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(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne said Friday new state aid will help reduce the 18.6% tax rate in the proposed $23.2 million city budget.

Mayor not surprised at reaction to proposed 18.6% tax rate hike; new state aid to reduce it

February 21, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne wasn’t surprised at the negative

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne on Thursday presented a $23.2 million budget for 2026-2027 that carries a $3.31 tax increase or 18.6%.

Sherburne’s first proposed budget contains 18.6% property tax hike

February 19, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star In her first proposed budget, Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean Common Council President Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6, and Finance Committee Chairwoman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4, at a recent meeting. The 2026-27 city budget was three days late, but was not addressed Tuesday because it was not on the agenda.

Sherburne expected to submit proposed 2026-27 budget on Thursday, four days after it was due

February 18, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Each Feb. 15, the Olean mayor presents a proposed 2026-27

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Members of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Board discuss a proposed $6 million Olean brownfield cleanup project Tuesday.

Developer seeks IDA sales tax exemption on River Street brownfield cleanup

February 17, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — A local developer is proposing a brownfield cleanup

(City of Olean) The John J. Ash Community Center on North Barry Street will now be open as a warming center Sundays for Code Blue events to give people somewhere to keep warm. It is already open other days in days where the temperature drops below freezing.

John J. Ash Community Center open Sunday for Code Blue event

February 14, 2026

John J. Ash Community Center open Sunday for Code Blue event By RICK MILLER Olean

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) A group of people skate on the synthetic ice surface at the Bill Flanigan Memorial Ice Pond, where a grand re-opening and ribbon cutting were held Friday in Salamanca.

Bill Flanigan Memorial Ice Pond grand re-opening held in Salamanca Friday

February 14, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star SALAMANCA — The City of Salamanca’s Bill Flanigan Memorial Ice

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) The Hoots, Luke and Ange Marino, a country-rock duo from Nashville pitched in at Saturday’s Southern Tier Wounded Warrior concert at Bradner Stadium for Harper Grace, a Dallas native and American Idol alum, who was stranded by the airline computer snafu caused by a Crowdstrike update.

Cowboy hats, boots abound at Wounded Warrior concert

July 23, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — There were almost too many cowboy hats and boots

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Members of the Cattaraugus County Legislature’s Public Works Committee were briefed Wednesday on the extent of damage from a water leak at the County Center on Tuesday. The building will remain closed until Monday. Committees met at the Public Works Facility about a mile from the County Center.

Cattaraugus County Center to stay closed until Monday over water leak

July 18, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star LITTLE VALLEY — The Cattaraugus County Center, closed Tuesday afternoon

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Dan Spitzer (third from right) of Hudson Russ, an attorney for Alle-Catt Wind Energy, speaks Tuesday at a meeting of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency where Alle-Catt was seeking tax incentives for its proposed 340-megawatt wind farm.

IDA accepts Alle-Catt application for $618.9 million in tax incentives; takes no action

July 17, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — An application for tax benefits for the proposed

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) The new Hinsdale Vietnam Memorial in Town Park was dedicated Saturday in front of about 150 people.

Hinsdale Vietnam Memorial dedication attended by 150

July 16, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star HINSDALE — Nearly 150 people attended Saturday’s dedication ceremony for