FREE! TAKE ONE!
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 23
DECEMBER 23-29, 2016
The Official Newspaper
of the Village of Springville, NY Springville-Griffith Institute Central Schools
Designed by Invisible_studio - Freepik.com
Happy Holiday Break! So Much to Do, So Little Time
By Alicia Dziak
“car” and head back down, controlling your own speed. If you prefer a different kind of downhill, head to Holiday Valley Tubing Company on Route 242, where you can soar down different hi-speed lanes (there are even a couple See Holiday Break page 2
Gentner’s Auction: Synonymous with Springville
From all of us at the Springville Times
A LOOK BACK:
Decorated Main Street, 1959
By Derek M. Otto
A 1960s aerial photo of the Gentner’s Commission Market. Raymond Gentner’s house and the cow barn are in the picture, these have seen been burned or raised. Also note the corral in the rear of the barn. By Derek M. Otto
Within the past week, the residents of Springville and surrounding areas have been given the news that the Gentner Commission Market or better known as the Springville Auction would close indefinitely. That caused the Springville gossip mill to go buzzing about. It was posted that the auction would
go on and be open for business Dec. 21, 2016. Over the past week, one could hear that this person would buy it or that it would close for good. It was an overall bummer for Springville. We collectively realized that the auction was our identity; if you mention you’re from Springville, NY, in the greater western New York region you would hear,
“Oh! I’ve been to the auction.” “Springville— that’s where they have the auction.” You never hear, “Springville, that’s the home of Pop Warner.” What makes the auction the auction? Why is it valuable to Springville? The auction has changed since it was organized in 1939 by local farmers Norbert See Gentner’s page 2
Emerling Holiday Basketball Tournament Dec. 27-29 By Alicia Dziak
If you’re looking to check out the local hoops scene in Springville, there’s no better time than next week during the annual Emerling Holiday Basketball tournament, where you can see the Varsity and JV levels for both boys and girls compete against area schools. From Dec. 27-29, watch the Griffs take to the court as they vie for bragging rights and the championship. This tournament has been sponsored by Emerling for many years, and Carl Emerling See Emerling Tournament page 6
December 23 SGI Holiday Recess Begins December 27-29 Emerling Holiday Basketball Tournament SGI High School
Photo holidayvalley.com
action, take the short drive to Ellicottville, where Holiday Valley has numerous lifts open, accessing dozens of slopes and trails. HV also houses the Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster that just opened for the winter season. There you can ride up the mountain in your own
Springville Area
Shown here is the corner of Main and Buffalo Streets in December 1959. The Legacy was at the time Winship Pharmacy; Mr. Winship had just retired in 1958 and
Mr. Bill Little took over his pharmacy. It is not too snowy for a December day, as the sidewalks are pretty clear and a Christmas tree is set up on the curb. Vandemeer’s was making their famous caramel
December 31 New Year’s Eve Party and Torchlight Parade Kissing Bridge danish and the Springville Liquor Store is next door. Today this is the soon-tobe Art’s Café. Eventually, Springville Pharmacy would move to Kuhn’s Rexalls and eventually to The Waite Building. Mr. Little would retire, selling his pharmacy to Rite-Aid. The Springville Liquor Store eventually moved to the Legacy Building when it became Cheap Chollies; it is now on Cascade Drive. Note the old star decoration above the pharmacy and the lights strung across Main Street. For many years up, until the early 1990s, the lights across Main Street were the main feature of downtown Springville at Christmas time.
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
By Jennifer Weber
Out with the old, in with the new! Only days to go to make those resolutions (and reservations) to ring in 2017. If wearing your new set of cozy snowman footie pajamas, playing games with the family and watching the ball drop on TV isn’t your thing, how about checking out one of the many parties going on in Western New York? For those of you wanting to stay close to home, consider visiting Kissing Bridge, located at 10296 State Road in Glenwood for a night of free family fun with a torchlight parade starting at 10 p.m., and ending with fireworks at midnight. Willie’s Smokehouse and Cafeteria will provide a family-friendly zone and the Harvest Room will be open with food
Designed by Kjpargeter - Freepik.com
The kids are off until the end of the year, and the big question is—how are you going to spend the break? There is no shortage of winter fun to be had, so take your pick and make a plan! If skiing or snowboarding is your favorite way to spend a winter day, WNY has got your covered. Kissing Bridge opened its Central area last weekend. Under new management and boasting new features like a magic carpet on the beginner hill, more snowmaking and a new dropoff area, KB is waiting to be rediscovered this season. And the best part? It’s right in your backyard! For info, visit www.kbski.com. For even more downhill
Upcoming Events
and drink specials all night. Visit www.kbski.com or call (716) 592-4963 for more information. Or how about making a reservation at one of our many local restaurants? For an evening off the beaten-path, consider the
Woods at Bear Creek located at 3510 Bear Creek Road in Franklinville. Enjoy a lovely five-course winepairing dinner overlooking a snowy white forest and lake, drink specials, live music and dancing. You can even stay
See New Year’s Eve page 8
Merry Christmas to your family from the Emerling Chrysler family
EMERLING
Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram www.emerlingjeep.com • 195 West Main Street, Springville NY (716) 592 - 2881 • Open Mon & Tues 9 - 8, Wed 9 - 5, Thurs 9 - 8, Fri 9 - 5, Sat 9 - 4