THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE AND THE TOWNS OF ELLICOTTVILLE, GREAT VALLEY AND MANSFIELD,
FREE
NEW YORK
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 37
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
www.EllicottvilleTimes.com
NOVEMBER 22 - 28, 2013
Calendar of Events
Kick Off a Brand New Wintery Season
Nov 28 Happy Thanksgiving November 29-December 1 Christmas in Ellicottville Ellicottville
11 Reasons to Visit Ellicottville During the Holidays
December 6 Irish Christmas Ellicottville
December 7 5 x 7 Art for Everyone Exhibition & Sale
by Eva Po tter
There’s no shortage of fantastic things to do in Ellicottville this time of year — eclectic shopping, restaurants to satisfy any foodie, thrill rides on the hill, live entertainment, holiday concerts and shows, Holiday Valley and HoliMont — two of the best ski resorts in the East, spirited fundraising events and more fill the calendar through the end of 2013. Here are 11 merry reasons to make the trip to Ellicottville this holiday season. Pencil in some of these great events and activities on your calendars and come play with us soon!
Cattaraugus County Arts Council, Allegany
December 7 Christmas Stroll & Living Nativity Ellicottville
Jan. 3-4 Winter Blues Festival Ellicottville
Jan. 25 Harley-Day Valley Holiday Valley
Jan. 25-26 Greater Olean Sports/ Outdoor Recreation Show Feb. 7-8 AMSOIL Seneca Allegany Snocross Feb. 15 Holiday Valley Boarding for Breast Cancer Feb. 22 Penguin Paddle Holiday Valley
1. Did you hear the uproarious cheer from your recliner? Yes, snowmaking has begun at Holiday Valley! The guns were turned on for the first time on Nov. 19, making white holidays’ trendiest color. This weekend and the coming week promise more of these gorgeous, manmade snowflakes. Holiday Valley’s target opening date is Nov. 29 — #winteriscoming! HoliMont, the largest private ski resort in
March 6 Ski Day for United Way HoliMont
March 8-9 Mardi Gras/Winter Carnival Ellicottville • Holiday Valley March 22 Holiday Valley Pond Skimming
See 11 Reason to Visit page 6
Shop Away from the Crowds Small Business Saturday® is November 30 By Jann Wiswall
On this fourth annual Small Business Saturday ®, make your plans to support America’s small businesses and get your holiday shopping done, all while enjoying everything the charming village of Ellicottville and its surrounding area has to offer.
“The importance of shoppers supporting Cattaraugus County’s small businesses on Small Business Saturday and throughout the year is quite simple,” says Lenora Leasure, development specialist and PTAC small business counselor with the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism. “Small businesses are locally owned and operated. Supporting them keeps the money right here, bolstering our economy and strengthening our community.” The Small Business Saturday® campaign was created in 2010 by American Express to encourage Americans to shop at small businesses on the day after the infamous “Black Friday” shopping day. Small businesses make up 99.7 percent of U.S. employer firms, the U.S. Small Business Administration says. They are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Yet small retail businesses
Cattaraugus County Arts Council has some big news. Lots of it! First, the organization has turned a very sweet 16. In those years, there have been many
By Jann Wiswall
At its Nov. 20 meeting, the Town of Ellicottville’s board approved its 2014 budget, which is 6.6 percent lower than the 2013 budget. In his report to the board, Town Supervisor John Burrell also reported that: The town has leased space in the Town Center building to
two artists, Sean Huntington and Patricia Eckstrom, who will use it as studio space. A formal lease agreement was prepared by Town Attorney Kathleen Moriarty for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service’s space in the Town Center building at the organization’s request. The town is getting bids for
new computers and a copier for its staff. The dedication of the Jefferson Street Cemetery’s new plaque indicating its placement on the National Register of Historic Places was well attended and very meaningful to the 40 or more people in attendance. See Town Board page 8
Mansfield Reviews Ongoing Issues, Building Permit Fees By Jann Wiswall
The Town of Mansfield See Small Business Saturday page 7 board held its monthly meeting on Nov. 18 with a fairly brief agenda and two guests from Ellicottville High School, seniors Emily Timkey and Emily Uhrinek, who attended the meeting for their U.S. government class. achievements toward meeting its overall guiding Town Supervisor Bob Keis mission of helping to make Cattaraugus County welcomed the students on the a place where people want to live, work and board’s behalf. raise families. Keis then briefed the board “This is a naturally beautiful area,” says CCAC Executive Director Anne Conroy-Baiter. “CCAC strives to make it more interesting by engaging youth in the arts, providing more exposure to our highly talented arts community, adding vibrancy and balance to our daily lives and making the area a place where people want to stay.” Winter, spring and summer art camps have By Jann Wiswall been keeping hundreds of children in the region The Nov. 19 meeting of the creating and learning during school breaks Ellicottville Central School and after school. The Council’s Routes to Art Board of Education began with program, now in its sixth increasingly successful a presentation by Senior Class year, draws more than a thousand visitors in President Jordan Curtis and November to see and buy affordable art and Michaela Pierce, also a senior, craft items from nearly 30 area artists. Art in on the proposed senior class See CCAC page 6 trip to Chicago.
CCAC Prepares for Busy Season, Strong 2014
By Jann Wiswall
Town Board Approves 2014 Budget
on the status of several ongoing issues, including a request from Eddyville residents asking the town to install two streetlights in the center of the village to improve safety. Keis said he is still awaiting estimates from National Grid for installation and operating costs. Keis reported that a Mansfield residential property recently was declared unsafe. The home was inspected at the request of one of the co-owners
of the property. Mansfield’s code enforcement officer, Gil Wiswall, visited the home and observed several building and zoning code violations, as well as fire hazards. The home was vacated on Nov. 8. The board was scheduled to review a revised building permit fee structure at the evening’s meeting. The new fee schedule was prepared and presented to the board by See Mansfield Board page 8
ECS Board Approves Senior Class Trip
Hires OM Coaches, Homework Club Advisors Curtis outlined plans for the trip, scheduled for May 15-18, 2014. The itinerary includes visits to the Shedd Aquarium, the Magnificent Mile, the Skydeck at Willis Tower and the Navy Pier, along with a bus tour of the city, dinner at the famous Ed Debevics, a
Chicago Spirit dinner cruise, tickets to a performance by the Blue Man Group and more. The trip is organized by 1st Choice Educational Tours, Inc. At least four chaperones will travel with the students. Curtis said that, as of now, See ECS Board page 9