FREE! TAKE ONE! VOLUME 4 ISSUE 49
DECEMBER 4 - 10, 2015
The Official Newspaper
www.EllicottvilleTimes.com facebook/theEllicottvilleTimes
of the Village of Ellicottville, the Town of Ellicottville, Ellicottville Central Schools and the Towns of East Otto, Great Valley and Mansfield, New York
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Celebrate the Season with a Christmas Stroll
Upcoming Events December 4 Irish Christmas
If you’re looking to get back to a more traditional sense of the Christmas season, there’s no place better to visit than the Village of Ellicottville. At this time of year, the charming town looks and feels like everybody’s idea of a beautiful Christmas scene with its stunningly decorated store fronts and tree-lit lined streets. This Saturday, Dec. 5, the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its 28th annual Christmas Stroll, a heartwarming tradition that features a one-of-akind reindog parade down Washington Street and a living Nativity reenactment with actors in full costume and some very special critters, including a live camel, playing their roles. The whole family will also enjoy a Christmas Bazaar, organ music and ornament making at the United Methodist Church on Elizabeth Street. There are free, fresh-baked cookies made by Mrs. Claus at Katy’s Café. And, get ready to play a holiday scavenger hunt at participating businesses throughout the village during the Ellicottville Goodie Hunt. You might just win a pretty special prize. Pick up your game forms at participating businesses. Of course, the area’s boutiques, ski and board shops and restaurants will be open all weekend to woo you with special offers to help you finish your Christmas shopping and fill your tummies. And if you need a little extra exercise during your visit, we encourage you to do a snow dance! See the full schedule of Christmas Stroll events on page 7.
December 5 Christmas Stroll & Living Nativity December 5 Reindog Parade December 6 Tentative Opening Day Holiday Valley
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December 19 Demo Day Holiday Valley December 31 New Year’s Eve Party & Torchlight Parade Holiday Valley January 4-9 Canadian Friendship Week January 8 World’s Largest Ski & Snowboard Lesson Holiday Valley See Third in the East page 9
Holiday Valley Season Opening Update
Ready, Set, Ski (Or Snowboard)! Lessons for Every Age and Ability
Ride the Mountain Coaster This Weekend Mother Nature is holding off a bit so far this winter, but Holiday Valley is taking every opportunity they can to build up a base and open the resort for the season. With the state-of-the-art automated snowmaking system, crews have been able to fire up to 235 snowguns to make snow for 44 hours and accumulate 76 acre feet of snow over 10 slopes. Steve Crowley, Director of Mountain Operations says, “We need just another 16 hours
By Alicia Dziak
There’s always a ton to do in Ellicottville, but if you’re a skier or boarder, you’ll enjoy your stay here even more. If it’s time to get the kids on the slopes so they can join you in
your favorite winter activity, if you’re looking to improve your skills this season, or if you’re one of those people who just never got around to learning, now’s your chance. Holiday Valley offers lessons for every skill level and every age from 3 and up. There really is something for everyone! See HV Lessons page 11
First Ron Kubicki Staff Appreciation Award Presented By Ellicottville Times Staff
See HV Opening page 10
The very first Ron Kubicki Staff Appreciation Award went to Susan Smoll of Bear Creek, PA, who received 24 individual nominations from staff members at the resort. It was presented at the Snowsports Management Seminar at Mount Snow, VT, Tuesday,
Titans New Section 6 Class D Football Champions
Dec. 1, where Kubicki was also honored during a banquet and awards ceremony. On Oct. 18, the Professional Ski Instructors of America, Eastern Division’s Board of Directors approved the creation of a new award for snowsports school directors: the “Ron See Kubicki Award page 2
EFD Launching Teen Explorer Program By Jann Wiswall
By Todd Palmatier
The Section 6 Class D football champion, the Franklinville-Ellicottville Titans, earned Coach of the Year and Offensive and
Defensive MVP Division honors. Third-year head coach Chad Bartoszek won the Coach of the Year, quarterback Tom Easton won Offensive MVP and end Jonas Hurlburt
won Defensive Co-MVP with Portville’s Grant Milne. Joining Easton and Hurlburt on the first-team are Titans running back Caleb Rinko, See Titans Football page 4
The Ellicottville Fire Department (EFD) is looking for interested boys and girls ages 13-15 to become members of the newly formed EFD Explorer Program. The program got off the ground when Zachary Golley (age 15) and Kyle Germain (age 14) asked their parents if
they could tag along on some of their fire department calls. Those parents, EFD volunteers Debbie Golley and Rob and Kris Germain, said sure, and the boys were immediately hooked. The parents realized that they may have hit on a great recruitment tool for future firefighters. So, working
through the Boy Scouts of America’s Explorer Program format, they are developing the EFD program and have volunteered to serve as its advisors. Students will learn firsthand about what firefighters do, how they work together to fight fires and handle emergencies See EFD Teen Program page 13