July 27, 2026
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.
Belfast/Communal
Route 19 Reduced to One Lane in Belfast for Culvert Replacement
The New York State Department of Transportation began a culvert replacement project on State Route 19 about a mile north of County Route 16 in the Town of Belfast on Monday, July 27. The work reduces the highway to a single lane with traffic controlled by a temporary signal, and vehicles over 12 feet wide or 17 feet tall are restricted from the work zone. DOT expects the project to continue through the end of the year, with completion anticipated by December 31, 2026. Drivers are advised to expect delays and consider alternate routes while the work is underway.
Angelica/Communal
Angelica Heritage Days Set for August 1-2 Weekend
Angelica's annual Heritage Days celebration is scheduled for August 1-2, 2026, bringing the historic village's Main Street to life with community festivities. The event follows closely on the heels of Angelica's 18th annual Lavender Festival, held July 4, 2026, which drew more than 100 vendors along with food, music and downtown merchants. Organizers have also installed a new welcome sign for visitors as part of the village's push to promote itself to tourists. Heritage Days is one of the signature annual gatherings for the small Allegany County village, known for its Park Circle Historic District.
Photo: J. Passepartout / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) Alfred/Communal
Village of Alfred to Mill and Repave South Main Street
The Village of Alfred's Department of Public Works began milling South Main Street on July 27, with repaving scheduled for the first week of August. The project is part of routine road maintenance overseen by the village's public works crew. Residents and businesses along the corridor should expect construction activity and possible short delays during both phases of the work. The village posted the schedule on its official website so drivers can plan around the closures.