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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015
Small business booming in area
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Merchants thrilled with effects of national initiative
By CHRISTOPHER MICHEL Olean Times Herald
OLEAN, N.Y. — With two weeks until Christmas, many shoppers are likely starting to feel the pressure to finish buying presents. For area small businesses, that rush bodes well for a shopping season that already got off to a good start. “It’s so far, so good,” said Brittani Jones, owner of Brittani’s Country Loft on North Union Street. “We’ve been pretty busy. We’re a good gift shop, so we’ve seen a lot of traffic.” The story is the same at the neighboring Paper Factory. “Business has been very good,” Deb VanScoter, owner of The Paper Factory. “A lot of shoppers are coming here for things like Elf on the Shelf and ornaments and other decora-
tions. We’ve had a real good start.” Both stores are continuing to run sales and promotions through the end of the holiday season. “We’re even offering gift baskets people can buy here and put items the buy here or things from home in it,” Jones said. “We’ll wrap the basket up, too.” The National Retail Federation is projecting holiday spending to increase this year over last by 3.7 percent, with total sales in November and December of around $630.5 billion. According NRF projections released in October, the average shopper is forecast to spend $805 on gifts, food and decorations this season, up approximately $3 from last year. The NRF anticipates the average person will spend $462 on gifts for famPlease see Local, page 4
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Christopher Michel/Olean Times Herald
Deb VanScoter, owner of The Paper Factory, arranges holiday items. Her business, along with many others in Olean, has seen a strong start to the holiday shopping season.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015
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-ily members. During the last five years, there’s been an increasingly popular shopping trend to patronize locally owned businesses during the holiday season. Started in part by American Express in 2010 with its Small Business Saturday held the day after Black Friday, the shop-local movement has generated billions of dollars in sales at small businesses across the country. THE SMALL-BUSINESS trends seem to have taken hold in Olean, said Larry Sorokes, president of the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce. “When we first started looking at that movement, there wasn’t much of a response in the early years,” Sorokes said. “But now, more local vendors are responding and have created incentives for shoppers. And shoppers are responding. I really do think the national movement has helped the local movement.” Both VanScoter and Jones say there is something to the shop-local movement. Both of their businesses have reaped the benefits of the trend. “I can’t believe the number of people we had in here on Small Business
Saturday, and I can’t thank everyone enough for coming,” Jones said. “We were packed all day, and it was our best day this year. I’ve always been someone who shops local, and it’s wonderful to have seen so many people who feel the same way.” “Shop local has been very good for us,” VanScoter said. “People are really getting back to that and not buying things online as much. It makes a big difference when you can actually see and hold something you want to buy before you buy it, and you also know that you’ll have it in time because you’re buying it right there and then.” Tom Palumbo, co-owner of The Sports Locker on West State Street, agreed with VanScoter but added that visiting a brick-and-mortar store such as his 31-year-old business has an intangible asset — customer service. “Our business survives on our customer service. We make sure that we take care of our customers — and that’s something you don’t get from a website,” Palumbo said. “When you support a local business, you support the local economy and help ensure jobs. Small businesses built America.” (Contact City Editor Christopher Michel at cmichel@oleantimesherald.com. Follow him on Twitter, @OTHChris)
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Tips for pet safety through holidays By AMBER TURBA The Bradford Era
BRADFORD, Pa. — As the holiday season hits, many pet owners may plan to include their furry, fourlegged friends in the festivities. However, in gearing up for the holidays, it is imperative to be mindful of the harms and hazards that may come
with the Christmas cheer and festive decor to ensure fun and safety for all, local animal experts say. Consumable food and chew toys designed for dogs should always be appropriate for the size and age of the pet, experts say. Smaller animals shouldn’t be given items that are too Please see Pets, page 7
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large and overwhelming, and larger animals should not have items that may be small enough to cause choking. For pet stockings and gifts, McKean County SPCA Executive Director Christine Taylor recommends Kong Balls, stating they are good for dogs because they can be chewed without falling apart. Edible treats and catnip-
stuffed toys are always a good option for cats, she added, and dogs especially enjoy hard bones, but she encouraged pet owners to avoid rawhide toys due to their potential to unravel and become improperly ingested. And, according to Taylor, the best way to keep pets healthy during the holidays is to keep their eating and exercise habits as close to their normal routine as possible. “While it may be tempting to want
to share the Christmas and New Year’s’ meals with pets, we recommend restraint,” Taylor said. “Or, at the very least, moderation. It’s unhealthy for dogs, cats or any other pets to have large amounts of leftovers that aren’t really made for them.” Specifically, pet owners should refrain from handing out chocolate, raisins, grapes and meat with little bones to avoid choking hazards and negative intestinal and digestive effects. And, as temperatures begin to drop, Taylor stressed the importance of not leaving pets outdoors for too long. “I know it’s common for people to believe that it’s OK to leave pets chained to a dog house for long periods of time through the winter, but it’s very dangerous for them,” Taylor explained. “They risk the possibility of bodily harm, like frostbite, and feelings of abandonment after a while. It’s especially dangerous for cats, who have little insulation against the harsh temperatures and winter winds. “However, if animals are going to be kept outside, make sure they have water that is accessible at all times and not frozen, and that they have an enclosed space that blocks out as much wind as possible.” When it comes to Christmas, homeowners tend to decorate the whole house with bright, shiny and festive ornamentation. As a result, pets may feel additional distress or excitement. “So many more hazards are present for animals during the holidays,” Taylor said. “Winter is the one season where people really go above and beyond with decorating their homes, and since they are really limited to the indoors, pets have a tendency to consume what they aren’t supposed to and get into trouble with all of the unfamiliarity that can be overwhelming.” Make sure that Christmas trees and any large decorations are anchored, Taylor added, as cats tend to want to climb them, risking the possibility of falling, knocking them over or
shattering glass bulbs and ornaments that can be harmful to all. This will also prevent the tree water — which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset — from spilling. Don’t leave lighted candles unattended, as pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders placed on a stable surface, and if you leave the room, always put the candle out. Tinsel and holiday tree toppings or garland strands can be ingested by pets and become twisted in their intestines. Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Therefore, pet owners are encouraged to be cautious of using these decorations and perhaps even to opt for justas-jolly artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet. Poinsettias can be harmful to cats, who have a tendency to chew on them. Additionally, Taylor noted there are places that offer pet-friendly rock salt. Perhaps one of the most common “wow” gifts around the holidays is a new pet. Often, people will surprise friends and family members with a new kitten or puppy, without considering the responsibility that continues well after the holiday season ends. “If you bring a new pet home for the holidays or decide to give one as a gift, make sure the pet is wanted,” Taylor insisted. “After the holidays are over, we get more pets dropped off at the shelter than almost any other time of the year because people receive a pet that they either couldn’t afford to take care of or didn’t want to handle. Pets are a wonderful, lovable gift to give — just make sure that they are absolutely wanted wherever they go.” (Contact reporter Amber Turba at news@bradfordera.com)
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Photo by Deb Wuethrich
The Cutco KA-BAR Visitor Center features large panels containing historical information of the company and its relationship to the Olean area.
Visitors center has history, holiday shopping all in one By DEB WUETHRICH
Special to the Olean Times Herald
OLEAN, N.Y. — Did you know you could buy a gift that is uniquely American-made and support a local business at the same time? The Cutco KA-BAR Visitors Center is full of locally produced items that may make an ideal Christmas gift, officials say. Items ranging from worldrecognized Cutco knives to kitchen gadgets and military-grade KA-BAR knives are on display in cases inside the center at 1040 E. State St. “The thing about our products is they are guaranteed forever,” said
visitors center representative Susan Stevenson, who has worked there for eight years. “If someone wants service, their knives (and other implements) can be sharpened, polished or inspected anytime.” The company has been in the community since 1949, Stevenson said. “That’s quite a testimonial for a local company,” she said. Popular items available in the store include a cheese knife and a 3-inch gourmet paring knife. “There’s also the ‘Santoku,’” Stevenson said, displaying an Asian-inspired Please see Visitors, page 13
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Hilarious Christmas Photo Contest
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radford Publishing Co. is running a Hilarious Christmas Photo Contest. Readers can vote once per day for their favorite photo until noon Dec. 16 by going to www.oleantimesherald.com, www.bradfordera.com or www. salamancapress.com.
Bad Santa
Just wanting a candy cane
Photo submitted by Chris Strade
“Big brother did not want to hear his sister any longer, and she wanted NO part of Santa.” Photo submitted by Barbie Tetlak
“Grandon Sebastian wanted a candy cane. … Well, he got two with the tree. … Oops. … Love the expression.”
Scared of Santa My girls Photo submitted by Amila Baker
“Haley and MattieLynn.”
Photo submitted by Angel Wyatt
“Age 4 and scared to death of Santa!!!”
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Merry stinkin’ Christmas
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We caught them
Photo submitted by Amanda Jacks
Photo submitted by Timothy Ludwig
“Our family photo for Christmas. The guys caught us girls in their lights when they were supposed to be hanging them.”
“Christmas greetings from ‘THE MAN.’”
Picking a Christmas gift
Highfive for Santa Photo submitted by C. Brinkley
“No, Santa I will not sit on your lap, but a high-five for some toys is OK!”
The reason why Christmas lights are impossible Photo submitted by Holly Peranio
Photo submitted by Jim Dougherty
“Always fun taking photos of the grandkids, but while trying to get a picture for this year’s Christmas card this happened …”
“Gage decided to help with the lights.”
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Feliz naughty dog
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Holding tight!
Photo submitted by Nicole Alter
“Another Alter family photo! I drove from Pennsylvania to North Carolina for this picture, and it sure is priceless!”
Oh, silent night Photo submitted by Katie Caruso
“Sometimes Mom just needs a moment of peace and some holiday cheer.”
Photo submitted by Betty Fralich
“Jameson and Santa are hanging tight because it is almost Christmas night!”
Bah humbug! Photo submitted by Karen Kolata Reynolds
“Patrick the cat is not amused with his reindeer costume. We, on the other hand, found it hilarious! Merry Christmas!”
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Hey, that’s mine!
The Atkinson family redneck Christmas
Photo submitted by Angel Stevens and Kevin Atkinson
“‘You Might Be a Redneck on Christmas if …’ read by Kevin Atkinson. Answer is IF you wear camouflage to your Christmas pictures.”
Dad’s broke
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“Aaron and Maggie.”
More photos: page 19
Photo submitted by Jen Budaj
Hamming it up
Merry Christmas!
Photo submitted by Bill Robertson
Photo submitted by Colleen White
“Where did the money go? My dad after playing Santa for us five kids back in the 1970s.”
“Peyton the baby elf.”
Photo submitted by Chelsea Clark
“Dad was always goofing around — Christmas morning was not an exception! In the background my sister, Jill, is opening up a gift.”
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knife. “Vegetable parers are also popular. “All are affordable for gift-giving.” New this year is a sturdy wine and bottle opener that is also guaranteed forever. The gift can be paired with a cheese knife in a gift pack. Catalogs are available in the store. Another case contains hunting knives, fishing knives and pocketknives. There is a display of the well-known KA-BAR military grade knives. “Those knives were used during World War II,” Stevenson said. “KA-BAR is to military knives what Kleenex is to tissues,” she said. “They’re synonymous.” Ellicottville resident Rita Pierce visited the store this week, purchasing cheese knives as gifts. She had been given one in the past and lost it for a time. One day, it showed up in a drawer, and she began to use it again. “Now I can’t live without it,” she said. “You should see the way it cuts, not only cheese slices, but it slices tomatoes beautifully. Other vegetables, too.” She hopes to see the recipients pass the knives along to their kids someday. “That way, they will remember me every time they pick it up,” Pierce said. “Our products are multigenerational,” Stevenson said. “We hear story after
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story about how people have come to own them, passed from generation to generation.” THE VISITOR CENTER is also a museum of the history of knife-making in the area as well as a military history of KA-BAR knives. Products from past years are displayed among large panels containing historical information of the manufacturing process and regional connections to other companies. The center gets approximately 12,000 visitors annually. Recent guests came from Korea, France and Germany, and most American states and Canada are represented in the guestbook. “People fit us into their vacations, and some say a visit here is on their bucket list,” Stevenson said. Products range from $39 for a small cheese knife to $194 for individual knives, and the smallest “Studio” block retails for $350. Shipping anywhere in the United States is also included in the price, as is gift wrapping and a card, if desired. There are also in-store specials each month, such as December’s offer of two additional table knives with the purchase of six. “It’s an investment, but remember, they’re guaranteed forever,” Stevenson said of the large array of products. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center is also open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays from Memorial Day to Christmas.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015
Kate Day Sager/The Bradford Era
The Learning Center teacher Kathy Long (center) helps students (remaining, from left, clockwise) Marissa Miller, Claudia Sirline, Jaxon Faes, Evan Smith and Calvin Minich wrap presents for children for the ELF Fund.
Area school aids ELF Fund By KATE DAY SAGER The Bradford Era
BRADFORD, Pa. — The Learning Center students not only learned how to properly wrap presents, but also caught the spirit of generosity as they decorated gifts for needy children with the Era’s Less Fortunate (ELF) Fund. Now in its 31st year, the program matches needy children and senior citizens in the community with residents who volunteer to purchase Christmas gifts for them. Learning Center teacher Linda Hoover said staff at the school decided to ask students in all grades to participate in the program to teach them a valuable lesson. “Earlier this fall we had an assembly with Kelly Case and the (United Way of the Bradford Area), who introduced the children to the concept of giving
back to the community,” Hoover said. “We started our own fundraiser (for the ELF Fund) at the school because we thought it was a good example of giving back to the community.” Hoover said the school hasn’t participated in the program for several years and hopes to continue with it in the future. She said the school selected three children with the ELF Fund and money was supplied for their gifts by donations brought in by all the students. The gifts were purchased with the funds by Case and Alison Gigliotti, who both have children in the school. Students who commented on the program included Evan Smith, who said he liked “helping the other children who don’t have money” for presents and gifts. Another student, Marissa Miller, Please see ELF, page 18
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elf Continued from page 14
said she likes knowing “that more kids can get presents and have a nice Christmas” because of the ELF Fund. Student Claudia Sirline added that she liked participating in the program because it helps needy children in the community “get lots of nice presents” for Christmas. Teacher Kathy Long said she is proud of her students because they genuinely enjoy helping other children. “These kids really like helping; they really do,” she said. “They were
brought up in this school to care for others … and they’re just used to being helpers.” Case said that even as a small school, the children and their families at The Learning Center realize they can play a part in making Bradford a better community. “Christmas is such a special time, so if we can help just a little bit to make someone smile, we are doing our share,” Case said. (Contact reporter Kate Day Sager at kdsager@bradfordera.com)
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I’ve been naughty, Santa
Puppy Santa
Photo submitted by Linda Wilson
“Isabella went to see Santa and Mrs. Claus, but she wouldn’t look at them or talk to them. She would only hold her hand to her face and not look up.”
Cotton-headed ninnymuggins Photo submitted by Oliver Gilroy
“It's tough being a human in the North Pole — Ollie The Elf.”
Photo submitted by Cari Gross
“Cy loves to play Santa Puppy.”
The Grinch Photo submitted by Mark Gallup
“My son showing off his Christmas ornament.”
Candy cane goofballs Photo submitted by Maryann Peterson
“My girls love Christmas … and sure do love being goofy!”
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