Allegany County Source 07-17-2026

Big 30 Baseball All-Stars: Genesee Valley/Belfast’s Davenport is Pitcher of the Year

Sun, sky and sand: 49th Great Wellsville Balloon Rally is July 17-19

BY KATHRYN ROSS

WELLSVILLE —

The 49th annual Great Wellsville Balloon Rally, which got its start in 1975, will launch at 6 p.m. Friday.

Brad Thompson, who has helmed the event for the last 16 years, said the rally will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year in 2027. The discrepancy in dates, he noted, is because of the fair-weather event had to completely cancel the festivities a couple of times over the years.

“We were completely rained out one year and during the COVID pandemic we were mandated by the state to cancel

the Rally,” he said. With this year’s event just around the corner, the committee is already making plans for its 50th anniversary, Thompson said. But this

year isn’t in the dark yet — there are some highlights the crowd at Lagoon Field in Island Park can look forward to. There are 30 balloons

registered to take off at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday during mass launches. Thompson said that while the tried-and-true pilots and balloons will be present, Keith Sproul from Airborne Adventures of Munnsvill will also be back. For the last several years his dragon balloon, Scorch, has towered over the site dominating the rally skyline and enchanting children and adults alike.

“I don’t know how many special-shaped balloons are coming

Great Wellsville Balloon Rally Parade kicks

BY KATHRYN ROSS

WELLSVILLE — Participants celebrated the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally and America’s 250th anniversary in Sat-

urday’s parade with red, white and blue balloons and patriotic displays. Nearly 100 separate units marched or drove down Main Street after the Sons of the Legion

Motorcycle group rolled by. This annual event, taking place since 1999, ushers in events leading up to Friday night’s Rally launch. All week long, the Balloon Rally Store will be open next to the police station on South Main Street. Throughout the week check out the progression of artist Eric Jones’ sand sculpture at the Lagoon Field Rally site.

On Thursday at 7 p.m. on the Library lawn, Terry Buchwald will perform as the King of Rock an’ Roll (Elvis) at Music On the Lawn and on Saturday more than 100 vendors and organizations will take part in the Main Street Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prior to the launches, the Rally site includes a midway with food vendors. A fireworks display will take place after dark on Saturday. Rally admission is free.

Big 30 Baseball All-Stars: Genesee Valley/ Belfast’s Davenport is Pitcher of the Year

BY HENRY BUCHAN

Heading into his senior season, Ethan Davenport feared he’d already become the best pitcher he was ever going to be.

Lacking the benefit of travel teams, advanced instruction, or freakish

natural gifts, he isn’t a typical Big 30 award winner. Through it all, Davenport can really say he made it happen for himself.

With fellow Genesee Valley/Belfast Central pitcher and Big 30 honoree Ben Cater, he figured it out, piece by piece, testing things out

and seeing what stuck.

It was that process that transformed Davenport into one of the area’s best players, a Section V champion and a player who earned the opportunity to continue his career at Alfred University.

Heading into his eighth grade year, Davenport described himself as a player with big dreams, but low expectations.

One of those dreams was to be able to earn a scholarship and play in

college. He still didn’t know if it was possible, but he began to gain the confidence to give it a full shot.

“I realized that if I started putting in some work, I could become something better than what I was right then,” Davenport said.

From there, every offseason became another opportunity to improve. He continued to, establishing himself as his

BY KATHRYN ROSS

ANGELICA — The 181st Allegany County Fair will open its gates to the public at 9 a.m. Monday, July 20 — with some 30,000 people expected to visit over the week.

Prior to that, at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 19, there will be a Vesper Service during which a bench to be placed on the fairgrounds, dedicated to an individual or family which has volunteered over the years. The bench will be imprinted with the name of the honoree and will provide respite for visitors throughout fair week.

Fun for all is coming July 20-25 at 181st Allegany County Fair

musical entertainment. Grandstand events are free with admission. While agriculture is at the heart of the fair, with animal programs and horse shows to tractor parades and steam engine displays, the buildings on the fairgrounds offer a plethora of information. Political candidates share booths with local service providers and organizations featuring the latest products and programs like the Allegany County Safety Board, featuring raffles and giveaways. On Thursday, July 23, at 2 p.m., the Allegany County Legislature will convene its July meeting at the fair. The public is invited to attend.

Along with carousels and Ferris wheels, the fair midway offers games of skill and chance from picking plastic ducks out of water to throwing baseballs at milk bottles to win prizes.

Food is also an integral part of the fair experience. One can find everything from cotton candy and taffy to fried pickles, pizza and Italian sausage. Food stands run by local school groups raise money for graduation and senior trips and offer wholesome and fresh foods. Students along with their advisors and parents will be serving a

The fair got its start in 1845, more than 15 years prior to the Civil War and less than 70 years after farmers and tradesmen fought for independence from England. It started as an agricultural fair and that tradition continues today with daily judging ranging from chickens, ducks, cattle, pigs and cows to goats, rabbits and horses.

The Allegany County Fair also features domestic arts where one can find everything from award-winning needle crafts to canned peaches and prize cucumbers and tomatoes.

Free entertainment flows nightly from the grandstand where visitors can see contests of strength and skill like horse pulling and bull riding or listen to

➡Balloon Rally

this year, but I’m sure Scorch will be here and Keith (Sproul) says he’s bringing a surprise,” Thompson said.

In the past, such special-shaped balloons as the Energizer Bunny, a barn, a pirate ship and Canada’s Sky Turkey have landed at the Rally. There will also be several red, white and blue patriotic balloons at this year’s Rally, which also celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

In addition to the balloons, the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally will entertain the crowds with DJ Jeff Wilson spinning discs. After the balloons return to the field both Friday and Saturday nights, they will tether and inflate. They will synchronize blasts from the burners keeping the balloons vertical to music lighting up the night sky like stained glass.

On Saturday night a fireworks display is planned for around 10 p.m. As it did last year,

a Balloon Rally sand sculpture by artist Eric Jones will draw a crowd and serve as a great backdrop for photos. Jones has been busy this summer creating sand sculptures in Belmont and Angelica and many other locations.

This year his Rally sculpture will be twice the size of a last year’s, Thompson said. He explained that eight businesses and individuals got together to sponsor this year’s artwork. Along with more balloons, the sculpture will also feature the Pink House and the Catholic Church, mimicking the Chamber of Commerce’s Wellsville Mural on Main Street. Thompson wanted to make sure everyone knows the 49th Balloon Rally is a free event and remind patrons that parking on site is extremely limited. He advises taking free shuttles from the Northern Lights Plaza on Route 417 East and River Walk Plaza on 417 West to attend the Rally without the hassle of parking.

Outdoors

➡Big 30 Baseball All-Stars

team’s best arm. But, at a certain point, that arm stopped improving.

Between his sophomore and junior years, Davenport said his velocity, at that point not a strength, was hardly improving.

“Late February, going into my junior season, I was still topping out at 83 or 84 (miles per hour),” Davenport said. “During the season, I would usually sit 79 to 81 on a good day.”

He felt frustrated, but rather than accepting he was at his best, he looked for other alternatives. He looked for any instruction he could get, at one point using pitching tutorial videos from former MLB Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer.

“I started out just lifting weights, trying to gain weight,” Davenport said. “Then I started watching videos. My hips rotate very late, which is not good. A lot of pitchers, that’s their main concern, their hip rotation, trying to get earlier hip rotation. So I’m looking through all these videos, trying to figure out how I can fix that.”

He explained the arduous process that he took to improvement, without typically having access to further instruction.

Throughout the season, he consistently dominated opposing lineups, including a 15-strikeout performance against Allegany-Limestone, 14-strikeout outings against Canisteo-Greenwood and Bolivar-Richburg, and a five-inning no-hitter against Fillmore in which he struck out 14.

During his team’s postseason run, his production didn’t fall off in the slightest.

“I’m going through all these drills and using Plyo Balls and everything,” he said. “I know that I’m not doing them perfectly. I’m kind of just doing them as well as I can without having somebody there to show me how to do all this stuff. But just doing the plyo-ball drills that I saw in one of those videos helped me so much.”

By his senior year, he had a dramatic transformation. Suddenly, instead of sitting in the low 80s, he was throwing fastballs at 87, 88. The results speak for themselves.

Davenport allowed just three hits while striking out 14 in the sectional quarterfinals against Clyde-Savannah and followed that with a two-hit, nine-strikeout performance against Caledonia-Mum in the semifinals.

Those performances helped push Genesee Valley/Belfast to a sectional championship trophy.

“The teams that we play that are the best, those are the games that I usually throw the best,” Davenport said. “It’s all my mentality. I go out there thinking that no one’s going to beat me.”

During his senior season, Davenport went 11-1 with a 1.29 ERA, striking out 142 batters in 76 innings.

The pitcher who dominated in those playoffs wasn’t the same player who entered high school, even though it could have been. He simply refused to accept that. For that effort, Davenport is the Big 30 pitcher of the year.

➡Allegany County Fair

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tasty menu daily which often includes chicken and biscuits and goulash along with hamburgers and hot dogs.

For the last 180 years, the “Fair With the Country Smile” has entertained visitors and families and residents alike with traditions found only in the country.

The fair opens daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The cost of admission is $12 per person. Tuesday is Family Day when admission is just $5 per person. Parking is free and on site.

Daily features include:

• Monday, July 20 — Western New York

Pro Farm Pullers

• Tuesday, July 21

New York State Championship Light Horse Pull

• Wednesday, July 22 — Boys and Bulls Rodeo

• Thursday, July 23 — Zach Brown Tribute Band

• Friday, July 24 — New York Tractor Pulling Contests

the Mini Theater. At 9 p.m. July 25, there will be a fireworks display to celebrate America’s birthday.

The Fair Baby Contest is at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Mini Theater followed at noon with a Children’s Tractor Pull. A Talent Show takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25, in

Office for the Aging

home improvement

How to redecorate your home using the latest design trends

(BPT) - Ready for a home refresh, but not in the market for a pricey reno? You can transform your most lived-in spaces by leaning into trends making a splash in 2026. Whether you want to change the look of your living room, bedroom or any other area of your

home, explore ways to use personalization, rich color and texture to bring new life to your spaces.

Express yourself

One of the biggest trends of the year is turning away from minimalism and toward

a space that tells your story. You can create a personalized space by curating specific items that are meaningful to you, using them as inspiration for the rest of your decor.

An heirloom rug, piece of art or furniture, some special item you

collected while traveling or any of your own treasures can become the room’s focal point, using the colors, feeling or time period conjured by the piece to help you design the entire space.

may want to add to the space, and what you want to remove.

Pro tip: Have a collection of special items?

Use a photo of your cherished item to create a digital or analog “mood board.” Put that photo in the center of the board, then gather colors, textures and other photos that inspire the vibe you’re going for. This process can help you make choices about paint colors, window treatments and furnishings you

Put it proudly on display! Invest in a special case, shelving and lighting to show your treasures at their best.

Dive into rich earthy tones

Don’t be afraid to experiment with color. You can get paint

swatches, stickers or small samples of paint to try out in a room first, to see what you really like. Remember to view the paint color after it’s completely dry and at different times of day.

• Trending colors include earth tones like deep olive or plum, terracotta, rust or chocolate brown,

which can be beautifully contrasted with warm neutrals such as taupe, cream and camel.

• Color drenching is on-trend, which means painting all of a room one color - including the trim, doors and millwork. You can even include

the ceiling! By eliminating the contrast you get with white trim, for example, color drenching creates drama and a strong sense of cohesion in a room.

• Wallpaper has also made a serious comeback, so you may want to check

out some of the latest designs, patterns and colors that can really transform a room. Don’t want to wallpaper a whole wall? Consider using wallpaper in small areas, like behind open shelves or in framed panels using decorative molding. You can also add wainscoting or a chair rail and only use wallpaper above (or even below) the rail.

Pro tip: One surprising new trend is using wallpaper on the “fifth wall” - in other words, the ceiling. Wallpapered ceilings can create a

great effect for any room, especially small spaces, as it draws the eye upward. Consider using the technique in a space where you have a striking light fixture or chandelier you want to showcase.

Sink into texture

Creating a warm, comfy vibe in any space is easy if you choose textures that you want to run your fingers through. Make your whole room more cozy by opting for furniture with soft, sculptural shapes, and using natural materials such as wood, cotton, wool and linen. Textural variety is also on-trend with wall-

paper choices like grass cloth and sisal, papers with fluted or ribbed effects, faux plaster and even woven fabrics.

Mixing different textures, including mixed metals for hardware, is a continuing trend this year, helping to contribute to the sensory-rich atmosphere that seems to be what everyone’s craving in today’s home design.

Pro tip: Maximize visual interest by mixing and matching everything

from matte black and brushed nickel to silver and bronze for your faucets, cabinet pulls and more. Whichever options you choose to create your own unique atmosphere at home, enjoy the process of discovering what you like best, and don’t be afraid to let your own personality shine through. Personal expression, variety and comfort are the guiding principles of the latest trends in home decor.

Wellsville Village Board sets in motion demolition of partially collapsed building

BY KATHRYN ROSS

WELLSVILLE

April 17, part of the former Phuntner car dealership building on Railroad Avenue collapsed. On July 13, the village board declared that section of the building an unsafe structure making way for demolition.

A hearing concerning the collapse took place prior to the regular village board meeting. Those attending were Sherry Jacques, the building owner, and Cory Burrows of M.A.C.E. (Municipal Alliance of Code En-

forcement), the village’s inspection and code enforcement agency.

According to M.A.C.E.’s report, the structures at 94-100 Railroad Ave. partially collapsed in the alley and street in April. At that time, the electric was shut off and the road was shut down and signs reading “Not To Be Occupied” were posted on the collapsed part of the building. The road is still closed and will remain closed until action is complete.

According to the M.A.C.E. report, the deterioration of lateral and

vertical beams caused the collapse. It is located in the back part of the building complex and does not effect the other parts of the building, which was used for storage.

At the hearing, Jacques said she has hired a contractor to demolish the 2 1/2 stories involved in the collapse, in the rear on the south side of the former dealership.

While the start date and length of the project cannot be determined at this point, the structure will continue to stand and the road will remain closed.

Following the hearing, during the board meeting, it designated the structure as unsafe, initiating the requirement giving the building owner 10 days to commence the demolition and 30 days to complete the project

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Scott Avenue resident Margaret Walsh asked the board to consider doing something

about the dilapidated and vacant homes on that street. Mayor Ed Fahs said the village would ask M.A.C.E. to look at the properties.

Walsh also asked about the prohibited parking in the municipal lot behind the Rockwell building

Fahs said it is a legal matter. The village is offering to buy the parking spaces in dispute but the proposal has been delayed until such time as the purchase is complete. Vehicles parked there may be towed.

Getting down to the mayor’s business, Fahs asked for and received approval for a fireworks display for the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally on Saturday.

The mayor also received the go-ahead for, at a cost of $70,815, POPLI Group performing an engineering and architectural report for the New York Forward Gateway Project at the intersection of State Street and the Arterial

for the development of new signage welcoming visitors to the village. During the rest of the meeting the following resolutions were approved: — purchase of a lawnmower for the sewer department at a cost not to exceed $16,000, to be taken from the Sewer Reserve Fund; — the North Main Street lift station rebuild for the Sewer Department, not to exceed $60,000 and to be taken from the sewer fund reserve; — purchase of a load tap changer for the State Street Electric Substation in an amount not to exceed $25,000 and to be taken from the electric fund checking; — purchase of a substation breaker for maintenance and not to exceed $10,000 to be taken from the electric fund checking.

Trustee Tim Colligan asked the board to consider one side of the street parking only, during village wide yard sales.

“We only have 51 weeks to considerate it,” he said.

Trustee Ken Didion said he had received a complaint about the tree on the corner of North Main Street and Pearl Street and the corner of the hospital property. The tree is blocking the view of the traffic signal when headed south, Public works director Brad Mattison said he will take a look at it. Director of Public Works Bradley Mattison also asked permission to post a water/wastewater maintenance trainee position and sought approval of a $35,750 concrete bid from Millennium Construction. The board gave its approvals. Mattison was also given permission to sell millings to West Almond for $11,750 and to promote Eric Welninski to water treatment plant supervisor.

The village board’s next meeting is set for 6 p.m. July 27.