FREE! TAKE ONE! VOLUME 5 ISSUE 15
APRIL 15 - 21, 2016
The Official Newspaper
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of the Village of Ellicottville, the Town of Ellicottville, Ellicottville Central Schools and the Towns of East Otto, Great Valley and Mansfield, New York
Your Hometown Newspaper Serving Ellicottville, East Otto, Great Valley, Little Valley, Mansfield, Olean, Randolph, Salamanca, Springville and Beyond
April Showers Bring Ellicottville Fun! By Alicia Dziak
It’s been a wet start to the season, but rain or shine, spring is in the air. Just what is there to do during this in-between season? Read on, friends. There are plenty of places around Ellicottville to spend some indoor quality time! There’s no shortage of places to learn something new. Head to the museum at Allegany State Park’s Administration Building, where you can learn about local wildlife and history. If you’re feeling adventurous, book a cabin or full-service cottage for the weekend. Pack some games and maybe a guitar and sit around and relax with the family. There’s always plenty of shopping to be had in Ellicottville. Head to the village where you can find everything from outdoor gear and home decor to cool gifts and trendy clothing. Hungry? Now’s a great time to check out what’s new at all the local hot spots. The Gin Mill and Balloons offer live music every Friday and Saturday. John Harvard’s is celebrating locals with their Locals Appreciation weeks, two weeks of food and drink specials at their Holiday Valley location. For some wholesome family fun, check out EVL Bowling and get your game on while enjoying tasty food from Tim & Bonnie’s Pizza next door. The kids also will love the great selection of arcade games. There are plenty of ways to unleash your creativity this time of year. Take a painting class and enjoy the company of friends as you create your
Fri • 2 Guys Drinkin’ Beer • 9pm Sat • No Name Trio• 9pm Wed • Wagner & Winston • 8pm Thursday • Fred ‘N Tuck • 8pm 20 Washington St • 699-2530
Fri • The Electras• 7pm Sat • Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind • 6pm Mon • JP Soars and the Red Hots• 8pm 20 Monroe St • 699-4162
Upcoming Events
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May 6 Sky High opens
See Springtime Fun page 3
Ellicottville Takes the American Idol Stage
Brian Dunkleman with Paula Abdul at the American Idol after-party at Skybar. Photo by Mary Klahn By Jann Wiswall
Where were you at 8 p.m. eastern time on Thursday, April 7? If you were like 13 million other Americans, you were in
front of a television watching the finale of American Idol. While we can’t confirm this, we believe there was a disproportionate number of Ellicottville people watching
that show, because one of its own, Brian Dunkleman, was making an appearance. And in the audience, watching the show live from VIP seats in the Dolby Theater, was Brian’s sister, Mary Dunkleman Klahn. Klahn, the village of Ellicottville’s clerk and one of the huge Dunkleman clan, had booked her flight to Los Angeles two months earlier when Brian had an inkling that he might be on the show. But she had to keep it a secret, because the show wanted him to be a surprise. In case you haven’t followed
By Colleen Mahoney
Cattaraugus County Legislator David Koch was in attendance at the Great Valley Town Board meeting, on April 11 to ask for support from the board for the proposed extension of US Route 219 that ultimately would complete the road from Salamanca to Springville.
June 4-5 Outdoor Expo Ellicottville June 3-5 WNY Dairy/Ag Fest Springville June 18 Mudslide Obstacle Run Holiday Valley
Koch explained that State Senator Catherine Young has been working on behalf of the region to secure funds to do an environmental study for one section of the extension that would create a new 219 exit off of Interstate 86 in Salamanca and a new divided highway from there to the old 219 in Great Valley.
“There is a push now to get it moving again,” Koch said. “What I’m looking for is support.” Young is looking to get a memorandum of understanding signed to secure $6 million for the environmental study. Koch said he is trying to gauge where the towns are to see if See GV Board page 8
Enjoy the ‘Spring’ in Springville! By Alicia Dziak
Spring is the perfect time to check out Springville, which has “spring” in its name for good reason—there are so many fun things going on to help you enjoy this in-between season. On Saturday, April 23, check out the Craft Beer and Wine Festival in Springville. Head to the Springville Volunteer Fire Company at 405 West Main Street from 4-7 p.m. for live entertainment by Mike Nugent and a tasty sampling of beer and
Ellicottville Chamber Launches Green Season With New Event
See Outdoor Expo page 3
June 3-5 Cycling Weekend Holiday Valley
Koch Seeks GV Support for Route 219
See American Idol page 2
The snow’s gone and nature is starting to bring us that Green Season, that time of year a lot of people think Ellicottville becomes mostly dormant. Nothing could be farther from the truth. There is so much you can do in the Ellicottville area. That’s why Barb Pump, events manager for the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, brings you the first Ellicottville Outdoor Expo, June 4-5. Come out and see what there is to do in the great outdoors in and around Ellicottville. Vendors and exhibitors will be throughout the area, including Holimont and Holiday Valley, waiting
May 7 Happy Half & 5K Holiday Valley
See Spring in Springville page 6
Mayor Burrell Takes the Reins Zoning Law Decision Tabled; Revisions Proposed By Jann Wiswall
“I am happy to be back on the Village board again,” said newly elected Village of Ellicottville Mayor John Burrell before opening the first board meeting of his term on Monday, April 11.
Burrell was elected mayor in March, but the job isn’t new to him; he held the post in the 1990s. In the interim, he served for eight years as supervisor of the Town of Ellicottville. Burrell also congratulated Patra Lowes for winning another four-year term on the board and Joe DiPasquale for being elected to his first term
as a trustee. The first item on the meeting’s lengthy agenda was a public hearing on amendments to the Village Zoning Law. The amendments were prepared by the Village Planning Board and first presented to the Village board for comment and approval nearly a year ago. See Village Board page 4