VOLUME 2 ISSUE 45
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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 17 - 23, 2014
When you come to Ellicottville in the winter, you’re always guaranteed a good time, whether you’re on the slopes, enjoying our quaint village or exploring the countryside and nearby state park. Let’s take a look at what the next 30 days in Ellicottville have in store for you. Holiday Valley and HoliMont January is Learn a Snowsport Month. Bring your family and friends and take advantage of discounted Learn to Ski or Ride packages at Holiday Valley any day and at HoliMont weekdays. This Saturday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m., join the crowd as the Valley celebrates the Grand Opening of the Burton Riglet Park, a specialized teaching area for children 3–5 years old, located at the Outpost at the base of School Haus East adjacent to the Creekside Lodge. It will be hard to miss the distinct rumbling sound of Harley-Davidson motorcycles at the Harley-Day Valley event Jan. 25, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., on the second floor of the Holiday Valley Lodge. The day will be filled with giveaways, food specials, music by The Strangers and more. “Test drive” the Jumpstart, a real Harley simulator complete with shifting gears and speeds up to 50 mph. On Jan. 26, join the Line Skis Traveling Circus (Andy Parry, Ian Compton and friends) to shred some slopes at the Valley. All freeriders are welcome. At 3 p.m., head to the City Garage Ski Shop to hang out with the crew for a little after-party. Clinics, Races and Fundraisers The HoliMont Ski Patrol will hold their Free Your Heel Telemark Clinic on Feb. 1–2. Patrollers and non-patrollers are welcome to enjoy two days of lessons, camaraderie and great food. Contact Dave Walker at dcamwalker@aol. com for details. The following weekend, the HoliMont Snowsports
16 Great Winter Adventures
Calendar of Events January 1-31 National Learn a Snowsport Month
A Month of Slopeside, Village and Park Activities
January 18 Riglet Park Grand Opening Holiday Valley January 25 Harley-Day Valley Holiday Valley January 25-26 Greater Olean Sports & Outdoor Recreation Show February 7-8 AMSOIL Seneca Allegany Snocross
© 2014 Keystone Designers Inc.
By Eva Potter
February 8 Phoenix “Rise to the Challenge” Race HoliMont February 9 Aspire’s Ski the Valley Holiday Valley February 10-11 Your Turn Women’s Ski Clinic - Holiday Valley 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 March 6 Ski Day for United Way HoliMont March 7 Celtic Thunder Fundraiser Ellicottville Town Center March 8-9 Mardi Gras & Winter Carnival Ellicottville • Holiday Valley
See Winter Adventures page 10
Appeals Court Upholds Village Zoning Laws HoliMont Ski Lift Denied Planning Board Addresses Non-Compliance By Jann Wiswall
the village’s zoning laws and the interests of the During the Village Planning Board meeting village in a suit filed by HoliMont, Inc. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, board members reported HoliMont had appealed a previous judgment of that the Supreme Court of the State of New the Supreme Court of Cattaraugus County. York, Appellate Division, has ruled in favor of The judgment “was unanimously affirmed” by the Appellate Court. Its decision reads: “Petitioner [HoliMont, Inc.] commenced this proceeding seeking to challenge the determination of respondent Village of Ellicottville Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) denying its request for a use variance to permit it … to extend a ski lift over a parcel of land that it had acquired at 36 Adams Street. … Supreme Court properly denied the petition. ‘The determination of the ZBA is See Village Planning Board page 9
Celtic Thunder Fundraiser March 7 Presale Tickets Going Fast By Jennie Acklin
Ellicottville Rotary Club and individuals in need. Bob McCarthy is well-known for his McCarthy recently announced a new community fundraising efforts, hosting several fundraiser, Celtic Thunder – A Night of Irish annual events including Irish Christmas and the Music and Dance, to help a local writer Katie Americana Folk Art Festival, which raise for the Benatovich, who is working on a series of books to help children battling cancer. The tagline “Help the Children” is fitting, as all who know McCarthy know he has a soft spot in his heart for helping children. Benatovich wrote her first book, “Noura’s Garden,” in 2009 while living with her husband and two children in Abu Dhabi. She had assisted in the launch the new Education UK brand throughout the Arabian Gulf region and taught English in the French school. Children at the school spoke two or three languages as the norm, but they lacked the reading and support materials to develop accuracy and fluency. As a result, a series of tri-lingual books with a unique combination of special icons and color codes was born. The first book See Celtic Thunder Fundrasier page 13
ECS School Board Meeting
Budgets and Bullying By Jann Wiswall
While the State Education Department is reviewing architectural plans for major renovations at ECS, the school board is now working on making some tough decisions about how to cut nearly $1 million from the project’s current estimated costs. The final budget for the
project is fixed at $9.8 million. It was voted on and approved by the public and cannot be increased. According to Ellicottville Central School Superintendent Mark Ward, the plan that went to the state for approval was the “Cadillac” version that included everything on the school’s wish list. Now
that firmer costs have been estimated, the board must begin cutting, looking for less expensive ways to get things the same things done and making some informed decisions about what can be done at a later time. SEI Architects and Campus Construction Management See ECS School Board page 13
Village Board Considers Rezoning Request Sets New Hearing for Hughey Alley By Jann Wiswall
Zoning changes to accommodate new development at 16 Martha St. was the top item on the agenda at the Village Board meeting on Monday, Jan. 13. Village Planning Board Chair Nancy Rogan, property co-owner Wayne Bacon and
members of the architect’s team shared plans for the development with the board. They explained that Phase 1 of the plan is to fully remediate some environmental concerns with the site and renovate the two existing buildings, formerly the American Locker manufacturing site, to
construct a seasonal apartment complex consisting of one building with 10 apartments and a second building with four, two-story townhomes/ duplexes. The apartments will be fully furnished and offered for term rentals. None will be sold as condominiums. See Village Board page 9
Four Mile Brewing Coming to Olean Craft Brewery Predicts Fall Opening
By Eva Potter
Gregg Piechota has always enjoyed sampling new beers, but the limited selection of craft beers in the Olean area spurred him to experiment with home brewing about seven years ago. Successful trials led to interestingly flavored batches that Piechota and brewing
partner Jaye Beattie shared with friends at a few private, home tasting parties. Rave reviews of their suds sparked the idea of Four Mile Brewing, a craft beer bar and small brewery opening in Olean, N.Y., in fall of 2014. The pair brought Nicholas Bohdanowycz on aboard as the third partner and together they have worked to refine their See Four Mile Brewing page 3