$2
Obits: Loper, Gray, Richardson ...2
Scene About Alfred, SunnySideUp ...3
Kelly’s Weather, Obit:Ehmann...3
Sun Spot, Nick Waddy ...4
Ben Howard; East Meets West ...5
Nutrition in Nutshell, Box of Books ...6
DIY, At the Movies, What’s Cookin’? ..7
Angelica’s Heritage Days...8
Newspaper Fun...9
King Crossword, Cartoons, Sudoku....10
Classifieds, Kids Show Swine ...11
Years Ago in the Sun ...12
Church News ...13
Finance MATTters, County Fair ...14
Pandemic Escapes by Alan Littell ...15
The Dugout ...16
Inside
T he A lfred S un
Vol. 136, No. 29 Alfred, Allegany County, New York State, U.S.A. 14802 Thursday, July 22, 2021
T he “A pretty darn good newspaper serving Alfred since Dec. 6, 1883” A lfred S un
Of the Community. By the Community. For the Community.
OfficiAl NewspAper Of AlleGANY cOUNTY, TOwN ANd VillAGe Of Alfred ANd Alfred-AlmONd ceNTrAl schOOl disTricT
Next Issue:
August 12, 2021
Next Issue:
August 12, 2021
Greater Western NY State?
WESTERN NY–“What will an inde- pendent Greater Western New York Re- gion look like to you?” That was the question posed at the first-ever Greater Western New York (Virtual) Town Hall Meeting held the evening of Thursday, July 15.
Chris Carosa, publisher of the Mendon- Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel, hosted the event that was co-sponsored by several newspapers in the Western New York District of the New York Press Associa- tion, including the Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Sentinel, the Alfred Sun, The Bata- vian, Neighbor-to-Neighbor newspapers (including the Arcade Herald, the East Aurora Advertiser, the Springville Jour- nal, Warsaw’s Country Courier, and the Franklinville Mercury-Gazette), and the Johnson Newspaper Corp’s western New York papers (The Daily News and the Livingston County News).
The event was free and open to all res- idents of the Greater Western New York Region and more than a hundred people signed up in advance to register to attend the event.
The meeting started with three keynote speakers each championed a different vi- sion for an independent Greater Western New York Region. While they all agreed there was a disconnect between the prior- ities of New York City and Albany politi- cians and those of most people living in western New York, they each offered a
competing solution.
Assemblyman Stephen Hawley of Batavia, who is sponsoring a bill that would give New York voters a chance to vote “yes” or “no” on a two state model, kicked off the event. He said becoming a separate state offers a permanent solution, albeit one that requires both State and Federal agreement.
Senator George Borrello of Jamestown is sponsoring a bill to split New York into
three separate autonomous zones. While this plan does run the risk of being re- versed by Albany, it has the advantage of not requiring action by the federal gov- ernment.
Rounding out the three keynoters, Buf- falo author and attorney James Os- trowski, explained how nullification, which was successfully employed against the SAFE Act, represents the easiest path because it requires neither State nor Fed-
eral action as it relies solely on local elected officials. He explained that this non-violent form of protest has demon- strated far more consistent success than violent demonstrations.
After the individual presentations, the three convened a panel moderated by Chris Carosa, who reminded the audience that the topic of Greater Western New York Independence could not be more timely. Not only have several other states (notably, California, Oregon, Colorado, and Illinois) discussed this, but just ear- lier that day HillReporter.com reported the results of a new YouGov-Bright- lineWatch poll that showed “…a shock- ing percentage of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans from every proposed bloc of states said that they would support secession.”
Indeed, BrightlineWatch, which polls this question regularly, said in its analysis
“rather than support for secession dimin- ishing over the past six months, as we ex- pected, it rose in every region and among nearly every partisan group.”
The two biggest questions from the Town Hall Meeting attendees to the panel dealt with how Greater Western New York could afford its independence and how, even if it became a new state, would it address the “dictatorship of the major- ity” population-based representation that has led to much of the big city dominance
(Continued on Page 4)
By LY KESSE Alfred Sun Reporter
ALFRED–Noise and parking issues dominated the Tuesday, July 13 meeting of the Alfred Village Board.
Changes proposed to the village’s noise and parking or- dinances require public hearings.
“What happened on Hot Dog Day was an [auditory]
assault that lasted about seven hours,” said Sayles Street resident Alan Littell, in reference to the noise issues.
South Main Street resident Phil Prigmore, concurred.
“They put chair-sized speakers in the driveway; [It was so loud that] the panes of glass were literally shaking in the windows…We've been plagued by this for a long time.” He also described evidence of a knifing in his driveway, complaining that nothing was done.
Police Chief Paul Griffith said that the current noise ordinance requires a written complaint for the police to act. Many incidents are not reported, as most residents and students, especially, shy away from coming forward.
Often the police learn of incidents because UR St. James Hospital Emergency Room personnel are mandated re- porters.
Griffith thinks the proposed version of the noise ordi- nance will allow police to act without a signed com- plaint. Especially since the proposed law includes instances of prima facie evidence.
“Once again it’s [the public hearing] proposed for
when the students are out of town,” said resident Jason Rodd. “May I make the suggestion that the board make the law when the students are here?”
Ultimately, the board voted to hold a public hearing on the proposed parking ordinance at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 10, followed by the Board's special meeting to pass the parking ordinance.
A “Community Conversation” will be held for college representatives to outline preparations for students to re- turn. The Conversation will include discussion of the proposed noise ordinance, updates from the Alfred Com- mittee on Equity and Safety (ACES), and the "Opt Out"
option New York State offers communities regarding marijuana dispensaries and consumption sites. If a mu- nicipality does NOT want to have dispensaries and con- sumption sites for marijuana, it must “opt out.”
Although the noise ordinance will be discussed Au- gust 10, a public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tues- day, Sept. 14, before the regular Village Board meeting, to facilitate student attendance.
In other matters, the Board accepted the Block Grant Agreement for $1.2 million, which will fund the new water tower, according to Trustee James Ninos. Regard- ing the grant, Code Enforcement Officer Chuck Cagel, was named Fair Housing Officer, Municipal Solutions was appointed Labor Standard Officer; and James Ninos was appointed Section 3 Officer.
The Board also suspended the Mask Law, although it can be reinstated in the event of another air-borne pesti- lence, according to Mayor Becky Prophet. NYS, the CDC and the Village have all suspended the state of emergency for the pandemic.
In yet other matters, resident Karen Patterson was ap- pointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals upon the resig- nation of the board chair, Larry Greil.
“The board has until Dec. 31, 2021 to opt out of mar- ijuana dispensaries and providing on-site consumption in the Village,” said Mayor Prophet. Simply doing noth- ing about this would make the options of dispensaries and on-site consumption a possibility in the Village.
“I want to advocate for a safe and legal locale [to con- sume Canna-Bi-Diol (CBD) products]," said Trustee Caitlin Brown. She said that students cannot consume CBD products on campus because of federal prohibi- tions tied to federal funding both schools receive.
“One way or another it is going to happen," said Ninos, who recited how students would leave the Village to drink until 1972 when it stopped being a dry town.
Most agreed that allowing people to drink in the Village was safer for everyone.
The Village Board moved into Executive Session to discuss police contract negotiations and to discuss a per- sonnel matter. No action was taken following the exec- utive session.
The Sun at the Co. Fair
They were reading the Alfred Sunat the Friendship Central School Food Booth at the Allegany County Fair Monday, July 19 in Angelica. Front from left are Alina Sisson, Tiffeny Smith, Juanita Smith, Ana Sortore and (back from left) Andrew Cole, Alex Smith and Lisa Sortore. Pro- ceeds of food sales benefit Grades 9-12 for graduation and annual senior trips.
What will an independent Greater WNY Region look like?
ALFRED VILLAGE BOARD
Hot Dog Day sparks noise law revision; public hearings set
Top from left: Chris Carosa, publisher, Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel;
Steve Hawley, 139th NYS Assembly District; and, bottom from left: George Bor- rello, 57th NYS Senate District; James Ostrowski, Buffalo attorney and author.
(Photo by Sentinel Publications)
2 THE ALFRED SUN, Thursday, July 22, 2021
OBITUARIES
Phyllis M. ‘Mickey’ Richardson, 65, Wellsville, devoted to Lord
Charlene M. Loper, 77, Hornell, stay-at-home-mom, McHenry’s sales lady
David A. ‘Dave’ Gray, 59, rail transit specialist, helped found St. Ann’s Academy
Puzzles on Page 10
CHARLENE M. LOPER McHenry’s Jewelers sales lady
HORNELL–Charlene M.
Loper, 77, of County Route 70A
(Big Creek Road), Hornell died early Monday morning, July 12, 2021 at her home, surrounded by her family, following a long ill- ness.
Born in Hornell on March 4, 1944, she was the daughter of Claude and Antoinette (Schmitz) Miller.
Charlene grew up in Hornell and later graduated from Hornell High School, class of 1962.
While in high school, Charlene began working at the former Lake Road Dairy and continued her employment for several years following graduation.
For many years she enjoyed raising her family as a "Stay-At- Home Mom" and for about 15 years was employed as a sales
lady at the former McHenry Jewelers in Hornell, retiring in 1995.
She was married on May 22, 1965 to her high school sweet- heart, Floyd Loper, who sur- vives. Also surviving are her son, Jeffrey (Christina) Loper of Hornell; her daughter, Michele (Ed) Flaitz of Hornell; one sister, Maurita Doherty of Gilbert, AZ;
five grandchildren, Jacob Loper, Jessica Loper, AnnaMarie Flaitz, Emma Flaitz and Elaina Flaitz.
Charlene and Floyd shared a love story for 56 years that few get to witness and even fewer get to live. In their younger years they spent countless hours build- ing their entire house themselves and raising a family. Throughout
PHYLLIS M. “MICKEY” RICHARDSON Loved the Lord and the Bills
WELLSVILLE–Phyllis M. “Mickie” Richardson, 65, was called home by her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at Highland Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Home.
Phyllis was born on April 6, 1956 in Wellsville to Frederick J. and Phyllis A. (Perry) Grimes. She was a 1975
graduate of Portville Central School. She worked for AVX, Corporation in Olean on the production line from 1978 until 2000.
In addition to her mother, Phyllis A.
Grimes of Andover, “Mickey” is survived by two sons, Eric Richardson and Bradley (Cheyanne) Richardson, both of Andover; a brother, Michael F. (Karen) Grimes of Maple Springs; the father of her children, William Richardson of Portville; three grandchildren, Lane Richardson, Spencer Richardson and Norah Richardson; her lifelong friend, Mary
Nevol of Andover; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by her father, Frederick J. Grimes.
Mickey had a deep devotion to her Lord that was expressed in the way she lived. She loved life; she always had a positive comment about others; and she never complained about her personal circum- stances. Mickey loved reading her Bible, Christian themed books and novels. She was a long-time member of St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Weston Mills.
Mickey was an avid Buffalo Bills fan, loved her dogs, and enjoyed watching the Hallmark Channel with their “Count Down to Christ- mas”. She also enjoyed word search and sudoku puzzles.
A memorial service was held at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 17. at Baker- Swan Funeral Home in Andover. Rev. Clara E. Wilder of Tri-Church Parish in Brocton officiated. Burial in Hinsdale Cemetery in Hins- dale will be at the convenience of the family. Online condolences may be offered at www.baker-swan.com.
all the years there was seldom a harsh word between them, they were inseparable and very much in love.
Charlene enjoyed for many years boating on Keuka Lake with her husband, family and friends. Charlene's greatest pleasure though came from car- ing for her grandchildren on a daily basis, some up until they went to kindergarten. Then she loved spending time with them doing puzzles, playing board games, or just visiting.
The family would like to thank Tender Loving in Home Care for the wonderful care Charlene received the last two years, and is grateful she was able to remain in her home that
she so dearly loved.
At Charlene's request there were no calling hours. A private graveside service will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery at the con- venience of the family with Dea- con Robert McCormick officiating.
Funeral arrangements were in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY. Charlene's family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to CareFirst Hospice, 3805 Meads Creek Rd., Painted Post, NY 14870.
To leave an online condolence or share a memory with the fam- ily, visit www.dagonfuneral- home.com
DAVID A. “DAVE” GRAY Made friends wherever he went
HORNELL–David A. “Dave”
Gray, 59, loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend, of 5791 Morton Hill Road, Hornell, died unexpectedly on Thursday, July 8, 2021.
Born in St. Louis, MO on August 22, 1961, he was the son of Dr. John and Mar- garet (Veth) Gray.
Dave grew up in Mis- souri, spending his younger years in Fer- guson and attending St. John and James Catholic School. At age 9, his family moved to Clarksville, and Dave graduated from Clopton High
School (Class of 1979). He at- tended Northeast Missouri State University before transferring to the University of Missouri- Rolla, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in
Mechanical Engineering. In 1984, Dave was hired by Gen- eral Electric Company, serving in several management and su- pervisory capacities, including managing a three-shift operation for the assembly of electronic jet engine controls. In 1988, he enrolled in Harvard Business School where he earned his Masters in Business Admin- istration.
Dave moved to the Hornell area in 1990, serving as Program Manager at Morrison Knud- sen Corporation and American Passen- ger Rail Car Com- pany. He became the Senior Vice-President of Op- erations at Transportation and Transit Associates (TTA) in 1997, where he directed opera- tions for TTA's Hornell, Kanona, and San Francisco, CA loca-
tions. He was also Vice-Presi- dent and General Manager of Transportations Systems for AAI Corporation.
In 2003, Dave established Gray Consulting, which pro- vided strategic plans and techni- cal guidance to various transit clients. In 2006, Dave founded and was President and CEO of Gray Manufacturing Industries (GMI). For the last 15 years, he has operated this successful business supplying manufac- tured and remanufactured com- ponents and technical services to the Rail Transit Industry.
Dave was a devout, lifelong Catholic. He was a member of St. John and James Parish in Ferguson, Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Clarksville, and most recently, a dedicated parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann's Church in Hornell where he served as Eucharistic Minister.
Wherever Dave went, he was making friends, helping people who needed help, creating laughter and smiles, and was eager to tackle any problem for anyone at any time. No one will ever know all the things he has done for others or all the lives he has touched along the way.
An active community mem- ber, Dave always found time for others, tirelessly working to make Hornell a better place. He was a board member and volun- teer at the Hornell YMCA for nearly 20 years and aided in con- struction of the new building, which was completed in 2011.
Dave was a member of the Board of Directors of Maple City Savings Bank and The Hor- nell Chamber of Commerce and past member of the Board of Di- rectors at St. James Mercy Hos- pital. He was a United Way advocate, a lifelong Red Cross blood donor, Scout Den Leader,
and Boy Scout Troop 16 Com- mittee Member. He was a Hor- nell Little League coach and was Coach of the Year in 2019.
Dave's proudest contribution to the community was his role in founding St. Ann's Academy (SAA) in 2012. For the past 9 years, he has dedicated time and resources to SAA, from raising money to keep tuition rates low for the children of the commu- nity, to purchasing equipment, wiring the building, installing white boards and projectors, fix- ing plumbing, shoveling snow and taking out trash, to bringing pizza to the school children and supporting the teachers and staff.
Dave also loved gardening and working outdoors. He cher- ished his yearly deer-hunting trips with friends to Wyoming.
When not working or volunteer- ing, Dave was at Twin Hickory Golf Club (especially with his Ex-Gods Golf League buddies) or at his cottage on Loon Lake.
He was a member of the Hornell Association, Hornell Elks Lodge, and the Knights of Columbus. But most of all, Dave loved the time he spent with family, especially sporting events and Boy Scout activities with his son, Nicholas.
On May 19, 2007, Dave was married at St. Ann's Church in Hornell to the former Penelope (Penny) Sherburne who sur- vives. Also surviving are his son, Nicholas of Hornell; step-chil- dren, Kaelyn (Matt) Willcox of East Syracuse, and Matthew Dessena of Conway, SC; his par- ents, Dr. John & Margaret (Veth) Gray of Clarksville, MO; two brothers, Joe (Jo Ann) Gray of Clarksville, MO and Mike (Sandy) Gray of St. Charles, MO; sister-in-law, Ellen Gray of Kirksville, MO; his mother- and father-in-law, Dave and Liz Sherburne of Hornell; brother-
in-law, John (Diana) Sherburne of Marstons Mills, MA; sister-in law, Kim Sherburne of Lake- wood Ranch, FL; several God- children; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Dave was preceded in death by his brother, Mark Gray in 2017; two infant siblings, Teresa Gray and Stephen Gray; grand- parents, James and Anna Gray and Otto and Theresa Veth.
There are many words to de- scribe David Gray… selfless, honest, trustworthy, passionate, hard-working, giving, brilliant, and kind to name a few. Dave was generous beyond measure.
But most of all, he was a de- voted husband to Penny, a proud and loving father to Nicholas and step-children Kaelyn and Matthew, a loyal and attentive son, brother, and friend.
Knowing Dave had an impact on the lives of so many, friends are encouraged to send a letter to Dave's son, Nicholas, sharing a story or anecdote about how Dave touched your life.
At Dave's family's request, there were no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 20 at St. Ann's Church with Fr. Stan Kacprzak officiating.
The Funeral Mass for David A.
Gray was streamed live and can be viewed on the Dagon Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dagonfu- neralhome. Burial was in St.
Mary's Cemetery.
Dave's goal was for St. Ann's Academy to serve the children of our community for genera- tions to come. Friends and fam- ily have agreed to establish a long-term fund in his name. To help achieve that goal, please consider a gift to St. Ann's Acad- emy, 41 Genesee St., Hornell, NY 14843.
[Editor’s Note: Like most of the recipes she shared with our read- ers over the past couple of decades, Sunny Side Up columns by the late Ellen Shultz are worth repeating. ]
Here is a lovely light luncheon creation using zucchini. This recipe was given to me by Sally Mueller for inclusion in Alfred Community Theatre’s cookbook, which was compiled from Alfred history and creations by excellent cooks through the years. Books are still avail- able at Hair Care and Canacadea Country Store.
Zucchini Frittata 2 T. butter or margarine 1/2 cup water 1/4 thinly sliced green onion 1/4 t. seasoned salt 2 cups thinly sliced fresh zucchini1/8 t. tabasco sauce
8 eggs 1/2 cup diced fresh tomato
Melt butter in a skillet that can go in the oven. Add onion and zuc- chini and saute quickly until just crisp tender. Beat eggs just to blend; stir in water, salt and tabasco. Pour over zucchini; sprinkle tomato over top. Let cook on medium heat about 5 minutes, then bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until eggs are set and top is dry. Serves four.
THE ALFRED SUN, Thursday, July 22, 2021 3
Kelly’s Forecast
By KELLY SNYDER The Alfred Sun Weather Forecaster
"Sweet, sweet burn of sun and summer wind, and you my friend, my new fun thing, my summer fling." ―K.D. Lang
Thursday, July 22 PARTLY CLOUDY (HIGH 73– LOW 55) Chance of precipitation....11%
Friday, July 23 PARTLY CLOUDY (HIGH 72–LOW 56) Chance of precipitation....24%
Saturday, July 24 MOSTLY SUNNY (HIGH 76– LOW 61) Chance of precipitation....24%
Sunday, July 25 AM THUNDERSTORMS
(HIGH 75– LOW 62) Chance of precipitation....35%
Monday, July 26 PARTLY CLOUDY (HIGH 80 - LOW 59) Chance of precipitation....24%
Tuesday, July 27 MOSTLY SUNNY (HIGH 78 - LOW 59) Chance of precipitation....16%
Wednesday, July 28 PARTLY CLOUDY (HIGH 78 - LOW 60) Chance of precipitation...20%
For more up to date weather information add your Alfred Sun
Weatherman Kelly Snyder on Facebook where he conducts occasional Facebook Live Re- ports. As always, if you don’t
like the weather in Alfred just wait five minutes!
ACT cookbook zucchini recipe ALFRED
Weather for the Week
July13-July 19 July Hi Lo Precip.Snow
13 80 60 0.04” 0 14 82 66 0.40” 0 15 85 60 0.35” 0
16 83 60 0 0
17 76 65 0.34” 0 18 72 57 1.30” 0 19 75 56 0.04” 0 Note: 7.47” of rain thus far in July 2021, close to double the July monthly average!
By FION MacCREA Alfred Weather Recorder ROGER MORTON SMITH
Cambodia specialist ALFRED–A memorial serv- ice for Roger Morton Smith, 91, of 30 South Main Street, Alfred, who passed away at the U. of R.
Jones Memorial Hospital, Wellsville, on July 5, 2021, will be held at 2 pm Saturday, August 21, in the Union University Church, Alfred.
The memorial service will be followed by a reception at the UUC Church Center. For friends unable to attend, tributes may be sent to Sharon B. Smith, P.O.
Box 782, Alfred, NY 14802.
Arrangements are under the care of Brown & Powers Fu- neral Home. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so are asked kindly to contribute, in Roger’s memory, to: Union University Church, 29 North Main St., Al- fred, NY 14802; Hart Comfort House, 141 East State St., Wellsville, NY 14895; The Lewy Body Dementia Associa- tion; or The Nature Conser- vancy.
JEANNE S. EHMANN Elementary school teacher ALFRED STATION–Jeanne S. EHMANN, 100, of Alfred Station, NY, died Saturday, July 10, 2021, in the Com-
fort House of Alle- gany County, Wellsville. Born De- cember 5, 1920, in Ogden, she was the daughter of Walter F.
and Bertha Peck Stet- tner. On April 11, 1922, in Spencerport, she married W. Ed- ward Ehmann, who predeceased her on December 1, 2016. A
graduate of Spencerport High School, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Keuka Col- lege, a Master’s degree from the University of Masschusetts, and her Doctorate in linguistics from SUNY Albany. She was em- ployed as an elementary school teacher in Conway, MA, West
During a pleasant picnic at Prophets' place (72 South Main, Alfred, NY, also the Mayor's Mansion), attendees were beguiled by David and Timothy to stand on specific,
designated spots on the steps to sing, if I'm not mistaken,
"Dinosaur Train." Since none of the older folks knew that particular piece, the young men happily directed the singers in a rousing rendition of "America the Beautiful,"
and a couple of others. From
left; Bob Pipal, Deb Jakobi, Bob Volk, Anne Pipal, Steve Jakobi (hat), Craig Prophet, Nancy Furlong, Becky Prophet, Rebecca Weaver Hamm, Zach Hamm. In front, directing (note stick, which was wielded enthusiastically) David and Timothy.
OBITUARIES
Sand Lake, NY, and Poestenkill, NY, and as a professor by SUNY Cortland. Edward and Jeanne owned and operated Tamarack Cove, a cabin rental business in Schroon Lake.
Jeanne was a well- known local artist.
Surviving are: three children, Christine (Glenn Zweygardt) Ehmann of Alfred Station, Thomas (Donna) Ehmann of East Greenbush, and Constance (Ray Clement) Ehmann of Alfred Station; nine grandchildren, Sasha, Sky, Jasmine, Akio, Annie, Trevor, Danica, Licia, and Mae;
12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; close cousins, Rod (Pat) Stettner, Pam (John) Trenton, and Kim (Tom) Rodack; and two nieces, Abigail Ehmann and Martha Ehmann.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a son, Rik Ehmann. Burial will be in Ger- ald B.H. Solomon Saratoga Na- tional Cemetery, Schuylerville.
Memorials may be made to the SPCA Serving Allegany County, P.O. Box 381, Wellsville, NY 14895. Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Fu- neral Homes & Cremation, Crowell Chapel, 296 North Main Street, Wellsville, NY.
Online condolences may be ex- pressed at www.wellsvillefuner- alhome.com.
Jeanne S. Ehmann, 100, teacher
Memorial service
4 THE ALFRED SUN, Thursday, July 22, 2021
Dear Editor,
Allegany County at this time has 33% of the Allegany County people who took at least one dose to fight the covid-19 virus.
The CDC, the US Center of Disease Control, has been keep- ing records of all persons who took vaccination. They had proof that the vaccines are effec- tive and there is a record that per- sons who took vaccination were seldom needing to be hospital- ized.
The virus is not as innocent as flu which some people still be- lieve but it is much more grave.
In other words we are fortunate to discover the vaccine and man- ufacturing and be available to us and avoid the large number of deaths.
Here are some records about vaccinations from CDC:
https://www.nytimes.com/inter- a c t i v e / 2 0 2 0 / u s / c o v i d - 1 9 - vaccine-doses.html.
NY state is 17th state of the 50 states and NYS have 72.9% of the eligible population have re- ceived this vaccine and Allegany county can help more than the
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By DR. NICHOLAS L. WADDY First appeared at amgreatness.com
F
or Big Tech billionaires, these are the best of times, and these are the worst of times.Why the best? Because the long arm of social media and online commerce has never reached fur- ther and deeper into Americans' culture, spending habits, lifestyles, and worldview. Likewise, the net worth of these billionaires has risen to undreamed- of heights. COVID was, for these tech barons, a blessing in disguise: it trapped Americans indoors, where they could do little else but browse the web, consume digital entertainment, and spend their stimulus dollars on imported Chinese doohickeys.
Even as the dreaded virus has retreated, Big Tech has successfully locked in its gains.
Why the worst of times, though? The very rise of Big Tech has portended greater scrutiny. The de- basement of Big Tech's competitors and natural en- emies – from brick-and-mortar stores to Trump supporters – has ensured that the drumbeat of crit- icism of social media companies and online retail- ers has never been more stridently percussive.
The fruits of this anti-Big Tech fury are evident in polls, which show that Americans doubt the wis- dom of censorship and deplatforming, and they would like social media companies to “abide by the First Amendment” and “provide free speech guarantees to their users”. Amazon, meanwhile, gets a relative pass from ordinary Americans, 72%
of whom still view the retailing behemoth favor- ably. Twitter, by contrast, at 37% favorability, is down in Nancy Pelosi territory.
The headwinds for Big Tech go far beyond pub- lic attitudes. Politicians are taking, or planning, a range of measures to tackle these companies' per- ceived depredations. Democrats are advancing a series of bills in the House to strengthen anti-trust laws with an eye to encouraging the breakup of on- line monopolies. Republicans are proposing simi- lar bills, but with an emphasis on guaranteeing conservatives access to online platforms like Face- book, Twitter, and YouTube. Similarly, many states are pondering, or have already passed, comprehen- sive bills designed to punish Big Tech's campaigns of censorship. Florida's landmark bill, though, has already been subjected to a federal injunction.
Even foreign governments are getting in on the act, with Poland and Hungary seeking to require social media companies to respect free speech.
Donald Trump, the most famous victim of Big Tech's highly selective penchant for deplatform- ing, has joined the fray, most recently with a major class action lawsuit against Facebook, Twitter, and Google, which owns YouTube. All of these plat- forms banned the sitting President of the United States after the Capitol Riot on January 6th. Trump made statements during and after the riot that, while not advocating lawlessness, these social media companies viewed as insufficiently con- demnatory. Problematic, of course, is their com- parative disinterest in silencing or punishing any of the many leftist voices which gave aid and com- fort to the much deadlier and more destructive anti-police rioters in the summer of 2020.
Will any of these legislative or legal strategies work? That remains to be seen, but it's evident that they haven't yet forced these social media titans to budge. Facebook's Oversight Board recently ap- proved of the company's ban on Trump, and Face- book will not even consider rescinding it until after the 2022 elections.
Despite the failure, thus far, of these multi- pronged efforts to bring Big Tech to heel, conser- vatives must remain vigilant, and if at all possible they must find new fronts on which to attack. The reason is simple: social media platforms increas-
ingly control, or at the very least mediate, public discourse. Conservatives, moreover, cannot win any debate in which they are forbidden to partici- pate. Therefore, the baleful precedent recently es- tablished for the censoring and outright banning of mostly conservative voices must be overturned, before these tactics proliferate and online speech becomes a monologue reaffirming leftist values and principles.
In this light, conservatives should consider how isolated they have already become. They are an en- dangered species in all sectors of our education system. They are a besieged minority in Holly- wood and in our popular culture in general, which is saturated with leftist messaging, by contrast.
Neo-Marxists rule over an increasing number of corporate boardrooms, while shareholder meetings and corporate HR departments have become social engineering laboratories. The relentless negativity that the mainstream media spews in the direction of conservatives is now accepted as the primary duty of “woke” journalists.
Given this bleak cultural landscape for conser- vatives, the relative success of conservatives in sharing their viewpoints, and in articulating a counter-narrative to the America-hating, race-bait- ing socialism of the Left, via social media – think of the legions of new voters recruited by President Trump – is the very reason why Big Tech is so keen now to silence us, once and for all. There are only so many major institutions that we can afford to be frozen out of, however, before the majority of Americans simply lose touch with the conser- vative point of view, and they begin to believe the demoniacal images of conservatives peddled by our left-leaning thought-masters by default.
Now is the time, therefore, for conservatives to intensify the struggle against Big Tech, and to pressure these companies to reverse their cam- paigns of censorship and deplatforming. We must do so, in fact, with a fervor borne of desperation – as though our very (political) lives depend on it, because they do!
It may also be time for conservatives to make some strategic alliances with certain leftists, who want to break up Big Tech companies on anti-trust grounds. We may not agree with these radicals' anti-capitalist rationale, but we must ask ourselves:
can a social media landscape dominated by a few major corporations led by inveterate and outspo- ken leftists ever be compelled, by public pressure, legislation, or legal action, to treat conservatives fairly and equitably? Or, would the splintering of these companies serve democracy and free speech better, by creating a multitude of smaller technol- ogy companies, some of which would inevitably seek to ingratiate themselves with a liberty-loving customer base?
My own view is that the moral and political cal- culus has become remarkably simple: whatever harms Big Tech will, inevitably, help conserva- tives, free speech, and, thus, America.
I say, therefore: Down with Big Tech! Down with Facebook! Down with Twitter! Down with YouTube!
Let us not rest until these companies are no more, and a gaggle of smaller and less menacing successor companies have taken their place.
Let Facebook, for instance, become Redbook and Bluebook (and possibly Purplebook, for good measure). At least then we conservatives won't be left out in the cold.
________________________________________
Dr. Nicholas L. Waddy is an Associate Professor of History at SUNY Alfred, and blogs at:
www.waddyisright.com. He appears on the News- maker Show on WLEA 1480/106.9.
Ju’ Lie
Looking For July In All The Wrong PlacesOr, Last week’s Spot that talked about July
Was a lie.
There’s hardly been a single day that’s sunny.
Not fun—nor funny.
Oh sure, we go outside and come in wet—
But not with sweat.
Let me say, before you wonder what I’m drinking:
It was wishful thinking.
Cuz I’ll admit—I like July a lot, Even though it’s hot.
Those are days I always cherish and remember…
In December.
—Oh, Decembyrmous
33% right now. The last state in the USA is Mississippi state which reports 46.3% people have taken the vaccine--- more than Allegany County and we could do better.
President Biden will lengthen the opportunity from July 4 to more time because more vacci- nation will help all of us and are necessary. Walmart pharmacy has offered to give the vaccina- tion for free and you can call their pharmacy and make an ap- pointment.
I will send another message about the Walmart offer unless your useful Alfred Sun has al- ready reported on Walmart and thanked them.
Gudrun Scott RN Andover
33% of Allegany Co. residents have taken at least one dose
(Continued from front page) over rural citizens.
With regard to the financial issue, Borrello said it’s a matter of spending, not revenues, and much of the spending in Western New York comes through Al- bany directed mandates that would likely not exist in an in- dependent Greater Western New York.
Hawley added that independ- ence might also make the region more attractive to businesses;
thus, increasing revenues. Both Republicans Borrello and Haw- ley believed the population- based representation might be less of an issue even though they conceded the size of Rochester and Buffalo would make a Greater Western New York State more likely to vote for a Demo- crat. Several attendees pointed out that Buffalo appears to be on the verge of voting in the na- tion’s first major city socialist mayor and expressed less confi- dence that the population issue is solely a New York City issue.
The final portion of the meet- ing saw all the attendees enter three different breakout rooms to further discuss the options then
vote as a group for their pre- ferred choice. In an interesting coincidence, each group voted for a different option, with one group saying all three options should be viewed as a coordi- nated progression on a spectrum of action rather than distinct choices.
When everyone reconvened in the general meeting, they voted again, this time as individuals. In a perfect example of how popu- lation-based representation (the individual voting) can yield dif- ferent results compared to geo- graphic-based representation (the breakout rooms), the indi- vidual voting produced a solid winner. The separate state option was twice as popular as the au- tonomous zone option, which in turn was two times better than the nullification option.
The meeting proved so engag- ing that participants were eager to know when the next one will occur. Carosa promised the Sen- tinel would host another Greater Western New York Town Hall in October, and added there were other events and activities peo- ple might choose to get involved with if they didn’t want to wait
until October. These are outlined on GreaterWesternNewYork.org.
For more information, call Chris Carosa at (585) 733-4553 or email ChrisCarosa@MH- FLSentinel.com. The event re- play can be viewed under the Event’s Tab at GreaterWestern- NewYork.org.
The Greater Western New***
York Region comprises the 17 westernmost counties of New York State and was formally de- fined by the Treaty of Hartford on December 16, 1786 with the creation of Preemption Line.
These counties include: Alle- gany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Liv- ingston, Monroe, Niagara, On- tario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.
Greater Western NY Town Hall meeting
Battle against Big Tech
Nutrition in a Nutshell...6
Cultural Calendar...6-7 Allegany County News...8
Newspaper Fun...9
Cartoons, Puzzles...10
Classifieds...11
Years Ago in SUN...12
Church page...13
Alfred Sun’s Second Section--Entertainment, Classified Advertising, Etc., Etc. Moonlighter
Week of July 22-July 28, 2021 ALFRED SUN, PO Box 811, 764 Route 244, Alfred, NY 14802 607-587-8110
WELLSVILLE–Bookworm Theatrics presents:
The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) at 5:30 p.m. Monday, August 2 at the Front Lawn of David A. Howe Public Library, 155 N. Main Street, Wellsville.
Bookworm Theatrics presents its Western New York tour!
William Shakespeare: One of the world’s great- est dramatists whose words live in our lexicon;
Who created iconic heroes and villains, lover and fools; Whose works are performed across the globe – A legend for all time.
The brave players of Bookworm Theatrics will do the unimaginable: perform all of Shakespeare’s plays in one heart-stopping, monumental perform- ance.
Their feat will put the Royal Shakespeare Com- pany to shame, shutter the Globe, and Stratford- upon-Avon will want to relocate to Western New York. All because of this company and these per- formers that will bring you the finest, most faith- ful, most wondrous event of our time…well, at the very least it’ll be funny.
The performance stars Amanda Kristin Cox, An- gela Rose Masi, and Collin Zehr!
Bring your chair or blanket (maybe even a pic- nic dinner) and come enjoy the show. In the event of rain, we will move to the Nancy Howe Audito- rium.
Free and open for everyone!
This program is funded in part by the Decentral- ization Regrant Program of the New York State
Council on the Arts. This program, with the sup- port of the governor and the New York State Leg- islature, is administered by the Tri-County Arts Council.
For further information, call the library at 585- 593-3410.
ALFRED–Coming right up is the sixth “East Meets West”
monthly concert, at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 28 when our Zoom audience will have an op- portunity to chat with violist Ling Yu, her husband, conductor and violinist Xun
Sun, and host, Daisy Wu, Director of the Confucius In- stitute at Alfred University (CIAU).
What is a violist?
A player of the viola, a tenor- voiced Western stringed instrument delightfully de- scribed in an article by Hsin-Yun Huang in the online maga- zine, The Strad:
“Why We Should All Be Violists”.
Ling Yu is adjunct viola profes- sor in the Music Department of Southern Utah University (SUU). She is one of the founders of SUU’s Halversen Faculty String Quartet.
She has performed as a guest soloist with the Orchestra of Southern Utah (OSU), one of the state’s finest community orches- tras. Ms.Yu earned her master’s degree in music performance at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri- Kansas City (UMKC). She is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Mu- sical Arts degree at the Univer- sity of Utah. For this, she did a research project and performed the viola concerto Xian Shi by Dr. Chen Yi, an “East Meets
West” guest in June.
Dr. Xun Sun began formal vi- olin training at Wuhan Conser- vatory of Music when he was 11 years old through the govern- ment's scholarship program for exceptional music students.
Today he serves as Associate Pro- fessor of Music and Director of Orchestral Activ- ities at SUU. He has won several awards for excel- lence in teach- ing.Dr. Sun has served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Orchestra of Southern Utah since 2003 and has also been guest conductor for many other orchestras in China and around the world. He received Master's degrees in Instrumental Con- ducting and Violin Performance from the Conservatory of UMKC and earned his Doctor- ate in Music Education from Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City.
For videos of Ling Yu playing and teaching viola, search YouTube for “Ling Yu viola”.
For more information on Xun Sun, please go to www.suu.edu and search for “Xun Sun”.
Registration will be required for this Zoom event. Please go to https://forms.gle/VY1168xU- UFJPZKq97 or scan the accom-
THE SECOND ARROW
I
n her book Ordinary Wonder, the Zen teacher Charlotte Joko Beck (1917-2011) recounts the ex- perience of one of her students, a heart surgeon on the verge of burnout. A nervous wreck at work, he came home exhausted in the evenings. To relieve his stress, he adopted a simple but effective practice. Whenever he was walking down the halls of the hospital, he focused on his feet. Rather than think about the operation just performed or the one in prospect, he shifted his atten- tion to the feel- ing of his soles pressing against the floor. To his amazement, he found himself less anxious at work and less tired at the end of the day.As food for thought, the sen- sation of one’s feet doing their customary work may seem like meager fare indeed.
How much better to be musing about enlightenment—
or dreaming of the clear blue waters of the Caribbean.
But underlying the surgeon’s humble intervention was an essential principle of Zen practice. Ubiquitous in Zen teachings, that principle has three distinct but interre- lated aspects.
To begin with, as Beck explains, the practice of focus- ing on the body—in this instance, one’s feet—rather than on thoughts or mental images prioritizes sensory
experience over conceptual thought. It returns the prac- titioner to his or her immediate experience. This shift of orientation is analogous to extending rather than flexing a muscle. Just as many of us, particularly those of us whose vocations are sedentary, spend far more time con- tracting than extending our muscle groups, we may also expend far more energy thinking and talking about our lives than we do in actually experiencing our experience, openly and concretely. The former activity is easy, ha- bitual, and often enjoyable. The latter is unfamiliar, dif- ficult, and sometimes unpleasant. As Beck observes, most people new to the practice can tolerate consciously experiencing their experience for around three seconds, after which they grow uncomfortable or bored. But once the practice becomes familiar and even second nature, a transformation, such as the surgeon experienced, can begin to occur.
The second aspect of this teaching concerns the dy- namic relationship of imagination and what the poet Wallace Stevens called the “pressure of reality.” As the Zen teacher Norman Fischer demonstrates in his book The World Could Be Otherwise, imagination can play a major, constructive role in meditative practice. By imag- ining a state of optimal health, for example, we can help to foster that condition. But imagination can also play a destructive role, insofar as it is undisciplined and un- grounded. In the eighteenth century the sagacious Samuel Johnson warned against the “dangerous preva- lence of imagination,” by which he meant untrammeled imagination, oblivious of reason or reality. To the extent that our imaginations betray us into catastrophic thinking and disproportionate responses to adversity, that faculty can be our enemy rather than our friend. Superseding
reason or realism, it can cause us to interpret a harmless discomfort as a symptom of a major disorder, a cor- rectible misalignment as an irreversible condition.
This all-too-common reaction is addressed in the third aspect of this teaching, which Beck frames as a distinc- tion between “sensation” and “anguish.” In one of his most celebrated analogies, the Buddha likened the pain that we incur to a wound inflicted by an arrow. When, in response to that pain, we begin thinking about its pos- sible causes and imagining its consequences, it is as if we are shooting a second arrow directly into the wound.
From the sensation we have just experienced, we are cre- ating anguish. And unless we are longtime meditative practitioners or have learned to know our minds by other means, we may be entirely unaware of what we are doing to ourselves.
To develop such awareness is an important aim of Zen practice. Learning to distinguish between the sensations we experience and the anguish we generate from those sensations is a difficult endeavor, requiring diligence and no little skill. After thirty some years of practice, I am only beginning to get the hang of it. One precondition, I have found, is the stillness and equanimity engendered by shamata, or concentrative meditation. Without that secure foundation, it is nearly impossible to practice vipassana, or “insight” meditation, in which we investi- gate the activities and changing atmospheres of our minds. No less important is the willingness to be with, and indeed to go into, whatever the sensation might be, noting the changes that occur when the feeling is given sustained attention. Sometimes it will increase, but more often it will diminish or disappear altogether. In either case, we can become more acutely aware of the differ- ence between the bare sensation and the thought, im- agery, and anxiety we are adding to it. All of this takes time and energy, guided if possible by a good teacher.
But as the overworked surgeon’s experience demon- strates, it can begin with something as basic as paying attention to one’s feet.
____________________________________________
Ben Howard leads the Falling Leaf Sangha (www.fallingleafsangha.blogspot.com), a Zen practice group in Alfred.
Sixth ‘East Meets West’ Wednesday, July 28 ZOOM PERFORMANCE
Charlotte Joko Beck
The Second Arrow
Bookworm Theatrics will attempt Complete Works of Shakespeare!
panying bar code. There will also be a registration link on the Facebook page of the Almond 20th Century Club Library.
This series is organized by CIAU and co-sponsored by the Almond 20th Century Club Li- brary, the Cuba Circulating Li-
brary, the Hornell Public Li- brary, the David A. Howe Li- brary in Wellsville, and the Wimodaughsian Library of Can- isteo, the Performing Arts Divi- sion of Alfred University, and the Music Department of China University of Geosciences
(CUG) in Wuhan. If you have questions or your organization would like to assist in promoting this series, please contact Daisy Wu at [email protected] or CIAU Assistant Director Susan Steere 607-382-4140 for further details.
