THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE TOWN AND VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE, NEW YORK THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF GREAT VALLEY, NEW YORK
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 40 FREE www.EllicottvilleTimes.com
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2012
Shop Local Efforts Make Economic Sense Ellicottville Growing Stronger from Bed and Sales Tax Revenues By Jann Wiswall
There is extensive evidence around the country that proves that shopping locally improves the economic strength of individual communities. Shopping locally creates jobs, saves people time and money, helps minimize our impact on the environment, encourages community involvement and produces a more sustainable economy. Shopping locally also means more tax revenues are available to local governments to cover expenses and focus on economic development. For example, Cattaraugus County’s 5 percent bed tax paid by guests on overnight lodging at hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, etc., directly supports economic development and tourism promotion efforts throughout the county. County lodging facilities generated some $700,000 in 2012. The income from the bed tax, which the Cattaraugus County legislature extended for three more years on November 21 (it was first instituted in 2006), is distributed according to a formula based on the percentage of tax generated. According to Crystal Abers, director of the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism, the chambers of commerce in Olean, Salamanca and Ellicottville receive a larger proportion of the funds (since they have the majority of the lodging facilities) in the form of reimbursements for countyapproved expenses related to promotion of community activities. The balance is used by the county to promote activities and events in nonchamber communities. In 2012, the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce received approximately $65,000 in reimbursements from the county to offset costs associated with promoting Fall Fest and other Ellicottville See Shop Local page 6
ECS, Holiday Valley Pose for “Tree for Troops”
Blou’s Popularity Leads To Annual Fundraiser
By Jann Wiswall
What do you get when you fill a 50-feet-squared space with 800 people wearing green, red, white and yellow T-shirts? If you’re being directed by Patty Watson, you get a photograph
of an enormous Christmas tree that will be printed on cards and sent to hundreds of U.S. military service members as holiday greetings. For that reason, the entire
This photograph of the “Tree for Troops” will be printed on holiday cards to be sent by ECS students to active military service-members. Some 800 ECS students, teachers and staff, American Legion veterans, along with dozens of Holiday Valley staff members, posed for the photo Tuesday morning at the base of Tannenbaum Lodge at Holiday Valley. Photo designed and arranged by Patty Watson (pattyspeoplepictures. com); photographed by Dave Sion.
student body of Ellicottville Central School, teachers and staff, along with dozens of Holiday Valley staff members, spent Tuesday morning at Holiday Valley’s Tannenbaum Lodge creating the Christmas tree that was photographed from the bucket of the Ellicottville Fire Department’s fully extended ladder truck. How it Came Together The event, the brainchild of Hamburg aerial designer Patty Watson, involved weeks of planning and coordination on the part of Watson, volunteer professional photographer Dave Sion, and their team of volunteers. After getting Holiday Valley on board, the next step was to find 800 willing participants. For Watson, that may have been the easiest part. She went directly to ECS Superintendent Mark Ward and asked him to allow the entire school – students, teachers, staff and all – to participate. At first, Ward said he was skeptical, but when Watson explained the educational value of the exercise and that she had done this type of event before with as many as 3,000 school students, Ward agreed. The logistics of the whole operation might have been daunting for anyone else, but Watson and her crew made it look easy. See Tree for Troops page 7
by Rebecca LaBorde
Ten years ago, Jay Monti started a charity called Code Blou to benefit animals in need. He continues doing it, he said, “in honor of Blou.” In 2002, Monti had been asked to take care of a stray Border
Collie until its owners could be found. Eventually, the dog’s owners were located, but they let Monti keep him because he had grown so fond of the animal. He named the dog Blou and
the dog grew in popularity as he hung out with Monti at his gallery. People would come to Monti’s Gallery and they would often ask for a picture of Blou. One customer told him about the WNY Pet Emergency Fund. Monti got the idea, after giving away many pictures, to sell them instead and donate the proceeds to this organization. The WNY Pet Emergency Fund is an animal assistance organization that helps defray the cost of emergency veterinarian care for owners unable to meet the expense. This organization was implemented by local veterinarians and is intended as a one-time intervention. The Almost Home Animal Sanctuary in Little Valley is another organization that benefits from Code Blou. It is a not-for-profit organization See Blou Fundraiser page 6
Irish Christmas a Tale of Leprechauns and Magic Annual Event Nets Generous Donations Next Event to Benefit Cemetery
Warm memories, generous donations, an outrageous pie auction, cheerful music and lots of great stuff – that’s what Irish Christmas is made of. Even though the annual Irish Christmas took place on Nov. 30 at the Gin Mill, those good
feelings are still lingering as donations continue to pour in to support this wonderful community cause. Bob McCarthy, who acted as master of ceremonies and auctioneer, won’t hesitate to See Irish Christmas page 4