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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

Olean mayoral candidates Amy Sherburne (top) is on the Republican and Democratic lines, while Mayor Bill Aiello is on the independent Lincoln Party line in the Nov. 4 election.

Olean’s mayoral race is marquee match-up in county; early voting starts Oct. 25 in Olean, Little Valley

October 14, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Nine days of early voting for Cattaraugus County voters will

Cattaraugus County 4-H photo) The NYS 4-H Dairy Judging Team stands with their awards at the World Dairy Expo. From left are: Hayden Ayers, Dayne Jantzi, Olivia Shawley, Larsen Swan and Coach Doug Waterman.

Cattaraugus County 4-H member excels at World Dairy Expo

October 12, 2025

Madison, Wis. — Cattaraugus County 4-H Member, Olivia Shawley traveled to Madison, Wisconsin to compete

(SBU photo) Dick Keans (left), a 1972 St. Bonaventure University graduate, brings his 12th annual Kearns Global Business Forum to the university on Oct. 23.

SBU’s Kearns Global Business Forum to focus on the challenging job market

October 10, 2025

ST. BONAVENTURE — St. Bonaventure University alumnus and global businessman Dick Kearns, ’72, returns to

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) This is a mock-up of what the four new Welcome to Olean signs will look like once they are completed. They will replace temporary banners over signs that were vandalized four years ago.

New Welcome to Olean signs expected to be built soon

October 9, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — New entrance signs to the City of Olean