march 15 2013 newsletter

March 15, 2013 Volume 2, Issue 6
Community Update
A Bi-weekly Report on the City of Olean
From the Desk of Mayor Linda Witte
March: Colon Cancer Awareness
Mayor Linda Witte proclaimed March
as Colon Cancer Awareness Month,
working with the Cancer Services Program staff from Allegany & Cattaraugus
Counties to kick off the event in downtown Olean.
On March 1Mayor Witte and Pamela
Medler, Community Outreach worker,
(l), placed a sign on the Municipal Building lawn at the intersection of N. Union
and East State Street.
Blue is the official color of the drive.
Balloons were tied along N. Union
Street and around the Municipal Building. Blue-frosted cupcakes were served
and enjoyed by all who participated.
The kickoff event is a reminder to talk
to your doctor about obtaining a diagnostic exam.
Mayor Witte and
Court Security Guard
Michael Vitello
Newsletter Topics
March Brings Colon Cancer Awareness..............................1
Volunteers still needed…….......……………………..........1
Bradner Stadium photos......................................................2
Eyes on N. Union St.: Discussions.....................................2
Good Times Family Recreation Center progress photos....3
2013 Salute to Olean...........................................................4
Community Initiative to improve county health standing..5
Page 1 Photo Caption.......................................................... 6
Olean Area Federal Credit Union Expands.........................6
Announcements/Can the city help? .........………………...6
E. State St. Construction Update………………………….6
Thinking of getting married?..............................................6
Mayor Witte and City Clerk
Alexander Utecht
Volunteers Needed!
Snow shoveling is no longer the greatest need as temperatures warm city sidewalks and driveways. However,
there are many older and infirm residents who could use
a neighbor’s hand with small chores. These and other
volunteer opportunities are essential to life in our beautiful city of Olean. Knock on your neighbors’ door and
see if you can help out, or call Casey Jones (372-3772)
and Lila Ervay to help out with cleanup efforts on our
public rights-of-way.
Bradner Stadium
Removal of the old
bleachers and their foundations has continued ,
with the work in early
March at right and left,
and the new bleachers in
place above, right. As the
last pieces of foundation
are dislodged, upper left,
the future outfield can be
seen in the background.
The press box, above
center, will soon be repainted and some landscaping will begin.
Eyes on North Union Street: Discussions Yield Ideas on Infrastructure, Safety, Walkability,
Complete Streets, Beautification, Transportation, Parking, Biking, Neighborhood Planning
Mayor Linda Witte photographed these technicians conducting a
survey on March 5 on North Union Street , collecting data for a
Walkability Study of conditions that contribute to the usefulness of
the city’s downtown commercial district.
To ask questions or make comments contact Mary George, Program Coordinator, Community Development Dept., 101 E. State
St., P. O. Box 668, Olean, NY 14760-0668 (Phone: 376-5647).
Alternatives for improving Olean’s main N/S thoroughfare, North
Union Street, are being explored by the public and by local officials,
with surveys, studies, public information sessions and public comments all under way. A Dec. 17 public meeting introduced the
“North Union Streetscape Design Project” which is funded by Empire State Development. A second meeting introduced some design
concepts in late January 2013 and a public comment deadline of
Feb. 25 has been kept open indefinitely to obtain as much feedback
as possible. About 40 comments have been received and more are
expected. Consultants have refined their concepts and are now finalizing the design. Hatch Mott McDonald will present two options that
have been selected for further discussions, under a format yet to be
decided, during the Common Council’s Strategic Planning Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. April 16 in the Municipal Building.
To see information about the project, go to: http://www.cityofolean.org/commdev/nunion/
Good Times Family Recreation Center
Mayor Linda Witte’s camera records the rapid progress as building takes shape during
the first half of March overlooking Forness Park off East State Street
Good Times Family Recreation Center is coming together speedily for a summer opening on the edge of Forness Park. Visitors will arrive along the repaved East State
Street. In the meantime, this high-profile development has
prompted the Olean Common Council to develop a new
access on the eastern boundary. This access will extend
Chestnut Street south of East State Street into Forness Park.
Currently, Chestnut runs north and south between Bishop
and East State Streets. Recreationists usually travel Rowland Avenue to get to Forness Park, but will soon have an
alternate route when the extension is finished.
On March 12 the Council agreed to establish a special
$150,000 capital reserve account that will be used to save
money to pay for the extension of Chestnut Street.
2013 Salute To Olean
On Thursday, March 7, the Olean-Bradford Area YMCA
held The 2013 Salute To Olean in recognition of seven
individuals and to present awards to three special recipients from our area. These 10 people came to the attention
of the YMCA for their contributions that make Olean a
better community.
A reception was held for them at the Bartlett Country
Club, followed by a brief welcome, dinner and annual
meeting. David Shults was named 2012 Volunteer of the
Year; Sophie McCabe was named 2012 Youth Volunteer
of the Year; and Rosemary Warner received the Charleen
Roward Excellence in Child Care Award.
These are the seven who were honored with the
2013 Salute to Olean. In alphabetical order:
Betsy Cashing, a former teacher in Olean’s middle
school, and a lecturer in St. Bonaventure University’s School of Education as well as a faculty
counselor for Bona’s Kappa Delta Pi, she is active in the
arts, volunteers for a number of area organization and
serves as the Board president of the Southern Tier Symphony. She is active in the First Presbyterian Church of
Olean and is the elder commissioner to the Presbytery of
Western New York. The YMCA saluted her for sharing
her “charismatic spirit...through language, music and the
arts.”
Anthony L. Evans, the executive director of the Cattaraugus County Youth Bureau, was a founding board member
of Interfaith Caregivers and led the effort to establish the
Chaplain/Counseling Department at Olean General Hospital. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of
Olean where he is an education and supply minister. He
established four local Interact Clubs and has served on
several area organization boards, including the Olean
YMCA, Olean Child Day Care Center, the Olean Rotary
Club, Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation; and
Allegheny Highlands Boy Scout Council. The YMCA
saluted him for being a “champion of youth, an innovator
and spiritual leader in the community.”
chairman of the special education section at Ellicottville
Central School, he has also worked for the past 15 years as
an adjunct instructor of English and philosophy at Jamestown Community College. He is an ordained deacon and
serves at St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Sacret Heart Oratory and St. Bonaventure University Campus Ministry to
minister to those in need of comfort or help, and he is an
ambassador to Olean’s Asian communities. His past and
current service includes the Olean Child Day Care Center
Board, Genesis House, Department of the Aging, St.
Mary’s Community Christmas Dinner and annual Parish
Festival, and the Diaconotes singing group. The YMCA
saluted him as a spiritual and educational advisor.
Linda Matthews, a 33-year teacher in Jamestown
Community College’s human services program,
extended her talents to St. Mary of the Angels
Parish’s religious education, vacation Bible
school, children’s liturgy and the community
Christmas dinner and Spring Festival. Her volunteer work at Canticle Farm includes education of shareholder and local school children, service as chairman of
the Board of Directors, help in developing “Camp Creation” and service on the finance, fundraising, marketing
and education committees. She also served as a board
member of Cattaraugus County Community Services, Directions in Independent Living, Home Health Care of Cattaraugus County; and she is a Genesis House staff trainer,
Development Committee member and she served on several mental health councils. The YMCA saluted her for
caring for the people and the environment.
Michael J. & Sally Nenno were honored as a duo and
share much community work and achievement. Sally
Nenno has worked for more than 30 years as an administrative secretary and district clerk of Cattaraugus-Allegany
BOCES. Mike has worked at Cooper Power Systems for
more than 33 years, and for 28 years as Holiday Valley’s
ski team coach and events coordinator at Holiday Valley.
The pair both volunteer for Rebuilding Together, Gus
Macker, Rally in the Valley, the Corporate Challenge, and
St. Bonaventure Church’s Bonafest Committee, giving
countless hours to the Sports Booster Club. Mike was a
Patricia A. Magnano is president of Park Center Develop- Midget football coach and board member, was a member
of the Corporate Cup Committee and Polar Bear Series
ment, assuming the title after the 2011 death of her husand is the current NYS Ski Racing Association treasurer.
band, Louis A. Magnano, and she was the organization’s
vice president until that time. She is active in St. Joe’s and He founded the Enchanted Mountain Stage Race and orSt. John’s churches, the Mahrajan Festival and the Bartlett ganized other bike fundraisers and races. She has been
active in youth soccer coaching, Holiday Valley Ski Team
Women’s Golf Association. A noted fundraising volunParents’ Association, the Chamber’s Annual Clambake
teer, and philanthropist with her husband, she is a past
and the Outdoor Show. She is the current Dresser-Rand
PTA President at School No. 5 (Boardmanville Elemenscholarship committee chairperson and Olean Sports
tary). The YMCA saluted her for her philanthropy and
love of Olean, enhancing the community’s quality of life. Boosters. The couple was saluted for contributing to the
community’s health and giving of their time.
(Excerpted from 28th Annual YMCA Salute To Olean Program)
Deacon Dick Matthews, a 34-year teacher, counselor and
Would you participate in a community initiative
to improve the county’s overall health standing?
Cattaraugus County is one of only three New York
counties getting help from a federal grant to the New
York State Department of Health. It’s called the
“Community Transformation Grant” (CTG) and targets
problem areas identified in a county-level Behavior Risk
Factor Surveillance System survey in 2008-2009.
According to a recent press release issued by the Cattaraugus County Health Department, Cattaraugus County
will receive $450,000 for some specific strategies.
(Chautauqua and Broome Counties were also awarded
funds, based on high-level needs compared to the rest of
the state.) Our three counties will try to prevent and reduce health problems and expand community preventive
services.
Cattaraugus County is using the funds to address: 1)
tobacco-free living, 2) active living and healthy eating,
and 3) creating healthy and safe physical environments
for children ages 0-18. The award will cover two years,
with a sustainability component.
Mayor Linda Witte attended the Cattaraugus
County Healthy Livable Communities conference on
the morning of March 1 at Bethany Lutheran Church. As
a civic leader and a member of the Community Advisory
Team, she is looking for community input to help the
consortium (and the entire community) to plan solutions
that will improve our county residents' health and the
county's standing in the statewide lineup.
The group is looking at information that has been collected about our county to improve conditions here and
make us all healthier. The members have learned that out
of 62 counties in the state, Cattaraugus County in 2012
was ranked 50th in Health Outcomes (mortality and morbidity), and 53rd in Health Factors (health behaviors,
clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical
environment). Cattaraugus County ranks below Allegany,
Chautauqua and Erie Counties.
Data indicates Cattaraugus County’s smoking rate of
23.5 percent is higher than other NYS counties’ 16.7 percent rate. An estimated 24 percent of adults live in homes
where smoking is allowed compared to 19% elsewhere.
For high schoolers in the Buffalo region smoking rates
were 15 percent higher. Obesity rates among our
county’s elementary and middle/high school students are
31.9 percent higher than the statewide 16.3 percent
(except NYC). Adult obesity rates are higher in Cattaraugus (31.9%) than the rest of the state’s 23.6% measurement. This is important, because overweight children
are more prone to becoming overweight adults, especially
at high Body Mass Indexes (BMIs) or if they have an
obese parent.
Plans include Gowanda Central, Olean City, and Salamanca City School District geographic areas, targeting:
an increase in the number of child care centers and child
care homes to provide developmentally appropriate
physical activity for young children and to increase participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program;
integrating physical activity into elementary classrooms,
encourage walking/biking to school, food procurement,
menu planning, and improved nutrition in school lunch
programs for those schools, while prohibiting tobacco use
off campus at school-sponsored activities. The county’s
municipalities will adopt complete streets policies, reduced availability of sugary drinks in public buildings,
and smoke-free multi-unit properties for local housing
authorities.
Dr. Watkins, Public Health Director, stated that
“obesity among children and adolescents has tripled over
the past three decades. Currently, a third of New York's
children are obese or overweight; in Cattaraugus County,
over twenty percent (20%) of students in Olean, Salamanca and Gowanda school districts were identified as
overweight and/or obese, and this has become a public
health crisis.1 This pilot program, which will implement
changes to reduce the long term effect of childhood obesity, is the first step in addressing this crisis and we look
forward to working with the school districts and local
officials to implement these changes.”
At the conference, participants met in small groups to
learn about specific factors in the community that can
affect an individual's ability to be or become healthy:
safety, access to fresh foods, unhealthy behaviors and the
built environment.
According to Mayor Witte, the group will be trying to
encourage trails, walking, and anything fitness-related to
increase our ranking and our overall health. She said she
has also heard there is a high level of underage drinking
among the population that must be addressed. Mayor
Witte has circulated a survey asking for input from ranks
of the city government staff on health behaviors, clinical
care availability, social and economic factors and the
physical environment.
For more information review the Cattaraugus County
Health Department’s press release at www.cattco.org/
health. Other information is available there regarding Student Weight Status Category Reporting Survey Results:
County Level Report 2008-2010
NYS Department of Health
Cattaraugus County Department of Health: "Public
Health for Healthy Communities"
For more information about this ongoing conversation,
visit www.p2wny.org
Can the city
help?
Page One Photo Feature: This Canadian goose is an early visitor at
the Forness Pond in early March.
Photo by Mayor Linda Witte
East State Street Construction Update
Construction is still suspended for the winter and two direction
traffic is open. For information call the Department of Public Works
at 376-5650.
Olean Area Federal Credit Union
As your Mayor I
continue to have an
Open Door Policy on the
first floor of the Municipal Building at
101 East State St. You can call my office
at 376-5615 with questions and complaints. Please stop in and pick up a 2013
City Directory for phone numbers of
Department Heads and Alderman or
check the website, www.cityofolean.org.
At that location is a link where you will
find this newsletter!
Announcements
Standing Committees and the
Common Council meet Tuesday
nights beginning at 6:30 p.m. in
the Council Chambers
Online Bill Pay Option
The Online Bill Pay & Customer
Service option is up and running on the
city’s website for a $3 fee. Go to
www.cityofolean.org and click on “The
Online Bill Pay & Customer Service”
button from the menu on the right side
of the home page. At the online payments home page, choose between water/sewer bill payment and parking
ticket payment options.
The Olean Area Federal Credit Union has
begun an expansion at
its location at 1201
Wayne St. The project
has seen substantial
progress and is seen
here March 14
(above) and March 6
(right).
Water and Sewer bill payers register and set up a password, then view
transaction history and chart water
Are You Thinking of Getting Married?
Call Mayor Linda Witte to schedule your wedding in the Olean City Limits. Mayor consumption through by billing date.
Witte has performed many weddings during her term in office and will be happy to Parking ticket payers simply search for
the citation number or vehicle info.
schedule yours.
(This destination can also be reached
To schedule a ceremony, call 376-5615. It is New York State Law that marriage
by
typing this into your browser:
ceremonies cannot be performed for 24 hours after a marriage license was issued. To
https://
obtain a license, call the Department of Vital Records at 376-5605 or the City Clerk
w.municipalonlinepayments.com/
(376-5604). The nearby John Ash Community Center on North Barry Street is an
oleanny/utilities.)
excellent spot for the reception! To book that space, call 376-5666.
How do you contact your 2013 Alderman?
Council President Ann
McLaughlin (Ward 2)
Jim Brady, Ward 1
Paul Gonzalez, Ward 3 Matt Keller, Ward 4 Jim Finch, Ward 5
Nate Smith, Ward 6
Tom Morgan, Ward 7
716-372-3692
716-790-1121
585-378-0557
716-373-0163
716-307-8199
716-373-4860
jbrady@cityofolean.org pgonzalez@cityofolean.org mkeller@cityofolean.org jfinch@cityofolean.org nsmith@cityofolean.org tmorgan@cityofolean.org