Erie Cattaraugus County Community Source 2/17/23

Bookbinding:

Rosie’s Run Makes

Generous

Contribution to MHA Warming Center

Jamestown, N.Y. – “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Those words that Rosemary “Rosie” Billquist lived by are now the motto for the annual Rosie’s Run in her memory.

That kindness was shown in the $800 donation from the Run for Rosie that her husband, Jamie Billquist, made for the warming center recently opened by the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County (MHA).

MHA Executive Director Steven Cobb says, “We are so grateful for the generous contribution from Rosie’s Run to support this new program. It is absolutely heartwarming on our frigid nights to know that we now have a shelter for some of our citizens who have no place to call home, where they can have a hot meal and sleep safely in a warm bed. ”

A marathon runner, triathlete, community volunteer and animal lover, Rosemary Billquist was a native and resident of Sherman, New York, whose life ended unexpectedly in November 2017.

Rosie worked at WCA Hospital/UPMC Chautauqua for 25 years. Jamie explained that her concern for patients who stood

waiting for their rides after dialysis led Rosie to put a bench there, labeling it with her motto. Later, hospital staff placed a similar bench in her honor outside the emergency room.

The next Rosie’s Run 5K run/walk is Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Sherman. All proceeds benefit the memorial fund that helps Hospice, the Southern Tier Kidney Foundation, the Chautauqua County Humane Society, and other community needs. An annual August golf tournament also supports the fund.

The Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County is a peer recovery center offering support groups and individual coaching for people looking to improve their lives, deepen wellness, thrive in recovery, or support those on a recovery path. Peers use their personal stories to help people find recovery in their own lives in their own way.

Anyone with questions or in need of services for themselves or a family member is welcome to call or stop in at the Jamestown recovery center at Door 14 in the rear of the Gateway Center, 31 Water Street. It is open Monday – Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. –1:30 p.m.

Photo Submitted Mental Health Association Executive Director Steven Cobb and Jamie Billquist hold a check from Rosie’s Run, the annual 5K run/walk in memory of Rosemary “Rosie” Billquist. The donation is for supplies at the new warming center in Jamestown’s Gateway Center.

The north county recovery center at Grace Lutheran Church, 601 Eagle Street in Dunkirk is now open Monday – Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays till 6:30.

To learn more about

the Mental Health Association, call (716) 6619044 or visit MHAChautauqua.org or facebook. com/MHAChautauqua. A schedule with descriptions of all groups and classes is at MHAchautauqua.org/ groups.

Opera House Cinema Series to Present The Whale

FREDONIA – The next film in the Cinema Series at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is “The Whale,” starring Brendan Fraser. It will be screened Sat., Feb. 18, and Tues., Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

“The Whale” is the story of a reclusive English teacher (Fraser) living with severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.

The Seattle Times calls the film “a searing, moving experience.” The Associated Press calls it “a film that stays with you and changes you.” The Chicago Sun Times says “Fraser delivers the best work of his career.” ABC News says “Fraser is on the march to Oscar. That’s how astonishing he is as a

morbidly obese recluse in this deeply moving character study. This is essential viewing.” Rated R for some drug use, sexual content, and language, “The Whale” runs one hour, 57 minutes.

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. For more information, call the Opera House Box Office at 716679-1891.

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.

Audubon Opens 2023 Nature Photography Contest

Jamestown, N.Y. – Submissions are now being accepted for the Audubon Community Nature Center (ACNC) 2023 Nature Photography Contest.

With a total of $1,600 in prize money, adults and youth ages 8 – 18 each have four ways to win $200 for their nature photographs.

A panel of judges will choose the adult and youth winners as well as three honorable mentions in the categories of Animals, Plants and Landscapes. All winners receive a $200 cash prize.

Two additional $200 cash prizes will be awarded to the Adult and Youth photos receiving the most Community Choice votes online. A photo could receive both the Community Choice and a judged award.

Winning and honorable mention photographs will be displayed on the contest website. ACNC will print the winners to exhibit in the Nature Center, and winners and honorable mentions will be announced in a news release that is widely distributed, including to their local media when known.

Full details of the competition are at GoGoPhotoContest.com/ACNCPhotoContest2023, where you can submit photos and see the 2022 contest winners.

The sooner photographs are submitted, the longer the public can vote for them for the Community Choice awards. Photographers are reminded to encourage friends and fam-

Photo Submitted

Now is the time to catch beautiful winter images for Audubon Community Nature Center’s 2023

Nature Photography Contest. With $1,600 in prize money, Youth and Adults compete in the categories of Animals, Plants, Landscapes and Community Choice. Pictured is 2022 Youth Honorable Mention “Downy in a Magnolia” by Abigail Bullaro of Panama, New York.

ily to vote for their photo(s).

All the social media buttons are right there for postings.

Deadline for submissions is Sunday, July 2, 2023. Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between

people and nature by providing positive outdoor experiences, opportunities to learn about and understand the natural world, and knowledge to act in environmentally responsible ways. To learn more, visit AudubonCNC.org.

Timeline tips: Factors to consider when planning your wedding day timeline

The notion that “timing is everything” is applicable in many situations, perhaps none more so than on a couple’s wedding

day. Many couples spend months, if not years, plan-

sult in a day they will cherish forever.

The sheer volume of things to do on a wedding day can make couples feel overwhelmed. Those feelings can be overcome by emphasizing timing on the day of the wedding. Wedding day timelines will differ depending on variables that are unique to each couple’s wedding, but the following are some factors to consider as couples organize the big day.

• Venue(s): The schedule couples adhere to on their wedding day will be greatly affected by their choice of venue. Does the venue have somewhere on premises for the couple and their party to get ready?

each provides. Getting to and from multiple facilities won’t be an issue if couples choose a multipurpose venue where they can get ready, tie the knot and dance the night away all in one place. Couples who will be moving from venue to venue throughout the day must build the time it takes them and their party to get about into their timelines.

able to begin their timelines a little later in the day than those with large wedding parties.

to the timeline may be necessary if storms or another type of inclement weather is in the forecast.

ning their weddings in the hopes that all that hard work will ultimately re -

Are the ceremony and reception being held at the same venue? Before creating a timeline, consider the location of the ceremony and reception venue(s) and the accommodations

• Wedding party: The size of the wedding party also bears consideration when planning a wedding day timeline. Large parties will require more time to get ready, and that should be factored into couples’ timelines. Large parties also may be harder to corral and transport from place to place, so couples should build some extra time into their timelines to account for that. Small wedding parties can be easier to manage, so couples with small parties may be

DEC Announces Annual ‘Buffer in a Bag’ Program

Free Seedlings Available to Qualified Landowners for Streamside Plantings

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that the application period for the Trees for Tribs’ “Buffer in a Bag” program is now open. Qualifying private and public landowners may apply for a free bag of 25 tree and shrub seedlings for planting near streams, rivers, or lakes to help stabilize banks, protect water quality, combat climate change, and improve wildlife habitat.

“Small-scale streamside plantings help decrease erosion, slow floodwaters, sequester carbon, and pro -

tect fish and wildlife habitat,” said Commissioner Seggos. “I encourage New York landowners with waterside properties to participate in DEC’s ‘Buffer in a Bag’ program to bolster the State’s efforts to protect water quality and help safeguard communities from flooding.”

To qualify, landowners must have property in New York State with at least 50 feet bordering a stream, river, or lake, and provide photos or a map of the planting location. Previous recipients are encouraged to reapply to continue to build riparian buffers. Applicants are eligible for

one bag of 25 seedlings and recipients are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. A total of 350 bags will be available statewide for this round of applications.

Seedlings are provided by DEC’s Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery. The Trees for Tribs program is managed by DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests and supported by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Governor Hochul’s 2023-24 Executive Budget sustains the EPF at a historic $400 million. The EPF provides funding for critical en-

vironmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, enhanced recreational access, water quality improvement, and an aggressive environmental justice agenda.

Visit DEC’s website for more information about the Buffer in a Bag application process and requirements. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on April 7, 2023. Contact treesfortribs@dec.ny.gov with questions and visit DEC’s Trees for Tribs webpage to learn more.

Parks and Trails New York Announces New Executive Director

Paul Steely White will lead efforts to expand public access to nature and boost local, statewide impact of landmark Environmental Bond Act

(ALBANY, NY) – Paul Steely

White is the new executive director of Parks and Trails New York.

The appointment comes after an extensive search started in November 2022 when PTNY’s long-standing visionary leader, Robin Dropkin, announced her retirement.

“The story of Robin Dropkin’s service to our mission is written in the parks, trails and open spaces that are now thriving because of her unique brand of collaborative advocacy,” says Jeff Bender, Chairman of PTNY. “Robin’s body of work–spanning decades–is an amazing gift to the parks movement, and to the millions who now enjoy the fruits of her dedicated effort.”

Building on Dropkin’s accomplishments with Parks & Trails New York, Paul Steely

White is excited to take up the mantle. White has devoted his career to improving bicycling, walking, and public transit for communities the world over.

During his tenure as the Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives (2004 - 2018), the organization grew New York City’s network of greenways and bike paths, pioneered bike share, and led broad coalitions to reclaim city parks from automobile traffic. In recognition of his impact, he received (with co-awardee Janette SadikKhan) the Rockefeller Foundation’s Jane Jacobs Medal for creative approaches to building a more diverse, dynamic, and equitable urban environment.

In 2015 he was also recognized by the New York Academy of Medicine for his work to make streets safer and healthier.

“Public lands must be within closer reach to those who need them most. We saw from the pandemic that parks and trails are not just ‘nice things to have,’ they are critical public health infrastructure. I am excited to join in the vital work that PTNY has been doing for decades to expand, protect, and promote New York’s public green spaces for the use and enjoyment of all New Yorkers,”

says White.

“Paul is an authentic connector with a genuine interest and love of people–and a vision for what public life could be,” adds Mary Beth Kelly, Co-Founder of Families for Safe Streets, on White’s approach to collaboration and centering community.

Carter Strickland, VP Mid-Atlantic Region & NYS Director for the Trust for Public Land, agrees that White will be a strong force to move Parks & Trails New York forward with authenticity. “I have known Paul Steely White for years–he built up Transportation Alternatives into an incredibly powerful force in the greenway and bike advocacy scene in New York City, and then worked in the private sector on cutting-edge micromobility solutions across the country. Paul’s appointment shows that PTNY will continue to take a leading role in promoting trails and parks as key infrastructure for greener transportation and resilient communities across New York State.”

Dropkin, PTNY’s outgoing Executive Director, is among the voices welcoming White to helming the future of the organization, “I couldn’t be more proud of what we have accomplished together at Parks & Trails New York, nor more excited for the next chapter under Paul’s guidance. I believe Paul will bring the energy and experience to expand our vital work for the next decade and beyond, creating an even greater impact for our outdoor spaces and the communities who love them.”

Dropkin’s support and excitement for White’s new tenure is shared by other leaders in the organization. “In both the non-profit and private sectors, Paul has demonstrated an ability to build diverse coalitions and effective campaigns. Under Paul’s leadership we look forward to winning new key allies as we strive to preserve and expand parks and park access for all,” says Nadine Lemmon, PTNY Board Member and Chair of the Search Committee.

White adds, “New York State’s parks, trails, and public lands are seeing unprecedented attendance and investment. Yet much more must be done to meet the enormous latent demand for immersive natural experiences. I am excited for what we will accomplish together for the next generations of park goers, cyclists, and lovers of green space.”

About Parks & Trails New York: Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) is New York’s leading statewide advocate for parks and trails.

Since its founding in 1985, PTNY has been fighting to improve our health, economy, and quality of life through the use and enjoyment of green space. In collaboration with members, supporters and partners from across the state, PTNY is a prominent voice for the protection and expansion of New York’s magnificent state park system and multi-use trail network, including more than 1,500 miles of greenways, bike paths, and river walks. Learn more at www.ptny.org.

About Paul Steely White, PTNYs new executive director: Paul Steely White has devoted his career to improving bicycling, walking and public transit.

While executive director of Transportation Alternatives from 2004 - 2018, he grew New York City’s network of greenways and bike paths and led campaigns to reclaim city parks from automobile traffic. For this work he received (with co-awardee Janette SadikKhan) the Rockefeller Foundation’s Jane Jacobs Medal, which recognizes those whose creative uses of the urban environment build a more diverse, dynamic, and equitable city.

In 2015, Paul was recognized by the New York Academy of Medicine for his work to make streets safer and healthier. Since 2019, Paul has worked as a policy leader in the transportation tech start-up space, helping companies like the MIT

• Weather: Weather is the most unpredictable variable couples need to plan for on their wedding days. As the wedding day approaches, couples can monitor the day’s forecast and then make any necessary changes to account for inclement weather. Getting around in a rainstorm will likely take longer than moving about on a sunny day, so some minor tweaks

Couples can access wedding day timeline templates on various websites. But it’s important that couples remember that their weddings are unique, so online guidelines might not be realistic. A careful consideration of a handful of variables specific to couples’ weddings can help them craft timelines that make their big day go smoothly.

spinoff Superpedestrian grow public access to shared electric mobility and microtransit. He currently serves as board president of the New York-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, a global organization that works for healthier and more equitable transportation systems in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the US. But it’s important that couples remember that their weddings are unique, so online guidelines might not be realistic. A careful consideration of a handful of variables specific to couples’ weddings can help them craft timelines that make their big day go smoothly.