THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE AND THE TOWNS OF ELLICOTTVILLE, GREAT VALLEY AND MANSFIELD,
FREE
NEW YORK
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 39
www.EllicottvilleTimes.com
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
Christmas Stroll Schedule of Events
Christmas Stroll is Pure Holiday Magic
Saturday, Dec. 7 9:00 - 4:00 Christmas Bazaar at the United Church on Elizabeth Street 3:30 - 5:00 Organ Music & Tours at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Kids can make Ornaments!
Cookies for Compassion, Reindog Parade, Carolers, Living Nativity
4:00 - 5:30 Santa and his Elves arrive at the Barn Restaurant
4:00 - 5:30 Cocoa & Cookies in Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen at Katy’s Cafe 4:00 - 5:30 • Horse and Wagon Rides next to Town Hall • Candy Elves •The Seneca Junction Strolling Quartet, Downtown • Live Camel Strolling Around Town • Display of Nativity Sets & Angels in Holy Name of Mary Church
by Eva Potter
It’s Christmas Stroll in Ellicottville all day on Saturday, Dec. 7. Pack up the family, and don’t forget your dog, and head to the village for some holiday festivities, shopping and feasting. Katy’s Cookies for Compassion Katy’s Cookies for Compassion is back for its second year, so be sure to stop at Katy’s Café at 10 Washington Street during the Christmas Stroll so you don’t miss out on all the fun! Katy’s Cookies for Compassion, was started last year as a way for Katy’s Café owner, Katy Arena, to give back to the community. When you stop in with a cash donation, Katy will send you home with a delicious bag of freshly baked sugar cookies to thank you. “One hundred percent of the donations we receive will go to Family Support for Ellicottville,” Arena explained. Family Support for Ellicottville pledges to keep 100 percent of all monies donated in the Ellicottville community. It is also a 501(c) (3) charitable foundation, so your donation is tax deductible. This year, your support will help 100-plus recipients! It’s a wonderful way to give back to your community.
4:30 Reindog Parade on Washington Street Everyone Welcome - Costumes Encouraged! Meet at the Post Office parking lot at 4:15
6:00 Living Nativity at the Village Gazebo
See Christmas Stroll page 4
I SKI NY
Passport Program Expanded New This Year: 3rd & 4th Graders Eligible
By Jann Wiswall
Due to the success of the Free for Kids fourth grade Passport Program, I SKI NY has added third graders to the eligibility list this year.
Now, third and fourth graders from any state or country may ski or ride for (almost) free at the majority of New York’s ski resorts — Holiday Valley included. The passport entitles children to three free lift tickets at each participating New York resort when accompanied by a paying adult. If they’re new to snowsports, you can also sign them up for a Learn to Ski or Ride Passport entitling them to a free lesson and a 20 percent discount off a future lesson at each resort. The passport also offers discounts for adult lessons. The Passport is good for the entire 2013-14 season. Sign Up Today! Parents simply need to fill out the ISKINY Free For Kids Passport Application and mail or fax it with a $22 processing fee and a copy of each third and fourth graders’ report card, progress See I SKI NY page 10
Arts Council Fundraiser Features Hundreds of 5”x7” Works of Art
The Cattaraugus County Arts Council (CCAC) will open its doors at 100 W. Main Street in Allegany this Saturday night, Dec. 7, for their annual 5x7 Art for Everyone Sale and Exhibition featuring hundreds of multicolored, multidimensional 5” x 7” works of art.
For only $15 at the door, attendees will be treated to appetizers from Dina’s Catering and happy hour refreshments as they vie for their favorite one-of-a-kind works of art. Each piece will sell for $25 at the event which will run from 6–9 p.m. The 5x7 event, sponsored by Fox Financial, not only helps to highlight the work of regional artists, but it also allows the arts council to continue carrying out its mission of enhancing quality of life in the Southern Tier. Anne Conroy-Baiter, executive director of CCAC said of the event, “We like the 5x7 concept because the price of $25 is accessible to almost everyone, the non-framed small size is an affordable donation to the average artist, plus the event itself is incredibly festive and fun.” To level the playing field, value and name recognition are hidden and all work will be displayed anonymously in order for supporters See Arts Council Fundraiser page 5
ECS Prepares for Holiday Season, Year-End Activities By Jann Wiswall
As is normal at this time of year, there’s a lot of energy at Ellicottville’s elementary, middle and high schools as the holidays, winter break and end of year academic goals approach.
During the school board meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3, ECS Superintendent Mark Ward listed a number of activities that have taken place in the past several weeks. The December issue of the school See ECS Board page 5
Memories of Sacrifice and Patriotism during WWII By Mary Fox
Each year on Dec. 7, we are reminded of our participation in WWII and subsequent wars. As Paul Carmichael said, “We should never forget the hard times we have been through as a country. It is good to remember the sacrifices our service men and women have made for our country.” Most people first found out about the attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor as they gathered around their radios on Dec. 7, 1941, to
hear President Roosevelt declare war on Japan. Some Americans felt that the United States’ entrance in to WWII was inevitable when In 1939 the Germans invaded Poland. Patriotism was high as the country responded to the war effort. In Ellicottville, as in towns and cities all over the country, young men left high school and jobs to sign up for military service. The tradition of the high school band marching ahead of inductees to the railroad train
was kept up with only the few band members left. Not only did band members dwindle but also sports teams were down to a few players. There were plenty of jobs, because a good percentage of the men had volunteered and gone off to war. Women took positions in all aspects of manufacturing and industry. They helped build airplanes, warships and weapons of war. “Rosy The Riveter” became the symbol of the new role See Patriotism page 5
Register for 2014 STAR Exemptions by Dec. 31 By Eva Potter
New legislation was recently passed requiring all homeowners receiving a Basic STAR exemption to register with the New York State Tax Department. The measure
is part of a new initiative to protect New Yorkers against inappropriate or fraudulent STAR exemptions. Homeowners who currently receive the Basic STAR (School Tax Relief) exemption should
have received a letter from the New York State Department of Taxation with instructions on how to apply for the Basic STAR exemption for 2014 and subsequent years. The letter See STAR Exemptions page 11