THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE AND THE TOWNS OF ELLICOTTVILLE, GREAT VALLEY AND MANSFIELD,
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 11 FREE
NY
www.EllicottvilleTimes.com
MAY 17 - 23, 2013
Catch a Rare Glimpse into the Secret World of Artists By Eva Potter This weekend, tap into your inner explorer and head out on a free artistic adventure you’ll never forget. Hit the road and immerse yourself in the area’s natural beauty on a self-guided driving tour through Cattaraugus County and the Seneca Nation of Indians on the sixth annual Routes to Art (RTA) openstudio artists’ tour produced by the Cattaraugus County Arts Council (CCAC). This Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., 35 artists all over the county will welcome visitors to their studios and business locations to share their love of art. Although it sounds like a lot to cover in one weekend, this year CCAC has made artist locations more accessible to visitors by choosing locations centered around Ellicottville, Salamanca, Little Valley, Cattaraugus and a few outliers in Irving and West Valley. Customize your driving route to correspond with the type of work you want to see. You’ll be rewarded with a greater appreciation of the arts when you see stunning paintings, jewelry, painted porcelain, woodcarving, pottery, stained glass, sculpture, beadwork and more. Anne Conroy-Baiter, executive director of CCAC, said, “The key to enjoying life in a place like this is to get out and explore. Any hunter or soccer mom will tell you that
© 2013 KEYSTONE DESIGNERS
Art, Culture and Talent on Display at 5th Annual Routes to Art Open Studio Artists’ Tour
35 artists!
See Routes to Art page 6
Funding Approved for Extension Service Building
E’ville Town Board Begins Renovations By Jann Wiswall
It took months to get approval, but on May 9, the state courts approved a request from Ellicottville Supervisor John Burrell to use funds originally allotted for an elevator in the Town and Village Hall building for renovations of the town’s Extension Service building instead. The $30,000 will be used to create a new, accessible courtroom, restrooms, waiting areas, holding rooms and offices. On May 10, the renovations began. This good news was reported at the May 15 meeting of the Ellicottville Town Board of Trustees. Burrell also updated the board on other progress that has been made at the extension service building, including removing walls, installing new interior light fixtures and more. Trustee Greg Fitzpatrick, president of
ECS Amusement Park Opens For Business
Fitzpatrick & Weller, has generously donated hardwood paneling for the new foyer, Burrell added. He also introduced the building’s new facilities manager Justin Dineen, who started the part-time job last week. The board discussed the need to make some renovations in the Extension Service building’s auditorium. Trustees asked Burrell to obtain cost estimates for the project. These estimates will be reviewed at a special meeting on May 20. Burrell described a new Fire District Study Group that has been formed and will meet for the first time on June 5 at 6 p.m. at the Extension Service building. The group, which includes government and fire and rescue department officials from Ellicottville, Great Valley, Humphrey and Mansfield, will investigate See E’ville Town Board page 7
Relay for Life June 1 by Eva Potter
Each year the Ellicottville Central Schools Engineering Design/Robotics class designs
As many as 20 teams and 200 participants from all over Cattaraugus County are scheduled to participate in this year’s the annual Relay for Life with an ambitious fundraising goal of $53,000 ($5,000 more than last year) for the American Cancer Society to support the fight against cancer. You can show your enthusiastic support in the collective fight against cancer by dressing up your windows in a purple carnival theme — clowns, Ferris wheels, games, cotton candy — get creative! Be sure you call Crystal Page at (716) 341-4566 to register your window by Sunday evening, May 19. Judging will take place Monday, May 20. Winners will be acknowledged at the Relay for Life event. This year’s event begins at noon on June 1 at the Ellicottville Central School track, located at
See Amusement Park page 9
See Relay for Life page 3
Village Board Appoints Officers, Commissioners By Jann Wiswall
In addition to its regular meeting, the Ellicottville Village Board held its annual organizational meeting on Monday, May 13, to appoint or reappoint officers and commissioners for the 2013-14 fiscal year. Bob Brogcinski was
reappointed as Deputy Mayor. Mary J. Klahn was reappointed Village Clerk, Village Treasurer, Registrar of Vital Statistics and Tax Collector. Harold Morton was reappointed DPW Superintendent and Howard Gifford was reappointed as Village Constable. Village
Attorney Bob Simon of Backhaus & Simon was reappointed to his position, as was Village Engineer Mike Smith of Nussbaumer & Clarke. R.A. Mercer will remain as Village Accountants and Jason Paananen of Nussbaumer & Clarke will retain his position See Village Board page 6
School Budget Vote/Board Election to Be Held May 21 By Jann Wiswall
Next Tuesday, May 21, Ellicottville Central School District voters will have the opportunity to vote on the 2013-14 school budget and elect three new members to the ECS Board of Education. According to Board President Roger Spell, the “board has worked very hard” to find ways to meet
state-mandated requirements to increase contributions to the employee retirement plan, and to purchase the tools and materials required to implement new testing, assessments and the Core Curriculum. The board made cuts and found ways to reduce expenses in order to keep the budget increase to a minimum, while ensuring that students
receive the quality education they expect. And the board and district staff have made the effort to clearly explain to the public its process and rationale and final recommendation. “We want people to know how much money we must spend to keep the school running,” Spell explained before a public hearing that See School Board page 5
CCSE Federal Credit Union Considers Ellicottville Branch Village Reviews 4 Other Properties
By Jann Wiswall
The Village Planning Board reviewed plans for several properties during its meeting on Tuesday, May 14. 20 Monroe Street: A public hearing was held to allow interested residents to comment on the special use permit application for a 30-foot-by-
40-foot addition and outdoor dining patio to be built behind Balloons Restaurant. There were no comments and the permit was approved by the board. The board also conducted an architectural review of the project and approved it with previously requested
modifications. Employee parking options were discussed by the board and Balloons owner Mike Kerns. The board, which had previously added a condition that parking for apartment residents and commercial customers in the area must be addressed with See Planning Board page 4