Catt. County Source 3-23-23

Phase 1 bids for Onoville Marina Park total nearly $900K

Phase 1 bids for Onoville Marina Park total nearly $900K

By Rick Miller LITTLE VALLEY — Cattaraugus

County lawmakers approved contracts March 8 totaling nearly $900,000 for phase one improvements at the county-operated Onoville Marina Park on the Allegheny Reservoir.

The project includes reconstruction and realignment of site roadways, foundation construction and site preparation for five new pre-engineered, prefabricated buildings that will be furnished and installed by others, electrical, water and sanitary sewer utility improvements, landscaping, sidewalk and curb construction, and grading and drainage improvements.

S.St. George

Contracting, Fredonia, was awarded the general contract for $794,000, while Kel-Kur

Electric, Olean, won the electrical contract at $91,825. The projects will be paid for using federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.

Legislators also agreed to a contract extension to Dec. 31 for completion of the Cutco Theatre Project at the Olean Campus of SUNY Jamestown Community College. The county initially agreed last August to contribute $240,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for the theater project. The contract expired this past Dec. 31.

The contract extension calls for new sound equipment and stage lighting,

electrical work related to the equipment upgrade, flooring in the theater and the adjacent Magnano Room, and painting and wall treatment in the theater. It will allow JCC time to complete the Cutco Theatre project. Under pressure from New York state, county lawmakers are looking at creating a new department — the Department of Assigned Counsel — which is currently administered through the County Attorney’s Office. The Office of Assigned Counsel is assigned a case by a judge if there is a conflict through the Public Defender’s Office.

Legislators

approved a public hearing for March 22 at 5 p.m. The change is expected to take place by April 1.

Legislature Vice Chairman Andrew Burr, R-Gowanda, and Legislator Ginger Schroder, R-Farmersville, sponsored a resolution opposing Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed ban on natural gas service for new construction of small buildings by 2025 and

larger buildings by 2028. All 17 county legislators agreed to be co-sponsors.

Burr, the Finance Committee chairman, said the cost of heating homes will rise under the plan, affecting the poorest the most.

“It’s irresponsible and hypocritical,” Burr said. “Nothing will change unless there are (greenhouse gas) changes in China,” he added.

Donald Benson, R-Allegany, said the governor’s proposals are “a slap in the face” to the county and threaten the livelihoods of workers and owners of oil and gas leases.

Legislature Chairman Howard VanRensselaer, R-Randolph, declared March Agriculture Month in Cattaraugus County and presented Katie Hill of Farm Bureau with a proclamation.

File photo

This photo show docks at Onoville Marina on the Allegheny Reservoir in the town of South Valley.

LITTLE VALLEY — March has become quite the busy month for the Memorial Library of Little Valley.

Saturday will be the annual book and bake sale with a basket auction in the community room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A $2 bag sale begins at 1 o’clock. Drawings for the basket auction will also be at that time.

On Thursday, March 23, the library will host a book signing for Amy Bedell’s book “She Will” and Andrea Pincoski’s book “The Cow that Lost its Mooooo.” The signing will start at 5:30 p.m. Books will be available for purchase.

April is stacking up to be very busy as well. On Good Friday, April 7, the library will

hold its bake and bread sale at the Cattaraugus County Federal Credit Union and CCB banks in Little Valley from 9 a.m. till sold out.

Anyone wishing to assist in baking can call the library at (716) 938-6301. Bring your baked goods to the library by 5 p.m. Thursday, April 6, or deliver to the bank at 9 a.m. day-of.

Beginning Thursday, April 20, the library will be offering a Learn to Crochet or Knit class starting at 5:30 p.m. All ages are welcome to this free class. Hooks and yarn will be provided for the first project. Sign up at the library. Space will be limited. There is also a crochet program that meets every Monday at 1 p.m. New members

are welcome.

New books to arrive at the library are as follows: “All Good People Here” by Ashley Flowers; “One Night on the Island” by Josie Silver; “Private Beijing” by James Patterson; “Tick Tock” by Fern Michaels; “Married for a Month” by Susan Mallery; “The House of Wolves” by James Patterson; “My Cat Thinks He’s a Puppy” by Patricia Allieri; “Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang; “The Backup Plan” by Jill Shalvis; “She Will” by Amy Bedell; and “Spare” by Prince Harry..

Maple Weekends finds producers ready

boiling maple sap — unless it’s fresh maple syrup on a stack of pancakes. Statewide, there are 110 participating maple producers, including three in Allegany County.

County residents and other visitors will have the chance to tour sugar shacks and immerse themselves in the smells.

Sprague’s Maple Farm outside Portville offers a tractor-drawn wagon ride to its sugarhouse and tours with hot chocolate and maple donuts awaiting visitors at the top of the hill.

(716) 378-8736.

Moore’s Maple Shack & Pancake House in Freedom will have the evaporator running. Their restaurant features All-YouCan-Eat Buttermilk Pancakes. Moore’s restaurant is open every day until mid-April.

Ulinger’s Maple Farm in East Otto welcomes visitors both days, both weekends from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. The maple farm has 14,000 trees. They have products in several locations and on their website and on Facebook.

By Rick Miller ASHFORD

— Like many other Western New York maple producers, Blesy Maple in the town of Ashford will be open to the public this first Maple Weekend.

Located at 7129 Henrietta Road, Springville — off Route 219 in Ashford — Blesy Maple has been boiling maple sap since Feb. 4, operator Brandon Blesy said.

With cool nights

and days above freezing, but not too warm as to make the maple trees bud, the sap hasn’t stopped flowing.

“Our goal this year was 350 gallons,” Blesy said as he readied the evaporator for demonstrations last weekend. “We’ve already made 400 gallons.” This year the farm added about 1,700 taps.

The sugar house will be open for this Maple Weekend, too, he said. Halfgallon and smaller

containers are also on display along one wall of the sugarhouse. They also have maple cotton candy and other products.

Six other Cattaraugus County maple producers are participating in the 2023 Maple Weekend sponsored by the New York State Maple Producers Association. Three of them are also offering pancake breakfasts during their Maple Weekend activities.

There is no better smell than

Sprague’s pancake breakfasts are served with their own maple syrup daily.

Other county maple producers participating in the Maple Weekends are: Boberg’s Maple in Delevan offers samples of its maple cream and syrup products. They will be open both days, both weekends. Call

Wright Farms in Farmersville offers Maple Weekend visitors to its sugarhouse jackwax

which turns maple and snow into a taffy substance. The farm has more than 8,000 taps that feed sap to their modern sugarhouse. They will welcome visitors both days, both Maple Weekends. Sticky Paws and Eden Valley Creamery in South Dayton, will be teaming up at 12540 Dredge Road. They will both have samples of their products and an outdoor display, depending on the weather. They will be open both weekends. Don’t forget the annual Western New York Maple Festival in Franklinville rolls around April 29 and 30.

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

Photo by Rick Miller Brandon Blesy of Blesy Maple on Henrietta Road in the town of Ashford readies his evaporator for open house this Maple Weekend.