Catt. County 04-27-2023

Burdick Blueberries ‘Farm of the Year’ at Farmer-Neighbor Dinner

Speaking contest. She and other Cattaraugus County FFA advisors and 4-H have conducted various judging contests at the county fair each summer.

PIONEER AWARD

Ellicottville

Distillery opened in 2016 offering a homegrown approach to the age-old practice of distilling. Charlie Bares, owner of Mallard’s Dairy in Lyndon, and Bryan Scharf, of Ellicottville, started this enterprise in 2014.

The distillery uses locally sourced ingredients to create high quality spirits and flavored liqueurs. Three-quarters of the ingredients come directly from Cattaraugus County — using grain, honey, cider, and maple syrup.

by the Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation Service. Former Soil and Water Conservation Services Director Brian Davis recalled the projects the Durows have taken over the years.

A fifth-generation family owned and operated dairy farm, Durow Farms is located in the Town of Randolph. Owners Mike and Dawn Durow, along with their family, utilize every available acre in a productive and responsible manner. They operate a 200cow dairy and heifer operation and maple syrup enterprise.

By Rick Miller

WEST VALLEY —

Burdick Blueberries

of Cattaraugus was named Farm of the Year on April 12 at the 11th Cattaraugus County FarmerNeighbor Dinner.

A 70-acre blueberry and flower farm, the farm has 40 acres of pick-your-own blueberries. Owner Amy Edwards inherited the farm in 2015.

She is the granddaughter of Milton Burdick, who established the farm in 1952. Burdick started selling blueberries at a road-side market in 1958, then opened it as a pick-yourown in 1961. The farm produces 10 varieties of highbush blueberries and 60 varieties of cut flowers.

Edwards said many of the 30,000 blueberry plants her grandfather first planted 70 years ago continue

to produce blueberries. “They are thriving,” she said. “Most of the original plants are still there. They are happy with the soil.” What she can’t control, Edwards said, is the weather. There’s also a lot of mowing.

Sponsored by the Cattaraugus County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, the county Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism, the Farm Bureau and Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Farmer-Neighbor Dinner was held at the West Valley Fire Hall and attended by more than 300 people.

Since Edwards left her career to return to the farm and

her childhood roots eight years ago, she focused on expanding the family’s brand of agri-tourism through social media and the farm’s website, burdickblueberries.net.

Four years ago she also began hosting stays at the Guest House at Burdick Blueberries Farm and hosts outdoor events including weddings and parties.

Also awarded at the dinner were the Friend of Agriculture, Pioneer and Conservation Farm of the Year awards. The awards were presented by David Zilker, chairman of the county’s Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board. Crystal Abers, director of the county Department of Economic

Development, Planning and Tourism, was master of ceremonies.

FRIEND OF AGRICULTURE

Pat Walker was an agriculture teacher/ FFA advisor at Pine Valley Central School for four years and an agriculture teacher/FFA advisor at Randolph for 23 1/2 years.

“Thank you,” she told the audience. “I’ve enjoyed working in the agriculture community all these years.” Retired, she and her husband Mike live in Randolph, where she is a substitute school bus driver. She had 10 FFA teams win state contests and compete at National FFA convention in Livestock, Milk Quality, Agronomy, Meats Evaluation, and Poultry and Creed

Scharf told the audience that the distillery “uses as many ingredients from Cattaraugus County as we can.”

Since opening, Ellicottville Distillery has grown to 10 different products including Appleshine, Blueberry Vodka, Gin and a Maple Bourbon Crème. At the Great American International Spirits Competition, Ellicottville Distillery’s Straight Bourbon received a gold medal and Maple Bourbon Crème and Appleshine both received bronze medals. They are currently aging 100 barrels of spirits.

CONSERVATION

FARM OF THE YEAR Durow Farms of Randolph was named 2023 Conservation Farm of the Year

When the Durows took over management of the farm in the early 1990s, they began implementing practices such as conservation field strips, reduced tillage, and rotational grazing. The farm also has a good forage production system of corn for silage and high-quality grass haylage. The farm built a short-term waste storage and transfer system in 2019 and uses sound timber management practices to get the most out of their woods in lumber as well as sap for the maple operation.

It is also a Dairy of Distinction and has hosted Randolph FFA tours of the farm for elementary students. Dawn Durow thanked everyone and said it was “a great honor.” She added that she and her husband appreciate working with Soil and Water Conservation” on a number of projects over the years.

Photo by Rick Miller AmyEdwards (left), owner of Burdick’s Blueberries, accepts the award for Farm of the Year from Cattaraugus County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board Chairman David Zilker at the 11th Farmer-Neighbor Dinner Wednesday in West Valley.

Great Valley woman sentenced for drug possession, larceny

By Rick Miller LITTLE VALLEY

— A Great Valley woman was sentenced to five years probation in Cattaraugus County Court on March 27 on counts of grand larceny and drug possession.

Courtney Lee Bradley, 27 of Great Valley was sentenced by County Court Judge Ronald D. Ploetz for her conviction of fourthdegree grand larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

District Attorney

Lori Pettit Rieman said the incident occurred April 20-21, 2022, in the town of Salamanca when Bradley possessed a narcotic drug with intent to sell it.

Ploetz sentenced Ayden M. Jimerson, 24, of Perrysburg to one year in the county jail plus restitution for his conviction of fourthdegree grand larceny. The incident occurred on Aug. 23, 2021 in the town of Perrysburg when the defendant stole property valued at more than $3,000.

Taima J. Wilkerson, 26, no address listed, was sentenced to six months in the county jail for her conviction of aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child passenger and reckless driving. The incident occurred on April 13, 2021, in the city of Salamanca when the defendant operated a motor vehicle while she had a blood alcohol content of 0.18% while a child who was 2 years old was a passenger and drove in a manner which unreasonably

endangered users of the public highway.

Ploetz also accepted guilty pleas, including: Christian R. Brewester, 25, of Friendship, pleaded guilty to attempted fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The incident occurred on Jan. 26, in the town of Ellicottville, when the defendant knowingly and unlawfully attempted to possess and controlled substance. Sentencing is scheduled for June 5.

ELLICOTTVILLE

— 42 North Brewing Company and Holiday Valley Resort are again teaming up for the 3rd annual HillTAP Festival at Holiday Valley. This one-of-akind festival merges music, craft beer and

HillTAP Festival returning to Holiday Valley July 22

“This is one of our favorite events of the year,” said John Cimperman, 42 North Brewery founder. “There is no better place to merge craft beer, roots music and adventure. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind venue.”

The HillTAP Festival begins at noon and runs until 9 p.m. Attendees should park at the Tannenbaum Lodge and take the chair lift up to the festival.

This year’s vendors and experiences include stand-up paddleboard demos by SUP Erie Adventures, bike demos by Freewheel, Henna Art by Buffalo Henna, Axe throwing by Hatchets & Hops, Holiday Valley e-bike demos and Mud, Sweat, n’ Gears. Additionally, food will be available from Fat Bob’s BBQ and Villagio.

LITTLE VALLEY

— The Little Valley Bridge of Hope Church will

ELLICOTTVILLE

— Cattaraugus County is advertised as “Naturally Yours,” and its geological history is endlessly interesting.

Retired teacher

Tim Baird will speak May 3 on

outdoor adventure at one of the most scenic venues in the region atop the mountain at Spruce Lake. Festival attendees will take a chair lift ride to the top of the mountain where they can experience a full day of music and

adventure. Activities include mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding and ax throwing. A full lineup of outdoor vendors will also be on-site at the festival. This year’s music lineup has also been expanded to include

three bands. Opening the festival will be Kody & Herren, the roots duo from Springville, followed by the Buffalo-based Ten Cent Howl, bringing their uptempo, Americana sound to the festival. The entertainment

will wrap up at the base of the mountain with a special performance by the Jamestownbased band The Probables, bringing their bluegrass sounds to the festival as part of their 2023 Destination Tour.

Tickets are $40 for pre-sale, $45 day of the event and $50 if you want to transport a mountain bike on the chairlift. The price of admission gets you a lift ride to Spruce Lake, a full day of music and access to the vendors and demos. Children 10 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

For more event information and tickets, visit hilltapfestival.com.

hold a ham dinner fundraiser from 4-7 p.m. Saturday at the church, 109 Court St.

the continental glacier that occupied Cattaraugus County and explain all the physical changes that occurred as a result.

The presentation, sponsored by the Nannen Arboretum Society, will take

Dinner includes ham, mashed or scalloped potatoes, corn, salad, bread

place at 6:30 p.m. at the Ellicottville Town Center auditorium, 28 Parkside Dr. A prominent birder, Baird will look at the physical changes that occurred within the glaciers, showing photos and giving

and dessert. Dine-in or takeouts are available. There is no cost,

explanations of the many geographical features. Even the soils were affected, while some parts of the county were totally untouched by the glaciers.

Baird has lived in the county his entire

but donations are welcome. Proceeds go toward repairing the sanctuary.

life and nature study is one of his lifelong pursuits that include nature photography and birding.

For questions or further information, call (716) 938-6150.

A $5 fee will be collected at the door. Refreshments will be served.

Seneca Nation to receive $500K federal grant for pandemic recovery

SALAMANCA

— The Seneca Nation is expected to receive a $500,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury through the Community Development Financial Institutions Equitable Recovery Program (CDFI ERP), Rep. Nicholas Langworthy announced April 13. These grant funds would assist

with the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and invest in longterm prosperity.

Langworthy said the grant would not only help the Senecas’ efforts in recovering from the pandemic but bring a welcome boost to their economy.

“Like all businesses, the Seneca Nation of Indians faced tremendous

economic hardship brought on by the pandemic,” he said.

“This grant will have a tremendous impact, particularly on small and midsize Native-owned businesses, who are still rebuilding from their losses.”

Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. said the pandemic presented significant

challenges for businesses of every size. However, he said the Seneca people have a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a long history of developing successful businesses.

“With this funding from the United States Department of Treasury, our Seneca Nation of Indians Economic Development

Company will have access to additional capital to support small, Native-owned businesses that can help stimulate their growth and success,” Armstrong added.

The CDFI ERP grant funds may be used to support lending related to small businesses and microenterprises, community facilities, affordable housing,

commercial real estate and intermediary lending to non-profits and CDFIs. The funds can also be used for financial services, development services to support borrowers and operational support for the CDFI grant recipient. For more information, visit cdfifund.gov.

Cattaraugus County tourism office already planning for 2024 solar eclipse

LITTLE VALLEY

— While a total solar eclipse visible across Western New York is a year away, Cattaraugus County’s tourism office is gearing up to help municipalities and businesses cash in on the rare event.

The last time a total solar eclipse occurred over New York state was Jan. 24, 1925, Crystal Abers, director of the Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism, told county lawmakers on April 19.

The next total solar eclipse visible over New York won’t occur until 2045, making it a once- or twice-in-alifetime opportunity.

Abers said most of Cattaraugus County is in the path of totality for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. Only a small section of the southeast corner of the

county will not be in the path of totality.

Aber’s department is distributing pamphlets on the total solar eclipse — when the moon passes in front of the sun — exclaiming “It’s a big deal!” and inviting visitors to “Come experience it in the Enchanted Mountains.”

Afterward, Abers declined to list specific events or locations, saying there would be an initial announcement soon. She told members of the Development and Agriculture Committee that initial planning by the Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism has been underway for some time.

A new section with information on the 2024 eclipse was posted late Wednesday on the county’s site —

EnchantedMountains. com/Eclipse.

Abers expects destinations including Allegany State Park, Griffis Sculpture Park, the Amish Trail and Onoville Marina Park will participate with events geared to attract people to safely watch the eclipse.

New eclipse sites and events will be added as they are announced, Abers said. Anyone wishing to list eclipse events with EnchantedMountains. com should contact her office. She expects excitement to build as the eclipse date gets closer.

The eclipse will last from around 2 to 4:45 p.m., with totality beginning at 3:18 p.m. and lasting for about three minutes.

On another issue, Abers said applications for the county’s latest mobile home

replacement program are due April 28. Mobile home owners of low to moderate income may be eligible.

To apply, the person must own the land their current mobile home sits on and that there be no liens. It cannot be located in a mobile home park and the insurance and taxes must be current.

Legislators also held up part of the reorganization of the Cattaraugus County One-Stop Employment Center in Olean, seeking more information from Social Services Commissioner Anthony Turano.

Human Services Committee Chairman Kelly Andreano, R-Olean, said she liked the idea that someone would be going out to talk to businesses about hiring people seeking a job through the One-Stop. Many

of the individuals would be residents receiving Social Services, she said.

Majority Leader Michael Brisky, R-Franklinville, said he didn’t like the fact that $41,000 of the

cost would be borne by county taxpayers. County Administrator Jack Searles asked Turano to see if additional program funding wasn’t due to come along soon.

AUTO CORNER

Technology to reduce driving distractions and accidents

Smartphones and other technologies have been implicated as risk factors for distracted driving. It may seem counterintuitive that tech could help prevent distracted driving, but various products can do just that.

e National Highway Tra c Safety Administration says distracted driving accounted for roughly 3,000 fatal cases in 2019. Many companies have invested considerable time and money into developing technology that can prevent distraction-related accidents. Here’s a closer look.

· Usage blocking apps: e temptation to grab for a phone to make a call or send a text is high for a population that checks its phones dozens of times a day. To curb temptation while driving, a person can use apps that prohibit calls or texts while the vehicle is driving by sensing the motion of the car. It’s worth noting that 9-1-1 calls are not a ected by the app. Many phone operating systems also come with their own “do not disturb” settings that enable users to turn o alerts while driving.

· Geofences: Geofences are de ned boundaries/track-

ing alerts set up from a central location. Parents can use these geofences to monitor teen drivers and receive alerts when the teen goes outside of a predetermined boundary. is can help parents keep closer tabs of teen drivers’ whereabouts. Some GPS trackers also provide reports on driving habits, such as speeding or erratic driving. Parents can take action accordingly, like warning against speeding or erratic driving, or taking away privileges if they are not happy with what teens have been doing.

· Collision warning sensors: Warning sensors at the fronts or sides of vehicles go o when vehicles get too close to another car or truck. Additional vehicle sensors include lane departure warning systems that go o when a driver is about to cross over a lane. Audible beeps or other sounds go o , unless the driver uses the turn signal to change lanes. ese sensors are handy for anyone who starts to daydream while driving, as the car will provide a loud wake-up call before a potential collision happens.

· Automatic emergency braking system: An AEB will take over for the driver if the motorist fails to brake when

rapidly approaching a vehicle or another object.

· Hands-free devices: Many vehicles come equipped with Bluetooth technology and other voice-guided functions. is enables drivers to do anything from adjust heating and cooling settings to dialing a phone number without having to take his or her hands o of the wheel. Distracted driving may lead to accidents, but certain technology can cut down on incidents while driving.

JCC offering in-person, online summer classes

The college is offering in-person, online, and hybrid courses during its two summer sessions, scheduled for May 17-June 28 and July 5-Aug. 15.

Summer classes offer students the opportunity to begin prerequisite courses, catch up and get ahead on coursework, and earn credits that can be transferred to other colleges.

Chautauqua counties are eligible to take one summer course tuition-free through the Educational Advancement for Regional Neighbors grant. The grant is available to the first 150 students who apply and enroll in a class. Additionally, a second course may be taken at a half price through JCC’s Pre-College Enrollment Program.

Enrollment is open for summer classes, which begin next month at SUNY Jamestown Community College.

High school students who live or attend high school in Allegany, Cattaraugus, or

In-person classes are being offered at JCC’s Jamestown and Cattaraugus County campuses,

and North County Center in Dunkirk. Those registered for summer classes are eligible for oncampus housing on the Jamestown Campus. Effective with the start of summer sessions, the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer mandated for students to attend classes at JCC and other SUNY campuses. Visit sunyjcc. edu/summer to view and register for courses, purchase textbooks, and apply for financial aid.

NY warns of work zone hazards as construction season begins

By Bob Clark

As warmer weather becomes more prevalent, the year’s construction season is ready to kick off.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office reported April 17 that the state will commemorate National Work Zone Awareness Week this week. The theme for 2023 is, “You play a role in work zone safety. Work with us!”

As part of the program, an Automated Work Zone Speed Monitoring Pilot Program to help enforce speed limits in highway construction and maintenance work zones launched Monday, a joint initiative between the state Department of Transportation and the Thruway Authority that builds upon ongoing efforts to better protect highway workers. A total of 30 speed violation

monitoring systems that rely on radar technology will be positioned in active work zones along New York state highways — 20 on NYSDOT maintained roads and 10 on the New York State Thruway.

“This new pilot program will be instrumental in encouraging safe driving habits in highway work zones and protecting the lives of those who help maintain a safe and reliable highway system,” Hochul said in a press statement April 17.

A New York State Police crackdown is also kicking off this week as part of Operation Hardhat. Troopers will dress as highway workers in active work zones through October. In 2022, 3,062 tickets were issued during Operation Hardhat details, up from the 2,336 tickets

issued in 2021.

“As we officially kick off construction season in New York as well as National Work Zone Awareness Week, I thank highway workers across the state who put their lives on the line to maintain and enhance the roads that we all rely on every day,” Hochul said.

SEVERAL

STATE highway projects are planned in Cattaraugus County this summer.

Upcoming state highway projects in the area include:

A $13.16 million contract was awarded in January to resurface U.S. Route 219 from a mile south of the Seneca Nation of Indians territory to Interstate 86, as well as Route 954T from I-86 to Route 417. Guide rail replacements and drainage repairs will also be made. Bridge

repairs to the 219 bridge over the Allegheny River will include deck, joint, bearing, steel beam ends, fascia, and substructure repairs. The project is expected to be substantially complete by Aug. 31, 2024.

A $1.87 million contract was awarded in January to replace

the 219 bridge over Nichols Creek in Limestone. The project is expected to be substantially complete by Oct. 31, 2024.

A $2.7 million contract was awarded Friday to replace and maintain two bridges on I-86 in the town of Randolph. Work is expected

to be substantially completed by Nov. 30. Officials reported other smaller projects, such as culvert work and bridge repainting, will also be worked on this year. Information on roads — including construction, weather conditions, and traffic speeds — may be found at 511ny.org.