main door of the center on Mill Street.

Under the ministry of Saving Grace, the Community Cares Center is expected to have a youth center up and running by this summer.

Kill Buck woman sentenced to probation, community service

By Rick Miller

LITTLE VALLEY — A

Kill Buck woman was sentenced to three years’ probation and community service in Cattaraugus County Court on Jan. 30 for driving while ability impaired by drugs and drug possession.

Samantha R. Ditcher, 24, of Kill Buck, was sentenced by Judge Ronald Ploetz on her conviction of driving while impaired by drugs and seventhdegree criminal possession of a controlled substance to probation and 240 hours of community service.

District

Attorney Lori Pettit Rieman said Ditcher was arrested on July 20, 2021, in the city of Salamanca when she operated a motor vehicle when her ability was impaired by the use of drugs.

Other cases heard in court included: A Salamanca man, Anthony J. Piscitelli, 30, pleaded not guilty to an indictment changing him with seconddegree burglary, fourth-degree criminal mischief, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal trespass. The alleged

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS. (PROVERBS 3:5-6)

incident occurred Dec. 8 in the city of Salamanca. The defendant is charged with entering or remaining unlawfully in a building, with the alleged intent to commit a crime, and damaged property of another person in an amount exceeding $250.

Casie E. Boyle, 38, of Salamanca, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with driving while ability impaired by the combination of drugs and alcohol, moving from lane unsafely, consumption of alcohol in a motor

vehicle and seconddegree vehicular assault. The alleged incident occurred July 10 in the town of Hinsdale, when the defendant allegedly operated a motor vehicle on a public highway while her ability was impaired by the combined use of alcohol and drugs. She allegedly operated such motor vehicle in a manner that caused serious physical injury to another person.

Marvin G. Reveal, 40, of Auburn, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated harassment of an

employee by an inmate to satisfy a pending indictment. The incident occurred on Feb. 2, 2022, in the town of Little Valley when the defendant intended to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm a person in a facility. Sentencing is set for April 3.

Carlo J. Ruiz, 25, of Olean, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault

to satisfy a pending indictment. The incident occurred on or about and between June 18 and 19 in the town of Coldspring when the defendant acted jointly and in concert, each aiding and abetting the other and attempted to cause serious physical injury to another person. Sentencing is set for April 3.

AUTO CORNER

Useful tips when driving in busy cities

Urban environments beckon millions of people. In addition to being home to various industries, city centers tend to feature museums, shopping, sight-seeing, and much more.

Although public transportation might be the simplest way to get into and around a city, some metropolitan areas feature inadequate public transit systems, leaving visitors with no choice but to drive.

Driving in metropolitan areas is unlike driving in suburban or rural locations. City driving presents a unique set of challenges. These tips can help drivers unaccustomed to being behind the wheel in urban environments.

•Expect slower speeds

Driving on city streets is unlike driving on open highways or suburban roads. A greater number of vehicles leads to more cramped, slow-moving roads. Furthermore, there likely will be more traffic signals, which will do their part to slow down traffic even further.

•Watch for pedestrians

Pedestrians typically have the right of way. Urban areas have an abundance of walkers, cyclists and others crossing intersections and sharing the road. It’s important to be mindful of your surroundings because one never knows when a pedestrian might dart out.

•Avoid rush hour

If possible, avoid driving in cities during rush hours, which occur twice per day. Lunchtime also can be busy. According to DrivingTests.org, rush hour peaks between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. Drivers who venture into the city during these times likely will be met with gridlock and even slower travel.

•Know where you’re going

Utilize GPS systems and check maps and addresses before departing to have a good idea of the destination. Cities have many streets and one wrong turn can get you stuck in more traffic. Some cities employ one-way streets, so watch where you’re going. Pay attention to signs as well, as they may indicate no left turns at certain hours.

•Be patient

The extra commotion and traffic can be tiresome. Leave plenty of extra time to get to your destination so that you’re not exacerbating your stress by worrying that you’re going to be late. Get sufficient rest and don’t drive hungry, as hunger can lead to anxiety.

•Plan for parking

In addition to knowing the route, get a good idea of where to park the car in the metropolitan area. Cities have unique

parking regulations, including metered parking. Plus, popular points of interest may draw many visitors competing for a limited number of on-street parking spots. It may be worth it to park in a private or public lot/garage. Spot Hero, Secure-a-Spot and ParKing are just a few of the parking assistance apps that enable drivers to find and secure parking in advance. Driving in urban environments requires a different skill set. Learn what to do and remain patient so the experience is not stressful.