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Alfred • Allentown • Alma • Andover • Angelica • Belfast • Belmont • Bolivar • Caneadea • Ceres • Cuba • FilLmore • Friendship • Genesee Houghton • little genesee • portville • richburg • Rushford • Scio • shinglehouse • Ulysses • Wellsville • west clarksville • Whitesville
In Wellsville, remembering 9/11 a quarter century later BY KATHRYN ROSS
While communities around the county will observe the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States, two commemorations will recall the way their community came together. A few hours following the attack on the World Trade Center, its collapse, and the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, Allegany Arc was called to help. The agency, through its PWI Services, routinely assembled DNA identification kits for New York state. Following the attack, as volunteers were recover-
Photo provided PWI, operated by The Arc Allegany-Steuben, on Andover Road in Wellsville.
ing remains from the 1.8 million tons of rubble, the state requested 25,000 DNA kits and Arc officials could not turn down the request. Yet, it seemed an insurmountable task. It would take weeks, not days for the small workforce at PWI Services to
produce that many ID Kits. The Arc turned to the community for help and the community responded, giving people a role in the response to the tragedy. Volunteers gathered at the PWI workshop east of the village, and
at fire halls. Forty-eight hours later they were packing up the DNA kits for transport. Gov. George Pataki’s plane was scheduled to land at Wellsville airport to pick up the kits and deliver them to the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office.
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, The Arc Allegany-Steuben will remember not only the attack on 9/11 but how the community responded to their request for help. Christopher Kohler, who oversaw the fulfillment of the state’s request, is now vice president of business operations The Arc Allegany-Steuben. “We want this commemoration to be more than remembering a tragic day in our nation’s history,” he said. “We also want to recognize the people who came together when they were needed. They were incredible.
We want everyone who played a part to know that we remember and appreciate what they did.” The community is invited to a commemorative program at 11 a.m. Sept 11 at PWI on Andover Road. When a rural community needs help during an emergency, neighboring towns and villages come to their aid. New York City may be hundreds of miles away from Allegany County, but on 9/11 it was just another community in need of help. Thousands of firefightRemembering 9/11 continued on PAGE 4
Robinson named CEO of Cuba Memorial Hospital BY KATHRYN ROSS
CUBA — Cuba Memorial Hospital announced the appointment of William Robinson as chief executive officer, effective Aug. 5. After serving as interim CEO since July, Robinson steps into the CEO position permanently while continuing to serve as nursing home administrator, a position he has held since April 2026. In his expanded role, he will be responsible for overseeing the daily hospital operations of CMH, including the 61-bed skilled nursing facility. CMH employs more
Bill Robinson
than 140 employees and generates more than $16 million in annual revenue. Cuba Memorial Hospital is a nonprofit critical access hospital, serving Allegany County and the surrounding region.
The hospital provides a comprehensive range of services, including a 24/7 Urgent Care Center, acute inpatient care through its Medical Care Unit, long-term care and skilled nursing, inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy, palliative care, radiology and ultrasound, laboratory services, social work and nutritional services. “The CMH Board of Trustees is confident that we [the board] made an excellent choice in selecting William as CEO. He brings a wealth of experience, a deep understanding of
our organization and a genuine commitment to our patients, residents, employees and community,” said Kathy Morris, chair, CMH board of trustees. “His leadership, knowledge and passion for rural healthcare make him uniquely qualified to serve in this dual role. We are excited about the future of Cuba Memorial Hospital under his leadership.” Prior to joining CMH as the nursing home administrator earlier this year, Robinson served as nursing home administrator of Maple City Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Hornell, a 114-bed skilled
nursing facility. Prior to joining Maple City Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, he served as nursing home administrator of St. Ann’s Community in Rochester. Before becoming a licensed nursing home administrator, Robinson held general manager positions at other skilled nursing facilities since 2001 with oversight of multiple departments including environmental services, food and nutrition and facilities. Robinson earned his bachelor’s degree in nutrition and food science from Rochester Institute of Technology. He has been a licensed nursing
home administrator in New York State since 2017. “I am honored to step in as CEO of Cuba Memorial Hospital and to be part of an organization that has been at the heart of this community for more than 100 years,” said Robinson, CEO, CMH. “There is something truly special about caring for our neighbors and I look forward to working alongside our dedicated employees, leadership team and Board of Trustees to build on our proud legacy. Together, we will continue strengthening Cuba Memorial Hospital continued on PAGE 4
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Bills Door Service GARAGE DOORS & MORE 716-220-2288 Photo provided Cuba Circulating Library: Awarded $1,600 from the Allegany Fund to purchase a Sensory Shower for its Community Room to serve children and teens with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
ACAF awards $10K for workforce and community resources BELMONT — New opportunities for job training, youth enrichment, technology access and community connection are coming to Allegany County with support from the Allegany County Area Foundation. In total, ACAF awarded $10,600 in grants to five local organizations during its August grant committee and board meetings. • Alfred Twenty First Century Group: Awarded $2,000 from the Peter Sprague Fund to enhance awareness of local events, businesses and community resources, this grant will help the Alfred Twenty First Century Group (A21CG) launch Discover Alfred. The initiative will bring information from across the Alfred community together in one accessible, reliable resource. Discov-
er Alfred plans to provide a digital directory along with transforming the village gazebo into a community information hub with flyers and bulletin boards. “A21CG has already begun laying the groundwork for this project by investing substantial in-kind effort outreach, content, and photography,” A21CG communications director Marzena Lewandowski said. “To date, we have received profiles from 32 local businesses ready to join the initiative.” • Allegany County Office of Employment & Training: Awarded $5,000 from the Allegany Fund for the Skill Up Allegany Tuition Assistance Program, which creates opportunities for Allegany County residents to access local occupational training programs. Through this initiative, the
Allegany County Office of Employment & Training (ACOET) provides training assistance to several individuals facing financial barriers that would otherwise prevent them from enrolling. Students can pursue the following certifications with Skill Up support: CDL (Class A and B), Medical Coding & Billing, Phelbotomy, HVAC, Nursing (LPN), and Welding. This grant will help more local residents access these programs and gain skills to advance their careers.
greater financial independence and are no longer receiving public assistance.”
fill that gap directly, giving both the Starbridge and BOCES groups a dedicated calming corner within the Community Room.”
• Cuba Circulating Library: Awarded $1,600 from the Allegany Fund to purchase a Sensory Shower for its Community Room to serve children and teens with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The library has a growing partnership with Starbridge and BOCES to serve local youth with these disabilities in a meaningful way.
• Richburg Colonial Library: Awarded $1,000 from the Allegany Fund to support Richburg Colonial Library’s new Read, Explore & Grow Program, which aims to foster a connection between the local library and youth while building access to educational enrichment opportunities.
“Through running these programs firsthand, we have identified a clear and specific need: a quiet, enclosed space where children who become overstimulated can step away to calm down, rather than having to leave the program altogether,” Library director Tina Dalton said. “A Sensory Shower would
“The program is designed to encourage a love of reading while giving children opportunities to explore, create, learn, and build new skills in a welcoming community setting,” Colonial Library director Yvonne Scott said. “The program will combine takehome books, afterschool activities,
“By helping residents obtain the education and credentials required for these occupations, this program contributes to a stronger workforce and a healthier local economy,” ACOET Director Reita Sobeck-Lynch said. “Several participants have achieved
STEM and hands-on learning experiences, and art activities.” • Rushford Free Library: Awarded $1,000 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund to purchase a new laptop for public use, expanding reliable technology access for the community. This laptop will help the library continue to serve residents, especially those who may not have reliable computer access at home. Non-profit organizations serving Allegany County are encouraged to apply for grant funding opportunities; the next grant application deadline is Oct. 16. To learn more about how you can support local non-profits through ACAF, visit alleganycountyareafoundation. org or contact executive director Bruce Campbell at (585) 296-5616 or director@acafny.org.
Angelica group not satisfied with proposed law on battery energy storage facilities BY KATHRYN ROSS
ANGELICA — Members of a group opposing a proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in the town of Angelica are not satisfied with a proposed town law regulating such facilities. On Aug. 24, Angelica Town Board members listened to town and Allegany County residents regarding the project involving lithium-ion batteries for energy storage on 3.64 acres at 9863 Hess Road in the town. The land is owned by Christopher R. Travis of Olean — and on Wednesday in the Allegany County clerk’s office a lease agreement between Travis and C-TEC Solar LLC of Bloomfield, Connecticut went into effect.
Photo provided Concerned citizens filled most of the seats at a public hearing Monday on a proposed law regarding the BESS project in Angelica.
The term of the lease is 49 years. Angelica’s proposed Law 1 of 2026 details permitting, monitoring and safety requirements developers of BESS projects must adhere to — with associated inspection and monitoring costs to be paid by the developer — but it does not ban such projects. The law establishes two tiers for systems,
with Tier 2 (more than 600kWh) requiring a special use permit, noise limits, 10-foot fencing and a closure plan with funds for decommissioning to be placed in escrow by the developer. Ten people, mostly members of a No BESS on Hess committee, signed up to bring their concerns about the proposed law to the board. Nine cited concerns with the law while one
resident told the group she doesn’t want to be told what to do with her land. A large range of concerns were expressed over the verbiage and lack of content in the law; but Linda Cash said one of the most concerning issues with the hearing was the board’s lack of engagement. The four board members and town clerk — Supervisor Girard Kelly, Deputy Supervisor William Weaver, councilmen Brian Jones and Jerry Matatos and clerk Pamela Cockle attended the hearing. “We were disrespected. They were not engaged,” said Cash, who helped organize opposition to the facility. “It was a sham of a meeting. They can write a more restrictive law so that these kinds of
that the board members would not answer any questions. At the beginning of the discourse, Karen Ash asked for a show of hands from those against the construction of the facility. When nearly every hand in the room went up, she said, “The town board is blatantly and knowingly ignoring the will of the people.” Another landowner expressed the belief that the board is working in the best interest of the town, adding that no one should be able to tell her what to do with her own land. Former Allegany County Treasurer Terri Ross was concerned about the verbiage in the document saying that the “mays” should be changed to “shalls.” She also believes that proposed setbacks were
businesses — storage facilities, data centers, wind turbine and solar projects — will say, ‘screw this’ and go away. Did they even consult with an environmental attorney?” Cash expressed her belief the board is not acting in good faith and at the end of the hearing she asked, “Have the board members and the clerk signed non-disclosure agreements?” Kelly, responding later in the week, said, “It’s delusional. I have no idea what she was talking about.” As for working with an environmental attorney, he said the board and town attorney consulted other communities in drafting Angelica’s law. During the hearing, speakers were limited to three minutes. Kelly noted that the allotted time was adequate for most of the speakers. It was also understood
Angelica Group continued on PAGE 4
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September 4, 2026
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AOH’s 11 Annual Park in the Park car show Sept. 12 in Wellsville th
WELLSVILLE — Island Park will again be the venue for the 11th Annual Allegany County Ancient Order of Hibernians Park in the Park Car — as well as truck, tractor, cycle and military vehicle — Show on Sept. 12. The AOH invites everyone stop down 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to see what unique rides are in park and to see what past award-winning cars and trucks will again be there. This year’s car show is expected to draw classic cars from all over Western and Central New York as well as Pennsylvannia as a major regional car show event. The AOH event team has lined up 30 trophies this year, which are supported by local sponsors including Mark Bokman of Bokman of Wellsville Inc., which has been the main sponsor of the car show from the start. Ryan CHG Insurance Agency in Wellsville
is another top sponsor as are Mike Miller and Jim Knapp at the ALCO Federal Credit Union. Other sponsors are Joe and Bonnie Collins of Collins Automotive, Shorts Propane & Oil, Shorts Deli, Lindsay’s Plumbing & Heating, Dunbar Performance, Olney Foust Funeral Homes, Root Water Well Specialists, Perks Auto Care, Millenium Construction and the Old Mill Inn, the Cattaraugus County AOH, Walker Metal Smiths of Andover, Pizza King and Stillwater Grill, The Texas Hot and Aiken Apartments. The Allegany AOH thanks Wellsville Town Supervisor Patricia Graves and the town board for allowing the organization to host the car show in the park, where food and beverage trucks will be on hand. They include The Dog Doctors, SheBrews/Holy Cakes, Napoli Pizza and Out
Democrats to collect for food pantry in Cuba CUBA — When the Allegany County Democrats gather for their next Coffee with Democrats on Sept 13. in Cuba, they’ll be collecting non-perishable food and personal care items to be donated to the food pantry operated by the Cuba Council of Churches. “This is the third year that county Democrats have organized pantry collections,” said Chair Karen Ash. “Coffee with Democrats is held in different towns across the county. Wherever we meet, we donate to the pantry in that town. Serving our community in this way is a simple yet meaningful expression of our organization’s and our party’s values.” September’s Coffee with Democrats takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 17 South St., and is open to all registered Democrats and friends of Democrats. Coffee and light snacks will be served. Sign up through the Allegany County Democrats’ Facebook page. If you can’t attend but would like to drop off donations, email info@acdcny.org.
Photo provided Belmont’s Don Skinner with his blue Coupe Roadster, a repeat show winner.
of the Box Mobile Mini Deli of Belmont. During the show local crafters including Wellsville’s Dana Flamini of Dana Lyn Designs will have vendor tables near the food truck area. There will be a 50/50 raffle that will be drawn right before the trophies are awarded at approximately 2:30 p.m. by AOH president John Dean and event co-chair and AOH vice president Matthew Cannon. The Roger Gee Memorial Trophy will start the awards ceremony. In honor of the late Custom Express Car Club Member, this trophy has been graciously sponsored by AOH member Tim Colligan, his wife Sue and their family. The AOH thanks Kay McCullough, who
provided the event insurance for this year’s show in memory of her late husband and charter AOH member Mike McCullough, who was a mainstay for all AOH fundraising events for the past 13 years. There will also be the popular engine blowup contest sponsored by Rich Leitzell and Leitzell’s Repair Shop in Wellsville. The loudest exhaust contest will decide who has the loudest ride, measured by a decibel meter. “Our AOH car show will happen rain or shine and the Island Park venue provides one of the best venues to attend and participate in a car show in the state,” Cannon said. “It is truly a regional family-friendly event in the middle of
Wellsville.” He noted the car show as well as the June AOH Irish Road Bowling Classic in Andover are the two main fundraisers for the division, which donates to local charities and organizations. Profits from the events are used to support donations to local charities in Allegany County including the Hart Comfort House, Catholic Charities Joyce Family Food Pantry in Wellsville (which serves over 2,250 local individuals facing food challenges) as well as food pantries in Cuba, Fillmore, Alfred and the Salvation Army Food Pantry. In addition, AOH supports the Wellsville Little League, Andover Wetlands’ An-
nual Fishing Derby, Allegany County District #4 firefighters as well as the Shane Colligan Park in Wellsville and many individual donations to needy families. Since 2002, the Allegany County AOH has also provided several Allegany County college-bound high school graduates with $500 scholarships. The fee to enter a car, truck or classic ride is $15. All spectators, car/ truck/tractor buffs and foodies always have free entry with free parking near the Little League field and Lagoon area. For more AOH car show information, email aoh.div1@yahoo.com, go the AOH Facebook page or email aohcannon@gmail.com.
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September 4, 2026
Author returns to ‘hills of home’ in new novel BY SARA FURLONG
The hills, creeks and family stories of the Bradford-Olean, N.Y., region provide the setting and inspiration for Robert Patrick Strickler’s new novel, “The Storyteller from Alder Creek.” Strickler, who was born at the former St. Francis Hospital in Olean and spent much of his boyhood in Eldred, Allegany and Bolivar, describes the area surrounding Bradford and Olean as his “hills of home.” “I spent the formative years of my boyhood in and around Eldred, Allegany and Bolivar, including learning to fish for trout and hunt for whitetails under the expert and patient tutelage of my Irish lineage mother’s father and his brothers, who I always thought of as my ‘Irish uncles,’” he said.
Robert Patrick Strickler
Strickler’s family later moved to South Bend, Ind., after his father accepted a faculty position at the University of Notre Dame. He continued returning to the region over the years to visit relatives and friends. Those memories eventually became Alder Creek, the fictional northern Pennsylvania community at the center of his 348-page novel.
“I made up ‘Alder Creek’ out of memories of some of the creeks flowing down out of the mountains into the Allegheny as it makes its big curve up into New York and then back into Pennsylvania,” Strickler said. The novel’s setting is based in part on a deer hunting camp and trout pond built by one of his uncles after returning home from World War II. “The Storyteller from Alder Creek” follows Frank Kolski, a nearly 80-year-old widower and retired Detroit newspaperman who has spent the previous decade living alone in a cabin along Michigan’s Pere Marquette River. Kolski passes his time fly-fishing for brown trout, rereading favorite books and listening to piano records inherited from his father. His solitude is interrupt-
➡Remembering 9/11 continued from PAGE 1 ers, EMTs and volunteers from across the country, including several who headed east on Interstate 86, responded to the need. Terry Fleischman with the Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department has organized an event to honor firefighters, EMTs, military and police who responded to the Twin Towers emergency on 9/11. The 9/11 25th Anniversary Remembrance will start at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12 at the Wellsville Fire Department Headquarters on Main Street. The public, along with firefighters, emergency responders and police are encouraged to participate. Main Street
will be closed from State Street to Dyke Street between 9 and 10 a.m. Sept. 12. The event will include a flag raising, reciting The Pledge of Allegiance, singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and an opening prayer, to be followed by speakers. A bell-ringing will recognize all who died during and as a result of the 9/11 attack, including firefighters, EMS, police and military personnel. “Amazing Grace” will follow the bell-ringing. The Firemen’s Prayer, Emergency Responder’s Prayer, and Soldier’s Prayer will proceed a benediction
and the singing of “God Bless America.” The public is invited to pay its respects. It has been documented that after American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were flown into the Twin Towers, 344 NYC firefighters and 71 NYC police officers died responding to the disaster. In total 2,603 people were confirmed dead at the site. The last survivor was rescued 27 hours after the collapse of the North Tower, according to the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office, and only 289 intact bodies were recovered from the seven-story deep, 16-acre site.
➡Cuba Memorial Hospital continued from PAGE 1 the exceptional care our community depends on while ensuring CMH remains a trusted healthcare resource for generations to come.” To celebrate more than a century of caring for the community, Cuba Memorial Hospital hosted its free “Through the Ages” Health Fair and Open House on Saturday, August 22, at the Palmer
Opera House in Cuba. The event brought community members together for free health screenings, opportunities to meet healthcare professionals, historical displays and information about healthcare services available locally. Originally founded in 1923 as Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital and incorporated as
Cuba Memorial Hospital in 1925, the organization has provided exceptional care close to home for more than a century. Since earning Critical Access Hospital designation in 1997, the hospital has continued to evolve to meet the changing healthcare needs of rural communities while preserving access to essential local care.
ed when his younger brother invites him to fish the headwaters of Alder Creek in northern Pennsylvania. The trip draws the brothers into a disturbing story about their father — one they believe can be silenced only by killing the man who told it. Their plan does not unfold as expected, leaving Kolski to make a potentially fatal choice. Strickler said the story was inspired very loosely by an unsolved murder committed long ago outside Allegany, but its characters and events are entirely fictional. His years in journalism also helped inform the novel. Strickler began his communications career as a reporter for the South Bend Tribune, Kalamazoo Gazette and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He later served as editor of the Detroit Free Press Sunday magazine and as a correspondent for Life magazine. His writing about fishing in Michigan appeared in Field & Stream and Sports Afield. After leaving journalism, Strickler worked as a public affairs consultant and communica-
tions manager for clients in the United States and Europe. He later served as director of communications at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and founded a communications firm focused on the societal and economic effects of technologies emerging from research universities. Strickler said he returned to northern Pennsylvania for the novel because the region and its people helped shape his understanding of family. “The stories, the secrets, the good and the bad, the individuals who stay and those who leave and then return,” he said. “I guess in the end my book is about my own life.” The flow of Alder Creek also serves as a
metaphor for the course of a human life, he said. “The flow of the creek from its headwaters all the way to the sea is, to me anyways, a kind of metaphor for how life itself can flow on and on and then in the end, disappear into the wide sea,” Strickler said. “I will turn 83 in September, so I guess such thoughts are typical of an old man.” Strickler now lives with his wife, Joyce, in Cedarburg, Wis. Much of the novel was written at their daughter and son-in-law’s vacation home on Washington Island in Lake Michigan. The book was released through Amazon on Aug. 21 in digital, paperback and hardcover formats. Strickler said it is also being listed through Barnes & Noble, Google Books and distributor IngramSpark. While not currently pursuing readings and appearances due to challenges associated with Parkinson’s disease, he said, “Although, of course, I would love to come back to the ‘hills of home’ and read a few passages from my book.”
➡Angelica Group continued from PAGE 2 not large enough. Wellsville resident Casey Jones, director of Allegany County Hope, said the board should declare a moratorium on such projects, giving them time to write a more restrictive law. Jennifer Presutti asked the board to consider the long-term impact on the environment, water and the rural lifestyle that generations have cherished. Crystal Witruke was concerned about the law’s lack of designating liability in the case of accident, closure, abandonment or failure of containment. She submitted a lengthy list of suggested additions and deletions to the board clerk. Concerns were also raised about the lack of an environmental impact statement and the reduction in the value of nearby property and homes. At the end of the meeting, Belfast resident
and former Bump the Dump activist Tom Barber asked the board to “let the people speak,” after the board refused a request for more time to be allotted for the hearing. He went on to urge the No Bess on Hess group to conduct a straw vote, “So the board knows what the people in the rest of the county think about this.” Kelly said he thought the meeting went well. “I’m impressed with the turnout,” he said. “Now the board will take time to go over the proposed law again. There were some very valid points made, and the board members will meet and go over what was said and go from there. “We will look at anything that has a legitimate impact on the law, and we will look at adding or deleting things,” he added. Cockle said, in coming weeks, the
proposed law may undergo further legal review and possibly be amended. It has been approved by the county planning board. A copy of the proposed law is available on the town website. Kelly said the proposed law may be voted on by the board at its September or October board meeting. The supervisor also said he learned about the signing of the lease agreement later that night, after the meeting. “It came as a surprise to me. We were unaware of it at the time of the meeting.” As for what can be done on the land before the proposed law goes into effect, Kelly said, “It is a legal question, and I have no idea how it should be answered.” He declared, “We’re very proud of this law. We have nothing to hide. We’re being very honest.”
automotive
Kia owner loses control over cruise control BY RAY MAGLIOZZI
Dear Car Talk: The cruise control on my 2010 Kia Soul Sport no longer activates when I press the on and off button. The car has 193,000 miles on. I’d appreciate a diagnosis and a suggestion for how to fix it. — Gene After only 193,000 miles? I assume you’ve already tried pounding the bejeebers out of the dashboard with your fists and yelling at it, Gene. That’s how I always start my repair jobs. The cruise control relies on a chain of inputs to operate safely these days. And if any one of them fails, the cruise control won’t engage. So, I can’t give you a precise diagnosis, but I
can tell you some things I’d check. I’d check the switch itself. After 16 years, the contacts inside that switch may be worn out and not making contact anymore. I’d check the brake, ECU, and instrument cluster fuses. The cruise control requires input from each of those items to operate safely. And I’d check to see if your car had its brake light switch replaced under a recall Kia ini-
tiated years ago. If you tap the brakes, the cruise control disengages. And if the car thinks the
brakes are being tapped because the brake light switch is faulty, that’ll produce the same result. Finally, I’d check for other warning lights on the dashboard. If your airbag light is on, you could have a broken clock spring. That’s the device through which the steering wheel wiring runs, while allowing the steering wheel to turn. Definitely check that brake light switch recall,
Gene. If yours was never replaced under the recall, Kia should do that for free. And that might solve your cruise
control problem, Gene. And also explain why so many drivers have been making rude gestures at you while passing you.
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September 4, 2026
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New students make their first ‘A’ at Alfred State ALFRED — The Alfred State community celebrated the newest Pioneers at the annual New Student Convocation. One of the highlights of the Week of Welcome, the event featured approximately 1,500 incoming students. More than 12,500 applied to Alfred State this year, setting new records and adding to a student population predicted to be the highest since the 1980s. Carrie Cokely, vice president for academic affairs, welcomed the newest Pioneers along with President Steve Mauro and Student Senate President Nakido Guy-Diaz. Each offered advice that included the value of engaging in activities, making new friends, learning from experienced faculty, enjoying hands-on learning for career skills, and tapping into sup-
The 2026 Alfred State incoming class gathered together to make their first “A” at Pioneer Stadium.
port from Alfred State’s caring community. “We celebrate the beginning of your college career and encourage you to come to any of us with questions throughout your time here,” Cokely said. “I look forward to seeing the
impact each of you has on our campus and in our community.” Cokely highlighted statistics of the newest class of Pioneers. • Fifty-nine of New York’s 62 counties are represented.
• Twenty-four states and three countries are represented. • Thirty-two percent of Alfred State’s new students are the first in their families to attend college. Hundreds of stu-
dents were offered merit scholarships in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements, exceptional skills, and extraordinary talents outside of the classroom. “The possibilities here at Alfred State are endless,” Guy-Diaz said.
“All you really need to do is let your guard down, stay open to the experience, and give yourself the chance to learn something new along the way. Stay true to yourself, your purpose and how you fit into the grand scheme of things will become apparent. Have trust in yourself and in your abilities and show the campus that you have what it takes to be a Pioneer.” Following the ceremony, students, faculty, and staff gathered at Pioneer Stadium to form the first “A” of the school year. The day also featured an Activities Fair which allowed the new students to interact and learn about the wide variety of student clubs and organizations on campus. Fall semester classes begin on Monday.
Alfred U team joins in prestigious research award ALFRED — A research team that includes faculty, students and alumni from Alfred University has been named the recipient of a prestigious 2026 R&D 100 Award, which recognize the top 100 revolutionary technologies developed in the past year. Past R&D 100 Awards recipients include established Fortune 500 companies and federally funded research institutions, as well as academic and government labs and smaller companies. “This is a huge feather in our cap. Out of hundreds of (award entries) we are one of 100 winners,” said S.K. Sundaram, Inamori Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and a co-principal investigator on the award-winning project. Sundaram was assisted in research conducted at Alfred by alumnus Nate Marrero, a current Ph.D. student in materials science and engineering at AU from Newport. Marrero earned a bachelor’s degree in ceramic engineering from Alfred in 2023 and went on to earn a master’s, also in ceramic engineering, from the university in August 2025. Alfred, four other schools, and two national laboratories collaborated to develop the product, “Engineered Cermets for Advanced Reactor Waste Disposal.” R&D World, in its profile on the winners, described the product as “high-density, extremely durable ceramic-metal composites that offer reduced storage footprints, operational flexibility, less complexity, and cost savings over current technologies used for nuclear waste immobilization, management and storage. Cermets and related manufacturing process are key innovations that will accelerate deployment of next-generation nuclear power plants.”
Photo provided by Alfred University Nate Marrero (right), a doctoral student in materials science and engineering at Alfred University, is shown with his academic advisor, S.K. Sundaram, Inamori Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. Sundaram was a co-principal investigator on a federally funded project researching nuclear waste forms. Marrero worked on the project as part of Sundaram’s research team.
Research on the project was funded by a $4 million awarded in 2022 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) through the Advance Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) “Optimizing Nuclear Waste and Advanced Reactor Disposal Systems” (ONWARDS) program. Unveiled by the DoE in 2021, the ONWARDS program was created to identify and facilitate technologies for advanced research on used nuclear fuel (UNF) recycling, waste forms, UNF disposal pathways and associated advanced safeguards technologies. The three-year (202225) project focused on Pioneering a Cermet Waste Form for Disposal of Waste Streams from Advanced Reactors (PACE-FORWARD). The goal of PACE-FORWARD was to deliver a simple, scalable route for turning used nuclear fuel into a high-density, durable cermet (a heat-resistant ceramic and metallic composite) waste form. The product resulting from the research — which has been granted a U.S. patent — is expected to lower waste burden and sustain future deployment of carbon-free nuclear power. AU’s share in the
ARPA-E grant was approximately $500,000. The research leveraged extensive processing capabilities such as spark plasma sintering (SPS), hot uniaxial pressing (HUP), and state-of-the art high temperature characterization tools at Alfred University and partnering institutions, to produce highly engineered cermets into which a variety of ceramic and metallic phases from wastes could be incorporated into a single waste form. Sundaram explained in 2022 when the grant was awarded that “early versions” of cermet samples were produced and characterized in labs at Alfred University. Those samples were shared with the entire ARPA-E project team for various advanced characterizations at other institutions. The multi-disciplinary team that worked on the project included product
developer Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), along with co-developers Rutgers University (principal investigator), Alfred, Washington State University, University of South Carolina, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Two Alfred University alumni, Jake Amoroso ’03 (glass science engineering) Ph.D. ’10 (materials science and engineering), principal engineer at Savannah River National Laboratory, and John Vienna ’91 (ceramic engineering), ’93 M.S. (ceramic engineering), materials scientist and a Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory also worked on the project. Marrero explained that SRNL’s work on the project focused on cermets’ chemical durability, while PNNL focused on the scaled-up pro-
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duction of cermets. “This cermet waste form is an exciting technology for treating advanced nuclear reactor wastes as it will protect the environment while reducing disposal volume and cost,” Vienna said. “Managing nuclear wastes is crucial to the success of a nuclear renaissance – this cermet waste form will add a crucial new tool to help the industry thrive.” Amoroso said the research focused on developing a ceramic-metal composite, or cermet, that could be used to safely treat nuclear waste — especially nuclear waste from new reactor designs. “The basic premise is to combine metal and ceramic wastes into a single material, thereby maximizing waste loading and reducing the total volume and footprint of the final waste destined for disposal,” he said. Sundaram, who was part of four winning R&D 100 award-winning projects when he was working as a scientist at PNNL, said he, Amoroso and Vienna are named in the patent as co-inventors on this year’s winning PACE-FORWARD project. He was quick to note Marrero role in the research.
“Nate was a key contributor,” he said. Sundaram and Marrero discussed their research on the PACE-FORWARD project at the American Ceramic Society (ACerS) 10th International Congress in the fall of 2024. Marrero gave two presentations — an oral presentation with Sundaram, “Processing and Characterization of Model Cermet Waste Forms for Nuclear Applications,” and presented a poster, “Novel Waste Forms for Nuclear Applications,” with Sundaram — based on research progress and data collected in the Inamori School of Engineering under a current multi-institutional U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) project. R&D 100 award winners will be recognized at an event Nov. 19 in Scottsdale, AZ, which Sundaram and Marrero plan to attend. Sundaram, who serves as Marrero’s Ph.D. advisor, said the event will provide an opportunity for students like Marrero to connect with members of the science and technology industries while also shining a spotlight on the work being done at Alfred University.
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Allegany County receives ‘A’ rating for woody biomass BELMONT — The Allegany County Industrial Development Agency, Ecostrat and the BDO Zone Initiative announced the issue of a BDO Zone “A” Rating for Allegany County for 300,000 bone dry tons per year of low-risk woody biomass and spans a 75-mile drive radius from its central point in Belmont. The Biofuel Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone Initiative certifies “regional readiness” for bio-manufacturing while connecting farmers, economic developers, and rural
Photo provided Allegany County is tabbed as well-positioned for new initiatives in woody biomass development.
businesses on new energy sources. Jordan Solomon, chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative, explained that Allegany County’s rating reflects
strong prospective viability of feedstock supply and infrastructure, with low expectations of default risk in the zone. The region offers abundant pulpwood and for-
est residues backed by sufficient logging and transportation capacity to serve a new commercial-scale facility. Complementing this feedstock base is a strong anchor site in the Wellsville Business Park, a 22-acre general industrial property located about 10 miles from Interstate 86, offering on-site municipal electric, natural gas and water service, along with substantial transformer capacity inherited from the site’s history as a heavy industrial steam turbine testing facility.
The site’s direct rail connection via the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad, linking to Class I carriers Norfolk Southern and CSX, further strengthens its appeal, making Allegany County a standout candidate for bio-based industrial investment. Craig Clark, executive director of ACIDA, said, “This ‘A’ rating confirms what we’ve long known: Allegany County has the raw material base, the site readiness, and the workforce depth to support a major biobased facility.
Between our working forests and the Wellsville Business Park’s built-in industrial infrastructure, we’re offering developers a low-risk path to getting a project online quickly.” Solomon said Allegany County “brings together a sustainably managed hardwood resource base and a former heavy-industrial site already equipped with power, water, and rail. That combination of feedstock depth and infrastructure readiness is what developers are looking for when siting a new biobased facility.”
For 35th straight year, Alfred U on Princeton Review ‘Best Colleges’ list ALFRED — The Princeton Review has released its 2027 Best 392 Colleges and, for the 35th straight year, Alfred University appears on the list. The Princeton Review publishes the Best Colleges list each year, using data gleaned from surveys of students at more than 2,000 colleges and universities nationwide; schools selected for the
list represent just 14% of all four-year colleges and universities in the country. In addition to being selected for the Best 392 Colleges list, Alfred also appears in the regional list for best colleges in the Northeast. The publication does not rank the schools in the book overall, 1 to 392, hierarchically or in a single list category. The publication
selects honored institutions based on student survey responses to 98 questions in four categories: their school’s academics/administration; quality of life; their fellow students; and themselves. The rankings reflect institutions’ academics, admissions, tuition and financial aid, campus life, and job placement/careers. In addition to using hard data to formulate
its list, the Princeton Review considers testimonials from students. In the report’s profile on Alfred one student noted that, “Flexibility is paramount to an Alfred University education.” While known for its “excellent art program” — especially ceramics and glass — students surveyed confirm that it’s “easy to take subjects outside your major,” and they
value the number of “other majors versus a traditional art [school] setting” that are available. As one art student attests, “If I had decided to change majors, Alfred has almost every opportunity.” With fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, students find “the classroom size is perfect for a more personalized education.” As one student says, “It is the
closest to one-on-one teaching you can get.” Students have access to built-in funding for real-world experiences via the university’s Applied and Experiential Learning Program (APEX). For those who do conduct their own research or experiments, professors are “always willing to put time into student independent projects.”
health & Wellness
Physical therapy helps people avoid surgery Individuals who are dealing with injuries or chronic pain may seek relief in various ways. Surgery may seem like an inevitable outcome, but advances in medicine have led to more conservative solutions. Physical therapy is a powerful, non-invasive first-line treatment that is increasingly being recommended by health
care professionals as a means to address a wide range of conditions. According to the Cleveland Clinic, physical therapy is a health care specialty that helps restore movement, manage pain and improve physical function. Physical therapists undergo many years of schooling, during which they learn to employ targeted
exercises, hands-on care, and patient education to help people heal after surgery, recover from injuries, or manage chronic health conditions. By targeting structural mechanics, restoring tissue mobility, and addressing underlying movement dysfunctions, physical therapy frequently can resolve complex medical conditions without the risks, costs, and down time associated with surgery. Here are some of the conditions PT can address. • Herniated or bulging discs: Targeted exercises, such as mechanical traction and spinal extension maneuvers, can help centralize disc material away from compressed nerves, says the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute.
• Spinal stenosis: Strengthening of core and pelvic stability muscles can reduce loading on the spinal canal. Manual therapy will help restore joint mechanics to alleviate pain and other symptoms. • Degenerative disc disease: Physical therapists can help strengthen deep postural stabilizer muscles to create internal support. This can help relieve mechanical stress on intervertebral discs that have worn out. • Soft tissue injuries: Overuse injuries and tendon degradation can lead to pain that mimics conditions that require surgical repair. These may include achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
PT may be an initial treatment option for these conditions. • Pelvic floor dysfunction: The National Center for Biotechnology Information says pelvic floor dysfunction involves
the abnormal activity or function of the pelvic floor musculature. Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect bladder and bowel function and cause pain in the abdomen, including during intercourse. Physical therapy uses biofeedback, internal and external manual techniques, and targeted neuromuscular retraining to strengthen the pelvic basket. • Joint osteoarthritis: The Cleveland Clinic says osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It happens when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in a joint wears down over time. PT can address osteoarthritis in knees, hips, shoulders, and other joints. Physical therapy can be a powerful tool when patients consistently and actively participate in the treatment. For many, a tailored physical therapy plan provides a path to complete recovery.
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home improvement
Tips to winterize a home as cold weather approaches It’s not uncommon to spend a lot of time out of the house when the weather outside is warm. The popularity of outdoor living spaces has made it easier than ever to enjoy nature without leaving home, which can generally be done from late spring to mid-fall each year in many regions. But as fall creeps toward winter and temperatures drop, it’s time to head back indoors. As millions prepare to go back inside with winter approaching, it can be beneficial to winterize a home so interior spaces are more comfortable and exterior spaces are better able to withstand potentially harsh winter weather.
• Check your carbon monoxide detectors. Fall is a great season to open the windows in many regions that feature prototypical autumn air. But the crisp air of fall will
eventually give way to much colder air, at which time the windows will be closed and likely remain shut for months to come. The Minnesota Department of
Health notes that carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that cannot be detected by the senses. When continued on PAGE 8
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home improvement air from outside to enter the home. If daytime temperatures are mild well into the fall, then it can be difficult to see if there are any drafts before the sun goes down. Conduct this check in the evenings when temperatures are a little more chilly and leaks are easier to detect. If drafts are detected, apply weather stripping around doors and windows that do not require replacement. If there’s drafts around aging windows and doors, consider replacing them.
windows remain closed for long periods of time, such as in winter, the buildup of CO, which can come from sources like water heaters, gas stoves, fire-
places, and clothes dryers, can poison residents over time. CO detectors are a safety net against such a fate, but they must be operating at peak capacity in
order to be effective. As fall winds down, check all CO detectors to make sure they’re working properly and replace any that are not. • Check for drafts. Check around windows and doors throughout the home to see if there are any gaps that are allowing
• Call a chimney sweeping service. Cozying up beside a fire can make anyone forget the cold weather outside. But fireplaces should be subjected to a thorough cleaning by a skilled professional before each winter. Animals might have nested in the chimney since the fireplace was last used, and you will want any nests cleared prior
to lighting your first fire of the season. In addition, the tar-like substance creosote, which forms when wood is burned in a fireplace, can build up and harden over time. That’s a dangerous prospect, as creosote is highly flammable, which can lead to chimney fires. Creosote also can block the flow of air through a chimney, and that can trap gasses, including CO, in a home. • Reverse your fans. It’s a simple step but one people may not even realize they can make. In homes with ceiling fans, residents can reverse the fans so the blades spin clockwise. This simple step pushes trapped warm air hovering around the ceiling into the living space below. This can make home
interiors warmer without requiring residents to turn up the thermostat and increase their energy bill. • Replace your HVAC air filter. Replacing the air filter on your HVAC prior to winter can make the unit operate more efficiently, which can help reduce your wintertime energy bill. Replacing the filter prior to winter also improves indoor air quality, which is a notable benefit during a time of year when the windows typically remain closed for months. Winterizing a home is not a significant undertaking, but it can be very effective at making homes healthier and more comfortable once windows are closed for the season.
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