Olean/Communal
Free Energy-Saving Workshop Set for Sept. 2 in Olean
The Town of Allegany's Climate Smart Communities program and Enchanted Mountains Village are hosting a free public workshop on home energy savings at 5 p.m. Sept. 2 in the Sister Margaret Carney Lecture Hall on the third floor of the Olean Chamber of Commerce building. The session is aimed at helping area residents learn practical ways to cut energy costs and improve efficiency at home. It's part of ongoing outreach by the Town of Allegany's Climate Smart Communities initiative to bring sustainability resources directly to residents across the Olean area. The workshop is open to the public at no cost.
Olean/Political
Olean Planning Board Reviews Site Plan for Long-Delayed Dugan Road Solar Farm
The Town of Olean Planning Board met last week to go over the site plan for Delaware River Solar's proposed 5-megawatt array on Dugan Road, a project first pitched three years ago that has wound through zoning appeals and a lawsuit against the town. The roughly 43-acre hillside site, owned by Joseph and Patricia Bohan, would carry nearly 11,800 sun-tracking panels set back 250 feet from the road. Board members raised questions about visual impact, glare and the need for a fuller landscaping plan before signing off. The board is working under an Oct. 1 deadline tied to a settlement in which the developer agreed to drop its state Supreme Court suit against the town in exchange for the project moving forward, along with a $150,000 host community fee.
August 25, 2026·Olean Star→ Olean/Nonprofits
Olean Grad Domonick Hirliman Awarded Don Scholla Memorial Scholarship
The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation announced this week that Olean High School graduate Domonick Hirliman has received the $1,000 Don Scholla Memorial Scholarship, one of more than 100 awards the foundation distributes annually to area students headed to college. The fund is one of dozens CRCF manages on behalf of donors to support local graduates pursuing higher education. The award adds to a string of CRCF scholarships announced this summer for Olean-area students. CRCF continues to accept new scholarship applications each year through its website for local seniors.
Olean/Political
Olean Common Council Passes Ban on Public Camping, Encampments
The Olean Common Council voted 4-2 Tuesday to approve an ordinance banning camping and encampments on public property citywide, including parks, streets, the Allegheny River and the Allegheny River Valley Trail. The measure sets escalating penalties, from a warning up to a $50 fine for a first offense, up to $100 for a second and up to $250 for a third. Council members stressed the ordinance targets conduct on public land rather than criminalizing homelessness or housing status, and requires the city to coordinate with outreach organizations to connect people with shelter, housing assistance and behavioral health or substance-use resources before any scheduled non-emergency removal. Several council members also called for the city to pursue additional, longer-term steps to address homelessness locally. The ordinance takes effect once filed with the state Secretary of State.
Olean/Communal
East Olean Boil Water Advisory Lifted After Water Main Break
A boil water advisory covering much of East Olean was lifted Friday afternoon, three days after a water main valve broke beneath Seneca Avenue and caused the city's system to lose pressure in that area. Mayor Amy B. Sherburne issued the advisory Tuesday for the neighborhood roughly bounded by Front Street to the city line and Seneca Avenue to Grandview Avenue, warning that pressure loss can let untreated water or microbes enter the system. City crews made emergency repairs to the valve over the following days before water quality testing cleared the area for normal use. Residents in the affected zone were advised they could resume drinking and cooking with tap water without boiling it first once the advisory was lifted.
Olean/Communal
Largest StrOlean Yet Draws Crowds to North Union Street
The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce's annual StrOlean street festival set a new high-water mark on Saturday, Aug. 15, with roughly 100 arts, crafts and food vendors filling the 100-200 blocks of North Union Street. The pedestrian-only event featured a beer tent, live music and entertainment, downtown restaurants and food trucks, and family activities including mini-train and pony rides. Christ United Methodist Church sponsored a free children's activity area as part of the day-long celebration. Organizers called it the biggest edition of the festival to date, with record vendor turnout.
Olean/Nonprofits
OBDC Picks Nine Businesses for 2026 Laine Business Accelerator Cohort
The Olean Business Development Corporation has selected nine area businesses for the 2026 cohort of the Laine Business Accelerator, a free program for established small business owners looking to grow. Each selected business will receive $5,000 in seed funding and take part in a multi-week program of mentorship and entrepreneurial instruction. The accelerator is funded by the Erick Laine Entrepreneurship Fund, created through the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation in memory of former Cutco Corporation CEO Erick Laine, and administered by OBDC. Since launching in 2021, the program has awarded a total of $200,000 in seed funding to area entrepreneurs across its cohorts.
Olean/Nonprofits
SPCA in Cattaraugus County Adds Two Members to Its Board
The SPCA in Cattaraugus County, the Olean-based animal shelter serving the region since 1905, announced it has welcomed Pamela Baker and Brooke McCarthy to its board of directors. The shelter says the additions bring new expertise and community leadership as it continues to build out its board and volunteer committee structure. Along with the appointments, the nonprofit is putting out a call for additional community leaders interested in getting involved in its governance and fundraising efforts. The shelter relies heavily on board and volunteer support to sustain its adoption, rescue and cruelty-investigation work across the county.
Olean/Political
Olean Mayor Proposes Code Changes to Address Homeless Encampments
At Tuesday's Olean Common Council meeting, Mayor Amy B. Sherburne asked council members to consider updating the city's code of ordinances on camping and encampments on public property. She cited a rise in complaints about encampments along the Allegheny River Valley Trail, in city parks, and along the riverbanks, saying clearer rules would let the city clear sites faster while connecting residents to shelter and services. Council President Lawrence "JR" Bennion referred the resolution to the council's next meeting for further discussion. A resident who has organized past encampment cleanups told the council he had volunteers ready to begin one that weekend using city-supplied trash bags.
August 13, 2026·Olean Star→ Olean/Libraries
Olean Library's 'Read Between the Wines' Fundraiser Returns Aug. 15
The Friends of the Olean Public Library are holding their eighth annual "Read Between the Wines" fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 15, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the library on North Second Street. The evening features local wine tasting, food, live music from Alex Cole and a basket raffle, with all proceeds going toward library programs and services. Tickets are $25 each or two for $45, and $15 designated-driver tickets are also available through the library. Organizers describe the event as one of the Friends group's key annual fundraisers supporting the library's continued operations.
Olean/Political
Olean Council Overrides Mayor's Veto, Advances War Vets Pool Repair Contract
Olean's Common Council voted unanimously to override Mayor Amy B. Sherburne's veto of a resolution accepting a roughly $1.09 million bid from Tonawanda-based Patterson-Stevens to repair the city pool at War Veterans Park. The council had originally approved the bid on a 4-1 vote, covering work such as replacing the pool's original sand filter system and piping, filling in the small youth pool, and replacing the deck and portions of the pool lining and tile. Sherburne's veto called the council's plan "irresponsible," arguing the cost estimates left out required structural work, including repair and replacement of the pool walls. With the two-thirds override vote, the council cleared the way for the renovation contract to move forward despite the mayor's objections.
Olean/Arts & Photography
Tri-County Arts Council Showcases Barbara Fox's 'An Artistic Journey' Through Aug. 30
The Tri-County Arts Council's Peg Bothner Gallery in Olean is hosting "An Artistic Journey, From Watercolors to Oils and Back Again," a solo exhibition by artist Barbara Fox running through Aug. 30. The show traces Fox's shifts between watercolor and oil painting over the years, pairing finished works with notes and sketches that document her process. Fox works across graphite, charcoal, watercolor and oil, and her pieces have been exhibited and collected internationally. The gallery, located at 110 West State Street, is open to the public during the council's regular hours for the remainder of the exhibit's run.
Olean/Communal
Cattaraugus County WIC Marks World Breastfeeding Week With Annual Picnic
Cattaraugus County's WIC program held its annual World Breastfeeding Week picnic on Aug. 7 at War Vets Park in Olean, drawing families for a free, public gathering from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event featured refreshments alongside booths staffed by area nonprofits offering resources on health care access, diapers, baby-proofing and childhood literacy for new and expecting parents. City, county and state government representatives took part in dedications recognizing the occasion. The picnic is an annual tradition for the county's Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, aimed at connecting local families with breastfeeding support and other early-childhood resources.
Olean/Nonprofits
Foster Cattaraugus Brings Back Adult Prom With Prohibition-Era Theme Aug. 15
Foster Cattaraugus will hold its third annual Adult Prom fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 15, beginning at 6 p.m. at Woodside Tavern on the Range in Olean. This year's speakeasy-inspired, Prohibition-era theme will bring dinner, dancing, raffles and live entertainment to raise money supporting foster children and families across Cattaraugus County. Presale tickets are $40 per person or $60 per couple and include admission and dinner, available through the organization's Facebook page or online ticketing. Organizers note the event has sold out in past years and are encouraging early ticket purchases.
Olean/Political
Olean Launches MakeMyMove Partnership to Draw Remote Workers to the City
City officials announced Olean has formally launched its partnership with MakeMyMove.com, an online platform that markets communities to remote workers looking to relocate. The program offers a combined $20,000 in cash incentives meant to attract five remote workers or job seekers, along with their families, to move to the city, with eligibility tied to minimum household income thresholds. The initiative follows the Common Council's approval in May of a roughly $50,000 contract with TMPA, the firm that operates MakeMyMove, to promote Olean nationally as a relocation destination. Supporters on the council have framed the effort as a low-cost way to grow the city's population and tax base by drawing remote-work households rather than competing for traditional employers.
Olean/Schools
Olean's Summer STAR Program Wraps Up With 'Seussical Jr.' Performance
Nearly 200 students from pre-kindergarten through seventh grade capped off Olean's Summer STAR enrichment program with a performance of "Seussical Jr." in the high school auditorium. The show marked the culmination of weeks of rehearsals during the district-run summer program, giving younger students their first taste of staging a full musical. Families filled the auditorium to watch the cast bring Dr. Seuss characters to the stage. The program is part of the Olean City School District's broader summer offerings for elementary and middle school-aged children.
Olean/Nonprofits
Goodwill Opens First-Ever Cattaraugus County Store in Olean
Goodwill of Western New York held a ribbon-cutting Saturday morning for its brand-new store and donation center at 2610 West State Street in Olean, marking the nonprofit's first retail presence anywhere in Cattaraugus County. The renovated 24,000-square-foot building is among the region's largest Goodwill locations and stocks more than 25,000 donated items across clothing, housewares and other categories. Beyond retail, the site includes a 1,200-square-foot career center that will begin offering free job-training workshops this fall through Goodwill's Goodskills Career Builder program, developed with input from local employers. Proceeds from items sold at the store help fund that workforce-training program across the region.
Olean/Jobs
Olean City School District Seeks Special Education Teachers, School Psychologist and More
Olean City School District's current-openings page lists several instructional and administrative vacancies for the coming school year, including an Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, a district-wide School Psychologist, Special Education teachers for grades K-12, a Computer Literacy Teacher, a Behavior Specialist and a Modified Football coach. The district also accepts ongoing applications for civil-service and substitute roles, including teacher aides, substitute teachers, substitute food service helpers and substitute cleaners, which are reviewed on a rolling basis rather than tied to one deadline. No fixed application deadline is listed for the instructional postings; the district says interviews continue until each position is filled. Candidates can apply online through the district's Frontline hiring system or contact the Human Resources office directly with questions.
Olean/Political
Olean Council Names Bennion President, Confirms New Police Chief
The Olean Common Council selected Ward 1 alderman JR Bennion as its new president following the resignation of former president Vernon Robinson. At the same meeting, the council also voted to approve Blovsky as the city's new chief of police. The moves fill two significant leadership vacancies in city government within the same session. The changes come amid broader turnover on the council this summer.
Olean/Libraries
Olean Public Library Launches 'Growing Together' Fundraising Campaign
Olean Public Library officials and supporters have kicked off a community fundraising campaign, called 'Growing Together,' to complement the $7.9 million bond that city voters approved in June 2025 for a major expansion and renovation. The capital project will remodel roughly a third of the existing building at 134 N. 2nd Street and add about 7,500 square feet, including a new second floor, to relieve overcrowding at family and community events. Plans call for larger, reconfigured spaces for the Children's Library, Teen Center, local history collection and study areas. Library Director Michelle La Voie said the investment, nearly a decade in the making, will keep the library as a cornerstone of learning for the city.
Olean/Political
Olean School Board Swears In Two New Members
Mary Kehoe Fay and Dr. Stephen Carlson were sworn into the Olean City School District Board of Education at the board's annual reorganizational meeting. Both took their oaths of office at the start of the session, joining the board following the district's most recent school board election. The reorganizational meeting marks the formal start of the new school year's governance cycle for the district. District officials welcomed the new members as they begin their terms.
Olean/Libraries
Olean Public Library Hosts Cattaraugus County Disability Resource Fair
On July 22, the Olean Public Library hosted a free, community-wide Disability Resource Fair connecting residents with local organizations from across Cattaraugus County. Vendors on hand covered career exploration, disability benefits advisement, job search support, Medicaid enrollment, employment services, independent living skills, nutrition, health care and veterans' services, and food trucks were invited on-site. The event was organized with the county's Workforce Development Board through Disability Resource Coordinator Marsha Blessing Whitsell. It's one example of the library increasingly positioning itself as a connector between Olean-area residents, including job seekers, and regional support services well beyond traditional book lending.
Olean/Arts & Photography
Olean Library Gallery Showcases Nature Paintings by John Macroy
The Olean Public Library's gallery space is currently featuring "Nature's Cacophony of Color," an exhibit by local artist John Macroy. The show pairs Macroy's paintings of the natural world with displays of actual butterflies and bird photography, aiming to spotlight the vibrancy of color found in nature. The exhibit is part of the library's ongoing rotating gallery program, which regularly turns its public space over to area artists at no cost to visitors. Library staff have promoted the show alongside other summer programming, including the branch's monthly zine of community creative writing.
Olean/Political
Olean Council President Vernon Robinson Announces Resignation
Vernon Robinson Jr., president of the Olean Common Council and the first Black alderman in the city's history, announced he would step down before the end of July 2026. Robinson, who has represented Ward 6 since being appointed in 2020 and was elected council president in 2025, cited the difficulty of balancing his demanding job as a National Grid warehouse manager with council duties. He did not detail all his reasons for leaving but said he hoped his successor could improve communication between the mayor's office and the council. His resignation took effect July 28, 2026.
Olean/Libraries
Olean Public Library Begins Saturday Closures as Capital Project Nears
The Olean Public Library's July newsletter announced that the library is closed on Saturdays from July through August, with additional full-day closures on July 10, 17 and 31, so staff can start packing collections and moving materials into storage ahead of construction. The prep work follows the $7.9 million bond city voters approved in June 2025 for a major renovation and roughly 7,500-square-foot expansion of the North 2nd Street building. It also comes as the library's separate 'Growing Together' community fundraising campaign continues to raise additional money alongside the bond funding. Library officials asked patrons to plan around the temporary reduced hours, noting curbside pickup remains available by appointment during the transition. The closures mark one of the first visible steps toward the long-planned project actually getting underway.
Olean/Schools
Olean Schools to Add 15 Minutes to the Student Day This Fall
Olean City School District Superintendent Dr. Genelle Morris told the Board of Education that the student school day will run 15 minutes longer starting in September, a change tied to the district's new staff collective bargaining agreement. District officials framed the extra time as an opportunity to build in additional instructional or support time across buildings. The change comes as the district also finalized a 2026-27 budget proposal with a modest levy increase. Registration for new students was set for early August ahead of the schedule change taking effect.