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VOLUME 5 ISSUE 21
The Official Newspaper
MAY 13-19, 2016
of the Village of Ellicottville, the Town of Ellicottville, Ellicottville Central Schools and the Towns of East Otto, Great Valley and Mansfield, New York
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Your Hometown Newspaper Serving Ellicottville, East Otto, Great Valley, Little Valley, Mansfield, Olean, Randolph, Salamanca, Springville and Beyond
Upcoming Events
Tee Time! By Alicia Dziak
May 20 Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster opens
What better way to enjoy the region’s scenery than from the golf course? With the spring weather in full swing, it’s time to get out and have some fun in the sun! If you’re looking for a breathtaking resort course, look no further than Holiday Valley. HV boasts a quite challenging 18-hole, par 70, 6,500 yard course. With multiple tees on each hole, golfers can match their ability to the distance, keep it fun and keep up with the pace of play. The front nine is relatively flat with a series of ponds and bunkers; the back nine winds around the base of the ski slopes for some very scenic play. Interested in league play? They’re forming now. Choose from Men’s League, Ladies League, and Couples League. There is also a Beginner’s Ladies group on Wednesdays that’s really fun. Tournaments and outings are also available. HV also offers lessons. PGA Master Professional, Steven Carney, PGA Professional Kyle Benish and USGTF Instructor, Tom Dirito, will have you improving your game in no time. Additional amenities include a full golf shop with clubs, balls, clothing and accessories, and club repair, as well as a practice facility with 10 covered tees, up to 50 grass tees and two practice greens with approach and traps. Play is offered to the public, but memberships are also available. For more information, visit www. holidayvalley.com. For a change of pace, head to one of the other nearby courses. Ischua Valley Country Club, at 8093 Route 16 in
May 20 Locals Day Sky High May 20-22 GeoBash Allegany State Park June 3-5 Cycling Weekend Holiday Valley
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June 4-5 Outdoor Expo Ellicottville
See Golf page 7
Locals Day at Sky High May 20 By Alicia Dziak
Do you live or work in Ellicottville and/or Cattaraugus County? Have you always wanted to check out Sky High but never made it there? Well, now’s your chance! On Friday, May 20, Sky High is celebrating locals with Locals Day, and there are huge savings to be had! “The goal of Locals Day is to give people who live and work in our community (Cattaraugus County) a chance to come try out Sky High Aerial Park and Mountain Coaster, then they can pass on the excitement See Sky High page 3
All Things ASP Allegany Nature Pilgrimage June 3-5 Love Allegany State Park? You’re not alone! New York’s largest state park is a home away from home for many, and if you’re looking for a great way to learn more about it, now’s your chance! The 58th annual Allegany Nature Pilgrimage takes place June 3-5. Sponsored by Buffalo Audubon, Jamestown Audubon, Presque Isle Audubon, and Burroughs Nature Club, the pilgrimage is a weekend full of nature workshops, guided hikes and so much more, with “home base” being Camp Allegany on the Red House side of the park. See Nature Pilgrimage page 9
June 3-5 WNY Dairy/Ag Fest Springville June 18 Mudslide Obstacle Run Holiday Valley June 18-19 Raccoon Rally Allegany State Park June 18 EVL Paddlefest July 1-3 Summer Music Festival Holiday Valley
ECS Proposes $11.9 Million Budget By Jann Wiswall
The Ellicottville School Board and the District’s administrative leaders gathered at the school on Tuesday, May 10 for a public hearing to explain the 2016-17 budget. The three candidates running for two school board posts also attended the hearing and made brief statements.
Three school district residents attended the hearing. As District Superintendent Mark Ward quipped, “if no one’s here, it’s probably good news because then no one has complaints. If there’s a crowd, you know there’s an issue!” Ward began the presentation with a summary of some of the school’s achievements
over the past year, listing the completion of the new multipurpose gym and the students’ embrace of the new space as the highlight. He also pointed to the growth and successes of the school athletic programs and the positive impact of West Valley athletes on the school. He noted a number See ECS Budget page 4
Residents/Businesses Bring Ideas to Village Board
By Jann Wiswall
The Village of Ellicottville’s board had a busy evening on Monday, May 9, as several issues came to its attention during the “business from the floor” portion of the meeting. First up were Betsy Peyser and Teresa Wagner, who attended the meeting to brief the board on a community-led
plan to raise funds to capture, spay/neuter and provide basic veterinary care to the growing population of stray cats that have been making their homes in the Village. They estimate the cost per cat will be $60. The goal will be to reduce the population over time. Wagner and Peyser
have enlisted the help of a veterinarian who has volunteered to provide care. They estimate it will take several months and many volunteers to capture and treat most of the estimated 50+ animals in the Village. Likely the effort will need to continue See Village Board page 9
Permit OK’d for Imhoff Chassis
Old Agway Building Getting Renovation By Jann Wiswall
A special use permit for Village resident Ed Imhoff’s home-based business was approved by the Village Planning Board at its May 10 meeting following a public hearing on the matter.
Imhoff is using an existing expects to be able to complete free-standing garage on his one chassis this year. Rockwell Drive property to What started as a hobby is construct chassis for custom now becoming a more formal Corvette drag racing cars. No business for tax reasons, changes are being made to Imhoff said. Getting a permit to the garage or the business that operate a home-based business would impact neighbors. He See Village Planning Board page 9