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St. Bonaventure head coach Mike MacDonald leads Thursday's practice as the Bonnies begin their summer workouts. While not new to the NCAA stage, in his first year at the helm of the Bonnies, MacDonald's first job was navigating the new landscape of Division I roster creation. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Bonnies look to round out learning curve with patchwork of experience

June 24, 2026

By HUNTER O. LYLE lyleoleanstar@gmail.com ST. BONAVENTURE – When Mike MacDonald stepped into the Reilly Center for the first time, he did so with the winds of change at his

Gies trounces Stocker in Democratic primary in 23rd Congressional District

June 24, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Aaron Gies of Olean trounced Kevin Stocker of Erie County in the Democratic primary for Congress in the 23rd District Tuesday. Gies, a St. Bonaventure

Jay Parisella fires a pitch down range during Bradford's comeback win over Coudersport. Taking over in the top of the second, Parisella ended game with 13 strikeouts through 21 batters faced. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Parisella sparks comeback, carries Bradford Legion to win over Coudy

June 23, 2026

By HUNTER O. LYLE lyleoleanstar@gmail.com BRADFORD, PA – After just an inning and a half, Jay Parisella was suddenly in the hot seat. Following a relatively quiet first frame, the

Needing to stress test my newly-converted Ford Transit Connect travel van, I chose Shenandoah National Park as the arena, spending three days trekking through the Blue Ridge Mountains and three nights sleeping in the cabin. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

LYLE: Up on Old Rag Mountain

June 23, 2026

By HUNTER O. LYLE lyleoleanstar@gmail.com SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, Va. – As the golden sunlight began drifting away from the valley below, subtly crawling up and out of the hard ridges

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Bob Wright of Wright’s Farms, Farmersville, keeps watch over the wood-fired evaporator boiling down maple sap into syrup in the farm’s sugar house on Laidlaw Road. The farm has been making maple syrup since 1840.

Wright’s Farms has been in maple business since 1840

March 26, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star FARMERSVILLE — Wright’s Farm on Laidlaw Road in Farmersville has been producing maple syrup in Cattaraugus County since 1840. It is likely the farm has continually produced

Pollock: Good and sad news on high school hoops; remembering boxing’s grillmaster

March 25, 2025

A column by CHUCK POLLOCK, Senior Sports Columnist Some thoughts from the weekend involving high school basketball and the passing of a boxing legend: OTHER THAN a few minor league baseball

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) The developer of Olean Town Centre is seeking to redevelop Olean Center Mall in a $40 million program that includes the city using eminent domain to obtain site interest rights.

Common Council votes 4-3 for public hearing on using eminent domain for Olean Mall

March 25, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — The Olean Common Council voted 4-3 at a special meeting Thursday to set a public hearing on whether to authorize the city to

Two village trustees unseated in Cattaraugus County elections

March 25, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star In two contested village elections in Cattaraugus County Tuesday, incumbent trustees lost one seat each in Allegany and Ellicottville. In Portville, two incumbents were re-elected in a