Chautauqua County Community Source 1/20/23

Community Encouraged to Submit Nominations for the NCCF’s Footprints Award

ter D. Clark, Kathy & Peter George, and Steve & Mary Rees.

All community members are encouraged to submit a nomination for the committee’s consideration. To submit a nomination by mail, call our office to have a form sent to you (716-366-4892) or download the from our website www.nccfoundation.org/ footprints-award. Nominations can also be submitted electronically through the website. Nominations are due to NCCF by March 24, via mail at 212 Lake Shore Drive W., Dunkirk, NY 14048, by fax to 716-3663905 or e-mail nccf@nccfoundation.org.

Opera House Cinema Series to Present Spoiler Alert

Dunkirk, N.Y., January 9, 2023 - The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF) is currently accepting nominations for the George B. Weaver Jr. Footprints Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize and honor those in the community who have created “footprints” for others to follow in through their philanthropy and volunteerism. It is not a requirement that nominees have an affiliation with the NCCF.

“We encourage commu-

nity members to nominate those who are passionate about northern Chautauqua and who consistently demonstrate their passion by selflessly giving of their own time and funds,” says Diane Hannum, NCCF’s Executive Director.

Nominees should have a strong history of volunteerism, philanthropic endeavors (financial support not necessarily measured in number of dollars), and activities that have impacted the community and enhanced the social and cul-

tural climate of northern Chautauqua County. Past award recipients include George B. Weaver Jr.; Dallas Beal; Robert Maytum; Jim & Carol Boltz; Donald Q. Eno; the founding NCCF Board of Directors & the first elected Board of Directors; Richard S. Johnson; Edwin L. Hamlet; Doug & Ann Manly; Richard Anson; Steve & Helen Baran; Steve & Sue Cobb; Dick & Carmen Gilman; Wayne, Elaine & Laurel Hotelling, James & Marcia Merrins, Alona Forbes, Pe -

Since its incorporation in 1986, the NCCF has invested more than $20 million in northern Chautauqua County through strategic grantmaking, targeted scholarships, and leadership and community collaborations. The NCCF is a tax-exempt charitable organization inherently committed to enhancing the northern Chautauqua community and encouraging local philanthropy. As a nationally accredited community foundation, the NCCF has proven compliance with the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, demonstrating integrity, equity, accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in meeting the needs of its community. For more information on the NCCF, visit www.nccfoundation. org or call 716-366-4892.

It will be screened Sat., Jan. 21, and Tues., Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m.

Based on Michael Ausiello’s best-selling memoir “Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies,” the film is the heartwarming, funny and life-affirming story of how Ausiello’s and Kit Cowan’s relationship is transformed and deepened when Cowan is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The San Jose Mercury News calls the film “ heartfelt, genuine, funny and yes, terribly sad; but it also celebrates love and life.” The Arizona Republic calls it “a beautifully balanced and well-paced film that knows when to be brutally honest and when to give viewers a moment of reprieve.” AARP Movies for Grownups says “we know from the beginning where the witty and warm ‘Spoiler Alert’ is headed, but not how moving that journey will be.”

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content and drug use, “Spoiler Alert” runs one hour, 52 minutes.

For more information, call the Opera House Box Office at 716-679-1891.

The Opera House is equipped with assistive listening headsets for the hearing-impaired. Simply request one from any usher or staff member.

The Opera House Cinema Series is sponsored by Lake Shore Savings Bank. In addition, Opera House programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.

Photo Submitted

Pictured are 2021 George B. Weaver Jr Footprints Award recipients, Kathy and Peter George, with NCCF Board Member Richard Ketcham (center).

FREDONIA – The next film in the Cinema Series at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is the romantic comedy “Spoiler Alert,” starring Jim Parsons and Sally Field.

Tickets are available at the door the night of each screening. A book of 10 movie passes is available at the door or online at www.fredopera. org.

AG LITERACY WEEK SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 20th - 24th IN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY

CCE-Chautauqua

Offers Opportunities for Ag-in-the-Classroom

BY MOLLY R. BROWN, 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EDUCATOR

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (January 13, 2023) --

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program is continually working to increase public awareness of the great things happening in agriculture. As part of this effort, CCE-Chautauqua is proud to facilitate the Agricultural Literacy Week initiative for Chautauqua County.

In celebration of National Agriculture Week (March 20th – March 24th), area elementary students will participate in the New York State Agricultural Literacy Week, locally coordinated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County. This year, over 2,500 Chautauqua County elementary students have the opportunity to participate in learning about

tomatoes with a fun agricultural related book and activity.

This year’s book selection is Tomatoes for Neela. Author Padma Lakshmi takes young readers on an intergenerational journey full of delicious flavors and fun food facts that celebrates a family’s treasured recipes. Illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal brings this circle of women to life with vivid detail and warmth. Tomatoes for Neela lovingly affirms how we can connect to other cultures and build communities through food.

Ag Literacy Week is promoted and organized by staff at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County. Local businesses, farmers, and community members donate the necessary funds to purchase books and materials for the program. They also volunteer their time as readers, providing agriculturally involved readers for students

across the county. For more information about Ag Literacy Week, please contact Molly Brown at 716-664-9502 ext. 216 or mrb287@cornell. edu.

Ag Literacy Week is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua) in line with the County’s 20/20 Comprehensive Plan. CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Around Town

Free Parenting Classes

Attention parents of children 0-12 years old, Free discussion group series. Triple P Positive Parenting Program Mondays at The Resource Center, 186 Lake Shore Drive West Dunkirk, NY 14048. January 23; 10:00-12:00pm - Dealing with Disobedience. January 30; 10:00-12:00pm - Developing Good Bedtime Routines. February 6; 10:0012:00pm - Hassle-Free Shopping. February 13; 10:00-12:00pm - Fighting and Aggression. Attend 1 or all. Attendence incentive! Parents of children 0-12: Attend 4 Triple P Parenting Discussion workshops and automatically be entered to win: • $10 amazon gift card • Triple P workbooks • Prevention Workd t-shirt • Deterra med disposal & storage products • and more. To register for a workshop call Lucy @ 716-679-8946 or email lucy@preventionworks.us . Walk-ins welcome!

Westfield Student Named to 2022 PennWest Dean's List

CALIFORNIA, PA (01/13/2023)-- Congratulations to Gracie Szablewski of Westfield NY on being named to Pennsylvania Western University Dean's List for the 2022 fall semester.

Over 3,500 Pennsylvania Western University students earned placement

on the Dean's List. Degree-seeking undergraduate students who achieve high academic standards are identified in accordance with the following criteria: The student must earn a minimum semester GPA of 3.40.

The student must earn a minimum of 12 graded

credits during the semester, not including credits by proficiency examinations, incomplete grades, temporary grades (e.g., Not Reported), or satisfactory/ unsatisfactory grades.

Szablewski studied at PennWest's Edinboro Campus this semester.

Game day party ideas

Decorate a drink station

Dress up your cooler with team colors and logos. Make a goal post out of PVC piping to add a little extra whimsy to the design.

Create game-inspired foods

Football-shaped foods, from mini meatloafs to calzones to cookies to doughnuts, will make the event even more fun. Invest in a football-shaped cookie cutter to cut just about everything, from sliced cheeses to sandwiches to pie crusts to that pigskin shape.

Set up games of chance

OCCUPANCY TAX FOR LAKES AND WATERWAYS GRANT PROGRAM

Football season has been in full swing for several months, and will soon culminate in the game of all games in early February — the Super Bowl. Watching the action on the field is exciting, but game day experiences can be enhanced by sharing the festivities with friends or family.

Football parties can take enjoyment of the game to the next level and be enhanced with each game that occurs on the road to the playoffs. The following are some ways to score touchdowns when hosting game day gatherings.

Create a DIY football field table cover

Head to the nearest party store and purchase green craft paper or a plastic tablecloth. Stretch it over the expanse of the table you need to cover and secure it underneath with tape or clips. Use white tape or ribbon to mark off the field yard markings and utilize white stick-on numerals to enhance the yard line measurements. Such a festive table can double as the perfect playing field for table-top football.

Buying “boxes” and gambling on the outcomes of the quarters is tradition for many people who participate in football parties. However, gambling isn’t for everyone. Party hosts can come up with other clever ideas to give people chances to win prizes. Purchase a few inexpensive gift cards to local coffee shops, sporting goods retailers or to supermarkets. Give out raffle tickets to all in attendance. Each time the team scores, pick a raffle ticket out of a bag or bucket. The called number gets a prize.

Consider a tailgate theme

Evoke the feelings of a true stadium tailgate by hosting the party outdoors in the neighborhood. Each home can have its own station in the driveway, with party-goers walking from home to home to load up on snacks and talk about the game.

Game day is a great time to get together with fellow fans, friends and family.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y.: -Chautauqua County will again be offering grants to improve our lakes and waterways. The 2024 Round of the County’s 2% Occupancy Tax Grant Program for Lakes and Waterways is now open and will close on April 1, 2023.

The Occupancy Tax Grants for Lakes and Waterways are funded through the county’s five percent occupancy or bed tax for the rental of lodging units within the county. Twofifths or two percent of the bed tax is used solely for the enhancement and protection of lakes and waterways in Chautauqua County.

These grants provide $500 to $40,000 in funding for projects to be implemented from January 1 through December 31, 2024.

“The 2 % Occupancy Tax Grant Program for Lakes and Waterways has been delivering important water quality improvement projects for 15 years,” said Chautauqua County Watershed Coordinator Dave McCoy. “The projects that we fund provide long-lasting water quality benefits by reducing nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) that enter our lakes and waterways. When we reduce the amount of nutrients, we reduce the occurrence of nuisance aquatic vegetation and algae and improve the environmental health of our aquatic resources.”

The 2% Program has a variety of projects in its portfolio, including streambank and lakeshore stabilization projects, municipal stormwater, and agricultural projects aimed at reducing nutrient laden runoff. Projects located within the Lake Erie, Bear Lake, Cassadaga Lakes, Findley Lake and Chautauqua Lake watersheds are eligible.

Applications may be submitted by various groups and organizations including: not-for-profits, governments, businesses and corporations, public and private schools, and all landowners of Chautauqua County.

“We encourage applicants to collaborate with local conservation organizations and engineering professionals when preparing their applications,” said McCoy. “A well-prepared application with a narrative and plan that describes the design, implementation techniques and the anticipated water quality benefits of the project has a higher probabil-

ity of being funded. We like to see projects that leverage funding from State and Federal Agencies as well as contributions from the landowner. The grant program does not require landowner contributions, but doing so demonstrates that the applicant is committed to improving water quality and that the project will be maintained over time.”

Applications are available online on the Chautauqua County Legislature’s page of the county website at https:// chqgov.com and on the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development’s website at www.planningchautauqua.com . Applications are also available at the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development, 201 W. Third St., Suite 115 in Jamestown, N.Y. For more information or assistance with the application process, please contact Dave McCoy at (716) 661-8915 or by email at McCoyD@chqgov. com .

Photo Submitted

Pictured, a successful streambank restoration project on Candaway Creek that was co-funded by the 2% Occupancy Tax Grant Program for Lakes and Waterways.

How to get more flavor when slow cooking

Slow cooking is a popular way to prepare hearty meals.

Slowly cooked stews can make for the perfect meal on cold winter days. In addition to helping craft meals that stick to your ribs, slow cookers fill a home with enticing aromas all day long, and that can make everyone hungrier and more eager to try the finished product by dinnertime.

Slow cooking aromas wafting through the air heighten anticipation, and cooks can exceed expectations by employing a few strategies to increase flavor.

• Let fat do the flavoring. Fatty cuts of meat fare best in slow cookers, as the excess fat ensures the meat won’t dry out. The thought of flavoring

with fat may not appeal to everyone, and those who prefer lean cuts will likely have to shorten the cooking time and add more liquid than the recipe calls for to ensure the meat doesn’t dry out before it makes it to the dinner table.

• Brown the meat. Slow cooking experts tout the importance of browning meat prior to placing it in the slow cooker. According to AllRecipes.com, searing meat with a little oil in a hot skillet will help the meat develop more complex flavors. Ground meats also should always be browned before slow cooking, as this prevents the meat from clumping up and can ensure the finished product is not excessively greasy.

• Avoid overfilling the cooker. Foods cook differently when the cooker is too full. In such instances, the dish may end up tasting more like steamed food than simmered food. That’s especially so when too much liquid has been placed in the cooker. In such instances, steam hits the lid of the cooker and creates condensation, which then drips back into the pot. That can make everything inside more soggy and less tender. The owner’s manual of the slow cooker may recommend how much to fill it, but it’s generally best to fill the cooker somewhere between halfway and two-thirds of its capacity.

• Cut ingredients evenly. Uniformity of flavor is a goal when slow cooking, as slow cooked meals tend to be served when hosting a crowd and cooks will want everyone’s meal to boast the same amount of flavor. One way to ensure that is to make sure ingredients are cut evenly. Evenly cut carrots and potatoes will finish cooking at the same time, ensuring everyone’s meal will benefit from the same flavor profile.

Slow cooking is simple, but veteran slow cookers know that a few simple tricks can make meals that much more flavorful.

Tricks to trim your utility bill

A rapid rise in the cost of living will undoubtedly prove to be one of the major stories of 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, energy prices rose by 41.6 percent in the 12-month period that ended in June 2022, marking the highest 12-month increase since April 1980.

The significant spike in energy costs is somewhat misleading, as the BLS con siders motor fuel prices, which rose more than 60 percent in the 12-month pe riod ending in June 2022, part of the energy category. However, during that same period, electricity prices rose by nearly 14 percent while natural gas prices increased by 38 percent. Both of those increases were more significant than the more publicized rise in food prices, which rose by right around 10 percent.

Families need to eat and many professionals now must return to in-person work after years of pandemic-related remote working, which means they must confront higher fuel costs. That leaves little room to save money in those areas. However, there are ways for families to reduce home energy costs without adversely affecting their quality of life.

• Run appliances during off-peak hours. According to the United States Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the best time to use appliances in a home is when overall electricity use is low. Though this time

on geography, the DOE and the EPA both note that after 9 p.m. and before 9 a.m. are generally the off-peak hours in most areas.

• Strategically use your shades and blinds. The energy providers at ConEd estimate that about 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Strategic use of curtains, shades and blinds can keep heat out on hot days, thus allowing homeowners to turn the thermostat up on their air conditioning units in summer. Opening curtains, blinds and shades on winter mornings and afternoons will allow more sunlight in, allowing homeowners to control heating costs more effectively.

• Reorganize your refrigerator. There are plenty of contradictory strategies regarding how best to store foods in a refrigerator so the unit consumes as little energy as possible while still keeping foods fresh and chilled. But various energy providers, including

a fridge too tightly. By allowing cold air to circulate within the refrigerator, the refrigerator won’t need to work as hard, and thus consume as much energy, to keep foods cool. It’s important to note that the opposite should govern how the freezer is packed. Packing frozen items tightly in the freezer will help the refrigerator work a little less hard.

• Turn off the lights. Estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicate that electricity for lighting accounts for around 10 percent of electricity consumption in homes. A concerted effort to turn off lights in rooms that aren’t being used can help consumers save money.

Rising utility bills are compelling millions of people to seek ways to trim their energy consumption. Thankfully, there are many ways to do that without upsetting daily routines.

ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARIS PEACE

January

MAYVILLE, N.Y.:--

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel will hold a Welcome Home Ceremony for Vietnam and Vietnam-era veterans on Friday, January 27, 2023 at noon outside of the Chautauqua County Courthouse, 1 N. Erie St. in Mayville, N.Y.

January 27, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords that ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. At this ceremony, Wendel will present a proclamation declaring January 27, 2023 as Vietnam and Vietnam-Era Veterans Day formally welcoming home these veterans. Wendel will also read the names of Chautauqua County residents who lost their lives serving in the Vietnam War.

“I invite Chautauqua County Vietnam and Viet-

nam-era veterans and their families to join us for this special event that marks the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War,” said Wendel. “I also encourage County residents to attend so we can all come together to support

and thank our veterans for their dedicated service to our country.”

For more information about the event, please contact the County Executive’s Office at (716) 753-4211.