THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE AND THE TOWNS OF ELLICOTTVILLE, GREAT VALLEY AND MANSFIELD,
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 8 FREE
NY
www.EllicottvilleTimes.com
APRIL 26 - MAY 2, 2013
Local Courses a Golfer’s Dream
HV Fairways Ready for Play By Ed Racich
© 2013 KEYSTONE DESIGNERS
© 2013 KEYSTONE DESIGNERS
Ellicottville is a golfer’s dream! With a dozen courses within a 30-60 minute drive from downtown, all you have to do is pick your poison. At the center of this golfer’s world, the world famous Holiday Valley Double-Black Diamond Course is a true gem. Each hole at Holiday Valley provides a game of its own, combining a stern test of golf with a uniquely blended atmosphere of outdoors and people. Meticulously groomed greens and fairways, nestled into the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains are presided over by Holiday Valley Course Manager Steve Carney, and are maintained by Superintendent Mike Wagner. As is customarily the case, all of Holiday Valley’s equipment and facilities are ready to go for the season, thanks to Wagner’s close attention this past winter. The Holiday Valley Golf School and the full-service Pro Shop are anxiously awaiting the season’s first foursomes. According to Carney, the front nine holes are open for play and the back nine are scheduled to open May 4, pending the cooperation of Mother Nature. Carney has prepared a terrific lineup of men’s, women’s, and mixed leagues, and is also planning a number of interesting golf outings, including the annual Ed Szpaicher Memorial outing on July 17, The Italian-American Club outing June 6–8, and Play Golf America Week on Father’s Day, June 16. Play Golf America Week will feature free mini lessons by a PGA, USGTS and possibly LPGA professional instructor, as well as fun golf challenges to pique your interest. There will also be a ladies-only beginner league on See Golfer’s Dream page 5
Griffis Sculpture Park Hosts Keeping Our Roads Beautiful Finn McCool 4-Mile Odyssey Volunteers Hit the Road to Adopt-A-Highway By Alicia Dziak
Now that ski season has ended and spring is finally making an appearance, everyone
By Jesse Mast
is looking for snow-free ways to enjoy the outdoors. Even if you’re not a runner in the traditional sense of the word, you can enjoy the diverse lineup of races scheduled around Ellicottville throughout the next few months. One of the most anticipated races is the Irish-themed Finn McCool, boasting a slogan of “Every Day is St. Patrick’s Day.” This party race takes place June 1 at Griffis Sculpture Park in Ashford. The park has teamed with Eclipse Multi Sport to present a four-mile course loaded with challenging obstacles, difficult terrain and a mud pit at the finish. “A couple years ago, we noticed the industry changing to these ‘fun runs’ and wanted to do something locally,” said Dan Horan, 44, from Eclipse Multi Sport, who, along with his wife Anne and his late father, came up with the idea
No you doubt you have seen trash on a roadside — an empty soda bottle or a discarded candy bar wrapper. Maybe you have wanted to do something about it. Maybe you have seen plastic bags jammed full with trash and lined up neatly on the shoulder of the highway. This is because someone has decided to do something about
See Finn McCool page 4
The 2013-14 New York State Budget Law contains provisions that impact Industrial Development Agencies, said Corey Wiktor, executive director of the County of Cattaraugus Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), at the April
Routes to Art May 18-19 35 Artists – Infinite Possibilities By Eva Potter
Routes to Art brochure? Check. GPS? Check. Cash and checkbook? Check. Empty trunk. Check. Full gas tank. Check.
“Break Out” by Karen Fitzpatrick
Looks like you’re ready for the ultimate artistic road trip of the year starting in Ellicottville. The sixth annual, self-guided Routes to Art (RTA) open-studio artists’ tour is just around the corner. On May 18–19, 2013, 35 artists and artisans will welcome visitors into their studios, homes, libraries and other viewing locations for a sneak peek into the magical world of art. This award-winning tour is free and open to the public both days from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. As you explore the scenic countryside, you and your traveling companions will be amazed by the wealth of local talent across the Cattaraugus County region and the Seneca Nation of Indians. Enjoy a delightful variety of original artwork including painting, jewelry, basket weaving, ceramics, drawing, beadwork, painted porcelain, photography, fabric, sculpture and woodcarving, including work from eight artists new to RTA. See Routes to Art page12
the trash. The Adopt-A-Highway program is a way for people around the country, and in Ellicottville, to be involved in caring for the roadways they use. Every trash bag set on the side of the highway is evidence of the hard work and commitment of individuals who have voluntarily given of their time and effort to keep the highway clean.
Susan Surdej of the New York State Department of Transportation (NSYDOT) explained the process of adopting a section of highway. It begins with a phone call to the Cattaraugus County Transportation Maintenance Residency, where a resident engineer can provide a list of highway areas available for adoption. See Roads page 4
CCIDA Considers Impact of New State Budget Law By Jann Wiswall
23 meeting. Referring to a summary of the law prepared by CCIDA Counsel George Cregg for the board of directors, Wiktor noted that “the most significant” change is the “provision that restores the pre-2008 prohibition of ‘retail’ projects.” Per the law, “no
financial assistance shall be provided by IDAs for any project where: i) facilities or property are primarily used in making ‘retail sales’ to customers who personally visit such facilities, and (ii) that facility or property constitutes more than one-third … of the See CCIDA page 6
New Technology Plans Presented to ECS Board By Jann Wiswall
School Technology Director Shawne Hunt described plans for several new technologyrelated initiatives under way for the Ellicottville School District at the school board meeting on April 23. Hunt explained that the plans, which include purchase of 115 Dell Netbooks for students, were
mandated by the state in order to facilitate administration of new state tests. The plans also call for replacement of all computers for teachers. Hunt noted that the school’s existing computers are five years old, making them essentially obsolete. The new Netbooks will be used in classrooms with existing
monitors, mice and keyboards, but they also will be able to be set up in the gym and other locations for testing purposes. Serendipitously, she added, Dell has just informed her that the Netbook model Dell originally was going to provide has been discontinued; as a result, the school will See New Technology page 8