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VOLUME 5 ISSUE 54
DECEMBER 30, 2016 - JANUARY 5, 2017
The Official Newspaper of the Village of Ellicottville, the Town of Ellicottville, Ellicottville Central Schools and the Towns of East Otto, Great Valley and Mansfield, New York
www.EllicottvilleTimes.com facebook/theEllicottvilleTimes
Your Hometown Newspaper Serving Ellicottville, East Otto, Great Valley, Little Valley, Mansfield, Olean, Randolph, Salamanca, Springville and Beyond
Ring in the New Year at Holiday Valley
Fri • Freddie & Friends • 9pm New Year’s Eve Sat • 3 Easy Pieces • 9pm
By Madeline Mahoney
With the New Year just around the corner, Holiday Valley offers a night of family fun and New Year’s celebrations. The festivities begin Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. inside the Holiday Valley Lodge. On mountain events take place on Cindy’s Run throughout the night. Holiday Valley will provide free New Year’s entertainment until 1 a.m. The family-friendly party on the first floor of the Holiday Valley Lodge will feature music by DJ John Barry. The Mountainside Grille and Ullr Bar will be open for food and beverages with a New York strip steak sandwich special. Upstairs in the lodge, at the T-Bar, adults can enjoy beverages and music by the Party Squad. John Harvard’s, located inside the Tamarack Club, will offer New Year’s Eve dinner. Traditional filet mignon, lobster tail, and champagne specials will be featured. While enjoying the cozy lodge, partygoers can watch the array of events taking place on Cindy’s Run. Cindy’s will remain open for skiers and boarders until 11 p.m. Then, intermediate level and above skiers wishing to participate in the torchlight parade will congregate at the base of the hill. The groomers parade kicks off the events at 11:15 p.m. Directly following, at 11:30 p.m., skiers will take to the hill with torches in hand for the annual torchlight parade. A fireworks show begins at 11:45 p.m. At midnight, the grand finale will bring in the New Year!
20 Washington St • 699-2530
Fri • Joseph Michael Mahfoud • 7pm Keith James Shuskie • 10pm New Year’s Eve Sat • Tommy Z • 6pm Ryan Melquist & Friends • 10pm 20 Monroe St • 699-4162
Upcoming Events in Ellicottville
January is National Learn a Snowsport Month
By Alicia Dziak
You’re never too old to learn something new! If you feel like you’ve been missing out on winter fun because you never got around to learning how to ski or snowboard, join others across the country for National Learn a Snowsport month, happening all January long. Throughout the month, get a half priced learn
to ski or learn to snowboard package (ages 12 and up) at Holiday Valley! The daytime price is $30 and the price for a night package is $22. The Beginner’s Package includes a beginner’s lesson, beginner’s lift ticket and rental equipment for skiing or snowboarding. Register and receive rental equipment at Creekside Lodge. Day Lessons are offered daily and start between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Night learn to ski/snowboard packages are available with one hour lessons at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. At HoliMont, in January only, they are offering their Learn to Ski, Snowboard or Telemark special during the week for $85, which includes an hour and a half beginner lesson with lift ticket, lesson and basic equipment rental. (Bring a friend for same lesson for free.) Weekend (must be signed in as a guest at HoliMont) Learn to Ski, Snowboard or Telemark Private Lesson for $135. Includes hour and a half lesson with basic rental. (Bring a See January is Snowsport Month page 12
Varsity Eagles Continue to Soar
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December 31 New Year’s Eve Party & Torchlight Parade Holiday Valley January 2-8 Canadian Friendship Week January 20-22 Winter Blues Festival January 21 Harley-Day Valley Holiday Valley January 26 - 27 “Your Turn” Women’s Ski Clinic Holiday Valley
Village of Ellicottville Emergency Meeting
By Jennie Acklin
The Village of Ellicottville called for an Emergency/ Special meeting of the Village board members on Tuesday,
Dec. 27 at 8 a.m. The purpose of the emergency meeting was to authorize the purchase of a new sidewalk snow plow. The purpose of the special meeting was to approve hiring of a new laborer in the DPW. Mayor John Burrell called the meeting to order at 8 a.m., and updated board members on the sidewalk snow plow situation. Currently, their plow
is in Rochester being repaired, since it broke down twice during the snowiest week of December. A replacement plow is being rented at the cost of $2,500 per week, and they are now in the second week of rental expenses. Burrell has been working closely with Town of Ellicottville supervisor
venues around the village and at Holiday Valley to help you break out of those midwinter doldrums. “The holidays are over, winter has you in your nice, warm home, but you are starting to go a bit stir crazy. We get that,” Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce Events and Membership Manager, Barb Pump, said. “This is one of those
weekends where you can just let go of all of the pent-up feelings and get out for some great music, good friends and a drink or two.” That weekend is also the annual Harley Day at Holiday Valley. Head up and enjoy the slopes, but also head to the Main Lodge where you can experience all there is in the way of motorcycles and riding,
See Village Meeting page 9
Winter Blues Fest Jan. 20-22
Shake off those winter blues and head out for a weekend of during Ellicottville Winter Blues Weekend, Jan. 20-22. Some of the region’s best blues artists will take the stage at various
See Winter Blues Fest page 3
School Bus Stop Signs Requested By Jennie Acklin
See High School / College Hoops page 4
School bus signs and safety were the first topic discussed at the Dec. 21 Town of Ellicottville board meeting. Concerned citizen Shawn Lafferty made a request to board members for two signs to be installed on Beaver Meadows Road, off Rte 219, at Hebdon Road. Lafferty stated that 16 to 21 kids get on and off the bus
at this particular bus stop, and the speed limit there is 45 mph. Kids are lined up alongside the road, and it is potentially dangerous, especially without a warning sign. Referencing the recent school bus accident in Springville, Lafferty is working hard to prevent another such tragedy. The board approved the request, with all in favor. See School Bus Stop Signs page 8