Obituary: Leonard R. “Lenny” Johnston, 65, of Eldred

Leonard R. Johnston “Eldred, Pa. resident”
ELDRED, Pa.—Leonard R. “Lenny” Johnston, 65, of Eldred, passed away on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport, after a short illness.
Born on Friday, November 13, 1953 in New Brighton, he was a son of Richard H. and Rose Ann Marie Carvelli Johnston.
Lenny attended school in Beaver Falls.  He was a house painter and was very passionate about his work.  He was an ordained minister who had a great faith in the Lord.
Surviving are his mother of Beaver Falls; a sister, Kathleen M. Johnston of Beaver Falls; several nieces and nephews; and many friends in Eldred, including a dear friend, Michele Johnston.
In keeping with Lenny’s wishes, there will be no public visitation or funeral services.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.
To express condolences or share a fond memory of Lenny, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com.

Obituary: William F. “Bill” Ordway, 73, Bolivar

BOLIVAR – William F. “Bill” Ordway, 73, of 97 South St. passed away on Tuesday November 12, 2019 at home following a lengthy illness. He was the son of Charles and Christine Clark Ordway. Bill took great joy in helping family and friends with any jobs.

Bill is survived by Chuck Ordway of Westfield PA, Larry Ordway of Wellsville, Terry (Maxine) Ordway of Bolivar; Five Sisters, Virginia Ordway of Bolivar, Cindy Vennard of Bolivar, Julie Foster of Olean, Carol Gorney of Buffalo, Debbie Vennard of Ceres; Numerous nieces and nephews. There will be no prior visitation. A memorial service will be held at a later date that will be announced. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schaffner Funeral Home Inc. Bolivar.

It’s a Wonderful Life in Wellsville Events 2019 Press Release

The Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce board and Events Committee would like to personally invite you to join us for what is sure to be one of the best holiday seasons yet! “It’s a Wonderful Life in Wellsville” formerly known as “Holidays in the Village” is four packed weeks of holiday activities and fun. We’ve made some BIG changes to this year’s holiday lineup based on the feedback provided to us. Businesses and community members alike were polled and voted in favor to move the main events from Thursday evenings to Saturdays. The jackpot drawings from previous years had become increasingly confusing for both participating businesses and their customers. This year’s drawings will run the same for the most part, however the winner does not have to be present to win. To be entered, must simply stop in to a participating location, fill out a slip with their name phone number & email to be entered. One entry will be allowed per patron per visit to each business each week. Drawings will be for one of three of our “It’s a Wonderful Life in Wellsville” baskets. These baskets will be made up of donations received from our member businesses. Donations can include their merchandise, branded items, gift cards and various big-ticket items. Each week the basket will increase in value. The drawings will be hosted Dec 7th, Dec 14th and Dec. 21st at 4pm. Announcements will be made via our Facebook page and radio. A great activities for the kids is this year’s puzzle search! Kids will start at the chamber to pick up their puzzle search instructions and packet. They’ll receive one puzzle piece at each participating business until they complete their search & finish the puzzle that they will keep. They will then return to the chamber to get their prize & be entered to win an even bigger holiday stocking. Puzzles can be picked up the week of Nov 25th but the search will not begin until our kick off on Nov 30th. Along with the drawings and puzzle search, several other events will be happening each week throughout the holiday season. Free gift wrapping and cocoa will be available at the chamber from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Story time Saturdays will be held at 11a.m. at varying locations. Parents can bring their little ones to hear a Christmas story read by their favorite Christmas characters. Readings are free to attend but we are asking that a non-perishable item is brought to be donated to our local food bank. We are hosting three holiday craft classes at the Chamber. Wreath making with “Joy of the Season Wreaths” Nov. 30th from 12 – 2p.m. On December 7th, a “Creations with Cryder Creek Gardens” will be hosted from 1 – 3p.m. Dec. 14th will round out the schedule with our “Paint and Hang” classes with two slots from 10 – 11:30 and 11:30 -1pm. Also, Allegany Mud Club will host its holiday pottery sale each Saturday at the creative arts center from 12 – 3p.m. We will kick off the season on Nov. 30th with the parade beginning at 4:15 on Main Street and ending with Santa lighting the trees at the David A. Howe Library and out front of Jones Memorial Hospital at 5. We are running two contests this year! Be on the lookout for your favorite ugly sweater & pet costume that will be voted on by our celebrity panel of judges. It is free to enter your pet into the contest but we do ask for a small donation that will be given to the SPCA. The parade will begin at Tullar Field and end at Jones Memorial hospital. Children participating will be lined up by grade level and are encouraged to have adult supervision at all times. If you or your group is interested in participating in the parade please contact the Chamber! Don’t forget it’s also Shop Local Saturday on Nov. 30th! Our member businesses are what make “It’s A Wonderful Life in Wellsville” a reality, so get out and support them! We will have listings of the sales and specials being offered on the Chamber facebook page and website.
Moving into the 2nd week on Dec. 7th, we will be hosting our annual Cookie contest and Pictures with Santa from 12 – 2pm at the David A. Howe Library. For a $1 donation, guests will get to try each cookie in a blind taste test and vote for their favorite. Digital pictures will be free and printed copies will be offered for purchase by the photographer. Need a little time to complete your Christmas shopping? The YMCA is offering child watch services from 10 – 2p.m. Alfred State Voices will be hosting a free family holiday concert at the Creative Arts Center the night of Dec. 7th with the time to be determined. Week three begins Dec. 14th and is equally as exciting as the first two! The Nutcracker will be performed at the David A. Howe at 2p.m. and “A Christmas Carol” presented by Charles Dickens will be held at Beats Dance Inc from 7 – 9p.m. Don’t miss out on the Cookie Sale and Pet Pictures with Santa happening at the SPCA that day, either! We’ll be going out with a bang on week four with the Laurie Mickle Memorial Fireworks. For the past 18 years the Laurie Mickle Fireworks display has been a signature of the season in downtown Wellsville. This year, the fireworks will be on December 21st at 7p.m. To continue this tradition, we are reliant on the generous donations from the local businesses and community members. If you would like to contribute, please stop by the Chamber office or give us a call at 585-593-5080. ICS will be hosting their Living Nativity with roasted chestnuts prepared by the Knights of Columbus from 1 – 2p.m. Main Street will be filled with activities for the whole family each Saturday starting on Nov. 30th and concluding on Dec. 21st BUT there are several other activities happening in Wellsville throughout those four weeks. You can find the full schedule of events on our website and FB page. It really is a wonderful life in  Wellsville…and seems even more so around the holidays. We hope you’ll bring your families out for a magical few weeks in our little village! From all of us at the Chamber, we’d like to thank you for supporting your local businesses. We hope you have a safe and warm holiday season!

Fire damages Cuba home

A Cuba home sustained some damage in a  fire Wednesday afternoon. Jeff Luckey is the Allegany County Fire Coordinator. He said the blaze was limited to the bathroom area of the West Main Street home. Luckey said firefighters made a -quote- “great stop.” Nobody was hurt, according to Luckey. Several fire departments responded to the scene, including New Hudson, Friendship, Westons Mills and Hinsdale. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Hong Kong – A festering wound turning cancerous

More violence on the streets of Hong Kong. More burning, arson, fighting and more deaths are on the card. Anti rioting citizens beaten or burnt by the rioters. Rioter shot by the police. The recipe for violence against the police and govt of Hong Kong continues unabated and getting more and more destructive, and deadly.

What is the main difference between this violent protest and the historical

Family of Allegany County murder victim speaks out

November 11, 2019

An Open Letter to the Citizens of Allegany County, N.Y.:
On Fourth of July weekend of 2017, someone killed my grandfather as he slept in his bed.  He was 82-years-old, a widower and an outdoorsman.  He loved horses and hunting and lived by himself on a farm in the Town of Ward, Scio, NY.  His name is Raymond “Ray” Cornelius and the person responsible for his murder is still walking among you.
As our family still copes with the loss of Ray, we continue to communicate and cooperate with local law enforcement as we seek answers and justice.  It is our belief that there are those in the community that know something regarding this crime and have not yet come forward to share this information.
What all of us know for certain is the extent that the perpetrator is willing to go to address what they perceive as personal grievances.  There is a level of anger within this individual that can push them to gun down an 82-year-old man as he sleeps in his bed, vulnerable and unable to defend himself.  In a community as small as Allegany County this person poses a risk to everyone. 
Local law enforcement has taken unprecedented measures to chase leads and seek information to solve what is a rare occurrence in their jurisdiction.  Investigators can only work with what they have, however, and we hope to help them gain more information.
You may have seen something that holiday weekend, or heard something since, that could help protect the entire community and find justice for Ray and our family.  As trivial as you might think any detail to be, it could help investigators.
If you might know something, and there is any doubt in your mind about doing the right thing, please ask yourself, “What else would it take for this individual to take another life?” and “Is this someone you are comfortable having loose in your community?”
It’s time for all of us to stand up and protect our families, friends and neighborhoods.  Help Allegany County continue to be a safe place to raise our children and live our lives.  If you are aware of anything that might be relevant to this crime, please let your voice be heard.  Concerns can be called into the New York State Police at the Amity Barracks at 585-268-7085 or 585-344-6200.
Thank you,
Matt White

Bolivar woman gets jail time for smuggling drugs into jail

A Bolivar woman is headed to prison for possessing drugs at the Allegany County Jail. 30-year-old Kerri Cobb was charged with two counts of possessing drugs and one count of promoting prison contraband. She is accused of possessing 16 containers of cocaine and 12 envelopes of heroin. The crimes were committed in August. After a court appearance, a judge sentenced her to five years in state prison plus two years of post-release post supervision.

Allegany County Legislature approves $100,000 funding deal for Wellsville Airport

The Allegany County Legislature Tuesday afternoon approved a $100,000 funding agreement for the Wellsville Municipal Airport. The measure was approved by a vote of 13-2. According to the resolution, $50,000 will be paid to the town of Wellsville this year and another $50,000 payment will be made in 2020. The money will come from the county’s contingency fund.
Lawmakers also approved providing the Allegany County Land Bank funding of $50,000. The vote was 13-2. Although the Land Bank has taken measures to significantly reduce its annual costs, State grant funds are insufficient to support the purpose the Allegany County Land Bank was created for.

State Elks Association Major Projects grant aids Special Olympics program at St. Bonaventure

Jamie Peace (center), CEO of New York State Elks Association Major Projects, Inc., presents a $3,000 grant to St. Bonaventure University professors Dr. Paula Scraba (left) and Dr. Claire Watson to help fund a student-driven Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program at St. Bonaventure.
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — A New York State Elks Association Major Projects grant will help a student club at St. Bonaventure University promote a healthy lifestyles program at its annual spring Unified Basketball Competition serving Special Olympics athletes.
 
Jamie Peace, manager of mail services at St. Bonaventure and CEO of the Elks’ Major Projects Grant Program, presented a $3,000 grant to Dr. Paula Scraba, associate professor of physical education at St. Bonaventure and adviser of the student-run Physical Activity Club, and Dr. Claire Watson, founding director of the public health program in St. Bonaventure’s School of Health Professions, and clinical director for Special Olympics New York and International.
 
The Physical Activity Club, for majors in health science, sport studies, physical education and related fields, is a recognized Special Olympics college club.
 
“Part of our mission is to enhance student opportunities for professional experiences and community involvement, on and off campus, that promote healthy lifestyles for people with and without disabilities, through Special Olympics’ Unified Sports program,” said Scraba.
 
A new initiative for the club is the Special Olympics Unified Healthy Athletes Program, which is aimed at providing health services and education to Special Olympics athletes.
 
The poverty rates in Cattaraugus and Allegany counties are among the state’s highest, and residents in those counties share correspondingly high rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, said Scraba. To help combat those trends the Physical Activity Club will conduct a Health Promotion Awareness Program at its annual Unified Basketball Competition next spring. The annual basketball event, involving students from six local school districts, partners people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams.
 
St. Bonaventure students will conduct the Health Promotion Awareness Program, which will include screenings to determine individuals’ body mass index and other key health factors, interactive activities aimed at raising awareness of the need to improve and maintain one’s fitness and wellness, interviews with athletes to assess their health-related habits, and even a sample healthy meal.
 
The program is designed to be fun, interactive, positive and engaging, and to demonstrate to Special Olympics athletes how small changes in behavior can help improve and maintain good health and sports performance, said Watson.
 
“The goal is to improve the quality of life and long-term health of Special Olympics athletes and people with intellectual disabilities through healthy behaviors, screenings and medical referrals,” she said.
 
The New York State Elks Association Major Projects grants, awarded across the state each year, are for programs that assist people with disabilities. “We try to help programs, like St. Bonaventure’s Unified Basketball competition, that impact a large group of people,” said Peace. “We’re glad that we can help make a difference.”
 
This is the second time in three years that the Bonaventure program has received an Elks Major Projects grant.
 
“We are so grateful to the Elks. With their support we are able to provide healthy lifestyles programs and services to local schools and communities,” said Scraba.
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