VOLUME 2 ISSUE 44
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THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE AND THE TOWNS OF ELLICOTTVILLE, GREAT VALLEY AND MANSFIELD, NEW YORK
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JANUARY 10-16, 2014
Calendar of Events
How Can You Become a Safer Skier or Rider?
January 1-31 National Learn a Snowsport Month January 18 Riglet Park Grand Opening Holiday Valley January 25 Harley-Day Valley Holiday Valley
Holiday Valley and HoliMont Celebrate National Learn a Snowsport and Safety Awareness Month
January 25-26 Greater Olean Sports & Outdoor Recreation Show February 7-8 AMSOIL Seneca Allegany Snocross
By Alicia Dziak
February 8 Phoenix “Rise to the Challenge” Race HoliMont
Was one of your New Year’s resolutions learning to become a better skier or rider? Or maybe you’ve never tried either and have decided it’s time to enjoy winter more? Or perhaps you’ve skied for years but want to give snowboarding a whirl?
February 9 Aspire’s Ski the Valley Holiday Valley February 10-11 Your Turn Women’s Ski Clinic - Holiday Valley
Learn to Ski or Board You’re in luck! January is National Learn a Snowsport month and what better place to learn than at one of Ellicottville’s famous ski resorts! At Holiday Valley, ski and snowboard lessons are available for everyone — ages 3 and up, of all abilities. In honor of Learn a Snowsport month, Holiday Valley is offering 20 percent off their Learn to Ski or Ride package during the month of January with lessons are available daily on any day. New this season is the Riglet Park, a special teaching area for children ages 3–5, which allows instructors to teach snowboarding to the younger set in a way that will ensure they love the experience. The program utilizes super flexible snowboards, specially designed for young children, and a “Riglet Reel,” a retractable leash that enables
February 15 Boarding for Breast Cancer Holiday Valley February 15 Moonlight Snowshoe Tour Griffis Sculpture Park February 16 Art Roscoe Loppet Allegany State Park February 22 Penguin Paddle Holiday Valley
Jan. 18 Riglet Park Grand Opening
March 7 Celtic Thunder Fundraiser Ellicottville Town Center March 6 Ski Day for United Way HoliMont March 8-9 Mardi Gras & Winter Carnival Ellicottville • Holiday Valley
See page 7
See Learn / Safety page 7
New EVL Town Board Local Governments to Focus on Infrastructure, Long Term Members Sworn in Financial Stability in 2014 2014 Reorganization Meeting Held Jan. 8
By Jann Wiswall
Rick Jackson, co-owner of the Ilex Inn and an ERA Team VP real estate agent, and Steve Crowley, operations director at Holiday Valley,
were formally sworn in as Town of Ellicottville board members at a special organizational meeting held on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014. Both Jackson and Crowley were elected to four-year terms in November. This is Crowley’s second term and Jackson’s first. Jackson replaces John Northrup, who did not run for reelection. Other board members include Greg Fitzpatrick, president of Fitzpatrick and Weller, and Ken Hinman, owner of Hinman Contracting. During the organizational meeting, the board went through a laundry list of items that need authorization by the board each year. None of the actions substantively differed from the previous year. The board designated its official depositories See Ellicottville Town page 11
By Jann Wiswall
Several long-term projects and a focus on financial stability will be a major focus of the area’s local governments in 2014. DOT Improvements A huge project for both the Town and Village of Ellicottville and the Town of Mansfield is being done
By Alicia Dziak
So many people in Western New York and beyond consider Allegany State Park (ASP) a second home. During the summer months, its hundreds of cabins and campsites are overflowing with happy campers enjoying the swimming, fishing, hiking trails and all else the park has
Receives Awards for WW II Military Service
Franklin R. West presented with military medals from Senator Catherine Young.
During a ceremony at the Little Valley VFW Post on Jan. 4, 2014, Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I - Olean) presented Sergeant West with the military medals he earned while serving overseas during World War II. After being contacted by the West family, Senator Young worked to ensure that Sergeant West’s honorable service was duly recognized and he received the long overdue awards his service merits. “The incredible story of Sergeant Franklin West’s service is an inspiration, and I am honored to be able to take part in recognizing him today. For his willingness to put himself on the line for us in World War II and bear the wounds of battle for our sake, he deserves our utmost respect and thanks. May the prestigious awards he receives today serve as a constant reminder for us of the price of freedom and those who have bravely defended it,” said Senator Young. Born in Napoli, N.Y., on Jan. 6, 1925, U.S. See U.S. Army Sgt. West page 11
wheelchair ramps and curbs at five intersections in the village along Washington Street. The sidewalk project originally was proposed by HoliMont and Ellicottville leaders as far back as 2006. After it agreed to undertake the project, the DOT included the other two projects in order See Local Gov’t 2014 page 5
FOASP Celebrates Successful First Year
U.S. Army Sgt. Franklin R. West
In recognition of his outstanding record of military service, U.S. Army veteran Franklin R. West has finally received the military decorations he deserves.
courtesy of the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT). The three-part project includes: installing sidewalks and making drainage improvements along Route 242 from HoliMont all the way into the village; improving the intersection at Elizabeth Street/Fillmore Street/Route 219 and; rebuilding the
to offer. Come winter, visitors enjoy the snowy wonderland for snowmobiling, crosscountry skiing and other winter sports. No matter what time of year you like to visit the park, it’s beautiful, and to maintain this beauty requires a lot of hard work. To help with some of See FOASP page 13
Seneca Gaming Corporation Lauded as one of Western New York’s ‘Most Admired Companies’ Buffalo Business First, a leading weekly business news publication in Western New York, has chosen Seneca Gaming Corporation as one of the region’s “Most Admired Companies” for 2013. The publication asked readers, businesses and its staff to make suggestions and nominations, and selected 21 companies in the region based on factors
such as growth, success, diversity and contributions to the local community. Since opening Seneca Niagara Casino on December 31, 2002, Seneca Gaming Corporation has grown into one of the largest private sector employers in Western New York. Today, the company employs more than 3,900 workers at its three casino
entertainment properties – Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca and the new Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in downtown Buffalo. The combined annual payroll of the Seneca casino properties is more than $100 million. In addition to good-paying jobs, See Seneca Gaming page 10