THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE AND THE TOWNS OF ELLICOTTVILLE, GREAT VALLEY AND MANSFIELD,
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 13 FREE
NY
www.EllicottvilleTimes.com
MAY 31 - JUNE 6, 2013
You Can Make a Difference at Relay for Life By Jann Wiswall
Great Valley’s Priscilla Snider is a lot of things to a lot of people. She’s a parent, a spouse, a caseworker with the Cattaraugus County Youth Bureau, a winter-weekend customer service employee at Holiday Valley’s Creekside Lodge, and for 16 years, a volunteer with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life program. This year, she’s also the Ellicottville Relay for Life’s Honorary Cancer Survivor.
© 2013 KEYSTONE DESIGNERS
Snider got involved with Olean’s Relay for Life as a team member in 1997 because it sounded like a lot of fun and it was for a great cause. When Ellicottville’s program started, she moved to the Holiday Valley Helpers team, and she’s now that team’s captain, as well as a member of the organizing committee. In February 2012, when she was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, Snider was serving as team captain, working at her jobs, and getting chemotherapy and radiation therapy at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. The goal of her treatment was to reduce the size of the tumor and it was successful. A week before the 2012 Relay, her surgeon said she would need to operate to remove the remaining mass. But in true Snider fashion, Snider asked if she could wait until after the Relay. The surgeon agreed, and See Relay for Life page 3
Odyssey of the Mind Team’s World Finals Trip a “Life Changer”
By Jann Wiswall
It’s been a long and successful journey for the six ECS 11th and 12th grade students and their
L to R back: Emily Timkey, Isabella Brown, Patrick Snyder, Mckenzie Robinson, Christopher Wojtowicz. Front: Eric Oliverio
coaches who took their Odyssey of the Mind skit on the road to Michigan State University last weekend to compete in the program’s World Finals. For every team member, the journey began five or even 10 years ago when they first participated in the OM program at ECS. “Getting to finals is what we’ve been striving for all these years,” says Izzy Brown, who started OM in the second grade. The ECS team, composed of seniors Eric Oliverio and Patrick Snyder and juniors Isabella Brown, McKenzie Robinson, Emily Timkey and Chris Wojtowicz, was coached by Caitlyn Keller and assistant coach Megan Westfall, another junior. They created a humorous performance that addressed a problem called “It’s How You Look at It.” Teams were instructed to show how a character See Odyssey page 2
Senator Young Honors Francie Potter 2013 Woman of Distinction
By Senator Catharine Young
has been selected by Senator Catharine Young ALBANY – From the PTA and ski clubs (R,C,I-Olean) as the New York State Senate’s to local colleges and historical associations, 2013 Woman of Distinction for the 57th Senate Francie Potter District. has done it all “Francie Potter’s life-long history of giving for a variety back to her community is inspiring to us all. of groups in She is the type of person where those who Allegany and cross paths with her always remember her wit, C a t t a r a u g u s sense of humor and smile. Given the many hats C o u n t i e s . she wears, Francie deserves our gratitude and For that very recognition. Thank you and congratulations to reason, she Francie and all of the other honorees from across the state,” said Senator Young. Francie Potter Since moving to Allegany, Francie Potter of Allegany has helped countless always has been a major part of the community and devotes her time and talents to a wide variety organizations of organizations. and groups for over 50 years.
See Senator Honors Francie Potter page 6
June is Jumping in Cattaraugus County!
by Jann Wiswall
Think Ellicottville is only fun in winter? Hah! Check out the dozens of activities and events that will keep everyone happy and active throughout the month of June in and around the entire region.
May 31-June 2 This is the busiest weekend of the month with tons of daylong and weekend-long activities to suit every interest. The entire family can make a whole weekend out of the Cattaraugus County 4-H Bonanza Horse Show at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds in Little Valley (visit Cattaraugus County 4-H on Facebook). Or, take a group to the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage at Allegany State Park (www. alleganynaturepilgrimage. com), where numerous hikes, walks and nature tours are
scheduled. There’s also the 14th Annual Gowanda Hollywood Happening: A Motorcycle Event, sponsored by Gowanda Harley-Davidson. This threeday event features live bands, contests, vendors and more. Visit www.gowandahollywoodhappening.com for details. And, this is the weekend for the Springville Dairy/Ag Fest, a familyoriented festival whose theme this year is “Promoting Healthy Lifestyles.” Activities include fireworks, a parade, an arts and crafts show, farm equipment plus toy show, kids’ farm activities and a petting zoo, live music, great food and so much more. Visit www. wnydairyagfest.com. If you can’t devote the entire weekend, you should definitely consider making Saturday your “fun” day. A slew of activities
are going on all over the area. In Ellicottville, the big event is the Relay for Life that runs from noon to midnight at Ellicottville Central School and raises funds for the American Cancer Society. Even if you’re not on one of the official Relay teams, community support is critical to the event’s success. Opening ceremony is at noon, followed by the survivors’ lap at 12:20 p.m. A live auction is at 3 p.m. and the Luminaria Ceremony is at 9:30 p.m. Visit www.relayforlife.org. Griffis Sculpture Park in East Otto is hosting the Finn McCool 4-Mile Odyssey beginning at 8:30 a.m. Participants will challenge themselves on a 4-mile course loaded with challenging obstacles, difficult terrain and a mud pit at the finish. When you’re done racing, you can See June is Jumping page 8
Federal Funding Approved Route 219 Bridge Span Remains Open with 15-Ton Limit
By Jesse Mast
Federal funding has been approved for the replacement of the former Route 219 bridge over Cattaraugus Creek, New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald announced last week. This announcement follows the temporary closure of the
bridge dge in January 2012 due to structural concerns discovered during the bridge’s annual
inspection. The bridge, which is on South Cascade Drive in Concord and Miller Road in Ashford, underwent emergency repairs of its frozen bearings and reopened a few months later. Due to concerns relating to the bridge’s influence on the local economy, the NYSDOT expedited the repairs and the
See Route 219 Bridge page 5