Our Safe Kids Southern Tier New York program hosted our first ATV Safety Class on Tuesday. Gary Hume and the City of Olean Fire Department delivered a fantastic presentation for the children and parents in attendance. Additionally, Jim Coast Sales & Service provided a four-wheeler and a side-by-side for the demonstration portion of the course. Sydney did an excellent job organizing this event; it was great to offer this course to our community.

In 2021, distracted driving killed 3,522 people. April, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, is a good time to regroup and take responsibility for our choices when we are on the road. I have a new driver in my house, and I know how important it is to ensure my son is not being distracted while driving and that I am being a good role model while driving
Follow these safety tips for a safe ride:

• Need to send a text? Pull over and park your car in a safe location.   
• Designate your passenger as your "designated texter" to respond to calls or messages. 
• Do not scroll through apps while driving. Are you struggling not to text and drive? Put the cell phone on Do Not Disturb or in the vehicle's trunk, glove box, or back seat until you arrive at your destination. 

In observance of the Easter holiday this weekend, our office is closed today. I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter. I hope everyone has a great weekend and gets to spend some much-deserved time with your family, and I look forward to spending time with mine and celebrating Kallahan's first Easter! 

I am excited to report that I have successfully been recertified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) credential. This certification proves I am keeping up with the latest HR trends, developments, and best practices. In addition, I believe that maintaining my SPHR credential shows my continued dedication to upholding the highest standards of excellence. I want to thank the board of directors for their unwavering support in my commitment to maintaining my certification. Their encouragement has enabled me to devote time to pursuing professional development opportunities that have enhanced my skills and expertise.

When deciding if we would need or use a much bigger space, Walt Reisner (a former Board member) said, “if you build it, they will use it.” Words could never have been so true. Today we are hosting the Cattaraugus County Community Services Board (CSB). It is great to see the CSB wanting to use our facility. In addition, by hosting different events such as blood drives, babysitting classes, and community education, we have had many opportunities to give tours of our facility; this allows people to see firsthand how Southern Tier Health Care System benefits our community.